Prologue
Restoration at 85
"It's nearly there doctor," said a young female. "89. Sir, I think that this experiment might be a success."
"Yes, the zero-type is nearly complete. If this experiment is a success then we will revolutionize the D.S.O"
Restoration at 93
"Yes, the organization will be very proud and will pay much for the zero-type. With this subject we will both be set for life."
Restoration at 100
"It's time."
Awakening Zero-Type Sample
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The subject opened its eyes and saw two blurry figures on the outside of the container it was in. The figures walked closer. A crimson glow came from the subject's eyes and the glass started to crack. Then the container shattered, scattering water and glass across the lab room. The two figures appeared clearly now. The two figures were a young woman with mid-length brown hair with brown eyes. She looked very young and beautiful with slim figure and elegant posture. The other was a middle aged man with short blond hair and blue eyes. He had an excited look on his face as though he had just accomplished something grand. They both were wearing white lad coats so the subject figured them to be scientists.
"Hello," said the man. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
The subject looked at the man for a moment the looked at its open hand. At first there was nothing, but then the air around its hand got a bit darker and something started to form. In its hand shadows started to form and come together to form a small black ball. The shadow ball grew until it filled the subject's hand.
"Oh my god," said the young woman. "We've made a shadow master, probably the rarest and strongest of the elementals. She looked over at the doctor and saw a look of horror on his face.
"I've doomed us all."
Darkness.
Chapter 1
"Ashura, Ashura Anderson," shouted the teacher.
Ashura jolted back to reality. "Huh?"
"Wake up boy. Stop daydreaming and pay attention."
"Well if you weren't so damn boring then maybe I would."
"That's strike one. Now stop talking."
Ashura stood up and walked to the front of the class and grabbed some chalk. He looked at it and threw it out the window of a second story classroom. He opened his hand and dragged his nails across the chalkboard with an ear piercing screech.
"That's it! One more thing and I'm sending you to the office. Any misbehavior or foul language and you're out!"
"One more thing, huh?" Ashura walked to the door, turned to his 11th grade teacher and said, "Fuck!" With that he walked out of the classroom door.
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"He's something else, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is. But he's coming with us whether he likes it or not."
"You make it sound like you want to kill him."
"Well maybe I will. It all depends on his answer and reaction is."
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"Mr. Anderson," said the principal. "This is the third time this week that you've been in my office. Has something been bothering you?"
"Come on Mr. P, stop with the 'Mr. Anderson' thing. We're friends right? Just call me Ash or Ashura if you want. But no, nothing's bothering me. I'm just trying to have as much fun in school as I can before a beautiful summer in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But of course my teacher is never letting me have my fun."
"Well you don't have to wait that much longer. You have about ten minutes before summer starts. Go on back to class and have a good summer.
"Will do. See you next year." Ashura got out of his seat and started walking to the door.
"Oh, Ashura, one more thing." Ash turned to look at the principal. "Can you help me with this?" He held up a puzzle box.
Ashura smiled and took the box. "I'll give it back when I'm done."
"No, go ahead and keep it." Ashura smiled and walked out the door. "You need it if you want to survive in this new world you're about to enter."
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Ashura walked down the hall and went into the bathroom. He went to the sink and let the cool water run over his hands. He cupped some water and splashed it to his face. He looked in the mirror and what he saw was the face of a normal sixteen year old. He had greenish-blue eyes and long spiky hair. His hair color was different than others his age however. For as long as he could remember he had snow white hair.
He was exactly six feet tall and had an athletic body. He was very athletic, but never went out for sports. His normal choice of clothing was jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers. He sometimes just went barefoot too.
He looked at the clock. "Seven more minutes," he said. He left the bathroom and walked back to class.
When he got to class the teacher was lecturing, as usual. Ashura took his seat and looked up at the clock. He watched the time tick by. Finally, three…two…one…the bell rang and the class cheered. Ashura could hear the whole school celebrate. Summer had begun. Ashura smiled. He got up and walked out the door for the last time.
As he walked down the hall a bunch of people passed and wished him a good summer. He walked down the stairs and went to his locker. He grabbed all of his things and when he shut the locker a girl in his grade was standing behind him.
Ashura thought for a minute then remembered her name. "Hey Jess, what's up?"
"Hi, Ashura. Well…I was just wondering if you have a girlfriend. If you don't would you consider going out with me?"
Ashura sighed. Why is it that every girl I meet wants to go out with me,he thought. Ashura was pretty popular with the girls. All of them wanted to go out with him because of his white hair and athletic body. They never care about who I really am. They just care about my looks. I bet that Jess is probably the same way.
"First, let me ask you something," he said. "Why is it that you want to go out with me?" He leaned back against his locker and waited for her answer. "Do you actually like me or do you just want me for my looks and bragging rights?"
She opened her mouth to say something, but paused. "Well…um…I-I."
Ashura nodded, "that's what I thought. All you girls are the same." With that said he walked away and left her standing there.
Ashura reached the double doors and exited the school. As he walked through the courtyard, he got the strange feeling that he was being watched.
Then he heard, "Hey Anderson!" Ashura turned to see four seniors and Jess walking in his direction. When they got to him the boy in front said, "I heard that you turned down my little sister."
Ashura gave the boy a look as if saying, yeah, so. "Yeah, I turned her down, big deal. She doesn't even know me. The only reason she wants to go out with me is so she can brag to her friends that she's going out with Ashura Anderson." The four boys looked at Ashura with hate in their eyes. "Let me guess, you're going to beat me up now." The boys smiled and started to walk forward. Ashura rolled his eyes and sighed. He put his bag down and said "I'd like to see you try."
One of the four boys ran forward and went to punch Ashura, but at the last minute Ashura flipped over the boy. As Ashura was still airborne, he flipped around and slammed his foot into the back of the boy's head. As the boy fell forward, Ashura landed and did a round-house kick to the boy's side.
As the boy lay on the ground gasping for air, a second and third came for Ashura from both sides. Ashura ducked and the two collided with each other. One lied on the ground holding his bleeding face while the other lay unconscious.
Ashura looked at the last boy, Jess' older brother. Her brother ran up to Ashura and just as he was about to punch, Ashura thrust his hand forward. He caught the punch with one hand and thrust two fingers into the boy's throat. The boy fell to his knees holding his throat, trying desperately to catch his breath.
Ashura picked up his bag and said, "I'll see you next year Jess." He walked off the school grounds and started towards home.
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"He's got potential."
"Potential? He completely wasted all four of those boys at once."
"Yes, I guess he did. He will make a great slayer, with the proper training, of course."
"He might not even need the training."
"Even if he doesn't, he still has to go though it. Everyone does."
"I'm sick of waiting. I'm going to recruit this boy with or without you."
"Very well. We will follow him home, and then confront him."