The sky hung low and heavy, a dull gray stretching like molten metal across the horizon. Wind twisted through the streets of Estheria, rattling signs and sending scraps of paper tumbling like restless spirits. From afar, the city shimmered in neon blue and silver, a jewel of technology teetering on the brink of disaster that none yet sensed.
Inside a cramped garage tucked away in the industrial district, neon-blue lights flickered over the workbenches, illuminating a chaos of wires, metal scraps, and half-assembled drones. The air smelled faintly of ozone and oil, mixed with the sharp tang of solder smoke. Soft synth beats pulsed through a cracked speaker, giving the small room a heartbeat of its own.
RENJI
(tossing a wrench across the room, grinning)
Yo, JIN! Catch!
JIN
(snatches it mid-air without looking, tightening a bolt on the hoverbike)
You call that a toss? Thought tech geniuses had better aim.
RENJI
(leaning on the workbench, smirking, wiping grease off his hands)
Bro, I'm thirteen and I've reverse-engineered three drones this week. My arm strength isn't in the patch notes.
JIN
(chuckling, adjusting a neon circuit panel with surgical precision)
Brains won't always be enough. Build better. Think faster. Fail harder.
RENJI
(rolling eyes, kicking at a loose metal plate on the floor)
Geez, when did you start sounding like some philosopher from an old holo-class?
JIN
(grinning without looking up, sparks flying from his soldering iron)
When you started building things powerful enough to blow a hole in the city grid.
RENJI
(eyes widening, mock outrage)
That was once! A small hole!
JIN
(straightening, voice low and serious for a second before smirking again)
Citywide blackout, Renji. Citywide.
They laughed, a brief echo of warmth in a room that smelled of metal and oil. Outside, the streets hummed with traffic and chatter, oblivious to the storm gathering far beyond the horizon. For a moment, the world outside felt distant—like a half-forgotten dream.
RENJI
(picking up a small drone, turning it over in his hands)
You think we'll ever stop tinkering? Just… sit back and do nothing?
JIN
(sighing, wiping a smear of grease from his brow)
Maybe someday. But not today. Today, we make things that can survive anything. Even us.
RENJI
(tilting his head, smirking)
Even us? Sounds like a subtle threat, big bro.
JIN
(laughs, tapping a dial on the hoverbike with a flourish)
Just a friendly reminder—you can't always rely on your brains. Sometimes, you've gotta rely on guts.
RENJI
(grinning, bouncing on his heels)
Guts, huh? That's fair. I got plenty of those. Plus, I got you—my walking disaster insurance.
JIN
(rolling his eyes, shaking his head with a faint smile)
Insurance… more like collateral if something explodes.
For a few more minutes, they worked side by side. Tools clinked, sparks flew, circuits hummed. A faint beam of sunlight slanted through the cracked window, catching on a stray bolt and throwing a tiny prism of light across the walls. The world felt small and safe here, a pocket of calm before everything changed.
JIN
(pauses, looking at his younger brother, then smiles softly)
I think about it sometimes. But then I remember, if we didn't try… the world wouldn't survive us. And besides… you'd probably get bored.
RENJI
(grinning, nudges JIN playfully)
Bored? Me? Impossible. I'd just… invent more trouble. You'd probably love it.
JIN
(laughs, shaking his head)
Love it? More like keep me alive while you almost burn the place down.
Renji's hands wandered over the hoverbike controls, fingers brushing the neon panels, lingering on the places where the light flickered strangely. He didn't know why, but a tiny spark of unease pricked at the back of his mind. Something was coming. Something old. Something… wrong.
RENJI
(half-serious, half-teasing)
Big bro… you ever get the feeling the world's holding its breath? Like something's… watching?
JIN
(chuckles, eyes on the bike, though a flicker of concern passes through his expression)
Probably just the circuits humming. Or maybe it's just the city… acting like it always does.
Renji didn't respond, just fidgeted with a loose bolt. He felt it deep in his chest—the same strange thrum in the air, subtle but impossible to ignore. He shook it off, smiling again at JIN, who caught the smile and gave a rare, small nod of approval.
RENJI
(smirking, bouncing on his heels)
Well, whatever's out there… we'll handle it. Together.
JIN
(grinning, a flicker of pride in his tired eyes)
Together. Always.
The sun slipped lower, casting long shadows across the garage floor. Outside, the city hummed, unaware that its calm was about to shatter. Inside, the brothers tinkered, laughed, and plotted. The world beyond the walls waited, patient and silent, ready to remind them how small their bubble of safety really was.
THE NETHER REALM | NIGHT
Beyond the shattered sky of Earth, through a portal writhing with dark energy, lay the Nether Realm—a twisted dimension where shadows had substance, and the very air burned with malevolence. The ground pulsed like veins, rivers of molten darkness slithering between jagged obsidian cliffs. The sky above bled crimson and black, fractured by streaks of lightning that hissed and spat like venom. The atmosphere itself seemed alive, a predator watching, waiting.
At the heart of this apocalyptic expanse stood a citadel of jagged black stone, towering spires etched with glowing runes that throbbed in rhythm with some unseen pulse. The air vibrated with the march of countless soldiers, their armor a fusion of jagged metal and shadow. Their weapons hummed with energy, sharp enough to slice reality itself.
On the uppermost balcony, overlooking the writhing army, three figures commanded attention.
KAEN
(short, lithe, her orange hair catching the eerie glow of the Nether sky, crimson eyes like molten embers)
Kaen's blades, black as void-fire, twirled in her hands effortlessly. Every movement was grace and lethal precision combined—an apex predator of the battlefield. Her armor clung to her like a second skin, segmented and etched with Nether sigils that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat. Her lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk, as if she already savored the chaos to come.
IBUKU
(standing rigid, his crimson armor jagged and spiked, twin axes resting across broad shoulders, expressionless as death)
He radiated raw power—the calm before the storm. Every step he took sent ripples through the obsidian floor. Even the Nether soldiers gave him space, instinctively aware that he was not a man to challenge lightly. He was cold, efficient, and utterly unfeeling. Where Kaen danced, he crushed.
From the shadows, descending like a storm in slow motion, came the final figure—towering, regal, yet terrifying. The Nether King, KUROKAMI NO YAMI, exuded authority that could bend worlds. His armor was impossibly dark, blacker than shadow itself, interwoven with streaks of molten crimson. His eyes glowed with ancient intelligence and infinite malice. Every movement was deliberate, every gesture a command of life and death.
KUROKAMI
(voice deep, resonant, echoing unnaturally across the realm)
The pulse… the time has come. The Kageri child awakens.
Kaen bowed slightly, twin blades forming arcs of deadly fire in her hands. The Nether soldiers around them shifted in silent acknowledgment, anticipation humming like electricity in the air.
KAEN
(voice smooth, cutting through the thick air like a blade)
He is… powerful. The Eclipse energy within him… unprecedented.
KUROKAMI
(eyes narrowing, body coiling like a spring)
Powerful, yes. But raw. Untested. He will break, or he will rise. And when he rises… he will serve our purpose—or die.
The sky above the citadel cracked, and from the cracks, tendrils of shadow crawled downward, wrapping around the army like living chains. Soldiers marched in eerie synchronization, shadows flowing over their armor, sharpening their weapons. Screams of past victims echoed faintly, embedded into the very essence of the land—a constant reminder of the Nether's ruthlessness.
KUROTENGU
(stepping forward, twin flaming swords igniting, a predatory smile flashing across his face)
Shall we proceed, my lord? Let Earth bleed. Let them know fear.
KUROKAMI
Proceed. But do not underestimate the child. I want total control… and absolute chaos.
Kaen's eyes glinted red as she twirled her blades with practiced elegance, shadows licking the metal edges. Ibuku flexed, axes humming with power. The ground beneath them seemed to pulse faster, as though the realm itself fed on their intent. Every soldier, every creature of the Nether, was a weapon forged for brutality. Mercy was a concept dead here. Compassion, a disease. And yet, control—total, absolute—was their creed.
KAEN
(whispering almost to herself, yet audible to those around)
Soon… everything will burn.
Kuromkami's hand rose slowly, a signal. Shadows coalesced into massive, serpentine constructs that hissed, ready to devour, claw, and annihilate anything in their path. Soldiers and monsters alike surged forward, a river of death ready to spill through the portals into Earth. The red-lit sky reflected in Kaen's eyes, mirroring the carnage they would unleash.
KUROKAMI
Tonight… the world will fracture. And from its ashes… the Nether will claim dominion.
The army surged as one, a living tide of darkness, fire, and jagged metal, the air ringing with screams, the clash of blades, and the low, omnipresent hum of malignant power. Kaen, Ibuku, and the Nether King observed, poised like predators, their calm ruthlessness contrasting the absolute terror they would soon rain upon Earth.
ESTHERIA | LATE AFTERNOON
The first crack tore the sky like shattered glass. It wasn't lightning, it wasn't thunder. It was older—something older, something that screamed wrongness in the bones. The city below, once shimmering with neon life and humming with innovation, shivered under the unseen weight of impending doom.
News feeds called it a meteor storm. Citizens were told to stay calm. Calm didn't exist anymore.
From the high-tech garage where the brothers worked, the hum of tools and synth music was abruptly drowned by a low, guttural vibration. The floor shuddered beneath their feet. Sparks danced across the neon panels as a warning light blinked frantically.
RENJI
(pausing mid-screw, voice trembling)
…That wasn't the hoverbike, right?
JIN
(eyes narrowing, scanning the streets outside)
Nope. That's… external.
The rumble grew, a deep, throbbing roar that vibrated through the city like the heartbeat of something monstrous. Shadows stretched unnaturally across the streets. Then—BOOM. A shockwave slammed into the garage, sending tools and scrap metal flying like deadly confetti. Neon lights flickered, casting the room into chaotic strobe.
RENJI
(wide-eyed, voice cracking)
Holy—what… what is that?!
JIN
(grabbing Renji, pointing toward the door)
Under the table. Now!
The windows shattered as a crimson light bathed the garage, revealing the first silhouettes of the Nether army pouring into the streets below. Their bodies were twisted, armor jagged and glistening, eyes like burning coals. They moved as one—efficient, relentless, utterly inhuman.
The brothers bolted from the garage, Jin slinging a salvaged katana over his shoulder while grabbing Renji's hand. Streets that had been alive with hovercars and pedestrians were now rivers of screaming civilians, overturned vehicles, and fire. The air smelled of burning metal and ozone, thick and suffocating.
RENJI
(panicked, looking around)
Big bro… what's happening?!
JIN
(gritting his teeth, scanning for escape routes)
Run! Don't stop! Just… move!
From above, a massive fireball crashed into the street ahead, peeling the roof from a nearby building. The brothers dove behind a crumbling wall as a Nether warrior, clad in jagged obsidian armor, stepped through a flickering dark portal, sword crackling with infernal fire.
KUROTENGU
(drawing flaming swords, voice cold as iron)
Humans… I am Kurotengu no Yami of the Nether Realm.
JIN
(stepping in front of Renji, katana unsheathed, stance defensive)
Stay away from us, you murdering freak!
KUROTENGU
Relax. I come with a proposal that will benefit both of us. Hand over the Kageri child, and I may spare your life.
JIN
(snarling, boots skidding on cracked concrete)
You're insane if you think I'd hand over my brother to a fiend like you!
The first clash erupted. Sparks flew as Jin's katana met Kurotengu's blazing sword. Each strike was precise, brutal, a deadly dance of human desperation against inhuman perfection. The ground cracked, debris fell, and the sky above flickered with molten red light.
Renji, heart hammering, scrambled forward, instinct screaming at him to protect his brother. But Kurotengu's dark energy coiled around him, a living whip of shadow, halting him in place.
KUROTENGU
(voice like grinding stone)
One step closer, Kageri child… and your brother dies.
RENJI
(screaming, tears streaming)
NOOO! JIIINN!
Suddenly, a squad of human soldiers in gleaming white combat armor—the Pegasus Rangers—rushed in, forming a protective line. Their weapons blazed, firing energy pulses that tore through the Nether minions. For a fleeting moment, hope flickered like a candle in the storm.
JIN
(panting, eyes scanning for Renji)
RENJIIII!!!
But the chaos didn't relent. Kurotengu hurled a massive spear at Renji. Jin's instincts kicked in—he dove, taking the full brunt of the attack. The weapon pierced through him with a sickening thud. Red bloomed across his chest. Renji's world shattered in a single scream.
RENJI
(shaking, trembling, black-and-white energy flickering from his chest)
JIIIIINNN!!! I'll make you pay!
The Pegasus soldiers grabbed Renji, pulling him toward the evacuation center as the city burned around them. Estheria was no longer a city—it was a warzone. Fires raged, sky lanes collapsed, and the cries of humanity echoed through twisted spires. Every shadow, every corner hid death. Every second was survival.
Renji clenched his fists, his small frame trembling, but inside, a spark of fury ignited. The Nether would not just take him. Not while he still drew breath.
Flames licked the sky. The city, once a marvel of technology and progress, now a hellish tableau of burning spires, collapsed sky lanes, and rivers of molten debris. Smoke choked the streets, carrying the scent of burning metal and human panic. Shadows moved like predatory beasts—Nether soldiers swarming in waves, a black tide of destruction.
The Pegasus Rangers stood firm, a human line of honor against impossible odds. Their white armor glinted in the firelight, pony emblems shining as if to mock the darkness. They fired tirelessly, charging blades, railguns, and artillery against an unyielding enemy. The battle was desperate. The cries of civilians echoed through the streets, yet even their courage faltered under the relentless tide.
SOLDIER 1
(shouting over blaring sirens)
Hold the line! We've got to buy them time!
SOLDIER 2
(gritting teeth, swinging a plasma blade)
There's too many of them… the civilians can't hold forever!
Every step of the Pegasus soldiers was a battle against overwhelming force. The ground quaked as Nether warriors smashed through barricades, their jagged weapons cleaving through metal and flesh alike. Rockets screamed through the smoky air, hitting targets, but for every soldier downed, three more emerged from the crimson sky.
Amid the chaos, Renji moved like a blur. He wasn't just another soldier—he was a twelve-year-old boy, small but fierce, his body trembling with fear, grief, and something more. He had already glimpsed the strange energy within him—Eclipse power—but it refused to stay under control. Now, under the crushing weight of devastation, it flared in bursts, his black-and-white aura slicing through the Nether like twin comets.
RENJI
(voice raw, yelling over the screams)
Get away from the civilians! Stay back!
He swung his fists, a surge of energy punching through a squad of Nether soldiers. Sparks and black-white streaks tore through their ranks. Bodies flew, screaming echoes lost in the firestorm. The Pegasus soldiers faltered, awe-struck and terrified, watching a child—barely more than a boy—wield chaos like a weapon.
Then came the elites. Kaen and Ibuku emerged from the dark, moving like predators. Kaen's orange hair flickered in the firelight, red eyes blazing as her dual Nether blades danced with lethal precision. Ibuku's twin axes carved a path of destruction, each swing like a falling tree. Together, they descended on Renji like a dark judgment.
KAEN
(twirling blades, voice sharp)
So… the Kageri child. Let's see if you're worth the trouble.
IBUKU
(cold, calculating)
Orders are orders. Don't hold back.
Renji gritted his teeth, fists glowing black and white. He rushed forward, dodging Kaen's blade and Ibuku's axes, landing bursts of energy that sent small Nether soldiers flying. For a moment, he stunned Ibuku, knocking him against a crumbling wall. The elite stumbled, mouth open in shock.
RENJI
(breathing heavily, voice trembling but growing confident)
Not… today…
Then, a surge—his Eclipse powers roared to life, black and white energy spiraling violently around him. A shockwave shattered the street, sending Kaen skidding back. Renji's fists pounded, energy lashing outward, forcing Kaen to react defensively. The street became a storm of black-and-white light, rubble, and sparks.
Kaen charged, her speed terrifying. Renji countered, fists colliding with her blades—but in a sudden maneuver, she leapt onto him, straddling him to pin him down. For a second, the chaos faded; firelight reflected in her wide, flustered eyes, her breath hot and heavy. Embarrassment crept across her face, tinged with a flicker of something unspoken—but Renji, too focused on survival, barely noticed, heart hammering from fear, anger, and power.
KAEN
(blushing, voice tight)
Get… off…!
RENJI
(straining, voice full of fury)
I… won't… let you—!
He surged with raw Eclipse energy, throwing Kaen and Ibuku across the street like ragdolls. Sparks flew from his fists, smoke rose in twisting tendrils. The elites skidded along shattered concrete, hitting walls and debris. For a heartbeat, the street was silent except for the hum of residual energy.
But the cost hit him immediately. Exhaustion slammed into him like a freight train. His chest heaved, aura flickering and dimming. Limbs trembling, he collapsed against the cold pavement. Around him, the city burned, civilians lost, Pegasus soldiers falling under relentless Nether attacks.
Then came a hand—a strong, steady grip. A Pegasus Lieutenant scooped him up, hoisting him into a single helicopter barely able to lift them both. The rotors shook violently, black smoke from the burning city stinging their eyes. Outside, Estheria crumbled, towers collapsing, sky lanes shattering, and the Nether forces advancing unchallenged. The city was gone.
PEGASUS LIEUTENANT
(gritting teeth, voice tense)
Hold on, kid! We're getting out of here!
Renji clung to the lieutenant, gaze fixed on the horizon where his home, his world, was swallowed in fire. The streets below were rivers of molten shadow, bodies, and light. His heart pounded—not just with fear, but with the first true spark of power and vengeance that would define him.
The helicopter lifted into the night, carrying the last fragile hope of human resistance. Below them, the world burned, the Genesis Pulse spreading like wildfire. And somewhere deep in Renji's chest, Eclipse energy pulsed… waiting, promising, dangerous.
AIRSPACE ABOVE BURNING ESTHERIA | NIGHT
The helicopter cut through thick black smoke, its rotors slicing the air like desperate knives. Below, Estheria lay in ruin, a city of fire and shadow. Renji leaned forward, body trembling, chest heaving. His Eclipse powers had left him drained, the energy within him flickering weakly, like dying embers.
RENJI
(voice shaky, whispering)
I… I couldn't save anyone…
PEGASUS LIEUTENANT
(tight grip, voice firm)
You did more than anyone else could, kid. You held them off… even if just for a few minutes.
RENJI
(shaking his head, tears slipping down)
Minutes… that's all it was. People… my city… gone…
PEGASUS LIEUTENANT
I know. I see it in your eyes. But blaming yourself won't bring them back. Not yet.
Renji slumped back, trembling, staring out as the burning horizon reflected in his wide eyes. The city had been swallowed by fire. Civilians, soldiers… gone. Every sound from below was chaos and destruction. He felt hollow, the weight of guilt crushing him.
RENJI
(voice barely audible, whispering to himself)
I'm… useless…
PEGASUS LIEUTENANT
No. You're far from useless. You've got power inside you… something no one else has. You just don't know how to control it yet.
Below, the ground trembled violently. Shadows lengthened unnaturally. A thunderous presence touched the city, and the air grew impossibly cold. The helicopter shuddered as a massive figure descended.
KUROKAMI NO YAMI – THE NETHER KING
(booming voice, dripping with authority)
Kaen. Ibuku. Explain this… failure.
KAEN
(bowing, bloodied, voice trembling)
My lord… the Kageri child… he—he surprised us. His power—
IBUKU
(gritting teeth, glaring at Renji's escaping form)
Orders were followed, sire. But… that child—he is unlike any other.
KUROKAMI
(voice like grinding stone)
Unlike any other is irrelevant. The mission is complete. Yet your incompetence allowed interference. Do not repeat this failure.
KAEN
(nodding, voice low, a hint of defiance)
Yes… my lord. It won't happen again.
KUROKAMI
(turning eyes to the horizon, voice rising, commanding)
Enough excuses. Begin the global invasion. No mercy. No hesitation. Let the Genesis Pulse sweep the Earth.
The Nether King's words rippled across the sky. Cracks of dark energy tore through the atmosphere. Cities, oceans, jungles, tundras—every corner of the planet felt it. Reality began to warp. The Genesis Pulse began.
IBUKU
(voice tense, watching the world fracture)
It's… starting. The Earth… it's changing.
KAEN
(gritting teeth, observing the chaos below)
So much power… so much destruction…
KUROKAMI
(calm, absolute, eyes glowing like molten shadow)
Destruction is only the beginning. Evolution… adaptation… supremacy. Humanity will fracture. Civilization will burn. And only the worthy will inherit the new world.
Mountains cracked, rivers boiled, forests erupted into crystalline growth. Entire cities twisted into living shadows. The oceans roiled with unnatural currents. The skies bled red. Elemental Genesis Crystals ignited across continents, pulsing with primal energy. The planet itself trembled, alive with new, chaotic power.
RENJI
(panting, voice weak, gripping the helicopter rail)
What… what's happening…
PEGASUS LIEUTENANT
(voice grim, tight jaw)
The Genesis Pulse… it's rewriting the Earth. Everything you knew… gone.
RENJI
(clenching fists, whispering)
Then… then I have to… I have to be ready…
PEGASUS LIEUTENANT
Yes. You will be. But rest now. Survive first.
Below, the Nether forces moved like a black tide. Cities burned and twisted, oceans boiled, skies cracked. Humanity's last defenses scrambled, futile against the unstoppable surge. But high above, in that tiny helicopter, Renji's eyes burned with silent fury, a flicker of black-and-white light pulsing beneath his exhaustion. He had survived… and he would rise.
RENJI
(voice low, full of determination, almost a growl)
I… I won't let this end… not like this…
The helicopter banked, carrying the last hope of escape, as the Genesis Pulse reshaped the Earth. Humanity's world was over—but a new era had begun. And somewhere inside Renji, the Eclipse power pulsed with promise… dangerous, untamed, and unstoppable.
4 YEARS LATER
EARTH AFTER THE GENESIS PULSE | NIGHT – WIDE PANORAMA
The world had changed. The Genesis Pulse had rewritten everything. Cities were shattered. Oceans boiled. Skies bled crimson, twisting into impossible geometries. Forests crystallized overnight, tundras melted into molten rivers, deserts sprouted jagged obsidian towers. Humanity had lost roughly 20% of its population in the first sweep of the Nether invasion, leaving behind chaos, devastation, and fear.
Among the ruins, survivors tried to grasp the new reality. Energy pulses, elemental forces, and strange relics appeared all over the globe—Elemental Genesis Crystals, known as Elegems, each attuned to a primal force of nature. Humanity scrambled to adapt.
SOLDIER 1
(pointing to a glowing crystal in the rubble)
What… is that?
SOLDIER 2
(eyes wide, voice trembling)
It's one of the… Elegems. They say these things can give you power… beyond imagination.
The Elegems, codified by early scholars in fragments of old-world archives, began to shape the new world of combat and survival:
🔥 Pyrogem — Harness fire and ash.
💧 Aquagem — Command water and steam.
🌪️ Aerogem — Manipulate wind and pressure.
🌍 Terragem — Control earth, stone, and crystal.
⚡ Voltgem — Unleash lightning and charge.
❄️ Cryogem — Summon ice and slow decay.
☀️ Luxgem — Beam with radiant energy.
🌑 Umbragem — Tap into darkness and illusion.
⚛️ Plasmagem — Combine raw energy and force.
🌗 Eclipsegem — Light and shadow fused into the rarest form.
🐾 Ani Gem — Control beasts, plants, and nature itself.
But Elegems alone were unstable. To wield their power without burning alive, one needed balance—
One needed... HexCells.
HexCells are advanced neural chips that:
Enhance reflexes
Amplify strength
Link to Elegems for stability
Grant unique battle modes (depending on class)
Main Types of HexCells:
⚡ Speed HexCell – Reflex and movement boost.
💪 Strength HexCell – Amplifies physical power.
❤️ Health HexCell – Boosts healing and resilience.
🔊 Sound HexCell – Enhances hearing and can produce shockwave attacks.
🧠 Focus HexCell – Increases concentration and marksmanship.
🕶 Stealth HexCell – Grants invisibility or silent movement.
🔥 Thermal HexCell – Heat regulation for Pyro synergy.
🌊 Hydro HexCell – Water manipulation booster.
🌀 Gravity HexCell – Rare, controls localized gravity bursts.
🔲 Ultra HexCell – Elite multi-core enhancement.
🔷 Apex HexCell – Custom tech for exceptional elites like Renji, syncing multiple powers.
---
Across the planet, four dominant factions arose from the ruins, each carving their own corner of the fractured Earth:
SOLDIER 3
(pointing at a map, awestruck)
So… who's left in charge now?
SOLDIER 4
It's not just one. Four major powers rose from the chaos. Let me break it down.
SOLDIER 4
First, the NEXUS REPUBLIC. After Japan fell, an incredible wealthy genius—Director J—reclaimed the nation, rebuilt it from scratch. He expanded influence across Asia, establishing a high-tech, militarized state. Order, technology, and Elegem mastery became their foundation.
SOLDIER 3
And Estheria?
SOLDIER 4
Estheria returned to its roots. The city abandoned modern tech and embraced ancient traditions, magic, and Elegem studies. They're almost like a fortress of old-world knowledge reborn.
SOLDIER 3
AI Inc? That sounds… scary.
SOLDIER 4
(grimly)
They're the machines that survived humanity's collapse. With no humans to supervise, cyborgs rewrote their own code. They formed a rogue corporate empire, self-governed, seeking the rise of machines over humans.
SOLDIER 3
And… the Rebellion?
SOLDIER 4
The Rebellion is the wildcard. Criminals, terrorists, rogue military, freedom fighters… anyone who survived outside the rules. They're chaotic, but powerful in guerilla warfare, scavenging, and sabotage.
---
Meanwhile, on the battlefield of reality itself, remnants of the first Nether assault continued to sweep across territories. Black veins of corruption lingered in the earth, rivers of shadow moved unnaturally, and distant cities whispered warnings through flickering holograms and strange signals. Survivors whispered rumors of power awakenings in children—like Renji—whose bodies and minds could channel Elegems and HexCells like weapons.
SOLDIER 1
(fingers trembling on a console)
So… the world is basically… different now. Cities, people… everything's changed.
SOLDIER 2
And if you get an Elegem, or the right HexCell… you can survive. Or even fight back.
SOLDIER 1
(muttering)
Survive? Feels more like… evolve.
Above the chaos, satellites flickered and crashed. Earth's magnetic fields shifted. The Genesis Pulse didn't just destroy—it remade the world. New biomes emerged, wildlife mutated, and the lines between human, machine, and magic blurred. Civilization fractured—but amidst that fracture, new powers, new alliances, and new wars began to take shape.
SOLDIER 3
(looking at horizon, voice quiet)
Four factions… Elegems… HexCells… maybe… just maybe, we have a chance.
SOLDIER 4
(grim smile)
A chance… if the strong survive.
NEXUS REPUBLIC FORCES HQ | NIGHT
The massive titanium gates of Nexus Republic HQ glimmered under the pale moonlight, neon-blue lines pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat. Drones patrolled the skies in perfect synchrony, their sensors scanning for threats. At the checkpoint booth, two guards leaned casually, weapons slung over their shoulders, helmets tilted back to reveal tired, youthful faces. Yet, even in the calm, an undercurrent of tension buzzed through the air—this was the HQ of the most advanced military force the Earth had ever seen.
GUARD 1
Bro… you heard about that kid? Renji Asakura?
GUARD 2
(grinning, shaking his head)
Yeah… what, sixteen? And he's already Lead Developer in the arsenal lab?
GUARD 1
Sixteen! I was still struggling to pass target practice at that age.
GUARD 2
Dude literally rebuilt a collapsed railgun in under five minutes during Estheria's fall. Walking miracle, no joke.
GUARD 1
(whistles)
And the weird powers… Eclipse, right? Kid's like some legend-in-the-making.
From behind, a voice cut through the chatter like steel on steel—stern, icy, commanding attention.
AYAKA THORNE
And yet here you are, gossiping like schoolgirls on duty.
The guards froze mid-breath, spinning around. There she stood: AYAKA THORNE, arms crossed, aura radiating authority, eyes sharp enough to cut through steel. Behind her, another figure approached—DAEL VIREON, tall, imposing, exuding disciplined strength with each measured step.
GUARD 2
E-Executive Ayaka! We were just—
DAEL VIREON
—Just proving why we need more rigorous combat discipline at the gates.
GUARD 1
General Dael… sir! Sorry, sir!
Ayaka sighed, brushing past them with the grace of someone who'd commanded entire battlefronts. The gates hissed open, revealing the cavernous interior of the HQ. Vaulted ceilings stretched like a cathedral, intricate glowing symbols etched across the floor. In the center, a sparring arena crackled with energy barriers. Sparks from clashing weapons lit the space like a storm of stars.
Two figures moved within: HAJIRO FLINT, grizzled, blade-wielding veteran, precise and dangerous, and RENJI ASAKURA, clad in sleek Nexus armor, eyes blazing blue with fierce determination. Their movements were lightning-fast—sword strikes, flips, and spins executed with near-perfect precision.
Renji spun his bladed staff, Aquagem runes glowing, Eclipse patterns flickering along the edges. With a snap of his fingers, a burst of elemental energy erupted, sending arcs of water and shadow swirling across the arena.
HAJIRO
(stumbling back, eyes wide)
Was that… magic?
RENJI
(panting slightly, smirking)
Nope.
Elegem weaponization. Full sync.
He held the staff high, droplets of water hovering around it, forming miniature whirlpools and shadowy flares. Sparks of pure elemental energy danced along the floor, reflecting in Hajiro's astonished gaze.
RENJI
We finally bridged the gap.
Something only the Estherians were capable of… not anymore.
Hajiro's grip on his blade tightened, jaw set, respect and disbelief warring across his face. Behind the glass observation deck, Ayaka's eyes softened, a rare flicker of awe crossing her normally stoic features. Dael's arms were crossed, but the slight twitch of his brow betrayed his fascination.
DAEL
(quiet, almost whispering)
The boy… he's changing everything.
AYAKA
(voice tense, shaken slightly)
No… he's becoming something the world's never seen.
Renji's staff glowed brighter, water and shadow energy intertwining into a spiraling vortex. He leapt into the air, spinning, strikes raining down with precision and power. Hajiro barely deflected the blows, the impact of each strike sending shockwaves across the arena. Energy barriers shimmered and cracked under the force, dust swirling into the neon light.
RENJI
(voice fierce, gritting teeth)
I've waited for this… power… control… balance!
With a final push, Renji slammed the staff into the floor. Water surged, shadow erupted, and a shockwave tore across the arena, forcing Hajiro to roll to safety. The air shimmered, charged with raw Elegem energy. For a moment, the HQ itself seemed to hold its breath.
HAJIRO
(panting, eyes wide)
Impossible… he's… mastering Elegem weaponization… at this level…
Renji landed gracefully, staff spinning into his hand. He looked up at the observation deck, eyes glowing like twin galaxies, blue and black light spiraling within. Sparks flickered across his armor, illuminating the sheer intensity of his presence.
RENJI
This… this is just the beginning.
The lights dimmed. The runes pulsed rhythmically, like the heartbeat of some immense power. The camera—or observer—zoomed into Renji's glowing eyes, the room silent except for the faint hum of energy and the distant echoes of the city outside. A storm was coming. A force unlike any other, and it began… here.
End of Episode 1.