Zed's eyes fluttered open, light filtering through the trees above. Every muscle ached. His breath was shallow.
"Ugh... what happened?" he muttered.
"Ah, you're up. Great," said a voice.
Zed's eyes snapped wide. Felt. He scanned the area.
"My sword—where is it?" he demanded, struggling upright.
Felt pulled it from behind him. "This? Couldn't risk you sneak-attacking me." He tossed it.
Zed caught it without hesitation. "Good. Now we resume."
Felt sighed. "Always fight, fight, fight. You should thank me for not killing you."
Zed glared. "You're a monster. You don't deserve thanks."
"You still on that crusade?" Felt's tone hardened. "You said you want to kill all monsters, right?"
Zed raised his blade. "Exactly. Starting with you."
He lunged, blade flashing. Felt sidestepped easily.
"Hey, I just want to talk."
"NO!" Zed flipped mid-air, slashing again. The blade sliced Felt's side.
No blood.
The wound vanished.
"I can't be wounded. Or get tired," Felt said. "I'm a monster. You're human. So listen, before you waste more energy."
Zed hesitated, breathing hard. "…Fine."
Felt looked up. "Ever heard of the King of Monsters?"
Zed frowned. "Can't say I have. But I figured you all came from something."
"He didn't create us," Felt said. "He just rules. Like any king."
"So?"
"I want to reach him. And kill him."
Zed froze. Kill his own kind?
He gripped his sword tighter. "Or I kill you and the King. You're not loyal to either side."
Felt laughed. "You couldn't beat me. And you think you can face him alone? That's rich."
Zed's glare softened slightly. "It's not arrogance. It's hate. I've seen what your kind does—no sympathy, no mercy—"
"…What if I told you I'm part human?" Felt said.
Zed froze. "...What?"
Suddenly, screams echoed from the forest. Monsters—running. Terrified.
Zed turned. "They're running from something…"
The air went cold. The wind died. The sky darkened.
Felt paled.
No… it can't be here...
From the black fog stepped a cloaked figure, holding a monster by the throat.
"Please… I beg you…" the monster gasped.
The figure exhaled. Dark mist. It touched the monster's chest—and pulled.
A glowing soul ripped free, screaming. The body turned to ash.
Zed stood frozen.
"Down!" Felt yelled.
The entity opened its mouth—spewing a wave of corrosive breath. Trees withered. Flowers died. Life ended.
Zed collapsed to his knees, shaking. "W-What is that...?"
Felt whispered, "I thought it was a myth. But it's real. Three hundred years ago, it destroyed nations with a glance."
He clenched his fists. Sweat dripped.
"That... is the Unknown Entity."