After a governments failed experiment turned in to an explosion those who inhaled the fumes were effected with with abilities beyond comprehension, panic swallowed truth whole. They lied. They hid. And then… they hunted. The "Fallen Humans," as they called us, were declared threats, monsters to be purged. To further their deception, they engineered twisted creatures—false beasts—to frame us as the evolved spawn of their chaos and these people are known as the POL which stands for protection of Lunaris, which was the country they held power over.
I, Ren Tanaka, was one of those cursed souls. It's been a mystery of how I got my own ability. It's different from everybody else's. They called me a threat. A liability.
I still remember the day I used my power in public. The heat that surged from my hands wasn't nearly as terrifying as the cold separation from my family that followed.
"It was my own fault"
"They tried to hunt me after I caused the fire"
—no explanation, no second chances. Just a number in a file and chains around my fate.
That's what would happen if you were fallen.
They said it was justice.
But I know whose knife drew first blood. It was never us.
The POL—those who pull the strings from the shadows—crafted the monsters, blamed us, and built their Kingdom on the ruins they left behind on the land I called home. The Fallen Liberators rose to fight back. To expose the truth.
That's when Uncle Van called for me after I was stripped away of my old highschool teenage mundane life.
"Ren Tanaka," his voice cut through the dim room like a knife. It was only then I realised I couldn't live like I did before.
I had to be strong. To be worthy.
"Yes, sir?" I replied, nerves tightening in my throat.
"There's a man. A possible ally of the POL. Name's Kenzo. Street legend. Ruthless. Your mission—confirm his ties and eliminate the threat."
He didn't joke. Uncle Van never joked. Not even when he took me in as a frightened child. Especially not now.
Wearing layers to hide my identity, I moved through the grime and decay of the Fallen City which was our part of the land. Danger lingered behind every shadow. You couldn't tell ally from enemy here. And the wrong glance could be your last.
But then… I saw it—smoke.
A fire.
Instinct took over. My feet moved on their own, heart hammering in rhythm with the flames ahead. That's where I found him.
Kenzo.
He stood there, bathed in chaos, like he belonged in it. Jet-black hair slicked back, eyes burning a vicious orange. He smirked the moment our eyes met.
"So you're the new dog the Liberators sent," he said, voice smug. "Let's see if you live up to the name."
"How do you know about me?" I narrowed my eyes.
"A rumour," he said with a twisted grin. "Word is the Liberators picked up a new kid. Let's be real, Ren Tanaka. We're cursed. Might as well embrace it."
"Scum like you ruin everything we fight for!" I spat back. "You disgust me."
His fists clenched. "Tough talk. Let's see how you back it up!"
He lunged. A right hook came fast, but I was faster.
Thanks to Kenji Hayashi—my combat mentor—I'd learned more than just how to wield fire. I learned how to survive.
My fist ignited. The flame surged up my arm and with a single blow to his gut, I sent Kenzo flying into a stack of garbage bins. The impact flared up debris and sparked a minor explosion from a nearby pipe.
His eyes widened, coughing blood. "You... You have fire…? Who the hell are you?!"
I stepped forward, flames dying out with a flick of my finger.
"Ren Tanaka."
Just as I turned away, my phone buzzed.
"You handled that fast," Kenji's voice crackled through the phone.
I froze. "What?! How do you—?"
"Look up," he said with a smug expression.
There he was—standing atop a rooftop like he always had been. Watching.
"Seriously?! You've been here the whole time?!"
He just laughed, sliding down effortlessly. Two others followed behind him—Akito Yuto and Jun Takara. My teammates.
Akito, anxious but when concentrated deadly. Jun, more emotional but loyal to the core.
"Hey, give us some credit," Kenji said with a shrug. "Honestly, we thought you'd be toast starting with a psycho like Kenzo."
"OH COME ON! Where's the faith?!" I threw my hand to my chest dramatically.
"Enough with the drama," Akito cut in. "We've got bigger problems."
They all followed my gaze… towards the other side of the sea which was connected by a long bridge with ongoing trading and transport.
One of The Rebellion's strongholds.
A silent pause fell.
"You thinking of going back?" Jun asked gently, hand on my shoulder.
I nodded. "That's my home… it always has been… until they stole it and polluted it with their greed." I spat out cold.
"It's dangerous," Akito warned. "If they catch you, we lose more than just a fighter.. you know our kind aren't welcome there.."
I knew that. But I had to see it. I had to see the place I lost. Even if it was just remains of rubble and ash.The place I once belonged. It held meaning. And that alone meant more to me then whatever lost hope I was latching onto.
"I have to," I said.
Akito and Jun exchanged looks—then nodded.
"Then we're coming with you," Akito said without hesitation.
I protested, of course.
"This is my burden."
But Jun shut me down with a clenched fist along side a quiet truth.
"They stole something from all of us, Ren."
I couldn't argue with that.
I apologized.
I told them I wasn't used to trusting others. But they already knew. They knew about the pain. About my brother—Evander—who vanished nine years ago. About the life I never got to live. When I was soon caught myself and dragged into this side of the country.
The life I spent wondering if my younger brother was still alive, after I left him in the fire. I told myself I was just a child.
But that was just guilt talking.
Soon, we stood on the border wall, overlooking the well developed luxury "normal" people were able to live.
It was breath-taking.
And infuriating.
"Holy shit…" Jun whispered.
Akito's jaw tightened. His eyes burned.
"So this is what they kept from us…" he muttered. "Food. Water. Life.. you know I have always wanted to come up to these tall buildings hoping I could get a glance.. but I never had the guts until now." Akito finished his sentence with a lingering hatred in the air. My eyes found Kenji his purple hair hanging low on the perch of his nose, blue eyes so ever mesmerising..and yet they held a still sadness.. his expression deadpan.
"We'll make them see us," I said, flame glowing faintly in my palm.
"They will," they echoed, standing beside me.
And for the first time, I didn't feel like I was standing alone.