《Grey: Monster》


 Prologue 1: First introduction

    " So this is the end, the sun sure looks good"


    ***


    "Fap, fap, fap."


    I stroke my meat, eyes glued to the TV. On the screen, five guys are pounding away at some girl, taking turns while she moans and screams. Some might call me a loser for getting off to this, but I don''t give a damn. If watching this masterpiece makes me a loser, then to hell with the world.


    "Fap, fap, fap."


    My hand moves faster as another guy enters the scene. His dick is massive, almost making the girl scream out. But it''s still not as big as mine. My size is the one thing I can actually be proud of in this miserable life. I imagine myself in that room, making her cry for real. The thought alone almost makes me laugh.


    "Fap, fap, fap."


    I can feel it coming. How long has it been? Doesn''t matter. I glance at the wall clock, but it''s too dark to see anything. Who cares? I turn back to the screen, focusing on the scene in front of me.


    "Fap, fap, fap¡ªsplash."


    Finally, I explode, shooting seven million potential lives all over myself and the floor.


    "Ahh, that''s the feeling."


    For a minute, I''m calm. Pleasure washes over me, but then, as usual, the guilt kicks in. That post-nut clarity, they call it. I drag myself up off the floor, feeling dizzy and nauseous. How long was I at it? Half an hour? An hour? I don''t even know, but it felt like forever.


    I clap my hands, and the light in my room flickers on, revealing the mess I live in. Tissue papers, soda cans, bottles, plates, pizza boxes¡ªeverything is scattered everywhere. My clothes are mixed in with the trash. My neighbors always complain about the stench coming from my room, but I can''t smell anything.


    Maybe they''re just lying. Scumbags.


    I feel something sticky on my dick and realize I''m still leaking. I wipe it off with my finger and smear it on the wall. Another piece of art for my collection.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    In front of me is my chair and my PC. I sit down and turn it on. This is my daily routine: wake up, eat snacks, beat my meat, play games, then sleep. Repeat.


    You''re probably wondering how I afford this lifestyle. Well, I don''t. My mom is loaded, and all it takes is a quick call for the money to roll into my account.


    Bling.


    Right on cue, my phone buzzes. I pick it up and see a notification¡ªsix hundred thousand yen, just like that. I laugh to myself. My mom spoils me because I''m her only child. I was supposed to be the second, but my older sister died in a car accident before I was born. That''s what they tell me, anyway. And my dad died from some illness not long after I was born, so it''s just been me and my mom. She treats me like I''m all she''s got.


    I open the fridge, but there''s nothing in there except for a bottle of soda. I guess I should restock.


    "B2," I call out.


    "Yes, Master!" a cute robotic voice replies.


    "Prepare a hot shower for me and get my clothes ready. I''m heading out."


    Normally, I''d just order everything online, but for some reason, I feel like taking a walk. It''s been over two months since I last stepped outside. Maybe that''s why I''m feeling so dizzy.


    I hold my head as the dizziness hits me again.


    After my shower, I spray on some deodorant and glance at myself in the mirror. Oh yeah, I haven''t introduced myself.


    My name is Tokita Ryuma. I''m 19 years old and technically a college student, though I''m living the NEET life. I''ve got messy dark hair, dull eyes with dark circles under them from all the sleepless nights. I look athletic, but don''t be fooled¡ªI can''t even run 100 meters without collapsing.


    The sky''s always been dark and gloomy, at least as far back as I can remember. Those orbs floating around up there? Yeah, they''ve been around longer than I''ve been alive. People say the sky used to be clear and blue, but I have a hard time believing that.


    I take the elevator down to the ground floor of my twenty five-story apartment building. As I step out, the security chief, an old woman in a uniform, walks up to me.


    "Good day, ma''am," I say out of habit.


    "Good evening, son. A package arrived for you this morning." She hands me a triangular object wrapped in plain paper.


    "Thanks, ma''am," I mumble, taking the package as I walk away. I unwrap it, and inside is a family photo¡ªmy dad, my mom, and me. My dad''s holding me in his arms, and I can''t help but notice how much I look like him. The only difference is, his eyes are full of life, while mine look dead inside.


    There''s a letter attached to the back. It''s from my mom, reminding me that today is my dad''s death anniversary. She wants me to come home to Yokohama, but making the trip from Tokyo feels impossible right now.


    "I''m sorry mum but I think I''ll make it up to you another day"


    I rewrap the photo and head to the store. I''m sure my mom will understand.


    At the store, I grab snacks, drinks, and some painkillers for the dizziness. When I get to the counter, a female robot rings me up. I can''t help but notice its features¡ªit almost looks human. My mind wanders to the idea of getting one of those robot wives that are all the rage. Maybe that''d make things less lonely.


    As I''m making my payment, the ground starts to shake. Another earthquake, nothing new in Tokyo. I look around, and everyone seems unfazed, so I continue with my transaction. But then I hear screams from outside. This time, people are actually panicking.


    Curious, I walk to the door, and it slides open automatically. The sky outside is¡­purple. What the hell?


    People are running toward the mall, and I have no idea why. I look up at the sky again, and I notice something strange¡ªmost of the orbs were missing, the once that remained are glowing with a purple light. Then I see them¡ªthings flying through the air. They''re not planes, and they''re not birds either.


    "What the fuck?"


    One of them crashes into the mall with insane speed, and the impact sends me flying into a parked car. I feel like my insides are scrambled.


    "Blegh."


    I cough up blood. It hurts to breathe, and every time I try, a sharp pain shoots through my chest. I try to stand, but my body won''t cooperate. Everything feels shaky. Damn dizziness.


    I try again and again, but I can''t move. Eventually, it hits me¡ªI''m not moving because I''m weak or because something''s holding me down.


    I can''t move because¡­


    "I''m dead."

 Prologue: Years passed

    Prologue


    A humanoid figure descended from the sky at an incredible speed, landing on the store behind me with such force that it caused an explosion. The impact sent me flying, and I crashed into a car. I lost consciousness immediately.


    When I started to regain consciousness, my chest ached intensely. The pain was so severe that I struggled to breathe. I gasped for air, but nothing happened. Panic began to set in. Everything was pitch black; I couldn''t tell if my eyes were closed or if I was dead. But when I realized that my thoughts were still functioning, despite not breathing, I had to conclude that I was indeed dead.


    The darkness persisted. Was this the heaven everyone talks about? If it was, then I felt sorry for those who believed in it¡ªno, this was more likely hell. After all, heaven is supposed to be for those who did good deeds while they were alive. As far as I could recall, I hadn''t done a single good thing in my life, so this must be hell.


    I chuckled dryly, though I couldn''t hear any sound. Still, I knew I had laughed.


    Time passed, though I couldn''t gauge it. I had a sense that time was moving quickly. I found it curious that I remained sane under these circumstances¡ªno light, only darkness; no sound, no one to talk to. I was floating in a sea of nothingness. Yet, amidst all of this, I wasn''t suffering. Could this truly be hell? I doubted it. Hell was supposed to be a place where terrible people suffer, or so I had been told. But there was no suffering here. In fact, I was enjoying the peace and quiet. My only issue was that I couldn''t see anything.


    This feeling¡­ was it d¨¦j¨¤ vu? Yes, I had been in a place like this before.


    It happened many years ago, around eleven years back, when I was in elementary school. I was part of the football club. I wasn''t one of the best players, but I wasn''t the worst either¡ªjust average, really, showing up when they needed me most during matches.


    During a regional tournament, I was benched in favor of another kid. I won''t lie; he was better than me, not just in football but in everything¡ªgrades, looks, conversation, and even with girls. Yes, even at the age of eight, he was already popular with the girls. How did he manage to pull them bitches at that age? I guess I''ll never know now that I''m dead. I didn''t hate him; I bore no ill will towards him. But that didn''t mean he felt the same about me. He despised me and, because of his influence, many others at school did too¡­ but that''s all in the past now.


    Eventually, as the match progressed, I was substituted in as a midfielder. Towards the end of the game, things got intense. We were facing a goalless draw, which would have led to extra time. With our last chance to win, we all pushed into the opposition''s half for a corner kick. The ball was crossed into the penalty box, heading towards me. I jumped high¡ªpretty high for an elementary kid¡ªbut instead of heading the ball, I collided with that other kid, Kimoto or something was his name.


    Both of us were taken out of the match and treated. Unlike him, who woke up a few minutes later, I slept for an entire week. When I finally woke up and returned to school, I was blamed for everything that happened.


    Heh, my messed-up life didn''t just start recently.


    But during that week when I was unconscious, I was in this same kind of state¡ªpeaceful, tranquil, no light, just pitch darkness. I had thought I was dead back then, but I eventually woke up. So maybe this situation is similar, right? What if I wake up again in a day, a week, or maybe a month? Well, all these are just speculations.


    I let out a sigh, though I still couldn''t hear anything.


    Elementary school, huh? That was one of the worst times of my life growing up, though it was child''s play compared to what I faced in middle school. In middle school, one moment I vividly remember was when¡­


    ''Huh¡­ what''s this? Is this light? Yes, it is! I''m waking up! I''m alive¡ªI''m alive!''


    I celebrated in my head. Now that I think about it, this was the first time I was ever happy to be alive. If I ever get back, I''m definitely going to celebrate this moment.


    The light finally broke through the darkness, but what I saw next devastated me. I wished I was still in that dark abyss.


    I was truly dead.


    I was sitting on the ground, my back resting against a car. I couldn''t see my waist because a huge metal platform was crushing it. I tried to move, but no muscles in my body responded. I used my eyes, which were somehow still functioning, to scan the area.


    There was debris everywhere¡ªstones, wood, and metal. As I looked further, I saw, lying a few meters away from the metal, the other half of my body. My blood, already dried and blackened, trailed from it. This was only half of the horror I witnessed.


    I looked up at the sky, but I couldn''t see it. The entire sky was obscured by dark smoke. While staring upwards, I noticed something on top of my head¡ªsomething like a little alien. It had no solid shape or form, but it was feeding off my brain, or at least that''s the conclusion I reached since I couldn''t get a clear view of it.


    ''Get off me, you fucking bastard!''


    I tried to shout, but nothing happened. That''s when I realized I had lost almost all my senses¡ªsmell, touch, and hearing. I couldn''t do any of them; only my sight remained functional.


    ''So, I''m just going to let this freaking bastard feed off me, huh? Haha, my life really was a mess, even to the end.''


    While I laid on the car looking at the dark sky I saw a helicopter hover passed me,


    I was somewhat glad but also deeply pained. Glad that humanity was still alive, but pained that I had to die. Why? I asked, but no answer ever came.


    ****


    My name is Tokita Ryuma, and I believe I have just made my first friend in my entire life.


    ***Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Another year has passed since I regained my sight. I''m quite certain of this because I have experienced two winter seasons since then.


    Let me tell you about my friend. Meet B-three, the creature I once believed was eating my brain. Over the past year, I''ve been observing it, and I''ve discovered many intriguing and somewhat depressing things about it. In the process, we''ve even become friends, although I must admit that this friendship seems a bit one-sided.


    First and foremost, B-three has no definite form. It''s a black, slimy liquid that stretches out tentacles, using them to grab and hold objects. At first, I thought B-three was consuming my brain, but in reality, it was repairing me¡ªbringing me back to life. I have absolutely no idea how it managed to do this, but I''m certain of one thing: B-three was the reason I regained my eyesight a year after the accident.


    As months passed and I continued to watch B-three, another creature of its kind appeared. This one was red in color. I couldn''t hear what they were saying, but it seemed like they were having some sort of disagreement. Without hesitation, B-three absorbed the red creature, and afterward, I noticed that some red hues began to appear within B-three. Apart from that, not much else happened. It felt like time was standing still as I watched B-three continue its work inside my head.


    I spent months watching B-three at work, unable to sleep. My brain, not yet fully functioning, seemed incapable of rest. This left me wondering what was actually powering my mind. How could I be dead and still capable of thought? It didn''t make any sense.


    One day, B-three slowly crawled down from my open head. It used its tentacles to open my shirt and then pierced them into my heart. I couldn''t feel what was happening in my body, but I had this instinctual feeling that it was grabbing hold of my heart. It was as if some deep-seated human instinct kicked in, despite the fact that I hadn''t yet regained my sense of touch or feeling. I was more like a husk, unable to tell what was really going on.


    Suddenly, my body jolted as if I''d been electrocuted. For a brief moment, I felt a spark flowing throughout my torso, and then it vanished. Once again, I couldn''t feel a thing.


    B-three climbed back to my head, continuing whatever it was doing up there, but some of its tentacles remained stuck in my chest.


    ''I''m just a lab rat now,'' I thought, laughing dryly to myself. But I couldn''t hear the laughter, nor did my mouth move. It was all happening inside my head.


    Then, out of nowhere, I began to hear noises¡ªloud noises. The clanging of metals, the sound of wood being cut with saws, the hammering of metal, and many other sounds. I could hear people laughing, crying, and conversing. I could hear radio and television broadcasts. I could hear it all.


    ''What the hell¡­?! I shouted in my mind. I think... I think I can hear! Is this B-three''s doing?


    ''Oh my god!'' I was in tears, but nothing fell from my eyes.


    Is this what happiness feels like? I''m overjoyed. I used to think that happiness was staring at my wide screen and stroking my... well, let''s just say I thought happiness was something superficial. But this... this is something else. I can''t even begin to explain it in words.


    "Hey B-three, thanks so much, bro. I don''t know how I can ever repay you." I cried, but it didn''t hear me¡ªor so I thought.


    "Kkrrrk."


    ''What the...?''


    At first, I thought I was hearing things, but it was definitely B-three trying to communicate. It spoke to me, though I couldn''t understand a word.


    ''Hey B-three, what did you say?'' I asked, my eyes wide open, staring at it.


    "Krrak skkrr kkrhrh," it replied. I couldn''t make sense of its words, but at that moment, I was simply happy to be alive.


    Months passed after I regained my hearing. It was somewhat irritating at first, but I gradually got used to it. And that wasn''t all. I didn''t just regain my sense of hearing¡ªit was enhanced as if I had undergone some kind of system upgrade. I could hear things from miles away, which, in the beginning, was the main source of my irritation.


    ''Oh god, I''m so happy. I just wish this could last forever,'' I said.


    "Krrhhk krhh," B-three responded.


    "Right? Nothing lasts forever," I acknowledged.


    My experience in school wasn''t something I kept from my mother. I told her everything, from how I was beaten to a pulp by seniors and some of my classmates, to how I was forced to lick their shoes. Don''t get the wrong idea¡ªI wasn''t a coward. I fought back countless times, but every time I did, I was beaten again. I came home with new injuries every day, and eventually, it got so bad that I was admitted to the hospital. I was given a bed and stayed there for over two weeks. My mom visited me every day, and every time she did, she would tell me something that really annoyed me at the time. But as time passed, I began to understand her words. She said:


    "Nothing is permanent. Bad times are not permanent, and good times are also not permanent."


    She urged me to find peace in conflicts and hope in despair.


    My mom was a good woman, but I hated her. Not because she was good, but because she didn''t understand me¡ªshe didn''t understand how my life worked. My hatred for her grew as time went on, until the day I finally realized who she truly was. I realized the kind of life she had lived. I realized that it wasn''t her who misunderstood me; it was I who had misunderstood her.


    It was then that I understood what she really meant by "finding peace in conflicts, hope in despair."


    I was her peace. I was her hope. That''s why she pampered me. But in return, I couldn''t do a single thing for her. I left home, leaving her alone, yet I continued to leech off her. I''m a terrible son, and she was a perfect mother¡ªtoo perfect for a wasted son like me.


    "I''m sorry, Mom. Please be safe. Don''t worry about me¡ªI will be fine. Please be safe, Mom."


    ****


    A year before my rebirth.


    After gaining my sense of hearing, I began testing it and became accustomed to hearing things from afar. Trust me, it''s not as easy as you might think. Most of the time, it felt as if my eardrums were about to explode; other times, it was my brain. B-three also reacted to it whenever my brain hurt, making these weird screeching sounds.


    Some months passed, and B-three grew bigger. I began having second thoughts, wondering if he was really feeding on me. After all, all he did was stay on my head, doing his stuff while I decayed as time passed. If that isn''t enough proof, I honestly don''t know what is.


    I looked up at the sky, which was covered in light, dark smoke. The clouds weren''t visible. I wondered where this smoke was coming from. It''s not like the sky was ever clear; as long as I could remember, the clouds were always dark. But during night times like this, you could at least see a little bright¡ªwhat was the name again?


    I''ve forgotten, but that''s by the way. In that instant, while staring at the night-dark clouds, I asked myself multiple questions to which I heard no reasonable answers:


    Why am I still conscious?


    Why is B-three patching me up?


    If I truly make it out alive, will B-three take over my body while I watch him do whatever he pleases? He might even get some girls better than I ever could, hahaha.


    "Will I end up becoming food for the beast?"


    All these thoughts crossed my mind. For the first time in four years of staying idle, I thought deeply about my future, my source of hope¡ªor despair. I don''t know, but what was certain is that this is hope, yes, the will to believe.


    Deep down, I wanted to live. Deep down, I wanted to come back. Deep down, I wanted B-three to patch me up quickly. I wanted to go back to my mom. Deep down, I wanted everything to start over.


    Just then, while lost in my endless sea of thoughts, an electrifying sensation ran from my head to my heart and all over my body.


    It was painful.


    My mouth gaped open in an "O" shape, and my tongue moved.


    I screamed loudly.


    "Arrgh!"


    Just then, it occurred to me that I had regained my sense of feeling. I could feel pain; I could feel my muscles.


    Yes, this was good, but it was also a hellish experience, given the fact that I was decapitated in half.


    I felt intense burning pain in my waist area.


    I wanted to die. I screamed so loudly and continued screaming in pain for almost half an hour, my voice echoing in the night''s darkness.


    Suddenly, amidst my pain and suffering, I heard a screeching roar in my ear.


    ''What was that?'' I questioned in my mind while screaming.


    That roar was definitely not human, but I didn''t panic because it was several miles away. Still, I questioned in my thoughts while screaming.


    ''Was that one of those beast?''


    Out of the blue, B-three made its own roar. It was very small compared to the one I had heard, as if a cub was having a roar contest with a full-grown adult lion.


    After its little roar, my vision went blank, my nose blocked, my ears deafened, and all the pain was gone. I couldn''t feel a thing. I think I went back to my void state¡ªno, I definitely went back to my void state.


    But the reason for that was what bugged me.


    Why did B-three roar? Why did that big guy roar? What happened? Was it because of me?


    I thought as I floated in a wild expanse of nothingness¡ªno light, no sound, just nothing.


    Just then, I felt something walk past me.


    ''It''s big,'' I exclaimed.


    The kind of aura it emitted was so wild that I could feel it within my void space.


    In that moment, I realized that B-three was also not active.


    ''What is this?''


    I think it''s that thing called a self-defense mechanism that every living species has.


    Was B-three shutting down its self-defense mechanism to protect itself and me? If that was the case, then I''m really glad I have B-three by my side¡ªor rather, on my head.


    After some minutes, the huge figure walked away, but still, I hadn''t regained consciousness¡ªor should I say, B-three didn''t let me wake up? And I think I know why.


    Despite being "asleep," so to speak, B-three kept working on my body.


    Days passed, then weeks, then months, and I still hadn''t regained consciousness.


    A few months passed, and one day my eyes twitched open. The daylight attacked my eyes, sending a sharp pain all over my head. I closed my eyes, further blocking the light with my arm.


    Seconds passed, and I got used to the sun''s rays. I gradually opened my eyes, and behold, it was the usual dark clouds once again. I was happy, but deep down, I had expected something more, something new. That''s when I noticed the pain was no more.


    My waist didn''t hurt, nor did my head. I scanned around and found my legs perfectly joined with my waist.


    "What the¡­"


    My voice was back. I pushed myself up but immediately fell back down. Nothing was wrong, I think; I was only getting used to walking after being immobilized for four years.


    After many trials, I managed to get on my feet, but I had to support myself with the car behind me¡ªthe car I crashed onto on the day of the attack.


    I further examined my surroundings. It was a total mess, which made me wonder how I managed to cope here all this while.


    Yes, I know my room was always a mess, but this was really different. Trust me it was truly different


    Dirt, blocks, and iron rods were scattered everywhere. It looked like a wasteland.


    I looked up at the sky, clenched my fist, and stretched some parts of my body.


    I was still having doubts and couldn''t believe this was real, but indeed it was. I could feel everything as though I were alive.


    Yes, I know it. I can feel it.


    I am reborn.

 Wandering arc: Final Introduction

    My name is Tokita Ryuma. I''m a nineteen-year-old college student studying computer engineering. My hobbies include watching movies, playing games, eating snacks, staring at my screen, and beating my meat. But as of today, that''s all going to change. I have a dream now, and I''m going to work towards that dream.


    Four years ago, an unseen species of monsters broke loose in the world, threatening the existence of mankind. These monsters are now known as Nephilim. They possess distinct traits from one another, with varying colors and physiology. Despite their differences in appearance, they share one trait: an intense desire to destroy humanity.


    I leaned against the car, processing the flood of information entering my mind. It was B-three''s doing. Since we share one body, we also share one mind.


    The information was still incomplete; it wasn''t enough. B-three didn''t know much about his own people, and that''s because, among them, he is the incomplete one. He was born prematurely and needed a host to survive. By some stroke of luck, he found me¡ªbarely alive.


    "Human, I would appreciate it if you stopped peering into my memories," B-three said.


    Two eyes and a mouth popped out from my hand. I was surprised but remained calm.


    "So, you talk?" I asked, looking into the eyes. It took my appearance, adopting my tired, dark eyes, though its mouth was oddly large.


    "I''ve always been capable of speech, as far as I can remember," it said in a voice that sounded like a child''s.


    "Then why didn''t you say anything when you were working on my head?"


    "I tried having a conversation with you, but apparently, you couldn''t understand me, just as I couldn''t understand you. But after successfully merging our brain cells, we''re now able to communicate in both words and thoughts."


    I glanced at it, feeling a mix of anger and gratitude.


    "Your aim was to take over my body and kill me, right?"


    "I thought we agreed not to pry into each other''s memories?"


    "I asked you a question."


    It stayed quiet for a moment before replying.


    "Indeed. I needed full control of the body, so killing you was part of the plan."


    "But you couldn''t."This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "I hate to admit it, but your consciousness was the hardest part to deal with. Even after taking everything, I couldn''t take your mind. So, I stopped and focused on coexisting with you. If we can coexist, maybe one day I''ll have full control over your consciousness."


    I didn''t say anything and just looked at the wasteland around me.


    I''ve changed. Yes, I have. I just had a conversation with something¡ªand the best part was, I was the superior in that conversation. My transformation had begun, for good.


    I moved away from the car and staggered forward, taking a few steps before finally finding my footing. My destination was unknown, but one thing was certain: I needed a long bath. I smelled like a corpse.


    "Fuck!" I shouted after catching a whiff of my breath. Decayed.


    "Entertain me, B-three," I said, but received no response.


    "B-three?!"


    "I''m certain you know I don''t go by that name," it spoke up.


    "Huh? Then what''s your name?" I asked, but there was no answer. I looked at the two eyes in my hand, and they stared back at me.


    "You don''t have one, right? So why not just answer to B-three? Does the name sound weird?"


    "It''s not that it sounds weird. My kind name ourselves based on class. As I belong to no particular class, I have no name. So yes, as you said, it is odd to be called by a name."


    "Then there''s nothing wrong with it. From now on, just answer when I call you."


    "I will try to meet your demands."


    "Nice. So, entertain me."


    "I''m afraid I have no means of providing what you call entertainment. I don''t recall what the term means. Perhaps if you allowed me to access your memories, I could¡ª"


    "Don''t!"


    What the hell is wrong with B-three? Does he want to see me stroking my meat to porn or what?


    "Stroking your meat? I don''t seem to understand why you won''t allow me to view the action of stroking flesh," it said.


    "You¡ª"


    "What is it?"


    "Never mind," I sighed.


    After walking for over twenty minutes through the barren wasteland, I stood in front of a store with a house on top of it. The building looked old, on the verge of collapse, with plants growing from every corner. Cracks ran through it, and it leaned to one side.


    I pushed the door open, and an alarm bell rang.


    "Oh, there''s still electricity," I muttered.


    I approached the counter and looked ahead at the display case, which held expired food, cakes, buns, and some drinks. Everything looked fermented, but my stomach growled loudly. I climbed over the counter, opened the glass, and stuffed my mouth with the fermented cakes. Then, I noticed something very, very bad.


    "B-three?"


    "Yes?"


    "I can''t taste this food."


    "Indeed. I didn''t think it necessary to repair your taste organs. I only fixed the essential ones."


    "My tongue isn''t essential? Is that what you''re saying? Oh, fuck! Fix my tongue right now."


    "I can''t do that."


    "What? Why?"


    "It would take at least six months to perform such a task. I am not like the others of my kind, who are more efficient in that field."


    "Oh, fuck! So your plan is to make me live without a tongue?"


    "But you do have a tongue."


    "A useless one."


    "But you can speak with it."


    "Oh my fucking... enough!"


    I swallowed the tasteless cakes and filled my stomach before heading up the broken stairs to the house above.


    The place was a mess, everything scattered, with cobwebs everywhere. I made my way to the bathroom and turned on the hot shower. Thankfully, it was still working. I removed my ragged clothes, and as I looked down, I saw my body.


    A massive scar ran across my chest like a spider web. Another circled my waist, and the last one ran around my head. The one on my head wasn''t visible due to my hair. I looked at my face, beard under my mouth and above it, then it occured to me that i wasn''t nineteen anymore. I was twenty-three


    "Shit"


    Without wasting time, I washed myself and moved to the wardrobe to pick out new clothes. They were dusty, but I didn''t mind. After changing, I went on to inspect the house. I planned to make it my base.


    The house was a two-bedroom flat with a living room and one bathroom. It was clear the family had been a small one.


    I walked into one of the bedrooms. There was a gaming PC, much like mine, and posters of nightlife scenes from around the world covered the walls. On the desk was a family photo and a stash of comic books. In the photo, there was a man, a woman, and a little girl. I assumed the girl had been the owner of the room.


    "It''s good to have companions," I muttered.


    That''s what I had always missed in my life. I was always alone. Even in the midst of a crowd, I felt lonely.


    "You should get ready," B-three suddenly spoke.


    "Why? I want to stay here for a while."


    "You can stay if you see this through."


    "See what through? What are you talking about?"


    "One of my kind is onto us. I''m not sure why I didn''t notice it before, but if you don''t get ready, we''re both going to die here."

 Wandering arc: Change

    What the hell are you saying, B!?"


    "Exactly what you heard. But what fascinates me is how I wasn''t able to detect it from this range. Strange."


    "You''re messing with me, right, B? Right!?"


    "It''s getting closer. It seems like it''s following my signals."


    "It''s following you? Can''t you stop the signals or¡­ Yes! Can''t you shut down, like before?"


    "I can''t. Unlike back then, now you''re fully active. If I do the same thing, we''ll both die. I think the best course of action is to fight."


    "Fight?! Fight something I haven''t even seen face to face? Even your memories of them are messed up."


    "I''m sorry about that."


    "Don''t be. Let''s focus on getting out of this house."


    I said that, but deep down, I knew there was no getting out. Instead, I started searching for weapons¡ªsticks, rods, anything I could use to defend myself.


    I knew there was no way I could win against whatever was coming in a physical fight. But wait a minute¡­


    "B-three!"


    "Yeah?"


    "You know my physical capabilities, right?"


    "Indeed."


    "Then you should know I can''t win against your kind, right? So why are you urging me to fight?"


    "Yes, I am fully aware of your physical limitations. But I never urged you to fight alone¡­"


    ***


    A creature closed the distance from the base of the house. Its features were striking and impossible to ignore. It stood a towering nine to eleven feet tall. Its body was covered in black scales, with red hues between each one. Its hands had four fingers, each tipped with long, sharp claws, mirrored by its feet. A long, sinuous tail extended from its back.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Its eyes were like those of an insect, stretching backward nearly to the base of its head. Four tentacles protruded from its back, motionless and ominous.


    This beast approached the house and stood in front of the door. The door frame only reached its chest. It arched its back, bending unnaturally as it entered the house. Its gaze swept the room before stopping at the stairs.


    It paused for a moment before ascending. Its weight threatened to break the stairs, but it continued its ascent without concern.


    The creature entered the living room, scanning the area. Its eyes focused on the couch behind which I hid. It approached, then stopped.


    "I don''t understand why one of us would inhabit a human body. I trust you have a good reason. Care to explain yourself?"


    Its voice was deep, and I could understand it.


    ''B, I told you this wouldn''t work.''


    ''Perhaps you''ve forgotten that you were the one who suggested hiding. I suggested we fight.''


    ''Fuck you, B!''


    ''Fuck me? What does that mean?''


    "You don''t have anything to say?" it asked. Then, with a swift motion, it struck the couch, sending it crashing through the wall, causing the house to rumble. It would collapse any moment now.


    The Nephilim and I locked eyes. Its head was like that of an insect¡ªan ant, perhaps. It tilted its head, as though inspecting my features.


    "Are you not in control of this human body?" it asked.


    Hearing those words sent a single message to my brain: Run.


    After hearing that, I knew my chances of survival were practically zero.


    I bolted toward the large hole in the wall where the couch had smashed through and leaped out. Upon landing, my knee dislocated, sending a sharp, intense pain through my body. But then, suddenly, it snapped back into place. I was caught off guard, but I didn''t have time to process it.


    I forced myself to my feet and started running again. I was so painfully slow, and worse, I was reaching my limit.


    "Why didn''t I exercise more?!" I cursed as I kept running, my legs burning with effort. Suddenly, something landed in front of me with a thunderous crash, kicking up dust and debris. The force of its impact sent me sprawling backward, rolling across the ground.


    "Human, can you explain why you are housing one of us in your body?"


    The creature emerged from the dust cloud, walking toward me. I was too terrified to speak; my mouth wouldn''t move.


    "Oh, humans don''t understand our mode of speech? Very well, then."


    One of its tentacles lifted and straightened, revealing a sharp, pointed end. Without warning, it impaled my chest, right through my heart, lifting me into the air like a rag doll as blood poured from the wound.


    "Speak. Why allow a human to control you?" it asked again, as my vision blurred and I slowly began to lose consciousness. My limbs went limp, and a chilling coldness spread through me. I was dying.


    Then, an image of my mother flashed before my eyes¡ªthe picture she''d sent me that day. Now that I think about it, I have no idea where that picture is.


    Suddenly, I felt a burning sensation in my chest, rapidly spreading through every part of my body. Strength surged back into me, fueled by pure rage. I was furious for no reason, a fury so intense that I wanted to kill the beast in front of me. I wanted to tear it apart, limb by limb. I wanted to destroy it. I wanted to consume it.


    Arrgghhhh!


    My mouth opened wide, unleashing a roar that matched the one I''d heard that day.


    I pulled back my fist and slammed a powerful punch into the Nephilim''s face, sending it flying miles away.


    "Awesome," I whispered to myself, though I had no idea what was happening. But that punch¡ªit felt amazing!


    The only thing I knew for sure was the intense heat radiating from me, and the overwhelming rage coursing through my veins. I looked at my hand, and to my shock, it was no longer human. It resembled the Nephilim''s.


    My skin was gone, replaced by hard scales with glowing patches of red and purple. I had grown in size¡ªmassively.


    "Oi, B-three! What''s going on?"


    "As you can see, this is our form when we are united."


    "Our form¡­?"


    That struck me, I hadn''t performed any task in a team since my elementary school days


    "Then what''s with this heat? And why do I feel so angry all of a sudden?"


    "About that¨Cit''s coming."


    "Huh?"


    Before I could react, the Nephilim appeared in front of me, landing a vicious blow to my face. I was thrown through the air, crashing into the remains of the house, but I didn''t stop. I flew for miles before finally skidding to a halt.


    "Damn," I muttered, holding my jaw. I was surprised it was still there.


    "That punch was insane¡ª"


    It appeared again, this time grabbing me by the neck and lifting me into the air. With its other hand, it transformed its fingers into sharp blades and sliced off my limbs before plunging the blade into my chest.


    "Arrgghh!"


    Pain clouded my mind


    "I don''t understand why a human is harboring one of my kind, but I can''t let you live after witnessing you using our power for yourself. Now, be gone."

 Wandering arc: Hunger

    Its hand had shaped into a blade, and it aimed straight for my chest.


    My right hand regenerated in time, and I caught the blade just before it could impale me.


    "Hmm...?"


    It looked shocked.


    My other hand grew back, and I delivered a powerful punch to its face, knocking it backward and freeing myself from its grasp. As it stumbled, my legs regenerated, and I regained my footing.


    "You, where is it?"


    It demanded, all the tentacles on its back rising up and morphing into sharp blades. The tentacles shot towards me. I ducked, dodging three of them, but the fourth pierced through my leg.


    It kicked forward, swinging its hand-blade at my face. I barely dodged by tilting my head to the side and countered with a punch to its gut.


    It staggered back but kept its tentacles embedded in my body. From within, I could feel it spreading like roots, gripping me from the inside.


    Now that it had a firm hold on me, it retracted the tentacles and yanked me forward, driving its hand-blade into my chest once again.


    All throughout our fight, it had been aiming for the same spot.


    I gritted my teeth and wrenched the blade from its body, pulling it out of my chest. I swung the blade toward its face, but it quickly dissolved upon contact with its skin. I leaped back, taking a breath as my body healed itself.


    "B, do you have any idea why it keeps aiming for my chest?" I asked.


    "It''s looking for my core."


    "Your core?"


    "Yes, only by destroying the core can you kill my kind. Look at its chest."


    I glanced at its large chest, where a glowing light emitted¡ªan intricate blend of red and yellow, forming a brilliant orange hue.


    "...That''s where its core is located."


    "That''s bad. I have to protect my chest then," I said, realization dawning.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "Relax," B reassured. "If my core were truly there, we would have been dead a long time ago. Surprisingly, you''re quite bad at combat. Given your physical build, I expected more."


    "Fuck you, B! But if your core isn''t in my chest, where is it?"


    "It''s you."


    "Huh?"


    "You are my core, as I am your heart. If I stop functioning, we''ll die. If you die, I die as well."


    "That''s... strange."


    "In this form, you''re practically invincible, but don''t be too careless. There are other ways to destroy my kind without even touching the core."


    "Don''t worry. I won''t."


    A sudden surge of confidence, mixed with burning rage, filled me. I picked up a rod from the ground and spun it in my hand.


    "Here I come, monster!" I shouted.


    I dashed toward the Nephilim, fully aware of where to strike. I knew my goal: if I could get this rod to its chest and tear out the core, I would win. Simple as that.


    The four tentacles came at me again. I swung the rod, deflecting them all and pressing forward in my charge.


    It swung its fist at me, but I used the rod to deflect the blow and stopped its arm with my other hand. With the rod raised, I aimed for its chest, but before I could strike, its tail lashed out, impaling my side and lifting me into the air.


    "Arrgghhh!"


    The pain was unbearable.


    I dropped the rod, my only weapon. Yet, the fury within me was overwhelming. I didn''t care. I grabbed onto its tail and squeezed until I ripped it off, freeing myself.


    I stared at the severed tail in my bloodied hands, and a primal hunger surged within me. Without thinking, I devoured the tail. It tasted... good. Too good.


    I wanted more.


    "You... cannib¡ª"


    Before it could finish, I charged at it, grabbing its face. I forced my hand into its mouth and ripped its jaw apart, gnawing on its skull.


    It screamed in agony.


    Its tentacles shot out and struck me, but I didn''t flinch. I kept tearing into it, consuming more and more. With each bite, my hunger only grew.


    Finally, I plunged my hand into its chest and pulled out an orange orb the size of a soccer ball, glowing brightly. My mouth opened wide, revealing blade-like teeth, and with one swift motion, I swallowed the core whole.


    Instantly, my hunger vanished, along with the rage and searing heat. My body began to shrink, and the tough scales that had covered me faded away. I reverted to my original form.


    Exhaustion hit me like a wave, and I collapsed onto the bloodied ground, lying beside the remains of the Nephilim.


    "B, what''s happening?" I asked, gasping for breath.


    "We won."


    "Not that¡­ I mean, what''s happen¡ª"


    Before I could finish, I passed out.


    ***


    My eyelids fluttered open, and the morning sun greeted me. I blinked, adjusting to the light. As I looked around, I realized I was in the same barren wasteland as always.


    My back ached terribly. I could feel the stones I had been resting on. I tried to recall what had happened, but only fragments of memory surfaced. I sat up, rubbing my face with my hand, only to notice that my right arm had stretched all the way back to a collapsed building.


    "What... what the hell?"


    "B! What''s happening to my hand?"


    "Oh, hey, bro. What''s good?"


    "B, is that you?"


    My hand casually walked back to me, using its index and middle fingers. Eyes and a mouth had formed on the back of my hand, and it held a comic book in its pinky.


    "You''re awake, bro?"


    "What the hell? What happened to me? What happened to you? Why are you talking like that?"


    "That''s a lot of questions, coming from you, bro."


    "Why are you talking like that?"


    "While you were asleep, I buried myself in some comics, so I picked up the speech. Took less than a minute to perfect it."


    "Oh..." I nodded slowly. "That kind of makes sense. But why is my hand like this?"


    "Beats me. I''m guessing it''s a side effect of eating my kind."


    "What?!"


    "I''m just speculating. I''m not sure. Remember, it had the same features, but on its back. Yours seems different."


    I tilted my head, trying to wrap my mind around it. What B said was partly true. The Nephilim had tentacles on its back, but my hand wasn''t a tentacle¡ªit was stretching, like rubber.


    Wait a minute... Something like this had happened before. I was sure of it. If I remembered correctly, the year I gained my sight, B had consumed one of his kind, a slimy one, and afterward, he took on the same appearance. That time, he had turned purple.


    If my suspicions were right, then...


    "B! Make my hand take your form!"


    "You can do that on your ow¡ª"


    "Just do it!"


    My left arm shifted into the Nephilim form. I stared at it, focusing hard.


    Minute


    s passed, but nothing happened. B, engrossed in his comics and I kept concentrating, sweat dripping down my face. Finally, my middle finger flattened, turning into a blade.


    "Awesome!" I exclaimed.


    My suspicions were correct. I could absorb the powers of any Nephilim I ate.

 Next move, city within the iron walls

    Two tentacles shot from my back simultaneously and, after covering some distance, gradually softened before returning to me.


    I had been training for hours in my Nephilim form, aware that this new ability would prove useful someday. Thus, I decided to train and become accustomed to it. I attempted to replicate the moves of the Nephilim I had fought against¡ªhow he hardened his tentacles, turning them into sharp blades that he could shoot far away. I also observed how he could manipulate their form, making them spread within his body to strengthen his grip.


    I aimed to learn it all, but I was making little progress.


    The sun was at its peak, but thankfully, due to the ever-present dark clouds, it wasn''t a nuisance to my training.


    "Yo bro, I want to continue the comic I was reading," B-three''s voice spoke inside my mind.


    "I told you not to talk like that again, and besides, you''ve already read all of them."


    "I want to revise them."


    "You don''t revise entertainment, B."


    I morphed back to my original state, and B continued with his comic.


    While training, I made some discoveries. First, the tentacles on my back numbered six, unlike the Nephilim''s four. That said, I could only move two, which was a progress, if you ask me.


    Secondly, my body wasn''t turning into rubber; that was merely one of the abilities I got from the Nephilim. This ability allowed me to alter my body structure, much like how the Nephilim could transform its fingers into blades and dissolve them when I was about to attack it with it''s own finger.


    Those were my only discoveries for now.


    It was a tough experience, and I was certain things would only get harder from here on out. I needed a new destination.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I lay on the ground, closing my eyes. I wanted to pick up any sound with my super hearing; any sound at all would point to my next destination.


    Suddenly, I heard someone:


    "Come in, radio call from the west tower. Everything looks fine at the west."


    "Come in from the south tower. Everything is alright at this end. All grade E Nephilims are cleared."


    "Well done. Return to your post and stay active and alert. Remember, we are the hope of Shibuya, the City of Irons."


    The line cuts


    I stood up from the ground, dusting off my clothes, even though they were dirty and ragged.


    "Let''s move, B."


    "Hm? Where are we headed?"


    "My hometown and birthplace, Shibuya."


    ***


    We were exhausted. We had spent hours journeying, with neither water nor food. From my ears, I thought the journey was only a stone''s throw, but little did I know we were about to embark on a twenty-kilometer trek.


    The light coming from the city was bright and visible from afar. Those lights kept me going; I wanted to reach them. I wanted to start a new life, find my mom, get a girlfriend, and finally settle down¡ªall this would happen within these walls, I wasn''t confident but I had to believe


    After covering some miles towards the city, I came across several dead carcasses, specifically Nephilim. Each of them varied in size and appearance. Some resembled regular insects like spiders and centipedes, while others were similar to the one I had fought¡­ each about six feet tall.


    The marks on their bodies showed large holes, not made by a regular gun, but something far more catastrophic. The damage was so severe that, if used on a human, it could obliterate the person without leaving a trace.


    I moved past the sea of dead bodies and arrived near a huge, towering steel fence. The fence was so enormous I couldn''t see where it ended, as if it extended beyond the dark clouds. Suddenly, bright floodlights were directed at me. I bent my head to avoid the blinding light.


    "What''s that?"


    "It doesn''t seem to be a Nephilim."


    "Don''t engage fire!" I heard one voice from another speak.


    "If you are a human, gently raise your hand in the air. Don''t be too fast and don''t be slow."


    The order was crazy, but I had to comply. I gently raised my hand while closing my eyes to avoid the light.


    "It''s a human."


    "Open up the gates and send six armed men."


    I heard the sound of iron rubbing against each other, and suddenly, with a thunderous noise, the gigantic gates opened. From within, six men in strange uniforms and strange guns emerged and surrounded me. The uniforms resembled standard Japanese army attire with some modifications; they wore masks, like gas masks. They were armored all over, and on their breast pockets was an insignia.


    They pointed their guns at me while one of them began searching me. From my shirt, he removed two comic books and scanned them.


    ''I told B he should dump those,''


    "Hm¡­ Titans Attack, Volume Ten. This was the good stuff back then," the guard exclaimed under his mask.


    "Is he clean?"


    A voice spoke from the wall.


    "Y-Yes, he''s clean," the guard replied and turned to me. "Alright, let''s move."


    They took me inside the wall. The wall itself was a building, but we passed through it, revealing a vast plain land. Far ahead was another wall, and within it was where the lights radiated from.


    "You say he''s clean?" a voice spoke from behind us, the same voice that had spoken earlier.


    "Yes, sir. I inspected him; he''s clean."


    "Hm, well, this is a shocker. What is a human doing outside the walls?"


    He walked up to me, and his face became visible. He was old, likely in his forties, with a white mustache and a few strands of hair under his jaw. A large scar ran from his left eyebrow, crossing his nose, and stopping on his right cheek.


    "Nice to meet you, survivor. Rejoice, for you have made it. Welcome to the Shibuya Residence Base."

 Benchiro Saiya

    Four years ago, creatures with various physical forms invaded our planet Earth. These beings consumed humans and destroyed our habitat. They were named Nephilim due to their superhuman strength and other extraordinary features they possessed.


    The government deployed the military to combat these creatures, but it soon became clear that our weapons had no effect on them. As a result, nearly seventy percent of the military was wiped out. Every day was a battle for survival; it was hell on Earth.


    At that time, I thought that hell itself must be more peaceful than Earth.


    As the battle raged on, humans were dying daily. Meanwhile, the world''s top officials were moved underground to various bunkers, leaving ordinary people like us with nothing to do but fend for ourselves.


    The Japanese government, along with other surviving countries, held a world conference and agreed to build walls and barricades in different parts of the world to protect humans from the Nephilim. However, our technology proved useless. When attacked by a swarm of Nephilim, the walls were easily destroyed.


    As time passed, the human population dwindled daily. At the rate it was decreasing, our extinction seemed inevitable. However, top scientists working underground began developing weapons and other technologies to aid us in our fight against the Nephilim.


    That same year, new weapons were created, and they worked. These weapons were made from materials extracted from the Nephilim''s core. Guns, knives, and more were fashioned from this core energy. The scientists also found a way to multiply the core''s energy, using it to create materials for building houses and drafting a new plan for constructing more effective walls.


    While these plans were in the drafting phase, a new military force known as the Rangers was deployed. Armed with these newly developed weapons, they set out to save the remaining survivors on Earth. In Japan alone, the remaining population was about twenty-five million, less than half of the original population.


    The rescued citizens were moved to underground bunkers for shelter as the new walls were being built. Engineers and volunteers worked on constructing the walls, but many of them died in frequent Nephilim attacks. After a year and a half, the towering walls were finally completed, not just in Shibuya, but in eight other regions across Japan and in over a hundred countries worldwide.


    In the following year, life slowly began returning to normal. We grew accustomed to living behind these towering, metallic walls. Within the safety of the walls, agriculture thrived. We planted crops and raised various animals. People resumed different occupations, and a single global currency was established to promote unity¡ªthough, in reality, the world was not much different from the one before the Nephilim attacks.


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    Many people lost their lives in the Nephilim attacks, including men, women, and even children. Among those casualties were my parents, who died protecting me.


    My name is Benchiro Saiya, and I am a nineteen-year-old Ranger lieutenant. At this moment, I am standing at the columbarium, paying my respects to my deceased parents. They were bakers by trade, but in their final moments, they fought more flashy than any Ranger I''ve ever known.


    I focus on their cheerful pictures because there''s nothing left of their ashes¡ªthey were devoured by the Nephilim. I was almost made into a meal myself before the Rangers rescued me and took me to the bunker, where I spent a year before moving up to the walls.


    Once I reached the walls, I immediately enlisted as a Ranger. I wanted to be like my parents in their last moments¡ªI wanted to be flashy, like them.


    After completing my exams, I was quickly promoted to the rank of lieutenant, skipping the cadet stage entirely. They said I was too skilled to remain a cadet. I was happy that my flashy skills were acknowledged, but deep down, I felt empty. In my desire to emulate my parents, I had neglected the joys of youth. Part of this was due to the Nephilim invasion, but the rest was my own fault.


    My roommate always nags me to get a boyfriend and enjoy life, but I don''t have time for that. I''d rather spend my time playing video games and reading comics than holding hands and engaging in romantic activities.


    I pack up the items I brought with me for my visit: a bottle of alcohol and a bento box filled with various meals. I''m not a drinker¡ªin fact, I''ve never had alcohol, except when I come to visit my parents. Both of them were heavy drinkers.


    After packing, I head straight to the Rangers'' training camp in Shibuya.


    Shibuya was later dubbed the City of Iron. The name didn''t come from the materials used to build it, but because it became the hub for all technology and construction in Japan.


    The Shibuya base is so large that it has three distinct areas: the residential base, the industrial base, and the farming base. The military base, where I''m headed, is the fourth. Each of these bases is bigger than most other bases in Japan.


    The residential base consists of homes, markets, parks, cinemas, and more. The industrial base is where most of the work happens¡ªconstruction, material multiplication, and even the creation of new Ranger battle suits, like the one I''m currently wearing. In the industrial base, scientists and engineers work together to improve life in Shibuya and Japan as a whole.


    As the name suggests, the farming base is where food and snacks are produced.


    The military base is where my next destination lies.


    After leaving the columbarium, I walk down the busy streets of the residential base. Almost everyone I pass greets me¡ªI''m somewhat of a celebrity.


    The journey from the residential base to the military base takes over thirty minutes by cab. On foot, it would have taken more than an hour.


    The military base is not just one building but a collection of them, each serving a specific purpose. I head to the training camp, then to the women''s locker room.


    "Oh, Saiya! Good morning!" the girls in the locker room chorus.


    "Good morning, everyone," I reply with a smile.


    Most of the girls are my juniors, some are my peers, and very few are my seniors. The locker room arrangements are somewhat complicated.


    As I change out of my military uniform and into my training suit, someone approaches from behind and grabs my breast. I''m annoyed, but I know exactly who it is, so I let it slide. I''ve warned her countless times, but she never listens.


    "Good morning, Sarada," I say.


    "Good morning to you, Saiya!" she responds with a grin.


    Inoue Sarada is my one and only friend and also my roommate.


    "You''re late, as usual, Saiya. We''re about to start training."


    "Sorry, I''ll be there soon."


    Sarada is nineteen, like me, but she''s far more energetic and full of life. We met long ago in the bunker, and we''ve been friends ever since. I really like her, but there''s one thing about her that drives me crazy¡­


    "Oh, before I forget, Saiya, I told Issei you''re into him and want to be his girlfriend."


    There it is.


    "Your jokes aren''t funny anymore. Stop it," I say as I continue changing.


    "No, I''m serious. Here, look."


    She shoves her phone in my face.


    I can see it clearly¡ªher


    message to Issei. At that moment, m


    y heart sinks.


    "Sarada, what is this?"

 Odorless Figure

    Lieutenant Kotomine Issei, a name familiar to everyone in the military base and the entirety of Shibuya, was once again the subject of conversation.


    "Sarada, what is this?" I asked, barely able to breathe.


    "It''s the real deal, my friend! I chatted with him last night and spilled the beans. Told him how you loved him and dreamed of being his girlfriend¡ª"


    "I never said that!"


    Indeed, I never did. In fact, I have no emotional attraction to anyone, including Issei. But according to what I hear every day, and from most of the girls around, he kind of likes me.


    "You don''t need to say something to feel something, my friend!"


    "Ehh?"


    "You know what I''m talking about. For now, let''s head to the training ground. You''ve got a lot to teach me, Saiya."


    "Hmm¡­ sure."


    This is the worst. I''m definitely going to see him there. How am I supposed to approach him after what Sarada just did to me?


    Haaa¡­


    I''m just going to act normal, as always. Yes, that''s what I''m going to do.


    With determination in my eyes, I headed to the training ground with Sarada.


    As soon as I entered the training ground, I covered my nose¡ªthe stench of combined sweat hit me like a wave. It was almost unbearable, but I had to cope with it every day. My nose has been overly sensitive for as long as I can remember. That''s one reason my parents started baking sweets; I love the smell of sweets. It''s said that the scent of Nephilim is that of a decayed corpse, and I''ve found that to be true. The stronger the Nephilim, the worse the smell.


    The training ground was divided into three sections: the shooting practice ground for those who use weapons, the melee practice ground, and the combat ground. All of these were located inside a massive building.


    Unlike the shooting and melee areas, the combat ground was used for both training and exams for aspiring rangers.


    We made our way to the melee practice ground. I''ve always had a strong affinity for close combat and, admittedly, I''m pretty flashy at it. I noticed this early on when I first enrolled. As for Sarada... well, I still think she became a ranger because of me. She lacks skills in close combat, can''t shoot, and has no technical abilities to work behind the scenes as a strategist.


    The melee practice ground was a vast auditorium with three training areas. Along the sides of these grounds were wooden weapons: daggers, swords, spears, hammers, axes, and more¡ªall made of wood.


    "Good morning, Lieutenant Saiya!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Good morning, everyone," I replied, still smiling.


    We walked up to a man clad in a standard training kit¡ªthe training director.


    "Good morning, Captain Oka," I greeted him.


    "Morning, Cap''n Oka!" Sarada echoed.


    "Oh, good morning, Lieutenant Saiya, Cadet Sarada. I see you two are here again, as usual," he said.


    "Yes, it''s important to stay fit," I replied.


    "That''s certainly true, but while it''s important to stay fit, you also need to watch your health¡­" He leaned closer to me and whispered, "¡­It''s important to take breaks, you know. You''re a fine woman. Watch your body¡ªit''s a great asset. You don''t want to get all dried up and have your, you know, ''boobies'' get saggy. Hahaha!" He laughed afterward.


    "Gosh, Cap''n, you''re such a pervert!" Sarada whines


    That''s just who he is, though. And nobody hates him for it. He adds a bit of fun to the training ground when things are gloomy. He''s a good man.


    "Sarada, let''s go get ready."


    "Hm! Yeah," she replied.


    We grabbed our weapons. As usual, I spent more time teaching Sarada than training myself, although I always make time for my own practice.


    Sarada picked up a wooden sword, while I opted for two katanas.


    As we stood facing each other, a crowd began to gather around to watch. This had become a regular occurrence, so it didn''t bother me anymore. As for Sarada¡­ well¡­


    "Sarada, focus," I said.


    "Y-Yes!" she stammered, gripping her sword tightly and staring at my feet. She was focused, indeed.


    "Here I come!" I announced.


    I kicked forward and sidestepped to the right, appearing at her side. I swung my blade, and though she managed to block it, the force sent her stumbling back.


    "Ohh??!" the crowd exclaimed.


    "You''ve gotten better," I noted.


    "Y-Yeah," she replied.


    "Then how about blocking this one¡ª"


    I began running in a slow circle around her. She tracked my movements keenly, until I suddenly shot forward, appearing in front of her.


    Nnh...


    She followed my movement, raising her sword to block. But I sidestepped again, this time appearing behind her and striking her back with my katana.


    "Ohhh, awesome!!" the crowd cheered.


    "Awww... I made sure to pay attention this time!" Sarada whined, as usual.


    "It''s alright, Sarada. You did well," I said, helping her to her feet.


    "As excellent as always, Saiya," a familiar voice called out. Calm and low-pitched, it was the kind of voice that could charm any average girl. It belonged to Kotomine Issei.


    "It''s nothing. It''s Sarada I fought with, after all. I wouldn''t stand a chance against you," I laughed.


    "Hey, don''t badmouth me in front of Issei!" Sarada protested.


    "Haha... but really, you looked amazing, as always," Issei said, walking closer and locking eyes with me, those piercing blue eyes of his. But I didn''t feel anything¡ªnothing at all. I feel nothing for anyone, and it leaves me wondering, will I ever find the right person? Well I didn''t care about that.


    Everything was fine until I remembered what Sarada showed me. My face flushed red, and I quickly averted my gaze.


    For the first time in my life, I broke eye contact with a man.


    Curse you, Sarada!


    "Lieutenant Saiya, I''m looking for Lieutenant Saiya!" someone called out, entering the training ground.


    "I''m over here," I replied.


    "Oh, there you are. You''ve been summoned by Captain Leonard. He''s in the office," the soldier said.


    "Hm? Is it for a mission outside?" I asked.


    "No, I don''t think so."


    "Then what happened? He only calls me for missions."


    "Well, news hasn''t reached here yet, but someone was found outside the walls¡­"


    The crowd gathered closer, listening.


    "...and after a thorough check, we discovered some strange things. He''s scheduled for interrogation in an hour, and they need someone from Squad Seven to serve as a guard."


    "And I''m the representative, right?" I asked.


    "Yes."


    "Alright, I''m off then. Sarada, I''ll catch up with you later."


    ***


    I was now in my battle suit, with two daggers at my sides. I stood outside the interrogation room, looking through the glass at a young man with wavy hair, a well-built physique, and dull, blue eyes. His eyes were truly unsettling, almost lifeless.


    "You''re here, Lieutenant Saiya," an older man in a lab coat approached me.


    "Good morning, sir," I greeted him.


    "Morning. Here," he handed me an X-ray of the man''s chest. To me, someone unfamiliar with the human body, he seemed fine.


    "Although he has a heart, it''s not beating. It''s just¡­ there. And here, look at these strange markings all over his body."


    The scars and marks were certainly unusual. They didn''t look natural at all.


    "I needed a guard to accompany me while I ask him some questions," the old man said.


    "Alright, let''s go," I agreed, taking one last glance through the window. I thought about Sarada and Kotomine.


    What a day this had been, and it was only a few hours in.


    As I wrapped my thoughts around it, I found myself wondering...as I got drawn to him, could this strange man be my ideal? No, no. He doesn''t even look human. That pale skin, those terrifying eyes. If there''s anything I should admire, it''s his hair.


    I followed the old man as the iron door swung open.


    As soon as I stepped into the room, a powerful smell hit me, overwhelming my senses. Without thinking, I drew one of my daggers, ready to strike.


    My mind was racing with a single question


    "What kind of being is this?!"

 Talks

    The situation at hand is dire. I''m on the verge of experiencing an unexpected event.


    I, Ryuma, am about to be killed by a girl probably in her early or late teens. I don''t know. She has a small body. One thing I''m certain of is that she is in her teens, but that''s beside the point. As of this moment, this young girl in front of me is wielding two dangerous-looking daggers, and her gaze is fixed on me. A scary gaze.


    "Bro, be careful."


    "I told you to stop calling me that! And why should I be afraid of the girl? She''s just a kid."


    "I''m not talking about the girl, I''m talking about those weapons in her hands. I''m surprised how your kind is able to advance at such a pace in just a few years."


    "Hmm, surely I recognize that energy¡­ I''ve felt it somewhere before¡ªwait a minute, those are made from Nephilim cores, right?"


    "Yes, bro, those are made from my kind''s life source."


    "Ehhh¡­ creepy, but I don''t have a core, so they shouldn''t be dangerous to me¡ª"


    "Remember what I told you: there are many ways to kill my kind. Well, this is one."


    "Then this is bad."


    "Indeed. When one core''s energy meets another, they instantly begin to negate each other, and during that process, the stronger energy will consume the other."


    "But you said I didn''t have a core, so it shouldn''t affect us, right?"


    "It shouldn''t, but I''m not entirely sure. For now, try to avoid any situation that will make you transform, because if you do and come into contact with that object, I''m not certain of our fate."


    "Alright, alright, I understand."


    I shook my head, leaned back in the chair, and crossed my leg over the other, looking at the young girl.


    Upon watching my movement, she flinched but then gripped her daggers tightly, still locking her gaze on me. I was afraid for a minute but still tried to maintain my composure.


    "What are you trying to do, Lieutenant!?"


    The man beside her barked. He, too, was surprised at her sudden action, so it seems like she''s acting on her own accord.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Lieutenant Saiya!"


    He barked again, bringing the girl back to her senses.


    ''Saiya¡­ I think I''ve seen that name somewhere.''


    "Lieutenant Saiya, stop this instant!"


    "Nn¡­ I''m sorry, s-sir."


    She spun her daggers and placed them back in her pockets.


    I''m relieved. So fucking relieved.


    "Thank goodness, I thought you were mad."


    "I''m so sorry, sir."


    The man walked up and sat in the chair opposite me, while the girl moved towards the edge of the room in the shadows.


    "S-So sorry about all this. She just came back from a battle not too long ago, so she isn''t feeling well."


    "No problem. I understand."


    "You understand?"


    "Mm err yeah, back outside the walls it was confusing. Everything was just so¡­ somehow, and it was confusing."


    What the fuck am I even saying?


    "Okay."


    The man dropped some documents on the table.


    I doubt he bought what I said.


    "Erm, so the thing is, there isn''t anything in particular happening, I just want to ask you a couple of questions concerning your health."


    I did a check while entering the walls. They told me it was to see if I was medically stable or something like that, using some other terminologies. So what is this doctor, or whatever he is, trying to tell me? That I''m sick? Or maybe I have a tumor, a brain tumor?


    "So what is it you want to say, doc?" I asked.


    "Glad you asked¡­"


    He flipped through the documents and placed a sheet of paper with a black-and-white drawing I knew nothing about.


    "What''s this, doc?"


    "This is your¡ªplease don''t call me ''doc.'' I am a doctor."


    "Okay, okay, so tell me, doc-tor, what''s this painting?"


    "Well, as you know, we performed a check-up on you when you arrived, and this is the result. This is your X-ray."


    Hmm¡­ kind of interesting.


    "Can I?" I asked for permission before reaching for the X-ray on the table. I looked at it, but I couldn''t understand a thing. Everything was just new.


    "The thing is, we found a rather troublesome issue with your body that needs to be addressed immediately," he said, taking a quick glance at my chest. I had a feeling I knew where this conversation was heading.


    "So¡­? What''s this issue, doc?"


    He let out a sigh before answering.


    "The thing is¡­ about your heart. We discovered during the test that it''s in a state of asystole."


    "Please speak English, doc."


    "Your heart isn''t beating."


    Shit. This is bad.


    Three words resound in my head when he told me about my heart. Could it be it hasn''t been beating all this time? Why?


    Should it start beating now? No, if it starts all of a sudden, it''ll definitely feel strange. But still, I could say they got it wrong. I doubt they''ll buy that.


    This is bad.


    "Are you sure about what you''re saying, doc?"


    "Yes, I am. Here is video footage of it."


    The fucking dude has proof. Shit, I am finished.


    I never thought of any of this.


    Shit!!


    He removed his phone and played the footage, and truly, my heart wasn''t beating. But what caught my attention wasn''t its motion¡ªit was the structure. It looked perfect, even though it was just a replica.


    "I am utterly speechless, doc."


    "Hmm, I haven''t asked my question¡­" He dropped the phone and arranged the documents. "¡­ There''s a big scar on your chest and other parts of your body, so my question is: can you tell me what caused these scars?"


    The situation is truly dire. Anything I say now will be crucial. I can''t possibly tell him about B, so I have to lie. I have to make up a sensible lie. But what should I say?


    "It''s still your choice if you don''t want to talk about it, but if I am to advise you, you should speak up now so we can address this issue¡ª"


    "I don''t want to speak about it. There''s nothing to talk about. I got the injury back outside the walls during a Nephilim attack."


    First trick to lying: always tell the truth.


    "Hmm¡­ if you say so, there''s no problem. But are you sure you don''t want to check into it?"


    "No, not really."


    Surely my response will only attract more attention. From here on out, I have to be cautious.


    Haa¡­ and here I thought I could live a peaceful life. Well, there''s always a start to everything.


    "Then I won''t pry any further. Since you just came into the walls, you''ll be given temporary accommodations for three months. In these three months, you are to get familiarized with the place, get a paying job, and find a house for yourself."


    He turned to the creepy girl in the shadows.


    "Please show him around, Lieutenant."


    "Yes, sir!"


    "Wait a minute, wait a minute, doc! I''m with this creep? Are you being serious?!"


    No doubt, this is gonna be one hell of a ride.

 Thoughtful Son

    It''s been over two months since I arrived at the walls. During these two months, I was given free accommodation and food under the condition that after the third month, I would begin to pay for everything.


    Now, in the third month, I am depressed to admit that I haven''t found any suitable job for myself.


    It''s not my fault. Almost every available job requires skills, and I have little to no skills at all. Apart from skill-based jobs, the rest involve heavy lifting, and honestly, I''d rather find a way to squeeze myself into the skilled jobs than participate in the heavy lifting work.


    I can''t even lift my own weight.


    I relaxed on the balcony, looking at the neighborhood, watching people moving to and fro, going about their activities. Others were having their fun, and some people, like me, were seated on their balconies, enjoying the view.


    Just then, my eyes caught sight of the scary girl from the time I was questioned.


    I haven''t seen her since that day.


    Beside her was another girl, who looked busty with big boobs and ass.


    ''Oho, that''s definitely it.''


    Upon catching sight of her, my dick throbbed in excitement.


    Out of curiosity, I decided to follow them. I did it out of curiosity, by the way.


    ***


    The cafe was almost empty, with only a few people around. Among those people were the two girls seated at the counter.


    I walked up to the counter and sat down, talking to the attendant.


    "Good day, sir. What can we get you?"


    "A glass of water, please."


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "Okay, sir, your order is coming right away."


    I relaxed in the chair.


    "You''re that man from that day!" the girl yelled.


    I decided to act surprised, too.


    "Ohh, you''re that scary girl from that day, too. What a coincidence."


    "Scary? Why are you calling me scary?"


    "That''s cute coming from someone who wanted to end my life for no reason."


    "Argh, but I apologized."


    "You never did. It was that old man who apologized."


    "Alright, I''m sorry. You just caught me off guard."


    She sighed. She kinda looked cute, but her friend sitting beside her though...


    "Saiya, do you know this guy?" her friend asked.


    I wanted to introduce myself but I couldn''t pick the right words to start with, so I just kept quiet


    "Mhm, he''s the person I told you about that day."


    Oh? What were they talking about me?


    "If you say so, then I''ll excuse myself." Her friend stood up.


    "Wait a minute, Sarada."


    "Excuse me," she winked and left the cafe.


    I was devastated. The main reason I came here just left, leaving me alone with this scary girl.


    "Haaa," I let out a sigh, resting on the counter.


    "You don''t seem happy about what''s happening," she said.


    "Don''t talk to me, scary girl."


    "Ehh, what''s wrong with you?" she barked.


    Not only is she scary, she''s a noise maker. How worse can this day get?


    "Have you gotten a job yet?" she asked.


    "What do you care?"


    "Nnh¡­I was placed to watch over you, you know?"


    "Seriously? And this is the first time you''re asking me about my job status in two months?"


    "They said I should watch over you, not be your mother."


    Oh, that reminds me.


    "I want to ask you something."


    "Eh... what is it?"


    "Have you heard of the name Tokita Ayuma?"


    I wasn''t expecting her to know, but still, there''s no harm in asking.


    "Tokita Ayuma... Wait a minute, do you mean Mrs. Tokita Ayuma? Do I know her? Everybody knows her. She''s a big shot at the base. She and some other scientists created the battle suits and some battle gear. I was surprised when I realized you shared the same name. By any chance, are you related to her?"


    I lowered my head and answered, "I am her son."


    I was ashamed of myself. I couldn''t even proudly call myself her son, being such a pathetic loser.


    "Really? I heard she once had a son and searched earnestly for him."


    "Searched?"


    "Yes, together with some squad members, she went on expeditions looking for her missing child. Although she was told countless times to stop, she didn''t. She continued searching. I once followed her on a search, too. She was a good woman."


    Damn, I''m shocked, but I shouldn''t be. That''s just who she was.


    "So where is she now? Can I see her? I really want to see her."


    "Oh, you don''t know."


    "What don''t I know?"


    "She died a long time ago."


    ***


    I sat on the floor, looking at my mom''s photo and ashes. She was beautiful, as always. I was bitter inside, but no tears rolled down my face.


    I questioned everything that had been happening so far, and surprisingly, I found the answer to every question I asked myself.


    B gave me a second chance to come back to life, but now I kind of regret coming back. I was better off dead. I don''t deserve this life I have. After all, I hadn''t used my previous one to achieve anything.


    Yet my mom was always there, reaching out to me. When I was bullied in school, when I became a shut-in, and even when I died, she refused to lose hope and continued to reach out for me. Yet I did nothing to repay her.


    "I''m alone now."


    I don''t have anybody. The only person I had, I never cherished. So I think everything happening to me now is reparation for my negligence.


    I''ve decided. With this new life I have, I will choose a new path. A path just like my mom''s. I''ll help and save people the way she helped me. I''ve decided on my future. I''ve decided on my job...


    I walked out of the columbarium and met up with the scary girl. She was waiting for me just outside the building.


    "I''m sorry for your loss," she said with a long face.


    "You don''t need to be. More importantly, how can I enroll in the military?"

 Examination

    Immediately after visiting my mum, the scary girl escorted me to the military base to register.


    A week later, the exams started. There were three phases: the written exams, oral exams, and lastly, the combat exams.


    The written exam was the easiest so far, even though I had already done two of the exams. The questions covered calculations, arithmetic, the government, and some other minor topics. Personally, I think I''ll ace the written exam. As for the oral exam... I''m fucked.


    The combat exam was said to test a lot of things¡ªour physical capabilities, decision-making, and more. It''s just like facing a real-time battle. The combat exam was moved to a week later, and during the free time, we were told to train and work on our bodies.


    During that free week, while I trained, I also had enough time to talk with the scary girl named Saiya. She told me a lot, including about my current situation. She said she was only watching over me until the designated three months expired, after which she would have no business with me. She even went as far as saying that there were no cameras or spies watching me and that I should relax.


    I don''t trust her words.


    There''s no way a living human with no heartbeat wouldn''t be under constant watch.


    At the end of our conversation, I told her to tell no one that I was Tokita Ayuma''s son. I wanted everyone to believe I am dead. That''s right¡ªI''m already dead.


    ***


    "B, you''ve been awfully quiet lately."


    "There''s a reason for that, bro. I''ve been constantly watching your kind, and to be honest, I''ve been amazed. If only my kind could exhibit the level of cooperation your kind does, we''d be unstoppable."


    "Well, thanks to the heavens they don''t."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "But are you sure the decision you made is the right one, brother? About joining the military?"


    "Yeah, I know it''s crazy, but look on the bright side: we get to make money and pay for our rent in this beautiful house."


    "I don''t understand humans. So, you''re ready to risk your life for money? You know if they catch us, they won''t kill us. Worst-case scenario, we''ll be used for experiments. And I don''t mind killing some of your kind to keep them shut"


    "Yes, yes, yes. Everything you say is true, but when that time comes, we''ll sort ourselves out and nobody will die, got that?"


    "Hmmm¡­I''m not really afraid of your kind. I''m afraid of their progress, and the ones I''m really afraid of are my kind, because the more your kind advances in technology, the further my kind will go to take over this world."


    ***


    The combat ground felt like a terrain inside a building. It had the same feeling as the wasteland outside the walls. Having been outside, I know that feeling all too well.


    All the aspiring rangers were donned in our battle suits, with weapons of our choice in hand.


    I chose a gun.


    But what surprised me about the weapons, especially the guns, was that the bullets were weird.


    How should I put it?


    It''s liquid, but when shot, it comes out solid¡ªalmost like a water gun that shoots stone.


    After some minutes of waiting, a voice echoed from the control room.


    "Congratulations to you all for making it to this final stage of the exams. As you all know, this will be the final stage, and passing it will make you cadets. There isn''t much to the rules; the only rule in this stage is to survive. Now, about your battle suits, tap the button on the right side of your neck¡­"


    A mask popped out, covering my face and displaying a holographic screen. On the right side of the screen was some text:


    "Physical capability: 1%."


    "¡­The battle suit draws out the physical potential of your body and gives you extra stats. It may increase your strength, speed, agility, and so much more that depends on your body. If you pay attention to the windows, you''ll see some numbers¡ªthat''s the amount of strength the suit is currently drawing. And wow... we''ve got some surprising stats so far, a one! Hahaha, sorry about that, whoever is the bearer of that number¡­"


    Is this guy making fun of me? But still, though, how the fuck is this suit only drawing out one percent of my physical capabilities? I know I''m weak, but damn, man, I''m real buffed up! Show me some mercy¡ª


    "Get out of my way."


    "Huh?"


    I turned, and behold, in front of me was a small girl. Why are girls so scary these days?


    She was short, very short. She had long red hair tied together, fair skin, and she was kinda cute¡ªbut still scary.


    "Don''t think too much about it, man. That''s just who she is."


    A guy patted me on the shoulder. He had the same red hair and was taller, almost my height. They looked alike¡ªseems like they were siblings.


    "Oh, I''m Kitetsu by the way, and that''s my senior sister, Hinetsu."


    Your senior sister?! More like your child.


    "I''m Ryuma."


    "Oh, Ryuma, let''s work together then."


    We shook hands. He''s a cool guy.


    The speaker continued:


    "Now, let''s get to what to expect. Just take this as a tip: you''ll be experiencing two wave attacks, and you''ll have to cooperate to survive them. You can form teams among yourselves or better still go solo. The first wave will be a group of E-rank Nephilims¡ªthey''re the easy ones. Then the next wave will be D-rank Nephilims. That being said, this mission has no time limit, and there are no quits. Quitting will result in instant disqualification. Now, my final tip for everyone: Survive."

 Examination II

    After the announcement, everybody began forming groups. Some were already familiar with each other, so forming a group wasn''t hard, while others were perfectly fine with conversation.


    As for me, I''d rather stay solo than have a conversation with anybody. Truly, I''d rather die than start up a conversation.


    You can''t blame me, I''m just a toxic introvert.


    "Hey!"


    Someone called.


    I turned to see who it was, only to find the red-haired guy. What was his name¡­


    "Kitetsu, right?"


    "Yes, you remember me, Ryuma."


    "Haha, you also remembered my name."


    "Yeah, mind if we make a team?"


    "A team?"


    "Mhm¡­ I''m on my own, and it''s best if we make teams in situations like this."


    "Yeah, that''s definitely true. What about your sister?"


    "Oh, Big Sis is on her own. She goes solo. It''s depressing, but she only sees me as a liability. I''ll only drag her back."


    "Damn, that''s bad."


    "Mhm, so can we make a team?"


    "Yeah, sure, why not."


    Together with the red-haired boy Kitetsu, we made a team.


    ***


    In the control room where the examination was supervised, almost everybody in the room was seated and glued to their computers. At the front was a very big screen that displayed everything happening in the examination grounds and the details of the people taking the exams.


    In front of the widescreen stood a man in a military uniform. He was the person in charge, supervising the exams.


    "Someone, display more details on the individual with physical capability."


    "Yes!"


    Someone answered, and immediately a tab popped up on the screen.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Tokita Ryuma¡­ I don''t know why someone would have such a low number. Wait a second, isn''t he the person Doctor Alfred told us about?"


    "Affirmative, but Doctor Alfred didn''t mention any physical deformity. Rather, he praised him."


    A voice spoke from behind.


    "Then what happened? Is it a system error?" The man rubbed his chin as he pondered.


    "We also have someone with very high physical capability, Ko Hinetsu, with a capability level of fifty-four percent."


    A tab appeared beside Ryuma''s.


    "We have quite the participants this time around. I think the last person with similarly high capability was¡ª"


    Suddenly, the door behind slid open, and three people entered. Among them was Benchiro Saiya.


    "Oh, Captain Leonard, what brings you here?"


    The Supervisor greeted.


    "Nothing out of the ordinary. I just came to watch the exam. You know my squad is three men short, so it wouldn''t hurt to watch the new recruits."


    "Indeed, you''re right¡ª"


    "Wait a minute, isn''t that Ryuma?"


    Saiya noticed the tab on the screen.


    "A friend of yours?" Leonard asked.


    "F-Friend? No way! I can''t be friends with an old creep," she scoffed. "But why the hell is he at one percent?"


    "That''s a surprise to us too,"


    The supervisor exclaimed, walking towards the screen.


    "His vitals are normal, everything about him is normal except his capabilities," he stated.


    "So are you saying he''s not cut out for the military?" Leonard asked.


    "Hmmm¡­ I wouldn''t say it like that. Even if he''s not cut out for the frontlines, he can still join us at the back. We still have to watch him and see what he''s capable of."


    ***


    According to Kitetsu, the suit and weapon have a lot of benefits.


    The suit helps to boost physical ability to a certain degree to help in combat against Nephilims.


    But!!


    Everything boils down to one''s physical capability. The higher the capability, the more power the suit draws out.


    I''m really fucked.


    A fucking one? Like, how? Now, this exam isn''t about passing; it''s about surviving.


    A countdown began on a large board. As soon as it dropped to zero, some screeching sounds could be heard.


    "Bro, I sense some lower beasts. You won''t have a problem dealing with them after we transform¡ª"


    "Are you fucking stupid? How can we transform here?"


    "I''m just bringing suggestions, considering how tense you are."


    "Don''t bring any, and I can take care of myself. I''ve got a gun, after all."


    With a proud look, I gazed upon the pistol in my hand.


    "Ryuma, let''s move!"


    Kitetsu called out, and together we made our way towards the direction of the horde of Nephilims.


    "In this examination, performance is everything. They will judge us based on performance and will assign us to squads based on that same performance, so we need to make an appearance."


    "Y-Yes!"


    I sounded like an apprentice taking lessons.


    The horde of Nephilims came into sight. All of them were similar to the ones I saw just outside the walls. They looked like insects of different types.


    Several other individuals ran at the horde, slaying every single Nephilim with ease, some in teams and some solo. Among the ones that went solo was the individual Hinetsu. Petite with red hair, she swung her synth, decapitating anyone that crossed her path. Her movements were fluid and entertaining to watch.


    "Awesome,"


    I exclaimed unknowingly.


    "Haha, that''s Big Sis for you. Come on, let''s not lose to her."


    Dude, we''re already losing.


    "Here goes¡­"


    Kitetsu dropped his assault rifle on his shoulder and shot multiple rounds, instantly killing four Nephilims.


    I can''t just sit back and watch them get all the kills.


    I cocked my pistol and rushed ahead. For some reason, I was already getting exhausted from running all over the place, but I didn''t mind.


    Suddenly, a spider-looking Nephilim jumped at me. I raised my gun and got a clear view of the spider.


    I pulled the trigger, and my bullet shot forward but dissolved upon contact with the spider.


    "Ehh?"


    In that moment, I saw it. Yes, the gates of the afterlife.


    But immediately, a barrage of gunshots rang in my ear, and the Nephilim shattered into pieces.


    "Hey, what happened?"


    Kitetsu came rushing towards me.


    "Eh, ermm, nothing. I think my gun is broken."


    "This is bad, in the middle of a battle. Here, bring it. Let me check it out."


    He collected the pistol and shot at the ground. It created a crater on the ground.


    "But nothing''s wrong with the gun."


    "B-But¡­ that can''t be. I pulled the trigger, and it couldn''t shoot."


    "Well, that''s¡­ something for later. Let''s get on with the wave¡ª"


    A voice shouted out from the speaker:


    "First wave completed. Individual with the highest kills: Ko Hinetsu, with a total of twenty-one kills. All individuals should get ready for the second wave."


    I stood there, my eyes and mouth gaping open, watching the screen displaying the little girl. I was amazed, but little did I know that there was no time to be amazed, as what was coming next was different.


    After the rest countdown was completed, the roof of the combat ground opened, and multiple cages were brought down by pulleys.


    The cages snapped open, and what came out from each cage shook everyone. Creatures standing on two feet with upright backs but different appearances¡ªalmost similar to the tentacled Nephilim I fought.


    I wasn''t shocked by what I saw. Rather, I asked myself a question: If these creatures in front of us were given the title of Grade D, then what do Grade A creatures look like?

 Examination III

    The cage hooks snapped open, and the Nephilims made their way out. They glanced at each other, making screeching sounds¡ªthey were communicating, and I could understand them perfectly. Maybe it was because I had merged with B.


    The supervisor''s voice came through the speaker:


    "Another tip: Grade D Nephilims have a certain level of intelligence, so don''t take them lightly."


    As soon as he finished speaking, a Nephilim lunged forward, grabbing a girl and throwing her into its mouth. She screamed at the top of her lungs for help, but everyone just stood there, watching in devastation.


    The Nephilim closed its mouth, but its teeth couldn''t penetrate the girl''s suit.


    "Relax, Grade D Nephilims won''t harm you in that suit. That being said, your points will be massively deducted, so just think of it as though you''re dead," the supervisor announced through the speaker.


    A spark of hope lit up in everyone''s eyes, and their courage returned. We got our weapons ready, and before we knew it, the combat ground had become a battlefield of humans versus Nephilims.


    "Here, take my gun," Kitetsu said.


    "Eh?"


    Kitetsu threw his assault rifle at me. I caught it. He removed something that looked like a torch and pressed a button, causing a bright red light to emit from it.


    "I can''t lose to Big Sis," he muttered. "I''m sorry, Ryuma, but I have to go forward."


    I just nodded, and he dashed ahead. He was fast.


    I picked up the rifle and moved forward.


    "B, could you help me a bit?"


    "Help you a bit? What do you mean? I can''t help you; this is your battle."


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "I know, I know, but if you could tell me what I could do, it would be of great help."


    "But there''s nothing I can help you with."


    ''Haa, speak of a useless partner.''


    "I can hear you."


    I shot three bullets at the Nephilim. Each had less impact than the one before, but it killed the Nephilim.


    "Oho!"


    As I proceeded to the next kill, I noticed a strange movement. All the Nephilims were shifting backward. It wasn''t a retreat; they were blocking or trying to shield something, at least that was whay I thought.


    ***


    In the control room, while everyone was focused on the screens, watching the exam, somebody noticed something unusual.


    "Hmm, what''s with this computer¡­ Oi, Boss, something is wrong with my computer. Oh god, I told that brat to fix it," one of the guys at the computer complained.


    The supervisor closed the distance and glanced at the screen.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    "I think my computer''s busted. I''ve been getting these fluctuating heat signals. Sometimes it goes up to eighty aqueous; sometimes it''s below that¡ªsee! It''s now at eighty-three."


    The supervisor squinted, peering at the screen.


    "Above fifty means there should be a Grade C Nephilim. Are you sure all the Nephilims released are Grade D?"


    "Hmm, I don''t know. I asked the lady at the lab, and according to her, they cross-checked everything, and it was okay. Personally, I think my computer''s busted."


    "Alright, go get the tech team, and you can take a break while you''re at it. You''ve done enough work for today," the supervisor said, moving to the big screen.


    "Oh, thank you very much, Boss."


    "Aww¡­ that''s not fair, Boss! We all did the same amount of work today. Why does only he get a break?" a lady whined.


    "She''s right, Boss, we all deserve a break," another added.


    "Quite the lively bunch you''ve got here," Leonard, who was seated near the door, commented. Beside him were two others: a guy wearing a nose mask, likely asleep with his eyes closed, and Saiya.


    "They''re always like this. I can''t handle them," the supervisor chuckled, turning to his team. "Alright, after these exams, we''ll have a team bonding night."


    "Yeah! There you go, Boss!" they all cheered in jubilation, until a voice cut through their cheers.


    "Boss, I think my computer''s broken too," a young girl said.


    "Huh?? Even you? Are you trying to get a break as well?" the supervisor asked.


    "Come see for yourself."


    He approached her position and bent over, locking his gaze on her screen. His eyes widened.


    "What is this? A hundred aqueous? Scan the area and pinpoint the exact location this wave is coming from, be quick!"


    "Alright, Boss."


    The girl began tapping her keyboard aggressively, her calm gaze fixed on the screen. Her colleagues craned their necks to see what was happening.


    "Got it, Boss."


    The screen showed a beeping red glow.


    "It''s coming from the west wing, and the exam is taking place a few kilometers to the north," he muttered. "Calculate the heat waves and grade it."


    "Roger."


    She tapped her keyboard, and multiple tabs popped up on the screen.


    "Eighty to a hundred and two. I think it''s a Grade C."


    "Damn those scientist bastards¡­ We need help immediately! Someone, call for backup!" The control room gradually erupted into chaos.


    The supervisor walked toward Leonard, who remained seated, calmly watching the exam.


    "Captain."


    "What''s happening?"


    "Honestly, we don''t know, but we need your help. There''s a Nephilim on the ground that shouldn''t be there, and we''re speculating it''s a Grade C."


    Leonard nodded.


    "Fox, get going."


    The guy who had been sleeping beside him opened his dark eyes, stood up, and left the control room. Saiya also stood, about to follow, but Leonard stopped her.


    "Wait, Snake!"


    "Captain¡­"


    "Go call for the extraction team."


    "Roger that!"


    ***


    I stood frozen, eyes wide, cold sweat running down my chin, a chill down my spine, my feet shaking, and my hands trembling. Even though I had eaten one myself, what I saw in front of me was utterly inhumane.

 Examination IV

    A Few Minutes Earlier


    What''s with these guys? They''re acting strange all of a sudden.


    Just a few moments ago, they came at us in a horde, but now, after seeing what we did to their kind, they''re somewhat retreating.


    I wouldn''t entirely call it retreating because they have nowhere to run to, so what''s happening?


    Why are they coming one by one while the rest are just standing there, gradually moving back?


    Their movement feels odd, but no one has noticed yet. Unlike the red-haired siblings and a few others who charged forward, killing everything in their path, the rest are struggling to keep up.


    But that doesn''t matter.


    What matters right now is that something feels off.


    I don''t know how many Grade D Nephilims they gave us to kill, but there were definitely many. Roughly, I''d say around forty.


    I scanned the area, looking at the Nephilims.


    Just as I thought¡ªfar away from us, one of them ran back as though it was retreating, while the rest stood in place, taking small steps backward. Then a few came charging at us.


    Something''s fishy. I don''t know why.


    "Oi, B, say something."


    "Something like what?"


    "I don''t know, tell me what your people are up to."


    "..."


    "You''re just going to stay quiet about this?"


    "Like you said, they''re up to something, but I don''t know what it is¡­"


    "Useless as always¡ª"


    "But I will give you a direction. The rest is up to you."


    "Please, do anything."


    "Go ten meters north, then six meters west. You''ll see what you''re looking for."


    "Thanks, man, but still, you could give me more details, you know."


    I picked up my pace at half-assed speed.


    The combat examination ground was just made up of debris from collapsed houses. I think they did that to replicate the battle outside the walls.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    I charged forward, shooting some Nephilims down while at it. I didn''t care about my kills; I just wanted to push forward. Before I knew what was happening, I had already passed the red-haired siblings and some other guys who were fixated on killing.


    "Where the hell is he going?"


    Questions like that rang in my ears as I made my way forward.


    Following B''s directions, I immediately turned right, cornering past a building, and suddenly a Nephilim jumped at me. I wanted to shoot, but I was too slow. Given my reaction speed, I''d be dead before I even pulled the trigger. The only option I had left was transforming, but transforming here, where it''s flooded by rangers, would do no good.


    While I was busy contemplating, a red long hair covered my view, and immediately, in blinding speed, the figure ran through the Nephilim, cutting it into several uneven pieces.


    I fell on my butt.


    "She''s so cool, isn''t she?" Kitetsu spoke from behind me.


    "Huh¡­"


    I raised my head and saw his sister decapitating any Nephilim in her path.


    She''s badass.


    I turned to my back and noticed all the Nephilims behind me were dead.


    "What are you guys doing here?" I asked.


    "What kind of question is that? Do you think we''ll let you kill everything?" Kitetsu answered. I was convinced they had no idea what was just a few meters ahead of us. Not that I knew what it was either, but unlike them, I could feel it.


    I stood up and moved forward together with Kitetsu.


    As we ran, a pile of debris came into sight. We crossed over it and saw Hinetsu. She stood still, her long scythe on the floor. In front of her was a swarm of Nephilims surrounding a bigger Nephilim, much bigger than the tentacled ones. The Nephilim grabbed the smaller ones and ate them whole¡ªone by one.


    I stood still, my eyes wide open, cold sweat running down my chin, a chill down my spine, my feet shaking, and my hands trembling. Even though I had eaten one myself, what stood in front of me was utterly out of this world.


    "What the hell is that?"


    Kitetsu broke the silence, and one of the smaller Nephilims noticed us.


    It rushed out of the horde towards Hinetsu, who was still standing in shock.


    "Big sis!!"


    The Nephilim swept its hand at her, hitting her into the pile of debris containing blocks and metal scraps.


    "Big sis!"


    Kitetsu ran to his sister''s side.


    The Nephilim and I locked eyes, and it rushed at me. I leaped sideways, targeting the head and shooting my gun. It immediately ended its life but got the attention of the rest of the horde.


    "Kitetsu, get out of there now!"


    He carried his sister in his arms and dashed past me.


    That was what I needed¡ªI needed to be alone to transform. But before I did, I turned behind to be sure I was alone, only to find everyone behind me.


    Shit''s about to happen.


    "Everyone, get back now!"


    I yelled, but it wasn''t helping. Some were still in shock; only a few reacted and ran back¡ª


    "Get back? This is our exam, numbskull."


    A guy ran past me into the horde. He managed to kill one of the Nephilims, but suddenly, a sharp blade ran through his guts, coming out from his back. Another one ran through his chest, and immediately he was torn apart, causing a spray of blood in the air.


    The sharp blade came from the bigger Nephilim, who had been consuming its peers. It had begun to make its move.


    After witnessing the gruesome sight, everyone made their way back to the starting place, leaving me behind.


    I looked around, noticing the cameras. Touching my side, I removed my smoke grenade and an explosive grenade. The smoke grenade was meant to distract the Nephilims.


    "Here goes¡­"


    I threw the grenade, and it covered everything.


    Transforming only my legs, I kicked forward, bursting out of the smoke toward the bigger Nephilim. I opened the explosive grenade, and as soon as I reached it, I threw it at its face. With a loud boom, all the Nephilims around shattered to pieces. The force of the explosion threw me miles away, crashing onto a pile of metal, with some of them impaling me.


    "Damn suit works against Nephilims but won''t do shit against damn metals."


    I cursed before my eyes grew heavy. My head ached, and my vision became blurry. Before I knew it, I was already asleep.

 Examination V: Conclusion

    The Nephilim let out a shrill cry as it swung multiple whips all over the place, destroying the area and kicking up more dust particles into the air.


    As the dust began to settle, a figure emerged. He wore the official ranger battle suit and walked at a slow pace towards the Nephilim, which was running wild.


    The person was slender, his eyes half-closed as though he had just woken up from sleep, his hair messy and short. He wore a nose mask that covered half of his face, revealing only his eyes. This individual was Fox, who had been dispatched a few minutes ago by Captain Leonard.


    Fox pressed a button beside his neck and spoke:


    "Fox speaking, about to engage with the Nephilim, confirm."


    His voice was low pitched and kind of hoax


    A voice responded through the earphone he wore:


    "Engagement granted. Checking Nephilim grade... possibly a Grade C or B Nephilim. Be careful."


    "Roger."


    He pressed the button beside his neck again, and a helmet covered his entire head.


    "Hmm?"


    His gaze fell on Ryuma, who was unconscious and laying on top of a pile of metal and blocks. He pressed the button and spoke again:


    "Send medic."


    "They''re already on their way."


    Fox moved his hand to his side pocket and unstrapped a pistol.


    He shot two bullets, which opened two holes in its body.


    The Nephilim let out a loud cry and swung its whip at Fox. With no effort, he tilted his head slightly, dodging the attack, then quickly removed a knife and cut off the whip.


    Annoyed, it shot multiple whips at Fox. He quickly ran past the Nephilim, cutting all the whips aimed at him in the process. He ran over to Ryuma and picked him up.


    He scanned Ryuma''s body and noticed the metal impaled in him from behind.


    The Nephilim noticed Fox and shot its whip at him. Fox carried Ryuma and leaped backward, dodging the whip.


    Fox dropped Ryuma behind a metal plate and walked casually towards the rampaging Nephilim.


    "Control, send it," he spoke over the earphone.


    "Roger, it will arrive in ten seconds."


    Fox reloaded his gun and shot at the Nephilim. The bullets created multiple holes in its body, and it raged. It shot its whips at Fox, but Fox used his knife to cut all the whips into small pieces.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Fox ran at the Nephilim, cutting down any whip coming at him. However, the closer he got, the more whips shot at him.


    The Nephilim was defending and attacking at the same time, and the battle wasn''t making any progress.


    Suddenly, the Nephilim made a loud cry, much louder than before. The cry sent waves through the ground, causing it to quake.


    It stood upright, revealing its body. The head was small with barely any neck. Its stomach was huge, and on its sides were small arms. The whips were all over its stomach, wiggling wildly, and its legs were thin.


    It screamed in Fox''s face and shot countless whips at him.


    Taking note of Ryuma''s position, Fox ran out of the area, avoiding the whips as they hit the ground, creating huge craters. The result of one hit from those whips was now clear.


    Fox came to a stop, shooting at the Nephilim, but this time the bullets had no effect. He kept dodging and shooting until he ran out of bullets. That''s when he noticed something dropping from the artificial sky.


    He ran towards the location, avoiding the deadly whips as he went.


    It was a box. He opened it, and inside was something resembling a torch. He removed it and tapped on a switch. The item extended and merged with his suit, and a long blade emerged from the other end. This weapon was known as Quincy.


    A Quincy is a special weapon, reserved for only certain people within the ranger ranks. Like the suit, this weapon draws a percentage of power from its wielder.


    Fox stared at the weapon as the percentage on his screen and on the weapon rose to seventy percent.


    He swung it, creating marks on the ground.


    The Nephilim''s whip sped through the air, aiming at Fox. As soon as they hit the ground, they fell to pieces¡ªFox had diced them.


    He kicked forward towards the Nephilim, his speed had increased massively. As he approached it, he leaped into the air, floating just above the Nephilim. The Nephilim shot its whip at him, but, like before, he swung his Quincy blade at blinding speed, cutting it down.


    Fox pressed another button, and his Quincy retracted and extended into a long sniper.


    He aimed for the head and generated enough energy before releasing a shot that blasted through the Nephilim''s head, down to the ground, creating a hole. The Nephilim exploded into chunks of meat and blood, splattering all over the site. It was gruesome.


    Fox landed on the ground, and his Quincy retracted back to normal.


    "Nephilim eliminated," he spoke.


    "Good job, Fox. The core?"


    Fox scanned the area. "I didn''t see any."


    "What? Or did you destroy it?"


    "No, I didn''t... I think."


    "You think?!"


    While he spoke on the phone, some other people arrived in a bus, wearing large surgical suits.


    Fox gave them directions to Ryuma''s body.


    "Good job, Lieutenant Nagato," one of them greeted him.


    "Hmm."


    He nodded.


    "Is there anything we can do for you?"


    "Mmhm."


    He shook his head and was about to leave the scene, but he stopped.


    He looked at the bloodstains all over his clothes, and his eyes teared up.


    "A new set of deodorant, please."


    ***


    Leonard walked up to the big screen, his eyes fixed and his eyebrows furrowed. His face displayed a glint of annoyance at what he had just witnessed a few moments before. He was certain.


    "Somebody switch over to the camera at the west wing," he ordered.


    "Roger!"


    A voice shouted, and immediately a screen popped up, displaying the moment after Ryuma''s bomb had exploded in the Nephilim''s face.


    "Take it five seconds back," Leonard ordered again.


    It was rewound to the moment the smoke grenade went off.


    "Play it and reduce the speed."


    Leonard glued his eyes to the events that followed. The smoke rising into the air, and Ryuma bursting out of the smoke.


    "Is there anything that catches your interest, Captain?" the supervisor asked, walking up to Leonard.


    "You said his physical capability with the suit was one percent, right?"


    "Right. Is there something wrong with him, Captain?"


    Leonard remained silent, watching the clip loop for a while.


    "No, there''s nothing wrong..." He turned back to leave. "...Snake, let''s go."


    Together with Saiya, they left the control room

 Bonding

    In a room that was neither too small nor too big, a single glass sat in the middle, with two sofas facing each other. At the end of the room, there was an empty office chair and a table.


    Seated on the sofas was the guy who, for some reason, is always sleeping, the crazy girl Saiya, the cool guy Kitetsu, another guy whom I was seeing for the first time, and lastly, myself.


    Saiya, holding a bunch of papers in her hand, stood up to address us. I couldn''t see the contents, but I was certain they contained all of our documents.


    "Since everyone is here, let''s proceed¡ª"


    "Excuse me, Senior Saiya, not everyone is here."


    Kitetsu interrupted. He''s way too respectful to a crazy girl like her.


    "You''re right. The captain is currently in a meeting, so we''ll have to carry on with the introductions without him," she said, then continued.


    "For the new arrivals, we have Ko Kitetsu, Kagaya Haruchi, and finally, Tokita Ryuma."


    I knew for sure I was the oldest in the room, but... I wasn''t so sure about the sleeper guy.


    "I am Lieutenant Benchiro Saiya. You can call me Saiya, and that over there is Lieutenant Aoi Nagato..."


    He raised his hand, even though he was asleep. What a creep.


    "He might be weird sometimes, but don''t mind him. He''s actually friendly. So, that''s it for introductions. Now, let''s move on to the next step..."


    She dropped the papers on the table.


    "Orientation. I''ll tell you everything you need to know about the military, so please pay attention."


    She then started rambling about rules, the obligations of a ranger, and other unnecessary things I didn''t care about. What really got my attention was the pay¡ªover a thousand Seri. I wouldn''t need to worry about rent or food anymore. With that kind of pay, we''re talking about vacations at luxury resorts with fancy meals and¡ªoh yeah, those don''t exist anymore. What a time to start making money.


    "So that''s everything for the orientation. I hope you all understood what I said?"Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Like hell I did.


    "With the end of the orientation, that''s it for today. You can go and hang out, do whatever you want until you get a mission call."


    "Thank you for your time, Senior Saiya," Kitetsu said again.


    "Mmhm, I would''ve loved to join you guys, but I have something important to attend to."


    We stood up and were about to leave when suddenly, a loud voice called out.


    "Please go out with me, Mrs. Saiya!"


    Ehh?


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    Everyone turned. Behold, it was the other guy. With one knee on the floor, his hand opening a ring case, he spoke with no hesitation.


    "Mrs. Saiya, please go out with me."


    ***


    "Damn it, I was so sure she''d accept me!" Kagaya Haruchi barked, a full cup of beer in his hand.


    "She''s so hot, I wish she were mine."


    At this moment, the four of us were drinking and bonding in a bar within the residential base.


    "Mhm haa..." Kitetsu gulped down a cup. "...But you''ve got a mind of steel¡­ to ask Senior Saiya out. No offense, but what made you think she''d accept you?"


    Ouch, that must''ve hit the spot. Being cruel in such a nice way¡ªwhat an awful man Kitetsu is.


    Haruchi stood up and flexed his green biker hair and nonexistent muscles.


    "Can''t you see all of this?"


    "And you think Senior Saiya would fall for that?"


    "Why not? She''s strong, so it''s only natural for her to fall for a strong man."


    Haruchi kissed his flat muscles.


    "Personally, I don''t think that''s the case. Senior Saiya is truly strong, but she''s also zealous and intelligent. If you ask me, I think she''ll definitely fall for a hardworking man."


    "That''s the same thing¡ª"


    "No, it''s not. You can be strong but lazy. You can be hardworking but weak."


    "Alright, I''ve heard enough, Mr. Smart Guy. Let''s change the topic. What''s your type of woman?"


    Haruchi asked, finally bringing a breath of fresh air from all the Saiya talk.


    "My type of woman?"


    "Come on, man, like your ideal woman¡ª"


    "He means the kind of woman you''re attracted to,"


    I interjected.


    On hearing my words Kitetsu''s face flushed red


    He is surprisingly dense. What a shock.


    "Oh, is that what you mean? Any girl will do, but she should be smart."


    "..."


    Haruchi''s face screamed disappointment.


    But seriously, what kind of spec is that? ''Smart,'' ahaha


    "What about you, big guy?" he asked me.


    "Hmm¡­ athletic, with a well-shaped butt. I don''t care about the boobs."


    "Nice stuff you''ve got going. What about you... Sir Nagato?"


    The sleeper guy, who had been with us the whole time without saying a word, finally opened his eyes. He dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a picture of a little girl with long dark hair, dark eyes, and a wide, bright smile.


    Wait a minute. Is this guy who I think he is? No, no, no, he can''t possibly be a pedo¡ª


    "Is that your sister?" Haruchi asked.


    "Mmhm," he responded with a nod, then went back to sleep.


    For a moment, I almost had a heart attack.


    "Mm fair enough. As for me, I have no love except for Mrs. Saiya. I''ll make her mine. If I don''t, then I''ll join Buddhism and stay chaste," Haruchi said with conviction all over his face.


    Suddenly, Kitetsu collapsed onto the table with a loud thud, his face red and sweat pouring from him.


    "It''s definitely gotten to him," Haruchi shook his head. Kitetsu was finally drunk¡ªbut are these guys even allowed to drink? Judging from their faces, they all look young, probably high schoolers.


    "I''ll take him home,"


    Haruchi said, lifting Kitetsu onto his shoulder.


    "You know his house?"


    I asked out of curiosity.


    "Nah, me and dude stay in the same barracks. Where do you stay?"


    "At the immigrant residence. My free three months will be over soon, and I''m looking to pay for the year''s rent."


    That''s one of the reasons I joined the military.


    "Dude, you don''t pay rent at the immigrant base. When the three months are up, that''s it. Go get a new house."


    Haruchi''s words hit like a bucket of cold water. I thought I could renew my stay at the house by paying rent. Now I have to leave that nice, furnished house with all that space. What a pain.


    "Goodbye, guys. We should do this again," Haruchi said before leaving the bar.


    I had fun today with friends. Is it safe to call them friends? I don''t know. Regardless, I think i''ve made friends, something I couldn''t do in the past. That''s something to be proud of.