ZERO TRIGGER: Requiem of the Fallen Killer

Sirens screamed beneath the evening sky, echoing through the city.

Taro stepped out of an old apartment building, calm as ever, a half-burned cigarette resting between his lips.

Behind that calm, the entire world was hunting him.

He was the most ruthless serial killer ever recorded.

A living legend of the underworld.

A former soldier with over thirty years of experience in battlefields and black operations.

The moment his boots touched the sidewalk, a shout rang out.

“POLICE! STOP RIGHT THERE!”

Taro didn’t run.

He simply exhaled.

With swift, efficient movements, he disabled the officers one by one. No excess force. No emotion. Just results.

Minutes later, he continued toward the airport—until reinforcements arrived.

This time, it was different.

Heavily armed troops surrounded him.

Automatic rifles locked onto his body.

Taro scanned the area.

Measured distance.

Calculated openings.

He flicked his cigarette toward one of the soldiers.

In a split second, he charged—kicking, striking, collapsing their formation into chaos. The soldiers hesitated, afraid of hitting their own men.

That hesitation was enough.

Minutes later, silence fell.

No soldiers left standing.

Taro took a nearby motorcycle and sped toward the airport.

His objective was clear: leave the country.

He knew someone would betray him.

He just didn’t know who.

Suddenly, he was surrounded.

Thugs. Mafia. Gangsters. Ex-cons. Contract killers.

All drawn by the bounty on his head.

Taro eliminated them calmly and professionally.

Three minutes was all it took.

He resumed his ride—until military helicopters began pursuing him from above.

Ahead stood a towering bridge.

Beside it—the airport.

A reckless plan crossed his mind.

At full speed, Taro launched himself off the bridge—aiming the motorcycle straight at the helicopter.

Impact.

Explosion.

The air trembled.

Using the collision as a stepping stone, Taro leaped toward a building near the airport. Below, the helicopter crashed and exploded, igniting panic and massive traffic chaos.

In the confusion, Taro changed clothes, disguising himself as a delivery courier, and entered the building.

Police were everywhere.

Yet no one suspected him.

He was almost free.

On his way out, he spotted a bicycle and used it to reach the airport parking area. From a distance, he saw the wreckage of the helicopter and the swarm of officers.

He slipped inside.

Running through corridors.

Entering elevators.

Descending stairwells.

Something felt wrong.

The airport was far too quiet.

Then—

In the waiting area, a woman in a wheelchair fell to the floor.

Taro stopped.

At first, he didn’t care.

But for reasons he couldn’t explain, he helped her up.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“I will repay your kindness.”

Taro said nothing.

He walked away.

He didn’t know—

That was their first meeting.

Outside the airport, Taro stopped again.

Something was wrong.

From the shadows, a familiar voice called out.

“Taro.”

Likas.

His closest friend.

The man he trusted most.

The mastermind behind the assassin organization.

Dozens of guns were aimed at Taro.

“So you’re still alive,” Likas said with a smile.

“Thanks for building everything—for me.”

Taro wasn’t shocked.

Just disappointed.

Gunshots rang out.

One.

Two.

Dozens.

Taro collapsed.

Blood spread across the cold asphalt.

Likas stepped forward and pressed a boot against his chest.

“This is the end of your story.”

Taro’s vision faded.

But before darkness claimed him—

Time stopped.

The woman from the airport stood before him.

No longer weak.

No longer ordinary.

Bullets hovered motionless in the air.

Her eyes glowed softly.

“I told you I would repay your kindness,” she said.

“Do you want to live… or die?”

At the edge of consciousness, Taro smiled faintly.

“I want… revenge.”

She studied him for a long moment.

“Then,” she whispered,

“you must accept the consequences.”

Taro didn’t hesitate.

“As long as I live… that’s enough.”

She smiled.

“My name is Lina. Nice to meet you.”

Time resumed.

The bullets flew past—missing their target.

And Taro fell into darkness.