Chapter 4
Flashback – 36 Years Ago
In the Nation of Kaisima
A modern military aircraft slices through the smoke-filled sky, its doors slowly opening to reveal a group of scientists aboard. Raizo, an eighteen-year-old young man, steps forward to the front of the aircraft, his face displaying a mix of anticipation and indifference. Beside him stands Carla, a 29-year-old woman, the only one accompanying him among the scientists, all of whom are significantly older, possessing years of experience that surpass his. Yet, perhaps none of them share his vision and genius.
Raizo's feet touch the ground of Kaisima first, and he is met with a hellish scene befitting a land ravaged by war and experiments. Buildings lie in ruins, flames dancing everywhere, while bodies are scattered like discarded dolls, some still groaning beneath the rubble. A heavy silence dominates, broken only by the hiss of the wind mixed with the scent of death and ash.
Raizo gazes at the scene with cold, unmoving eyes before whispering in a low but clear voice:
"Here we are... Kaisima."
Amidst the vast devastation, the scientist Carla stood staring at the ruins with wide eyes, disbelief evident in her voice:
"Why is Kaisima destroyed like this?!"
But silence was the only response. No one had an answer to that question, or perhaps no one dared to voice it.
Raizo stepped forward slowly, his footsteps echoing on the scorched ground as he examined the scene with sharp eyes. Scattered corpses, flames still devouring the remnants of buildings, and rubble that told the tale of a city that fell without resistance. Behind him, a group of scientists followed, carrying blue bags, their faces reflecting a mix of worry and curiosity.
Suddenly, Raizo raised his hand, pointing towards a destroyed village at a short distance. His voice was sharp yet steady:
"Look over there! A village... it seems it was inhabited!"
Everyone's gaze shifted in the direction he pointed, while Raizo continued, his voice more serious:
"There may be survivors... We need to check!"
Carla nodded in agreement, a hint of hope in her tone:
"Yes! We need to understand what happened here."
They began advancing toward the village as the sun neared the horizon, casting long shadows that blended with the rising smoke of destruction. The only remaining light came from the flickering flames dancing upon the ruins, as if they were the tormented souls refusing to depart.
—
Upon their arrival, they halted for a moment, their eyes fixed on the horrifying sight before them.
Blood… torn bodies… the foul stench of ash and death filled the air.
Raizo raised an eyebrow as he scanned the surroundings, suspicion lacing his tone:
"What the hell is going on here?!"
He moved slowly through the destroyed street while the other scientists watched him in silence. He stopped at one of the corpses lying on the ground and knelt to examine it.
"Oi, Raizo!" Carla's voice carried disapproval as she crossed her arms. "We're looking for survivors, not corpses!"
Raizo didn't answer. Something was wrong… something strange.
Slowly, he turned the body onto its back. The moment he did, he held his breath.
The man's face was charred, his features completely erased by the burns. But what truly shocked him was the deep hole in his chest, with blood still seeping from it, as if life had not left him too long ago.
His brows furrowed as he whispered to himself:
"What is this?!"
The rest of the team stood behind him, watching cautiously until Raizo finally broke the silence, his tone tense:
"His chest… is pierced?!"
The scientists exchanged glances, astonishment written on their faces. One of them, a young man who seemed younger than the others, took a step back and muttered anxiously:
"What are you saying...? Who could do something like this?!"
But Raizo ignored him. He kept staring at the deep wound, as if trying to decipher its secrets. Then, in a cold, analytical voice, he said:
"That's not the right question."
All eyes turned to him in suspense. He continued, his voice deeper:
"The real question is… are there machines capable of piercing a human body with such precision?"
Carla observed him for a moment before shaking her head thoughtfully:
"Machines like that…? I mean, it's possible, but… humanity hasn't created anything this advanced, have we?"
Raizo stood up, gazing at the darkened sky for a brief moment before saying slowly:
"There might be similar technologies in our nation… or elsewhere, but..."
He lifted his head and stared at the burning village, his tone filled with suspicion:
"I doubt they exist in Kaisima."
—
Carla sighed, her voice reflecting her frustration at the mystery surrounding this place:
"I don't know... but we must continue our mission."
Before she could finish her words, another sound interrupted her.
Coughing...
Everyone froze.
They exchanged bewildered looks before Raizo swiftly turned around, his eyes lighting up with something akin to certainty.
Then, without thinking, he dashed toward the source of the sound.
"RAIZO! WAIT!" Carla shouted, but Raizo didn't stop.
Quickly, the rest of the team followed, their footsteps pounding against the scorched ground as they neared the corner where the cough had emerged...
Raizo reached the young woman, who was barely breathing. Her features were almost unrecognizable beneath her charred face, and blood covered her frail body. She coughed violently, with fresh blood still trickling from her wounds. Her legs were gone, as if the rubble had swallowed them, or the fire had devoured them, leaving nothing behind.
Raizo froze in place, staring at her in shock as he muttered:
"What...?!"
The scene made no sense... How was she still alive despite this?
The team of scientists caught up, stopping behind him one by one, their eyes shifting between the woman and the devastation surrounding her. She could hear their voices, but she couldn't focus. Her vision was blurred, everything seemed hazy, and the sounds around her overlapped as if they were coming from another dimension.
With great difficulty, she lifted her head slightly and looked toward Raizo. Her eyes could barely stay open as she whispered in a broken, strained voice, each word requiring an effort beyond her strength:
"P-Please..."
Raizo gasped and knelt beside her, his voice filled with concern:
"Hey, miss! Can you hear me?!"
She forced herself to look at him, even though her vision was completely blurred. With a trembling hand, she pointed toward the house she was leaning against and murmured weakly:
"Save... my family..."
Raizo quickly turned his gaze to where she pointed. The house was barely standing, with heaps of debris piled over it as if trying to bury it entirely. He stood up swiftly and turned to his team, his voice carrying a clear command:
"Come on! Help me clear this rubble!"
The scientists wasted no time, rushing forward and using all their strength to move the debris. Meanwhile, Carla was still gazing at the woman, her expression filled with sympathy. She knelt beside her, swiftly pulling out bandages from her bag and wrapping what remained of her legs. She pressed firmly on the wound to try and stop the bleeding, then spoke in a calm voice, trying to reassure her:
"Hold on... I won't let you die here."
But the woman was barely holding onto consciousness, her eyelids growing heavier, her breathing becoming weaker.
—
Meanwhile, the scientists had removed a significant portion of the rubble. When they lifted the last rock, what was hidden beneath was finally revealed.
A whole family, huddled in a corner of the crumbling house.
A mother clutching her two children tightly, her body wrapped around them like a human shield trying to protect them until the very last moment. The children hid in her embrace, their faces pale with fear, their eyes wide as if they were still trapped in a nightmare. The father lay on a broken bed, bandages wrapped around his body, his eyes closed as if he was unaware of what was happening around him.
And in the moment the scene became clear, something unexpected happened.
The mother... suddenly stood up, gripping a rusty axe in her hands, her face twisted with rage and fear. She didn't think, didn't ask questions—she simply charged at Raizo with lethal fury, her eyes filled with terror, screaming in hysteria:
"Stay away from my family, you cursed sorcerer!"
—
She moved swiftly, raising the axe high before swinging it directly at Raizo's head!
But with a sharp reflex, he stepped back at the last second, feeling the air brush past him as the axe slammed into the ground, cracking it. He gasped in shock, then yelled in alarm:
"What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?!"
But the mother didn't stop. Her eyes were filled with fear and fury as she raised the axe again, shouting madly:
"I won't let you hurt us anymore!"
Raizo quickly reached out, grabbing the axe before it could strike again, holding onto it tightly. He looked at the mother in disbelief:
"What's wrong with you?! We're here to save you!"
But she didn't believe him. She struggled to pull the axe from his grip, screaming frantically as if trying to break free from an endless nightmare:
"You cursed sorcerers! You destroyed Kaisima! You killed our people!"
Raizo froze in place, his eyebrows shooting up in astonishment:
"Sorcerers?! What do you mean?!"
But the mother didn't stop. She fought with pure survival instinct, clinging to the axe as if her life depended on it:
"Enough of your lies! You're all the same!"
Raizo took a deep breath, then spoke clearly:
"Wait... I think there's a misunderstanding here. We're not from Kaisima, we're from another land."
But her words came faster:
"Liar!"
Then suddenly, a harsh cough shattered the tension.
Everyone turned their heads toward the bed where the father lay. The mother gasped and rushed to him in panic, placing a hand on his forehead before whispering in terror:
"Kaido...? Are you alright?!"
His body trembled, his breathing was ragged, and he seemed to be suffering from a severe fever. Raizo and the team of scientists exchanged glances, a mix of confusion and suspicion in their eyes.
At that moment, another voice echoed—the voice of the wounded woman: Cirka, who was still in Carla's arms. She lifted her head with difficulty, then whispered, her voice trembling yet carrying all the despair humanity had ever known:
"We all... suffer..."
Everyone turned to look at her, while Carla, with a stern face, gently carried her forward. She approached the dilapidated house and carefully leaned Cirka against the wall, ignoring the anxious gazes watching her.
As everyone observed her, the woman named Cirka continued in a fatigued, trembling voice:
"Magic and those who wield it... are our curse!"
Raizo raised an eyebrow in surprise as Carla sat in front of the girl. Without hesitation, Raizo moved forward and sat beside her, staring at Cirka, who continued in a voice filled with pain and exhaustion:
"In Kaisima, there is no power other than the power of magic... they are the ruling power and conduct their experiments on us. We are merely tools for them!"
Carla asked, puzzled:
"But... isn't magic just a myth? Something unreal?"
Cirka looked at her with eyes brimming with anger and bitterness:
"No! In Kaisima, magic is an undeniable reality! We do not know how it started or how it is practiced, but what we do know is that it exists... and it brings nothing but destruction!"
Raizo inquired:
"So, are they the ones responsible for the devastation here?"
Cirka nodded firmly:
"Yes! As I said, they learn at the expense of our bodies, destroy our belongings, and impose their power upon us! They are the rulers now, and those who cannot master magic or even use it... are doomed, as if they were mere worthless trash! That is why no one loves them, and I don't think anyone ever will... Even if they were to become righteous, their past is a stain of disgrace that will haunt them forever!"
Carla tried to grasp the situation further and asked:
"You said they are the ruling power... So, where are they now?"
Cirka replied:
"We don't know, and we don't want to know! There is no good in them. Even those who are incapable of using magic wield their influence against us. However... there is one person, only one sorcerer, who cares for us—the surviving humans... but he is powerless against them!"
Carla asked curiously:
"Who is he?"
Cirka answered in a faint voice:
"He is the sorcerer... Surichi."
Carla was about to respond, but Raizo's voice interrupted her. His tone was a mix of anger and determination, his eyes glowing with an intense light:
"Milady!"
Carla turned to him in surprise, as did Cirka, who showed signs of shock. Raizo continued in a firm voice, infused with anger:
"Do you want to become strong like them?! Do you want to stand against them and claim your revenge?!"
Cirka's eyes widened in astonishment, while one of the two small children ran toward Raizo. Despite his face being covered in rubble and his clothes tattered, his eyes were filled with hope. With a trembling voice, he asked:
"Really... is what you're saying true, sir?"
Raizo looked at him for a moment and saw in his eyes an innocence mixed with desperate pleading. Then, he nodded firmly and said with conviction:
"Yes! We will make you strong enough to face this tyranny!"
Then, he suddenly stood up and turned to leave, heading back toward the aircraft.
Carla quickly ran after him, walking beside him with a concerned look before speaking seriously:
"Raizo... You've given them hope, but we don't know the effectiveness of the antidote, nor its risks!"
Raizo did not respond; he simply continued walking, his eyes burning with anger.
Carla quickened her pace and said in a warning tone:
"You know the antidote's danger level is 79%, while its success rate is only 21%, right?!"
Raizo suddenly stopped and turned toward her, his face filled with rage as he said:
"Do you see what's happening here?! This place is nothing but utter destruction and a humanitarian catastrophe!"
Carla raised an eyebrow with slight sarcasm and said:
"Destruction? Catastrophe? Alright... but you know that the antidote's danger could mean the complete annihilation of Kaisima's people if the experiment fails!"
Raizo stared at her silently before she continued in a tone of feigned astonishment:
"Think, Raizo! Why did the world choose to conduct this experiment here specifically?! Because even if it fails... no one will hold them accountable. Kaisima is already devastated, and even we... won't be held accountable if we experiment on them, right? Are you still determined to inject these innocent people with the antidote?!"
Raizo stared at her for a moment, then lowered his head and continued walking toward the aircraft.
Carla sighed before following him.
When they arrived at the aircraft, Raizo entered directly and opened one of the metal crates inside. Inside it, there were several vials containing a glowing blue liquid that pulsed with a faint light. Raizo stared at the vials in silence before Carla approached and also gazed at the antidote.
She spoke seriously:
"I've warned you... the danger is real."
Raizo did not reply. Instead, he closed the crate, then lifted it and exited the aircraft with determined eyes.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a distant mountain peak, where a faint red light glowed at its summit. He narrowed his eyes in curiosity, trying to analyze the scene.
Carla stepped closer to him, looking at the mountain before speaking in a resolute tone:
"If you're determined to move forward... then let's go."
Raizo began walking back toward the village, carrying the antidote crate beside him, while Carla followed hesitantly.
—
The information available for disclosure:
"36 years ago, the people of Kaisima suffered from the oppression of sorcerers, who used them as test subjects to experiment with their magic and train their disciples. From the very beginning, Kaisima was a victim of this tyranny, whether from sorcerers in the past or monsters later on, as seen throughout the seasons of the novel.
The hatred of the people of Kaisima toward sorcerers was evident throughout the seasons, as they repeatedly proclaimed, 'They are the reason for the world's destruction!' This was justified by their past suffering. However, as events progressed, sorcerers shifted from being villains to advocates of peace, though the reason remains unknown. Nevertheless, the people of Kaisima remained unable to forgive them or forget their past."
—
Shortly After
Raizo and Carla arrived at the village, with the box still in his hand. Raizo noticed a crowd of people waiting for them, stopping in surprise as Carla murmured in astonishment:
"Who are they? And where did they come from?"
One of the scientists stepped forward and said:
"Raizo! We found these survivors from the village and brought them here to conduct the experiment on them!"
A man emerged from the crowd, his face filled with despair. He fell to his knees before Raizo, clutching his leg and sobbing desperately:
"Please, grant us strength! We need it!"
Raizo looked at him in surprise, then leaned down slightly, lifting the man off the ground while placing the box aside. He spoke in a reassuring voice:
"There is no need to beg... We are here to help you!"
The man's eyes filled with tears, but he finally smiled, whispering in gratitude:
"Really?!"
Raizo nodded confidently before opening the box. The scientists took out the antidote and filled the syringes with it. Raizo and Carla took their share of the injections, then headed toward the ruined house where the young boy and Cirka were waiting for them.
The boy ran up excitedly, saying:
"Sir!"
Raizo smiled and patted his head gently before crouching to his level, while Carla approached Cirka, who was leaning against the wall. She held her arm, preparing for the injection. At the same time, Raizo sterilized the boy's arm and asked with an encouraging smile:
"Are you ready?"
The boy responded with overwhelming enthusiasm:
"I trust you, sir!"
As Carla prepared to inject Cirka, the latter glanced at her brother and smiled weakly before whispering warmly to Carla:
"You know?... This is the first time I've seen my brother smile!"
Carla looked at her for a moment before replying with a soft smile.
Calmly, Raizo and Carla inserted the needles into the boy and Cirka, while the scientists proceeded to inject the rest of the survivors with the antidote until they were completely done.
Raizo looked at the boy and asked expectantly:
"Alright, we're finished! Do you feel anything?"
The boy examined his body in confusion before replying:
"I don't feel anything, sir!"
Raizo chuckled lightly and said:
"Of course, you won't feel it right away! But do you feel any improvement or strength?"
The boy shook his head and said:
"No...!"
Suddenly, Carla's terrified voice rang out:
"RAIZOOOO!!!"
Raizo quickly turned toward her, only to find Cirka writhing on the ground, undergoing a horrifying transformation.
Her skin began to tear, her limbs twisted into a monstrous form, and her eyes turned into dark voids devoid of any whiteness. Her body became a deep, sinister purple, with veins bulging like a network of explosive black arteries.
Carla stumbled back, her eyes wide with terror, while Cirka started convulsing violently, producing horrifying gurgling sounds as drool dripped onto the floor.
At that moment, the boy asked fearfully:
"Sir! What's happening to my sister?!"
Raizo looked at the boy and saw that his eyes had turned completely black—just like his sister's.
Suddenly, Cirka lunged from the floor straight toward her father, who was lying on the bed, sinking her fangs into his arm, making him scream in agony. Their mother froze in horror, unable to comprehend what was happening, before the father himself transformed and attacked his wife, devouring her as her body also began to change.
It didn't take long before the boy started transforming as well. He then leaped at his younger brother, who was crying in terror, and tore into him until his screams faded completely.
Raizo and Carla stood frozen, unable to move or speak. Carla stammered with a trembling voice:
"The... the antidote failed... They're turning into monsters!"
Outside, the screams of the scientists grew louder, only to turn into agonized cries before falling silent one by one. When Raizo turned his gaze toward the outside, he saw a horrifying sight—
All the villagers who had been injected had turned into savage monsters, pouncing on the team of scientists and mercilessly tearing their bodies apart.
Raizo stood in place, his body trembling from the sheer horror of the catastrophe, as he murmured in disbelief:
"WHAT... WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Beside him, Carla was also trembling, sweat dripping from her forehead as she stared in terror at the family that had transformed into ferocious monsters, surrounding them from all sides.
The father... the mother... the children... the woman... and the entire village...
All of them had become ravenous monsters, their hungry eyes locked onto Raizo and Carla, completely trapping them.
End of Chapter.