The skies all over the world are now just a canvas of cracks. A starless night. Twenty years ago, human civilization was changed forever. A tear from a dimensional rift, gaping like a wound in the sky, spewed out creatures from a nightmare.
They came from another world, nameless and without mercy. They destroyed skyscrapers, leveled roads, and sowed panic everywhere. Half of the population was wiped out, and human civilization was on the brink of total destruction.
Yet, in the midst of this despair, hope emerged. Some humans, somehow, began to awaken with extraordinary power. A teenager could summon a firestorm from their hands. A nurse could heal wounds that should have been fatal. A welder could manipulate metal at will. They became Hunters. With godlike strength, they fought, fell, and rose again. They were the heroes who sacrificed everything, successfully driving out the monsters and restoring a fragile balance.
Twenty years have passed since that great war. Now, small rifts still appear across the world, but they no longer threaten civilization. They are merely wounds that need to be closed. That task falls to the Hunters, who are now pillars of society, both revered and feared.
However, behind the scenes, rumors began to circulate. The small cracks that were supposed to be stable were starting to show signs of restlessness. It was as if they were spies for something bigger, something waiting on the other side.
Arka, a young Hunter with a unique ability that allows him to sense the energy of monsters, felt uneasy. His special ability was like a continuous alarm bell ringing in his head. He felt something was coming, something far worse than his darkest nightmares.
The world had forgotten the horror of twenty years ago. They only saw the Hunters as heroes, unaware that the peace they enjoyed was just an illusion. The boundary between our world and another was never truly closed, and behind those stable cracks, an ancient power was waiting to return.
°°°
That night, the sky above Jakarta was unusual. As if the universe was siding with the city's peace, thousands of stars were scattered across the sky, forming a glittering galaxy that was clearly visible without the obstruction of light pollution. This rare sight accompanied a young man, Arka, who was sitting on a park bench. Dressed in a slightly worn white shirt and a can of soda in his hand, he let out a long sigh. The burden of being a new graduate for a year felt so real. He graduated with good grades, but job opportunities seemed to have vanished into thin air. His mind drifted, thinking about his uncertain future.
Suddenly, the peace shattered.
In the sky, right in the middle of a constellation, a dimensional rift appeared. The previously peaceful sky was now torn, like glass breaking into pieces. From the gaping rift, a horrifying roar emerged. Following it, a monster as tall as a skyscraper came out. The monster had skin as hard as stone, with curved horns and glowing red eyes, creating chaos in the center of Jakarta.
Arka, seeing this terrifying event firsthand for the first time, was shocked. His soda can fell, rolling on the asphalt. Cold sweat soaked his forehead as he watched the monster move its massive arm, toppling a nearby building. Mass panic broke out, people screamed hysterically and ran, trying to get away from the rift and the newly appeared monster. Still in shock, Arka was jolted out of his reverie and started to run as well.
In the midst of the chaos, from all corners of the city, the Hunters arrived. They appeared like heroes, leaping from rooftops, flying with their powers, or running at supersonic speeds towards the center of the chaos. Their unique weapons and abilities glowed, ready to face the incoming threat. Seeing their arrival, some citizens felt a sense of relief, but not Arka. He kept running, away from the crowd, from the threat, and from everything that terrified him.
Arka kept running, passing streets clogged with abandoned vehicles, until he finally arrived at his home on the outskirts of the city. Opening the door, he immediately locked it and leaned his back against it. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.
"Finally..." he mumbled.
He entered his room, collapsed onto his bed, and sighed in relief. His heart was still pounding, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. All this time, he had only heard stories about dimensional rifts and monsters on the news, but seeing it in person was a completely different experience. The horror, the screams of the people, and the power of the Hunters... everything felt so real. Under his blanket, Arka tried to forget the horror and hoped that tomorrow would be back to normal.
°°°
The next morning, the bright sun streamed through the gap in the curtains, waking Arka up. He got up, forgetting the horror of the previous night, and went straight to the kitchen. The aroma of toast and coffee soon filled the room. Arka sat in front of the television, enjoying his breakfast while staring at the screen.
On the screen, the morning news was being broadcast. The horrifying images from the previous night were replayed repeatedly, showing the chaos that occurred in various cities around the world. Severe damage, collapsed buildings, and most prominently, the epic battles between huge monsters and the Hunters. Amateur videos showed how the Hunters used their immense power, throwing energy attacks, swinging glowing swords, and flying through the air to take down the monsters.
Arka watched with a blank stare. His feelings were mixed. On one hand, he felt relieved that the world still had the Hunters to protect them. On the other hand, a deep sense of envy emerged. He had spent half of his life struggling in school and college, hoping to get a decent job. But what did he get? Hardship. Meanwhile, the Hunters, with their unique powers, could gain wealth, honor, and hero status just by fighting monsters. His chaotic life seemed to be the opposite of those heroes' lives.
In the middle of the broadcast, the news switched to an interview with the Chairman of the Hunter's Central Agency, a fit old man in an elegant black suit. His name was Harsa Baskara. His calm and charismatic face radiated an aura of wisdom. Harsa began to speak, discussing the rift events that had occurred and urging all citizens to remain cautious.
"Twenty years ago, we almost lost everything. But thanks to power and sacrifice, we managed to survive," he said in a steady voice. "Last night's event is a reminder that the peace we enjoy is very fragile. The Hunter's Central Agency will continue to fight to ensure the safety of every citizen. Stay vigilant and report any anomalies you find."
Hearing those words, Arka fell silent. He turned off the television and finished his breakfast with a disturbed mind. Harsa Baskara's words, coupled with the sight of the Hunters fighting, sparked a new question in his mind. Why didn't he have that power? Why was his destiny so different? These questions gnawed at his mind, triggering a new desire he had never imagined before. He, who had always just wanted to live a normal life, now began to contemplate something bigger.