"Hey, look at this! The explorers have discovered a new species of monster. They're not harmful, but they'll attack if you disturb them."
"What the hell? Since when do these kinds of monsters start to spawn?"
(Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed through the streets.)
RESCUE ALERT! RESCUE ALERT!
ALL CITIZENS OF GELAIR CITY, A MONSTER HAS APPEARED AT GELAIR CITY MALL!
I REPEAT: A MONSTER HAS APPEARED AT GELAIR CITY MALL! ALL CITIZENS ARE REQUESTED TO EVACUATE THROUGH EMERGENCY EXITS.
(The speaker crackled and fell silent.)
"That monster doesn't seem like a big deal," Mina said, her sweet voice contrasting sharply with the chaos around her. Her shining silver hair framed a determined expression as she adjusted her grip on her swords. "A normal pacifier could handle this. Why send a pillar?"
The managers at the Uten Sarda's Pacifier Association (USPA) had informed her, "Because you're the closest pacifier to ground zero."
"Yeah, right. Makes sense."
As the last citizens evacuated, Mina leaped down to the entrance, swords at the ready. With a clash that resonated through the mall, she began her performance.
SWORD BATTLE ARTS: BATTLE TECHNIQUE: THE DANCE OF SEVEN SWORDS.
Five ethereal blades appeared behind her, while she expertly wielded two. The showdown began, the monster roaring and smashing the mall to pieces as they exchanged attacks.
"Careful! That monster is of abnormal class!" a manager's voice crackled through the radio.
"Huh, whaa—"
Before Mina could finish her thought, the monster lunged forward, hurling her aside with terrifying force.
THUNDER BATTLE TECHNIQUE: STORM CRISIS!
The monster froze in fear as she unleashed her technique. In a flash of thunderous speed, she severed its head in a single stroke. But she knew it wouldn't be enough to exorcise an abnormal beast. The severed head exploded, and the monster regenerated, towering before her, undeterred.
Blood trickled from a wound on her forehead as she glared at the creature. "I miscalculated. I'm done playing with you."
As she prepared to strike again, she noticed a figure beside her, casually eating ice cream in front of a shop.
"What… Ken, is that you?" she gasped.
"Don't shout right in my ears, damn it!" he replied, annoyance in his tone.
"Ken! I missed you! Where have you been all these years?" Mina exclaimed, clinging to him.
"Focus, Mina! Don't you have a job to finish? Stop wasting time with battle arts and use your techniques!"
"Yeah, I know! I was doing that from the start!" she protested.
"Just don't shout in my ears!"
THUNDER BATTLE TECHNIQUE: STORM CRISIS: MAX!
With renewed energy, she unleashed her full power, creating a shockwave that shattered the monster's body. To her surprise, the beast began to regenerate again, retreating like a headless creature.
As she chased after it, Mina sensed a surge of energy building around Ken.
SWORD BATTLE ARTS: BATTLE TECHNIQUE: CLASH!
With a decisive slash, she cut through the beast's body and its core, thinking, Finally, our beast has returned.
At the association...
"Ken, you can't be serious! You're not back to join us again, are you?" Mina asked, her excitement palpable.
"No way! I'm just here to meet the Emperor," he replied, crossing his arms.
"Oh, come on! Why?" she pressed.
"How the hell would I know?"
As they bickered, the Emperor-class pacifier, the highest post and the strongest pacifier currently in Uten Sarda, Eden, approached with a peculiar smile.
"Oh, look who it is! Ken! How long has it been since we last saw you?" he said, his gaze piercing.
Ken felt a shiver run down his spine. "This old man is up to something."
"Mina, excellent job today. I heard you faced an abnormal class monster," Eden continued.
"Yeah, but Ken helped me with the final attack," Mina said, glancing at him.
"Come on, Ken. You claim you won't return as a pacifier, but you still helped her exorcise it."
"Exactly! I knew you called me here to join again!" Ken shot back.
"Smart boy," Eden said with a smirk. "But listen. We've located Ren, and we have intel on that special-class beast, Rue. Will you join us again? We really need your strength!"
"Huh? Wait, what?" Ken stammered.
"I won't take no for an answer this time," Eden replied firmly.
"Wait, but—"
Mina interrupted, "Wait, really? Since when did you have this intel? Why didn't I know about it?"
"Just let me finish my damn sentence, you idiots!" Ken shouted.
"Oh, sorry! So, what do you say?" Eden asked.
"Well, as long as I resolve these two problems, I'll stick with you all as a pacifier. But once I'm done, I'm out," Ken replied, determination in his eyes.
Eden smiled creepily again.
Since childhood, Ken, Ren, and Mina had trained together under their master, Beni. Ken and Ren were particularly close, often willing to sacrifice themselves to save others. During a mission on Okiris Island, when they were just sixteen, and all 3 of them were youngest pillar pacifiers in history, they faced a special-class beast, Rue, in a showdown that changed their lives. Beni suffered a grave injury, losing a leg and falling into a coma. Overwhelmed by the loss, Ken quit being a pacifier to complete his studies abroad, while Ren disappeared, leaving no trace. Mina chose to remain as a pacifier, determined to protect the people of her country. Intel was that, after the Okiris Island incident, Ren went missing without a word and is planning something dangerous, certainly to avenge his master. With a quest to find their friend and keep him on the right track, Ken and Mina were given this mission.