The City of Aured.
The City of Hopes and Dreams, the last bastion of humanity where one could live without fear, and the place where most of the humanity's leaders resides in their control towers. On the outskirts of the Aured lies the Citadel.
Citadel was a place for the Outriders, the risk-takers, and the hunters who fought the belua. The beast of the ambrosia, the one who sucked in the gift of the cosmos.
An Outrider fought the beast of the cosmos for the materials, and they harvest the richest that they store in their hearts and head. One organ could produce ambrosia that could earn someone fifteen thousand credits.
Outriders worked in teams and split the reward, but among the Outriders gathered in the sanctum of the Citadel. There was one who stood alone armed in a lightweight exosuit, armed with a cutter sword, on his left arm was a grappler stake used to navigate the environment, and on the back of his waist was a waist-booster that allowed one to leap a few feet.
Nonetheless, only fools would carry a cutter sword when one could acquire a rifle that could do the job from afar. That was the thought of the Outriders, but then they saw the heads he carried. If he came just now, then they would have laughed at this Outrider. But this Outrider was the Ghost of Gharasu, Recker.
They heard of Jakob Recker only through the broadcast, where he disabled an enemy with a swift cut. He was from Gharasu, an orphan just like any Outrider, and although he could have cashed-in from what he did. He stayed out of the spotlight and joined the sanctum instead.
Killing belua after one another, the Outrider that came from Gharasu was thirsty for the blood of the belua and bought only so little, spending his time on booths, drinking beer, and butchering.
He held his voice and spoke tonelessly. Again, he carried himself to the Handler, showing the heads, and delivering them to the Butcher. Once done, he would go back to his booth, drowning himself in beer until Dona, the Courtesan, a bob-haired woman, would lure the Outrider to where she was staying. It might as well be his home.
As for Jakob Recker, indeed, he was staying inside the apartment of Dona, a strange lass that came from Gharasu, an old friend turned into a woman who seels her body for a mere ten thousand credits.
They knew each other when they were in Gharasu, and although they were not the best of friends, there was familiarity between them because of their hometown.
Jakob had removed his lightweight suit and placed it on the side. A glance at the mirror on Dona's room showed that his young body retained the strength he had in his past life.
"You looked stronger than before," Dona said, crossing her legs. "Did something happen before you entered Aured? I heard that there were belua on the road here."
"Yes, you could say that," Jakob said.
"Man, you sound so toneless now. Well, you're paying me to stay here, and I don't mind this relationship based on cash. Still, I never thought that you would come and visit. I thought everyone in our hometown hated this little whore."
"I never said that."
"You never did say anything. Like everyone, you wanted to become an Outrider and honestly." She gave a smile. "You did well."
He nodded once. He took out the equipment he got from the Handler and started inserting the cartridges of this six-shooter.
Dona looked at the weapon, "Hmm, I thought you only used a sword?"
"I carry a pistol to break through the shell," he raised the six-shooter. "Some belua have hard shells that a cutter would not be able to pierce."
"I heard they call you Ghost now," Dona said. "You've been here for a while now, and yet you got a name. Hah, better than the rest of Gharasu."
"Gharasu," Jakob said. "They would leave that place soon. There are too many belua roaming around."
"Too bad, I like the steppes, the peony, the roses, and all the flowers were beautiful."
"Agreed," Jakob nodded. "But times change, and all must take shelter in the cities. I doubt anyone can escape the crimson sky."
"You believe in that rubbish?"
Jakob didn't say anything. He continued loading his six-shooter until his pack was full. After fixing his cutter, Dona pulled him to bed. Though Dona didn't have a beautiful face, she knew how to entertain men, though it was just lies and salivas based on cash. She had learned how to soothe someone's heart.
After the deed, Jakob equipped his gear and left fully equipped. Upon arriving at the sanctum, he saw a glimpse of a figure that rose love in his heart.
"Mei Ya," he said softly.
No one heard him other than himself. Even though he returned from the future, his heart didn't change. How could one easily change when knowing a future like that?
A weed shouldn't dare to mingle with a flower.
Jakob Recker could not change. Traveling back to the past won't suddenly change him. Gain courage? It didn't matter, knowing that he was still in this hell.
He turned away and went to the Handler. He took in the task he needed to complete and went to the exit where the line was. Everyone who saw him thought of him as suicidal, no one leaves alone, and yet he was doing it on his own.
Maybe he did want to find death, but even so, the monsters Jakob Recker faced didn't change at all. The same enemy, the same weakness.
In the future, humanity would force its Outriders to curb the tide of belua coming to the outskirts of Aured. To kill a horde of belua was expected to the Outriders.
Some may call it insane, but for Jakob, this was a routine assignment. For humanity's sake, for a people that would throw them into the fray.
Attaching the line to his claw, the lone Outrider descended into the outskirts of Aured, beginning his lonesome hunt again. Disregarding the stares of those who were about to follow.