《Zataria's Last Light》 Brother鈥檚 New Beginnings Zataria¡¯s Last Light Season 1: Chapter 1: Brother¡¯s New Beginnings: It began with Shakiro at the front gates of a tower, looking at the landscape behind him and seeing innocent people dead and dying while dragons and monsters caused chaos across the land. Suddenly, a huge shadow covered Shakiro''s body, and he felt an overwhelming aura. As Shakiro heard a voice behind him say, ¡°Finally, I found you,¡± he jumped back a few feet and turned around as fast as he could... Here begins the journey of Zataria¡¯s Last Light. In Zataria, a war called the Prisma raged, leading to the brutal deaths of millions, involving the Zatarians and the Nitharians (the Zatarians were also aided by the Vampires). The Zatarian race had a darker skin tone while the Nitharian race were creature like humanoids. Multiple villages across the nation were destroyed. This war was unlike any other, but amidst the chaos, a clash between two powerful beings unfolded: Shakiro and Naburo. Shakiro: (Angry) You don¡¯t understand, NABURO! You will not hurt these innocent people or my FAMILY anymore! You''ve done enough damage already. Naburo: You understand just fine, Shakiro! I haven''t even begun to cause enough damage. I won¡¯t stop until all of Zataria is DESTROYED!!! Shakiro and Naburo face off, clashing their fists without showing any signs of weakness. Suddenly, Naburo rushes at Shakiro, delivering a powerful blow to the gut, sending him flying through three mountains and cracking the fourth upon impact, shaking the landscape. As Shakiro hits the fourth mountain, he becomes stunned and is unable to move. Naburo walks away, heading toward a tower where a mysterious woman awaits. As he approaches, he sees the woman placing two newborn babies into a woven basket. But before she could... Naburo: I¡¯ll slit those babies¡¯ throats just as I will do to yours. Saruo jumps and turns around, seeing Naburo. Saruo: Stay back! Naburo: Fight back; I¡¯ll kill you. Don¡¯t fight back; you¡¯ll make it easy for me. As Naburo says this, Shakiro rushes in and punches Naburo so hard in the face that he crashes into a wall, cracking it upon impact and landing on the ground. Naburo shakes his head and gets back up after a few seconds. Naburo: Did you actually think that would work? Shakiro: Stay away from my wife and family, you DEMON!!! Naburo: You know those babies of yours won¡¯t have much longer to live. (Begins casting something.) Before Shakiro can react, Naburo stabs him in the upper right side of his shoulder with his mist sword, causing Shakiro to fall to a knee. Saruo: NOO!!! SHAKIRO!!!!! (Rushes to him.) Naburo: Weaklings! You are nothing more than low-lifes breathing air. Now give me those babies so I can eliminate them. Saruo turns to Naburo slowly as her hair begins to glow a vibrant shade of pink. She raises her hands as if to summon something, calling down a lightning strike directly onto Naburo. The impact is so forceful that he is thrown out of the tower, crashing to the ground. Naburo: That bitch! Sauro rushes to the woven baskets containing the babies and places them on a teleportation pad, each accompanied by a note. She presses the button to send them off. As Naburo regains his footing, he looks up to see the woven baskets soaring into the sky and realizes they are the Zatarian babies. Naburo: NOOOOO!!! YOU IMBECILE!! A triumphant smile spreads across Sauro''s face as she watches the baskets being sent away, tears streaming down her cheeks. Naburo: (yelling at half of his army) GO AFTER THEM!! YOU WORTHLESS BASTARDS!!!! Naburo leaps onto one of his dragons while his army charges forward on land, and the dragons take to the skies in pursuit of the two babies. Sauro glances around for Shakiro, but he is nowhere to be found. Sauro: (muttering to herself) Make sure he doesn¡¯t get to our babies. (pauses) I should get out of here while I still can and help anyone else. She takes off to assist the injured as Naburo¡¯s army rushes toward the babies in the sky. However, on their way, they notice a brilliant blue light in the distance and wonder what is racing toward them. Few Soldiers: What the hell¡­ (in unison) Before they can finish their sentence, their heads are sliced clean off in an instant. (Heads roll on the ground) Shakiro appears, wielding a light spear. Naburo¡¯s army surrounds him as Naburo lands in front of Shakiro on his dragon. Naburo: SHAKIRO¡­ YOU¡¯RE FIGHTING A WAR YOU CANNOT WIN! Shakiro: (bleeding from his shoulder) Stay the hell away from MY KIDS!!! YOU BASTARD! Naburo: SHAKIRO¡­ YOU WILL WATCH YOUR BABIES DIE BY MY HAND. Naburo gathers enough mist power in his palm and, in an instant, throws a blast toward the babies. Shakiro attempts to intercept the blast, but Naburo¡¯s army prevents him from getting close. Suddenly, one of Naburo¡¯s dragons unleashes a fire blast at Shakiro. He dodges it, leaps into the air, and hurls his spear with blinding speed, colliding it with Naburo¡¯s blast. The resulting explosion separates the babies and creates two massive dimensional portals; one baby is sucked into the left portal, while the other disappears into the right one. Naburo: DAMN IT!!! Shakiro: (talking to himself) Be strong, my boys; may we meet again. Naburo dismounts from his dragon and fixes his gaze on Shakiro. Naburo: You just keep messing everything up, don¡¯t you! I wanted to kill you as a prize, but it looks like that¡¯s not happening anymore. Naburo conjures his mist shadow swords, impaling them into Shakiro''s body. Shakiro coughs up blood and spits it on the ground in front of Naburo¡¯s feet. Shakiro: NABURO! I thought you were stronger than this; you can¡¯t even kill me. Naburo: Shut up! Shakiro uses his light powers to pulse all the mist swords out of his body, then rushes at Naburo and headbutts him. Naburo is stunned but quickly regains his footing, grabs Shakiro¡¯s arm, pulls him toward him, and throws him away, sending him crashing to the ground. Shakiro: Uhhh. Naburo walks over to Shakiro. Naburo: I¡¯LL MAKE SURE YOU DIE BY MY HAND! Shakiro gets up and summons his light spear, prompting Naburo to create a mist scythe as they clash weapons. Naburo: You don¡¯t understand anything! Shakiro: I understand more than you know! Naburo: NO, YOU DON¡¯T!! Naburo pushes off Shakiro just as Shakiro throws a pulse blast at his face. Naburo: AHH!! This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Shakiro creates a massive pulse ball, as big as a meteor. He sends it hurtling toward Naburo, crushing everything in its path. Naburo stands his ground as the blast makes contact, resulting in a massive explosion that sends smoke billowing everywhere. As the smoke clears, Shakiro sees a mist ball from which Naburo emerges, appearing perfectly fine. Naburo: I told you already, you can¡¯t win a war you¡¯ve already lost. Shakiro: (Talking to himself) Uhhh¡­ My attack didn¡¯t do anything; my body is weakening from all the damage I¡¯ve taken. Naburo: It¡¯s time for you to disappear. Naburo raises his hand and commands his army to attack him with everything they have. The army opens fire with guns, power blasts, fire blasts, and arrows, shooting nonstop and creating a thick cloud of smoke. Shakiro: Uhhh¡­ Shakiro raises his hands to block their attacks, but it¡¯s not enough. Naburo: Enough!! (The army stops on command) As the smoke slowly fades, Shakiro is still standing, covered in bullet holes, burn marks, and what looks like twenty or more arrows shot through his body. Shakiro starts to laugh menacingly. Shakiro: N- (spits blood). Naburo: You just won¡¯t die, will you?!! Naburo slowly walks over to Shakiro, standing above him and looking down. Naburo: Tell your brothers I said good riddance. Shakiro: N-Naburo¡­ Naburo: Huh¡­ Shakiro: My kids are going to rip you apart¡­ Naburo: Goodbye, Shakiro¡­ Naburo uses his mist power to form another mist sword from thin air. Looking down at Shakiro, he drives the sword straight through Shakiro''s heart, pinning him to the ground and leaving him to die. Shakiro: (Talking to himself) Good luck, my sons. It¡¯s up to you now. (He smiles as he passes away). After a few seconds, a soldier walks up to Naburo, visibly shaken by what he just witnessed. Soldier: (Scared) Umm¡­ Naburo? What do we do now? Naburo swings his sword at the soldier, instantly severing the top half of his body. He then turns around and shouts at his army. Naburo: WE ARE GOING TO FIND THOSE KIDS AND KILL THEM!!! Army: YESSIR NABURO!!! (All stomp on the ground in sync and chant NABURO! NABURO! NABUROOO!!!) The army marches away, heading back to finish the fight, but before Naburo leaves, he notices Shakiro¡¯s blue light fading. Naburo extends his hands as Shakiro¡¯s power flows out of him and into Naburo''s grasp, allowing him to absorb Shakiro¡¯s abilities. As he does, Naburo feels a strange sensation for a few seconds, and his hair flickers from bright red to white. Naburo: I will find your kids, Shakiro, and I will kill them. Naburo walks away. Meanwhile, the two brothers are pulled through separate dimensional portals. Upon landing in different locations, one brother finds himself in a kingdom surrounded by hills and forests, while the other lands in a shanty village that is far from pleasant. The day darkens as the two brothers are separated. Zodiac chooses a path leading toward a kingdom, his bright white hair flickering like a star in the night sky. People in the kingdom begin to notice, looking up in wonder. Person 1: Hey everyone, look at the sky! What is that?! Person 2: What!? It¡¯s just a normal star. Person 3: Maybe it¡¯s a star that grants wishes!? Zodiac plummets closer to the ground at a rapid pace. Flames engulf him like a meteor about to crash. He burns hotter and gains speed until he finally hits the ground near the kingdom''s outer walls, creating a massive explosion that leaves a sizable crater and sends shockwaves throughout the area. A random middle aged woman rushes to the crash site and is taken aback by what she sees¡ªa baby with bright white hair shining brilliantly. She picks up Zodiac and begins to inspect him as his hair fades to light brown. Mysterious Woman: How in the hell? HOW IS THIS BABY EVEN ALIVE!? IMPOSSIBLE! Moments later, she feels a vibration behind her. Turning around, she sees a massive horde of civilians rushing toward the crash site. Civilian 1: Over here! We''re getting close to the crash site! Mysterious Woman: Well, I guess today is your lucky day, kiddo. (She smiles and grabs Zodiac.) She dashes away with Zodiac, leaping from the ground into the trees, jumping from branch to branch to evade the pursuing horde. The civilians shout in an attempt to catch up. Civilian Horde: Don¡¯t let that person get away!!! WE NEED ANSWERS!!! She glances back at the horde, noticing more people joining the chase. Mysterious Woman: What a pain. Don¡¯t these people have anything better to do? I think it¡¯s time to lose them, don¡¯t you think, little one? (tickles Zodiac) Weird, no laugh from you, huh? You''re a strange one, aren''t you? She begins to increase her speed tremendously, making it even harder for the horde to catch up. She goes so fast that it leaves a dust silhouette of her and Zodiac. After a few seconds, she finally loses them, taking Zodiac into a small house that is secluded and surrounded by trees. She enters, closes the door, and locks it with an enchantment so no one can get in. Mysterious Woman: Well, that was a bit of fun just now. It''s been a while since I got some cardio in. But I''m still trying to figure out where you came from, little one. As she sets him down on a bed, she notices a strange symbol on his neck. Mysterious Woman: What is this? I''ve never seen this kind of symbol before¡­ Zodiac opens his eyes and sees the woman in front of him for the first time, silent. The Mysterious Woman looks confused but laughs at the same time. Mysterious Woman: It¡¯s unbelievable that you haven¡¯t cried once, considering what I¡¯ve seen. What have you been through? What are you? So many questions! But at least I can tell you¡¯re a boy. She smiles as she looks into his eyes. Mysterious Woman: I''m going to make you one of the deadliest assassins that ever lived! Just you wait. Oh, what¡¯s this note? Seems your name is [Zodiac Yoshido] (12 months). Now that''s the name of an assassin! My name is Mizuda Aruma. Nice to finally introduce myself, and I¡¯m glad to be your master. As Zodiac lands in a kingdom, Daru is flying in the sky, encased in a purple light with his hair flickering purple. He falls at top speed and lands in a village that is unpleasant to the eye. Daru rushes down to the ground, landing near a pond, and the mud crashes beneath him, sending a huge vibration throughout the village. Person 1: Woah! What was that? Person 2: Yeah, I felt that too. Person 3: Ehh, it was probably nothing; keep working. As he lands, the purple light surrounding him fades, revealing Daru with dark hair. Daru screams and cries, but no one is nearby to hear him. One day passes, and a woman heads to the pond. She usually makes her way there, helping people by gathering firewood and giving food to children, receiving thanks from everyone as she goes. When she arrives at the pond, she begins to fill the bucket she has brought. While filling it, she hears a distant cry that sounds like a baby. Curious, she wanders toward the sound. As she gets closer, she sees a woven basket containing a baby and a note. Woman: Oh my! Where did you come from? Have you been out here all alone? How are you even alive? Did your parents leave you here? Oh wait, there¡¯s a note. She picks up the note and reads it. It says, ¡°If you are seeing this, you are responsible for my child. The boy you see in front of you is named [Daru Yoshido] (1 year).¡± Woman: Daru Yoshido? Why would someone just leave you here? She thinks about what to do with him. Woman: Oh man, what am I going to do with you? I can¡¯t just leave you here! The woman decides to take him back to her house to ask her dad for advice. She starts walking back and eventually makes it inside. Woman: Dad? DAD!!! Dad: Ahh!!! What do you want, Zenshi? I was just sleeping in peace!!! Zenshi: Umm, I found a baby. Dad: (rushes downstairs) A baby? Who¡¯s the father? Zenshi: I don¡¯t know, but I found him at the pond when I went to get water. Dad: Well, where''s the water? Because I don¡¯t see it in your hands. Zenshi: Oh, now that I think about it, I forgot it at the pond. Dad: Well, go get it, and you¡¯re not keeping that baby in this household. Zenshi: What? I can''t just leave him out there all alone. Dad: Zenshi, I don¡¯t care. It¡¯s either you get rid of him, or I will. Zenshi: Okay, fine, I¡¯ll put him back at the pond. Dad: Good. And don¡¯t forget the water bucket. Zenshi: Yes, Dad, I will bring him back to where I found him. Zenshi leaves the house, contemplating what to do because she is determined not to return Daru to the pond. She thinks of someone who could help her and starts walking to the other side of the village toward a small house. She knocks on the front door and waits, but there is no answer; she knocks again. Zenshi: Hello? After a few more seconds, she calls out again. Zenshi: Hello?!? Getting annoyed, Zenshi walks around to the back of the house and sees a middle aged man sleeping in a chair. ???: ZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzz. Zenshi approaches the man in the chair. Zenshi: (yells) Rito!! Rito jumps awake, startled and ready to fight. Rito: Ahhh!!! Who''s there!? You wanna fight? Come on, assholes!!! Zenshi: What? No, it¡¯s me, you idiot. Rito: Oh, it¡¯s just you, Zenshi. How¡¯s it going? Zenshi: Are you drunk again, Rito? Rito: What? No! What are you talking about? (falls over and goes back to sleep) Zenshi: (growing angrier) RITO, GET UP!! Rito jumps up again. Rito: Huh? Who¡¯s there? Who wants to fight!!! Zenshi: You seriously need to stop drinking. Anyway, I need you to do me a favor. Rito: What? What favor? Zenshi: This. (pulls up a basket to reveal a baby) Rito: Aww, She¡¯s so cute. Zenshi: It¡¯s a boy, Rito! (slaps her forehead) Rito: He is? Zenshi: YES!! Rito sobers up a little. Rito: Okay, okay, my bad. What do you want me to do with a baby? Zenshi: I need you to keep him here. Rito: What? Keep him here? I can¡¯t do that. Zenshi: Well, you have to, because you owe me. I got you beer last week. Rito: Dammit, you¡¯re right. Okay, fine, I¡¯ll do it. Zenshi: Thank you. (smiles) Zenshi hands the baby over to Rito. Zenshi: Okay, I¡¯ll come every week to see him. Rito: Okay, and how long is this supposed to last? Zenshi: I don¡¯t know yet, but I gotta get back to my dad to give him the bucket of water. I left it at the pond, so bye, see you next week!!! Rito: Ahh! Zenshi runs off to get the bucket of water while Rito is left holding the baby. He looks at the baby and smiles, but the baby starts to cry loudly. Rito: Ohh, man! As the kids land in these different worlds with people training them, their journey is now underway¡­ The Journey Starts Now Zataria¡¯s Last Light Season 1: Episode 2: The Journey Starts Now After the Great Prisma War, Naburo returns to the Kingdom of Nitharis. Enraged, he breaks the castle doors with his bare hands, sensing the fear of his army as they tremble and bow their heads. One of the soldiers approaches him. Nitharian Soldier: Welcome back, MY LORD NABURO! We have been waiting for your¡ª Naburo grabs the soldier''s head and crushes it, leaving nothing behind. The other soldiers flinch in fear. As the Nitharians grow increasingly terrified, Naburo scans his soldiers. Naburo: Does anyone else want to share their thoughts? Because I will gladly entertain your questions... Silence falls as they remain trembling and kneeling before Lord Naburo. He strides to his throne and sits down in anger, the soldiers sensing his fury. Naburo: Shakiro, if only you had stayed dead, I could have destroyed all of Zataria. Another soldier steps forward. Soldier: My lord, what do you want us to do? Naburo: Get me¡­ the Council of Merciless. Soldier: Uhh¡­ Are you sure, my lord? Naburo fixes the soldier with a piercing gaze. Naburo: Don¡¯t make me tell you again. Nitharian Soldier 1: (Whispering) Is he serious? He really wants to involve them. Nitharian Soldier 2: (Whispering) Well, they did kill his father. Nitharian Soldier 1: (Whispering) I get that, but I think it¡¯s a bit excessive. Nitharian Soldier 3: (Whispering) Obviously, he doesn¡¯t think so. As the soldier goes to summon the Council of Merciless, a few minutes pass. Naburo lifts his head slightly as he senses a powerful energy approaching. As he looks up, all the Nitharians turn to see three formidable figures walking toward him. Upon their arrival, the soldiers notice that the newcomers wear unique armor distinct from that of regular soldiers. Naburo begins to address them. Naburo: The Council of Merciless¡­ I have summoned you today for one crucial task, as my useless soldiers are incapable of handling it. They all bow in respect. ???: Just say the word, and we will carry it out without mercy. Naburo smirks as he rises from the throne. Naburo: I want you to locate the Zatarians and eliminate them all. As for Shakiro¡¯s children, bring them back to me. Take as many soldiers as you need and search every dimension. As the Council of Merciless bows, they raise their heads to meet Naburo''s gaze. The Council of Merciless: (In sync) We will not fail you, Lord Naburo. Naburo locks eyes with one of them. Naburo: Do not fail me, Akuma. Akuma: I won¡¯t; you have my word¡­ Father. (smiles) Ten years later, Zodiac is shown on a training field with his Master, Mizuda. She wields a longsword while Zodiac uses a dagger, displaying no difficulty and appearing to barely try. Mizuda Aruma: You''re quite the little monster, aren¡¯t you? Zodiac: Well, this is too easy. Mizuda: Easy, eh? You still have a long way to go, little one. (smiling) As they continue to spar, other kids join them. Zodiac gets paired with another student for sparring. As time passes, Mizuda gathers all the kids to make an announcement. Mizuda: Okay, since everyone is pumped up, I think we should have a sparring match. Who wants to volunteer to go first? All the kids raise their hands, but Mizuda notices Zodiac''s hand is down. She smiles at him. Mizuda: Zodiac, why don¡¯t you go first? Zodiac shakes his head, annoyed. Zodiac: (talking to himself) Of course, she would pick me. He walks into the ring with his arms crossed. Mizuda: Now then, who will be the first to go up against Zodiac? Roma: I will, Master. I¡¯m going to show this kid why he¡¯s trash! Haha! Roma jumps into the ring, clearly excited. Mizuda: Perfect! But before we start, let¡¯s go over some rules for this match. Number 1: Your goal is to make contact with your opponent¡¯s body. Number 2: You must stay inside the ring. If you step out, you will automatically lose. And lastly, which is pretty obvious: no killing, got it? Both Zodiac and Roma nod in agreement. (They stare at each other, knowing they don¡¯t care about Rule 3.) Mizuda: Great! Now, choose your weapons as you see fit. Roma heads to the weapon rack and picks up a longsword, preparing for the fight. Zodiac also approaches the rack and selects a dagger. Roma starts to laugh. Roma: Awww, what¡¯s the matter? Are you so trash that you need to use the only weapon you¡¯re good at? The other kids laugh along with Roma. Zodiac: Whatever. Zodiac drops his dagger and picks up the same weapon as Roma. He starts performing cool tricks, flipping the sword around, leaving Roma shocked and speechless. Roma: (talking to himself) Who does he think he is!? Both of them assume their fighting stances, waiting for Mizuda to start the match. Mizuda: Well, let the battle begin! Roma: Okay, here I come, you loser! Roma takes the first step and rushes toward Zodiac, swinging for his neck. Zodiac sees the attack and casually dodges it with zero effort. Roma swings again, but Zodiac dodges once more. Roma: Are you just going to stand there dodging, or are you actually going to do something!? Zodiac: Stop talking; you¡¯re wasting my precious air. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Roma: Why, you little!!! Roma starts to get mad and uses one of his techniques to perform a multi-slash attack against Zodiac. However, Zodiac effortlessly deflects all of his moves. As he dodges the last slash, Zodiac retaliates with a quick strike that nearly grazes Roma''s head, forcing him to block at the last second. Zodiac tosses his weapon into the air, jumps up as the wind blows past everyone, and grabs it in mid-air, preparing to launch an attack. Roma: What the hell is he about to do? Zodiac begins a 360-degree spin, launching his sword beside Roma. Roma laughs out loud. Roma: Dude, that¡¯s not going to hit me, you¡ª Zodiac starts to fall, accelerating towards Roma from above. He moves behind Roma, grabs his weapon, and swings his sword into Roma¡¯s stomach, winding him and causing him to collapse to the ground. As the dust settles, it becomes clear that Roma is unconscious. Mizuda: Wow! The winner is Zodiac! What a great match! The other kids start to clap, clearly impressed. A few moments later, Roma finally gets up and approaches Zodiac, staring at him intently. Roma: (holds his stomach) How¡¯d you even manage to pull off a move like that? Please tell me! PLEASE!!! Zodiac looks him in the eyes with a serious expression. Zodiac: You''re trash; go train. He walks away, leaving Roma standing there, embarrassed. With his arms crossed, Zodiac waits for the next fight. Mizuda: Now, does anyone else want to challenge him? The other kids remain quiet, unwilling to fight Zodiac. Mizuda: Wow, Zodiac sure has given you guys some goosebumps! Haha. The other kids spar with one another as Mizuda wraps up the lesson. As Mizuda prepares to conclude the lesson with Zodiac and the others, Daru is shown waking up from a good sleep. (Ten years pass) Daru stirs awake. Daru: (yawns) Aww man, that was a good night''s rest. Daru gets out of bed, stretches, and makes his bed as he exits his room. Upon leaving, he looks around for Rito but finds no sign of him. Daru: Well, I know where¡­ (shakes his head) never mind¡­ Daru walks toward the fridge to grab something to eat. When he opens it, he sees only empty beer bottles. Daru: Man, there¡¯s never any food. Does this guy ever do anything besides drink? Daru heads to the living room and turns on the TV, but before he sits down, someone knocks on the front door. He walks to the door and opens it to find Zenshi holding a basket of food. Zenshi: Hiii!!! Daru: Hey, Zenshi! (smiles) Zenshi: How are you? Okay! Before you answer that, I brought some goodies for you. (smiles) Daru: Oh, you¡¯re the best, Zenshi! (smiles) Zenshi: Oh, I know! (laughs) Is Rito not here? Daru: When is he ever here? (shakes his head) Zenshi: Yes, I know it sucks. I wish I could take you to my house, but¡­ Daru: Yes, I know your dad would be mad that you kept me around and would kick you out of the house. Don¡¯t worry; I understand. Zenshi: You know you¡¯re too smart for your own good. Daru laughs. Daru: Well, I better start getting ready for my first day of school. Will we talk next week, okay? Zenshi: Oh yes, your first day of school! I forgot you started today. How exciting! But yes¡­ next week (in a sad voice). Daru: Is school fun? Zenshi: Yes, you learn so much! You also get to make friends and do cool things in class. But anyway, go get ready for school. Daru heads to his room and starts getting ready. Meanwhile, Zenshi cleans the house. She opens the fridge and sees empty bottles of beer. Zenshi: Man, Rito, you must be hurting bad. Daru: Hurting? Why is Rito hurting? Did he get hurt? Zenshi: (hits her head on the fridge door and turns around) Huh? No, not hurting. I said, umm, harboring; like he keeps empty cans to sell them for more beer. Daru: Oh, okay, that makes sense. Well, anyway, I¡¯m heading to school. I¡¯ll see you next week. Zenshi: Okay, bye! Have a good day at school! Man, that was a close one. Daru starts to walk to school with a big smile on his face. After ten minutes, Daru, while walking, sees three large shadows appear in front of him, causing him to feel scared and stop. Bully 1: Hey, Daru! (laughs) Daru turns around to see three classmates who bully others. Daru: Huh, me? (in a scared voice) Bully 1: (looking at his friends and laughing) Yes, you retard. Is your name not Daru? It says it on your backpack. Daru: (looks at his backpack and laughs) Oh yeah, my name''s Daru. You guys must go to the same school. Bully 2: You mean you go to the same school I do? Daru: (laughs) Well, you know what I meant. Bully 1: Don¡¯t get smart with me, kid. I¡¯ll beat the crap out of you. Daru: No, no, I¡¯m not being smart. I was just saying it pretty much means the same thing. Bully 2: Dude, who is this kid? Bully 3: Yeah, dude, this kid looks like an idiot (laughs). Bully 1: Yeah, maybe we should teach this kid a lesson on the first day of school. The bully kicks Daru in the face, sending him flying a foot away, and his friends rush in, kicking him while he¡¯s on the ground. Bully 1: Hold him up, guys. Hold him still so I can use him as a punching bag. The bullies restrain Daru while the bully walks over and starts throwing punches at Daru¡¯s face and stomach, leaving him no time to catch his breath. The bully pauses for a few seconds. Daru: I-I-I didn¡¯t do anything. Bully 1: SHUT UP!! (punches him in the face) Daru: Ple-Please stop. I-I didn''t do anything. Bully 1: STOP!?!? (laughs) YOU HEAR THAT, BOYS? HE WANTS ME TO STOP (LAUGHS). HOW ABOUT NO!!!! The bully continues punching Daru in the face and stomach while his friends hold him up. Bully 3: Stand up straight, you coward! Bully 2: YEAH!! EAT IT! Bully 1: You like that!! I want to hear you say I own you. SAY IT!! The bully stops punching. Daru: (lifts his head slowly) Why? I don¡¯t want to say that. Bully 1: (punches him again in the stomach) SAY IT!! (punches him in the face) SAY IT! (punches him in the face) SAY IT!!!! Daru: (under his breath) You own me. The bully throws one last punch to Daru¡¯s stomach, making this one hurt the most. As he does that, the bully¡¯s friends pick Daru up and throw him into a garbage can filled with rotten food. Daru starts to cry as he feels alone and weak. Daru: (crying) W-why on the first day of school? Zenshi said it would be fun. Why do they have to pick on me? The new kid. After seven hours, Daru decides to climb out of the garbage can (it¡¯s nighttime) and walks home, smelling horrible and badly injured. As he walks, he sees a bar, and as he gets closer, he sees Rito drinking. Daru makes his way to Rito to get some help. As he approaches, two big guys guarding the bar stop him. Guard 1: What are you doing here, kid? Go home. Guard 2: Eww, what the hell is that smell? Is that you? That''s nasty!! One of the guards grabs Daru, causing him to scream in pain due to his injuries. Rito: (laughs) Hey, put the kid down. The two guards turn to see Rito drinking a bottle of beer. Guard 2: Shut the hell up, Rito, and drink your damn beer. Daru continues to scream in pain as the guard squeezes harder. Guard 1: (laughs) Look at him; he''s turning purple. Rito throws his beer bottle on the ground, making the guards look back at him. Rito: (serious voice) I¡¯m going to ask you one more time: put him down. Guard 2: Would you get lost? The guards continue to squeeze Daru as he screams louder. Rito: I TOLD YOU TO LET HIM GO!! The guards turn around but don¡¯t see Rito anywhere. As they look back, Daru is no longer in their hands. Guard 1: What the hell? Where¡¯d the kid go? Guard 2: There! (points in the distance) As the guard points, they see Rito putting Daru on the floor. Rito: You alright, buddy? Daru: No, I feel like I can¡¯t move anything in my body. Rito: Okay, give me one second. Daru: Huh? What are you going to do? Rito lays Daru on the ground and walks slowly toward the guards. Guard 1: What the hell is he doing? Daru: (talking to himself) What¡¯s he going to do? Rito gets close to the guards, keeps his head down, and stops walking. Rito: I told you to let him go, and you didn¡¯t, so now you will feel pain. Guard 1: What the hell are you going on about? Guard 2: Get the hell out of here, Rito, before I get really pissed off. Rito: You guys need to be taught a lesson before I leave. Guard 2: Alright, you¡¯ve pissed me off. The guard throws punches at Rito, and the other guard joins in, throwing punches nonstop, causing blood to splatter over their fists and faces. Guard 2: (laughs) You really wanna die for a kid? You¡¯re an idiot! Guard 2: YEAH, DAMN STRAIGHT!! YOU¡¯RE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THAT KID! The two guards finally stop punching him as they run out of breath; Rito remains in the same position as before. Daru: (in shock) How in the world is he not on the ground? He just took a huge beating. Rito starts to laugh and slowly looks up at the guards. As he laughs, his laughter becomes more maniacal. Guard 2: Laughing? You¡¯re laughing!! Rito stops laughing. He throws a punch, sending the guard flying into the bar, smashing his neck on the table and killing him instantly. Everyone starts fleeing the bar, screaming. Rito looks at the other guard, smiling with blood on his face, still laughing. Guard 2: What the hell? Yo, screw this, man, I¡¯m outta here. The guard runs away quickly, but as he flees, Rito appears right in front of him, grinning. Rito: Are you scared!? (Laughs) Rito grabs the guard and snaps his neck with one hand, killing him. Rito stumbles back toward Daru, still drunk, but eventually makes it to him. Rito: (Calms down and falls to the ground) I¡¯m so sorry you had to see that, Daru. If you¡¯re scared of me, I¡¯ll understand. Daru: Are you kidding me? That was so cool!! Can you teach me? Rito: Huh? Teach you? Did you not just see me kill that guy? Daru: Yeah, it was awesome! (Jumping up and down) Rito: Wait, how are you jumping around? Weren¡¯t you just saying you were injured? Daru: Yeah, but I feel better somehow. Rito: You¡¯re a weird one, but I guess I¡¯ll teach you. Daru: Yes!! Zatarian鈥檚 Potential Zataria¡¯s Last Light Season 1: Episode 3: Zatarian¡¯s Potential Daru wakes up in the middle of the night, feeling somewhat sore. Daru: (Jumps awake, recalling the bullies) Ahh!! Oh, it was just a dream. Whew, will Rito really make me strong enough to confront those guys? I should get some rest; training starts tomorrow. As the night passes and morning arrives, Daru wakes up full of energy. Daru: Yes, I¡¯m ready for my training. (Walks to Rito¡¯s room) Eager to begin, Daru opens Rito¡¯s door. Daru: Alright, Rito, I¡¯m ready. Rito is not in the room; only empty beer cans and spoiled food remain. Daru: Aww man, why am I not surprised? Of course, he¡¯s not here. Frustrated with Rito, Daru hears a knock at the door. He opens it to find Zenshi with a basket of food. Zenshi: Hi! Daru: Zenshi? What are you doing here? It¡¯s not even next week yet! Zenshi: Yes, I know. I came by because my father left the village with some people to gather more food and vegetables for everyone here. Daru: Oh, that¡¯s kind of your father. Zenshi: Yes, he can be kind at times. I suppose he¡¯s just hard-headed most of the time. Daru: (Concerned) Sometimes? Zenshi: It¡¯s alright; after my mother passed away, many things changed, but don¡¯t worry about it. Daru: Okay, but hey, Zenshi, I know I¡¯m only 10 years old, but I¡¯m here to talk if you¡¯d like. I¡¯m a really good listener. Zenshi: Oh, I bet you¡¯re a good listener, but thank you, Daru. You¡¯re just too sweet. Daru smiles, revealing his teeth. Zenshi: Anyway, where¡¯s Rito? Daru: (Sighs) Where do you think? Zenshi: Again? (Under her breath) I know it¡¯s tough, Rito. Daru: Did you say something? Zenshi: Wait, what? No, no, I was just thinking about the food I brought you. Daru: Oh, sweet! (Begins to eat the food) Aww man, you make the best food. Zenshi: (Smiles) Thank you, Daru. I make the best for you because I know you enjoy it. It¡¯s time for school, and I don¡¯t want to be late. Daru: Well, I need to get ready for school now because I was going to miss it. Zenshi: Miss it? Why? Daru: Oh, because Rito said he was going to teach me how to fight! Zenshi: (In shock) WHAT! FIGHT!? Daru: Yeah, so I could beat the shit out of these bullies. Zenshi: WHAT! BULLIES FIGHTING!! Daru, NO SWEARING! Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were being bullied!? Daru: I was going to, but Rito said he¡¯d train me to fight because I felt weak and alone. Zenshi: Aww, Daru, you¡¯re not alone; I am always here to support you. Daru: Thank you, but it feels lonely since I only see you once a week, and Rito is never around; he¡¯s usually out drinking. Zenshi: (In a somber tone) I¡¯m sorry to hear you¡¯ve been feeling this way, Daru. Daru: It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t worry. In any case, I need to get dressed and head out. Daru walks to his room to prepare for school. Zenshi: (Muttering to herself) Rito, you need to be present for Daru. Daru: I¡¯m ready now; I¡¯ll see you next week, Zenshi. (exits) Zenshi: Goodbye, Daru. (Speaking to herself) I feel as though I have let Daru down. Where is Rito? Zenshi leaves and slams the door as she searches for Rito. Meanwhile, Daru walks to school and notices three shadows behind him. Daru: Oh no, not again. Bully 1: Hey, Daru! Daru: (In a cheerful tone) Hi¡­ Bully 1: Oh, look everyone, he remembered his name this time. (laughs with the other bullies) Daru: Hahaha, that was a good one, hahaha¡­ Bully 1: Are you mocking me, asshole!? Daru: What? No, I was laughing with you. Bully 2: Nah man, he was definitely laughing at you, bro. Daru: I assure you, I wasn¡¯t! (waves his hands) Bully 1: You know what I dislike the most? Liars, and you¡¯re lying to me!!! Daru: I promise I wasn¡¯t; truly, I was laughing wi¡ª Before Daru can finish, the bully punches him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Bully 1: That¡¯s what you get for lying to me! Daru: (spitting out blood) I said I wasn¡¯t laughing at you. Bully 3: I think he¡¯s talking back, man. Bully 1: You¡¯re right! Let¡¯s show him the consequences of talking back, shall we? (All the bullies laugh.) The bullies rush at Daru, kicking and punching him relentlessly, leaving him gasping for breath. Bully 1: Alright, hold him up, guys. The bullies lift Daru, who looks up with a bruised face and two black eyes, struggling to see clearly. Bully 1: This is going to hurt more than yesterday. You¡¯re quite unfortunate today. Daru: (Quietly) I wasn¡¯t laughing at you. Bully 1: You¡¯re still talking back! Aww, man! The bully drives his fist deep into Daru''s chest, breaking a rib. Daru screams in pain. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Bully 1: YOU KNOW WHAT? LET¡¯S DO ONE MORE FOR GOOD LUCK. The bully slams his fist into Daru¡¯s chest again, and Daru screams even louder this time. Bully 1: Alright, boys, it''s garbage time! Bully 2 and 3: Hell yeah, let¡¯s do it! The bullies walk over to the garbage can and throw Daru into it, along with the rotten contents. Bully 1: Oh, this garbage is disgusting. Enjoy yourself, Daru! The bullies run away after dumping Daru into the smelly garbage can. Daru begins to cry, clutching the left side of his broken rib cage. Daru: I can¡¯t do anything. I¡¯m too weak. No wonder Rito doesn¡¯t want to train me. He knows I¡¯m weak. Daru continues to cry in the unpleasant garbage can. Meanwhile, Zenshi is still searching for Rito. Zenshi: Rito, where are you? (Thinking) Where could he have gone? Zenshi searches extensively for him, considering various locations. Eventually, she arrives at a burnt-down house and spots Rito in the distance, drinking a beer. Zenshi: RITO!!! Rito does not respond or turn around. Zenshi: RITO!! I KNOW YOU HEAR ME!! (She stomps toward him.) When Zenshi finally reaches him, she sees Rito crying in silence. Zenshi: Rito? A-Are you okay? Rito: (Laughs through tears) Oh, hello, Zenshi, how are you? Zenshi: Rito, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying? Rito: (Wiping his tears) This is where it happened. Zenshi: Where¡­ what happened? Rito: Where I lost him¡­ Zenshi: (Sadly) Cinta¡­ Rito: (Crying) Yes, my little boy Cinta, and I couldn¡¯t do anything about Akuma and his team. I just couldn¡¯t do anything¡ª Zenshi: (Hugs him) Yes, I understand, I understand. Rito: (Crying in Zenshi¡¯s arms) I couldn¡¯t do anything. I just lay there and watched him get crushed. I can¡¯t help Daru¡­ What if I make the same mistake again? I can¡¯t do that to Daru. Zenshi: LISTEN TO ME! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FAIL HIM! THIS TIME, YOU WON''T JUST STAND THERE. Rito: (Wipes his tears) You really know how to uplift someone, don¡¯t you, Zenshi? (Laughs) Zenshi: I understand. (Tosses her hair and laughs) After all, I am my father''s daughter! Rito: I apologize for you having to see me in this state. Zenshi: Rito, real men cry. If they don''t, it¡¯s because they have never lost something precious. But you must promise me that you will be there for Daru from now on. Rito: I promise. Zenshi and Rito return to the house and find the door ajar. Rito: What the heck! Did someone break into my house? Zenshi, did you lock the door before we left? Zenshi: Yes, I always lock it. Rito enters his house in a defensive stance, prepared for anything. In the living room, he sees Daru watching TV in the dark. Daru: Oh, hello Rito and Zenshi¡­ Rito: Whew! It¡¯s just Daru. Zenshi: THANK GOODNESS. (Wipes sweat from her forehead) As they approach Daru, they notice he is holding the left side of his lower chest. Zenshi: Are you alright, Daru? Rito: Yeah, are you okay, buddy? Daru walks to the light switch, turns it on, and faces them. Zenshi: WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?! Oh my goodness, YOUR EYES ARE COMPLETELY SHUT! Rito: (Serious) Who did this? Daru: (Barely audible) The bullies. Zenshi: The bullies did this to you? Daru: (Struggling to stand) Yes, they thought I was laughing at them, but I wasn¡¯t. Rito: Training starts tomorrow, no exceptions. Daru: Wait, for real this time? Rito: For real this time. Zenshi looks at Rito, tears welling in her eyes. Zenshi: Ensure those kids face consequences for their actions. Rito: I will ensure that. As Daru prepares to begin his training with Rito, the scene shifts to Zodiac and his master, Mizuda. They are at home, enjoying a meal of roseye. Mizuda: That was excellent training the other day. I''m impressed by how quickly you¡¯re adapting your sword techniques. Zodiac: It¡¯s nothing special. She begins to reflect on the events that transpired nine years ago. Mizuda: I still find it peculiar how I discovered you that day. Where did you come from? Who were your parents? And what about the mark on your neck? Zodiac: As I have mentioned before, I have no idea. Mizuda: Fair enough. But the ability to wield any weapon and learn their techniques so swiftly is remarkable. (I wonder if he¡¯s ready to use those blades.) She rises from the table to stretch. Mizuda: Please prepare yourself; we will be heading to the city shortly. Zodiac looks perplexed. Zodiac: Why are we going to Leorea? She smiles at him. Mizuda: Although you are only nine, I believe it is time for your first raid. Now, go get ready. Zodiac finishes his meal and prepares for the raid, gathering his clothing and equipment. Upon stepping outside, he encounters one of the children from the assassin class. Zodiac: Is he joining us? Mizuda: Absolutely. You remember Himitsu, correct? Himitsu extends his hand toward Zodiac for a handshake. Himitsu: Hello, Zodiac! I''m excited to join you for this raid! Zodiac ignores him and walks away. Himitsu: Well, that was awkward. Mizuda: Don''t mind him. Let''s just say he is not particularly sociable. Now, let''s head to the city in style! Mizuda leaps from tree to tree while Zodiac and Himitsu follow. She quickens her pace, attempting to leave them behind. Himitsu: Hey, slow down, Master! We can¡¯t keep up with you! Zodiac accelerates, catching up to Himitsu, who wears a blank expression. Himitsu: (muttering to himself) Why did I even agree to come on this raid? As they continue, Zodiac notices an individual being robbed by a thug and abruptly halts. Thug: Hand over all your money, or you might not survive. Girl: I can¡¯t! I need this money to pay my rent! The thug slaps her across the face, causing her to collapse. Thug: Don¡¯t make me repeat myself! Give me your money, or you''ll regret it. Himitsu finally catches up to Zodiac, hearing the commotion. Himitsu: What¡¯s happening¡ª Zodiac quickly covers his mouth and gestures toward the thug and the girl. Zodiac: Shut up and watch. Girl: Please, I''ll do anything; just give me the money! The thug begins to entertain inappropriate thoughts. Thug: You''ll do anything, will you? Girl: Yes, anything! The thug smirks maliciously. Thug: Then it seems it''s time for you to get to work, don''t you think? He starts to pull down his pants, preparing to exploit the girl. Zodiac picks up a pinecone and throws it to the ground to create a distraction. The thug turns to look behind him. Thug: WHAT? WHO¡¯S THERE!? SHOW YOURSELF! When he turns back, the girl has disappeared. Thug: NO! WHERE DID SHE GO?! The thug unsheathes his sword, ready to engage in combat. Thug: Come out, you coward! Are you afraid? Zodiac emerges from the shadows and swiftly slashes one of the thug¡¯s legs with a dagger, eliciting a scream of pain as he collapses. Thug: YOU COWARD! HOW DARE YOU! Zodiac approaches him deliberately. Zodiac: A contemptible individual who preys on others does not deserve to live. The thug crawls away in terror. Zodiac then incapacitates the other leg. The thug cries out in agony, continuing to crawl with his arms, leaving a blood trail against a tree. Thug: Just end it already! I can''t endure this any longer! Himitsu approaches Zodiac. Himitsu: Look, I understand he''s a criminal, but I believe you''ve done enough. Zodiac locks eyes with him. Zodiac: Tell me, what was he planning to do with the girl? Do you think he intended to show her mercy? Himitsu: W-well, no? Zodiac: Precisely. Zodiac retrieves his dagger once more, severing the thug¡¯s private parts and crushing them underfoot. He then plunges the weapon into the thug''s heart, piercing it completely. The thug''s eyes roll back, and he lies lifeless on the ground. Zodiac flicks the blood off his dagger and returns it to his pocket. He continues to run, attempting to catch up with Mizuda. Just as Himitsu is about to leave, the girl steps out from the bushes. Girl: Is he dead? Himitsu: Yes, he won¡¯t trouble you any longer. Girl: Thank you so much! Please convey my gratitude to the other person who helped me as well. Himitsu: No problem, I will. As he is about to depart, the girl stops him again. Girl: Wait a moment. Himitsu: Huh? She approaches him and hands him an expensive locket. Girl: Please take this as a token of appreciation. Himitsu: But why? This appears to be personal. Girl: It was. It was a gift from my ex-boyfriend before I discovered he was unfaithful. Himitsu: Oh, I see... well, I suppose I¡¯ll accept it. Thank you! Girl: No problem! She waves goodbye as Himitsu resumes running. After a few minutes, he finally catches up with Zodiac and Mizuda. Mizuda: There you are. What took you so long? Himitsu, reluctant to disclose the events, attempts to remain nonchalant. Himitsu: Apologies, but you both are built like horses, I assure you. She begins to laugh. Mizuda: It¡¯s acceptable since we have all arrived in the city. Please, follow me. The three of them pass through the main gates to enter Leorea. The city is vast and vibrant. As they continue their walk, they approach a guild that accepts various missions. Some of the hunters cast disapproving looks their way. Hunter 1: Is that the assassin master, Mizuda? Hunter 2: Why is she accompanied by those children? Hunter 3: Who knows, but one thing is clear: those children are too young to be here. Mizuda approaches the front desk, where a man is seated. Man: Greetings, Master Mizuda! What brings you here today? Mizuda: I am here to register for the upcoming raid. Man: Are you referring to the raid targeting the orc campsite? Mizuda: That is correct, and I would like to bring both of these children along as well. The man jumps up in surprise. Man: But, Master Mizuda, these children are far too young! They also lack a guild license. The minimum age requirement is 17. Mizuda produces a bag of money and places it on the counter. Mizuda: Is this sufficient, or do you require more? The man offers a cheeky smile. Man: Wow, Master Mizuda, I never anticipated you would resort to bribery. Her expression shifts to seriousness. Mizuda: Would you prefer I take it back? Man: N-no, wait! I can make an exception. However, please remember that since they are underage, I cannot be held responsible if they sustain injuries. Mizuda smiles, crossing her arms. Mizuda: Oh, do not worry! They will return from that raid unscathed!