Time: April 21, 2032. 02:00 AM.
Location: Tokyo Outskirts, "Sector-Z." Abandoned Underground Bunker (Former Military Depot).
With the funds remaining from the auction, Kenji had purchased a massive subterranean complex in the city's most dilapidated, overlooked industrial zone. From the outside, it looked like a rat's nest. But inside... it was bomb-proof and as vast as a football stadium.
In the center of the hall, Kenji sat perched atop a wooden crate. Beside him stood Laylo, clutching a tablet (in her new role as secretary) and looking visibly nervous.
"Brother..." Laylo whispered. "Will they really come, like Kaito said? They're fugitives."
Kenji checked his watch.
"They'll come. Because they're tired of running. The hungrier the wolves, the faster they smell the meat."
At that moment, the massive iron gates groaned open.
Led by Kaito (The Black Dagger), 120 people marched in.
This was no ordinary crowd.
Though their clothes were tattered, their faces grimy, and their eyes weary, the shadow of death hung over every single one of them. These were true Pro-Gamers, trained to move in silence, reacting to the slightest sound with lightning speed.
They formed ranks in front of Kenji.
The pressure (aura) in the air became so heavy that Laylo struggled to breathe.
If these 120 people attacked simultaneously, all of Tokyo would be reduced to ash in ten minutes.
Kaito stepped forward.
"Captain. The 'Night Owls' are assembled in full formation."
"Roster:
20 S-Rank (Former Top-100 Players).
60 A+ Rank.
40 B+ Rank (Support Classes).
We are ready."
A young man from the ranks—a scarred former "Berserker" (Warrior)—stepped forward. He looked at Kenji with deep suspicion.
"Are you Shadow? The F-Rank kid? We're supposed to follow you? We need weapons, we need shelter, we need revenge! What can you possibly give us?"
Kenji stood up. He exerted no pressure. He simply put his hands in his pockets.
"What can I give you?" Kenji smiled. "For starters... your fangs."
"What?" The Berserker was confused.
Kenji raised a hand into the air.
[INVENTORY: OPEN]
[CATEGORY: WEAPONS & ARMOR]
[FILTER: S-CLASS AND ABOVE]
Dozens, then hundreds of portals tore open in the air above them.
Weapons began to rain down like a metallic storm.
Clang! Crash!
A pile of legendary armaments crashed onto the concrete floor:
"Demon's Cry" Daggers (S-Rank).
"Titan Breaker" Axes (S+ Rank).
"Void" Magic Staffs.
"Dragon Skin" Armor.
Violet and gold light illuminated the cavernous hall. Each of these weapons was worth a national budget. Kenji had dumped them on the floor like scrap metal.
The eyes of the 120 warriors nearly popped out of their skulls.
The Berserker's jaw dropped. A massive "Blood Moon Axe," glowing crimson red, landed right at his feet. It was the weapon of his dreams from the game.
"This... this is..." The Berserker stuttered, unable to form words.
Kenji hopped down from the crate and walked through the pile of weapons. He kicked a few daggers aside to clear a path.
"Take them," he said indifferently. "This is the 'junk' from my old collection. It should be good enough for you."
"Junk?!" shouted a Mage girl, picking up a staff from the ground. "This is the 'Staff of Merlin'! We raided for three months just to get a drop chance for this!"
Kenji shrugged.
"I have better. Anyway, the deal is simple:
You take these weapons.
You unite under the flag of 'NEUTRON.'
And anyone—the Government, Tanaka, or any other dog that barks at us—you eliminate."
Kenji narrowed his eyes as he looked at them.
"You are not fugitives. You are 'Sleeping Dragons.' I have come to wake you up.
If anyone doesn't want this, they can leave now. Without a weapon."
No one moved.
A second later, 120 people dropped to one knee in unison.
The clang of armor echoed off the bunker walls.
"WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO YOU, CAPTAIN!" their voices thundered.
Kaito approached Kenji and spoke in a low voice:
"Captain, you know... you just created the most dangerous army in the world. If this force steps outside, the Japanese Government will fall in an hour."
Kenji looked at Laylo. His sister was frozen in a mix of fear and awe.
"No, Kaito. We won't topple the government. We will keep them in fear."
"We're going to change the balance."
Kenji walked up to the Berserker.
"What's your name, soldier?"
"Grom," the young man said, hugging his axe with tears in his eyes.
"Good, Grom. Here is your first mission."
Kenji pointed to a map on the wall. It marked the four main "Siren Towers" of Tokyo.
"These Towers... they are controlled by the Guilds. But Tower 4 (Southern Sector) is run by Tanaka and his 'Red Dragon'."
"Tomorrow night, we will take that Tower via a 'Raider Takeover'."
"I'm going to show them what a 'Neutron Explosion' really is."
Grom hefted his axe and growled savagely.
"We'll make brooms out of their bones, Captain!"
The Next Day. "Neutron" Office (The Bunker).
Laylo, in her new capacity as "Minister of Finance," was preparing a report.
"Brother," she said, scratching her head. "Feeding 120 S-Rank hunters... this is going to be incredibly expensive. Their food, lodging... The 50 million credits we have left will only last a week."
Kenji was lying on the couch, eating an apple.
"Don't worry. We have plenty of 'Sponsors'."
"Sponsors?"
"Yes. Tanaka, Reiko, the Government... They will pay us 'Taxes.' They just don't know it yet."
Kenji stood up.
There had been an interesting change in his "Status Window."
When he added 120 people to his Guild, the System (the part connected to his brain) unlocked a new function:
[Guild Bonus Activated]
[Leadership Aura: ON]
[Each loyal member under your command grants you +1 Mana Regeneration per second.]
Kenji laughed.
"120 members... that means +120 Mana per second. I've become a 'Living Battery.'"
"Laylo, get ready. Tonight, we leave the 'Red Dragon' homeless. And this time... I won't be hiding. We're hanging the 'Neutron' flag from the top of the Tower."