Magic bullets tore from the barrel of my rifle, slamming into one of the creature's metal legs.Gore Hound. That's what we call them now. Vicious beasts built by HOLO—machines that long ago forgot what the word "protection" meant.
I sucked in a sharp breath, pressing myself behind the cracked, moss-covered concrete. I aimed again. Red mechanical eyes glowed through the choking dust fog. Its saw-toothed jaws roared, grinding through rubble and the remains of those who hadn't made it out.
"Three shots left..." I muttered to myself, forcing calm, burying the scream that clawed at my throat.
My hands were shaking. I was filthy, bleeding, and I wasn't even sure how much of the blood was mine anymore. Around me, the world had become hell. The sky—poison gray. The air—thick with iron, acid, and death.
I bit my lip. I couldn't falter. I had to survive. I had to find them.
Then... their faces returned.One by one. Like a memory refusing to die.
Nova.You were always the strong one, weren't you? Silent, steady. The anchor in our madness.Are you still alive, Nova? I exhaled, adjusted my aim, and fired.The bullet struck the Gore Hound's neck. It growled—a brutal screech of torn metal.
Ariana.So bright. So loud. Always laughing like the world still had something left to smile about.I miss that. I miss you. Are you still painting the world with your colors? I moved—climbing a collapsed pillar with aching hands. I needed a better shot. Needed to believe.
Craiz.My reckless maniac. Half-dead, all heart. You once told me life was spirit, not survival. Are you still shouting into the void somewhere? The Gore Hound moved fast. I tracked it. Three... two... one—Bang. Direct hit—right at the knee joint. It collapsed, shrieking like hell was ripping from its throat.
Merv.The quiet one. Cold eyes, warm soul. I still hear your calm voice, lazy but certain. Where are you, Merv? I lowered my rifle. Took a breath. Time was running short.
Rein.My blue prince. Elegant. Noble. Your voice could calm a storm.Are you still out there, Buddy? Walking through this chaos like it were a ballroom? I dropped to the ground, knees bending on impact. Then I ran. Shadows covered me. The Gore Hound wasn't dead. Just wounded. Still dangerous.
Vels.The sharpest mind among us. All rules and reason. You had to survive, right? The world needs you. I need you. I stopped. Loaded my last magic bullet.
Kana.My little storm. All fire and fury. If you were here, you'd already be summoning lightning to tear these things apart. Tears burned my eyes. I wiped them away. Not now. Not in the middle of this.
Ela.The silent shield. My armored sister. You never said much, but we all leaned on you. I want to lean on you, Ela. I'm tired...
The Gore Hound rose. Its eyes flared blood-red. It pounced. I lifted my rifle. My voice rose with everything I had left in me.
"THIS IS FOR EVERYONE I LOVE!"
The final bullet pierced its eye. The explosion lit up the ruins. Metal flew. Sparks rained down. The beast slammed into a wall, collapsing in ruin. I fell to my knees, gasping.
Did I win?
No.
From the smoke, two more Gore Hounds emerged. Eyes burning. Jaws open. Charging. My hands trembled. My body screamed for rest. But I stood.
Even if my knees buckled—I stood. Because I couldn't die. Because maybe... just maybe, they were still out there. I aimed again.
"Come on... let's dance one more time..."
Gunfire echoed in the ruins of a dying world. But none of my bullets landed.I don't even know how many times I pulled the trigger. I just... kept firing.
Then, through the ringing in my ears...
Voices.
"Raze! Get up! We're not done yet!"
That voice—Nova? I turned. Through the smoke, I saw her. Wounded, but standing. Smiling.Nova, My leader, My Bestfriend, My will of hope. Then came Ariana. Hair messy, grin wide.Craiz leapt over debris, laughing like a madman.
"We're here, Razeee~! Don't you dare to cry!"
Merv touched my shoulder. Vels brushed blood off my face. Rein gently patted my head. Kana grabbed my hand. And Ela... Ela hugged me. Tight.
"We're here, Raze. You're not alone."
I sobbed. I broke. I clung to them.
"I... I missed you all... I thought... I thought—" But when I opened my eyes...
They were gone.
No voices.No hands.No smiles.
Just rubble. Just me. And the two Gore Hounds—closer now. Red eyes gleaming. I collapsed. My strength gone.
"Where did you all go...? Don't leave me..."
Tears fell. Real ones. Broken sobs shook my chest. My voice cracked. I held myself, rocking in the dust and ruin. Because now I knew the truth.
I was alone.
---DHHOLO---
My steps felt heavy as I descended the concrete staircase into the underground. Mold-coated walls pressed in around me, the air reeked of dampness and rusted metal, stinging my nose with every breath. Each step down felt like digging deeper into the wounds etched across my worn body.
I stifled a groan as I reached the large metal door, half-rusted and scarred by time. Two rhythmic knocks. Then a single, firm thump. A small hatch slid open, revealing a pair of sharp eyes studying me through the slit.
"Raze," I murmured, my voice hoarse.
The eyes narrowed before the hatch shut with a click. The door groaned slowly open, revealing a dim interior, shadows flickering from weak overhead lights. I dragged my battered form inside.
Among crates of stolen goods, weapon parts, and dismembered HOLO units displayed like trophies stood a woman named Louren Hawk. Round glasses rested on her nose, and her thin smile—sharp and cunning—gave her the air of a hawk circling its prey.
"Yo, Raze," she greeted casually, though her eyes were keen and dissecting. "Let me guess. You took down a few more HOLO?"
I said nothing. I simply raised my hand and activated my storage magic. A pale blue glow shimmered in the air as scrap metal, frayed wires, and cracked identification chips from HOLO units dropped onto the table before us.
Eight Gore Hounds. Three more HOLO units. All scrap—some I tore down myself, the rest I picked off during patrol.
Lou let out a low whistle, her eyes gleaming. Like she was in love with that damn pile of junk.
"Hoo..." she breathed, eyes narrowing as she flipped over one of the fractured chips. "No way... Seraph Null?"
I gave a faint nod.
She chuckled, lifting another fragment and examining it with a handheld scanner.
"You took down a flying unit by yourself?" she asked, half-impressed, half-incredulous.
I gave a small shrug. Whatever got me through it, I was still breathing—and for now, that was enough. Lou leaned quietly against the table, her gaze fixed on mine.
So, Raze," she smirked, "what's all this gonna get you today, huh?"
I lifted my face, rain-soaked hair clinging to my cheeks, and replied in a whisper
"I want a new Crimson Zephyr Sniper. Fully equipped. With twenty boxes of ammo."
Lou raised a brow.
"Big words for a scrawny little runt who can barely stand," she sneered. "Anything else?"
I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to let Lou's mockery slide.
"Rations..." My head dropped, voice barely holding together. "Just for a week."
Her smile widened—not with scorn, but with something softer. For a moment, a flicker of pity surfaced in her eyes, before she tucked it away.
"Alright, Raze," she finally said. "You've earned it."
At her snap, the two men posted behind the door—like obedient guard dogs—moved at once. One returned with a heavy box of ammo. The other slipped into the back room for dried rations.
I stayed still, my hand gripping the edge of the table just to stay upright. The world swayed slightly, but I forced my body not to give in.
And then Lou stepped closer, resting her arms lightly on the table. Her voice dropped, shedding its playful tone.
"One more thing," she said. "Some information. You might want to hear it."
I looked up at her with empty eyes.
"A resistance group," she said. "They call themselves as ADVENT. They made a move to take back one of the cities under HOLO control. But..."
She paused, letting the silence speak louder than her words."They vanished. No remains. No comms. Nothing."
I froze, brow furrowed, the words slamming into my foggy mind like static.
ADVENT.
That name had surfaced in whispers among the refugees. A small group—brave, maybe even reckless—still clinging to the fragile hope of reclaiming the world.
My hands clenched into fists.
"They disappeared?" I asked back, barely above a whisper.
Lou gave a slow nod.
"Like the earth tried to swallow them," she said. "Or something worse."
I bit my lip, the familiar cold of fear crawling back up from the pit of my stomach.
"Lou." My voice was ragged. "Give me their last coordinates."
She squinted at me, considering, before answering.
"The Western District. An old, half-ruined city. They attacked a HOLO stronghold there. But since that night... silence."
The Western District...
Not far from here. If there's any clue left maybe I could find it. Maybe I could find them.
I gave a slow nod.
"Thank you, Lou," I said, attempting a smile, though I couldn't remember the last time my face had truly worn one.
Lou ruffled my hair roughly, affection hidden beneath the gruff motion.
"Take care of yourself, Raze," she said. "This world isn't kind to those who walk alone."
I nodded again and reached for the ammo crate and the ration pack. My mechanical knife sat snug against my waist, my most loyal companion so far.
Turning away, I walked slowly out of the chamber. The stifling underground air gave way to the cold, damp breath of the outside world. Just before the heavy metal door shut behind me, I heard Lou's voice call out.
"If you die, I'm screwed. The talented boys like yours don't come around often."
I gave a bitter smile.
I wouldn't die.
I couldn't die.
This world may have burned to ash… but I'll find them.My friends are still out there. I know it. And I won't stop until I do.
My steps, though unsteady, carried me back into the wasteland. On my back, a new weapon and the smallest flicker of hope.
In my heart, a fragile flame still burned—struggling to stay alive against the storm that threatened to snuff it out.
I made a vow.
That no matter how far, how broken the path became… I would keep walking.I would search until I found them—because they were all I had left.
And I swore… with every tear I shed, with every drop of blood spilled... I would survive.
For them.For the day our paths cross again.