Prologue: The Day The Sky Opened

The sky didn’t fall that day —
It opened.
And from it, monsters poured.

They weren’t made of flesh.
They were made of smoke, steel, and screams.
And they didn’t knock — they tore the gates open like paper.

The wall had stood for 114 years.
It was supposed to protect them.
But in under 20 minutes, the East district was nothing but rubble and red.

Ezrah saw it all.
From the rooftop, barefoot and breathless, he watched the world end.
His little brother still inside the bakery.
His mother buried under flame.

He didn’t cry.
He couldn’t.
Because crying meant stopping — and if he stopped, he’d never get up again.

They called them “The Hollowborn.”
Creatures with no eyes, no mouths, just endless hunger and the echo of what used to be human.

Ezrah ran for 3 days before he was found by the Scorch Corps — the only humans left who could kill Hollowborn.
Not with guns.
But with scars — and fire written into their skin.

They branded him.
Taught him how to fight.
Told him to forget everything.

But Ezrah remembered.

And one day, he swore he’d make the sky bleed for what it took from him

     Unit 9 was silent — not because they were scared, but because they knew what silence meant out there.


Ezrah's boots were too new. His grip too unsure. But Shino didn't say anything. She just walked ahead, eyes locked on the broken buildings that stretched across the East wasteland like haunted ribs.


Renzo led the front. His greatsword rested against his shoulder like it weighed nothing.


Kaien trailed behind, humming a tune under his breath, eyes half-closed.


How could they walk into danger like this?


A Hollowborn — twisted, thin, and crawling along the roof like a spider without bones. Its body hissed and steamed in the morning light. No mouth. No face. Just black smoke leaking from where its heart should be.


The blade felt like it would fly out of his grip.


But then Kaien whispered, "Don't hesitate. It smells fear. If you freeze, it'll make sure you never move again."


The Hollowborn dropped from the roof like liquid shadow.


The slash wasn't perfect. It barely cut through. But he turned just fast enough to catch the second swing — this time, through the core. The creature screamed silently, burst into black ash, and was gone.


A second Hollowborn launched from the ruins, straight toward Shino.


Renzo's blade cut through the creature midair — not once, but twice. It fell in pieces, and Renzo didn't even blink.


That night, around the fire, no one spoke much. Kaien picked at dried meat. Shino sharpened her knives. Renzo closed his eyes.


Ezrah finally asked, "Does it ever get easier?"


Shino paused. "No. But the first goodbye teaches you how to keep walking."


Just looked at a small ribbon tied around her wrist — one that didn't belong to her.


Someone had died to make this squad what it was.


Chapter 2 - chapter 2:First Blood, First Goodbye