Tokyo, October 16, 2045 — 6:45 PM
Ren Takatou's apartment was located in Nakano—a plain, unremarkable building that wouldn't draw anyone's attention. But tonight, the tiny living room inside would become the stage for a conversation that would change the fate of humanity.
Yuki sat on the couch, her hands trembling as she held a cup of warm tea she hadn't even touched. Her eyes stayed fixed on Ren, who stood by the window, staring into the calm night sky—an ironic contrast to the horrifying truth he had just revealed.
"So…" Yuki's voice shook. "You're saying that in three days, aliens from some advanced civilization will launch a full-scale invasion of Earth? And they'll kill every human being to turn this planet into their colony?"
Ren nodded without turning around. "The Axiom Collective. An alliance of twelve alien species that have already conquered more than a thousand star systems. To them, wiping out a primitive species like us is standard procedure in territorial expansion."
"And you…" Yuki set the cup down with unsteady hands. "You have the ability to see and know everything? Even… the future?"
"Not the future," Ren finally turned to face her. "Omniscience doesn't show me what will happen. It gives me perfect understanding of every variable in the present. From that, I can calculate the probability of every possible future with extremely high accuracy."
Yuki stared at him, her expression unreadable. "Since when have you had this ability?"
"Three weeks ago. After one of the Axiom Collective's meteor probes crashed near my house." Ren walked closer and sat in the chair across from her. "I don't know how or why, but contact with their technology triggered something inside me. An evolution that shouldn't have been possible."
"And the adaptation you showed earlier on the rooftop?"
"Absolute Adaptive." Ren raised his hand. Before Yuki's wide eyes, his skin began to shift—turning metallic, then glass-like, then returning to normal. "My body can adapt and evolve to overcome any threat. The stronger the threat, the stronger I become."
Yuki fell silent for a long time. Then tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Ren-kun," she whispered. "You must be… so lonely."
Ren froze. Out of every reaction he had calculated, this was the one he never expected.
"Carrying knowledge like that all by yourself," Yuki continued. "Knowing the world is about to end, but not being able to tell anyone because no one would believe you. Pretending to be a normal student during the day, but fighting an alien invasion at night… You must be terrified. And lonely."
And for the first time since gaining his powers, Ren Takatou felt something he had buried deep inside.
Vulnerability. Weakness. Fear—hidden behind a mask of confidence and cold calculation.
"…Yeah," he said, his voice barely audible. "I'm terrified. Every moment. Every second. Terrified I'm not strong enough. Terrified I'll fail. Terrified that everyone I know will die—and it'll be my fault because I couldn't stop it."
Yuki stood up and walked toward him. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him.
"You're not alone anymore," she whispered. "I'm here now. And I'm not leaving you."
Ren felt something warm bloom in his chest. Something stronger than any adaptation. Something that made the crushing weight on his shoulders feel—just slightly—lighter.
But the moment was shattered by a knock at the door.
Ren and Yuki pulled apart instantly. Ren's Omniscience activated on instinct, scanning whoever stood outside.
And the result made him stand up fast.
"Yuki, get behind me," he ordered.
"Why? Who is it?"
"Someone who shouldn't be able to know where I am."
Ren walked to the door and opened it slowly.
A man in his thirties stood outside, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His hair was silver. His eyes were an unnatural green—rare for a Japanese man. And most shocking of all—
Ren's Omniscience couldn't read anything about him.
"Ren Takatou," the man said calmly. "So we finally meet."
"Who are you?" Ren asked, his body already preparing to transform if needed.
The man smiled. "My name is Kazuki Shirogane. And I'm here to tell you that you're not the only human who knows about the Axiom Collective invasion."
A few minutes later, Kazuki sat on the couch Yuki had occupied earlier, calmly sipping tea as if this were a casual visit. Ren and Yuki sat across from him, wary but curious.
"My organization," Kazuki began, "has known about the Axiom Collective for the past five years. We're a group of individuals from different countries who accidentally uncovered evidence of alien existence—and their invasion plan."
"What organization?" Ren asked.
"We call ourselves AEGIS—Advanced Earth Guardian Intelligence System." Kazuki pulled a tablet from inside his jacket and showed it to Ren. The screen displayed extremely detailed data on Axiom Collective activity. "We have forty-seven members spread across the world. Scientists. Military personnel. Programmers. And a few individuals with special abilities."
"Special abilities?" Yuki asked.
Kazuki smiled and raised his hand.
The temperature in the room dropped instantly. Ice formed around his palm, blooming into sharp, beautiful crystals—dangerous and mesmerizing.
"Contact with Axiom technology didn't happen only to you, Ren," he said, letting the ice dissolve. "There are about twenty people worldwide who experienced a similar awakening. Each with unique abilities."
Ren processed the information at high speed. In his calculations, he had considered the possibility that other awakened individuals existed—but he hadn't expected an organization to already be formed.
"Why contact me only now?" Ren asked.
"Because last night we detected a powerful energy signature in Shibuya," Kazuki replied. "After investigating, we found the remains of an Axiom command unit—destroyed. And we knew only someone with a high-level ability could have done that."
"So you've been spying on me?"
"Monitoring," Kazuki corrected. "There's a difference. We don't have hostile intentions, Ren. The opposite—we want to recruit you."
"For what?"
Kazuki set the tablet down and looked Ren straight in the eyes.
"For Operation Babel Tower. A counterstrike against the Axiom Collective mothership currently in Earth's orbit."
Silence fell across the room.
"You want to attack their mothership?" Yuki said, horrified. "That's suicide!"
"Not if we have Ren," Kazuki said, never breaking eye contact. "Based on our analysis, your adaptation ability is the key to breaching their defense systems. And your Omniscience can help us navigate the mothership's interior, which is incredibly complex."
Ren stayed quiet, his mind running calculations at full speed—probabilities branching endlessly.
With his current power and AEGIS support: 23.7% chance of success.
If he attacked alone: 8.3% chance of success.
If he did nothing: 0.0% chance of humanity surviving.
"How many awakened individuals are in your organization?" Ren asked.
"Eighteen," Kazuki answered. "Not all are combatants. Some have support-oriented abilities."
"And weapons?"
"We have access to prototype weapons designed through reverse-engineering recovered alien tech." Kazuki swiped on the tablet, showing images of advanced weaponry. "Not as powerful as original Axiom tech, but strong enough to deal damage."
Ren stared at the images. His mind was already building strategies. The numbers were grim, but for the first time, there was a real path.
"When does the operation begin?" Ren asked.
Kazuki gave a thin smile. "Two days from now. Right before the true invasion wave begins."
"Too soon," Yuki protested. "Ren just fought today. He needs time to—"
"There is no time," Kazuki cut in gently. "Every minute we spend preparing is a minute the Axiom Collective spends reinforcing their defenses. Momentum is everything."
Ren looked at Yuki's worried face, then back at Kazuki.
"I have a condition," Ren said.
"Say it."
"Yuki comes with us."
"What?!" Yuki and Kazuki blurted out at the same time.
"That's impossible," Kazuki shook his head. "This operation is far too dangerous for a civilian without training or special abilities."
"Yuki survived an Axiom infection and successfully performed host rejection," Ren said firmly. "That proves she has extraordinary mental fortitude. And more than that—she's the only person I trust completely."
Kazuki studied Yuki with an assessing gaze. "Host rejection? That's extremely rare. Based on our data, the success rate is under 0.1%."
"I did it," Yuki said, her voice stronger now. "And if Ren-kun goes, I'm going too. I won't let him fight alone anymore."
Kazuki was silent for a moment, then exhaled.
"Fine. But you'll undergo accelerated training for the next two days. And you'll sign a waiver confirming you understand the risks."
Yuki nodded firmly.
"One more thing," Ren added. "I want to meet every awakened individual in AEGIS before the operation. I need to evaluate their abilities and create the most optimal strategy."
"That can be arranged." Kazuki stood. "Tomorrow morning. 06:00 AM. We'll pick you and Yuki-san up. I'll send the location through an encrypted message."
He reached the door, but stopped and turned back.
"Ren," he said seriously. "I know you're used to working alone. But in this operation, you'll need to learn how to trust others. The Axiom Collective is too powerful. Even with your abilities, you can't defeat them alone."
"I know," Ren replied. "That's why I'm accepting your offer."
After Kazuki left, Ren and Yuki sat in silence.
"Ren-kun," Yuki finally said. "Are you sure about this? Bringing me into something this dangerous?"
Ren looked at her. "No. I'm not sure. The probability of you getting hurt—or worse—is extremely high. Every cell in my body is screaming at me not to let you go."
"Then why—"
"Because I'm even less sure about leaving you here alone," Ren cut in. "If I fail, the Axiom Collective will kill everyone on Earth. At least if you're with me, we'll face whatever happens—together."
Yuki smiled through tears. "That's the most romantic and the most heartbreaking thing I've ever heard."
Ren laughed—something he rarely did lately. "I've never been good at romance."
"It's okay." Yuki leaned in and hugged him again. "I love you exactly as you are."
They held each other in silence, both carrying their own fears and hopes for what was coming.
Tokyo, October 17, 2045 — 06:00 AM
An unmarked black van stopped outside Ren's apartment. Kazuki stepped out from the driver's seat, wearing tactical gear—far more serious than the business suit from the night before.
"Ready?" he asked as Ren and Yuki climbed in.
"As ready as we can be," Ren replied.
The ride lasted forty-five minutes, taking them out of the city toward the mountains of Saitama Prefecture. The van eventually stopped in front of what looked like an abandoned factory.
But Ren's Omniscience immediately detected the truth: the surface was camouflage.
Underground lay a massive bunker complex packed with advanced technology.
"Welcome to AEGIS Headquarters," Kazuki said, guiding them inside.
They passed multiple security checkpoints—retinal scanners, fingerprint scans, and even DNA testing. Then an elevator carried them fifty meters underground.
When the doors opened, Ren and Yuki froze.
A vast command center stretched out before them, filled with monitors displaying real-time global data. Dozens of people worked at stations, tracking Axiom Collective movements across the planet.
And in the center of the room stood seventeen individuals—each radiating a distinct presence.
Awakened.
"Everyone," Kazuki announced, "I want to introduce Ren Takatou and Yuki Nakamura."
Seventeen pairs of eyes turned toward them—curiosity, skepticism, hope.
A tall red-haired woman, nearly two meters in height, stepped forward.
"So this is the prodigy you've been talking about, Kazuki?" she said with a smirk. "Doesn't look special."
"Don't judge by appearances, Reina," Kazuki warned.
Reina—Reina Kurosawa—grinned challengingly. "Then let's test him. I want to know if he's worth the hype."
"Reina—" Kazuki began, but Ren lifted a hand.
"It's fine," Ren said calmly. "I understand. They need to know I can be trusted as part of this team."
"Exactly." Reina cracked her knuckles. "So how about a friendly sparring match? Just to see what you're capable of."
Ren studied her. His Omniscience already analyzed her ability: super strength and enhanced durability. In raw physical power, she was the strongest awakened in the room.
"Alright," Ren agreed. "But not here. Too much valuable equipment."
Kazuki sighed. "Fine. Training room. But rules apply—no killing blows, no permanent injuries."
Minutes later, they gathered in a large training hall. A square arena, fifty by fifty meters, its floor made of ultra-durable composite material.
Reina stretched, visibly excited. "Don't hold back, kid. I can take it."
"I'll try not to hurt you," Ren replied.
Reina laughed. "Big words for someone who—"
She never finished the sentence.
In a fraction of a second, Ren moved.
His speed exceeded what the human eye could track. By the time Reina realized what happened, Ren was already directly in front of her—his hand stopped just centimeters from her face.
"Dead," Ren said calmly.
Total silence filled the room.
Reina stared at Ren's hand, then stumbled backward, stunned.
"Impossible," she whispered. "I didn't even see you move."
"One more time," Ren said. "And this time, use your full power."
Reina nodded. Her expression turned serious. Her body began to change—muscles swelling, skin darkening into something stone-like.
Her transformation state.
She launched at Ren with shocking speed for someone her size. Her fist—like a bowling ball—shot toward Ren's head with enough force to shatter concrete.
But Ren didn't dodge.
Absolute Adaptive activated. In an instant, his body adjusted. His skin hardened into something stronger than diamond.
Reina's punch slammed into Ren's face with a thunderous impact.
Ren didn't move an inch.
Instead, Reina grimaced in pain. Several bones in her hand cracked from the collision.
"Impossible…" she breathed, clutching her injured hand.
Ren turned to face the other awakened individuals watching.
They stared at him with a mix of shock, awe—and something close to fear.
"I'm not here to be your leader," Ren said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "I'm here because we share the same enemy. The Axiom Collective will destroy Earth in three days. And the only way to stop them is if we work together."
He stepped into the center of the arena.
"Each of you has a unique ability. And I believe if we combine all of that power with the right strategy, we have a chance to win."
A young man with thick glasses raised his hand. "But how can we trust you? You only appeared yesterday. We don't know anything about you."
"You're right," Ren nodded. "You don't know anything about me. So I'll tell you."
And then, using Omniscience, Ren began describing every AEGIS member in the room in detail—names, abilities, histories, even their deepest fears and motivations.
Information he couldn't possibly know.
When he finished, the entire room stood in stunned silence.
"How…" a blonde teenage girl whispered. "How do you know all of that?"
"Omniscience," Ren answered simply. "I can know almost anything if I focus on it. And now that you understand my ability, the real question is this: are you willing to trust me to lead this operation?"
Kazuki stepped forward. "Ren isn't asking for blind trust. He's asking for cooperation. And honestly… after seeing what he can do, I believe he's our best chance to survive."
Slowly, one by one, the awakened individuals began to nod.
Reina, still holding her injured hand, smirked. "Fine. You proved your point, kid. I'll follow your lead in this operation."
Others voiced agreement.
Ren felt something he hadn't felt since gaining his abilities.
He wasn't alone anymore.
He had a team.
He had an alliance.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. "Now let's start planning. We only have two days to prepare an attack that will decide the fate of humanity."
And with that, Operation Babel Tower officially began.
The first alliance in the war against the Axiom Collective had been formed.
And Ren Takatou, for the first time, would no longer walk alone.