"Faster, boys, we've got some mining to do!" one of the soldiers called out in a thick Texas accent.
Balanced on his shoulder was a plain brown square container, the word Confidential splattered across it like an overdramatic advertisement. On his head sat a black sheriff's hat that matched the color of the rifle strapped tightly across his chest.
"We're on it, Larry. Every one of us wants that reward," Simon replied, igniting a series of eager chuckles from the five soldiers as they unloaded whatever God-knows-what cargo they had brought ashore.
The atmosphere was strangely energetic—far too lively for a group that had just set foot on a continent the world considered apocalyptic, a land blamed for the deaths of millions.
The mission, though dangerous, carried a reward heavy enough to silence fear. The squad was composed of some of the most dangerous men alive—thieves once sentenced to rot in prison until their governments discovered a more profitable use for them. Africa was rich in minerals, rare stones capable of powering some of the deadliest weapons ever engineered. But after HungerNull, the global supply chain collapsed.
In exchange for one million dollars each, they were sent to the "locked continent" to excavate those buried fortunes.
Suddenly—
A lone figure emerged in the distance, walking toward them with deliberate confidence, his arms raised like a thief surrendering to the police.
His hair shimmered silver. His clothing was unusual, lined with embedded magnets. A handmade gas mask concealed his face.
"Men, look there," a Russian muttered, pointing.
"I thought the file said there weren't supposed to be people here."
"So did I. Seems the monkeys found a way to survive."
Another round of laughter erupted, entertained by their own racism.
"Hallo, boys."
Magnum greeted them in his native tongue, hands still raised.
His voice came out clean despite the mask; a built-in voice filter refined each word.
"What's he saying?"
"Oh, right. You guys speak English."
Magnum remembered.
"Hm." He cleared his throat.
"Hallo, tourists."
He smiled warmly, as if the very soil beneath their boots were gentle and forgiving.
"How are you still alive?" Larry asked, unaware that Kairo was concealed in the bushes, observing every second with tense focus.
"It's a long story—one I don't have time to explain. So I'll get straight to the point. You've placed yourselves in a very difficult predicament."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm sorry to inform you, but this is your new home. You're not going back."
"Are you threatening us, monkey?" Simon sneered. "You're overconfident saying that to the world's greatest thieves."
"You see that man over there?" one of them mocked, nodding toward the Russian. "His name is Vladin Puti. He massacred fifty soldiers with his bare hands. Killing another wouldn't trouble him—if you even count as one."
Magnum's eyes remained calm unbothered by the rough voice his enemy had.
"The way I see it, you have two choices. First—you stay here and start a new life. Second—you return to your countries dead."
"Hahaha!"
Laughter exploded again, some of them wiping tears from their eyes.
"Can you believe this guy?"
"He thinks he can take us on."
"Bastard doesn't even have a weapon," Vladin muttered.
Magnum smiled, almost pitying them.
"I tried to give you a chance.... Hey—strange hat guy, could you check the time for me?"
Larry lifted his arm casually.
"It's ten-thi—"
"On."
Magnum whispered.
The magnetic bars embedded in Magnum's attire ignited with a crimson glow, flaring like a light bulb piercing darkness. Energy surged through them like electricity racing across exposed wire.
Beneath Larry's wrist, the metal clasp of his watch began to tremble.
It shook violently.
Then—
As if possessed, it tore free and drilled into his forearm with surgical precision, slicing through flesh like a blade.
Pwah!
It burst out the other side of his hand in a spray of blood.
"FUCK!" Larry screamed, veins bulging grotesquely around the wound.
"Shoot him!" Simon barked.
Rifles snapped upward, fingers tightening on triggers, prepared to unleash a storm of bullets.
Magnum flicked his wrist.
A subtle red aura enveloped the guns. They vibrated rapidly, humming like trapped insects.
The soldiers pulled their triggers.
Nothing.
The metal mechanisms had locked solid, resisting all movement.
"Up," Magnum commanded softly, staring into their terror-stricken eyes.
The rifles wrenched themselves free from their hands and floated in midair.
"Ah—fuck!"
"Is he a wizard?!"
Confusion and dread flooded their faces. Magnum saw it—and savored it.
"Before you die, I might as well tell you what's killing you."
He lowered his arms slightly.
"It's not sorcery. Not magic. It's my Oxide ability—magnetism. I manipulate electromagnetic fields. When I disturb the electron balance in metal, I can charge it positively or negatively. Opposite fields attract. Matching fields repel. By altering polarity around me, I control the direction and force. It's basic physics."
In that moment, clarity dawned upon them.
The magnet bars on his neck and wrists were not decoration. They were conduits.
Abilities the rest of the world did not know Africa possessed.
A deeper horror followed.
They needed to report this. The world had to know that Africa harbored humans capable of dismantling armies within minutes.
But survival came first—and survival was slipping.
"Positive. Forward."
Like race cars launching from the starting line, the rifles shot forward—barrels first,
Slash!!!
Piercing into their chests as though physics had momentarily surrendered its laws.
The opposite force triggered instantly, flinging their impaled bodies skyward like they where weightless.
Pwah!!
Water exploded upward as they crashed into the heart of the ocean, vanishing beneath the waves.
The ship and the confidential cargo remaining abandoned on the shore.
"Who the hell is he?" Kairo whispered, eyes wide, trembling. Sweat drenched his forehead as if he had been the one fighting.
This was the first time he had witnessed an Oxide in combat.
He knew of them. His mother had told him stories. He had seen images before entering the Veil.
But never—never—had he seen an attack-based Oxide fight with such cold precision.
"The fight ended before it even began," he thought. "And he didn't even sweat. That's the difference between normal people and Oxides. They're on another level. A level humans may never surpass."
Then realization struck him.
If he truly was an Oxide… then he possessed an ability too.
But after witnessing Magnum's display, doubt crept into him.
The bar had been raised impossibly high.
Magnum removed his mask, silver hair settling back into place, and called out:
"It's done. You can come out now."
He gestured.
Within seconds, Kairo stepped onto the shore, wind tearing through his hair, gas mask secured tightly to his face.
"You're so strong," Kairo admitted.
"You've seen nothing mehn, have other tricks up mu sleeve" Magnum replied with a grin, his hands resting on the back of its head.
"So… what's next?" Kairo asked, pointing toward the abandoned ship and scattered boxes.
"Well, it's simple. We're going to—"
FWAH!!
A colossal splash erupted from the ocean, water shooting skyward as an enormous shadow swallowed the sunlight above them.
Kairo froze, as if his soul had momentarily abandoned his body. Cold dread pooled in his stomach.
He turned to Magnum, expecting reassurance.
Instead, Magnum's eyes widened as well.
Shock.
From the churning sea emerged a massive shark, large as a whale.
But it had wings—broad and feathered like an owl's, powerful enough to carve through the air.
Sunlight reflected off its jagged teeth like shattered mirrors. Fragments of human bone clung grotesquely between its gums,It's warm breath heating up the area.
A natural abomination.
It had devoured the soldiers Magnum had just slain.
And now—
It hovered mouth first above them.