The sun had barely risen when Kurogane Rei's unit received their orders. A small village near the river had been occupied by rebels wielding Relics. Civilians were caught in the crossfire, but Dominion Code's instructions were clear: eliminate threats, collateral damage inevitable.
Rei stared at the map, hands trembling. Every line, every symbol, reminded him of the countless streets where people would die today because of him. Seraph-0 throbbed under his sleeve, as if aware of his hesitation.
"Focus," Ren said, crouching beside him and checking the bindings on his harness. "You can't protect anyone if you're paralyzed by guilt. You survive first, then worry about them."
Rei swallowed. He wanted to argue, to refuse, but words caught in his throat. The truth was simple: he had no choice.
The village lay ahead, shrouded in smoke. Buildings leaned precariously, half-burned, shattered windows reflecting the weak sunlight. Children ran screaming through the streets, their small bodies darting between soldiers. Adults huddled in corners, their faces pale and rigid with fear.
Ren moved ahead, silent and precise. Every motion he made was calculated; his blades whispered through the air, striking down a guard before Rei could even register the attack. Rei followed, Seraph-0 responding instinctively, a pulse of energy erupting from his body that shattered debris and threw bodies across the street. The scream of a dying rebel cut through the chaos. Rei's stomach twisted.
Then came the woman. She clutched a child to her chest, eyes wide with terror. Rei froze. Seraph-0 pulsed violently. Danger surged from the alley behind her. He could not stop it.
"Move!" Ren shouted, dragging him forward. Rei's Relic responded instinctively. Energy surged outward, sweeping the street. When the dust cleared, the woman lay motionless, the child screaming beside her. Rei staggered back, choking on dust and horror. His hands shook. He had killed without intent, without thought. Yet Seraph-0 demanded obedience, demanded survival, and the world would not wait for his conscience.
Ren's calm voice cut through the ringing in his ears. "Get up. There's more ahead."
The village was a labyrinth of fire and fear. Every street corner offered another test. Every shadow threatened death. Rei moved mechanically, Seraph-0 coiling and striking in perfect synchronization with his heartbeat. Yet each strike, each blast, eroded something within him. A memory of sunlight, of warmth, of something human, slipped farther from his mind.
High above the chaos, Kazumi Tatsumi observed. He was flawless, serene, a figure who could have walked among civilians unnoticed, yet there was authority in the tilt of his head, in the way his gaze lingered on Rei. He saw the boy hesitate, saw the Relic pulse violently as it forced obedience. It pleased him. He had not yet revealed himself, not yet interfered directly, but watching was enough. Every kill, every choice, every innocent lost was a lesson. By the time Rei understood, Kazumi's plans would already be in motion.
Hours passed. Buildings burned. Rebels fell. Civilians scattered or screamed, and Rei moved with them, a puppet to Seraph-0's hunger. When the streets finally fell silent, he and Ren were the only ones standing in the center of ruin. The smell of smoke and blood clung to the air, thick and suffocating.
"You survived," Ren said quietly, wiping his blade. "That's all that matters."
Rei swallowed hard. Survival felt hollow. The blood on his hands, the screams in his ears, and the faces of those he had killed or failed to save pressed on him. He realized that the first lesson of the Relic was simple: power demanded sacrifice, and innocence was the first thing to burn.
And somewhere above, Kazumi's eyes lingered on him, smiling faintly, waiting for the moment Rei would step fully into the role destiny had carved for him—a weapon, a destroyer, a boy who would grow into the heart of war.