Zenith Breaker

I felt my knees falter as Jak caught me, "relax a bit unless you wanna lose your head", he spoke calmly before turning back to the man. The man fully turned to us with a head tilt, "hmm i figured the hospital would've been cleared by now", he took a step forward as the entIre hallway shook. Me and Jak both slightly lost our balance slipping a bit. our heads snapped back as we felt a hand on our shoulders, "woah there kiddo's don't fall", the man was standing between us his voice was unnaturally calm as he slung his arms around us. I tried to pull away but it felt like I trying to pull against a truck, "don't go being feisty kid it's annoying", before I could react he released his arm from around Jak's shoulder and drove his fist into my stomach, "AGHH"!, I instantly felt my body give out as I collapsed to the floor. I could barely breath it had felt like the punch knocked my organs out of place, and as I tried to lift my head it took a almost all my will to look back at him,"you know fighting children Isn't really something I do ya know", he turned to Jak in a instant delivering a roundhouse kick to his stomach which sent Jak sliding across the ground. He dusted his suit off with a sigh, "but for some reason it's always the next generation that is the problem", he walked over and crouched in front of me tapping the side of his mask as the blank expression on the mask changed to a frown, "and don't get me wrong i'm happy that the next generation but you're not within my vision so sadly you kids happened to be in wrong place at the wrong tIme", I tried to move and almost fainted as the pain shot through my body like lighting. The mask changed again this tIme automatically into a smile as he laughed, "but anyways lets get you kids up", I tried to Ignore the weird encouragement as I laId in place. In an instant before I could react he gripped the back of my shirt yanking my off the ground into the air, "AGH!", I could barely scream before I was flung into a wall, "A-Agrh", I couldn't think straight as the wall crumbled inwards as every cell in my body cried. My vision was starry as I sat up against the wall. He seemingly Glanced to Jak who seemingly had flickers of gold falling around him as the some slightly ignited into flames, "hmm that's interesting gold and fire I wonder who's his god", although he sounded interested he turned and started walking towards the wall I was laid against, "but you're more interesting", he crouched down grabbing my head and lifting it, "normal godless people don't have traces of active faith", he pointed into my chest as pain shot through from that spot, "but you're just leaking pure faith in abundance and it all lays here", I noticed he was pointing at my heart, "so now i'm going to hurt you but I probably won't kill you i'd really hate to kill a potential ally" he stood back up picking my up by my collar pinning my against the wall. His grip was rough before he let me go. Before I could process it my body was flung through the wall as my body shot into the room behind me. I could only keep my head up because it was slightly indented into the wall. My eyes flickered around the room seeing it was just another room. The man stepped through the hole putting on a black glove which seemed to had glowing purple gem. The light from the hall broke through the hole, "and look I do feel bad cause you two seem like nice kids", the brinks of concrete that laid in disarray had shattered under his feet as If it was snow, " and the thing is I wasn't even supposed to arrive yet ya know", he crouched down in front of me again with a smile plastered across his mask, "the plan was originally to ya know steal a few things maybe kIll a civIlian or two and wait for the one of the churches to send some disciples", he continued to monologue as I tried to turn away. He gripped my face with a surprising amount of force, "did I say you could move and interrupt my monologue", he squeezed harder his voice wasn't the same calm as the mask of his completely glitched out as his voice kept the same calm as before but it felt more Irritated. I could've sworn I could feel that he was trying to hold back his strength but it stIll felt like a light squeeze was going to shatter my jaw. I couldn't think of a way outta this in any capacity, "hmm?", his grip suddenly lightened as he looked over towards an empty wall, "now what's this abnormal energy?", I let go of my face standing up. I rubbed my jaw as the pain didn't subside, "there shouldn't be anyone to use faith unless…", a shimmer of blue hair peeked through the hole as Eden stepped in. The man's mask changed in an instant as it formed a toothy grin, "my my look here the Caster's families failed blue star", she looked serIous as I noticed she was bleeding from her head, "how's that frail body treating you", Eden spat in the man's directIon, "go kiss the curb you bastard", he laughed, "no need to be so rude we're frIends aren't we", his voice had a condescending tone as he started towards her, "we're aren't frIends and believe me we aren't going to be", his mask shifted into a frown, "aww you hurt my feelings", Eden must've grown tired of the talking as she pulled something from her hip, "I might not be able to use my faith but I can use this", from her hip unfolded a bo staff of gold and black, "oh wow I'm absolutely shaking in my boot rIght now", the man's masks turned neutral showing no emotIons. He shot towards her in an instant pulling his fist back. Eden put his staff up to block as his fist slammed into it with thundering force as the sound rang throughout the entire room. in the instant his fist made contact with the staff Eden was shot out of the room breaking through multIple rooms, "Hey you aren't dead righ-?", the staff shot through the hole slamming into his stomach, "Agh!", he crumbled over grIpping his stomach. Eden stumbled back into the room as blood dripped from her head and arms staining her diamond blue with red, her eyes were completely bloodshot and glossy. The groans of pain from the man turned to laughter as he leaned back holding his stomach laughing, "oh that tickled", he continued laughing as he looked at us pointing to each of us, "what an interesting group of kids you three are you're like roses endearing but dangerous", I could barely move my body as the adrenaline wore off. He stopped laughing as the room filled into silence as he turned to Eden, "but no matter the beauty of a rose it will always to be full of thorns", Eden looked like she could barely stand as he began walking towards her, "And I would personally hate to be pricked so it's better I snIp the thorns", He shot towards Eden again, "NOOOO!" , I reached my hand out for her as my heart began to ring in my ears. I woke up in darkness, I could feel a heavy pressure on my legs as a tingling sensatIon sting my left eye. The sounds of muffled and scattered voices, "We found one a survivor", I closed my eyes as lighting pierced my eyes as a piece of rubble was removed from above me as seven silhouettes stood above the hole, "hey brat you okay down there", a familiar voice spoke as one of the silhouettes leaned down as their face came into full vIew showing Michael. I went to speak but couldn't it had felt like my voice was taken, "relax a bit brat you're body's just a bit outta wack rIght now", I was a bit confused. Michael sighed before motIoning to two of the silhouettes, "clear the rubble off him while I explain", they simply nodded, "yes sir!", they moved with unnatural haste as Michael kept his gaze on me, "well let's get one of the bIggest things outta the way, I raised an eyebrow, "you've been missing for three days", my heart fell to my feet as it began thumping in my ears, "what?", was all I could muster the rubble around me was lifted but I felt heavIer without it. Michael leaned down pulling me from the rubble, "yeah the entIre hospital is gone but everyone made out just fine", I looked around the wreckage of the hospital noticing I was in the middle of all the rubble that spread for multIple blocks. I could barely let out a breath, "h-how did this happen", a thought instantly crossed my mind as I interrupted make before Michael could speak, "Where Eden and Jak?", I looked at him with an almost pleading look, "Eden's fine and so Is Jak", I released the breath, "but who are they to you?", he looked at me with a slight curIosity in his voice, "I met them three days ago I guess and we were becoming frIends", I looked to the ground as Michael rested his hand on my shoulder, "well that's good and all brat but you can't be getting attached to people this quickly", I sighed keeping my head down, "I know but it's just hard not to", he pinched the brIdges of his nose with an exasperated sigh, "fine fine brat just don't get too attached to people in our line of work", I just nodded staying silent. Michael helped me find my way to the Ragnarok church, where Eden and Jak were at. We stepped in front of the towering marble and stone cathedral, the pathway to the church was lined with varIous fruit trees, the front walls were painted with murals of the six Apostles of the church. And in the middle was a large mural painted of a man with wIld blonde hair and indigo colored eyes that seemed to pierce me even through the painting, "Adam the first saint", my thoughts were interrupted when Michael spoke up as I turned to him, "that's who that man Is", he looked up at the painting with admiratIon, "I've heard of him when I was younger the caretaker at the orphanage would tell us bedtIme storIes about him", Michael turned to me with a smile that surprised me, "he was saId to be a great man", Michael's voice was uncharastically soft his AdmiratIon was almost palpable, "you seem to admire him a lot", Michael continued with a smile, "I do but other then my admiratIon for him let's go find your frIends", Michael continued forward turning back slightly with a smile. I walked into the church, I looked up and around the base of the church, the roof of the church was lit with chandeliers of gold and silver, in the middle sat multIple tables of varying sizes each sitting varying numbers of people wearing robes or street clothes, "wow", was the only response I could muster at the sight, "Impressive huh?", Michael asked as I just nodded stIll stunned by the beauty, "that's the normal reactIon but once you come here a few tImes it becomes normal but it stIll holds its beauty no matter the amount of tImes I return", he continued forward motIoning me to follow. As we continued across the church we passed a varIety of rooms ranging from a few training rooms and a couple of prayer rooms with varying murals of gods some resembling Adam before we came up to a plain white metal door with a center emblem resembling a heart. I pushed the door open stepping in as Michael followed behind me. Eden and Jak were sitting across from each other laughing and talking. They turned to us, "Juno!", they sprung off the bed towards me tackling me to the ground, "W-woah", I hit the ground laughing a bit as well as wincingslightly, "well brat I thought you'd gotten attached quickly but it seems the three of you all got attached", I couldn't contain a laugh as Eden's and Jak's laughs mixed in, "yeah I guess so huh guys", they gIggled as we started to regroup ourselves, "yeah we're the misfits of roses", Eden proclaImed naming our little group, "referring to yourselves as misfits Is a unique claim", Michael chuckled, "I mean we kinda our so why not embrace it", Jak slung his arms over our shoulders just going with it, "well you definitely are an interesting group", our laughs mixed as Jak pulled us closer in, "it's good you misfits are having fun but the exam in four days you should be resting and getting prepared", Michael's tone was soft yet serIous, "you should be aware of the process of the disciple exam already", I put my hand up as Michael let out an exasperated sigh, "yes brat?", I chuckled a bit filling nervous as I stepped behind Eden and Jak, "what's the process again?", Michael looked at me for a second pausing, "If you weren't my disciple I would punch you", I took a step back further behind Eden and Jak as they both let out a surprised gasp before turning towards me, "You're apostle Michael's disciple!", they each grIpped my shoulder with jealously as they began shaking me back and forth, "yes now stop me I'm getting lightheaded", they both stopped instantly looking to each other before turning to me again, "lucky", Jak grumbled slightly taking a step back crossing his arms almost like a pouting child, "totally", Eden joined in the pouting grabbing ahold of Jak as they began mock crying. The sound of the door opening behind us silenced the room in an instant, "Michael!", as we turned back to the door there looked to be a small hooded child clinging onto Michael's back as he had a exasperated but Irritated look, "Uriel I swear to gods If you don't get off my back I'm going to drop a sun on you", The person gIggled as they climbed further up his back, "nope you should clearly know I'm not going anywhere unless i decide", he sighed again turning to us, "you all looked confused", I cracked a small nervous smile feeling a bit embarrassed, "This is Uriel a co-worker of mine", the small child jumped down, "wow I thought you were shorter", the person was about a few inches taller than Michael as they put their arms around his neck resting her their head on his shoulder, "aww just co-workers I'm hurt", the hood fell back from their head. A woman's soft face was the first thing I noticed along with her almost caramel colored skin, her eyes were an almost misty pink color as she cracked a smile with pure almost marble colored teeth, her face was framed with long black dreadlocks with strands of red throughout the locks. She looked at us with a smile, "sorry for not introducing myself", she leaned off Michael, "I'm Uriel Narizo", I took a second look at her as Eden seemed to instantly recognize the family name, "as in the dragon family Narizo?", she nodded as I caught a glimpse of a pink-ish scales along her neck. She looked to Eden smiling a bit, "yes that family Narizo", Eden looked as If she was about to burst with excitement, "oh my gods that's so cool", Eden sprung towards her looking at her with excitement, "I love your clan and everything abou-", Eden was cut off as Uriel grabbed hold of her face with a soft smile, "you're energetic i like that", Eden's face flashed pink from embarrassment, "Sorry sorry", Eden kept bowing while repeatedly saying sorry, "You're fine little one", Eden smiled a bit, "alrIght now since everyone's done having their little moments", Michael spoke as the room went silent, "the disciple exams will take place in four days", the room went back silent as the words hung in the air for a moment, "ok enough with the quiet mood its getting awkward", Uriel's voice had a bit of sass to it as Eden chuckled under her breath, "actually since you're here Uriel", she turned back to micheal as he continued, "Haven't you been looking for another disciple since i heard that Kensai's became a seraphim recently", Uriel tapped her finger on her chin for a second thinking for a moment looking serious, "yeah i actually was Kensai is doing the same actually thing", her and micheal locked eyes for a split second seemingly having a silent conversation between them, "alright then it's decided", Uriel turned around and grabbed Eden by the back of her shirt picking her off her feet as she dangled in the air, "uh miss Uriel?", . I couldn't stop a laugh from escaping slightly, "oh what's so funny brat", I felt the back of my shirt get grabbed as my feet came off the ground,, "oh c'mon im still hurting a bit", micheal's smile felt full mischievous energy, "okay and? I mean we apostle deal with far worse", I try frailing my legs back and forth as micheal walked over and grabbed Jak off his feet as well, "you're coming along with us third lil misfit", Jak looked confused as he just sighed and shrugged, "you're not going to fight against me?", Micheal looked a bit surprised as Jak just let micheal pick him up, "nah not really it'd be pointless", Jak's shoulder shrugged slightly before relaxing, "but i am curious why me?", Micheal chuckled a bit, "well my disciple's going to need teammates in the exam and i won't tolerate weakness to be associated with me", Jak looked at Micheal slightly confused before just shrugging,"okay whatever", Micheal began carrying us outta the room. As we walked down the hall other disciple looked at us with confused or envious looks, Eden Looked to be rambling off to Uriel although I couldn't hear what she was saying but Uriel seemed to be enjoying the rambling, I turned to Jak as he looked completely unfazed by the whole being carried like sand bags situation, "uh jak?", he turned to me with a blank almost relaxed look, "ya?", his voice was so relaxed you'd think he was laying in the softest bed ever, "how are you so calm", he sighed a bit but not in an irritated way, "think about this why would i fight against the chance to possible be trained by an apostle", I paused for a second letting that answer sink in, "y-you know what you're actually right", I remembered something as i turned back Jak, "hey can i ask you something?", He nodded as he raised an eyebrow, "sure what's up", I nodded before speaking, "while we were at the hospital you seemed to have fire and even the guy that attacked us mentioned it but why did it seem like you always had gold and he also mentioned that", Jak laughed a bit, "oh yeah that probably would be confusing so basically my abilities mainly circle around gold I can only use fire when i'm extremely injured or close to death", I nodded as i processed it, "oh okay well that's cool", he just nodded as he started "yeah call me the gold king", he struck a weird pose as I chuckled a bit before feeling a sting in my stomach as a knee connected in a second. I crumbled slightly coughing, "what was that for", Micheal continued ahead as a small smile formed on the edge of his mouth, "it was a test of your reflexes", i swear sometimes his voice makes me want to sock him in the throat, "you are a terrible liar ya know", Micheal laughed a bit as he carried us outta the room.