Reno's breath caught in his throat as the guttural roar tore through the air. He barely had time to register the shadow at his back before the ground erupted, stone and steel thrown aside like sand. A kaiju—six meters tall, a hulking, gray-skinned beast with crooked limbs and a mouth too wide for its skull—burst into the open. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto him.
He froze. His body screamed to move, but his legs betrayed him.
The monster lunged.
"Reno!" Kafka's voice cracked like a whip. In that heartbeat, he threw himself sideways, slamming Reno out of the trajectory. They hit the rubble hard, dust stinging their eyes, rolling until Kafka shoved Reno toward the alley.
"Go! Call the Defense Force!"
Kafka's hand snapped out, grabbing a rusted steel rod from the ruins. His knuckles whitened around it.
Reno's heart pounded, torn between instinct and loyalty. He stared at Kafka—blood on his face, chest heaving, but eyes burning. For a second, the younger boy faltered. Then he clenched his jaw and sprinted.
The kaiju roared again, turning toward Kafka.
Kafka staggered to his feet, steel rod raised. "Come on, beast. Over here!"
The kaiju lumbered forward, each step cracking the broken asphalt. Its size dwarfed him—like an ant daring to face a wolf. Kafka's arms shook, but he forced his breath steady. Every lesson, every memory of Mina, every glance at Akira's strength echoed inside him.
He ducked the first swipe, steel claws slicing air where his head had been. He rammed the rod against its leg. It was like striking a wall. Sparks. Vibration rattled through his bones.
The second blow landed—sharp claws slamming across his chest. The rod slipped from his grip as he crashed back into the debris. White-hot pain screamed down his ribs.
The kaiju loomed, saliva dripping from its gaping maw. Kafka coughed blood, defiant even as his body failed him.
"Damn it… not like this."
"Senpai!"
Reno's voice rang out. He came hurtling back into the fray, clutching another rod. His arms trembled, but his eyes burned the same as Kafka's.
"There's no way I could leave you!" he shouted, charging. "If I ran now, I'd never make it into the Force!"
He swung. The rod clanged uselessly against the kaiju's hide. The beast whipped its tail, catching Reno across the torso. He slammed into a wall with a sickening crack.
Kafka screamed his name, dragging himself forward despite the agony in his broken leg.
The kaiju shifted back toward Kafka. Both boys, battered and bleeding, lay between its claws.
And then—
A voice cut through the chaos.
"HEY, UGLY!"
The kaiju turned its head.
Akira came sprinting down the rubble-strewn street, coat flaring, sword already drawn. Dust trailed behind him as his boots tore across concrete. He had seen the monster the moment it burst from the ground. He had shouted back then, but the roar had swallowed his warning. He hadn't stopped running since.
His blade sang as it came free.
[Ravan: Target threat level 3.2. Marginal. Neutralization achievable within 40 seconds.]
Akira's lips curved. "Plenty of time."
He closed the distance in an instant. The kaiju swiped down, but he met its claw head-on, steel sparking as his sword bit deep. The beast howled. Akira twisted, momentum flipping him onto its arm. He dashed up the limb like a ramp, every stride precise, blade carving glowing lines across its flesh.
It reeled back, staggering under his assault.
Kafka's eyes widened through the haze of pain. Reno, coughing blood, forced a smile. "Knew… he'd come."
[Ravan: Host action reinforces ally morale. Bond cohesion rising.]
Akira flipped mid-air, blade poised for the final strike. His swing arced toward the kaiju's core.
And then—
A thunderclap.
A massive beam of energy obliterated the kaiju's torso before his strike landed. The monster shrieked, its form convulsing once before collapsing lifelessly. Dust and heat washed over the ruins.
Akira landed lightly, eyes narrowing at the smoking carcass. He didn't need to look to know who stood behind him.
"Zone cleared," came Mina Ashiro's cool, commanding voice.
She strode forward in full battle gear, rifle still glowing faintly from the shot. Her presence silenced the rubble itself.
Kafka's breath caught. Reno's shoulders stiffened.
Mina walked past Akira without pause, her eyes scanning the fallen beast. "Target neutralized. Evacuate the injured."
Medics rushed in from behind her.
Akira sheathed his blade slowly, jaw tight. His fingers twitched—so close to finishing it himself, stolen at the last second. He glanced at Mina, but her expression was unreadable, her attention fixed solely on procedure.
Kafka tried to sit up, groaning as medics restrained him. His eyes, however, found Mina's retreating back. For a heartbeat, his chest ached—not from broken ribs, but from her indifference.
Reno leaned on Akira's arm, blood trickling down his temple. "You… saved us, Akira."
"Don't thank me yet," Akira said, forcing a grin. "You two are heavy as hell."
[Ravan: Injuries severe. Recommend immediate stabilization. Observation: Triad cohesion at 72% efficiency under duress. Projected growth high.]
Akira chuckled under his breath. "Good to know."
As Kafka and Reno were lifted onto stretchers, Mina gave one last look over her shoulder. Her gaze flicked briefly to the three—bloodied, exhausted, but still standing together. Then she turned away, already issuing orders.
"If only all monsters were this simple," she murmured to Hoshina over comms, her voice distant.
The medics carried the boys past her. Kafka reached out faintly, his hand twitching as if to grab her sleeve—but she didn't notice.
The sun dipped below the ruined skyline, its glow stretching shadows across the battlefield. The trio, united by blood and survival, had faced their first fight together.
Unseen, darker shapes stirred in the distance. Stronger monsters. Smarter enemies. Watching. Waiting.
And this, Ravan whispered silently into Akira's mind, was only the beginning.
[Ravan: Warning. Future threat convergence imminent. Recommend accelerated preparation. Time window uncertain.]
Akira exhaled, eyes narrowing at the horizon. For the first time, the three of them had stood together against death. And for the first time—he knew it wouldn't be the last.
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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