A soft wind whispered through the ruins, carrying the still-warm ash of the burned city. The sky was dark, rolling with spiraling black clouds—as if the world itself mourned what had happened.
From the shadows of the wreckage, a woman in a black robe stood silently. Her slender figure moved with calm grace, like a shadow dancing beneath dim light. Her eyes glowed a vivid violet, like embers of a spirit that would never fade. Half of her face was concealed behind a silver mask, revealing only a faint, mysterious smile.
Her gaze stretched forward—toward Jake, Ryu, and Evelyn as they ran through the thick smoke, their bodies wounded and exhausted.
"Jake… Ryu… Evelyn…" she murmured softly, yet her voice echoed like a spell.
"Isn't this… an interesting beginning?"
Her smile curved colder. A soft chuckle escaped her lips, like the sound of cracking glass in the silence. And in the next instant, her body vanished, swallowed by the smoke as if the wind had devoured her.
Ryu and Evelyn, carried in Jake's arms, caught a brief glimpse of her.
"Jake! There's someone—"
Jake turned quickly, eyes narrowing through the haze, but no one was there.
"Probably just a shadow," he muttered.
But Ryu and Evelyn exchanged uneasy glances. Their hearts were still pounding.
"What did we just see…?" Ryu whispered hoarsely, weak but alert.
Jake kept running. In the distance, the silhouette of Sena City appeared—a massive steel gate bearing the royal emblem, now dull and grim. They arrived at the evacuation zone, where survivors gathered, staring at a world that had become a nightmare.
---
Sena City – Evacuation Shelter
"This will be your temporary refuge," Jake said, pushing open the doors of a large building converted into a shelter.
Inside, dozens of civilians huddled together. Some cried. Some stared blankly at the floor. The scent of sweat, dust, and fear blended together—the air itself felt heavy, suffocated by grief.
Ryu and Evelyn stepped inside slowly.
Their gazes were hollow, their bodies weak, but their eyes still held unextinguished embers.
"Thank you, Uncle Jake," Evelyn said, her voice trembling.
Whispers spread among the people.
"Look… they're survivors from central Indosvara."
"Poor kids… the monsters must've terrified them beyond words…"
Those whispers pierced Ryu's chest like needles. He lowered his head, holding back the storm inside him.
From the corner of the room, Leon stood and waved.
"Ryu! Evelyn!"
They looked at him. Their steps were heavy, but they walked over and sat facing him. Silence fell between the three.
Until Leon finally broke it.
"My father was killed too… saving me when a monster tried to tear me apart."
Ryu's world froze.
His fists trembled.
Slowly, hoarsely, he whispered:
"I'll kill them…"
"I'll kill them all…"
"I'll kill them…"
He repeated it three times. Each word heavier. Hotter. More real.
Leon and Evelyn exchanged looks. They saw something strange burning in Ryu's eyes—not just anger, but a depth of loss that twisted the soul.
Suddenly, from across the room, a middle-aged man screamed hysterically.
"Give me back my family!! MONSTERS!!! GIVE THEM BACK!!!"
He shoved people aside, crying, laughing, howling like a beast. Indosvara soldiers rushed in and restrained him. The room descended into chaos. Cries echoed everywhere.
Ryu only watched—silent—witnessing pain that mirrored his own.
---
Amid the noise, a young man sat beside Leon. His face was calm, but his eyes were dark.
"What are your names?" he asked.
Only Leon answered.
"I'm Leon Ashfield. This is Ryu. And this is Evelyn."
The young man nodded.
"My name is Asta. Nice to meet you."
---
Not long after, Indosvara soldiers stepped forward. Their white uniforms with red-and-yellow accents stood out against the mournful crowd.
"Attention!" one of them shouted.
"Starting today, all citizens will be relocated to a new refugee camp on the outskirts of Sena. This place is no longer safe!"
The crowd stirred anxiously.
"And one more thing," the soldier continued.
"Our frontline forces fighting the monsters that destroyed central Indosvara… have fallen one by one. The creatures are powerful—too powerful. We lack manpower. Without reinforcements, Sena City will fall!"
Fear swept through the room instantly.
"We're all going to die…"
"There's no hope left…"
The soldier clenched his fist.
"Listen! The kingdom has formed an organization called the Monster Hunters, led by Jake Hill. We are looking for those brave enough to stand against the darkness. Who among you will join? Raise your hand!"
Silence.
Only hollow eyes. Exhausted faces.
"Are you insane?!"
"You want us to die fighting those things?!"
"We're not soldiers!"
Chaos erupted again.
"If commoners have to fight, what's the point of a kingdom hiding behind its walls?!"
"They dance while we bleed!"
The noise reached its peak.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow. Firm.
Ryu Celestia stood up.
He stepped forward and raised his hand high.
"Oi. Is complaining all you're capable of?"
Every eye turned to him.
"Cocky brat!"
"You're just a kid!"
But Ryu did not step back. His breath was heavy, his voice echoing through the hall.
"Will sitting around and whining stop the monsters?! You're just waiting for death! Sooner or later, they'll break through here!"
The crowd fell silent.
"You sit, you sleep, you surrender! Your families were slaughtered, the people you loved are gone—and you can still bow your heads like this?! Are you proud of saving yourselves while failing to protect those you cared about?!"
His voice trembled—between rage and grief.
"I'd rather die fighting than live in fear! If I'm going to become their food, I'll make them bleed before they devour me!"
"You're all just useless trash choosing fear and surrender over fighting the monsters that killed your families!"
The soldiers stared at him in shock and admiration. They could see it—his resolve.
The atmosphere shifted. People began glancing at one another, uncertain.
"He's… not wrong," someone whispered.
Leon hesitated, fear in his eyes—then slowly raised his hand.
Evelyn stepped forward next.
"I won't let you stand alone, Ryu."
Asta raised his hand as well, a faint smile on his lips.
"If I'm going to die… better in resistance."
Some civilians sneered.
"You kids want to die?!"
"You think you're heroes?!"
Ryu glared at them coldly.
"You're just cowards waiting to be eaten."
Silence.
Then—
"What did you say, brat?!"
A young man stepped forward and punched Ryu hard, sending him stumbling.
Evelyn reacted instantly, kicking at the attacker—but he dodged.
"What the hell… that kick's insane," the man thought in shock.
"Evelyn! Don't interfere!" Ryu shouted as he stood again, blood on his lip.
"Why did you hit me?! Was I wrong?!"
The man spat.
"Tch. Arrogant brat."
"You're the one who disgusts me!" Ryu shouted, stepping forward again.
The soldiers moved to intervene, but a commander raised his hand.
"Wait. Let's see how the boy reacts."
From the shadows, the black-robed woman watched once more. Her violet eyes shimmered softly, her mysterious smile returning.
"How interesting…" she whispered.
"So it's true. He really is fascinating."
Her shadow flickered—then disappeared.
Amid the chaos, Ryu stood tall, blood on his lips, eyes blazing with determination.
The world may have fallen.
But the fire within him had only just begun to burn.
To Be Continued…