The beautiful scenery of a bright tomorrow starkly contrasts with the harsh reality of a world that's been ravaged. The last stronghold of humanity stands firm, while I'm left to bemoan my fate, wondering what the future holds if one day video game and VHS tape sales become a thing of the past.
I've worked here for a long time, watching diverse customers with their unique quirks. Some come just to browse, while others are always on the hunt for the latest edition tapes.
My name is Ethan R. Caldwell, a 24-year-old ordinary employee. I always wear an anime-themed hoodie that holds no special powers, unlike the all-female Valkyrie squad. However, my life isn't as smooth sailing as it seems to others, until I met the most troublesome girl who's ever set foot in my store.
She paced back and forth nonstop, clearly busy searching for something. Then, she locked eyes with me and asked about her favorite video game tape, "Galactic Train: Star Rail". The thing is, I knew it was just an Android gacha game, not a console game.
"Hmm..." She fell into thought again, seemingly still searching for something that caught her attention.
"Excuse me... If I may ask, games like that aren't available in our store," I said, trying to explain.
"I'm 100% sure it's here, because I've analyzed all the collections in the store," she replied.
This was getting annoying. I just wanted to relax for once, but it seemed like the world wasn't on my side. As I let out a sigh, someone walked into my store, a woman with a serious expression. Maybe she was here to pick up the girl. This was crazy. There was always some kind of test I had to face.
The woman stepped inside, her eyes sharply scanning the surroundings. I maintained my friendly smile as usual, welcoming every customer who came in. When she approached, I immediately greeted her politely.
"Welcome to our store! Is there anything we can help you with?"
"Have you seen a girl here?" she asked, placing one hand on the cashier's counter.
"Yes, she's over there, looking for something," I replied, pointing to the right, towards the back of the store, in a gentle tone.
"Alright." The woman walked towards the direction I pointed to.
Today was really exhausting. Maybe I should close the store early and get some rest. Just as I was about to do that, my eyes caught a rather amusing scene, two girls at the back of the store. One of them seemed to be pinching the other, probably because the one being pinched was slacking off.
However, before she left, the woman thanked me for showing her the girl's location. I could only shrug. Well, that's just life. Whatever happens, I can only do my best.
The TV in my store is always on every day, except when the store is closed. Sometimes, I listen to it while playing games, just to pass the time. Today, the news caught my attention. The reporter's voice was clear, reporting on an incident that made my skin crawl.
"We're reporting live from Tokyo, where a new wave of Scourge energy has caused a worsening crisis. This massive energy eruption has led to many people experiencing a condition known as 'corrosion', a mysterious phenomenon that causes their bodies to gradually distort and lose control. Similar cases have also been reported in various regions of Korea and China. Local authorities are still trying to control the situation, but no solution has been found to stop the spread of this effect. The public is advised to remain vigilant and avoid affected areas."
I put down the controller and let out a sigh. The world situation was getting more chaotic by the day. I wondered how long I could keep going on like this.
SEVERAL MINUTES LATER.
I've already organized all the console cassettes and video tapes before heading home. At least that way, I wouldn't have to worry about any issues the next day. Before leaving, I picked up a cassette to play at home, maybe Street Fighter, since I still have a PS2 console at my apartment.
I walked along the sidewalk, enjoying the night breeze that momentarily calmed my mind. However, suddenly something fell from the sky at high speed, hitting me and sending me crashing to the ground.
"A-Ahh..." A girl's soft voice was heard right above me.
I winced, holding my head which felt painful. "Did something just land right on my head? That hurts so much..."
Strange. Why did someone suddenly fall from the sky and land on me? It was as if the world was intentionally trying to make my life more chaotic.
I turned my head and saw a girl lying unconscious in front of me. Where did she come from? How did she end up here? I gazed at her closely. Her face looked so adorable. I tried to think clearly. What should I do now?
She was definitely unconscious and needed immediate help. But there was no one around. Only a stray cat meowed indistinctly. There was no other choice. I had to take her to my place.
With great difficulty, I finally managed to bring the girl to my run-down apartment. Of course, throughout the journey, I had to restrain myself from looking at things I shouldn't see. This was really a difficult situation.
I walked over to the long sofa and carefully laid her down to make her more comfortable. I let out a sigh, realizing a new problem - I didn't have anything that could help her. There was no bandage, no medicine, and not even any women's clothing in this place. To make matters worse, the only food I had was instant noodles.
I let out a long sigh. Going out to buy clothes wasn't a good option either. Just imagine if I was caught buying women's clothes without a clear reason, people would definitely jump to conclusions. I didn't want to be labeled as a creep by my neighbors.
I sat down in a chair, staring at the girl with various questions swirling in my head. Who was she? Why did she fall from the sky? And more importantly... what was I supposed to do now?
I sat in the chair, staring at the girl with various questions swirling in my head. Who was she? Why did she fall from the sky? And more importantly... what was I supposed to do now?
The girl started to slowly open her eyes. I was still sitting next to her, trying to understand the situation, but before I could say anything, her gaze suddenly turned serious. In a split second, she stood up straight and—
Sching!
A long, sharp weapon was suddenly pointed directly at me.
"Ah... Ah... C-Calm down! I didn't do anything to you, I swear!" I exclaimed, panicked, with both hands raised. Cold sweat started dripping down my temples.
She remained silent, her expression cold and wary. Then, with a sharp voice, she asked, "Are you a Helix spy?"
I was taken aback. "What?! Have you gone crazy? I'm just an ordinary person! There's no way I'd be a spy for any organization!" I replied nervously, trying to explain before my neck was actually stabbed.
She didn't budge, still staring at me suspiciously, her grip on the weapon unwavering.
I swallowed hard and tried to lighten the mood. "My name is Ethan R. Caldwell. Just call me Ethan... And you are...?" I asked.
The girl closed her eyes for a moment, then slowly lowered her weapon. With a calm voice, she finally introduced herself. "My name is Alexandria, a B-ranked Valkyrie warrior."
I observed her more closely this time. Her face was indeed sweet and adorable, but there was a fierce aura about her.
"So... how did you fall from the sky earlier?" I asked, still feeling the pain in my head from the incident.
Instead of answering directly, Alexandria walked to the corridor, gazing at the dark night sky. The moonlight reflected in her eyes, giving off a sharp glare.
"I'm being hunted by Helix Industries Corporation. I was investigating something behind their conspiracy... and now they're after me."
I furrowed my brow. "Wait, conspiracy? Isn't that just a wild theory? A big organization like Helix must have a clear purpose, right?"
Alexandria turned her gaze to me. "You don't know anything... They've planned something far more fatal than you can imagine."
I sighed, feeling this situation getting stranger. "Strange! Hasn't it been investigated that they don't intend to harm anyone? All the evidence has been published on TV!"
Upon hearing that, Alexandria furrowed her brow. "That's a lie."
Before I could even process Alexandria's words about Helix's lies, a loud explosion suddenly shook my apartment. The window shattered instantly, and shards of glass scattered through the air. The night wind hit my face, bringing with it a dark figure stepping out.
The figure stood tall at the broken window, its body clad in dark armor, blending with the night. The aura it emitted was cold and menacing, making my skin crawl.
"I've finally found you, Alexandria." The voice was low, but it echoed throughout the room.
Alexandria immediately reacted. Without hesitation, she assumed a fighting stance, her hand tightly gripping an energy sword that began to glow sharply. Her expression turned cold, leaving only the instincts of a warrior. I, on the other hand, was still frozen on the sofa. My breath caught in my throat as a murderous atmosphere filled the room.
"Ethan, get back!" Alexandria shouted, her eyes fixed on the enemy in front of her.
Without warning, the Helix soldier charged with a speed that was hard to follow with the naked eye. The sound of splitting air filled the room as Alexandria deflected the attack, sparks of light flooding the surroundings. The energy explosion from the clash of their weapons hit the wall, making the apartment even more fragile.
The clanging of weapons echoed ceaselessly. Both figures moved lightning-fast, attack after attack colliding, creating flashes of light that glowed among the shadows of the night. I could only watch, hardly daring to breathe.
However, suddenly Alexandria's steps slowed down. Her body swayed slightly, her sword no longer raised as high as before. I saw her biting her lip, and then a drop of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
"Damn... I was hit by their attack earlier," she muttered softly.
The Helix soldier chuckled. "Too slow, Valkyrie warrior."
I clenched my fists. Alexandria was in a weakened state, and me? I was just sitting there like an idiot! Without thinking twice, I grabbed the first thing I could reach, the Street Fighter cassette I had brought home from the store. With all my might, I threw it straight at the enemy's head.
"Take this!" I shouted without realizing it.
A thud sound was heard when the cassette hit the enemy's armor helmet. I didn't know if it hurt enough, but clearly, it made him pause for a moment.
Alexandria looked at me with wide eyes, and instead of getting angry, she smiled faintly. "You're really crazy..." she said.
With the last bit of strength she had, she swung her sword one last time. A bright blue light illuminated the room. At the same time, the TV screen flickered, broadcasting the latest news.
"Mysterious explosions occurred in the Outskirts district, allegedly linked to Helix's resistance... and terrorism."
However, before I could process the news, the room was filled with blinding light. I could only squint, feeling an extraordinary pressure pushing me backward. And then, everything turned white.