It was a quiet, sunlit afternoon in Kyoto, the kind that invited calm walks and lazy conversations. But peace was a fragile thing. Suddenly, CRACKLE! Streaks of bluish energy shot across the sky, followed by a series of concussive explosions.
A man appeared atop the rooftops, casually leaping from building to building, his laughter echoing over the streets. He wore sleek black sunglasses and a dark, well-fitted suit that seemed untouched by the chaos. Ahead of him towered a monstrous creature, easily larger than a bus, muscles rippling and eyes glowing with malice.
Without hesitation, the man charged. His fists moved like lightning—hit after hit landed on the monster, sending vibrations through the concrete beneath them. The monster tried to retaliate, swinging massive claws and roaring fire, but each strike passed through empty air, unable to touch him. With a final, thunderous slap, the creature was hurled across the street. The man laughed, a sound both chilling and triumphant.
Earlier that day, Kira had been seated casually by a window, sipping tea as sunlight spilled across the room. Another man appeared, urgency etched into his features.
"Kira! Your mission now is to track the man who can transform humans into monsters," he said, voice tight with tension.
Kira smirked, setting his cup down with deliberate care. "Don't worry about him, President Loom. He's already dead by the time you gave me the mission."
Loom's eyes narrowed. "Don't take this as a child's play. This is serious."
Kira inclined his head slightly, letting his pearly white irises gleam. "Okay, okay... I'll get to it."
Back in the present, the monster lunged again, this time from above, claws slicing through the air toward Kira. He ducked effortlessly and retaliated with a bone-jarring punch. The ground quaked as the monster trampled the street, struggling to rise. With a guttural roar, it unleashed a fiery blast, scorching Kira's sleeves.
"Now you've pissed me off! Don't you know this shirt is expensive?" Kira snapped, tugging at the singed fabric and finally removing his sunglasses. The effect was immediate. The monster froze, sensing a dread power radiating from him. With a blink, Kira was already in front of it. His punch landed with a deafening impact, sending the creature collapsing into unconsciousness. Kira vaulted onto a nearby rooftop, scanning the scene below.
The monster stirred. But it wasn't alone. A young man appeared nearby, watching in horror as the creature regained its footing. Kira's sharp eyes studied him, noting something unusual, something powerful.
The young man dashed through alleyways and leapt over rubble, hurling whatever debris he could grab. The monster pressed on relentlessly, shrugging off obstacles and attacks. Kira's voice rang out from above, teasing and amused. "You cannot outrun it forever. You've got to fight back!"
The young man's heart pounded as he dodged another swipe of the monster's claw. Kira's laughter followed him, but his gaze remained calculating, recognizing potential that the young man himself might not yet understand.
Kira's mind flashed back to a prophecy he had once heard: The day will come when a man rises—strong, powerful—he will either protect the world... or tear it apart. Kira had assumed it was about him. But now, as he observed the young man, doubt flickered within him.
Cornered at a dead end, the young man tried to leap over the high barriers, but the monster closed in, claws raised for the final strike. Before it could land the blow, the world went blank.
He opened his eyes to find himself in a pristine, brightly lit clinic. Across the room, a man in sunglasses sat casually on a chair, rocking back and forth.
"Are you awake, Hyazo?" the man asked.
"What? Where? How? Where am I?" Hyazo's voice trembled.
"You're in a clinic," Kira replied smoothly. "I am Kira Guishea. Nice to meet you. You're in a tricky situation, but still, nice to meet you."
Hyazo tried to sit up, only to stumble. Kira caught him, gently placing him back on the bed. "You're actually a hostage, Hyazo."
"What? What do you want from me? I don't have any money or valuables!" Hyazo panicked.
"Well, then, we'll have to sell your organs to some syndicates," Kira quipped, waving a surgical knife for effect.
"Oh, please! My parents will be worried! Just let me go!" Hyazo cried. He faltered, realizing his lie about living alone had been uncovered.
"Parents huh?, Well I got a background check on you, you are actually living alone" Kira responded.
Suddenly, the door swung open. A stunning woman with a commanding presence entered. "You're such a childish jerk, Kira. Stop teasing him! And don't touch my surgical tools."
Kira threw back his head and laughed, a long, almost theatrical sound that filled every corner of the room. "Relax, Hyazo, I was just messing with you. HAHAHA!"
Hyazo glared, his heart still racing. "What is wrong with you? Seriously!"
Meimei crossed her arms, her eyes sharp and unamused. "Everything about Kira is wrong, trust me."
Kira's grin softened as he leaned forward slightly. "Enough games. Here's the serious part: you're now officially enrolled in Altima Core. Take this time to recover properly—you'll need all your strength when you meet your new classmates."
Hyazo's eyes widened, his mind reeling as he tried to process the news. "Wait... what?! You mean I'm actually going to school there? This can't be real!"
Kira chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, it's very real. Welcome to a whole new world, Hyazo. And trust me, things are about to get very interesting."
Hyazo sank back onto the bed, still in disbelief, while Meimei simply rolled her eyes, muttering, "Poor kid has no idea what he's in for."