Chapter 24 Episode 23: Ties

Back at the medical center as Cloud was sitting beside Killer bee, Killer bee and Cloud stared at each other awkwardly for a few seconds.

"Uh, so you came to see me?" Killer bee asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh yeah, i did." Cloud said while scratching the back of his head, "I actually wanted to know how you were doing."

"Oh, I'm doing great." Killer bee said, "I just had a talk with Karma; She ... Talked about seeing my father behind during our fight."

"Wait, that man was your father?" Cloud asked.

"You saw him?" Killer bee asked with a surprised demeanor, "What was he like?!"

"He had a ponytail with the same color of hair and eyes that you have; Not to mention the beard and his red top." Cloud said.

"I see..." Killer bee said with a sad expression as she slightly turns her face away from Cloud.

"So, he really was by my side, all this time?" Killer bee asked as she was clenching the white sheet on her thighs.

"Bee, are you ok?" Cloud asked.

"Maybe..." Killer bee said, "It's just ... I miss him. My mother died when she gave birth to me and because of that, my father hated me and named me Killer bee because a bee stayed by my side after my birth and as a reminder that i killed my mother and that no matter what, her blood will always be on my hands."

"Well, that's messed up." Cloud said.

"Yeah, it is." Killer bee said, "For 9 years i suffered his hatred and in that 9th year, we made up.

The amount of rage and hate he had that night, he was about to beat me to death; I was so afraid but for some reason..."

A flashback occurs as an enraged Sagar raised his fist to hit little Killer bee who happened to be cowering in fear as Sagar's irises glowed brighter while emitting a golden aura. Sagar's fists began to shake as tears flowed from his eyes and he puts down his fist.

"He just stopped..." Killer bee said after recalling that moment, "He embraced me, apologized to me and begged me for forgiveness.

Ever since that moment, he has been trying to make it up to me and become a better father. He even wanted to change my name and was planning to reveal my new name to me on my 10th birthday; He said it was so special that it had to be revealed on that day but... he never got to see that day because on the week before my birthday, he was dragged out of the house, condemned and and killed off as a traitor without any trial."

"I'm so sorry." Cloud said.

"It's ok." Killer bee said, "Ever since that day, my life became worse than it was. I was even treated worse than trash for years, yet, each time i was about to lose myself to hatred, rage and despair, I remember his last words to me before he was killed: 'Promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what life or  people do to you, you will never let it change who you are neither will you stop smiling.'

Since then, I've never fall into such despite the way my own people were treating me."

"So, you are telling me that everyone in the Tenplar tribe treated you like this?" Cloud asked.

"Well, not everyone..." Killer bee replied, "There were others that didn't care about what was going on while there were a few that wanted to speak on my behalf but they were silenced, not to mention our Chief before Chief Tenya was quite suppressive; He ordered that no one including the Tenplar children should have anything to do with me, plus he warned that if anyone came to my aid, he would brand that person as a traitor and kill him or her without hesitation and since only the strongest gets to rule, there was nothing that could be done against him until Tenya came to my aid after years of training at dimension Lod."

"Chief Tenya, huh?" Cloud asked, "I've met her before."

"You have?" Killer bee asked in a surprised manner

"Yeah, she was the one that helped me reach the Tall order pilgrim academy." Cloud said while smiling, "At first, she was surprised that a Stormwind was still alive and after i told her my goals which she found odd initially she decided to carry me to the academy."

"She carried you?" Killer bee asked with a raised eyebrow while smirking.

"Well, i didn't want her to." Cloud said while facing the ground with an embarrassed expression, "But after she explains that I'm a few months late and that i don't have a choice, i just had to agree."

"That's Tenya for you." Killer bee said, "She's pretty cool; She even asks me to refer to her as big sister Tenya but to be honest, i don't really see her as a big sister. Each time, i try to think of what my mother is like, all i can see is Tenya.

For her to be able to stand up for me when no one else would, i feel highly indebted to her just like i feel indebted to you, Cloud."

"No, I'm the one who is indebted to you." Cloud said, "If you didn't give me the yellow cloth, i wouldn't have made it to the tournament."

For a moment, silence filled the air with Cloud and Killer bee looking away from each other while facing the ground.

"Cloud..." Killer bee called, "Did you honestly believe that i could beat Karma?"

"No, i didn't." Cloud replied, "But i couldn't sit there and watch you get humiliated like that."

"Oh... I see..." Killer bee said, "Well, thanks for standing up for me, though."

At that moment, two black orbs quickly levitated in the air and the both created a blue hologram screen, having the pictures of Sting and Gorn.

"Sting of the Ripar tribe and Gorn of the Tenplar tribe are fighting next?" Killer bee asked in confusion.

Killer bee noted the troubled expression on Cloud's face as he was staring at the pictures on the hologram screen.

"T-this match... " Cloud said.

Cloud suddenly bursts out in laughter while covering his eyes with the palm of his right hand.

"This is a good one!" Cloud said.

Killer bee instantly became surprised at Cloud's reaction concerning the revelation.

"Huh? Why are you laughing?" Killer bee asked, "Aren't you worried about your best friend? Gorn is a total monster in terms of power and he's an A+. Sting doesn't stand a chance against him."

"Actually, it's the opposite." Cloud said while smiling, "Relax, Sting's got this.

I'm not looking down on Gorn or anything but If you get to know Sting, you'll find out he's way out of Gorn's league."

"Are you saying that because Zotek is his uncle?" Killer bee asked.

"Wait, Zotek is his uncle?" Cloud asked, "They don't even show any signs of being related."

"Zotek is the younger brother of Chief Ezgord of the Ripar tribe." Killer bee said, "Chief Ezgord has the Kan ability of Word soul while Zotek has the Kan ability of Soul predator."

"Soul predator? Like he eats souls?" Cloud asked with a raised eyebrow, "I thought his Kan ability was Soul shift?!"

"Soul shift?" Killer bee asked, "Nah. That must be one of the abilities he acquired from one of his victims. You see when Zotek eats the souls of his victims, he takes their skills and abilities while increasing his own power level as well."

"Hold up, Bee. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this." Cloud said while rubbing his forehead with his right palm.

"Zotek eats souls?!!" Cloud asked while Zotek was still sitting in the teachers center in the court with his hands cupped together and emitting an outline aura along with his irises glowing brighter.

Meanwhile at the female restroom, Zigar was still holding Zera by the throat.

"How did you live?" Zera asked while gripping Zigar's wrist, "I saw you die! I killed you!"

"And yet, here i am, still standing before you." Zigar said with a grin, "Did you honestly believe that you could walk away after betraying us? After betraying our family?!"

"You have a twisted perspective of family." Zera said, "By the way, how did you get pass the Keigra guards without setting off an alarm? More importantly, how were you able to reach me without Zotek and a few others sensing your energy?"

"I have my ways." Zigar replied, "But enough talk, I'm going to take your life, right here, right now."

"Like hell you will!!" Zera said as her eyes glowed completely green while emitting a blazing green aura.

"Kaliss!" Zigar said as he slams his palm on Zera's body and emitted a yellow light from his hand which caused Zera's glowing eyes and green aura to immediately seize.

Zigar let's go of Zera, leaving Zera to fall on the ground. Zera tries several attempts get up but she ends up falling back on her knees.

"What? What's going on?" Zera asked in a puzzled manner while staring at her shaky palm, "There is no strength in my body."

"The golden touch 'Kaliss'." Zigar said with a smirk, "The technique is said to close a Kan ability and weaken a person for as long as the user of the technique wants. So, in other words, just forget about using your Kan ability of 'Beast soul' to fight me. "

"This is just like Pit's touch of null but on a different level." Zera said within herself.

Zigar grabs the weakened Zera by her shirt and smiles at her.

"Now, Zera, we can have some fun." Zigar said, "You're going to pay for betraying the Vilmir family and we're going to make sure  we do it slow and painfully."

At that moment, a light began to swirl round Zigar and Zera and the both of them vanished from the restroom. Zera finds herself in a scarlet leafed forest with a pale red sky, surrounded by group of Ripars, Tenplars and Graundars; As the group were glaring down at Zera, Zera became shocked and confused at seeing their faces.

"Wait, these people... I recognize them..." Zera said within herself, "Adil, Amou, Kon, Mida, Tyde, Kiva and Riel. They are still alive?!"

"These are the last survivors of the Vilmir family." Zigar said, "They too, share the same hatred that i have for you. Tell me, how could you do it, Zera? How could you betray the family that took you in and raised you?

  You were nothing but a lonely little Ripar girl that was born in a monster realm until one of us took you in and raised you; You, Zera, a Ripar whose kan energy matched that of a monster, so wild and primitive that you even lacked common communication. The family trained you, made you strong and this is how you repay us?! By murdering every member including Vilmir himself?!! All because you met some Graundar boy that showed you the 'Light'?!

Don't be ridiculous! There is no one that can accept you for who you are... No one. And it's such a shame that you'll have to die all because of that foolish act of yours."

"Foolish?" Zera asked while struggling to stand up, "Tell me, what does the Vilmir family do? A family that goes around abducting young ones from their homes and teaching them that their mind and bodies don't belong to them but to Vilmir instead. What kind of family would make their young ones feel that they are nothing more than objects made to serve and obey?"

"Cause we are made to serve and obey!!" Zigar angrily replied, "There is nothing left for us in this life except pain but with our master Vilmir, all things are beautiful! All things are peaceful and wonderful! Master Vilmir did us a favour!"

"Don't give me that crap!" Zera angrily said, "The Vilmir family is nothing more than a cult and your brain is non existent if you are still kissing Vilmir's ass."

"Careful, Zera." Tyde said, "I'm still trying to restrain myself from killing you."

"Wait." Adil said as she stretched out her hand towards him, "It's funny you're talking about ass kissing when you are kissing the ass of Agaroth and the Chiefs. Vilmir raised us and showed us the light on why we should serve him. Why would you choose those your so called acquaintances?"

Zera bends her head as she recalls teenage Schroeder stretching forth his hand towards her while smiling. A flashback occurs as teenage Zera walks out of a room and finds teenage Schroeder along with a teenage long haired Ripar male and a teenage orange haired Tenplar female, leaning on the wall.

"Zotek, Schroeder and Leorona... What are you doing here?" Zera asked in astonished manner.

"Foolish question." Leorona said with a smile as her eyes rolls towards Zera, "We came to check up on you, of course." .

"You had us worried sick." Schroeder said, "Even our mates were beginning to worry."

"You seem to have recovered. Good." Zotek said with a stoic face, "Now come, Zera or else you want the dish i got for the 4 of us to get cold.

Another flashback occurs as Zera stood and watched as many teen pilgrim candidates were crying over the dead bodies of their teammates. During this incident, Zera noted the sad expression on Zotek's face and also noted Leorona on her knees while sobbing. Schroeder holds Zera's hand while facing the ground sadly and tears began to flow out of Zera's left eye.

"Vilmir... Ever since i was brought into that family, all i can remember them teaching us is how we must serve Vilmir with all our hearts and no other bond is necessary. Heck, we couldn't cry for others that died because they taught us that it was a sign of weakness and if we cried for the fallen, they would kill us." Zera said while facing the ground, "But these people... They showed me what it was like to care for someone and to have someone care for you.

We always looked out for each other and if we lose someone, it's as if we lost a piece of us. Yes, we had our moments..."

A flashback occurs as teenage Leorona was glaring at Zera with her teeth gritted and her irises glowing brighter while Zera was grinning deviously at her with her irises glowing brighter as well. Another flashback occurs as teenage Zera was shouting at Zotek with her finger pointed at him while Zotek pays no attention to her and was eating his apple.

"Even the weird and unnecessary moments.."

Another flashback occurs teenage Zera and Schroeder were walking with a redhead teenage male Graundar.

"Can i ask you a question?" The redhead Graundar asked with a smile.

"Hm? Sure, Xen." Schroeder said while smiling.

"People used it talk about you and Zera a lot which made me wonder, if you and Zera should fight, who would win? Who would come out on top?" Xen asked.

This question caught Schroeder off guard and made him halt in fear.

"Well, you heard him, Schroeder." Zera said while smiling with her eyes closed and her arms at the back of her head, "Who do you think will come out on top between the both of us? Go ahead, land the first hit."

"I dare you." Zera said with dark smile and a deepened voice  as her eyes rolls towards Schroeder along with her irises glowing brighter.

"No, no. " Schroeder said while slightly shaking in fear, "No, no, no, no."

After recalling that moment, Zera smiles while still facing the ground.

"They gave me something, something i have forgotten about since i was brought into your little cult..." Zera said, "A family. A true definition of a family.

You want to know what else i learnt? I learnt that the weak will always be among us, no matter what happens. It's only part of nature, that's why it's the duty of the strong to protect the weak but even the weaklings have something valuable to contri...bute..."

Zera halts as she recalls the face of Cloud, leading her to facepalm herself.

"Oh man, what have i been doing?" Zera asked herself, "I threw away everything i claimed to have learnt for years in just a few months. No matter how hard he tried, i always singled him out to be the worst.

  All i wanted was for him to be safe and to understand how dangerous it is for him as a minor and since he is the last of his tribe, if he dies then his tribe dies with him but in the process of doing this, i ended behaving like what i hated. I really am a fool. Oh man, oh man, oh man..."

These actions of Zera made Zigar and the remaining Vilmir members stare at Zera quizzically.

"What is she doing?" Adil asked.

"More like what is she saying?" Kon asked.

"Hey, Zera!" Amou called, "What do you think you are-?"

SHUT UP, DUMBASS!!" Zera cuts in, "I have someone that i want to see and i have just lost interest in all of you. So if you can take me back to where i was, i promise to forget about this and let you walk out alive."

Amou and the other Vilmir members became infuriated with Zera's words, leading some of them to clench their fists and gritt their teeth while some to look at her with a deadly glare.

"Let us walk out alive...?" Amou asked with a menacing shaky tone, "We always knew that you were dumb and crazy but this...! This is on another level! You..! kill us?! In your current state?! I'd like to see you try!!"

In a flash, Zera thrusts her hand deep into Amou's belly and pulled out his intestine, leaving the other Vilmir members shocked at what happened . Amou drops to his knees while holding his intestine and staring at it with pain so immense that he couldn't scream.

"She actually did it..." Amou said within himself.

Amou falls flat across his face and began to severely bleed from his belly.

"F**k! My guts!" Amou said within himself.

  Amou quickly gives up the ghost while the other Vilmir members stare at him in astonishment.

"She was incredibly weakened but yet she was able to move so fast and kill Amou with one strike?!" Zigar asked within himself, "That's impossible!!"

  After staring down at Amou's corpse, Zera's eyes coldly rolls towards the other members of the Vilmir family.

"One..." Zera said.