On the second of May, the evening was torn apart by a raging storm, its winds howling like a chorus of ghosts.
But now, as dawn unfolds, the island of Naru basks in golden light, the sun rising in quiet triumph over the remnants of the night's fury.
The local fishermen returned to their daily toil, their hands shaped by time and tide.
With quiet resilience, they surveyed the damage left in the storm's wake—boats rocked and battered, docks splintered, homes bearing the bruises of wind and water.
Yet beneath the golden morning light, they set to work, mending what was broken, as they always had.
"Right here!"
"Okay!"
Drawn by quiet curiosity, the fishermen turned their attention to the strange vessel that had drifted in with the storm—a phantom among familiar shores.
Its dark, weathered deck groaned beneath cautious footsteps, the wood speaking in creaks of long-forgotten journeys. With the sun casting long shadows behind them, they ran calloused fingers over the timeworn planks, listening for whispers of its past in the silence it carried.
"This really came from Kaba?.."
"Looks like it did... Hard to believe.. Where did the years go."
~~~Nagano Prefecture, Japan~~~
On the outskirts of Tokyo, far from the neon glow and restless hum of the metropolis, stretches a land untouched by time—a vast expanse of towering mountains and untamed wilderness.
Here, nature reigns supreme. But danger coils within its shadows.
In the dense canopy of ancient trees, the Seele lurk—silent predators, their presence barely more than a whisper on the wind.
Eyes like embers flicker in the gloom, watching, waiting, poised to strike at any soul reckless enough to trespass into their dominion.
Deep within the heart of the forest, six figures pressed forward, their steps steady but wary.
The towering trees stood like silent sentinels, their gnarled roots twisting through the earth like ancient veins. Each movement carved a path through tall grasses that swayed in the mountain breeze like restless waves.
The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss, while distant cries of unseen creatures echoed through the wild.
Yet beneath the rustling leaves and whispering wind... something else stirred.
"Wooh! Summer's heat is kicking in already!"
A man shouted.
"Ugh! It's too hot! I can't fight like this!"
A woman complained.
"Quit whining. We keep moving. Right, boss?"
"Yeah."
Yari Misa—a wind user from Japan. Tall, brown hair, brown eyes.
Current leader of Squad 330. A man still haunted by a recent encounter with a stranger in a Tokyo bar—an encounter that refused to leave his thoughts.
Yari's face remained unreadable as he pushed through the undergrowth, the memory surfacing again.
The Russian's cold stare, his words laced with quiet threat. The haze of smoke, the tang of liquor. Fleeting, but unshakable.
"What's with that guy? Damn flame user, too. Tch."
He thought to himself.
"Yari-san? Are you okay?"
The woman asked him.
"Ah... yeah. Thanks, Sakisa-chan."
Sakisa felt heat rise to his cheeks at the sound of his name. Just a simple "thanks," but it struck harder than expected. He quickly looked away, trying to hide the blush blooming on his face.
"Still thinking about that Russian?"
"Tsk. Yeah."
Yari replied.
"Come on, forget about him! He's just another obstacle between us and being the number one squad!"
"Hm... I guess you're right."
"What's so special about him, anyway?"
Another man muttered.
"Oi! David!"
A moment of quiet fell over Squad 330. Only the soft crunch of leaves and the whisper of the forest filled the silence.
"Well... he's a flame user."
The group halted.
Yari's words hit like a stone dropped into still water.
Squad 330 exchanged looks—uncertain, tense.
"A flame user?!"
They all shouted.
"I thought flame users were banned from the Capital?!"
Sakisa asked.
"Yeah! Didn't they get outlawed after that incident?! Too dangerous, too violent..."
David joined in.
Yari looked down, sweat glistening on his brow. He didn't respond right away. The weight of their stares pressed down on him, but he inhaled slowly and spoke, voice low and uncertain.
"I don't know... but I've got a bad feeling about this."
~~~UWDS Asia Headquarters~~~
[China]
The hum of voices filled the glass-walled meeting hall of the UWDS headquarters. Trochanters from across the globe gathered, their holographic displays flickering with data and maps of Japan.
A storm of movement was brewing—and every squad leader could feel it.
"Hm... the squads in mainland Japan are on the move."
the Trochanter of Squad 434 murmured, his tone analytical, calm but edged with curiosity.
"The recent success of Squad 663 sparked something. Now everyone wants in."
said the Squad 220 Trochanter, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair.
"They're pushing for a full-scale collaborative cleansing of the mainland."
"Squad 663... just five members, and they pulled it off?"
The Trochanter of Squad 376 let out a low whistle.
"Damn it, Hachi. You're creating monsters again."
A woman's voice echoed from across the table, smooth yet sharp enough to cut through the chatter.
"Come on... it's not Hachi's fault monsters keep getting assigned to him."
said Nali, the Trochanter of Squad 97, resting her chin on her hand with a wry smile.
The Trochanter of Squad 220 perked up.
"Nali?! You're here?"
"Yeah,"
She sighed.
"My kids wouldn't shut up about this collaborative commission. They don't want to be left out."
"Heh... another notorious squad leader joins the fray, huh?"
chuckled the Trochanter of Squad 152, tapping a pen against the table.
"I told you, it wasn't my choice!"
Nali shot back, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the faint grin tugging at her lips.
From the far end of the room, someone called out, voice rough and amused.
"Hey, speaking of monsters—where the hell is Hachi, anyway?"
That came from Squad 660, a loud and brash type who always found a way to stir things.
"Last I heard, he's in Kenya—African HQ."
replied the Trochanter of Squad 330, calm and matter-of-fact.
"Tsk! That reckless bastard."
the one from Squad 660 barked again, slamming a fist on the table.
"His squad's operating in Japan, and he's halfway across the globe?!"
"Relax,"
said Squad 434's Trochanter, voice steady but knowing.
"Don't forget... they've got him in that squad."
A quiet chill swept through the hall. The low hum of conversation died.
"Hm..."
Nali leaned back, her expression darkening.
"Ryujin, huh. That part Demon."
A slow chuckle broke the silence.
"Haha... and rumor has it, they've got a flame user now too."
said the Trochanter of Squad 152, though even his laugh couldn't mask the unease in his tone.
The room froze. The words hit like a hammer.
"A Gifted?!"
The Squad 330 Trochanter shot up from his seat, disbelief twisting his face.
"No way. You're joking... right?"
added Squad 220, his voice wavering between shock and anger.
"Heh..." Squad 434 leaned forward, a faint smirk curving his lips.
"I'd love to know how they got another one past the restrictions."
Nali's eyes glimmered beneath the pale blue light of the screens.
"Another flame user, huh... how interesting."
"Figures."
The Squad 660 Trochanter scoffed, shaking his head.
"Another flame—and of course, it ends up in Hachi's squad. That man's luck is insane."
Tension rippled through the room once more, heavy and unspoken. Even among the best, the word flame carried weight. It meant power. It meant fear. It meant history.
And now... it meant something was coming.
The room remained tense. No one mentioned it outright, but they were all thinking the same thing: flame users weren't supposed to be part of the UWDS anymore. Not after what happened in the Capital.
Note: All dialogue was spoken in Mandarin.
With Squad 663 standing at the gates of mainland Japan, the first council of the United World Defense Society's Trochanters commenced.
Eight elite squads would take part in the collaborative cleansing mission—each one assigned to purge a specific region of Seele. But they were not to fight alone. If any squad struggled, the others were obligated to support them.
Collaborative Cleansing Of Mainland Japan has begun.
Squad 434, 5 members. Assigned in Chubu Region.
Squad 220, 7 members. Assigned in Hokkaido Region.
Squad 376, 6 members. Assigned in Chugoku Region.
Squad 97, 5 members. Assigned in Kanto Region.
Squad 152, 5 members. Assigned in Tohoku Region.
Squad 330, 6 members. Assigned in Kansai Region.
Squad 660, 7 Members. Assigned in Shikoku Region.
Squad 663, 5 Members. Assigned in Kyushu Region.
Pressure from all the squad guides lingered in the air, heavy and unspoken, as they awaited the arrival of Hachi, the trochanter of Squad Segment 663. Each second stretched long, thick with anticipation.
Meanwhile, across the mainland, Japan trembled beneath the weight of unseen dread.
The Seele stirred in the shadows, sensing the shift—the coming storm of eight squads marching to reclaim what was lost. The battlefield was set, and the war was only moments away from erupting.
~~~To be Continued~~~