The wind whispered gently among the ruins, carrying with it the warm ashes of a city still burning. The sky was dark, rolling with black clouds that swirled as if the world itself was mourning what had been lost.
From the shadows of the wreckage, a woman in a black cloak stood still. Her slender figure moved with the quiet grace of a shadow dancing under dim light. Her eyes glowed bright violet—like an unending spiritual flame. Half of her face was hidden by a silver mask, revealing only a faint, enigmatic smile.
Her gaze was fixed far ahead—toward Jake, Ryu, and Evelyn, who were running through the smoky fog, bodies battered and exhausted.
"Jake… Ryu… Evelyn…" she murmured softly, her voice echoing like a spell.
"Isn't this… an interesting beginning?"
That smile curved into a cold grin. A soft laugh escaped her lips, sharp as the sound of cracking glass in the silence. Then, in an instant, her body vanished—swallowed by the smoke as if the wind itself had devoured her.
Ryu and Evelyn, carried on Jake's back, caught a glimpse of the figure.
"Jake! There's someone—"
Jake turned sharply, eyes narrowing through the haze, but there was no one there.
He shook his head slightly. "Probably just a shadow," he muttered.
But Ryu and Evelyn exchanged glances, their hearts pounding.
"What… did we just see?" Ryu whispered hoarsely, his voice weak but his eyes still alert.
Jake kept running. In the distance, the outline of Sena City appeared—the great steel gates bearing the kingdom's emblem, now dulled and grim. They reached the refugee zone, where survivors had gathered, staring at a world that had become a living nightmare.
---
Sena City – Refugee Shelter
"This will be your temporary shelter," said Jake, opening the door of a large building that had been turned into a refugee post.
Inside, dozens of civilians sat huddled together. Some cried; others stared blankly at the floor. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, dust, and fear—it was as if even the atmosphere itself was cloaked in grief.
Ryu and Evelyn stepped inside slowly.
Their eyes were hollow, bodies weak—but deep within, a flicker of unyielding fire remained.
"Thank you, Uncle Jake," Evelyn said, her voice trembling.
Around them, people whispered.
"Hey, look… they're survivors from central Indosvara."
"Poor kids… the look on their faces, those monsters must've been terrifying…"
The whispers stabbed into Ryu's chest like needles. He lowered his head, holding back the storm rising inside him.
In the corner of the room, Leon stood and waved.
"Ryu! Evelyn!" he called softly.
They looked up at him, their steps heavy, but eventually sat together. Silence filled the air—until Leon finally spoke.
"My father… he died too. Saved me when that monster tried to tear me apart."
Ryu froze. His fists trembled. Then, slowly, he whispered hoarsely:
"I'll kill them…"
"I'll kill them all…"
"I'll kill them…"
Three times he repeated it—each word heavier, hotter, more real.
Leon and Evelyn exchanged glances; they saw something burning in Ryu's eyes—not just anger, but grief far deeper than words.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man began screaming hysterically from the side of the room.
"Give them back!! MONSTERS!! GIVE MY FAMILY BACK!!"
He shoved people aside, crying, laughing, howling like a beast.
Indosvara soldiers rushed in to restrain him. The room erupted in chaos—wails and sobs echoing everywhere.
Ryu just watched—silently—witnessing pain that mirrored his own.
---
Amid the uproar, a young man sat beside Leon. His face was calm, but his eyes were dark. He looked at Ryu and Evelyn coolly.
"What are your names?" he asked.
Only Leon answered.
"Ah, my name's Leon Ashfield," he said, trying to smile.
"This is Ryu, and this is Evelyn."
The young man nodded.
"My name's Asta. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Leon replied.
Moments later, Indosvara soldiers entered the front of the hall. Their white uniforms, striped with red and yellow, stood out amid the sea of despair.
"Attention, everyone!" one of them shouted.
"Starting today, civilians will be relocated to a new camp on the outskirts of Sena! This place is no longer safe!"
The crowd murmured nervously.
But the soldier continued.
"And one more thing… about the monsters that destroyed Indosvara's capital—our frontline forces… are falling one by one. They're powerful—too powerful. We lack manpower, and without reinforcements, Sena City will fall!"
Panic rippled through the refugees.
"No… we're all going to die…"
"There's no hope left…"
The soldier clenched his fists.
"Listen! That's why the kingdom has created the Monster Hunter Organization, led by Jake Hill! We're recruiting anyone brave enough to stand against the darkness. Those who wish to join—raise your hands!"
Silence.
Only hollow stares, weary faces, and whispers of despair answered him.
"Are you insane?!"
"You want us to die fighting those things?! No one will do it!"
"We're not soldiers—we're just ordinary people!"
The room filled with fear and shouting.
Ryu, Evelyn, Leon, and Asta watched in silence, eyes cold and unreadable.
"That's right! If commoners are forced to fight, what's the point of the kingdom hiding behind its walls?!"
"They feast while we bleed!"
The chaos reached its peak—anger mixing with tears.
Then—footsteps.
Slow, steady.
Ryu Celestia stood up.
He took a step forward and raised his hand high.
"Oi, are you all just going to sit here and whine?!"
Every eye turned toward him.
"Damn kid! Think you're a hero or something?!"
"Big talk for someone your age!"
But Ryu didn't back down. His breath was heavy, voice echoing across the hall.
"Hey, idiots! Do you think complaining will stop the monsters, huh?! You're just waiting for death! Sooner or later, they'll break through these walls!"
The crowd went silent.
His words cut deeper than any blade.
"You sit here, doing nothing, while your families were slaughtered! And you're proud of surviving, when you couldn't protect the ones you loved?!"
Ryu's voice trembled—caught between rage and sorrow.
"I'd rather die fighting… than live cowering in fear! If I have to be eaten by those monsters, then I'll make sure they bleed before they do!"
"You're just worthless trash—too scared to fight back against the beasts that killed your loved ones!"
The soldiers were stunned. They could see the fire of conviction burning fiercely in Ryu's eyes.
The atmosphere shifted.
What had been fear turned into uncertainty—then doubt.
"He's right…" someone whispered.
Leon looked at Ryu, then, hesitantly but firmly, raised his hand. Evelyn and Asta had already done the same.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the torchlight in the corner seemed to flicker in awe.
The soldiers exchanged glances, astonished. One of them whispered:
"This boy…"
Among the crowd, Evelyn looked at Ryu, her eyes glistening. Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward and lifted her hand.
"I won't let you face this alone, Ryu."
Another hand rose—Asta's. A faint smirk curved on his lips.
"Even if we die… better to die fighting."
Some civilians laughed mockingly.
"Hey, kids, you want to die that bad?!"
"Still wet behind the ears and already playing heroes?!"
"You're just throwing your lives away!"
Ryu's eyes turned cold. He shouted:
"You're just cowards waiting your turn to be eaten!"
The shout split the air. The hall fell silent.
Then—an angry voice.
"What did you say, punk?!"
A young man stepped forward and punched Ryu hard, sending him stumbling back. Evelyn gasped, furious, and kicked the man—but he dodged quickly.
"Damn, that girl's got a hell of a kick!" he thought, startled.
"Evelyn! Don't get involved!" Ryu shouted as he stood up again.
"Why did you hit me?! Was I wrong, huh?!"
The man spat on the ground.
"Tch… you're just a cocky brat!"
"You disgust me, bastard!" Ryu yelled, stepping forward again.
The soldiers started to intervene, but one commander stopped them.
"Let him be. Watch how the boy reacts."
From the shadows beyond the room, the woman in black watched quietly. Her violet eyes glimmered softly, a mysterious smile on her lips.
"Interesting," she whispered.
"Haa… I was right. He really is interesting."
Her smile widened slightly. Her shadow shimmered—then vanished.
And amidst the chaos, Ryu stood tall, blood on his lips, eyes blazing with fierce determination.
The world may have fallen apart—but within him, the fire had only just begun to burn.
To be continued…