Bloody stench permeated the air, as a mixture of dense smoke gave the feeling of breathing in some kind of poisonous gas. It was already past noon, a time when one couldn't open their eyes due to the intense glare. But on this day, darkness seemed to engulf everything, making it difficult to identify the person standing before us.
"Hey... Don't bother with those bitches. Kill them all. If you find any useful slaves among them, tie them up," a person dressed in military uniform sternly commanded his subordinates. The air was suffocating, and the corpses scattered in the area made it feel like being in hell. However, this person seemed unaffected by it all. He looked at the surrounding corpses with disgust and eventually spat on one of them.
"You deserve this, bastards... Do you think it's easy to live equally with us in this Holy Land? Ha ha..." he suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.
We could still hear endless screams, moans, and cries echoing throughout the area. The sight before us was so horrifying that even the most light-hearted person would inevitably faint.
A scene straight out of hell was unfolding. A woman had tragically died while feeding her baby, and her child was now struggling for its last breath. A girl, upon witnessing her husband's shattered body, exposing his brain and internal organs, fainted. An old couple, frozen in a laughing pose, had met their end. The shattered bodies of children, who were happily playing just an hour ago, were scattered everywhere. The air was filled with a putrid stench of blood, flowing like a river along the streets and drains. Most of the remaining survivors were coughing, crying, and sobbing uncontrollably. Some, driven to madness, were resorting to self-inflicted harm with nearby tools, sealing their own fate. The entire place resembled the entrance to hell.
Even some of the military officials couldn't hold back their tears as they wiped them away and obeyed their superior's orders.
Amidst the deep darkness, a faint moaning could be heard repeatedly.
"Lucas, forgive me. We lived in a fantasy, seeking something beyond our reach. But the harsh reality has proven to be too cruel. It's all my fault... It's all because of me... Please forg..." The voice choked with tears, and eventually, it succumbed to unconsciousness.
Exactly five years ago... Year 2228, May 19
It was already past 8, and all the chefs and workers had left the restaurant. However, there was one person still busy in the kitchen. He was mixing several powders into a boiling liquid in a pan. He examined the boiling mixture closely and eventually took a drop from it to taste.
"It seems I still need to simmer this mixture with some spices. The flavor is too bland. Let's leave it for tomorrow. That fatty is still waiting outside. If I further delay, he will torture me with his sulking," he thought.
In the dining hall, two individuals were patiently waiting for someone. One was an energetic, slightly obese man, resting his head on his arm on the table. The other was a girl dressed in a cheongsam, with a violin packed on her back. They appeared somewhat frustrated and tired.
"That guy is really asking for a beating. How much longer am I supposed to wait for him?" the overweight young man grumbled, venting his frustration to his heart's content.
"He said he would be back within 10 minutes, but it's already been an hour," sighed the slender, tall girl.
"Hey, Sara, could you play 'Man from the Little Heaven' for me? I've always loved that song. Just this once, please," he requested.
"It's fine if you're willing to pay 50 Rennets afterward. I'm ready to play," replied Sara, giving the man a serious look.
"Let's forget it then," he dismissed her, turning his head away toward the restaurant's exit.
The cleaning robots continued to move randomly, still busy cleaning the floor.
In a sudden, sweet 'Mew' echoed across the hall, and a stout, lazy cat leisurely strolled towards the entrance, settling down on the carpet. Lucas, the portly young man, grinned. "Dodo, there's quite a bit of dirt beneath Moochi. Clean it immediately, quickly!"
Without warning, the nearby cleaning robot charged towards the laid-back cat. The feline swiftly leaped away as the robot approached with a high-pitched screech, darting towards the entrance. Before departing, the cat shot an indignant look at Lucas.
Dodo, a centralized AI system installed to manage all the working robots in the restaurant, swiftly initiated the cleaning process.
"Now I feel better," Lucas declared, folding his arms and leaning against the chair.
Sara, wearing a disapproving frown, remarked, "Don't expect our manager to stay calm when she discovers her pet has been harassed."
Lucas snorted, paying no heed to her, and closed his eyes, feigning sleep.
"I am ready now," a pleasant voice suddenly emanated from a distance, surprising both Sara and Lucas.
In a swift reaction, Lucas leaped from the chair, throwing a punch at the source of the sound. The individual adeptly evaded him, skillfully locking Lucas's body beneath his knees. Struggling, Lucas uttered with disappointment, "Alright, you win, Sai. But you owe us for keeping us waiting so long."
"Uh, let's discuss it later," Sai responded an unexpected tinge of guilt in his voice.
Sara shot an irritated glance at Sai but refrained from pursuing the matter further, stating, "Okay, let's go."