Chapter 1: Part 2

Zen Mithrill Lang has been fighting wars for as long as he can remember. The adrenaline rush of being in a battlefield was all too familiar to him. He fought mercenaries, assasins, soldiers...he even fought an entire army all by himself. Once, he enjoyed it. The feeling of being superior to everyone else, of being able to challenge death and survive, the power, the pride, and the respect. he enjoyed it... once. But as the years passed, he began to get tired of it all. "War was senseless, War is just an excuse to get people killed", he once thought. But he never had the chance to leave the "senseless war", for he was a mercenary, a hired soldier... and war was his only way of living.

He was considered the best and his fighting skills were unmatched. Because of this, the empire hired him to be the captain of the Black Guards of Losgoth. He brought countless victories to the Empire of Evalos and was responsible for claiming seven provinces from the Vallax republic. He was nicknamed the "Rawolfe" or the "DragonWolf" by King Kronos Cross after he was awarded the Silver Lion's Crest, a medal given only to the best soldiers of Evalos.

He Acquired his skills from his father, Vahnstryke Mithrill Lang, the only family he knew. His father was a hired Assassin, hired by the empire to do their dirty deeds. Since he was young, he was trained by his father to fight. "Always remember what I teach you, to reclaim what was stolen from you", his father always used to say, when he asks what this means, the answer is always silence.

He remember his father to be a good man. strict and idealistic. His father lectured him often, and because of this he almost memorized most of his father's speeches word for word. "No one is purely good or purely evil. There is always a good and an evil side of us...its up to you to decide what side you will be in a given time" and "It's good to be the best if you don't let it get the best of you" were his favorite speeches.

His father was killed while on a mission when he was 14. The body was never found, but his father's weapons, were retreived. He buried the weapons and made a tombstone to honor his father. Then he left his hometown to become a mercenary, and now he is a legend.

He didn't expect fame, nor did he want it. He also did not realize that it will be the cause of his downfall, for fame sparks jealousy. His father always told him to be careful whom to trust, and now his father's words echoed in his mind. He wanted to laugh, "I always wondered when death will catch up with me", he thought, "but never did I imagine that he will be in the guise of an ally and not an enemy"

He remembers it clearly. He was surveying a cliff while on a mission when he was stabbed in the back, and was pushed off the cliff. Before he fell, he managed to turn and face his attacker. To his surprise, he saw a familiar face, smiling as if he is the happiest man in the world. It was Riccart Forrester, an imperial soldier under his command.

He can only see darkness everywhere. As if his whole world was covered in black clouds. It was peaceful, and serene. Now, as he lie near death's treshhold, he does not feel anger or hate. In fact, he is somewhat relieved that his struggle is almost over. "Now, I can have peace", he thought.

His moment of silence was suddenly interrupted by a very loud and familiar voice
"You want peace? then get off your lazy @$$!"

The voice was everywhere and it echoed in the darkness. He looked in every direction, but he sees nothing.
"Hey, who said that? father? is that you? am I dead?"

The darkness was slowly subsiding, giving way to a forest-like setting. A silhouette of a middle-aged bearded man appears. Smiling, the man punched him in his face, as if greeting him.
"One question at a time... BragginWolf"

Laughing, he punched the man back, as if returning the greeting.
"That's Dragonwolf father, or should I say Vahnstryke Lang!"

like two boxers preparing for a fight, the two circled each other, both in a fighting stance and ready to charge.
"Ha! Dragonwolf, shmagonwolf wats da diff'rnce?"

With that said, Vahnstryke, charged. It was so quick that the movement was almost blurred. He released a flurry of quick punch-kick combos, and all of them was blocked by Zen. Not to be outdone, Zen started attacking, and released some combos of his own, his attacks was blocked as well. The two continued to exchange blows, until Zen successfully landed a left jab in Vahnstyke's face. After that, the two started laughing like kids.

"Still as lively as heck, eh father?"

"Ya bettar believe it, little man!"

Like a small kid hearing a good joke, Zen Lang laughed so hard that tears started rolling in his eyes. And his father laughed with him. He never had a good laugh since his father died, he thought. They laughed for a long time, and then silence followed.

"So, am I dead?"

"What the...? You wanna die boy? you still have'nt got a girlfriend, and you wanna die? you're a dissapointment boy, why dontcha be like your old pops, the ol' chick magnet"

"I had a girlfriend remember?, you were still alive back then"

"Ha! and where is she now huh? kissing some ugly punk? that bitch. She dont know a good lookin' man even if kissed her in the..."

"Shut the heck up pops, how did you know?"

"What? just because i died doesnt mean im dead boy! I knew she was cheatin on you, that good for nothing b..."

"Enough pops. Leave the past behind because I'm here in the present"

"Ah, its nice ta know that you still remember my words of wisdom eh, little man?"

"How could I forget? you've said it at least a million times! and stop callin' me little
man, I'm grown up now"

Upon hearing that, Vahnstryke's face became serious
"Yes, I know... I'm proud of you boy. You do me a great honor. I'm sorry I left you to fend on your own. I had no choice you know, coz I died an' all"

"Why the sudden change of mood? are we gonna have your patented mushy talk again?"

"Ah, shut yer trap!"

The two laughed like crazy, like two best friends having a good time.
"So where we goin' pops?"

"What? you're goin' nowhere boy! Listen! and listen good! you're not coming back here until you have a wife and 10 kids, understand?"

"10 kids? that's kinda steep"

"Hey! you're a Lang boy, the finest breed. Why if you're mother did'nt die young, I could have at least 20 kids, and not just one wisecracking kid."

"Ha ha... So where is she? I want to see her, where..."

"You can't see her, not until you fulfill your destiny!"

"My destiny? what are you-"

"Go back! we'll all be together when your time has come, but for now, do what you gotta do"

"H-hey what do you mean? hey!...HEY! don't leave me!"

"See ya, Dragonwolf, my son."

A flash of blinding light surrounded Zen, and when the light subsided, he started feeling pain all over his body. When he opened his eyes, he saw an unfamiliar place. He was in a room with wooden walls and ceiling with white draperies and curtains. Bandages were all over his body, and getting up was a bit of a chore.

"Where am I?"