Mystical Force: Vol. 4 Many are 1, 1 is 0

By Craig Weidhuner

Shi-ria tries to stop Dead-Eye from stealing a magic scroll, only to learn it was Zolida who hired her. Why does Zolida want this scroll? Unfortunately, neither Shi-ria nor Scarlet Knightwalker have time to figure that out. When Shi-ria is badly injured fighting Zolida, Scarlet Knightwalker is forced to turn to someone she doesn't fully trust, Mystic, in order to save Shi-ria's life.

Meanwhile, Aanjay and Jimomaru are once again determined to destroy Sister Rose as revenge for the Order of the Cross persecuting them. Aanjay and Jimomaru soon find themselves getting some unexpected help from Zolida, who uses the stolen scroll to bring some help of her own. Help in the form of a new being named 0, a being from another dimension. A member of a species called the 1, 0 is an omnipotent entity with the powers of a god and the personality of a bratty child, tormenting insects because he's bored.

Zolida tries to get 0's help in punishing humanity. However, things quickly spiral out of control. First 0 uses his powers to turn Tokijin into a human and then turn Rose into a demon. Before long he's turning all humans into demons, knocking planets out of orbit and causing all manner of chaos for his own entertainment. It seems no one, not even Zolida, is able to stop him. Is there anyone powerful enough to control this mad god? Or is the world doomed to an eternity of insanity at the hands of this omnipotent prankster who sees reality as a game and all living beings as little playthings for his own amusement?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Mar 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9780228870609

Book preview

Mystical Force

Craig Weidhuner

Mystical Force Volume 4: Many are 1, 1 is 0

Copyright © 2022 by Craig Weidhuner

www.authorcraigweidhuner.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-7070-8 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-7069-2 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-7060-9 (eBook)

Volume 4:

Many are 1, 1 is 0

11

Location: A Dive Bar, Teikoku City, Oyashima

Teikoku City, the capital of the island nation of Oyashima, was a vast sprawling metropolis. Like any large city, it had various attractions and a large hospitality industry—from museums, art galleries, theatres and cinemas to bars and restaurants, Teikoku City had it all. It had high-class attractions for people with plenty of money to spend and lower-class attractions for blue-collar workers on a tight budget. Such was the bar where Zolida was going. She walked in and noticed it was dark and dirty, the kind of place blue-collar workers went after work to drink their sorrows away while venting to anyone who’d listen about how much they hate their jobs, families, and lives overall. So it was a pleasant surprise to most of the male patrons when a gorgeous redhead wearing a loose purple tank top, tight green pants tucked into black leather boots, and various ornate jewels on her bare arms walked into their midst. She seemed quite out of place in such a lowbrow environment, looking and moving more like a supermodel at a fashion gala. Various men stopped and stared at her. A few whistled and gave cat-calls. She smiled; she loved the attention. However, as much as she loved it, she wasn’t there to pick up men; she had a business meeting. Sitting alone at a table in the corner was another woman. She was in her mid-thirties. She had long blonde hair, partially hidden under her wide-rimmed dark grey fedora, which partially covered her face. The rest of her was covered by a black trench coat and dark blue pants tucked into brown leather boots. Like Zolida, it was obvious she also wasn’t from Oyashima. Her Caucasian features made that clear. In fact, no one knew where she came from, which was just how she liked it as this woman was meeting Zolida to discuss hiring Dead-Eye Sammie for a job. No one knew exactly where, when, or how this mysterious blonde and Dead-Eye first met. Being an alien mercenary trapped on this world, Dead-Eye was forced to find a way to make a living until he could return home. Being an infamous criminal with warrants on various planets meant using the gateways via Orathos wasn’t an option; the authorities would surely catch him. The only other choice was to find another person not of this planet and see if they could somehow arrange transportation, specifically a way off the planet, without arousing any suspicion. It was a difficult task on any world, ever more difficult on a primitive, remote, backwards planet like Earth. Thus, while stuck on this planet, Dead-Eye was forced to find temporary residence and take whatever criminal jobs were available. This was where this woman came in. She was the go-between for anyone wishing to hire Dead-Eye. He didn’t meet clients directly; if someone wanted to hire him, they had to talk to her.

Zolida walked over to the table where this mysterious woman was sitting, enjoying her drink. The woman paid no attention to Zolida. Meanwhile, Zolida simply stood next to the table, looking around the bar as if still searching for the person she was supposed to meet. Are you Ms. Alcro? Zolida whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

The blonde woman didn’t bother to look at her. Instead, she took another sip of her drink and said, That depends. Do I owe you money?

No, Zolida replied.

The woman turned her head toward Zolida, In that case, I am Ms. Alcro.

Zolida nonchalantly sat down across from Ms. Alcro, who continued enjoying her drink. The word on the street is there’s a new mercenary for hire called Dead-Eye Sammie out there. And that to find him, you’re the woman to talk to.

Ms. Alcro took another sip from her drink. A lot of ‘words’ are spoken on the street, she answered evasively.

Words like ‘I’ve got money?’ Zolida asked.

That and ‘Are you here to arrest Dead-Eye?’ Ms. Alcro retorted.

Words like ‘yes,’ to the first and ‘no’ to the second, Zolida answered.

Ms. Alcro looked up, her brown eyes staring directly into Zolida’s blue ones. Well, in that case, how much, and what’s the job?

A sinister grin crept across Zolida’s lips, I’d like to hire Dead-Eye to steal something.

Location: Teikoku City National Museum

The National Museum of Teikoku City was dedicated to studying and preserving cultural history. In its large ornate rooms and hallways were various exhibits ranging from anthropology to natural history to the arts. These various exhibits were open to the public during regular hours, but the museum was closed since it was the middle of the night. Despite that, the museum had two uninvited visitors: one to commit a crime, the other to try and stop it.

Using the rocket boots built into his mech suit, Dead-Eye flew up to the roof of the museum. Using the scanners built into the helmet’s visor, Dead-Eye could see through the roof, ceiling, and walls to zoom in and focus on specific areas of the museum. Thus, he could find what he was looking for, even before breaking and entering. Zolida had hired Dead-Eye to break into the museum to steal a magic scroll. Of course, no one at the museum nor the public knew it had a magical essence. As far as the public was concerned, it was just a musty old scroll, an ancient piece of paper that held little value beyond historical significance. Any other criminal would