The Year 2535 - Drum Tower City
In the sun-dappled yard of St. Mary's Orphanage, young Gilbert De Nune leaned against the weathered bricks of the building, gripping two carved wooden laser guns. His heart raced as he scanned the yard, eyes locking onto the shadows where three of his friends crept in search of him. With a breath of resolve, he rolled from his hiding spot, mimicking blaster fire with enthusiastic energy.
He narrowly avoided detection. One boy was about to round the corner, the other scanned the branches of a tall tree above. Gilbert sprang forward, sliding across the dirt as imaginary shots zipped past from a girl stationed at the orphanage door. He dove into cover behind a blooming flower bed, its brilliant colors clashing with the drab stone walls.
"Ha! I must be the greatest of us all! One day, I shall become a glorious Marine Knight like my cousin!" he shouted, full of bravado. "You'd better all step up your game if you want to keep up—"
Click. A cold piece of metal touched the back of his head.
"Oh, glorious Marine Knight," came a deep voice behind him, "remember that many enemies lurk even after the battle is won. Now join your brothers in nihility."
Gilbert froze, thrill fading as he raised his hands. Turning slightly, he saw the towering silhouette of a sleek, black mechanical suit over seven feet tall, trimmed in gleaming azure. On its right chest: D33U1931. On its left: the emblem of a fierce dragon.
"Daniel, you don't count!" Gilbert snapped, trying to sound defiant despite the awe in his voice. "Once I'm examined, I'll be even better than you!"
"I don't doubt it." The helmeted figure removed his helm, revealing a strong face, short buzzed hair, and a scar running across the bridge of his nose. "But first, let me speak with Mother and Grandmother before I take you all to the pharmacy center."
He strode toward the orphanage with an authority that pulled every eye. Gilbert watched in admiration, then turned to his friends—Adam, Anastasia, and Kean—beckoning them to the window.
They crept up, pressing ears to the glass, eager to catch any part of the conversation inside. Before they could, the window burst open. Madam Margery, silver-haired and sharp-eyed, glared down at them.
"Listen here, every last one of you! Clean this yard until it sparkles! Not a single leaf out of place! Just one leaf and you'll learn the wrath of the clock tonight!"
The children scattered instantly. Once assured of their obedience, she shut the window.
While raking leaves, Kean, the lanky boy with white-blond hair and vivid blue eyes, broke the silence. "Hey, Gilbert... do you think we'll really become Marine Knights?"
"What's so great about that?" Anastasia retorted. Her red hair caught the sunlight. "Machinists are way cooler. We could build an anti-gravity bus for the whole orphanage. We'd be legends."
"Marine Knights are heroes!" Gilbert shot back. "My dad was one. I want to find him. Ask him everything. I have to!"
"You all better hurry up," Adam warned. His dark eyes held a seriousness beyond his years. "If the yard's not spotless, you won't get the chance to be anything."
They redoubled their efforts.
After what felt like an eternity, Daniel emerged. Seeing their hopeful faces, he gave a quiet sigh and nodded toward the door. Madam Margery and her daughter, Deborah, stood waiting, bags in hand.
Deborah—a brown-skinned woman with a pixie cut—approached Gilbert and kissed his forehead. "Listen closely, all of you. If you meet the requirements, you'll be sent to military school. If not, you're always welcome back. We'll help you find your path."
She reached into her coat and handed Gilbert a letter. "This was left for you by your father. I waited to be sure you were ready. The gift he left you—I'll give that to you when you've taken real steps in your military career."
Gilbert stared at the letter, heart pounding. It was his first real connection to the father he barely remembered.
"All right, off you go!" Margery barked. "Can't afford to be late! Literally."
A chorus of farewells rang out from the windows as other orphans leaned out, waving and shouting.
Gilbert and his friends climbed into the back of a rugged military vehicle. As it rumbled beyond the gates of Drum Tower City, a strange sensation of weightlessness made their stomachs flutter.
For a while, no one spoke. Then the silence was broken by one of the drivers in an identical mechanical suit.
"What's up, Daniel? These your new recruits, or are they mute?"
"Shut up, Alex," Daniel replied, reattaching his helmet. "They're from my old home. Gilbert—my cousin—is the dark-skinned one. Anastasia's the redhead and our resident inventor. Kean's the pale beanpole, and Adam's the quiet one who wants to be a Knight."
He nodded toward the front. "That's Alex Johnson, our CQC specialist. And Roland Wade—our field mechanic and medic."
"Marine Knights and machinists, huh? Drum Tower's hiding some talent," Roland said from the co-pilot seat, teasing. "We'll see if they can live up to it."
"What's the matter, Gilbert?" Daniel asked. "You're usually more chatty. Getting cold feet?"
"No," Gilbert replied. "I just... I want to be a Marine Knight, but I don't really know what they do. Beyond the armor, I mean."
"Then let me explain a little. The rest, you'll learn at the academy."
The group leaned in.
"Our main enemies are the Styx—the Stygian beasts. To fight them, we developed our power armor systems. Military service is split into two main branches: Marine Knights and Dread Marines. There are five legions: Dragon, Fairy, Panther, Iron Wall, and Asura. Panther handles both Asia and Oceania. Ranks among Marine Knights go from Squire to Grand Knight. It's less about raw power and more about experience and time served."
"What legion are you in? What's your rank?" Kean asked.
"Dragon Legion. I'm a Great Knight. Give me a bit more time, and I'll make Dread Marine."
"That sounds amazing! But I've never heard of Dread Marines," Gilbert said.
"You're not supposed to," Roland muttered.
"Why not?" Adam asked.
"Because if you know about them from inside a city, it means something terrible has already happened," Roland answered grimly.
Before anyone could respond, the cabin lights flickered crimson.
A synthetic voice spoke:
"Five Tier-3 Wild Stygian approaching. Estimated time of arrival: 39 seconds."
The children froze.
"Well, kids," Daniel said, his voice calm as the screen lit up with incoming targets. "Time to see what being a Marine Knight really means."