Planet Earth—once the cradle of humanity, the undisputed home of the superior race. That was, until 1537. That year, everything changed.
The first monster was discovered on the southernmost edge of South America. The man who found it spoke of a creature no bigger than a newborn, yet disturbingly human in form. It ran, it climbed—but it was no longer one of us. Over the decades, these mutant creatures multiplied, evolved, and twisted into horrors beyond comprehension. At first, we fought them with rusted swords and fragile bodies, but they grew stronger, faster. Soon, humanity teetered on the edge of extinction.
Then came the Meteor of 1569.
It struck the frozen north, deep in what is now Canada, forever altering the very air we breathed. Some claim it was divine intervention, others believe it was cosmic radiation. Whatever the truth, humanity changed. Some of us awakened powers. Strength beyond mortal limits. Abilities that defied reason. Magic.
I don't know how much of that is real. I mean, I'm just a 14-year-old kid sitting in a history class at Emmory School of Magic and Powers, half-listening to a lesson I've heard a hundred times before.
"Akio, are you even listening?"
A sharp nudge to my ribs jolts me out of my daze. I turn to see my best friend, Benny Pluzeski, smirking at me from the seat next to mine. He's been my partner in crime since childhood, the only person who's been by my side no matter what.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm listening," I lie, stretching my arms. "What were you saying?"
Benny sighs, shaking his head. "I was talking about my future, obviously," he says dramatically. "You know, how I don't actually wanna be a hero. I mean, why waste my talents when I could be a world-famous actor instead?"
I roll my eyes. Benny's power—metal manipulation—is the kind of ability people would kill for. But he sees it as more of an inconvenience than a gift. Not that I blame him. Some people get fire, telekinesis, or even time manipulation. Benny? He can bend spoons without touching them.
Me?
I have nothing. No power. No special ability. Just a last name that keeps me in this elite academy.
The bell rings, signaling the end of class. As I gather my things, a familiar presence presses up against my side.
"I could see you drifting off again, y'know?"
I glance over and meet the green-eyed gaze of my girlfriend, Threya. She stands beside me, arms crossed, a knowing smile on her lips.
"Yeah, well, you're a little distracting," I tease, flashing a grin.
She scoffs, rolling her eyes, but I see the faint blush on her cheeks. Threya is everything I'm not—confident, strong, and effortlessly beautiful. Sometimes I wonder why she's even with me. Maybe it's because of my father's name, but after nearly a year together, I like to think she actually likes me.
"So, meeting at the usual spot tonight?" she asks, her voice softer now.
"Of course. Why would I ever say no?"
Her face lights up, but before she can respond, Benny groans loudly beside us.
"Ugh. Can you two stop being you two for like, five seconds?"
Threya and I exchange amused glances before bursting into laughter. With that, we leave the classroom and head home for a few hours of peace before our nightly tradition.
The government has strict rules about nighttime curfews. Ever since monster activity surged in recent years, stepping outside past 10:00 PM is officially illegal.
It's now 10:30 PM.
Threya and I walk along the riverbank, moonlight casting silver ripples across the water. We're on our way to our spot—a secluded hill overlooking the city, where the lights stretch endlessly like a sea of stars. It's been our place since middle school. A sanctuary.
But tonight, something feels... different.
"You know, Akio..." Threya suddenly tugs at my sleeve. When I look at her, she's frowning. "I had a bad dream last night. A dream of pain. For you, for me... for our whole class."
Something about the way she says it makes my stomach knot.
"Can you promise me something?" she continues, her green eyes locking onto mine. "Promise me you won't do anything reckless. That you won't get hurt."
I hesitate, then chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Threya, nothing is going to happen. We've never even seen a real monster before. The only ones we've ever fought are training dummies."
She exhales sharply, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Great. Now you've jinxed us."
We both laugh, the tension fading just a little. As we settle into our usual spot, the city below us glows in peaceful silence. Every streetlamp is lit, every house warm and secure. The world feels safe.
Just like it should be.