In a world plunged into eternal darkness by the Draani—aliens who drained Earth's core—human civilization has crumbled. The once-thriving planet is now a desolate wasteland, with the Draani's overwhelming power leaving humanity enslaved and scattered.
One hundred years later, a new breed of humans known as Shadowborns has emerged. These individuals can manipulate shadows, wielding the darkness that envelops their ruined world. Although their powers are significant, they have yet to overthrow the Draani.
Ancient prophecies hint that the Shadowborn's abilities will evolve over time, suggesting that one day their power could surpass the Draani's, offering a glimmer of hope in a world shrouded in despair.
The world was bright and bustling once, but that was before the sky darkened forever. Out of nowhere, the Draani—a colossal, alien race—appeared in the heavens above Tokyo. The city's skyline, once a symbol of human achievement, was now obscured by their menacing presence. The media, frenzied and desperate, broadcasted their arrival to every corner of the globe, showing images of these invaders as they descended upon Earth with unrelenting force.
Panic rippled through the city as tanks and military forces mobilized, gathering in futile attempts to confront the invaders. On the ground, soldiers and special forces braced themselves, facing the alien behemoths. A sergeant, resolute and determined, stepped forward and demanded, "What do you want?" The Draani remained silent, their presence as intimidating as their silence.
With a terse nod, the sergeant signaled the tanks to open fire. Explosions shattered the night, but as the dust settled, the Draani stood unscathed. Their bodies showed no signs of damage, no scratches, no flinching. The sergeant's hand rose once more, prepared to give the order to fire again, but before he could, a Draani warrior materialized before him, its movement a blur. The alien's claw slashed through the sergeant's hand, severing it instantly. Blood sprayed as the sergeant fell, the world erupting into chaos.
And so began the relentless clash—Draani against humanity. The conflict raged for a month, and in that short span, the Draani wiped out the vast majority of the human population, leaving only a small fraction alive.
500 Years Later
The remnants of humanity cling to survival in a dark, forsaken world. In a secluded mountain village, shrouded in perpetual gloom, the life of Ike Ryota unfolds. At 17, Ike is a striking figure with long, dark hair and penetrating brown eyes. Clad in all black, he embodies the very essence of the shadows he commands. Ike, a Shadowborn, possesses the rare ability to manipulate darkness, a gift both coveted and feared.
Ike returns home to find his family gathered at the dinner table. His sister, Amari, greets him with a curious look. "Hey, big brother, where were you?" she asks.
"Training with Ide and the other Shadowborns," Ike replies, sitting down beside her.
Their father, Tatumi, chimes in, "He's right. Ide never seems to give the training a rest."
Ike's mother interjects, "You know you're different, Ike. You need to train and get stronger to protect yourself and those around you. Isn't that what we've always taught you?"
"Yes, Mother," Ike responds, continuing his meal.
Later, as Ike wanders through the dark village illuminated only by the faint glow of their meager lights, he meets up with his friends—Noe Nakato and Mari Aikawa. Noe, a 17-year-old with short blonde hair and blue eyes, looks at Ike with concern. "What's up, Ike? You seem down."
"It's nothing. Just bored and tired," Ike replies.
"No kidding," Noe says. "It's always train, train, train. There's nothing else."
Mari, ever the optimist, adds, "That's our job. We need to train to become stronger."
Ike's gaze darkens. "There's no hope. We'll never defeat the Draani, you know that."
Mari and Noe exchange glances, understanding the grim truth in Ike's words. Noe counters, "That's not true. The old Shadowborns said our power would evolve into something greater."
Ike scoffs. "For as smart as you are, you can be pretty naïve. That's just a fairy tale. They probably said it to give humanity false hope."
Mari's eyes soften. "I believe in it. And so does Noe."
Noe, with a hint of hesitation, agrees. "I believe it too."
"I don't. I'll never believe in such nonsense," Ike says firmly.
Suddenly, a figure approaches them from the shadows. It's their Sensei. "What are you doing out here, Ike, Noe, and Mari?" he asks.
Mari replies, "We're just talking and wandering, Sensei."
Sensei's tone turns serious. "Wandering at night can be dangerous. You should head home."
Ike retorts, "I thought darkness was our ally. We are Shadowborns after all."
Sensei warns, "That may be true, but danger still exists. Please, just head back."
Reluctantly, the trio turns and heads back. Ike mutters, "What's his deal?"
Noe responds, "He's just concerned for us."
Mari agrees, "Yeah, he's just worried."
As Ike makes his way home, he disappears into the shadows beneath him. He leaps onto his bed, closing his eyes in exhaustion.
In the dead of night, Ike awakens abruptly. Using his shadow powers, he teleports outside the village. There, he spies the Draani marching toward them, led by Sensei. Shocked, Ike races back into his house, waking his family.
"We need to leave. The Draani are here," Ike urges.
His father, initially skeptical, eventually rings a large alert bell, rousing the village. Chaos erupts as the villagers, both Shadowborn and non-Shadowborn, scramble to escape.
Ike finds Noe and Mari amidst the turmoil. "The Draani are here!" he shouts.
"No way!" Noe exclaims.
Mari adds, "We're going to die!"
"No, we're not. We can run," Ike asserts. "Find your families and go. I'll search for mine."
As Ike frantically searches for his family, the Draani use light to eradicate all shadows, igniting terror and despair. Ike sees Sensei negotiating with the Draani. "You asked for the village. I've fulfilled my end. Let me live," Sensei pleads.
The Draani leader, cold and unyielding, pierces Sensei through the stomach, lifting him high. Sensei coughs up blood as the Draani leader declares, "Do you think we'd ever let a human live?"
He tosses Sensei aside and orders, "Kill them all."
The Draani descend upon the village, slaughtering its inhabitants. Ike witnesses his father's brutal death, his final words urging Ike to run. Consumed by rage, Ike charges at the Draani but is stopped by Maki, his teacher.
"You'll kill yourself," Maki says, holding Ike back. "This is the only way."
Ike, desperate, pleads for Maki to let him go. Maki reveals the painful truth: his family is gone. Ike, devastated, watches as Maki prepares to sacrifice himself.
Maki places a hand on Ike's shoulder. "You're the only one who can use teleportation shadows. Find your friends and save them."
"I'll try," Ike says, his eyes filled with resolve.
Maki's final words are, "This is where my story ends and Yours begins.