It's now 30 years later.
A hilly field almost half the size of a city. The burial mound, 'Silent Hill'.
A man who appeared to be in his twenties was trimming the tall grass on a grave. The man with the jade-colored eyes. Someone approached him.
"Mr. Zain, it's almost evening. Today's burial ceremony is over."
"Thank you, please go home safely."
"Okay."
Zain Jadevine, the grave keeper.
In this vast cemetery, he was guarding the graves alone. He was no ordinary grave keeper. There was something strange about him.
He was trimming the tall grass on several graves. Until it grew dark. Zain stood and stared at the night sky. The dark sky was illuminated only by a single ray of moonlight.
Zain closed his eyes. Then he opened them again. He walked away.
The mysterious dimensional gates that had appeared gave rise to monsters like those in mythological history. Like green creatures that flocked together, called 'Goblins'. They had heads like pigs and enormous bodies like 'Orcs'. Giant lizards, 'Lizards', and others.
Most of the gates were red. However, there were gates that were black. These gates didn't spawn monsters like the red gates. But there were other creatures called the Undead. Monsters that took the form of skeletons and zombies of humans and other animals. The Undead wouldn't die even if their heads were cut off. Only someone who awakened the Holy Power could eliminate the Undead.
But people who awakened the Holy Power were extremely rare. Only those with truly kind and sincere hearts could possess it. And using that power also consumed the user's lifespan. What was worse than the Undead zombie monster was that if bitten, the person bitten would also turn into a zombie.
Then, accidentally someone discovered a way to kill the Undead, it's by burning them to ashes. It was quite an efficient method.
Although it had to struggle with the heat of the fire. And there was the possibility of widespread fire.
However, there was one person who didn't need burning or holy power to eliminate the Undead.
To the east, quite far from 'Silent Hill', there is an abandoned area. The area has not been touched by repairs. Ruined buildings are left there. The area is quite large and is still part of the city of Lumiville, Stairl district.
On a silent night, accompanied only by moonlight. Zain walks alone in the Stairl district. Three meters in front of him he sees a black gate that has not been opened.
When the gate opens, monsters will come out from there.
Why not go in first and kill the monsters inside? Everyone thinks like that. But strangely, no one has ever been able to open, let alone enter the gate. In thirty years it is still unknown. So, humans can only prepare and guard in front of the gate that was found. And kill the monsters that come out.
The black gate in front of Zain began to open. The long shovel that Zain carried turned into a lantern. Skeletons and zombies began to run out of the gate. They ran towards Zain. When they were a meter closer, Zain extended the lantern forward and the Undead began to slow down.
His calm jade-green eyes remained unblinking as he faced the undead. Zain began to speak.
"You are merely dead beings."
"Your souls have departed."
"Do not desire to live again."
"Accept your deaths."
"Sleep."
"Your world is no longer here."
The lantern in Zain's hand shone brightly. Zain closed his eyes.
"I am merely a grave keeper."
"Guarding the boundary between this mortal world and the eternal world." Zain opened his eyes.
"Goodbye. Sleep in peace."
The undead vanished into ash. The black gate also vanished without a trace. The lantern returned to its original state.
Sometimes gates appear in abandoned places like this, past human guard. As Zain was about to leave, he heard sobbing. Zain searched for the source of the sound. Inside a dark, abandoned building, two children were inside. Their clothes were dirty, and they were barefoot. They sat huddled in fear, shivering with cold. Zain approached them. The two children were injured.
"P-please d-don't hurt us," one of the children said, trembling.
"I won't hurt you."
Zain blew out the lantern he was holding. The light transformed into fireflies. A swarm of them flew and landed on the two children. Their wounds began to heal. Their bodies felt warm. The fireflies returned to their lanterns.
"Follow me." Zain led the two children out of the Stairl district.
The destruction of the world, which had claimed countless lives and destroyed everything, didn't mean anything had truly changed. It was human nature. Even in this destruction, they helped each other, supported each other, and protected each other. But, fundamentally, humans are individuals. Selfishness, arrogance, and hatred remain within every human being. Compassion can turn to hatred. Caring can change because of selfishness.
In the past thirty years, humans have begun rebuilding their shattered civilization. Although united, differences in hierarchy remain. Differences in fate have made them differentiate between one another. After the destruction, all their possessions meant nothing. But after everything was restored, greed for those possessions returned.
To the south, relatively close to Silent Hill, there was a small, rural area. It was Aria Village. Zain knocked on a building door. A middle-aged woman opened the door.
"Mr. Zain, how may I help you?"
Zain stroked the two children's heads.
"Sorry to bother you in the middle of the night. Please take care of them."
The woman looked at the two small children hiding behind Zain.
"Oh my. Come here, children." The woman's voice was gentle. She stroked the two children.
"Thank you for helping them, Mr. Zain."
Zain then left them.