Chapter 39 - Pilse Arc
Sonny wakes early. The sky is still dim as he makes his way into town. Most of Pilse hasn’t stirred yet. A few lights are on, but many shops remain closed, waiting for the day to begin.
He steps into a small café. The moment he enters, a few heads turn. Conversations quiet. An outsider is easy to spot here.
Sonny doesn’t react. He takes a seat near the window.
A waitress approaches cautiously. “What can I get for you?”
“Anything quick,” Sonny says. “Whatever you recommend.”
The waitress nods and leaves.
The room stays tense. People glance at Sonny, then quickly look away. He sits quietly keeping to himself.
His food arrives. He starts eating.
Halfway through the meal, a chair scrapes against the floor nearby.
An agitated middle aged man steps up to his table and looks him over.
“I’ve never seen you here before,” the man says. “Who are you?”
Sonny looks at him calmly. “My name is Sonny. I was found near the mountain a few days ago and brought to Pilse.”
The man narrows his eyes. “So you’re an outsider.”
“I am.”
“What are you doing here?”
Sonny takes another bite before answering. “I’m going to deal with the Antis.”
The man lets out a harsh laugh. “You think that’s funny?”
“No. Just the truth.”
The man leans in slightly. “You making fun of us?”
“No,” Sonny repeats before taking another bite staring at his food.
The man straightens, irritation written across his face. “You should leave. People like you bring trouble.”
“I plan on it,” Sonny says. “After I finish eating.”
That only seems to annoy the man more. He mutters something under his breath and walks away.
The cafe patrons stare in Sonny’s direction as he continues eating like nothing happened.
A moment later, the waitress returns with the check.
“…Sorry about him,” the waitress says quietly. “People here are on edge. With everything going on.”
“It’s understandable,” Sonny says.
The waitress hesitates. “What you said earlier… about the Antis. You didn’t mean that, right?”
Sonny looks at him. “I did.”
The waitress blinks, unsure how to respond.
Sonny places payment on the table and stands.
“Take care,” he says, then walks out before anything else can be asked.
As he steps outside, an elderly woman quickly follows him.
“Wait,” she calls out.
She grabs his hand gently.
“I heard what you said,” she says. “About the Antis.”
She fumbles through her clothing and pulls out a small photograph. A young man smiles back from it.
“My son,” she says. “They took him.” Her voice shakes. “If you can… please bring him home.”
Sonny studies the picture, then back at her.
“I can’t promise anything, but I’ll do what I can.”
She smiles and nods. She turns to reenter the cafe with a gleam of hope that her son may return home.
Sonny leaves Pilse behind. He heads toward the Anti compound, the path quiet beneath his feet.
His mind is not. One thought keeps circling. If he has to kill, how does he avoid killing the wrong people?
From what he’s learned, many of the Antis were taken. Forced into this. Turned into something they never chose to be. They were basin villagers up until recently. Just like the people he saw this morning.
Sonny exhales slowly. “If I kill them… I’m just causing further harm to families that have been through so much.”
The thought sits heavy. He had hoped that part of his life was over. That after the Omegas, the killing would stop. But here he is again. Facing a similar reality.
He clenches his fist slightly.
“I want to help the people of Pilse,” he murmurs. “No matter what.”
And if he has to cross the line again… he will.
The Anti compound comes into view. High stone walls surround it. Barbed wire lines the top. Guards patrol overhead. It looks less like a base and more like a prison. A place meant to keep people in, as well as out.
Sonny walks straight to the front gate. Two massive stone doors stand closed. A guard atop the watch tower spots him almost immediately. The man’s grin is wide, unsteady. His eyes don’t quite focus.
“Well, well,” the guard calls out. “You lost, kid?”
“No,” Sonny says loudly so the guard can hear him. “I’m here to join.”
The guard bursts into laughter. “Join? You’ve got to be joking.”
“I want to speak to your leader.”
The guard leans forward. “And why would we let you do that?”
“Because I’d be useful. I am strong.”
The guard’s smile fades slightly. “We’re not recruiting.”
“Then make an exception.”
That irritates him. “Oh, I don’t like your tone.”
Without warning, the guard fires a bolt of fire straight at Sonny. It flashes across the distance. Sonny lifts his hand and swats it aside like it’s nothing. The flames scatter.
The guard blinks. “…What was that?”
“I told you,” Sonny says. “I’m not weak.”
The guard studies him now.
“You’re not from the villages,” he mutters.
“No.”
“You use magic?”
“Ether.”
The guard pauses a moment puzzled. “That’s not supposed to work like that.”
Sonny says nothing.
The guard fires again. Then again.
Each shot is deflected. Clean. Effortless.
Now the guard is fully paying attention.
“…Alright,” he says slowly. “Where’d you hear about us?”
“I arrived to the basin a few days ago,” Sonny replies. “I saw what your organization can do. Now I’ve seen what you’ve built.”
“And?”
“It looks… fun and interesting.”
The guard stares at him for a second.
Then laughs. Hard.
“Fun I get, but Interesting?” he repeats. “That’s a new one.”
“You’ve got something here,” Sonny says. “Power. Control.”
The guard tilts his head. “You don’t sound crazy enough.”
Sonny meets his gaze. “I’ve killed a lot of people. Even the people who raised me.”
The laughter stops.
Silence follows.
“…Prove it,” the guard says.
Sonny raises two fingers.
He flips them downward.
“Lightning Fang.”
A bolt of lightning tears through the sky. It strikes the ground inches from the guard. The impact cracks stone. Electricity dances across the surface.
The guard stumbles back. Eyes wide, heart racing.
If that hit… he’d be dead.
Sonny looks up at him. “Is that enough?”
The guard swallows. “…Wait.”
He disappears from view.
Minutes later, the gates begin to open. Stone grinds against stone. On the other side, the same guard stands with another man. This one is different. Calm. Focused. Dangerous.
“That him?” the second man asks.
The guard nods.
The man doesn’t even look at Sonny. His hand lifts. Suddenly, dozens of earth spears launch forward. Fast. Lethal. Sonny moves instantly. He dodges. Steps. Shifts. One spear comes straight for his face. He catches it. The tip stops inches from his eyes.
The man finally turns. Sonny tightens his grip. Cracks spread through the spear. Then it shatters in his hand.
Silence. The man nods once feeling satisfied.
“Alright,” he says. “You’ll do.”
He gestures inside. “Follow me.”
