A long time ago mankind suffered an invasion in which large parts of the earth's lives were lost, thus giving rise to the first war, which would be called "war zero".
Abnormal beasts against the only forces of mankind were fighting in battle, the losses were innumerable, and time did not favor mankind, as they multiplied as the days went by, contrary to mankind's military forces were diminishing, until the hunters arrived, those who would put an end to the war.
Some time later the new lives flourished on earth, resuming the cycle of life.
Everything seemed to be going normal, the passing of the years left the great war in oblivion, and so it was the following years until...
they came back.
-3 years after the disaster- in an alleyway somewhere
"you still have the nerve to come back here after we kicked you out of the group, for your safety don't ever set foot in this place again."
"Don't do this to me, I'm the one who created this group, you can't just take me out like that!"
The scandal caused by 3 people was the hot topic of this place, people just ignored this group, but only those who enjoyed it or it left a bad taste in their mouths stayed.
"I don't care if you were the leader, now you are just a piece of garbage, this decision was made with all the group and we agreed that you were no longer contributing anything to this group and that's why we kicked you out".
"No... no... no. NO! I WAS THE ONE WHO LOOKED FOR THEM AND RECLAIMED THEM, YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME..."
"It's already decided, goodbye... ~piece of trash~"
That man whispered after turning his back on him, the other seemed dejected, however, he did not seem to put an end to this conversation since he then took a gun out of his pocket.
To get to that extreme was caused by the words he managed to hear from that man.
"you leave me no choice... I was the one who created this group and I will be the one who DISAGREES IT!"
Bang! Bang!
The deafening sound of a gun was directed at the men, who soon fell to the ground.
The commotion of the people who saw such a scene alarmed them and caused the man to direct his gun at them.
Shortly thereafter, the officers intervened and neutralized him.
"Wow.. what a denouement."
If only I had let that group go and started on another, I might have lived a little longer.
Desperation, fear and selfishness to be able to move on was what bound him to that man and he was sentenced by them themselves.
"Oh, so here you are Haruto-kun-, you saw all that from here?"
My attention was directed towards that voice, in the darkness of the night where the only light in that place was the moonlight.
A boy came out of the shadows, his way of walking was so elegant but his style of clothing he wore was hard to understand as he always wore a hat.
The hat hid part of his face and only a mysterious smile was visible.
"Why are you here, yuto? Do you have some business with me?"
"Don't be like that Haru, don't you think you're too cold and not enough words? you even scare yui-san. that woman who sees you with different eyes, I feel bad for her since she must have noticed someone like you, I hope she soon realizes what kind of person you are, haruto-kun" he walked through the darkness with such thin steps that were not noticeable a laugh that was hard to forget and how macabre he could be when he doesn't like someone.
"well well, i didn't come here to chat like friends... according to what they say there will be a job soon and they will send you: Yui-chan, dan, and you, and the target is no more than a first scale commander"- Yuto looked at me with those black and shining eyes. looking for some bodily response he could give. but in the end he gave up and went on with his thing.
"perfect... i didn't even expect an answer.. your eyes speak for you ahh and from what i heard that man is someone creepy for his hidden projects he does..."- a mischievous smile was directed towards me with great enthusiasm-"ah, and have this.. the boss sends you that money since she saw the performance you did in the previous job and hopes to count on you as before."-yuto threw a silver card through the air in my direction.
"it's time to go, haruto if you would talk more I would like you, and then I wouldn't feel like killing you... Hahahaha bye bye boy, everyone expects to count on you in the next mission.. don't disappoint them."
he walked elegantly getting lost in the shadows of the darkness of the night... not even the moon could light that dark being.
Since when I started working in that organization... things were different as they are now... nobody wanted to work with me, but when I got good results in the missions they started to open up to me.
the only way to get money and survive in these parts of the citadel, was to carry out assassination missions ordered by the clients, no matter if they were low, middle or high class... as long as they paid, the mission was carried out.
I took a last look at the scene of that incident... where agents were picking up the bodies of the dead and those wounded were being attended by the paramedics... a disaster made by a single man... who was taken to the bottom of the darkness.
"I think I'd better go too."
***
Haruto's dream
9:30 at night -inferno-.
"ahhh"
"a- help me...no...I want to ..mor--"
"help me ...."
wailing and screaming everywhere...everything was chaos.
"...Shit..."
Pain coursed through my body, blood pouring from my arm this produced by the collapse of a building. As a large rock collided with it and scattered several fragments of debris everywhere....
I could not see anything, the dust was extensive and heavy.... My ears were disturbed by an indelible beeping, my body weighed me down, I could not continue walking, but I looked around for possible victims, however the scene was difficult to forget...
"W- what happened here..."
Several bodies lying all over the place, all of them had lost their lives but not because of the collapse, but because they had lost their limbs...
A large pool of blood began to flow from their bodies as if from a red fountain coming out of the ground...
The lying bodies started to get up no matter if their body parts were missing, they came towards me with several moans....
"Why... you did it..."
"You... are just like them...."
"We will never forgive you...."
The ground shook precipitously, like a great earthquake, the remaining buildings began to collapse and the lifted bodies began to vomit blood and the earth shook with more intensity... and from a great hole in the ground a giant abnormality began to emerge...
[reality]
it was a dream... a dream that was destroying my mind more and more every day. i didn't know how long i would endure it... my body covered in sweat... my gasping for air was the result of waking up like that...
"Again..."
I remembered every moment of that dream, I could think of nothing but them, people and the abnormalities.....
the ground shook abruptly like that dream... the same vibes the same feeling, however it was different the screams were not for help or desperation but for courage and firmness...
"Let's go let's go, don't stop... We have to get to the north zone as fast as possible".
They were the soldiers walking quickly towards a place which was the north zone, where one of the defenses of the Atlantis citadel was located.
The motorized vehicles were responsible for the tremors, since in addition to their trucks there were also high caliber tanks.
I just watched through the window as they headed towards that place, well prepared....
Several squads from each academy were heading towards that place... with very powerful weapons they would confront the abnormalities...
"Vamoooos, we are Rangers and we are the defenders of this citadel and the world, defend its citizens with your body!!!"
The encouraging voice of one of their commanders was the inspiration of each of them for which they kept running towards the battlefield, not knowing if they would come back alive from there.
My phone vibrated repeatedly and when I looked at it, it was full of notifications from the group.
Among all of them one caught my attention.
"[Payment is already made the mission is -assassinate the commander of the first company of Rangers -Yamada Toya-]"
***
-Squad guard-
"don't you think the boss is taking her time to make us wait here, I'm already tired and bored ahhhhhh..."- yuto threw his knife in the direction of the door, but a woman opened the door and saw how that knife was stuck in the door... she looked for the responsible knowing it was Yuto and took out the embedded knife and gave it back to him.
"You're not good at waiting, aren't you Yuto-kun, take it back and don't lose it again or you'll lose something else..."- that woman threw the knife in Yuto's direction. She reached to lightly graze Yuto's cheek and walked towards the center of the room with a firm attitude.
"Well and for the others, I see their faces of impatience.. but I already have the information of our target.."- the woman moved her hands and automatically a bright screen was reflected on the wall and on it there were many screens of information-"Right now they are fighting in the northern border, it seems that they are outnumbering them and that is why they will send the Ranger squad and that is where our target is. "- the images were changed to an older man in military uniform projected on the screen - "First Commander of the Ranger Squadron... a very old man with several medals of honor, several awards... blah, blah, blah. that's all."
only man appeared on the screen with his squad members, who were the best in the citadel.
"whoever hired us wants us to do a professional job without a trace... that's why he asked for the best but I don't give a shit about that..... Dan!"
"Yes, commander!"
"We didn't give you a good welcome did we? Well since you are new you will go on this mission and you will be accompanied by Yui-chan and Haruto-kun who will be in charge of this group, with the objective that you gain experience.
"Jefaaaaaa, don't you think Dan is still a rookie to send him to assassinate a high command? why don't you send me, the most skilled of this squad."
"Yuto, you are not qualified for this mission for the simple fact that your actions endanger your teammates and you greatly risk the victory rate."
"tsk... if that's what the boss says... there's nothing that can be done... I'd better go find my own fun in the red light districts."
"hahaha my biggest pity Yui-chan, you will have to deal with a strong opponent and at the same time a rookie... looks like you are out of luck.. but on the other hand, Haruto will go with you.. I am envious of you.." a girl came out from the darkness of the room and mocked Yui who would have to protect a rookie.
"hggh, Kanae-san, fuu.... why do I bother if it was you who wasn't chosen because of how clumsy you are, you'd only hurt the group if you went hahaha."
The two girls clashed their gazes full of will go, as if they might fight at some point.
"you...damn--...."- Kanae provoked by Yui's words almost caused a fight but they were stopped by the boss-" Stop now...later you will make all the fuss you want, Haruto since you will be in charge of this mission, you will have to accomplish those 2 missions, good luck. the others who are not on the mission take the day off.You can retire now!"
Facing the end of the meeting everyone present quickly retreated heading to their next objective, the northern border where a fight was going on between the defenders (soldiers) of the citadel and the abnormalities
***
That woman watched, as each of her subordinates withdrew, shortly after the projector was turned on again and in it there was a strange being that was reflected on the wall of the room.
"The plan is already underway, Sir..." The woman spoke to that distorted figure.
"[Well, that's what I like about little puppies... obedient and faithful to their master..., I understand that according to the oracle it won't be long before the gates reopen near the solar system, and that soon the darkness will fall again in these places."
The figure bathed amidst laughter, which filled the room... a deafening and terrifying echo could be heard, but the woman could not see that figure, her very body prevented her from turning around....
"[that's why I need you to eliminate every one of those who could put resistance to the destiny of doom, you do well to send them to their death... Our master will be very proud of your work]."
But the woman didn't care about anything, she just wanted answers from someone she kept waiting for and it is for that someone that she was doing this,serving to be able to find her.
"Did you find Nova? Or did you forget what you promised me?"
After those words the figure became silent.. but not just any silence the reflection began to change repeatedly until in the end only a distorted figure became somewhat difficult to understand, and then it spoke.
"[Oh, yes... Nova, that person you care so much about and why you willingly tied yourself to us and betrayed your companions... I have some good news for you, but it's not the time yet . I'll just tell you that she's not here].
"Wh-what? What do you mean he's not here?" The woman was surprised by the sudden answer however she wouldn't give up until they were clarified.
"[Your life... Your valuable time searching for a person will have to be postponed, remember this little girl... Nova is not in this world or anywhere in this galaxy, she is in another timeline of which you did not know and yet thanks to you we managed to spread the plague in all the threads... hahahaha]"
As if it were a wind that reflection danced around the room giving its last whisper of which were its last words and soon after disappeared like a breeze.
"N-no, it can't be... Damn it!" That woman hit the table with great force only for pain to run through her hand, she recoiled and her back made contact with the wall sliding down to the floor and brace her legs....
"Nova... I swear I'll rescue you wherever you are... If only we weren't separated..."
Tears streamed down her face... The road she had taken was harder than she had imagined... Losing not only her comrades, combat comrades but losing her sister who was everything to her.
----6 in the morning, north zone defense post.----
3 people were running through the rubble trying to find a safe place, however the place was disastrous, the atmosphere cold, total darkness spread through the streets... dead men with missing limbs decorated the streets and parts of the buildings. But next to them were abnormalities, gigantic beasts with truly terrifying parts were dead along with their pawns or smaller but equally dangerous creatures.
"Haruto-senpai, doesn't this picture remind you of something? It's kind of funny how all this happened, just to eliminate 3 S-grade and 15 C-grade abnormalities!"
Dan one of the runners commented on his concerns, over the radio looking to distract himself for the moment.
"Don't think too much about it Dan, or you won't be able to sleep as usual, better analyze the situation if a battle comes up against the abnormalities or with the target"
"Ehehe, and what do you think Yui-senpai? Eh,"- Yui the a woman who was assigned to this mission didn't care about Dan's conversation as she would rather avoid that and concentrate on other things.
"a... don't you think that having a good conversation could help us to relax the atmosphere after we got this mission?"
"shh..."
Haruto made a sign with his fingers directed to his lips... right after that the others noticed and took heed by covering themselves with a part of the side of an already collapsed building.
When they looked for an answer Haruto pointed to a direction far away near some buildings, in it there was a battle of the soldiers or better known as citadel agents, who were fighting against the grade C abnormalities, but the amount was unimaginable and of which in a short time that group of soldiers would no longer be alive for a long time.
"Let's take another way, that amount of grade C abnormalities is a sign that a higher-ranking one will soon appear."
when they were talking about S grade abnormalities they were only one type that appeared around these parts however as of today it was verified that there are already several types of them from different races.
Nobody knew how and from where they appear, however the scientists came to a conclusion. In their report they mention the evolution by extraction of molecules according to their environment and make a reference to when they first arrived on earth, their capacity to survive was almost null, however they counted that inside their organism there were adaptable and improvable cells.
Then... when they arrived for the second time three years ago, they had improved in terms of abilities and changed their anatomical structure but still not at their peak, their evolution was still at an early stage.
More and more resistant, faster, they reproduce at an extraordinary speed. And not to mention that they have several groups from the small E class to the S class, the last evolution that was seen, and it would be difficult to stop one of them-
"let's take that road over there"- Haruto made a signal and the group followed their leader.
Time is no longer on our side... but if we go at this pace we will arrive before them.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
***
"Phew, I'm so tired... I almost died from the cold, next time let's take a shorter way or I won't be able to walk normally again." Dan slumped to the ground, even though he was a novice he had a lot to learn from this kind of work.
"Are you always this talkative? thanks to you we almost got caught by a group of abnormalities."
the risk of being here was great since it was a battlefield but even so we had someone who avoided imagining that.
"But that friooooo, at this rate I won't be able to stand until the Rangers arrive"
"HQ here Evans...how strange..."-we had to report that we were already in our position, but nobody answered behind the radio.
"Yui, can you contact the HQ?"
"Let me see...."-Yui tried to contact the headquarters but the result was the same-" no, no one answers me... could it be something happened at the base?"
"Mmm... Something is wrong here... We didn't hear anything... The attacks stopped too, something is going on here" wrapped in an incognizance of what was going on Haruto called Yui and Dan.
"Yui, go up to the roof and check the area for anything we didn't see when we arrived, and Dan go with her, I'll check the other building."
"Aye aye boss."
The two of them left in a hurry to look for traces of something we missed.
"I don't think so, I don't think so.
***
"What do you think is going on? Haruto-senpai seemed strange, I noticed it the same way when we were at the general base when the boss said goodbye to us."
"don't think about it too much, and hurry up and set up the rifle."
"yes yes, but what exactly do we have to look for? when we got here or when we were walking through the streets I didn't see anything strange.."
"this is just suspicions but it seems that Haruto knows that something will happen that's why we are here preparing."
the snow was starting to fall thicker however we were still looking for that thing that knew nothing, the feeling of a numbing cold was running through the body, this because of the prolonged exposure we are looking for and so far we found nothing.the cold was the only thing that was on my mind, I felt it but still we couldn't move until we found it... but in the distance a blinding glow was shining from another building.
bang!
the sound of a gun firing was heard, coming from a hidden place.
***
"Duck, Dan!"
Yui's reflexes are great, only with the sound was she able to react at that level.
"What the fuck was that, who attacked us"?
"[what happened? did you find someone? the sound of the gun says it was from the other building in front of where you are,]" Haruto who had gone out to look for that thing he missed spoke into the radio.
"The sniper seems to have been targeting Dan, his shot passed just above his head, however I can no longer see what may have changed places."
"[I'm already on my way, try not to return fire unless you have no other choice.]"
what is this, why did they point it at me, I'm just a rookie....
"[listen dan, now is the time for you to show your bravery, apparently it wasn't only that one, there could be more people involved, so I ask you to calm down and prepare your weapon if the situation requires it].
"Yes boss" with fear he got up his courage and prepared his weapon.
"Dan don't get up at all and crawl until you are inside the building."
"I-I got it."
"Faster..."
"[Yui, give me a report on your situation, I'll be in the building soon].
"We don't know the position of the sniper, now we're just heading inside the building to take shelter, I'll wait for you Ha---"
The last word that Yui was about to pronounce was cut off by the sudden appearance of several men passing by the door of the building where Yui and Dan were heading.
"Well, so here were these little guys, let me tell you that their plan to take refuge in this building was cancelled, catch them".
"Tsk, damn... how did they know we were here."
"(pam) Shut up, you're in front of our commander."- one of the men readied his gun and hit Yui's head knocking her unconscious for a brief moment.
"Dan tried to push the soldier away but he received another blow, a kick from another man that sent him flying against the railing.
Blood trickled down Dan's cheeks but without giving up he got back up.
"Dan began to vomit blood, from the force the man exerted on him-" I won't give up until the boss arrives." His determination kept him on his feet, knowing that it would soon lead to his death.
***
Bang! Bang!
Dan was hit by two bullets that immediately sent him collapsing...
Yui woke up from the gunshots, but when she saw Dan lying there she knew she had made a mistake.
"W-Why did they do that..."
"If only your little buddy hadn't screwed up, we could have left him alive, but after all he just wanted to be a hero.... What a waste. His bravery could have served in my army."
the man who was behind the men watching everything, only mentioned that, his gaze was cold, he didn't care that a young boy was killed like that.
"Well, now what are we going to do with you, until we wait for that boss of yours - I don't think I have the patience... the others can have fun with her, I don't care if something happens to her, I will wait in here for our guest." at the commander's signal his men started to approach Yui.
"Thank you, commander... for that we respect you very much."
that rougher and colder man, was a commander but not of the rangers but of the agents and soldiers of the 3rd company of the barracks -the great order-.
"W-what? Don't- don't come near me... I swear I will kill you if you come too close. no."
they did not listen to him and kept moving forward, in their faces there was only a smile of malice... and he knew that they would never stop...
soon his fate would be buried here.
"but what a beautiful woman, don't worry... soon you will know the real fun. and please don't cry, we like that better hehehehe."
***
I don't want this...
I don't want you to touch me with your dirty hands.
please don't...
why... this happens to me... i don't want them to keep touching me...
haruto... please save me... like the last time.
***
"shit... they don't answer, why don't they do it".
I called Yui and Dan several times but neither of them could answer me, hopefully nothing is going on with them.
After running several blocks, I ran to the building and quickly climbed the stairs, I couldn't stop because if I did something bad could be happening up there.
But.... when I was about to get there someone was standing between the stairs to get to the roof of the building.
A young man, but with the military uniform of the agents, was there waiting for someone smoking.
"oh my... so you arrived, Haruto Sato, professional killer... victims 64 including women and children... you surprise me, after all it is you I was looking for... it is obvious that you don't remember me... but it is not the time to remember you... now my men are about to do something wrong... but you can stop it".
as he knows about me, it is possible that someone has passed information to him but even so no one should have access to them, unless...
"what did you do with them"
"as desperate as ever, but getting to the point, haruto-kun you have two options and of which you have to choose fast or she won't hold out for long, if you are willing to listen to me I can have them and you can wash her, but if not she will die..."
I didn't know what was going on behind that door, but I had no choice behind me there were two other men waiting for orders.
"Decide now!"
"I like that... the first option is that you work for me and only for me, and you will be able to save that girl, the second is that you ignore my request, however my men in the back will comply with your order and you will never see a tomorrow again, I listen to your answers, I only clarify that you don't have much time."
I was in front of a wall, but the decision was already taken, I had to save at least the two of them.
"I choose the first one..."
"Well I like that... You guys can stop now... our reinforcement is here, well you can come in but you better hurry because one of them didn't do well hahaha".
I ran and opened the door, however the situation I saw was more terrible than I imagined, Dan was lying on the floor over a pool of blood, his breathing was getting less and less...
"so the commander managed to recruit you, it was easier than I thought... it looks like she is lucky, but we will see how long that lasts... see you Yui-chan"
Yui, she was unharmed but her clothes were torn, but apparently I got there before they did anything to her....
"Haruto-kun, you're here.... Dan, e-el, he was shot we have to urgently take him to a hospital..."
"I already contacted the boss... and she already sent a team here, they will be here soon. You must be cold... I want you to keep it well" haruto wrapped Yui with his coat which he always used to wear, but there was something in it that looked like a farewell.
Right after he covered me with his coat he stood up and walked towards those men.
"H-Haruto? where are you going? Dan will die soon, why are you leaving?"
haruto did not respond to yui and kept walking until he stopped for a moment.
"I'm sorry..." Haruto said that and kept walking.
"Why, why are you sorry... what happened to get you here, Haruto. Haruto!"
The shouts echoed everywhere, however haruto could only listen to them without doing anything.
"no...don't leave me...I want to go wherever you go, please come back."
"So he left, looks like things didn't go the way the boss imagined."
"What are you doing here Yuto?