"Is this it?
Is this how I end?"
The water stays silent… bubbles rise to the surface.
My name is Kei, and humanity stands at the brink of annihilation.
I was supposed to be the world's hope — the one who would turn the tides in our war against the monsters.
At least, that's what I believed.
But now… it seems this is the end.
Kei sinks deeper, drowning slowly into the dark abyss of the sea.
"I wish I hadn't been so naïve," he whispers, closing his eyes.
Blackout.
---
Six Years Earlier
Two boys stand in the sunlight.
One has black hair that falls over part of his face.
The other, shorter and tidier, has silver-grey hair that glints softly under the light.
Butterflies hover lazily around the edges of the field.
A man appears in the distance. Kei looks up, eyes wide.
"Daddy! You're back!" he shouts, running toward him.
Kei's father, Izuna, smiles faintly, then turns to the grey-haired boy.
"Kaito, your father is waiting at the main gate — come with me. You too, Kei," he says as he walks ahead.
The two boys follow in silence.
[Sound of horses neighing and hooves clattering]
Soldiers are gathered in endless rows — so many that the line seems to stretch beyond the horizon.
A tall man with a full grey beard and a bald head steps into the light at the top of a massive wall, gazing down at the army below.
Kei's eyes widen in awe. He barely has time to take in the sight before the chariot he's in jolts sharply, pulling him away from the view.
When the chariot stops, Izuna steps down. Dressed in his red military jacket, the mark of his rank, he picks up his Teeth Blade and straps on his combat gear.
A bald man with a brown mustache — also wearing a decorated military uniform — walks toward them.
"Izuna, thank you for bringing my son," the man says, shaking Izuna's hand firmly.
Kei looks around, curiosity and unease swirling in his eyes.
"Dad," he asks, "what's going on? Why has the Chief Commander gathered so many soldiers?"
Izuna glances down at him, voice heavy.
"The Yahiko Fort is under siege. The Demon Beasts have attacked. We've been sent as backup. If Yahiko Fort falls, we'll be down to just four forts left in the world. Humanity's population will shrink again."
Kaito gasps, fear crossing his face. Kei stands frozen, silent but trembling.
Izuna kneels down to them.
"Stay here at the Military Headquarters. When I return, I'll come for you both."
He mounts his horse alongside Kaito's father as the massive iron gates open.
Thousands of soldiers charge forward on horseback, their banners rising against the wind.
---
Three Days Later
A soldier rushes past Kei and Kaito, racing down the hall toward the Chief Commander's courtroom.
He bursts through the doors, breathless and pale.
"Sir! Forgive me — the mission to reclaim Yahiko Fort was a disaster. The entire battalion has been wiped out, along with every soldier and civilian in the fort. The only survivors are from the 15th Battalion, led by Sir Izuna… but they're trapped in the heart of Yahiko Fort. They've given up all hope. They're waiting for death, sir."
The Chief Commander's eyes widen in horror.
He collapses to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
"This… this is all my fault…"
In the shadowed corner near the doorway, Kei and Kaito stand frozen, their faces pale with shock as the words sink in.
---
To Be Continued…