In the year 2700 AD, the world has been transformed by scientific advancements. But in the shadow of these breakthroughs lies a dark and hidden past.
Rudra, our protagonist, finds himself in the midst of a vivid and unsettling dream. He is in a high-tech laboratory, its walls lined with advanced equipment and monitors displaying complex data. The air is thick with tension, illuminated by the eerie glow of machinery.
Dr. Alireza, a renowned scientist, stands at the center of this laboratory, his face etched with worry. "Please be cautious," he warns, his voice tinged with urgency. "We don't know what will be the result of our actions yet."
Around them, a group of young children lies on medical beds, restrained by glowing, high-tech restraints. Their innocent faces are stark against the clinical environment. Dr. Alireza, the head of the experiment, watches closely, his expression a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
Ronnie, the wealthy sponsor of the experiment, strides in with a commanding presence. "Did the experiment succeed?" he inquires, his tone more businesslike than concerned.
Dr. Alireza hesitates, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know how to put this into words. We have succeeded, but at a tremendous cost."
Ronnie's response is chillingly indifferent. "Some sacrifices are necessary for the greater good. Focus on the ones who survived."
Dr. Alireza's concern deepens. "Three of the survivors have developed severe side effects. Their bodies are changing in disturbing ways, and their eyes have turned black. They seem more like ghosts than humans."
Ronnie's face hardens as he makes a grim decision. "Eliminate them. We can't afford to let them pose a threat."
Despite Dr. Alireza's desperate protests, Ronnie's bodyguards move in with grim efficiency. The atmosphere becomes suffused with a haunting silence, broken only by the echo of the bodyguards' footsteps.
Rudra woke up from his dream, the memories of the lab and the chilling events still fresh in his mind. His body was drenched in sweat, his heart racing as if he had just survived a nightmare. Sitting up in his bed, he tried to shake off the vivid images that haunted him—the children, the experiment, the chilling voice of Dr. Alireza, and the laughter of that man, Ronnie. It was just a dream, he thought, yet it felt too real, too intense.
The room was quiet except for his heavy breathing. Rudra sat up in bed, wiping his face with his hands as he tried to calm the storm within. It was just a dream, he thought again, trying to convince himself. But deep down, he felt an unsettling tug, as though the dream had come from a place beyond mere imagination.
After a few minutes, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up, his body still tense from the experience. The cold floor beneath his feet grounded him, offering a small comfort. He walked towards the small sink in his room and splashed water on his face. The coolness brought him back to reality.
"That was too real..." he muttered to himself, staring into the mirror, his reflection staring back with uncertainty.
As he dried his face, the academy's announcement system buzzed into life, calling all students to the training grounds for their morning session. Rudra pushed the thoughts of the dream aside, knowing he couldn't afford to lose focus. Today was important—he and Ray had been training hard for the upcoming tournament, the one that would determine their standing in the academy. A one-on-one power contest, where each fighter had to use their full strength, including their hybrid forms.
Ray was already waiting for him at the entrance of the dorms. As usual, he had his mask on, a mysterious figure that no one could fully understand. Though they had been close friends for as long as Rudra could remember, Ray remained an enigma, always speaking less and keeping his true thoughts hidden behind that cool, aloof demeanor.
"You're late," Ray muttered as Rudra approached.
"Rough night," Rudra responded, trying to sound casual.
"Another dream?" Ray's eyes flicked toward Rudra, though his face remained as unreadable as ever behind the mask.
"Yeah… but this one was strange. Felt like more than just a dream," Rudra said, though he quickly waved it off. "Doesn't matter. We've got training to do."
The academy grounds were bustling with activity as students gathered in their respective groups. The air was thick with anticipation for the tournament, and the pressure was on. Their friends, Ashta, Elif, and Akiro, were already warming up. Each of them had their own unique style, each pushing their limits in preparation for the intense battles to come.
Akiro, the brains of the group, approached Rudra with a grin. "Ready to show everyone why you're the best?" he teased, nudging Rudra with his elbow.
"Right back at you, genius. You're the one who's gonna ace the tactical round," Rudra shot back.
Elif, always the cam and nurturing one, smiled warmly at Rudra, though her eyes lingered on him longer than usual, as if sensing his unease. "You okay?" she asked quietly, her voice filled with concern.
Rudra nodded, "Just a weird dream. Nothing to worry about."
Ashta, always competitive and fierce, stretched her arms and smirked. "Dreams or not, you'd better be ready to face me in the ring, Rudra. No holding back."
As they all prepared for the intense training ahead, Rudra couldn't help but feel a strange connection between his dream and his reality. Something was stirring, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Little did he know, the dream wasn't just a random occurrence—it was the first glimpse of a deeper truth, one that would soon unfold and change everything he thought he knew about himself, his friends, and the worlds they were connected to.
The academy they attended was known for its intense focus on power-building and combat training. It wasn't like a regular school—students here were molded into warriors, each mastering their unique abilities and forms. But Ray was different from the others. While most students, including Rudra, could shift into various animal forms and harness hybrid transformations, Ray stood apart.
Ray didn't rely on shifting forms for power. His strengths were speed, mastery over multiple weapons, and a raw power that no one could match. Yet even with all his skill, Ray's true potential remained dormant, something even he was unaware of.
As the group moved to the training grounds, the atmosphere shifted. The tension was palpable—each session had grown more critical with the tournament just days away. The massive circular coliseum loomed before them, its walls towering high like a silent witness to countless battles. Divided into several sections, the arena catered to every aspect of training: from raw strength drills to mastering hybrid forms, intelligence tests, and grueling endurance trials.
This wasn't just a simple training ground—it was the heart of the academy, where raw power met discipline, and every young warrior honed their skills to perfection. The academy itself was more than a place of learning; it was a crucible. Here, the strongest humans—those gifted with the ability to shift into hybrid forms, inheriting powers from their animal counterparts—were forged into champions. Each training session was a step closer to proving their worth in a world where strength meant survival. The anticipation in the air was as thick as the unspoken challenge shared between every student.
Nestled within the towering, fortified structures of Mars's largest city, the academy was known for producing elite fighters. It wasn't uncommon to see students shifting between their human forms and animal forms as they sparred in the open courtyards. Every individual here carried the spirit of two animals within them—an inheritance passed down from generations before the 4th World War, a catastrophe that wiped Earth off the map.
No one spoke much about that war anymore. The official records were lost, and destroyed in the chaos that followed. Only fragments of knowledge remained, whispers of a conflict so devastating that it forced humanity to abandon its home and start anew on Mars. What little the public knew was this: the 4th World War wasn't fought just by humans, but by an evolved species—hybrids, humans who had fused their DNA with that of animals.
This new era of humanity, now flourishing on Mars, bore the legacy of those scientific experiments. Before the war, researchers had unlocked the secrets of DNA mutation, merging human genetic material with animal traits. People spoke of ancient scientists who had paved the way for this new form of human existence, but no one really understood the full extent of what had happened before the war. There were only rumors—rumors of DNA manipulation, of a time when humans sought to control their evolution. And now, on Mars, this legacy had become their reality.
This fusion gave rise to extraordinary abilities—the power to shift between forms, harnessing the strengths of two chosen animals, and in rare cases, accessing a hybrid form that combined the best of both. Every human was now born with two animal forms, inherited from their parents' dominant animal spirits. One animal power was passed from the mother, and the other from the father, creating a unique combination in each individual. These two forms defined not just their abilities but also their identity in this new world.
A person could transform physically into either of their two animal forms at will, allowing them to adopt the specific attributes, instincts, and abilities of each creature. The 1st animal form would be inherited from one parent, and the 2nd from the other, each form drastically altering their physical structure and capabilities.
But the next stage—the hybrid form—was much harder to attain. It required the warrior to combine the features of both animals, fusing their DNA in real-time. This fusion was not permanent but rather a short-lived transformation, a temporary state where the strengths of both animal forms were perfectly balanced. Achieving this required immense skill, focus, and physical endurance. Those who could master their hybrid form became almost unstoppable, blending the speed, power, and agility of two different creatures into one seamless entity.
This ability to shift between forms and access hybrid powers was the cornerstone of society, defining not just battles but status, hierarchy, and survival. Each warrior was measured by how well they could control these transformations and wield the powers bestowed upon them by their unique lineage.
Rudra gazed out at the academy while walking towards the colosseum for their first physical training session, where students shifted into their forms—some with the grace of a panther, others with the power of a bear or the agility of an eagle. It was a constant reminder that they weren't like the humans of the past. They were something more, something different. Mars was their new home, and this hybridization was the very core of their being.
The Colosseum loomed in the distance, a massive arena built to house the most intense battles and tournaments. It wasn't just a place for glory—it was a place where strength was proven, where the hierarchy of power was established. Only the strongest could hope to rise to the top. And for the students of the academy, that was the ultimate goal.
Rudra and Ray had been inseparable since they were young, bonded by the shared experience of being orphans and growing up in the academy together. Their friendship had always been a blend of camaraderie and competition, each pushing the other to their limits. Rudra respected Ray's unmatched skills in combat, even though Ray never shifted forms like the others. It was one of the many things that set Ray apart, but it never bothered Rudra—Ray was his brother in all but blood.
Today, however, there was something in the air, a need to challenge him, but not out of doubt. It was more of a friendly test, a way to prepare for the tournament and to show everyone how far they had come.
"Let's make it official," Rudra said, turning to Ray with a grin. "The Colosseum. You and me."
Ray didn't react at first. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, calm and unreadable as usual, his mask covering most of his expression. But then, he nodded slightly, his dark eyes glinting with the familiar spark of rivalry. "You sure about that?"
Rudra chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "Why not? You've been getting lazy."
Ray's lips curved into a smirk beneath the mask. "Lazy? You're on."
Around them, the new batch of students had started to gather, whispering amongst themselves as excitement rippled through the air. The academy's courtyard buzzed with anticipation. The duel between Rudra and Ray wasn't just any challenge—it was a test between two of the academy's finest, the veterans among the new intake of 60 students, all of whom had just begun their journey of becoming warriors.
Rudra, known for his mastery of hybrid forms, had already made a name for himself in the academy. With his control over his transformations and his skillful use of raw power and strategy, he was a force to be reckoned with. Then there was Ray—the enigma. Unlike the others, Ray didn't rely on shifting into hybrid or animal forms. Instead, he wielded his unmatched speed, raw power, and weapon skills, making him an unpredictable and formidable opponent.
For the other students, this wasn't just a spectacle. It was a rare chance to size up their competition. Each of the new recruits had been admitted to the academy with the dream of becoming a warrior, trained to unleash their inner hybrid powers and face the challenges that awaited them in the real world. For the next four years, these 60 students would train, fight, and grow together—but right now, their eyes were fixed on the two most mysterious figures among them.
The whispers grew louder as Rudra and Ray stepped into the arena. The towering structure of the Colosseum cast a shadow over the entire courtyard, adding to the intensity of the moment. This was the first time the new batch of students would witness a real fight between two seasoned competitors, and the tension was palpable.
"They're friends, right?" one student murmured to another.
"Yeah, but it doesn't look like they're going easy on each other."
"Rudra's known for his hybrid abilities… I wonder if Ray can even stand a chance without shifting forms."
"Don't underestimate Ray," another student chimed in. "He's always been an odd one. No forms, no shifting… but he's still undefeated."
The air around the Colosseum buzzed with curiosity and nervous energy. Each of the new students couldn't help but feel the weight of their own future battles, wondering if they'd ever reach the level of mastery that Rudra and Ray had already achieved.
The academy had trained some of the best warriors in the world, and for these 60 new recruits, this was just the beginning. Four years of grueling physical and mental training awaited them—years of learning how to control their animal forms, how to fight as hybrids, and how to master the new skills that their DNA mutations had unlocked.
And now, on their very first day of physical training, they were witnessing a duel between the two who had already set themselves apart. The duel was not just a test for Rudra and Ray; it was a message to the rest. A glimpse into the future of what lay ahead for each of them.
"This is going to be something," another student muttered, his eyes locked on the arena.
With all eyes on them, Rudra and Ray took their places, ready to give the academy—and their new peers—a duel they wouldn't forget.