Chapter 123 - 122: The Truth Behind The Scars.

Chapter 123: Chapter 122: The Truth Behind The Scars.

In the year MM-8, a seven year old AJ sat alone in the dark, curled up and trembling in fear.

"It hurts... It hurts so much." AJ whispered to himself.

The sound of a door creaked open, bringing a ray of light upon the child.

"There you are, little one." A feminine voice said.

AJ lifted his head and saw three adult figures: a males and one female; standing in front of him with their faces covered in shade.

"It is time for your rehearsal." The first man among them said to AJ.

"The boss is waiting and you know how he behaves when things aren’t done on time." The second man said.

"B-but I don’t want to go..." Little AJ said.

"How many times have we gone through with this?" The woman asked, "You do not have a say. You parents agreed to this and you will ’commit’."

Without reluctance, the first man extended his hand towards AJ to take him by force.

Currently in the year MM-20, AJ stood across from Morgan, gazing at her in both confusion and unease.

"Morgan..." AJ whispered.

Morgan however stayed quiet; her remained cold and unresponsive.

"W-what’s going on?" AJ asked, "I was sent here to deliver a package t-to Sydney Morgan. That old woman was supposed to be... Yet she’s..."

"Are you without understanding? That old woman was never Sydney Morgan" Morgan said, "She was simply a worker of mine who was a failed actress in her youth.

As the for the name ’SydneyMorgan’, that was just one of the many names for my alternate accounts."

"Alternate accounts...?" AJ asked.

"Yes. I have many accounts I use for business purposes. Many accounts with different names." Morgan answered.

AJ stayed silent with her answer. He peered into her flat and dead eyes.

While staring, the feeling of unease grew in him.

"W-what do you want?" AJ asked.

"I said it earlier, didn’t I? I want to talk." Morgan answered.

"What do you want to talk about?" AJ asked.

Silence stayed in the atmosphere for a time until Morgan finally spoke.

"Do you remember yesterday when I met you by coincidence? That I simply came to Bellwa to complete some projects?

I shook your hand and said may our match bring out the best in each other."

"A match that has already been voted in the EBW network as one of the most anticipated matches, tomorrow." Morgan continued as she tilted her head, "My return. The omen versus the slayer. A returning legend versus a rising star.

Beautiful, isn’t it?

Yet in all of this, I can’t help but feel disappointed."

"Disappointed?" AJ asked.

"Yes, but not with the upcoming match... Not with the anticipation of the people... But with you." Morgan replied, "When I came back to the company, I searched for an opponent worth my time and my announcement but unfortunately there was none.

Then I heard ’it’... A rookie with an 0-3 win record defeating the loan shark Magoi in an unsanctioned match... A match where many in their right mind would avoid entering with her.

It piqued my interest... But... When I watched it, I was disappointed."

Morgan leaned back against her chair and continued.

"I have been in the ring with Magoi on several occasions. I have seen and experienced what she can do.

She’s like a force of nature or as one of the commentators said in your match ’A natural disaster withpreferences’.

Her recovery speed, her durability, her height, striking speed, brutality and that consistent menacing smile is enough to unnerve many.

And of course... Her strength. Strong enough to throw grown adults like a softball. Strong enough to peel the walls of a cage like a banana.

One of EBW’s bloodiest talents... Yet she lost... To ’you’... Only for me to watch the match and learn she was barely trying."

Morgan scoffed.

"Hype. That is all the victory was. Nothing but hype. Yet that meaningless victory somehow put a target on your back.

It brought a belief to the Wednesday talents that if they should beat you... The rookie who defeated the loan shark in a match then they would take your ’momentum’ and become the next hottest thing in the market."

Hearing her explanation, AJ wanted to say something at the moment but he tilted his head down and turned his face away instead.

"..."

"However, my interest in you was picked up again when I heard you defeated Sol Quinn." Morgan said, "Now don’t get me wrong, Sol to me is nothing but a small fry but to others she is the ’aceofspades’, and unlike Magoi who foolishly played around, Sol didn’t, and yet you managed to beat her.

So maybe your momentum wasn’t a fluke after all."

"Is that why you picked me as your opponent for Wednesday? Because of my momentum?" AJ asked, "So you’re just another one, right?"

In hearing his question, Morgan sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Child, please. I made a name for myself in that industry a long time ago. I have three very large and successful boutiques. Not to mention other small businesses that are doing quite well.

’What’ exactly is your momentum going to do for me? What could it possibly do?

But like I said before: I am disappointed in you."

"You’re ’not’ what I expected you to be." Morgan continued speaking while her irises illuminated, "For someone who survived Magoi and defeated Sol. For someone who showed so much fire in his match, you have the personality of a wet bag."

"When I saw the video of what those three did to you... I believe their names were Billy, Loah and Rachel... Many would say it was a three-on-one and would think they only attacked you for your momentum but their history with you went as far back into the development center where you allowed them to have their way with you." Morgan said as she furrowed her brows in disgust, "I did thorough research and never in my life have I had so much disdain for a person’s weakness like yours.

The child who allowed himself to be beaten into submission."

"But then again this personality of yours..." Morgan said as the cold disgust on her face grew, "The foundation can be traced back to many years ago.

Isn’t that right...?"

"Childcelebrity?" Morgan asked as AJ’s eyes widened in shock while his irises brightened.

AJ snapped his head towards Morgan’s direction.

"How did you...?!"

"I told you I did my research, didn’t I?" Morgan asked, "AJ Zero or should I say AeJei Xero.

The village boy whose talent in acting was good for a small role in a movie that the local directors there saw potential and decided to make some arrangements with your parents... Your biological parents."

"They promised to make you a star if they-your parents entrusted you to them." Morgan said at the time AJ’s hands subtly shook, "But the directors and their bosses were filth. They did ’things’ to you."

Morgan scoffed.

"They’re the kind of filth we’d kill in prison without a second thought.

Yet when your parents learned of the truth, what did they do? They beat you into silence. Kept you quiet in exchange for money and fame."

AJ’s body softly shook with Morgan’s words.

While she was talking, AJ had a quick memory of himself in the MM-8, standing in front of his parents sobbing.

His father was a human with light brown skin, having a high ponytail red hair, orange colored eyes and a large scar across his face.

His mother was a human with wheat tan skin, having long yellow hair and green eyes.

While AJ was crying, his father had his arms round his waist in disbelief.

AJ’s mother on the other hand, covered her mouth in horror.

"For a year plus, you endured until you eventually collapsed." Morgan said, "It was shown that your body was shutting down. The stress and abuse on your mind and body was too much for you to bear, and yet they scorned you for it and deemed you useless.

Luckily for you, the man who saved your life... A human, was an undercover policeman. Him and his crew were on the case of those bastards and eventually arrested every adult involved."

"To save your life, some things in your body had to be permanently altered." Morgan continued as AJ lowered his head, "Your blood and other things from your body started having a sugary taste.

The crimson cross on your hair... The crimson markings of fire round your neck and arms... To many, they’d think they are simply tattoos but in reality they are ’taints’ from the surgery, carefully reshaped to cover up the actual red scars from the operation."

"Your mother." Morgan said as AJ softly closed his eyes, "She was the only one who knew something was wrong beforehand and went into hiding but she was eventually caught.

When she was arrested, her last words to you were ’Zeroquality. Zerousefulness. AnAJZero’.

Yet, even though the man who saved you took you in as his son and later married a beastfolk with two beautiful daughters, giving you a better family, you still bear the scars of your past both in your heart and body."

For some time after Morgan’s explanation there was silence.

AJ tightened his fist as though he was trying to swallow the pain as hard as he could.

"What... Do you really want?" AJ asked Morgan.

For a while, Morgan said nothing but stared at him with her cold visage.

"Evolution." Morgan answered as her irises glowed.

"Evolution...?" AJ asked.

"You and I have one thing in common: the adults in our lives failed us." Morgan said, "The ones who were supposed to protect us turned a blind eye to our pain.

But the difference is that you eventually found people worth having and still remained pitiful while I had no one and chose to evolve.

When I shook your hand yesterday and said let’s bring out the best, I meant it. So I’m going to get something out of my chest."

"I loathe you, AJ. I despise you." Morgan said with an icy glare, "You remind me of everything I was when I was younger: Weak, pathetic, always rolling over for others when action should have been taken.

What happened to you when you were a little boy was tragic but what happened to you in the development center was your choice.

The fact you went through all of this and still chose to let those three step all over you is infuriating. You disgust me."

"Tomorrow in Manuwuge city, I am going to force you to evolve." Morgan continued as she stood from her chair, "I am going to beat that weakness out of you, and if you still choose not to grow, then as Damien Bane said to Caesar in that viral cafe video... ’Accidentsdohappen’."

AJ slightly stiffened in hearing her last sentence but Morgan continued talking.

"Yes, if you do not evolve, I am going to get rid of you. After all, the industry is not only degrading but also brutal, so it’s not unlikely that someone would die in the middle of the crowd or perhaps post match.

That is what awaits you if you choose not to change."

"In the meantime go home." Morgan said to AJ as she walked down his direction, "Take a look at your adoptive father, your step mother and sisters one last time... That is..."

"If you have decided you want to remain stagnant." Morgan continued speaking as she walked past him, "Best of luck, child."

Morgan’s foot steps echoed as she headed towards the door.

AJ despite the threats and the pressure of Morgan that made his body, clenched his fists and forced his trembling lips to speak.

"I-I know what I am."

Morgan halted as she had reached close to the door.

"I know I am weak... Pathetic and fearful." AJ went on, "But I also know what ’you’ are. And just know-"

"That I’m not afraid of you." AJ said as he looked over his shoulder with his illuminating irises.

The upper half of Morgan’s face was overshadowed and she spoke.

"Good."

"Let us see if that holds up well tomorrow, slayer." Morgan said as she looked over her shoulder with her illuminating irises.

The duo peered at each other for a time until Morgan opened the door of the room and left.

As soon as the door clicked shut, AJ slumped to his knees and took a deep breath.

"What am I doing...?" AJ whispered to himself.