Time: April 22, 2032. 03:00.
Location: Tokyo Southern Sector. 4th Iron Anvil Tower (Red Dragon Base).
It was raining. Tokyo's neon lights reflected on the wet asphalt, making the city look like a cyberpunk film.
Silence reigned around the 4th Tower. This place was guarded by "Red Dragon's" most elite 500 soldiers and dozens of Golems.
In front of the Tower's main gate, a shadow emerged from the darkness.
This was Grom (Berserk). On his shoulder was the massive, crimson glowing "Blood Moon Axe" that Kenji had gifted him.
Behind Grom, the remaining 119 members of "Neutron" lined up like a pack of hungry wolves.
The guards immediately loaded their weapons.
"Stop! This is private property!"
Grom grinned, showing his teeth.
"Private?" He raised his axe into the air. "Now this place will become a Public Restroom."
BOOM!
Grom struck his axe to the ground.
[Skill: Earthquake (A-Rank)]
The shockwave was so powerful that the concrete fortifications in front of the gate tore like paper. Guards and Golems flew into the air.
"Attack!" Kaito shouted from the shadows.
The battle began.
But this wasn't a battle, this was a Massacre.
"Red Dragon" soldiers were armed with standard B-rank weapons provided by the government.
"Neutron" members entered the fight with Kenji's S-rank legendary weapons.
The difference was like heaven and earth.
Neutron mages rained down "Fire Storm." Assassins emerged from behind guards and neutralized them in an instant.
Kenji watched this chaos from afar, standing on a building roof.
Laylo was beside him, looking through binoculars.
"Big brother... our guys are terrifying! They're fighting like in movies!"
Kenji nodded.
"Of course. They're not ordinary soldiers, they're Players. They've forgotten fear. And now... I need to have a chat with the 'Boss.'"
Kenji took one step forward and disappeared in the air.
[Shadow Step: Vertical Ascent]
Tower Peak. Penthouse.
Mr. Tanaka shattered the glass in his hand.
Monitors showed how his army was being torn apart.
"Impossible!" he shouted. "Who are these people?! Where did they come from?! 100 people are decimating my 500-man army!"
At the head of the room, sitting on a leather sofa, was a massive man with half his body made of metal and red optical sensors instead of eyes.
This was General Kiba. The government's special project—"S-Rank Magitech Cyborg."
"Don't panic, Tanaka," Kiba said in a metallic voice. "These are just toys. You paid me 500 million, right? So I'm at your service."
At that moment, the room's panoramic window shattered with a crash.
Rain and wind burst inside.
Through the broken glass, a young man in black clothes—Kenji—entered. He brushed his wet hair back and surveyed the room.
"Ugh," Kenji said, wrinkling his nose. "Expensive cigars and cheap cologne. Tanaka, your taste hasn't changed."
Seeing Kenji, Tanaka hid behind his chair.
"Shadow! General! That's him! That's the bastard who took everything from me! Kill him!"
General Kiba stood up. His height was 2.5 meters. Each step shook the floor.
"So you're that 'Legend'?" Kiba scanned Kenji.
[Analysis: Mana level - F]
[Analysis: Physical structure - Weak]
Kiba laughed (it sounded like metal grinding).
"F-rank? So all the noise around you is just marketing. I'll crush you with one finger."
Kenji yawned.
"Cyborg..." he said, bored. "Old technology left over from the game's 'Sci-Fi' server. You know, I hate robots. They have no 'Soul.' Their Essence is tasteless."
"Die!" Kiba raised his hand.
His hand transformed into a massive Plasma Cannon.
VZZZZ!
A blue plasma beam shot toward Kenji. This beam could melt steel.
Kenji didn't run.
With his left hand in his pocket, he extended his right hand forward.
[Skill: Mana Shield (Inverted)]
The plasma beam stopped 5 centimeters from Kenji's palm and... returned!
Defying the laws of physics, the plasma reflected as if hitting a mirror and struck the General himself.
BOOM!
Kiba flew into the wall. His metal chest melted and caught fire.
"What?!" Kiba got up. His sensors were malfunctioning. "How?! Reflecting plasma is impossible!"
Kenji walked slowly forward.
"'Impossible' is an excuse for the weak, iron man."
"Now it's my turn."
Kenji narrowed his eyes.
He decided to unleash a small portion of his 80 years of power—that famous 5%.
But this time he used not physical strength but Elemental Pressure.
Kenji pointed his finger at Kiba.
[Elements: Absolute Cold + Gravity]
The room's air temperature instantly dropped to -50 degrees.
Kiba's motors and hydraulic system froze.
Simultaneously, an invisible 10-ton weight fell on him.
"AAAAA!" Kiba screamed. His metal bones cracked and broke. He fell to his knees. He tried to stand, but the frozen motors wouldn't work.
Kenji came before him and crouched down.
He tapped Kiba's forehead (sensor) with his finger.
Tap-tap.
"So you're S-rank," Kenji said mockingly. "Your rank is 'Scrap Metal.'"
"Tell the government. If they send me their toys again, I'll melt them down and make spoons."
Kenji extracted the main "Mana Battery" from Kiba's chest.
Kiba shut down. He became just a pile of metal.
Tanaka was trembling in the corner. He'd wet himself (again).
Kenji looked at him.
"T-T-Tanaka-san," Kenji said with a cold smile. "Your house is beautiful. Great view too."
"I think this place is worthy of becoming the new headquarters of 'Neutron' guild. What do you say?"
"Take it! Take everything! Just don't kill me!" Tanaka begged, beginning to kiss the floor.
Kenji looked down at the battlefield from the window.
Below, "Red Dragon" had surrendered, and the "Neutron" flag (black flag with atomic symbol) was being raised.
"I won't kill you," Kenji said. "Because your being alive benefits me more. You're a living witness. Go, tell your masters: The city has changed. Now at night, Owls hunt."
Kenji grabbed Tanaka by the collar, threw him in the elevator, and pressed the button.
"Run as soon as you get down. Don't stop."
06:00 AM. Tower Roof.
The rain had stopped, the sun was rising.
Kenji sat at the Tower's edge, dangling his legs.
Laylo and Kaito came to his side.
"Building cleared, Captain," Kaito said. "We have no casualties. Only Grom... he got slightly injured. The idiot dropped his axe on his own leg."
Kenji laughed.
"Same old Grom."
Laylo looked at the cityscape. From here, all of Tokyo looked like the palm of a hand.
"Big brother," she said in amazement. "Is this tower ours now? Are we... are we winners?"
Kenji took a deep breath. After 80 years of toxic air, he savored this morning air.
"This is just one tower, Laylo. There are 3 more in Tokyo. Thousands throughout the world."
"But yes... today we're winners."
Kenji looked down. In the distance, in the Government quarter, sirens could be heard. They'd learned of General Kiba's defeat.
"Now they'll take serious action," Kenji said. "Prepare yourselves. The real game is just beginning."
He took out Aira's photo (an old game screenshot) from his pocket and stared at it.
"I've gotten one step closer, Aira. Wait for me."