Tsuki awoke to the toll of bells echoing through the camp just past one in the morning. She shot upright, breath shallow and heart racing.
Already?
"I barely slept," she muttered, rubbing her eyes.
Outside her tent, shadows flickered under torchlight. The cold air smelled of smoke and damp grass. Hatori stood waiting with the bell still in hand. Next to him, Knoxx cracked his knuckles like a boxer before a match.
"Mornin' sleepyhead," Knoxx said, grinning. "Time to go kick some APC ass. We've got a ride ahead—Zimala's about an hour out."
Just as he spoke, Geo and Azumi emerged from their tents, both clearly not morning people.
Geo groaned, shielding his eyes. "Can we push this back, maybe an hour or two? Sleep's important for performance, right?"
Azumi yawned. "Seconded."
Hatori gave them both a deadpan look. "Pinch yourselves or something. We're moving."
The two grumbled as they pulled themselves together.
Azumi sighed dramatically. "Will my prince Tona be there? If so, I'll push through."
She pressed her hands together in faux devotion.
Tsuki and Hatori exchanged glances, trying to stifle laughter.
Moments later, Maro approached from the shadows, his long coat trailing behind him. Conversations quieted with every closing step.
"Briefing's finished," he said calmly. "Gear up. We depart in thirty."
The camp buzzed with quiet intensity. Memento members dressed in dark robes, fastened lightweight armor, and adjusted their masks. Rations were distributed. Grapple guns—newly supplied for the assault—were handed out by Danzo to every elite squad. Judgement Squad received theirs without ceremony.
Carriages waited beyond the outer hill.
Tsuki boarded with Geo and Azumi on her left and right, while Knoxx, Hatori, and Danzo sat across. Their vehicle jolted as the convoy began to move through the forest paths under cover of night.
Five squads had been chosen for the initial scaling operation—Judgement, Nighthawk, Viper, Echo, and Lantern. Each squad would be appropriately evened out along the wall to provide as much support as possible. Judgement Squad's mission: silently overtake the Zimalan Wall and lower the gate to allow the full force entry.
As the carriage rocked through uneven roads, idle chatter filled the air, but Tsuki soon found her eyelids drooping.
And then, the dream returned.
Shadows twisted in a hallway she couldn't remember. Boots slammed against the wooden floors and the front door swung open. A gloved hand seized her collar and yanked her forward.
Two figures—a man and a woman—struggled in the hallway. Their faces were blurred, yet, she felt connected.
Another soldier pinned them against a wall. Their screams sounded so familiar.
She clawed at the hand gripping her collar, pleading for escape. She couldn't move—her legs were shorter. The soldier just laughed and continued to drag Tsuki further into the shadows.
She woke with a sharp inhale.
Geo sat beside her, gently nudging her shoulder.
"Hey… sorry. We're almost there."
She sat up. Her voice was shaky, and her arm twitched. "Thanks," she whispered.
Tsuki steadied her breathing. She forced the dream back down.
There's a time and place for thoughts, but there are more urgent matters.
Outside, the Zimalan Wall came into view—tall, ancient, and formidable. Its grey stone loomed under the torchlit sky, punctuated by narrow windows and watch points. Lanterns flickered along the parapets, casting long shadows across the quiet fields. Memento's forces quickly began deboarding as they closed in on the giant stone structure.
Danzo adjusted his gloves. "This is the one. We make history tonight."
"Damn right," Knoxx said. "They'll be singing songs about me 'Knoxx the Destroyer.' Oh yeah!"
Azumi slapped the back of his head. "Keep your voice down, idiot. Do you want them to hear us before we're even on the wall?"
Knoxx stuck his tongue out and adjusted his grappling hook.
The squads lined up in silence. Farther down the formation, Echo Squad stood in near-total darkness—masked, cloaked, and deadly. Known for their precision and speed, Echo Squad specialized in infiltration and silent kills. Few in Memento knew their real names. Fewer still had seen their faces.
Danzo raised a hand, eyes locked down the line. After a moment, Maro—far ahead—gave a subtle gesture. His hand dropped.
That was the signal.
"Judgement Squad and Nighthawk Squad," Danzo ordered quietly, "begin scaling."
Hooks launched into the stone. Metal clinked against ancient walls. The squads began their ascent, shadows against stone. Wind howled softly, covering the sounds of movement.
As Tsuki climbed, Azumi muttered below her, "This is one hell of a climb..."
"Focus," Hatori called quietly.
Above them, Geo exhaled. "Worth it if we take that gate."
Knoxx grinned. "Now you're speaking my language, Geo!"
Hatori said nothing else, silently climbing.
Azumi and Tsuki chuckled. The levity made the climb bearable.
Until—
"Oh shit!" Geo cried out.
His grapple line snapped with a sharp twang.
"Geo!" Tsuki yelled. Without hesitation, she reached out, molding the shadows of the wall. A black hand burst from the stone and grabbed Geo's wrist mid-fall. With a sharp tug, she reeled him back in.
Geo clambered onto the top of the wall, panting. "You're my savior."
Tsuki exhaled hard. "Be more careful next time. You almost saw death's face."
"Sorry…"
Her expression softened. "It's not your fault. But be more careful."
"Yes, Mom."
Mom..?
He smirked, and she elbowed him playfully. Though, below the playfulness was an image. Jianka muttering that same word, in the same tense. Tsuki shook her head, attempting to rid of the thought.
Azumi reached the top and sighed. "Lucky bastard."
Knoxx climbed over the ledge. "Yeah, you almost ate it, man."
Hatori shook his head, chuckling under his breath.
Danzo sprinted over from a nearby rampart. "Judgement Squad, inside the wall. Clear a path to the gate lever. The main force needs that entrance open."
"On it!" the squad responded.
Tsuki and Geo entered a trapdoor and descended into darkness. The squad had split into twos, leaving each duo to fend for themselves temporarily. The stone interior was damp, silent, and unlit. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they navigated a tight corridor.
CLANG!
Tsuki's foot hit a loose bucket. It rolled down the hall.
"Who's there?!" a voice shouted.
Two APC Stalkers stood at the far end, tossing aside cards and drawing weapons.
"You're dead," one sneered.
The second unleashed a Solena shockwave. Geo reacted fast, yanking stone from the wall to absorb the blast and send a retaliating spike forward.
They dodged.
Tsuki blurred forward, shadow-stepping into close quarters with the second guard. Their fists collided in a series of rapid blows. Geo caught the first guard with a kick, but the man grabbed his leg and slammed him into the ground. Geo grunted, then twisted the earth beneath him upward, smashing into the Stalker's jaw.
Tsuki tumbled from a blow but recovered mid-roll. She pulled the shadows beneath her and vanished into them. Reappearing behind her enemy, she grabbed his leg and dragged him into her Shadow Realm.
Pure black, weightless, and controlled.
The Stalker screamed. Shockwaves burst—but were smothered by a sea of shadowy hands. Tsuki emerged from the void, driving a punch into the second man's temple, then a spin-kick that hurled him into the depths.
She reappeared on the main floor.
Geo blinked. "That was badass… but where did he go?"
She just smiled. "My secret. Come on," Tsuki said. "We've got a lever to find."
After clearing more corridors and dispatching a few lower-tier guards, they finally reached the inner control room.
The gate lever stood before them.
Just as Tsuki moved to pull it—
BOOM!
A blast rocked the room, forcing them to shield their eyes.
From the smoke emerged a towering figure—at least seven feet tall, built like a fortress, his eyes wild with fury.
"Well, well. Got some visitors," he rumbled.
Geo stepped forward. "Give it up, or we'll end you too."
"Name's Erel. Erel Tukoyomi. Erel the Great if you'd be so kind." He grinned wide. "Mercenary. Hired muscle. Council's paying well for your heads Memento. Funny you came to me!"
His solena crackled like molten electricity.
"You don't want this. Step away and surrender," said Tsuki.
Erel's booming laugh echoed off the pillared stone.
"You Memento types always fight like you believe in something. It's adorable actually. I work for the highest bidder." His fists slammed together with an immense force.
Without warning, Erel dashed forward—unnaturally fast. "Beamline!" He boomed.
Solena blasts screamed through the air. Geo raised walls of stone to counter, but the blasts hit through the rock. Tsuki vanished into shadow, reappearing to deliver a punch—but Erel ducked, twisted, and hurled Geo into the wall. The impact caused a crack in the stone, and Geo huffed for air.
Tsuki summoned arms to restrain Erel. They held for a moment—before he tore them apart. His speed outweighed his size—terrifyingly so.
He charged her. His fist cocked with a crooked grin spread on his face. The closer he got, the more her stomach tightened.
He's just a mercenary... but the next one might be APC.
Men I trained with. People I ate beside.
Her jaw clenched. Killing monsters like Erel was easy.
Killing the past wouldn't be.
Erel exploited her distraction. His fist slammed into her ribs, sending her flying into the stone wall.
She gasped as a fiery pain lanced her side.
Erel stomped forward—until two figures blurred behind him.
"Stay focused Tsuki!" Hatori yelled as he sprinted toward Erel. "Eat this, big guy."
Hatori brought his hands together, activating Resonant Flow. The mercenary threw a fist at the approaching threat, but to no avail. His swing was slowed to a tenth of its true speed.
Hatori weaved beneath it with fluid precision, then followed it up with a flurry of his own. Each strike vibrated with increased force.
Azumi appeared behind Erel, katana flashing. She slashed his arms, then leapt, her sword moving across his chest.
Erel roared in pain.
Azumi spun mid-air and, with one final strike, decapitated him cleanly.
His body fell like a tree, crashing into the floor.
Tsuki staggered to her feet. "Impeccable timing."
Hatori shrugged. "Took the scenic route."
Azumi smirked. "Our wing's clear. Haven't seen Danzo or Knoxx yet—"
"No need to search!" a voice called.
Danzo and Knoxx jogged in from a side corridor, covered in soot.
"Had a Stalker of our own to deal with," Knoxx explained. "Didn't stand a chance."
Danzo clapped his hands. "Let's open that gate."
Tsuki stepped to the lever and pulled.
Gears turned and chains rattled. The iron gate below began to rise. A single horn blew Zimala to life. Enemy flares lit the air.
Outside, the first wave of Memento surged forward.
Maro stood at the head of the formation, cape fluttering behind him.
"Forward, Memento!" he shouted. "No citizens on the casualty list, understood? Our swords will only be tainted with the blood of the traitorous scum of the APC. Our legend begins today!"
Roars erupted from the masked soldiers as they charged through the gate. The sound of every sword and spear echoed through Zimala.
Citizens stirred. Lanterns flicked on. Panic spread instantly. APC guards scrambled into formation, hoping to hold the impeding threats. The streets of Zimala burst into chaos.
Judgement Squad emerged from the gate into the cold night.
The city was beautiful—clean stone streets, manicured gardens, trimmed hedges, and fruit trees. It was a picture of false peace, now cracked by the reality of war.
APC soldiers rushed from the barracks. Judgement Squad split off, each member engaging in their own brutal clashes. Screams echoed. Blood painted stone.
Memento soldiers fell—but APC soldiers fell faster. Stalkers retreated under overwhelming resistance.
Citizens lined the streets, shouting curses, throwing rocks.
But Memento kept pushing.
The war for Zimala had begun.
Elsewhere, moonlight spilled across the jagged ruins of a once-mighty fortress nestled at the northern edge of Galion, brushing the border with Eden. Thick stone walls, now crumbled, rise like ancient sentinels over the mist-covered forest below. Moss crept through the cracks. Wooden barricades, haphazardly rebuilt, line the entry points. Lanterns flicker weakly atop spiked iron posts. The air is cold. Still.
APC guards patrolled the shattered perimeter; their boots crunched over gravel and dust. Their breaths fog in the air.
"Don't know why we're guarding this dump," one mutters, adjusting his helmet. "It's all rubble. They should just build a new one deeper into Galion."
"Agreed," his partner says. "Memento's nothing without outside help. And Galion's too rural to offer any real threat. Zimala's ours. Always has been. Alden Central? They'd have better luck setting it on fire than convincing anyone there to defect."
The two chuckled.
Then—
A low horn bellowed from the ridge beyond the fortress.
The guards paused, frowning.
"What the hell was that?"
Shouts rang out inside the compound. Stalkers scrambled to their posts, weapons drawn. Arrows were nocked. Abilities began to charge.
The front gate—half-rotted, half-barricaded—creaked open.
Out stepped a figure.
One man.
He moved with no urgency, only calm. Blood dripped steadily down the man's wrist, pattering onto the stone. A trail behind him made the path he walked unmistakable.
Baggy black pants taper below the shins, where they reveal bare ankles. His dark cloak covered his frame well. A long, white scarf is wrapped loosely around his neck, fluttering slightly in the breeze. A black grinning mask rests on his face, and a hood hid black hair from the moonlight glow. Violet eyes sent daggers to all standing by.
The guards froze.
"That mask…" one whispered.
"The Ghost…? Here? What does he—"
A blur. A flash.
The Ghost vanished from sight—and reappeared in front of the first guard.
A burst of solena flooded into his palm, and with one clean strike, he drove it into the man's chest. Blood painted the mossy stone wall behind.
Before the second guard could scream, the Ghost was gone again.
Chaos erupts.
"GET HIM!" a Stalker yelled.
Dozens of soldiers rushed forward. Powers ignite—flames, kinetic barriers, sonic bursts.
The figure raised a single hand. His voice cut through the cold.
"First Gate: Enhancement."
A pulse of violet Solena exploded from his body, shaking every stone within the walls. Torches flickered violently as air pulsed in every direction. The ground cracked below his feet as if reality itself reacted to the man.
Back at the Zimala invasion, the sounds of war began to die down.
Fires flickered in broken barrels. Smoke curled into the still night. Tsuki lunged backward, flipping to evade a final blow from a wounded Stalker. Her counter landed clean—an elbow to the throat followed by a sweep. The Stalker hit the cobbled street hard, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, she glanced around.
APC troops were in retreat—what's left of them. The last remaining squads began falling back across the Retora Bridge, a massive stone structure stretching across the Alden River. Its wide arches glisten under torchlight, separating Zimala from Alden Central.
Memento's banners fluttered along rooftops now.
Maro stood atop a carriage, voice steady and proud.
"The APC has fallen back," he announced. "Zimala is under Memento control. Victory is ours!"
A cheer erupted from the nearby soldiers, echoing through the city square. But there was no celebration from the citizens.
They glared. Even with the accomplished goal of no citizen deaths, the public was furious. One man held his child behind him and muttered, "Terrorist."
Some slammed windows. Others threw whatever they could find—cans, old boots, stones.
Tsuki ducked as a tin clatter beside her. A distant shout rang out from the crowd.
"Leave Zimala! We don't want your kind here!" More heckles poured from the soul of the Zimalans. Tsuki tried to ignore it, but with every insult, she felt less and less like Zimala would accept new authority.
"We knew it would be like this," Tsuki muttered.
Geo sighed beside her. "Zimala was always loyal to the Council. We're not liberators to them. Not yet."
Danzo approached, stern and collected. "We'll need to hold a military presence here. Security patrols, curfews, food control. Riots will be common, but resistance will fade… in time."
Maro nodded. "Alert Nighthawk and Lantern squads. Pursue any remaining APC forces hiding in the city. Judgement and Viper will hold the square."
Danzo turns. "Judgement Squad—hold position."
"Understood!" the squad replied.
Danzo marched off.
Hatori exhaled, sitting on the ledge of a collapsed awning. "Well. That was tough."
Knoxx flopped onto the street dramatically. "Eh, wasn't that bad."
Tsuki took the opportunity for a tease. "Wow, Knoxx. You must be the strongest soldier alive."
He grinned proudly—until everyone else bursted out laughing.
Tsuki turned to check on Geo—and spotted the blood.
"Geo—you're bleeding!"
He glanced at the long gash on his arm, blinking.
"Oh. Huh. Guess I am."
She rushed over, grabbing his wrist. "Sit. Now."
He lowered to the ground without protest.
She pulled bandages from her pouch and cleaned the wound with careful hands. Her touch was gentle. Intentional. They lock eyes.
"Be more careful," she whispered.
"You said that earlier," he said, voice lower.
"You clearly didn't listen."
He smiled faintly.
Knoxx leaned over. "Aww, look at you two. Romance in the rubble."
Before he could finish, Azumi grabbed him by the collar and held him hostage.
"Could you shut it? For once?"
Knoxx flailed. "Sorry."
Tsuki glared at him without a word. He went pale in no time.
Geo tried not to laugh through the pain.
Footsteps approached from down the road.
Another squad.
Sleek armor. Confident gaits. Long coats and masks removed—revealing faces confident, not cocky.
"Yo!" one of them waved. "Heard Judgement Squad kicked some serious ass today."
Geo stood. "Who're you?"
The lead, a man with black hair and droopy eyes, stepped forward with a casual smile. His black cloak had a crown above the phoenix insignia, noting his leadership. "We're Viper Squad. I'm Naru Sikishima—leader. To my right is the wrecking ball, Makoro Deku. To his right, our tactical brain: Enzumaki Oki. And to my left, that's Neko Uzumado."
Neko raised a hand. He wore a black Memento cloak with a jester hat on top. "Couldn't give the jester a cool intro too, could you?"
Tsuki stepped forward. "Nice to meet you. I'm Tsuki. This is Geo, Azumi, and Knoxx. And the brooding one over there is Hatori."
Azumi smiled. "Welcome to the rubble!"
Knoxx gave a lazy wave. "Yo."
Enzumaki, a shorter woman with observing eyes and a warm smile, tilted her head. "We've heard of you guys."
Knoxx grinned. "Probably my triumphs, right?"
Enzumaki blinked. "Sorry—who were you again?"
Knoxx's expression fell.
Geo sighed. "Brutal. But hey—why only four of you?"
Naru crossed his arms. "We're recon specialists. Each of us is strong enough to handle multiple enemies solo. Maro didn't need to pad our numbers."
Makoro snorted. "But me bored. Me want fight. Me punch."
Enzumaki placed a calm hand on his arm, instantly calming him.
Tsuki watched curiously. Interesting dynamic.
Naru stepped closer. "We've been assigned perimeter patrol. We'll cover the south if you take the north?"
Hatori nodded. "That'll work. But be careful—the southern sectors are still hostile."
Naru's eyes gleamed. "Let them be. We're used to biting back."
Enzumaki flashed a sly smile. "We'll manage."
Geo grinned. "Alright then. North side it is."
Neko raised a fist. "Onward, fellow Vipers! Hissssss!"
Azumi blinked. "...Weirdo."
Judgement Squad made their way toward the northern edge of Zimala Square. The echoes of battle had long faded behind them, replaced now by a hollow silence that blanketed the city like snowfall. The faintest details stood out to Tsuki. Every torch-post flickered against cobblestone roads. Empty merchant stalls sat like abandoned bones, their cloth coverings swaying gently in the breeze. Most homes were dark—watching from the shadows.
Behind them, Viper Squadron strolled lazily toward the southern district, Neko doing exaggerated stretches as if preparing for a run he'd never take. Makoro lumbered ahead while Naru gave a casual wave before disappearing around the corner. Enzumaki walked quietly, eyes scanning rooftops as if she was always working.
The north was beautiful—almost unnervingly so. Lush hedges lined the curving paths, and clean stone walls led toward winding staircases and elegant bridges. The light gave a dim glow to the pathways as lanterns hung from wrought-iron hooks. Fruit trees bloomed under the moonlight. However, it was a ghost town.
"Looks like everyone here's already asleep or hiding," Geo muttered.
"Probably both," Tsuki replied. "After what we just pulled off… I would be too."
They moved through the square, passing through an ivy-covered archway and into an open plaza overlooking the Alden River. The sound of the flowing water echoed below, soothing and rhythmic. They set up a small outpost beneath a large stone pavilion—likely once used for markets or festivals. It was solid and defensible.
"Alright," Geo said, pulling out a portable torch crystal. "We take shifts. Two at a time. Azumi and Knoxx after us. Hatori takes last."
Azumi flopped onto a crate, already half-asleep. "You better wake me gently, or I swear to the stars…"
Knoxx leaned against a nearby column. "You snore louder than a charging elk. No promises."
Azumi threw a rock at him.
Tsuki chuckled. She couldn't help but notice the peace in the flames.
Even after battle, they still bicker back and forth. How do they do it?
Hatori sat silently on the pavilion railing, legs hanging off the edge, staring down at the slow river current. His eyes reflected the light of the moon—still, unreadable.
"Last shift works for me," he said calmly. "I prefer the quiet."
Geo nodded. "Alright then. Let's get to it."
As Tsuki and Geo took up the first patrol, they walked along the edge of the square. Their footsteps echoed against the stone paths, each step slower than the last. The energy of the day had drained from them—now replaced by a quiet solemnity.
"Crazy day," Geo said, hands tucked in his coat pockets.
Tsuki nodded. "No kidding. Took ages to get those stalkers out of here."
They passed a dormant fountain at the square's center, its marble carvings worn by time. The water still flowed—clear and cold—catching moonlight in its ripples.
Tsuki paused, placing her hand on the edge.
"Do you think they'll ever accept us?" She asked softly.
Geo stopped, turning back.
"The people, you mean?"
She nodded.
He thought for just a moment. His hand reached for a dip in the rippling water. "Maybe not all of them. But some will. Eventually. If we protect them. Feed them. Fight for them."
She looked at him. "And if we fail?"
He gave a faint smile. "Then we try again."
They continued walking in silence; the distant chirping of crickets was the only sound accompanying them.
Back at the outpost, Azumi rested her head against Knoxx's shoulder; eyes closed, muttering half-coherent threats about being woken up. Knoxx, for once, said nothing. Hatori remained alone, still and focused, like a statue carved in the image of calm.
The north remained quiet. Zimala slept.