Many years ago, there lived a race of monsters, beings with the shape and form of humans. They communicated like humans, lived in large-scale societies just like us. Some even claimed they were more advanced than the human race.
When humans first discovered this strange race of monsters, they communicated and traded with them, quickly forming diplomatic alliances. Together, they slayed other monsters, dined together, and lived in peace. It was a harmonious coexistence.
But human nature eventually took its course. The humans grew envious of the monsters' power. The monsters had enhanced physical abilities and multiple unique powers, while humans had only one. What had once seemed like an alliance now felt like a threat to the humans. Their paranoia grew.
To the monsters, however, humans were friends. They saw them as equals, almost identical in appearance except for a few distinct markings. There was no reason for the humans to fear them. The monsters loved the humans and considered them allies.
But as fear turned to hatred, the humans began to treat the monsters as second-class citizens, their racism and tribalism deepening. The monsters, now called "espers," bore the cruelty without retaliation. Despite their superior strength and abilities, they stayed passive.
That was until they sent spies—monsters disguised as humans—into the ranks of the human army to keep tabs on their movements. These spies did well, with two even rising to powerful positions within the human government, gaining access to classified military plans.
Through these spies, the espers learned of the humans' true intentions: they wanted war. The humans had decided the espers were a threat and must be eradicated.
Shocked and hurt, the espers began preparing for war in secret. They trained, they strategized, and they built an army that would shake the humans to their core.
It wasn't long before the humans uncovered the espionage. Seeing it as an act of war, they took the opportunity to wage an assault on the espers, eager to wipe them out and reclaim their supremacy.
The war was brutal and devastating. Thousands of lives were lost, millions more were injured. The humans were on the losing side. The espers' multiple abilities per soldier made them formidable warriors. Victory for the espers seemed inevitable.
But the humans had one last trick up their sleeves.
Using kidnapped esper prisoners, they created a weapon—one capable of turning the powerful espers into lower-class, mindless monsters, incapable of thought or reason. The weapon was unleashed on the land of the espers. The transformation was violent, the sound of bones cracking and shifting could be heard for miles. The once-proud kingdom of espers was reduced to a monstrous wasteland, filled with god-tier beasts.
The humans left after that, declaring victory. They had won the war. They were supreme.
Centuries passed, and the war was forgotten by most. The government worked to erase all traces of the conflict, removing it from history books. Only high-ranking military personnel knew the truth of what had transpired.
But not all was well. A human with the ability of foresight had a vision—a warning that one day, the espers would return for revenge. With this ominous prediction, the humans began preparing for the day the espers might rise again.
The story ended there.
I closed the book, feeling its weight settle in my chest. It had been an interesting read—far more thought-provoking than I expected. It was the kind of story that made you want to write your own.
I had lost track of time. When I glanced up, I saw the sun beginning to set. I needed to head back to the dorm, change, and grab something to eat from the cafeteria.
Hurrying through the hallways, I reached the dorm just as students were starting to spill out, dressed in their casual clothes. Inside, I found Delight sitting on her bed, her legs curled up, a tray of food laid out in front of her.
"Hey, Beatrix. Want to eat together?" she asked.
I shot her a glare. "Piss off. I can get my own food."
She didn't respond, and I quickly changed into my casual clothes before heading out. The cafeteria was crowded as usual, but I managed to find a quiet corner to sit and eat. The rice and meat were simple but flavorful, and I savored each bite, enjoying the peace.
As I ate, my phone buzzed. A text from Devin.
"Be ready for training early tomorrow morning. Let's meet at our spot."
I frowned. How did he get my number?
I sighed, pushing the phone aside. Looks like I'd have to wake up early tomorrow after all.