Tuesday 1 June 1997 in Some Huge Concert Booth in the USA.
Zaboru now stood on one of the many stages hosting rock bands at the massive event known as the Prince of Darkness Show—a concert series organized by none other than Ozzy Osbourne. But Zaboru wasn't alone. He was joined by his band, Zanoku, better known by their stage name: Z&Z.
The backstory? Just last week, Ozzy Osbourne himself showed up—completely unannounced—at the ZAGE campus. Zaboru was stunned. Despite all the controversies and stories about Ozzy's wild past, Zaboru had always liked him. In his eyes, Ozzy was a funny, charismatic, and surprisingly kind guy.
Now, Ozzy had invited Zaboru and Z&Z to perform at his concert. Zaboru accepted but kept the setlist tight. Z&Z would perform just three songs: "Enter Sandman," "Through the Fire and Flames," and their newest track, "This Fire," which had debuted during Zaboru's WWF appearance as Zabo-Man. After their main set, Zaboru planned to perform a guitar solo.
Z&Z wasn't the only act. Many major bands were part of the lineup, but the spotlight belonged to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Z&Z would follow, as Ozzy had fallen in love with their high-energy rock sound and insisted they get top billing right after his own performance.
Zaboru treated this as occasional fun, and despite that, the pay was surprisingly good. Still, he decided to give all of the money earned from the Z&Z concert performance to the rest of the Zankoku Band. After all, Zaboru was already wealthy, and for him, it was never about the money—it was about the music and the thrill of performing.
And now, as Deep Purple rocked the main stage with their classic set, Zaboru and the members of Z&Z were backstage, getting into performance mode. The bassline of the final song rumbled through the floor, shaking the backstage area like distant thunder. Excitement buzzed in the air. The fans had no idea what was about to hit them.
Inside the dimly lit green room behind the stage, Ozzy Osbourne leaned against a flight case, sipping from a nearly empty bottle of whiskey, his grin crooked and eyes lit with anticipation. Zaboru exhaled deeply, amused and slightly anxious. He wasn't nervous about performing—he never was—but standing next to a rock legend like Ozzy, the moment carried extra weight.
"Oooh, I can't wait! To see your perform, Zaburo! Hahaha!" Ozzy slurred with that signature rockstar charisma.
Zaboru chuckled and adjusted the strap of his guitar. "It's Zaboru, Mr. Osbourne, but yeah—I hope you enjoy the show."
Ozzy chugged the rest of his drink and made an exaggerated scowl. "The hell, Mr. Osbourne!? Call me Ozzy, Zaburo!"
Zaboru laughed louder this time, nodding. "Okay, Ozzy. I promise—I'll give it 120% for you."
"You better," Ozzy said with a smirk. "If you don't melt some faces out there, I'm disowning you!"
They shared a laugh, and in that moment, it felt like a rite of passage. Zaboru he was about to walk out onto one of the biggest stages in rock, handpicked by the Prince of Darkness himself.
Then the stage manager gave the signal. Deep Purple had just wrapped up their final song, and the roar of applause thundered through the arena. But something was off—there were no lights dimming for a break, no announcer stepping forward. Just a growing silence, filled with the electric hum of confusion and anticipation.
Z&Z appearance had been kept completely hidden from the public eye—no promo, no lineup listing.. This was a surprise—planned and executed flawlessly.
Zaboru glanced at his bandmates. All of them dressed in sleek, black outfits with a sharp, rebellious rock flair. "Showtime," he said quietly.
The curtain lifted. The crowd gasped. History was about to be made.
Then Z&Z appeared on the main stage. All the members were dressed in sleek black attire—tight leather jackets, combat boots, and silver-studded accessories that screamed rock 'n' roll. Their presence was commanding. The crowd erupted into a frenzy the second they saw them, hands shooting up, and the energy spiking to another level.
Zaboru stepped forward to the mic, his face lit with both excitement and focus. He shouted with power in his voice, "This is a special exception! For the Prince of Darkness—Z&Z will perform outside ZAGE events!!"
The audience went wild, screaming and cheering louder than ever. The stadium lights pulsed in sync with the first heavy guitar riff of their opening song: "Enter Sandman." Fog poured from the stage as Zaboru's voice rang out, joined by thousands in unison:
"EXIT LIGHT! ENTER NIGHT! TAKE MY HAND! WE'RE OFF TO NEVER NEVER LAND!"
The entire crowd sang along, word for word. This song had become one of Z&Z's signature anthems, and fans knew every beat, every lyric. The sound system roared, shaking the venue with thunderous volume, while flashing strobes and fire effects elevated the atmosphere.
Without pause, Z&Z transitioned straight into their next track—"Through the Fire and Flames." This was the one that pushed the crowd over the edge. The tempo skyrocketed, the guitars screamed, and Zaboru's fingers flew across the strings with lightning speed. His solo came mid-song, and it was pure madness—an eruption of notes so fast, even some seasoned rockstars standing backstage were visibly stunned.
The audience didn't just cheer—they screamed, stomped, headbanged. Several musicians in the VIP section began clapping and headbanging, clearly impressed by Zaboru's musicianship and the raw energy of the band. It was undeniable—Z&Z weren't just a novelty act from a game company. They were the real deal.
Then after their blistering performance of "Through the Fire and Flames," Z&Z launched into their final and perhaps most emotionally charged track of the night—This Fire! For this song, Jun Hasegawa, the bassist, stepped up to the mic to take on lead vocals, while Zaboru prepared to unleash his signature scream segments that had become legendary among fans.
As the opening riff ripped through the speakers, Zaboru leaned back, raised his fist, and let out an earth-shattering scream: "YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!! YAWW!" The crowd immediately erupted in response.
"ALL I EVER WANTED IS MY DESTINY TO BE FULFILLED! I MUST NOT FAIL! I MUST NOT FAIL!" Zaboru roared with ferocity, his voice ripping through the arena like a controlled storm.
Then came the melodic verse, delivered with surprising clarity and emotion by Jun. His voice carried well—steady, powerful, with just the right edge of vulnerability. It balanced perfectly against the fury of Zaboru's screams. The contrast made the song even more impactful.
The audience was fully immersed now. Thousands of heads were banging in unison. People were screaming the lyrics with fists in the air. The atmosphere was electrifying—like the ground itself was pulsing with energy. Even the pyrotechnics synced perfectly with the rhythm, flames bursting on each beat of the drum.
Then came the infamous breakdown section, a moment fans had been waiting for:
I will not be denied in this final hour!
I will not be denied, this day is mine!
The passion inside me is burning, is burning...
The passion inside me is burning, is—
"BUUUUURNINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!"
Zaboru's scream shattered the silence like a lightning strike. The sheer rawness, the power—it was unreal. The crowd lost it. Even Ozzy Osbourne, watching from the wings, was on his feet clapping furiously, practically howling with joy. His excitement was unmistakable. "No one screams like that kid! Damn impressive!" he yelled to someone nearby.
As the final notes echoed out and the lights dimmed, the rest of Zankoku slowly exited the stage, leaving Zaboru standing alone under a single spotlight. He took a deep breath, reached for an acoustic guitar placed gently at center stage, and stepped forward once more, ready to close the night with a final surprise.
And then, under a soft amber spotlight, Zaboru began to play Playing God—a track that was complex, unpredictable, and technically breathtaking. The moment his fingers touched the acoustic strings, the entire arena seemed to hold its breath. The haunting tones danced across the sound system, delicate and sharp, beautiful and strange.
The audience went wild almost instantly. What began as stunned silence quickly turned into loud cheers as the crowd realized the level of mastery unfolding in front of them. Even other rockstars watching from the wings were in awe, whispering to one another and shaking their heads in disbelief. It wasn't just the speed—though Zaboru's fingers moved with lightning-fast precision—it was how he combined such bizarre techniques with flawless timing and emotion. His style was unconventional, borderline experimental, and yet every note landed exactly where it needed to.
The acoustic guitar in his hands sounded like an orchestra by itself. He tapped, he plucked, he strummed at impossible speed, and yet it all felt natural. It was unlike anything the audience—or even most professionals—had ever seen. Cameras zoomed in on his hands, struggling to keep up with the pace. Fans in the front rows shouted his name while others simply stood there in stunned admiration.
After a breathtaking solo that seemed to stretch time itself, Zaboru let the final note ring into silence. He looked down, sweat glistening on his brow, and stepped to the front of the stage. With a humble bow and a calm, heartfelt voice, he said, "Thank you."
The response was deafening. Applause roared from every corner of the venue. It wasn't just a cheer—it was thunder. People were stomping, clapping, screaming his name. For a moment, it didn't feel like a concert—it felt like history.
Then the lights shifted, and Zaboru quietly exited the stage, leaving behind a memory that would be etched in the minds of everyone there. The concert continued, but to many, the night had already reached its unforgettable peak.
The next day, the media erupted with praise, shining a massive spotlight on the entire event—but especially on Z&Z's performance, which many headlines boldly declared had stolen the show. Music critics, bloggers, and rock magazines all buzzed with one common sentiment: Z&Z weren't just a surprise act—they were the main event. Countless fans and reporters alike voiced the same request—Z&Z needed to perform more, tour more, and release an album. The consensus was clear: their energy, precision, and originality had left a lasting impression. And Zaboru? People couldn't stop talking about his musical prowess. Music TV and radio stations alike were flooded with commentary calling him not just a tech genius, but a rock virtuoso in his own right. But Zaboru doesn't really care that he is already on his way back to Japan because in a couple of days the next issue of Famitsu by ZEMITSU that reviews all 13 of ZEPS 3 games will released and Zaboru will looking forward how they rated ZAGE games.
To be continue
AN : Random Chapter LoL.