《Neon War》


 Chapter 0 pilot

    In the year 2090, as a young child, I lived a normal life with my father and mother but after losing my mother at a tender age, everything changed it all happened when President Thumb launched a warning nuke into the world. At eight years old, I witnessed the chaos it brought. Ten years later, in 2100, I enlisted in the military, becoming its youngest member. As I rose through the ranks, President Thumb resurfaced, fulfilling his promise made during the crisis. He announced his intention to enter cryostasis, vowing to conquer the world upon awakening. His goal was total control, believing humanity had strayed too far, becoming weak and divided due to our over-reliance on social media and disconnectedness from the world. President Thumb saw himself as the solution, intending to unite humanity forcibly by removing free will.


    In the present day, I am one of the few people left in the military fighting against Thumb and his new followers. But will I succeed?


    Chapter 0: Pilot


    Hey Zemaku! ZEMAKU, WAKE UP!" a voice said."AHHHHHH!" I screamed before quickly gaining my composure. "Oh, hey dad.""Zemaku, you need to stop falling asleep on the job.""At least I¡¯m not having nightmares again," I quipped back."That¡¯s fair," my dad said.


    So, when will we make it to the new hideout?" I asked."Well, the hover car should get us there in a few more hours," my dad responded."Damn, that long?" I said.Then, a few hours later, we made it to the new hideout."So, how''s the member hunting going?" I asked."Not good. Thumb has gotten rid of all who openly resisted him. The general public is too afraid to fight back. He¡¯s gained complete control. The whole world is like North Gorea, but way worse," Dad said


    Oh, good, we''ve made it," Dad said."That''s great and all, but the place looks a little run-down," I said."Well, what did you expect?" my dad groaned. "You don''t just make a new base when the whole government is against you. Thumb rules all now, and he''s gotten rid of President Cubacabra. Oh, and by the way, I''m Commander Bill stop calling me dad you may be my son but you gotta remember your rank," Dad complained."But Dad, all your forces have either turned against you in fear or have died," I said. "Even my best friends are gone.""Oh, um, sorry Dad... Oh, I mean, Commander Bill said I know you''ve mostly gotten over your mother, but are you over what happened to Brian and Serena?" Bill asked."No, just because I didn¡¯t have a nightmare now doesn¡¯t mean it is over. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be able to move on from losing Mother and my childhood friends.


    Suddenly, an alarm goes off in the new but rundown base.


    What is it?" I asked."Probably just a false alarm," Bill said. "We just installed this thing. I''ll check just to make sure."Bill then logs into an ancient-looking computer that appears to be from the ''90s but is repurposed to use Binbows 3000."Well, is it a false alarm or not?" I asked."No, it''s not," Bill said. "Thumb''s men are on the move, and they are taking over a nearby city that apparently gained back some control and free will.""Damn," I said and ran into the hover car, starting it up."Zemaku, it''s too dangerous," Bill said."The only danger lies in letting Thumb win," I said before driving the hover car away.


    I make it to my destination, and I see two of Thumb''s followers terrorizing the city.


    "Mwahahaha, isn¡¯t this fun," Ren, a big buff guy with a cape, said to another shorter guy with black hair."No, Goki, it¡¯s not fun. We are here to do Thumb''s bidding. We aren¡¯t here to have fun. You''re enjoying torturing information out of the civilians about this so-called savior too much. We have a goal that we must achieve.""Oh, sorry," Goki said.I then drove in and saw that there was one person being interrogated. That one person was nothing but a small child. In disgust, I look away for a moment before silently walking up. Ren and Goki just look at me with curiosity. Ren is about to say something, but Goki interrupts."What are you doing here, stranger?" he asked. "This is none of your business. Okay, just pretend you didn¡¯t see anything and walk away.""Walk away?" I repeated. "Why would I walk away from you? I¡¯m here to end you.""What?" Goki said."You''re nuts. Thumb''s word is absolute; it takes priority over someone as pitiful as you. He has saved the world from forgetting how to be social. He¡¯s gotten rid of all antisocial people. He¡¯s made online discussions less toxic, and he¡¯s also made it so that there¡¯s world peace," Ren stated."Any attempt to change the status quo is punishable by death, if need be. And this new leader, this savior, needs to be ejected. And I don¡¯t mean like in a cartoon. I mean he must die.""Why should he die? You can¡¯t just force people to be social. You can¡¯t just rule over the whole world with a singular force, a single person making every rule. Thumb is a maniac filled with bias and harmful beliefs. What makes people human are their imperfections. Removing antisocial people just isn¡¯t entirely possible. All he¡¯s done is force people to put on masks in fear. No one is themselves anymore. So what if there used to be toxic online discussions? People can be toxic; it¡¯s human nature. Instead of trying to get rid of them, he should¡¯ve educated people about it, you know, like what schools were doing for years before he was in power by telling kids about cyberbullying. And people won¡¯t just forget how to be social. Humans are social creatures. It¡¯s not that antisocial people or people with anxiety don¡¯t want to talk; it¡¯s just that they''re stuck with crowds of people. They usually still have a small group of friends or will at some point make a few friends. Coming out of their shell would¡¯ve taken time. Time that Thumb stole from them. And his stunt with nuking a certain area killed my mom while she was grocery shopping," I said, laying down my information on Ren.


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    "Silence," Ren said. "Lord Thumbs'' laws are absolute. No one bad-talks him and his noble goal and gets away with it!" Ren shouted before lunging at me with some sorta plasblade¡ªa plasblade is a sword whose blade is made from plasma. It¡¯s a very dangerous weapon from an ancient civilization.Ren tries to strike me, but I use my energy barrier, a barrier that¡¯s powered by the energy I emit from my aura. Then, I counterattack by shooting my laser gun, but Ren dodges it.


    And I¡¯ll say it again: Thumbs'' power is absolute. He is justice. He is in the right. He¡¯s always been in the right," Ren said."No, he¡¯s not!" I yelled. "He killed hundreds of innocent people in his reign, all to gain control because of his belief that humanity had gone astray. Well, wake up! Humanity hadn¡¯t gone astray; they evolved, they adapted. We would¡¯ve never forgotten how to be social. He shouldn¡¯t try to control the world just because a few bad apples exist. By trying to remove the problem, all he did was make the people he saw as a problem hide in the shadows.""That¡¯s enough," Ren said before using the plasblade and cutting a bit through my shirt, giving a part of my chest burns. I screamed in pain before regaining my composure."Why are you trying so hard to plead your case? Why are you trying to make me believe in Thumbs'' goal?" I asked.


    "Because I want to believe Thumb is right, no, I know that Thumb''s right," Ren says, seemingly unsure of himself."No, you''re not sure of it. I wasn''t sure of it, but now I know you''re also not sure whether or not Thumb is right. Well, like I keep saying, he''s in the wrong," Ren then pauses for a moment, looks at me, I then look back at him, and I nod."I see now. I didn¡¯t want to believe what Thumb... no, what I was doing was wrong. I wanted badly to believe in Thumb''s goal, but now I see that I was wrong about Thumb," Ren says suddenly. Goki''s face turns into anger and disgust, and he begins to speak."So, Ren, Thumb''s most devoted follower, turns out to not be so devoted after all," Goki says.


    Goki then just holds out his hand. It has a weird apparatus around his wrist. He holds out his hand, and a strange red aura begins to surround his arm before being concentrated into an energy ball. This strange device seems to let one manifest their body''s aura into power. Goki then launches it at Ren, but Ren uses his plasma blade to knock it away from him."Back me up, Ren!" shouted Goki. "He''s not to be underestimated. He''s more powerful than any of us.""Got it," I said. Ren and I lunge towards Goki. I fire a laser from my laser gun, but it wasn''t enough. Goki hits me on the back of my head with his shoulder, knocking me out. Ren tries to strike Goki with his plasma sword, but it wasn''t enough, and Goki deflects it with an energy shield.


    As I regained consciousness, the scene before me was a blur of movement and chaos. Goki and Ren were locked in a fierce battle, each wielding their respective powers with determination. Despite being outnumbered, Ren fought with a newfound resolve, fueled by his realization of Thumb''s tyranny. Struggling to my feet, I shook off the dizziness, my mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. I had to fight apart while innocent lives hung in the balance. With determination coursing through my veins, I joined the fray, my laser gun at the ready."Ren, stop!" I shouted, trying to break through their intense focus on each other. "We need to put an end to this madness!"Ren glanced in my direction, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and uncertainty. "Zemaku... you''re right," he muttered, his grip on the plasblade faltering for a moment. "We need to finish this together," Ren said. We both looked at each other and nodded. We then lunged at Goki with seemingly a new plan, despite not really having spoken about it to each other. I lunged towards Goki, getting ready to aim my laser gun, but I stopped right as it was about to fire, and Ren sneaked up to Goki, dealing the finishing blow.After Goki was defeated, Ren and I looked at each other and smiled."So now what?" Ren asked. "Where do we go from here?""Well, since you betrayed Thumb, you can''t go back with him. Let''s team up.""Sure," Ren said. And so, Ren and I walked towards the hover car so that we could go back to the base together, having a new member of the resistance against Thumb.

 Chapter 1 Joe

    So, Ren, you don¡¯t have to help us fight if you don¡¯t want to. I will understand,¡± I said.


    ¡°No, Zemaku,¡± Ren said. ¡°I owe you my life. You changed my entire outlook on life. You see, everyone in Thumb''s army are people who have been hurt and tormented by others. They have all seen such hell. It¡¯s why they believe in Thumb''s goal that removing free will and even free speech will make us all, as a society, happier,¡± Ren said while seriously staring into my eyes.


    ¡°So then, how exactly were you hurt?¡± I asked.


    ¡°To be honest, I was hoping you wouldn¡¯t ask that,¡± Ren said. ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s a bit of a touchy subject, but I don¡¯t mind telling you. After all, I can trust you,¡± Ren said, the honesty ringing home in his tone of voice.


    ¡°Why though? Even though you¡¯ve just met me, why can you trust me?¡±


    ¡°Well, you see, you remind me of a friend I had before the war Thumb started. A friend who used to believe in me. A friend I trusted, and he trusted me, but¡­ everything changed when I got falsely accused of some really fucked up shit by a girl I¡¯d been dating for a while,¡± Ren said with a hint of anger.


    ¡°I can already tell where this is going,¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, Zemaku, what you''re thinking is probably right,¡± Ren exclaimed. ¡°She accused me of assaulting her after coming home drunk from work. She said I did horrible, unspeakable things to her, and because the legal system was pretty messed up, I lost a lawsuit with her. All my friends stopped talking to me, even the one friend I thought I could trust. So can you see why I decided to believe in Thumb''s ideals? He found me when I was at my lowest, made me believe in his plans, and I fell for it like the depressed man with no reason left to keep going would. I was broken, Zemaku, broken by the world,¡± Ren said.


    Suddenly, my dad, Commander Bill, came walking in through the door.


    ¡°Quick, check the news,¡± he exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯re not going to believe it, Zemaku.¡± Ren and I both came to the TV. When I looked at what I saw, I was the only one that was shocked. Well, my father was probably shocked too before I got there.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ren asked. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. He¡¯s just one of Thumb''s followers.¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s not just any ordinary follower of Thumb. He was a friend of mine back in high school.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Ren said in complete surprise.


    ---


    Chapter 1: Joe


    Joe was my best friend back in high school¡ªwell, one of them. The other two were Brian and Serena. The four of us were really close. I even had a crush on Serena; she was the only person I¡¯d ever loved. I¡¯ve never fallen in love since. Brian, Serena, and I kept in touch after high school, but I could never get the courage to ask Serena out¡ªsomething I would come to regret, as they both died.


    ¡°So, what about Joe?¡± Ren asked.


    ¡°Well, Joe and I were the closest ones out of the friend group. Don¡¯t get me wrong, Brian was a good guy, but Joe just had that vibe about him. He was way more social than me. By high school, I was just some socially awkward individual with an obsession with Monstermon. I was honestly blessed, in hindsight, that one of my friends just so happened to be the most popular girl in school. But¡­ to get back to the story, Joe was someone who, despite thinking of me as a wimp who would never make it into the military, supported my dream. I got bullied often in high school, and Joe used it to teach me. He made every time I got bullied a learning experience and taught me ways to defend myself long before my father began my training for the military. In some ways, I guess you could say that Joe was a genius and had prepared me early. I wasn¡¯t really allowed a phone in junior high back when I met Joe, and since Joe would often get into fights with other kids, he was forced to move schools before he ever got a phone. So I never got to get his social media. Just look at Joe on the TV, Ren¡ªhe¡¯s lost the light in his eyes I used to see in him. Do you know what could¡¯ve broken him?¡±


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    ¡°No clue,¡± Ren said.


    ¡°Joe has the Thumb emblem on his shirt. That emblem is a sign he¡¯s a high-ranking warrior, higher rank than me and Goki. The only people allowed at that rank are those Thumb deems worthy. Sorry, but I don¡¯t think I can really be of much help in this case. My rank was too low to have ever known him,¡± Ren said.


    Here¡¯s the revised text with improved grammar and punctuation:


    ---


    ¡°Well, no matter what, I have to try to reconnect with Joe and figure out what happened after high school. I need to know what his breaking point was and how Thumb used that to his advantage,¡± I said with clear conviction.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Ren said.


    I¡¯m going to look for more information on Joe,¡± my dad said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep checking the news and hack Thumb¡¯s database to find any mentions of Joe.


    For the past two weeks, my dad has been gathering information on Joe. He¡¯s been hacking into Thumb¡¯s database by employing advanced hacking techniques and strategies in the dimly lit room of our base, if you can even call it that. He¡¯s searched for Joe¡¯s past activities, any previous ranks, and tried to figure out how Thumb¡¯s hierarchy works, as we barely know anything about it. He also looked for any records of personal events that may have happened in Joe¡¯s life. My dad took advantage of an insider at Thumb¡¯s headquarters¡ªsomeone who had long since given up hope on my father¡¯s cause. However, since he owed one last favor to my dad, he caved and told him that Joe is supposed to be on a new mission sometime in the next two weeks to help Thumb with a new village that¡¯s gaining free will. Unfortunately, my dad couldn¡¯t find any information on Joe¡¯s past, which suggests that Thumb never really keeps records on his employees'' pasts. The only information he keeps is from when people start work there.


    My dad then went with me and told me everything he knew, including how Thumb¡¯s hierarchy works. Ren and Goki are part of the group known as No Thumbs¡ªthe group that¡¯s just known as weaklings and are the low levels, as is the other term for them. Then come the Small Thumbs. Small Thumbs are followers with a small skill level who don¡¯t really do hard work either, but they get slightly higher jobs than the No Thumbs because they are just 99% better than the No Thumbs. Medium Thumbs are those who are intermediate and get medium-rank jobs. High Thumbs get high-ranked jobs. But then there¡¯s another rank beyond that, which Thumb¡¯s men can achieve¡ªa rank known as S Thumbs or S-Tier Thumbs. S-Tier Thumbs are masters, the highest class possible. They are considered to be gods in terms of power, second to none, only being outmatched by Thumb himself. And Joe is one of the S-Tier Thumbs.


    Two weeks later, I prepared to meet with Joe and try to find him on his mission. I thought I could also stop him from gaining control of the village and the resistance, but it was too late. When I got there, Joe was gone, but there were villagers cowering in fear and a dead village elder on the floor. However, there was one person still ready to fight.


    ¡°Joe, STOP!¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s me, Zemaku. What¡¯s the meaning of this? This isn¡¯t like you. Back in high school, you were pro-freedom of speech. What happened?¡±


    Joe just looked me in the eyes in shock. It seemed the light came back into his eyes for a moment, but it disappeared quickly, and he stared at me intensely. Suddenly, a strong-looking man came out of the village houses and asked what was going on. Joe said it was nothing and told him he would take care of it, signaling me to come inside with him.


    I went inside, thinking this might finally be a good moment to talk, but when we got into the room, there was dead silence between us. It was really awkward, to be honest. We were in a sad, pathetic-looking room with an immense chill. It felt very cold and almost sad. I could sense that Joe, for some reason, felt sad¡ªsad for what he¡¯d done, maybe, or was he sad that he was meeting me like this?


    ¡°Hey, Joe, remember all those times you helped me with bullies back in junior high? Or how you stood up for me when a teacher wrongfully accused me of cheating back in math¡ª¡±


    But Joe interrupted, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t act friendly with me.¡±


    ¡°What? Joe, please! What was your trigger? Why did you join Thumb¡¯s army?¡± I begged. No, I pleaded for an answer. Even after all these years, I still considered Joe to be my best friend. But Joe just sat there silently for a moment before saying, ¡°You¡¯d never understand.¡±


    ¡°No, I would!¡± I quipped back. ¡°Please, just talk to me.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Joe said. ¡°Just escape through the back door now!¡±


    ¡°Joe!¡± I yelled. ¡°But I can¡¯t! I just got reunited with you!¡± But Joe just yelled at me, ¡°So you want me to be forced to kill my best friend?¡± he screamed, crying. ¡°Please, just leave!¡±


    At that moment, the lighting in the room became brighter¡ªkind of angelic. Joe was being genuine, and it was probably the first time he¡¯d been genuine in years.


    ¡°Please, Joe,¡± I pleaded.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said, before exiting through the back door and bolting. Damn, I thought to myself. What happened to you, Joe? You seemed genuinely sad, genuinely broken. How much did life break you for you to give up your own morals?


    Chapter 1 End.

 Chapter 2 Goki’s Return!

    Welcome back, Zemaku. Did you find out about Joe¡¯s past, or did you make him an ally yet, for that matter?" Ren said.


    "No, not at all," I said. "In fact, when I met Joe for the first time in a while, he was a completely different person. He only ever showed a couple of glimpses of what he once was, and when I asked what his breaking point was, he told me to leave and that I wouldn¡¯t understand."


    I told Ren, Hmm.


    Ren was thinking. "Ya know, if someone I knew from my past, who didn¡¯t know what happened to me, came up to me for the first time in years after I went through something traumatic and decided to ask me what happened, I¡¯d have probably said the same thing," Ren exclaimed.


    "I just wish I knew what changed Joe," I exclaimed.


    "No time for that," my dad said.


    "Oh, hey, Dad," I said. "So, what¡¯s up?"


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    "Who are you calling ''Dad''?" my father said. "I thought I told you before, call me by my rank. I¡¯m Commander Bill."


    "Oh, I¡¯m sorry, Commander," I said in embarrassment. "So, what did you interrupt for?" I asked.


    "Goki has just changed ranks on Thumb''s hierarchy and demands a rematch with Ren."


    "What?" Ren and I said in unison.


    Neon War Chapter 2 Goki¡¯s Return!


    "Should I go too?" I asked Ren.


    "No, I¡¯m going alone," Ren said before storming off.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll just have to run and make my way toward Goki. I doubt his rank has changed that much," Ren said as he ran toward the location where Goki could be, not realizing the threat that stood in his way.


    The scenery changed more and more, and the sky seemed to get darker. There was more smog and smoke in the sky¡ªmore pollution¡ªas Ren got closer and closer to the meeting spot. Suddenly, he arrived, and Goki was there, standing atop a rock. The moment he saw Ren, he decided to flex his new rank and strength by using his AMD, or Aura Manifestation Device, to manifest a weapon with his aura¡ªa sword-like weapon made of pure aura. Not just any aura, but an aura that reeked of wrath. He moved his right arm backward and then jumped, slashing at the rock. Instead of cutting it in half, he shattered it into tiny pieces.


    "Kyahahaha!" Goki laughed. "Ren, you fool! You walked into a trap. You really think a no-thumb like you can kick my ass? Ehehahahaha!" Goki laughed even more.


    "What?" Ren said. "Come on, Goki, you¡¯ve only really changed rank to a small thumb. You¡¯re only slightly more powerful than me," Ren said, brimming with confidence. Yet Goki just smirked.


    "Oh really? Well, your legs seem to know more than your body, eh?" Ren said, then looked at his feet.


    "Kyahahaha! So you finally noticed," Goki said. "I¡¯ll let you in on a secret: I¡¯m not a small thumb in rank at all. I¡¯m a medium thumb, and you know damn well that you stand no chance against me! Kyahahahaha!"


    To be continued¡­

 Neon War Chapter 3: No Choice but to Run… Time to train with Commander Bill!

    Neon War Chapter 3: No Choice but to Run¡­ Time to train with Commander Bill!


    ¡°Hah, so, Ren, how does it feel to know your time¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Grrr¡­ I have to win, no matter what,¡± Ren thinks to himself.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You can¡¯t speak? You¡¯ve been staring at me, frustrated, for two minutes. Oh well, I¡¯ll just have to make the first move,¡± Goki exclaimed before creating a barrier around his fists to intensify his strength.


    ¡°Hyahh!¡± Goki yelled before dealing critical damage to Ren.


    Gah!" Ren yelled. "NO, I WON''T LOSE! HYAAHHHHHH!" Ren let out a loud battle cry before hitting Goki with his Plasblade.Stolen story; please report.


    Goki shrugged it off and smiled. "Silly Ren," Goki said mockingly, "I am way stronger than before. I bet you can''t even hit me with that sword of yours. It''s no better than a toothpick."


    "Goki, I came here to put an end to you once and for all. It doesn¡¯t matter if you''re a Medium Thumb, John the Baptist, a Super Sand Bleu, or a Titan¡ªI will still kick your ass and end you!" Ren exclaimed.


    Kyahahaha!" Goki laughed. "Ren, really, your lines are laughable. You had me in the first half, I¡¯ll admit, but then you mentioned John the Baptist and devolved into anime references. Honestly, I never thought you were a weeb! But hey, it doesn¡¯t matter¡ªyour speech means nothing because you¡¯re still gonna die! KYAHAHAHAHAHA!"


    "Hey!" a voice called from far away. It was Zemaku.


    "Long time no see, Goki," Zemaku said.


    "ZEMAKU, STAY OUT OF THIS!" Ren yelled.


    "Ren, this is not your fight anymore," Zemaku said.


    "But why?" Ren asked.


    "Goki''s hit a vital point," Zemaku responded.


    "WHAT? ARGGGHH!" Ren screamed.


    "Ren, I¡¯ll buy you time. I won¡¯t interfere in your fight, but I will buy you time to get stronger. Go back to the base and train with my dad. He¡¯s a military expert, and he knows how to make a man stronger. Train with him while I buy you time."


    TO BE CONTINUED...

 Neon War Chapter 4: Toji

    Neon War Chapter 4: Toji


    "Are you insane? I can¡¯t just¡ªI can¡¯t just leave, Zemaku!" Ren said.


    "Do it now," Zemaku commanded. "I can¡¯t just let you roll over and die," Zemaku pleaded with Ren.


    "Fine, but don¡¯t die, Zemaku!" Ren screamed before attempting to limp away.


    "Kyahahaha! You are not going anywhere, little Ren," Goki said smugly. But before he could do anything, Zemaku interfered, moving faster than ever, his aura allowing him to move faster than Goki could react.


    "You¡¯re the scum of the world¡ªno, the universe itself¡ªand you must be erased," Zemaku said in rage.


    Zemaku had managed to buy Ren enough time to escape and train and now stood before Goki.


    "Damn it, what the hell is he? Don¡¯t tell me he gets stronger with his emotions. It can''t be!"


    Zemaku pulled out his Laser Gun from his back pocket and fired it at Goki, but Goki deflected it, and the laser blast destroyed a building in the background.


    "Kyahahaha! I was worried for no reason. Ren may have gotten away, but he won¡¯t get much stronger. And once he returns, he will see you dead, and he will join you in hell! KYAAHAHAHAHA!" Goki laughed maniacally.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    "I would not count on that, Goki," Zemaku growled, his aura growing stronger. As the gun¡¯s power increased, it gained more energy. But before Zemaku could launch his shot, a bunch of Plasma Arrows hit Goki.


    "Plasrows?" Zemaku questioned.


    "Plasrows are said to be made by an ancient civilization, just like the Plasblade, but they work like a bow and arrow. The Plasrow¡ªthe name for the bow in this case¡ªshoots plasma arrows. Does this mean that Ren isn¡¯t the only one with advanced ancient weapons?" Zemaku asked himself.


    "Toji, you bastard! Why would you betray Thumb?" Goki asked, choking on his blood.


    "You fool. I never worked for Thumb," a voice said from the distance.


    The strange man walked up from behind the cliff where he had been hiding, revealing his army of men, who all aimed their weapons at Thumb.


    "Hey, Zemaku, nice to finally meet you! Ren¡¯s been talking to me in secret, and I¡¯ve been building up a resistance against Thumb since I found out he joined you. I¡¯m Toji¡ªnice to meet you," Toji said.


    "Toji, you traitor! I¡¯ll be sure to tell Thumb. Your days are numbered!" Goki said, nearly dead.


    "You fail to realize that you¡¯re a dead man, Goki," Toji said, then signaled his army to shoot Plasrows, ending Goki.


    "So, you said you follow Ren¡¯s orders?" Zemaku asked.


    "Yes. Thumb gives each of his followers a leader; it¡¯s just that some get to lead multiple men. Since Ren¡¯s been gone, I¡¯ve been making myself stronger and stronger, both mentally and physically, in preparation for the revolution you¡¯re sure to lead, Zemaku. I know that you will be this world¡¯s savior."


    Chapter 4 End

 Neon War Chapter 5: Goki’s Past

    I¡¯ve gotta be strong. I¡¯ve gotta be strong. I¡¯ve gotta be strong.


    ¡°Goki, you¡¯re moving up in the world.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, President Thumb.¡±


    ¡°No, it can¡¯t end like this. The strong never die,¡± Goki said after a bit of his past flashed through his mind, like his life was flashing before his eyes.


    Neon War Chapter 5: Goki¡¯s Past


    ¡°His life is flashing before his eyes,¡± Toji said, able to tell what Goki was going through as if he were peering into Goki¡¯s soul.


    Was Thumb wrong? Goki questioned himself.


    I¡¯ve always been raised to believe in the strong. Since childhood, my family valued strength above anything. They¡¯d tell me and my brother, Gama, that a strong man rises above and conquers all. I lived by those words all my life, Goki thought to himself.


    Even after I found out that my parents never loved me and loved Gama more¡ªeven after they abandoned me at the age of fifteen¡ªI still remember the day Thumb found me, abandoned and broken.


    ¡°Do you want power, kid?¡± Thumb had told me. ¡°Join me, and we¡¯ll be strong together.¡±


    And thus began my journey of climbing the ranks of Thumb¡¯s army. I¡¯m currently twenty-five, and I¡¯ve been in Thumb¡¯s ranks for a while. I¡¯ve been with him since day one, and I always believed in his goal. No¡ªrather, I always believed in his strength.


    As for my parents, I still remember the day of their betrayal. I thought I was the strongest¡ªthey raised me to believe I was. But then, one day, they broke it to me: Gama was the strongest.


    As someone raised in a high-end noble family of assassins for the military, I was deemed useless to them. And so, they threw me out like garbage.


    I¡¯ve spent all my life in pursuit of strength, Goki continued to think to himself. Then, his eyes opened once more. Toji was about to attack and finish him, but Goki cut him off.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°End me!¡± Goki screamed.


    ¡°What?¡± Toji and Zemaku said in unison.


    ¡°You heard me¡ªend me, Toji. You¡¯ve proven your strength. End me now!¡± Goki demanded.


    ¡°But this isn¡¯t like you¡ªto give up,¡± Toji questioned.


    ¡°You¡¯ve surpassed me, not just in strength, but as a person,¡± Goki said.


    ¡°As a person?¡± Toji repeated in confusion.


    ¡°Yes, as a person,¡± Goki continued. ¡°Sure, you only did this for your loyalty to Ren, but deep down, I can tell it¡¯s a bit deeper than that. You also see an issue with Thumb¡¯s philosophy, just like Zemaku and now Ren. While I¡¯ve been blinded by Thumb¡¯s strength, all I¡¯ve ever done is follow the strongest. It makes sense why I couldn¡¯t see it¡ªmy family never raised me to think critically. I always followed orders.¡±


    ¡°Goki, what do you mean your family never raised you to think critically? What family were you born into? Don¡¯t tell me that¡ª¡±


    But Goki cut Toji off.


    ¡°Yes, Toji. I was raised under the assassination family of the northern areas of the military. A family that Thumb quickly disposed of after learning of my background. My family background was the Kratosian Family. The name of our family was inspired by Kratos, the personification of strength and power. It represented a family that valued power and strength above all else.¡±


    ¡°My family emotionally manipulated me,¡± Goki continued. ¡°They treated me like I was special, but then it turned out that my older brother was the one they considered special. They abandoned me like I was garbage once they realized I couldn¡¯t be fixed, and they told me the truth.¡±


    ¡°Then Thumb recruited me at the age of 15.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about your excuses!¡± Zemaku yelled. ¡°You laughed as you brutally tortured a literal child in a village over information about a man who was considered that village¡¯s savior. I can¡¯t just forgive you for that!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think I know what I did?¡± Goki screamed. ¡°I was an evil scumbag who wasn¡¯t afraid of anything, but I never chose to be like this. Thumb¡¯s goal of total control, believing humanity had strayed too far, becoming weak and divided due to our over-reliance on social media and our disconnectedness from the world¡ªI wanted to believe in it. My family would encourage me but would still be distant. They would often be on their phones when encouraging me, but I never noticed it until I got older. That was why Thumb got rid of them¡ªthey were against everything he stood for and everything about the world he was trying to build.¡±


    ¡°It hurt me. It made me cry like a bitch. My parents even called me a bitch when they abandoned me and called me a baby. Do you know how painful that is for a 15-year-old to hear from his parents?¡± Goki screamed, while crying.


    Goki and Zemaku stared at Goki¡ªthis buff, hard-boiled man in a cape who looked as suspicious and evil as can be¡ªcrying with the soulful eyes and innocence of a child.


    ¡°Zemaku, let¡¯s take him with us back to your hideout. Please, just trust me. He¡¯s no use to Thumb anymore anyway. He¡¯ll throw him out like garbage too.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Zemaku gave in.


    Chapter 5 End

 Neon War Chapter 6: The Lucid Rooms Dream Song

    "Okay, Ren, here¡¯s where you will be training," Zemaku¡¯s dad said, pointing to a door with a worn sign that read Lucid Room.


    "What¡¯s a Lucid Room?" Ren asked. "Isn¡¯t that the room the military used 5,000 years ago to train?"


    "The Lucid Room is a room based on dreams," Zemaku¡¯s dad explained. "It puts you in a dream-like state. It¡¯s a room that can give a lifetime¡¯s worth of training, as once you enter it, you fall into a sleep-like state. It isn¡¯t just for getting a year¡¯s worth of training but can also help with one¡¯s mental state and battling one¡¯s demons."


    "I thought the Lucid Room was just a legend!"


    "No," said Commander Bill. "I discovered it in our base by accident," Bill said. "I even tried it. It¡¯s just like the legends¡ªand it helped me get over my wife¡¯s death. My son, Zemaku, refuses to use it, as he doesn¡¯t want to move on from Brian and Serena¡¯s deaths. He thinks it would dishonor their memories," Bill said.


    "Then I¡¯ll go. I¡¯m not afraid to fight my demons. The legends say you have no choice in how the room chooses to train you and that every time it¡¯s different. Is that how it actually works?" Ren asked.


    "Yes," Commander Bill responded. "Now get in," Bill demanded.


    <hr>


    Neon War Chapter 6: The Lucid Room''s Dream Song


    "What¡¯s going on?" Ren asked himself. Then, suddenly, he could only speak in rhymes:Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "The Lucid Room? A dream-like state?


    A place where time bends¡ªmy fate to create?


    It sounds unreal, a myth from the past,


    Can training like this really happen so fast?"


    Then, suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small fry¡ªa girl on standby. She laughed and laughed, almost as if giving an autograph, but this was the girl who had made him laugh his last laugh.


    "Grrr, nooo!" Ren screamed. "Enough! I do not sing!" Ren demanded of the room. "Just help me with my training!"


    Suddenly, a strange voice he had never heard before responded. A feminine voice said, "Okay, sorry! Just having fun," before removing Ren¡¯s singing from the dream.


    "Ren," another female voice said. This time, it was one Ren knew all too well¡ªit was his ex-girlfriend.


    "How does it feel to have no life? How does it feel to always be running?" the voice said, laughing. "You know that Zemaku will betray you. I can make that all happen with ease. People believe women more than men¡ªno one will ever believe you."


    "Enough, Lala!" Ren screamed. "I will not be tormented by you. Just leave me alone!"


    "But why, Ren?" Lala taunted. "I bet you don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re fighting for. You don¡¯t even know why you¡¯re screaming at me," she laughed.


    Suddenly, the black nothingness around him began to morph into something¡ªthe house Ren and Lala used to live in.


    "No," Ren thought to himself. "I never wanted to go here again, but Lala is right. Why do I fight? Why am I supposed to scream? What do I have to get mad at? How¡¯d I even let Thumb trick me and use me? And how should I go about defeating Thumb? How do I help Zemaku?"


    Ren lamented these thoughts for a moment, then said, "Okay, I guess I¡¯ll just continue the training."


    Chapter 6 End

 Neon War Chapter 7: Zemaku Returns to Base

    Zemaku¡¯s dad ponders about how Ren''s training is going when he hears the door open.


    "Zemaku?" he thought to himself. "There¡¯s no way he could beat Goki. He¡¯s not ready yet. Maybe it¡¯s one of Thumb¡¯s troops."


    Zemaku¡¯s dad gets ready to attack with a baseball bat in hand. He knew he was not a natural-born fighter¡ªhe was only a leader. But he readied himself. Just as he was about to attack, he stopped.


    "Zemaku? What are you doing back?" he asked his son.


    "Well, Dad¡ªum, I mean, Commander Bill¡ªI had help."


    "Help?" Zemaku¡¯s dad asked.


    "Yes," Zemaku responded.


    "Hi, I¡¯m Toji," Toji said, introducing himself to Zemaku¡¯s dad.


    "So does that mean you helped my son defeat Goki?" Bill asked.


    "Actually, um, I tried to beat Goki, but Goki survived," Toji admitted.


    "What?" Zemaku¡¯s dad said in shock.


    <hr>


    Neon War Chapter 7: Zemaku Returns to Base


    Toji and Zemaku explained everything to Bill and showed him an unconscious Goki. Commander Bill understood and felt some sympathy for Goki¡¯s upbringing under the Kratosian family.


    "So, Dad," Zemaku asked, "where¡¯s Ren?"


    "He¡¯s in the Lucid Room," Commander Bill responded.


    "WHAT???" Zemaku said with a hint of anger. "You let Ren go into that room of suffrage?"


    "Zemaku," Bill said sympathetically, "the room is not just a room of suffrage. It¡¯s to help people."


    "Bullshit!" Zemaku exclaimed. "You can¡¯t choose the training¡ªit chooses for you!"If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "That¡¯s because the AI of the room knows your issues," Commander Bill responded.


    "Zemaku, I think it¡¯s time I give you information I¡¯ve been holding from you," Commander Bill said.


    "I¡¯m sure you know about what Thumb¡¯s been doing and his motivations, but I don¡¯t think you know the full extent of what he¡¯s doing," Bill continued.


    "Under Thumb''s rule, Earth became more polluted as he bombed the larger countries that resisted him and stole any ancient weapons from the advanced society of the Kyozans. He also began capturing certain people who defied him, forcing them into slavery to work in his chemical plants.


    As Thumb¡¯s rule spread, underground resistance cells formed worldwide, often hiding in ruins, forests, or abandoned industrial zones to avoid detection. These bases were built from repurposed ancient technology, usually incorporating Kyozan relics to shield or protect against Thumb¡¯s forces. These groups varied widely, each with their own rules, technologies, and tactics. Some operated in the shadows, plotting sabotage missions or gathering intelligence. Unfortunately, Thumb crushed all resistance using sheer force.


    The Kyozans left behind mysterious artifacts and weapons that Thumb and others attempt to harness. Some devices are too advanced for modern science to fully understand, and attempts to use them often backfire, creating disasters or even ''cursed'' zones. Thumb¡¯s chemical plants might be exploiting Kyozan tech for his benefit, causing strange mutations or environmental hazards in areas surrounding the plants¡ªbut that¡¯s just speculation on my part.


    I¡¯m sure you know the legend of the Plasblade and Plasrows. Well, those are Kyozan tech. Thumb¡¯s men have been gathering this tech for years since it is far more advanced than our own, and he¡¯s been devising ways to harness the Kyozans'' technology.


    Remember Goki¡¯s Aura Manifestation Device? It¡¯s part of a larger range of aura-based weapons or techniques lost to time. Some rare techniques might be hidden within ancient texts or known only by a few people, such as aura cloaking to avoid detection or merging tech with a Kyozan relic to enhance one¡¯s abilities. By combining different Kyozan tech, one could create the ultimate weapon. Thumb has plenty of weapons just like that, and your normal laser gun is nothing compared to a Plasgun¡ªthe Kyozan equivalent.


    You¡¯ll need to find a Plasgun of your own one day," Zemaku¡¯s dad stated.


    Meanwhile, during Ren¡¯s training¡­


    "What¡¯s going on? Why am I still here? Why are you tormenting me, Lala? Why did you do what you did?" Ren demanded.


    "You know why, Ren," Lala said coldly. "It¡¯s because I had a lot to gain¡ªyour former friends, a better life, all your money in a lawsuit. There was so much I just had to take from you."


    "All I ever wanted was a man who could support me, and you could," Lala continued. "You did it so well, I just had to take it all for myself!" Lala let out a cruel laugh. "Hahahaha!"


    "Damn it!" Ren complained. "I just don¡¯t know how I¡¯m supposed to do this training. I don¡¯t even completely know why I betrayed Thumb. Zemaku just sorta reminded me of myself before I gave up on who I was¡ªat a time when I thought I could seek justice for what had happened to me. He reminded me of a version of me who wasn¡¯t tainted by Thumb¡¯s goals. But what can I make out of this information? How do I go along with this training?"


    "Hey, you''re going about this all wrong," said the same female voice from earlier, the one that made Ren sing in his dream. "I¡¯ll tell you what¡ªI¡¯ll give you a hint."


    To be continued...

 Neon War Chapter 8: The Mysterious AI Canal

    "Who are you?" Ren demanded, seeking an answer from the strange female voice.


    "I am Canal," the voice responded, before appearing before Ren.


    Once Canal took physical form, she appeared as a young girl in her 20s, with short turquoise hair wrapped in a bun. She wore a black butler shirt and mismatched pink jeans.


    "So let me explain..."


    Neon War Chapter 8: The Mysterious AI Canal


    <hr>


    "So, Zemaku, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t know anything about the AI in the Lucid Room at all. All that you know is that you despise her, thinking she¡¯s just playing with people¡¯s emotions. Is that correct?" Zemaku¡¯s dad asked.


    "You make it sound like an AI can have a gender," Zemaku said, confused.


    "Well, Canal is different from other AIs, you see. The Lucid Room is run by an ancient Kyozan AI named Canal. Canal is an ancient Kyozan AI that, once it takes physical form, looks like a young girl with short turquoise hair wrapped in a bun, wearing a black butler shirt and mismatched pink jeans. Canal was the Kyozan¡¯s goddess¡ªsomeone they looked up to. She was called Canal, the Goddess of Dreams. One day, she returned to Earth to meet the Kyozan, but when an ancient war happened 5,000 years ago, Canal was forced to help her people grow, to help them overcome past trauma, and ultimately, she was forced to die at the hands of the enemy.


    The Kyozan soldiers who were fighting in the war rushed Canal to the Kyozan hospital, but it was too late. So, they cloned her brain and consciousness entirely, turning her into an AI and creating the Lucid Room so she could continue helping people, even after her death. I learned about Canal¡¯s origin myself from her," Commander Bill said.


    "What?" Zemaku said.


    "Yes, she helped me get over my wife¡¯s death, the death of your mother. When I asked her who she was after discovering the Lucid Room, she explained everything¡ªher origin, her death, and her powers. All Kyozan weapons were made based on Canal¡¯s power."The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    So, does that mean Ren is fighting his inner demons? Zemaku asked.


    "Yes," Commander Bill responded. "Ren¡¯s past trauma is probably holding him back. To use the Plasblade to its full potential, one must be free of mental instabilities."


    Meanwhile, in the Lucid Room:


    "So then, Canal, what the hell are you?" Ren demanded.


    "Okay, let me give you some backstory about who I am," Canal replied. "Do you know anything about your weapon, the Plasblade?"


    "Yeah," Ren said, still confused.


    "Do you know its backstory?" Canal asked.


    "No," Ren admitted.


    One Minute Later


    "So, you''re an AI clone of the Kyozan goddess, and the Plasblade is a Kyozan-made weapon?" Ren asked, now piecing things together.


    "Yes," Canal confirmed.


    "So then, why should I trust you? So far, you''ve forced me into a traumatic situation I¡¯ve been trying to escape for years," Ren said, his frustration clear.


    "Let me ask you something, Ren," Canal said calmly. "Do you know why I¡¯ve been putting you into this situation?"


    "No," Ren admitted. "I don¡¯t understand it at all. The Plasblade has always just been a weapon¡ªa tool for me to use. That¡¯s how it is for everyone who works under Thumb."


    "Well then, Ren, here¡¯s the thing," Canal explained. "The one thing holding you back is your mental state¡ªyour mental health. Before I can train you physically, I need to help you overcome your past. That is the only way you can truly master the Plasblade."


    "So, I have to face my inner demons and come to terms with my past. Is that correct?" Ren asked.


    "Yes," Canal responded.


    "Then how do I do that?" Ren pressed.


    "Talk it out¡ªnot just with Lala, but with yourself," Canal advised. "Figure out your reason to fight, and use that to find the strength to move forward. That¡¯s my hint for you."


    Canal began to step back, preparing to leave. "You''re lucky," she continued. "I¡¯ve encountered others who needed guidance before, and believe me, there are plenty of people who had it worse than you. There¡¯s always someone with greater struggles. Remember that during your training, and use it to give you strength. Think to yourself¡ªwould Zemaku give up here?"


    "How do you know about Zemaku?" Ren asked, startled.


    "Because when you¡¯re in this room, I can see your memories," Canal explained. "I use that to choose your training."


    With that, Canal began to fade from sight. "Goodbye, Ren," she said, disappearing before his eyes.


    So, I guess I just have to do as she said, Ren thought to himself.


    To be continued...

 Neon War Chapter 9: The Link Between Kyozan and Demi

    "So, Toji, you and Ren must¡¯ve been inseparable. I loved to hear about your stories from before Thumb''s rule," Commander Bill said. "I also loved hearing about how you both were Linkin Park fanatics. You know, my son was also a Linkin Park fanatic. What did you think of their come ba¡ª"


    But before Bill could finish speaking, there was a knock at the door.


    "It must be one of Thumb''s men," Bill said, grabbing his baseball bat. He opened the door and, on instinct, hit the person standing there.


    "Oww! What the fuck?" a feminine voice exclaimed.


    "Oops, I guess it wasn¡¯t Thumb¡¯s men after all. What¡¯s with the fox ears?" Bill asked.


    <hr>


    Neon War Chapter 9: The Link Between Kyozan and Demi


    Commander Bill places the fox-eared girl on the couch and carefully applies ice to her forehead. Her unconscious body appears to be that of a fox-human hybrid, with orange fox ears, an orange tail, blonde hair, and blue eyes. She¡¯s dressed in a crop top, but the most peculiar part of her appearance is her choice of clothing¡ªa brown bikini bottom, which seems like an odd fashion statement.


    After a few minutes, the fox girl woke up, saw Commander Bill, and screamed, "What the fuck was that for?"


    "Sorry! I thought you were one of Thumb''s men," Bill said.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Oh shit! I forgot¡ªThumb! He¡¯s going after my people!" she exclaimed.


    "What?" Bill said, startled.


    Soon after, Zemaku rushed in, having heard the girl scream twice now.


    "Dad, what¡¯s going on?" Zemaku asked, his voice edged with concern. "And what the fuck is with the animal girl?" he added in confusion.


    Meanwhile, in the Lucid Room, Ren continued his training. He knew he needed to confront his past, but he still wasn¡¯t sure how to approach it. Suddenly, a thought struck him.


    "That¡¯s it!" Ren said, his voice resolute.


    Back outside, at the couch where the fox girl had been placed, she began to explain her story.


    "Hi, I¡¯m Lea," she introduced herself. "I¡¯m part of the Demi-Human Tribe."


    "Demi-Human Tribe?" Bill and Zemaku said in unison, both surprised.


    "Yes," Lea continued. "I¡¯m sure you already know about the Kyozans. From what Canal told us, one of your own is training..."


    "You know about Canal?" Bill asked.


    "Yes," Lea responded. "You see, the Demi-Human Tribe was close allies with the Kyozans. Once Canal, the goddess of dreams, died, they created the Lucid Room as a place not only to train the Kyozan soldiers who were going to fight in the war but also to help them combat mental health struggles caused by the war. At some point, the Kyozans'' backs were against the wall, and because they knew our tribe would be questioned about their relics once the war ended, they had us all put into cryostasis and linked with Canal to protect us. They set it up so we would wake up 15 thousand years in the future. But the one you call Thumb managed to find out about us somehow and awakened us from cryostasis. He''s been torturing us about the Kyozan tech, but we don¡¯t know anything about how their tech works, as they never told us anything about it. I managed to escape, but¡ª" Lea suddenly fell over, revealing a knife in her back.


    "Oh no!" Zemaku said.


    To Be Continued¡­..

 Neon War: Chapter 10 - Helping a Demi Out

    Last time on Neon War, the demi-human Lea came to the base of Zemaku¡¯s dad. Zemaku¡¯s dad accidentally knocked her out, and when she regained consciousness, she explained everything that was happening: Thumb, his interrogation of the demi-human clan, and the demi-human clan¡¯s relationship with the Kyozans. She explained that, at some point, the Kyozans'' backs were against the wall. They knew her tribe would be questioned about the Kyozan relics by enemy forces if the Kyozans lost. They realized they had only one way to keep their neighbors safe¡ªcryostasis. So, they put all the demis into cryostasis and linked their brains with the lucid room¡¯s AI, Canal, to protect them. The Kyozans set it up so the demis would wake up 15,000 years in the future, but Thumb managed to find out about the demi clan, awoke them early, and put them in for questioning.


    As Lea was giving out this information, she suddenly fell over. It turned out that one of Thumb¡¯s men had stabbed her in the back, and she was bleeding out. But can Lea be saved?


    Neon War: Chapter 10 - Helping a Demi Out


    "What the hell? When did this happen?" Zemaku asked.


    "It must¡¯ve been one of Thumb¡¯s soldiers. He must¡¯ve known that Lea was going to get help and had one of his men go after her. Stay on guard," Bill told his son. "We may have a spy watching us," Bill added to Zemaku.


    "What do we do about her?" Zemaku asked.


    "We save her. Isn¡¯t it obvious?" Bill replied.


    "But what if she is a spy? What if Thumb sent her?" Zemaku retorted.


    "Do you really think Thumb would send an innocent girl who doesn¡¯t even seem tainted by grief or trauma as a spy?" Bill countered.


    "Well, one of his men did torture a child," Zemaku added.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter," Bill said firmly. "Thumb would only ever make those he thinks align with his goals spy for him. I could see the desperation in Lea¡¯s eyes," Bill continued, his voice tinged with concern. "She¡¯s in danger," he added, clearly worried.


    "Then let¡¯s try to help her. I¡¯ll just believe in your judgment," Zemaku said. "So, what can we do, Dad? I know that you have medical training¡ªcan you help her?"


    "No," Commander Bill responded. "The wound¡¯s too deep."


    "Then what can we do?" Zemaku asked.


    "Only one thing," Bill said. "She will have to enter the Lucid Room."


    "WHAT?" Zemaku screamed. "First Ren, now her?"


    "Relax," Bill said. "The Lucid Room was connected to the demis¡¯ brains before they entered cryostasis, and Lea is still breathing, but barely," Bill added. "That means if she enters the room, Canal can have a clear connection with her, diagnose the issue, and fix it," Bill told Zemaku.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "So then... will Canal force Lea through her training?" Zemaku asked.


    "No," Bill replied. "Lea hasn¡¯t been mentally unstable. She doesn¡¯t need that¡ªshe just needs medical attention. I¡¯m sure Canal will know what to do to fix Lea," Bill told Zemaku, trying to reassure him.


    "You have faith in that nutty AI?" Zemaku asked.


    "She¡¯s not nutty," Bill responded. "She¡¯s just trying to help people. She does her best to support those with mental health struggles in any way she can, and that includes injuries. I¡¯m sure the Kyozans equipped her to handle physical health situations in case of an emergency. It¡¯s the only way," Bill told Zemaku.


    "What if she¡¯s not equipped for it? What if Lea enters the dream world Ren is combating his mental health in?"


    "I don¡¯t think that will be an issue," Bill responded.


    Bill and Zemaku carried Lea into the Lucid Room. Zemaku held her by the feet, and Bill carried her by the head. They moved slowly and carefully¡ªLea was as heavy as a sack of bricks, surprisingly so for such a skinny-looking girl. Suddenly, the room closed on its own behind them, and all three¡ªBill, Zemaku, and Lea¡ªwere placed in the same dream-like state, sharing the same reality.


    "What the hell? I was just unconscious on the floor. Thank God I¡¯m alive," Lea said to herself.


    "You won¡¯t be for long," said a voice that was unfamiliar to Zemaku but all too familiar to his dad and Lea.


    "Canal," Bill and Lea said in unison.


    "Fuck, that¡¯s Canal?" Zemaku exclaimed. "She barely looks older than me! This is the ancient Kyozan AI? She looks like she¡¯s in her 20s. And what¡¯s with the black butler shirt and mismatched pink jeans?" Zemaku asked incredulously.


    "Show her respect," Lea and Bill said in unison.


    "Anyways," Canal said, trying to change the subject, "so this is Zemaku, right?"


    "Yes, this is my son," Bill replied.


    "Zemaku, from what I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯re battling a lot of trauma. You know, if you keep your feelings always bottled up inside, you¡¯ll never be able to use a plasgun to its full potential," Canal said to Zemaku.


    "Mind your own business," Zemaku said.


    "Your loss," Canal responded. "But I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll succeed at your goal if you keep this up."


    "Wait, who told you about my search for a plasgun? I was only recently told about its existence," Zemaku asked.


    "Your father," Canal replied. "Our talks are always nice," she added.


    "Wait, you two talk all the time?"


    "Yes," Canal said.


    "Damn it, Dad, why did¡ª" but Canal cut Zemaku off.


    "We don¡¯t have time to continue this conversation. Lea is in danger of dying unless I do something about her wound," Canal said.


    "Damn it, you''re right," Zemaku said, caving in. "So, what do we do?" he asked.


    "You don¡¯t have to do anything," Canal said. "I¡¯ll try to stop the bleeding by manifesting myself in the outside world inside the Lucid Room. You and Bill will need to make a decision among yourselves."


    "What decision?" Bill and Zemaku asked together.


    "You both need to decide which one of you will volunteer their blood for a blood transfusion. Lea has lost so much blood, and even with her wounds being closed, she is still at risk of dying," Canal said.


    With that, Canal vanished.


    Chapter 10 End

 Neon War Chapter 11: To the Demi-Human Tribe. Wait, is that Joe?

    "Okay, so which one of us should donate our blood?" Commander Bill asked Zemaku to see if he was willing to do so or not. Zemaku pondered this for a moment¡ª10 seconds, to be exact¡ªbefore his face began to swell up. It turned red, there was sweat all over his face, and then Zemaku spoke.


    "I will," he said.


    "What? Are you sure?" Bill asked his son. "You know I can do it for you if you want."


    "No," Zemaku responded to Bill. "You¡¯re getting old, and I am just 18. It stands to reason that someone around Lea¡¯s age group should help her," Zemaku told Bill.


    "Fine," he said.


    <hr>


    Neon War Chapter 11: To the Demi-Human Tribe. Wait, is that Joe?


    Canal returned and reappeared in front of Commander Bill and Zemaku. The stakes were high, and Canal was ready to ask them for their decision. "So, which one of you has decided to donate your blood for the blood transfusion?" Canal asked.


    "I will," Zemaku responded.


    "Ah, so I guess your father was right about you. You are a noble soul," Canal said.


    "Whatever," Zemaku scoffed, still not much of a fan of Canal.


    "Ah, isn¡¯t that cute? You¡¯re still showing resentment toward my training methods, despite them always working," Canal said sarcastically.


    "Oh, shut up," Zemaku replied, slightly ticked off at Canal for saying that it always works.


    "Calm down," Canal said. "Don¡¯t be so tense. You need to learn to loosen up and chill out more. You¡¯ve already shown you can do that with the choice you¡¯ve made. Now you just need to learn to use that trait to think of something to help yourself. If you ever need my help, just know you always know where to find me," Canal told Zemaku.


    "Yeah, fine, I get it," Zemaku said, somewhat annoyed by the conversation.


    "Anyways, don¡¯t worry about the pain," Canal told Zemaku. "I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t feel the blood transfusion while you¡¯re in the dream state," she reassured him.


    Canal vanished from the shared dream and began work on the transfusion. The lighting in the room turned bloodshot red as Canal started her work.


    "Please work, please work," Lea pleaded.


    "Oh, wait, hold on," Lea stopped for a moment. "How old are you, Zemaku?" she asked.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "18," Zemaku replied. "Why?"


    "Oh, wow, you''re right, we are around the same age. I¡¯m 19," Lea said. "Well, physically, since my people were in cryostasis for God knows how long before Thumb woke us up. But yeah," she continued, her mind showing that she was having a hard time processing her own thoughts


    "Don¡¯t overthink it too much," Zemaku said before laughing. "It¡¯s not that complex, and it¡¯s not that bad. Well, okay, sure, your people are being tortured by Thumb as we speak, and sure, one of his men threw a knife into your back on your way here, but¡ª"


    "But," Lea cut Zemaku off. "You know, when you put it like that, I feel kind of worse," Lea said.


    "I was not finished," Zemaku responded. "Anyway, sure, all of that is happening, and it sucks that it is, but then we wouldn''t have met. And sure, I may have had suspicions about you at the start, but I now see that you¡¯re surprisingly kind. I just thought you looked kind but were secretly evil or something," Zemaku said.


    "Wow, you don¡¯t trust people easily, do you?" Lea said.


    "Well, when your mother dies while she¡¯s grocery shopping in a faraway neighborhood, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t trust easily either, especially since one of my childhood friends survived Thumb, but Joe doesn¡¯t want to talk to me and has joined his si¡ª" Zemaku paused for a moment and realized he was crying. For the first time in his life, he was crying. The tears felt salty and wet.


    "It¡¯s fine," Lea said, patting Zemaku on the back.


    "I¡¯m not a kid," Zemaku whined.


    "I know," Lea said, "but it just felt like the right thing to do," she continued.


    Moments later, Canal reemerged into the room. Canal wanted to congratulate Zemaku on taking the first step toward healing, but she kept it to herself, thinking it might hinder Zemaku¡¯s journey of healing from his past. With a sigh, Canal said, "It¡¯s done," and told Lea that everything was going to be fine. She also mentioned that while she was out there, she took the liberty of checking for spies before coming back, and that she hadn''t found any.


    "Well then, that¡¯s good," Commander Bill said. "Now, then, it¡¯s time to save Lea¡¯s village," he continued.


    "Yeah, let¡¯s do this," Lea said cheerfully, happy to get a helping hand.


    Zemaku, Bill, and Lea explained the situation to Toji, who was busy tending to Goki¡¯s wounds. Toji wanted to go with them but decided against it, as he felt a sense of responsibility to help Goki recover from the wounds he had caused.


    So, Zemaku¡¯s dad, Bill, Lea, and Zemaku entered the hover car and prepared for the journey to save the Demi-human clan.


    As they approached Lea¡¯s village, they knew something was wrong. The sky grew darker and darker the closer they got, and eventually, Lea pointed to an area, saying, "My village is over there." They were getting closer to an area that was on fire. Zemaku noticed someone waiting for him there. When they arrived, it was a man he knew¡ªJoe.


    "JOE!" Zemaku screamed, but Joe didn¡¯t respond.


    "Joe, why would you do this? I thought you were good," Zemaku said. "Are you still Joe in there?"


    A tear formed in Joe¡¯s eye before he began to speak:


    "Watch the torch set aflame,


    Watch it burn, watch it fade,


    Watch the demmies gather suit.


    Someone''s gotta win and lose.


    You may think my heart is almost black.


    Well, Zemaku, do you know who''s to blame for that?


    I wonder who¡¯s to blame."


    To Be Continued¡­

 Neon War Chapter 12: Zemaku vs. Joe Pt 1

    "Joe, what the hell is going on?" Zemaku demanded an answer, but Joe just stared at the ground for a few seconds before looking up at Zemaku. "Grab your gun. You might just need it because I am not afraid to cheat this," Joe said, still speaking cryptically.


    Neon War Chapter 12: Zemaku vs. Joe Pt 1


    Zemaku was about to attack Joe, but Lea beat him to it. "You bastard!" Lea screamed, holding out her fist and lunging toward Joe. Her fist had become enveloped in flames. "Hmpt, pitiful," Joe said before knocking Lea to the ground.


    "The hell was that?" Zemaku said aloud. Lea grunted and got off the ground. Joe attempted to finish her off, but Zemaku stopped him. "Don¡¯t you lay a finger on her, you son of a bitch!" Zemaku said in anger.


    "Enough," Lea said. "I¡¯ll handle this."


    "No, you can¡¯t," Zemaku replied.


    "I can," Lea quipped back. "Every demi in my tribe is at stake. Besides, each one of us has a different ability. Mine is fire magic," she responded.


    "Gah... fire magic?" Zemaku asked.


    "Yes, fire magic," Lea said. "Each demi-human is born with a mastery of a specific type of magic. For me, it was fire magic," she explained.


    "I still can¡¯t let you do this. Besides, we can save your tribe together," Zemaku said.


    "There¡¯s no use in that," Joe responded. "I burned the whole village just as Master Thumb had ordered. By now, everyone has probably already burned alive," Joe explained.


    "What?" Zemaku said, not just feeling the heat of the flames surrounding him at every turn but also the heat of the moment.


    "In fact," Joe continued, "I still have one last demi to get rid of. This is what they get for refusing to reveal the Kyozan¡¯s secret artifact, heard of in Kyozan legends," Joe said, sweat running down his face from the fire around him.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Joe was shaded in the color red. Lea was shaded in the color red. Hell, even Zemaku was shaded in the color red due to their surroundings and the flames engulfing them.


    "Lea, get out of here now! Find Toji and get him to gather his army again. It worked against Goki, and it might work now," Zemaku pleaded.


    But Lea said, "Just go."


    "Do you really think I¡¯ll let her escape?" Joe said coldly.


    "Damn," Zemaku thought to himself. "I forgot that Toji told his army to go into hiding for the time being. We can¡¯t use them."


    "Lea," Zemaku spoke aloud.


    "Yes?" Lea asked.


    "Find Toji and get him to help you find survivors."


    "Why did you change your mind?" Lea asked.


    "JUST GO!" Zemaku screamed, the desperation clear in his voice.


    Lea ran, but Joe tried to stop her. Zemaku, his emotions running high, did the same thing he did when Goki tried to kill Ren, when he tried to get out of there to train with his dad. He moved faster than Joe could see and crushed Joe¡¯s hand.


    "Enough," Zemaku said coldly.


    "It¡¯s never enough," Joe continued. "You should¡¯ve just let me put that filthy demi-girl to rest. She¡¯s an invasive species. Her race was meant to die over a thousand years ago," Joe said coldly.


    "Is that really how you feel?" Zemaku asked.


    "And what if it is?" Joe replied. "You could never know the pain I went through. You couldn¡¯t have known just how my dream was pulled away from me¡ªnot just once, but twice. You people are all the same. You ask and beg for a savior. Well, I have news for you¡ªThumb is the savior. He saved me. He saved you all," Joe said, on the verge of tears.


    "Joe, I¡ª" Zemaku was stumped. He could see that Joe truly believed in what he was saying, completely. The others he¡¯d faced so far, deep down, were not completely sure of Thumb, but Joe was different. He was the most loyal follower of Thumb he¡¯d met so far.


    "You¡¯re wrong, Joe. Thumb is no savior. He is a beast, a bastard¡ªno, a scumbag. And I intend to put an end to this fight. So let me ask you: what do you think brings victory upon a desperate man? Is it the stakes, the rising tension that pushes one to be better? Is it one¡¯s friends or family? Or is it that their power rises with every emotion? I¡¯ll show you today¡ªmy power and aura will rise, and you will see just how strong I am."


    Chapter 12 End.

 Neon War Chapter 13: Zemaku vs Joe Pt 2 How can I win?

    Last time on Neon War Zemaku, Lea, and Bill made it to Lea¡¯s Village.


    But when they arrived Joe was there waiting for them, and the place was on fire.


    Joe only spoke cryptically, using rhymes, while Zemaku demanded answers. Lea tried to defend her people¡¯s land but got knocked out by Joe.


    Lea got up, and Joe revealed that Thumb told him to do so. Stating that the Demi humans were an invasive species, going on to say that not only were they supposed to die ages ago, but also that since they refused to tell Thumb about the Kyozans secret weapon.


    they all must die! Zemaku, concerned about Lea, asked her to go get Toji. And come back to her village and help save all the survivors since if she was with Toji, Zemaku would know that she would be safe.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Zemaku faces down Joe Now!


    Neon War Chapter 13: Zemaku vs Joe Pt 2 How can I win?


    ¡°Damn, I was hoping he would change,¡± Zemaku said. Oh well I¡¯ll just have to fight him, and be done with it.


    ¡°So Zemaku, are you ready?¡± Joe asked coldly but sternly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s gooooo!¡± Zemaku screamed before letting go of Joe''s hand and lunging towards him.


    Joe and Zemaku began their fight. Zemaku pulled out his laser gun and shot at Joe but Joe ate that shit by blocking with both hands and punched Zemaku in the face.


    ¡°Well, Zemaku, I told you I was not afraid to cheat this¡± Joe said.


    ¡°Shut the hell up, you scumbaggggg!!!!¡± Zemaku shouted before landing a kick on Joe, but Joe blocked that too, still on the defensive.


    ¡°I am a S tier Thumb, Zemaku, You can¡¯t win¡± Joe stated the obvious: Zemaku knew all to well of his rank.


    ¡°But just how can I win?¡± Zemaku wondered.


    To be continued¡­

 Neon War Chapter 14: Zemaku vs Joe Pt 3

    The sky¡¯s dark; all around, the area¡¯s in flames. And¡ª¡±Joe that bastard¡ªput Lea¡¯s village on fire.¡± But what the hell am I to do? Zemaku thought to himself. How can I beat Joe? Can I even beat him? his rank as an S tier Thumb means that I am leagues below him, Zemaku said, still contemplating to himself.


    Neon War Chapter 14: Zemaku vs Joe Pt 3


    ¡°You can¡¯t win Zemaku,¡± Joe said coldly. ¡°It doesn''t matter how desperate you are. What you said about your desperation being the thing to push you¡ªit won¡¯t do a damn thing against an S tier Thumb. It may have helped you with Ren and Goki, but it won¡¯t do shit here,¡± Joe continued.


    "Damn, I guess he has a point," Zemaku said. But then he decided to continue the fight anyways. Zemaku¡¯s desperation was on full display. He was less strategic; he had given in to his desperation and the urge to do everything. He spammed his laser gun, hitting Joe, but it was no use.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Zemaku!" a familiar voice called from the distance. "Let me handle this. You go meet up with Lea and Toji and help her with saving the survivors."


    "Ren?" Zemaku said in confusion.


    Ren smiled as he stared at Joe. "Yes," he said. "It¡¯s me."


    "Wait, I thought you were still in the Lucid Room?" Zemaku asked.


    "No, not anymore," Ren said. "I¡¯ve finished my training. I¡¯m nowhere near Joe¡¯s level yet, but it¡¯s enough to buy you some time. Just remember that Lea¡¯s village takes priority, and your issues with Joe can come later."


    "Damn it," Zemaku said before eventually giving in. "Yeah, you¡¯re right," he said, defeated, before running off to help Lea.


    Later on, Zemaku discovered Lea and Toji. They were helping out, and from the looks of it, a bunny girl demi-human with violet hair and violet bunny ears was there too. She appeared to be wearing a traditional anime style purple bunny outfit, her ears a nice shade of violet.


    "So, were there any other survivors?" Zemaku asked.


    "No," Lea said, "just me and my sister."


    "She¡¯s your sister?" Zemaku responded in confusion.


    To be continued¡­

 Neon War Chapter 15: Save Ren from Public Execution. Does Hell Await Ren or Heaven?

    "So, were there any other survivors?" Zemaku asked. "No," Lea said, "just me and my sister." "She¡¯s your sister?" Zemaku responded in confusion. "Yeah," Lea responded, almost in tears. "Damn," he said with a clenched fist and a sinking feeling in his gut. "I... I can¡¯t believe it," Zemaku said out loud, the shock of it all being made painfully obvious to everyone. "I wanted to believe that there was some hope, a light at the end of the tunnel, that your village would be saved, Lea."


    Zemaku paused for a moment, trying to hold back tears, trying to do the same thing he¡¯s been doing all of his life, but this time it would not work. "But I was wrong," Zemaku said, finally finishing the sentence while at the same time letting out tears for the first time since he broke down and admitted his feelings about Joe and told Lea about what happened between them previously.


    Neon War Chapter 15: Save Ren from Public Execution. Does Hell Await Ren or Heaven?


    Lea noticed Zemaku¡¯s breakdown and went in for a hug. "It¡¯s okay," she said, the surroundings growing brighter as if the sun was also trying to cheer Zemaku up. "I don¡¯t blame you," she said. "You tried everything you could, but it just was not enough. Thank you, Zemaku, for giving me hope," Lea said comfortingly.


    "But it¡¯s all my fault. How could you forgive me for failing to save everyone in your village? It just isn¡¯t right. They did not deserve to die," Zemaku said, his eyes still teary.


    "It¡¯s fine. Joe was kinda right¡ªwe were supposed to die years ago, but the reason we did not die was because the Kyozans were our allies and put us in cryostasis to protect us. But Joe is wrong about one thing: we are not an invasive species. We were on this land way before Thumb or his men ever set foot on it. This has been our home for over a thousand years. We were just in a long sleep, and Joe will pay for what he¡¯s done," Lea said, trying to comfort Zemaku.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Zemaku was finally feeling better, and he said, "Yeah, you¡¯re right. Alright then, Toji, Lea, let¡¯s go," Zemaku said. But before they could leave, Zemaku¡¯s father came back there in a hover car.


    "We¡¯ve got trouble!" he yelled.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Zemaku asked.


    Bill''s voice trembled slightly, his usual composure cracked by the gravity of the situation. "Thumb¡¯s made Ren the centerpiece of his propaganda. If we don¡¯t act fast..." He trailed off, his face a mix of fear and anger.


    "What?" Zemaku yelled in anger. "How could that bastard even dare to try something like this?" Zemaku screamed.


    "It was Thumb¡¯s idea," Commander Bill said. "Thumb said it would be a good way to make an example of us. He called us rebels and is moral grandstanding on live TV by saying he¡¯s created a new world rid of antisocial behavior and says we are just antisocial fools," Commander Bill said.


    Zemaku¡¯s heart sank. He could feel foreboding in the air. "Did you figure out where he is?"


    "Yes," Bill said. "In Town Square. But Thumb¡¯s got wanted posters of each and every one of our members," Bill said.


    "Then we need disguises. You said the execution is live. Does the execution leave any spaces where the broadcasters will take a break from recording?"


    "Yes," Commander Bill said. "They are currently on commercial break. Once we enter Town Square, we need to purchase tickets to the Thumb Hall Theater."


    "Okay then, let¡¯s go," Zemaku said.


    To be continued¡­

 Neon War Chapter 16 ESCAPE!!! Thumbs men are on the lookout

    Zemaku, Lea, Toji, and Goki make their way to Thumbs Execution in town square at Thumbs Theater called Thumb Hall Theater. Thumb Hall Theater was once a movie theater used before the war to play movies of various genres; however, the Theater was repurposed to be Thumbs way of making examples of who he deems to be Rebels. So far, this method had been working pretty well for Thumb until now.


    Neon War Chapter 16 ESCAPE!!! Thumbs men are on the lookout


    "So do you guys remember the plan?" Zemaku said, having prepared his first ever plan, as his father was too stressed to come up with a proper plan for this mission¡ªa first in Bill¡¯s entire career.


    "Yes," Lea, Toji, and Goki said all together.


    "I snoop around, looking for information on how long the commercial breaks are," Toji said.


    "And I destroy cameras from a distance with my A.M.D.," Goki said.


    "Then I use my fire magic to burn any guards that will come after us, helping us escape," said Lea.


    "Yes, good," Zemaku responded. "Very good."


    Let¡¯s get going Zemaku said as Lea Goki and Toji Start out the plan and by the afternoon they have gotten all the information needed


    "So then, how long are all the commercial breaks?" Zemaku asked Toji.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "About 2 hours long each," Toji responded. "All of the ads are just pro-Thumb propaganda that Thumb always plays during these executions. Thumb usually, from my experience, only ever had these ad breaks last 1 minute. From my digging, the reason why he made the commercial breaks this long this time was because he thinks it will be a big event that will stop all rebels as we know it. Still, Thumb''s pretty cocky¡ªhe¡¯s given us all the room necessary to complete our plan. It does not seem right," Toji said, finishing his report, a bit worried.


    "It could be a trap," Zemaku said. "But what¡¯s Thumb¡¯s gain here?" Zemaku wondered.


    "I think I know," Lea responded.


    "Go on then," Zemaku urged Lea to continue the thought.


    "Well, you see, from what I¡¯ve heard from word of mouth around the area, Thumb is apparently worried about you, Zemaku," Lea said.


    "Worried about me?" Zemaku said in shock.


    "Yeah, apparently Thumb sees great potential in you¡ªso big it¡¯s beginning to scare him a bit. Apparently, your ability to get stronger with your emotions is a sign that you¡¯re a rare breed of fighter, in Thumb''s own words. While Thumb has not outright said anything, everyone can tell that you scare him," Lea said.


    "I see," Zemaku responded, contemplating what Lea told him.


    So then I have untapped potential, Zemaku thought to himself. I guess it¡¯s best to think on that some other time. For now, let¡¯s go on with the plan.


    Later on, during the first ad break, Zemaku¡¯s plan commenced. An air of unease was in the air as Zemaku successfully pulled it off, but once they were on their way out on the hoover car, a familiar face stopped them. A man cut their car in half with a flamsword¡ªan ancient Kyozan sword that was said to have fire to burn an infinite amount of fire and flames that could keep burning for one whole month if not put out. The man standing before Zemaku and friends is Joe.


    To be continued¡­

 Neon War Chapter 17: Buy Time for Ren’s Rescue. Joe, what’s your breaking point?

    Zemaku, you think your life is over now? Joe said before lunging towards Zemaku with his flamsword. "It''s nothing but a bad, bad dream," Joe continued, knocking Zemaku to the ground with his elbow on his left hand. "Afraid to lose it all somehow," Joe continued, as Lea launched a fireball straight towards him. Joe blocked it with his flamsword. "And you don''t know what it means," he added cryptically.


    Zemaku got up and realized that Joe''s cryptic speech seemed to be taken from song lyrics. I¡¯ll have to think about that later, Zemaku thought to himself, and shot a laser directly at Joe. Joe''s aura seemed to surge for a split second before he vanished and reappeared behind Zemaku.


    "But I¡¯ll tell you how it all will end," Joe said. "Now you may think you¡¯ll win soon, but Thumb will be victorious, and the battle will be ours." He altered the song lyrics slightly, almost as if he were changing destiny itself, as if this were all to conjure Thumb''s goal into reality.


    "Come on!" Zemaku said. Lea, Toji, and Goki tried to help, but Zemaku stopped them, telling them to go get Ren, insisting that he would deal with Joe. Reluctantly, Lea, Toji, and Goki agreed, but not before Goki complained, "I can¡¯t believe I have to help that bastard Ren!"


    I guess he must feel betrayed that Ren joined my side months ago, Zemaku thought, but he paid Goki no mind.


    Neon War Chapter 17: Buy Time for Ren¡¯s Rescue. Joe, what¡¯s your breaking point?


    So Zemaku you end up fighting a meaningless battle Joe said Come on Zemaku I have a proposition for you join me join Thumb trust me you were born for this Thumb is justice and he will make sure that you will become a high rank warrior with your talentsThis book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Zemaku laughs for a bit born for this? Zemaku asks in a sly sarcastic manner I was born to kick Thumbs ass Zemaku


    said Sternly oh is that so Joe said I guess I was barking up the wrong tree oh well I was hoping we could become friends again just like the good old days but I guess those days are long gone


    Zemaku, you think your life is over now? Joe said before lunging towards Zemaku with his flamsword. "It''s nothing but a bad, bad dream," Joe continued, knocking Zemaku to the ground with his elbow on his left hand. "Afraid to lose it all somehow," Joe continued, as Lea launched a fireball straight towards him. Joe blocked it with his flamsword. "And you don''t know what it means," he added cryptically.


    Zemaku got up and realized that Joe''s cryptic speech seemed to be taken from song lyrics. I¡¯ll have to think about that later, Zemaku thought to himself, and shot a laser directly at Joe. Joe''s aura seemed to surge for a split second before he vanished and reappeared behind Zemaku.


    "But I¡¯ll tell you how it all will end," Joe said. "Now you may think you¡¯ll win soon, but Thumb will be victorious, and the battle will be ours." He altered the song lyrics slightly, almost as if he were changing destiny itself, as if this were all to conjure Thumb''s goal into reality.


    "Come on!" Zemaku said. Lea, Toji, and Goki tried to help, but Zemaku stopped them, telling them to go get Ren, insisting that he would deal with Joe. Reluctantly, Lea, Toji, and Goki agreed, but not before Goki complained, "I can¡¯t believe I have to help that bastard Ren!"


    I guess he must feel betrayed that Ren joined my side months ago, Zemaku thought, but he paid Goki no mind.


    Neon War Chapter 17: Buy Time for Ren¡¯s Rescue. Joe, what¡¯s your breaking point?


    "So, Zemaku, you end up fighting a meaningless battle," Joe said. "Come on, Zemaku, I have a proposition for you. Join me; join Thumb. Trust me, you were born for this. Thumb is justice, and he will make sure that you become a high-ranking warrior with your talents."


    Zemaku laughs for a bit. "Born for this?"


    he asks in a sly, sarcastic manner. "I was born to kick Thumb''s ass," Zemaku said sternly.


    "Oh, is that so?"


    Joe said. "I guess I was barking up the wrong tree. Oh well, I was hoping we could become friends again, just like the good old days, but I guess those days are long gone."


    Zemaku and Joe lunge at each other, switching to hand-to-hand combat. Zemaku launches a barrage of punches, but they do not seem to phase Joe. Then, Zemaku decides enough is enough, and just as he is about to launch his laser gun, Joe is two steps ahead and slashes at Zemaku''s hand with his flamesword. For some odd reason, it does not cut his hand off; however, it does cause third-degree burns.


    Chapter 17 End.