Two months passed since Rinali confronted Lillian in the Hunterian Cellars and was shot by the false mayor. His ribs burned with each breath. He had to wonder if what he did was a mistake or if it was the right choice.

What happened after he got shot? The last two months flew by in a blur. And what happened to Domtra and his forces after the attack? His thoughts were jumbled. When he woke up, he wasn't in the same place. Someone must have moved him and X.

He struggled to remember what Lillian said before she shot him. Something about an assault? Ah, yes. It came back to him now.

Lillian had told her nephew Brody to take King Megatronus and Zero to Altaria to recruit the mysterious members of the Organization after she murdered her mother. He shook his head, chuckling to himself as he left the makeshift hospital.

Hunteria. Once a bustling city filled with citizens and children playing the streets, now a barren town littered with broken porches, buildings covered in ash and dirt and cracked floors. The attack from Domtra and his forces left most of the people injured or on the verge of death and Lillian was nowhere to be found.

"You... You did this to us!"

Rinali turned his eyes toward the voice and spotted a man, in his twenties, pointing a finger at him as he coughed from his injuries.

"Me? You think I caused this? No, it wasn't me. It was Snarl. He wanted to bring this town to ashes. I tried to stop him, but I couldn't."

He had to lie. But with that lie was also a truth - he tried to prevent this from happening. He should've killed Domtra and Lillian. But he didn't. That was something he would live to regret.

But he couldn't focus on that right now. He observed the scene before him. Hunteria didn't look the same as it did two months ago. Did the people know of Lillian's actions? He figured they did not. They would all know soon, and it would be too late.

Rinali managed his way to the empty office of Mayor Lillian's. He searched through various drawers and shelves looking for anything to remind him of what had happened before. To his luck, he discovered a small note addressed to Lillian. It was from her uncle.

"Lillian. What you did isn't your fault. We all know that you and Kyle planned this from the beginning. Who would've known that X was in on this, too? It's funny. All of this was mapped out before we even arrived in Hunteria. I hope this 'weapon' of yours solves your problems since I most likely won't be around to see it. Whatever happens, do the right thing in the end."

Rinali seethed with anger. The people of Hunteria were being deceived even before Lillian became the mayor. She killed her own uncle to hide her secrets. She was using the people to her advantage, and X was in on the whole thing. Was that why he followed her into the cellars?

What was going on in Hunteria? And why was it happening?

By the time Zero arrived in Altaria with Brody and King Megatronus, he knew whatever happened in Hunteria had escalated. He tried reasoning with His Majesty, but Megatronus knew better than to work with him. His days of being a deadly bounty hunter never worked in his favor, and Zero knew this. He was truly alone.

"You're probably wondering what's happening right now."

Brody. Lillian's nephew and leader of the Nuvara Mercenaries and currently working with the King against the mayor. Zero analyzed the details of what was going on, and he didn't like it at all. Brody and King Megatronus were paged by Lillian from Hunteria to arrive at Altaria and demand that the members of the mysterious Organization work with her to help build something back in town, a weapon, he guessed. If they didn't co-operate, the Altarians would die. And if Zero interfered, he would be killed as well. He also gathered X didn't receive his distress call from before, which made the situation critical. The Altarians were good friends of Zero's. They helped him when he had nothing, and if they saw that he was with King Megatronus, that would be the ultimate betrayal of their trust and support. He cursed himself for what was about to happen.

"Open UP, you sacks of shit!"

The Altarian leader, Kai, pulled open the doors to the Altarian Church. As he glanced at Zero, he breathed a sigh of relief as Kai instantly realized Zero wasn't a part of this invasion. It was nice to know he still had the trust and respect of the Altarians. Maybe they could get out of this alive.

"What is it you want, Brody?"

Brody shoved him aside as the other Mercs pulled Zero into the church. He would regret this invasion once Zero had a moment alone with him.

"We are looking for the Organization. We know they reside in the Harkan Mountains, past Altaria. You will tell us the quickest way to the mountains, or all of your people will die as we progress through this church."

Kai took a breath.

"I assure you, we can resolve this without-"

"My patience is long, yes. But today is not the day to speak your bile, Father Kai. If you desire your people to remain alive and well, the location to the mountains immediately."

Kai nodded once, writing down a map to the hills leading up to the Harkan Mountains.

"Your support is much appreciated, Father."

Brody pulled out a small revolver, firing two rounds into Kai's chest, grinning at Zero.

"You're going to pay for that, Brody. Kai was a good friend, and I will avenge his death by killing you."

Brody merely punched Zero and marched on toward the mountains.

Lillian's feet hurt. She never walked this far for this long, but she couldn't stop now. Not until she reached her destination. She felt remorse for killing her mother. For all her flaws, Kimberley truly cared for her daughter. But she had no choice. In order for her plan to work, she couldn't allow herself to feel emotion. At least, not yet. Not until her plan was finished. She trusted Brody would deliver the Organization to her office. Or, at the very least, the leader. Her long-lost brother, Cameron. She missed her brother. Cameron was the only one that believed in her when no one else did. After Cameron became the Organization's leader, he promised her he would return to Lillian and help her with anything. She appreciated that.

But she needed one more thing. One final object before her weapon was complete.

She needed Dark Orchid.

After the attack on Hunteria, X quietly left the town. He decided that whatever Lillian's plans were, he no longer wished to be a part of it. He would go to the Sanctuary, and await further instructions from the mysterious team known as the Rebellion. A group of infamous heroes that fought powerful enemies and protected the world from similar threats. X contacted them shortly after he left Hunteria. They could help him start over. He would be able to rebuild his life after the destruction left upon his old home. His heart ached for his people, but Lillian corrupted it too much. He couldn't bear to live in that place any longer.

"Goodbye, Hunteria... I'm sorry for what has happened to you..."

X walked away, continuing to the Sanctuary.

"I'll make it right.. I promise."

Domtra tended to his wounds back in the slums. The attack left him with only a few of his men alive. He cursed Rinali for abandoning him, but thought twice and realized that his plans would be bigger than his own.

"Rinali is still holding on to a false glimmer of hope. If we have any hope of obtaining Lillian's weapon within the Catacombs of the city, we must work against Rinali and reach the weapon ourselves. if it means killing Rinali, well... so be it. That weapon is ours, and we shall use it to our own liking."

Domtra sat back in his chair and observed the people in the slums. He smiled mischievously as his plan was already forming.

"Soon, my people will return to where they truly belong - back in Hunteria under my guidance and rule. And Lillian's head will be placed on a pike beside me as a reminder to those that doubted me in the past. She should've never became leader. But her father wanted her to impeach me because I didn't allow her to sway the people with her lies. And now look what's happened. Hunteria is on the brink of death because of that woman. No more."

He took a sip of his ale, and sighed.

"Lillian will rue the day she ever stepped foot in my town."

Rinali looked out onto the ruined city of Hunteria.

"All of this could have been avoided... There was no need for bloodshed or destruction. But it's too late for all of that now. I will find you, Lillian. And when I do, you will no longer be able to cause mayhem and death... because I will end your miserable life... and I will do the same to X and Zero.."

Rinali glanced at a slip of paper on the ground and smiled.

"This will work in my favor... I will build a team against Lillian and destroy that weapon myself... And kill X and Zero in the process.."

Rinali slid the slip into his pocket, exiting Lillian's office, ignoring the curses and jeers of the people as he walked out of Hunteria, on his way to a mysterious destination, vowing to return with an army against Lillian, X and Zero, and anyone else that dared to cross his path.

"You brought this on yourself, Lillian..."

Rinali muttered to himself.

"You thought yourself invincible..."

"And now the day has come when you won't be.."

To Be Continued...