Chapter 2 – The Birth of the Commandments

Rex came across a man wandering the dusty outskirts of California City, barefoot and broken.

His name was Danny, and he'd given up on everything—including hope.

Rex approached him."You look like a man who's seen the truth," he said.Danny didn't even look up. "The truth? You mean the truth that men are selfish cowards? That truth?"

Rex tilted his head. "Tell me what happened."

Danny sighed and sat down on a nearby slab of broken concrete."It was when the bombings began," he said. "I was on vacation with my family and some friends. We were in the hills when the first strike hit. I got trapped under rubble. My family tried to dig me out, but my friends… they ran."

A long silence followed.

"And then... my family ran too. Left me there. Abandoned me."

His fists clenched."When I finally got out, bloodied and half-dead, I searched for them—only to find their corpses. All of them."

He looked up at Rex, eyes filled with fury."I hate men. I hate how they betray each other. How they lie, run, abandon, and destroy."

Rex nodded slowly."And yet, here you are—alive. You endured.""I survived," Danny said bitterly. "But for what?"

Rex met his gaze, calm and commanding."Would you follow me in the destruction of mankind? I swear to you—I will never abandon you."

Danny narrowed his eyes. "Why should I trust a man I just met—even one who acknowledges me?"

Rex stepped closer, shadows dancing around him like silent flames."You won't follow me. You'll stand beside me. You are one of my Ten Commandments. From this day forward, your name is Taken—Heavenly Punishment."

Danny blinked. "Taken?"

"Your commandment will be Selflessness—the power to sacrifice all, even yourself, for what is right. We will overturn every corrupt system, just as I destroyed the one who ruled this city in selfishness. California City is in ruin because of his greed. And I ended him."

Danny's expression shifted from defiance to awe. "That was... you?"

Rex nodded solemnly. The sadness in his eyes caught Danny off guard.

"Then why do you look so sad?"

"I hate taking life," Rex replied. "But when the world wounds my heart with its selfishness—I will act. I will deliver justice, no matter the cost."

Danny stared at him for a long moment, the fire of purpose returning to his eyes.

"I'll follow you," he said quietly.

Rex raised his hand and touched Danny's forehead, his voice a whisper of power."Then return in time. Relive your pain. Let it forge you into something the world has never seen."

A flash of light engulfed Danny as he was sent back—to learn, to endure, and to rise again as Taken.

Further down the path, Rex encountered a young boy who looked like he'd survived the end of the world.

His name was Zack.

He was thin, bruised, with eyes that had seen too much.

Rex—now going by Kazeshini, the name of judgment—asked, "What happened to you?"

Zack didn't hesitate. "They killed my grandfather."

He clenched his jaw.

"In my hometown, everyone mocked me. Because I believed in him. They said he was crazy. Said I was worse for loving him."

He looked away, fists trembling."But I didn't care. I knew who he really was."

"One day—just before the bombs—they dragged him out and murdered him. The whole town turned on him."

Zack's voice dropped into a whisper:"I hate man. And I've devoted myself to their destruction."

Rex's expression hardened—not toward Zack, but toward the world that made him this way.The people who still dared to call themselves innocent.

He turned, and without a word, walked toward Zack's town.

When he reached its gates, he drew his gun—Archangel Michael.

He aimed at the town square.

"I will deliver you to the gate," he said coldly. "I do not seek forgiveness for myself—but for those who suffer and never see justice. Today, the unjust will face consequence."

The execution began.

Six were lined up and struck down with a single curve shot.

Then twenty-four more as Rex leapt into the air, firing like divine judgment from above.

He moved like wind. Silent. Final.

In less than 20 minutes, the entire town was gone.

Rex stood in the blood-soaked ruins and whispered:"You did not survive the wrath born of your injustice."

He returned to Zack, still trembling in shock.

"I delivered justice for your grandfather," Rex said. "And I will bring justice to this world. Not with hatred—but with righteous fire."

He held out his hand.

"Will you follow me—not out of vengeance, but out of purpose?"

Zack fell to his knees. "Yes... my savior. My god. I will serve you forever."

Rex touched his shoulder.