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Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 : The Tragedy

6 March, Year 0141: The Battle of Okiris Island

This date became etched into history, marked as the day when the most brutal battle since the apocalypse took place. In the year 0141, Okiris Island—once a vital hub for human civilization—had become a wasteland, overrun by monsters. The island was deemed uninhabitable, and the Headquarters Pacifier Association in Hilton, sent out a desperate request. They called for their best, an elite squad of over 2,000 pacifiers, to cleanse the island of its monstrous population, which numbered more than 10,000.

The mission could have ended peacefully, with zero casualties. But everything changed when Rue appeared.

Rue, a special-class beast. The world had only ever encountered six such creatures, and none had been defeated. Rue's power was a grim reminder of just how fragile humanity's survival truly was.

Among the squad were Ken, Ren, and Mina—three prodigies who had only recently earned their status as Pillar Pacifiers. Under the guidance of their master, Beni, they fought valiantly, cutting down monsters with astonishing ease. It seemed like victory was within reach.

Until Rue arrived.

The air on Okiris Island grew thick with dread the moment the beast set foot on the battlefield. Even the most seasoned pacifiers froze in place, overwhelmed by its mere presence. But Ken and Ren, fearless and eager to prove themselves, charged headlong into battle.

They had no idea what they were up against.

As they closed in, Rue unleashed a wave of destructive energy. Before the brothers could react, Beni intervened, and the real battle began.

FLAME BATTLE ARTS: CROSSFIRE.

Beni's technique was legendary—flames as fierce as the sun, as sharp as the finest blade. The technique had five forms, each one deadlier than the last, but to unleash its final form, Beni would need to gather energy from the violent battlefield around him. He knew he was buying time, not just for himself but for his students and the rest of the squad.

FIRST FORM: FIERY SPIKES.

Thin, needle-like flames shot from Beni's hands, piercing Rue's monstrous body. But the beast barely flinched. Beni had known it would come to this, that even his most practiced techniques might not be enough. But he had to keep going—he had to buy time.

SECOND FORM: LIGHT RAY.

A bright blue light burst forth, searing through Rue's head, but the core remained untouched. Before Beni could transition into his next form, Rue retaliated. A devastating blast of energy rocketed toward Beni and his students. They barely dodged in time, watching in horror as the blast wiped out entire sections of the island, leaving only destruction in its wake.

More monsters appeared, abnormal-class creatures drawn to Rue's dark energy. What had been a battle turned into a war. And Beni knew they were losing.

THIRD FORM: RING OF FIRE.

PLUS...

FOURTH FORM: ECLIPSE.

The Eclipse, a powerful technique capable of exorcising almost any monster, failed to leave a mark on Rue. As the fight raged on, Ken looked around at the chaos consuming the island—the death, the devastation, the overwhelming hopelessness. He felt powerless. Despite all his training, all his strength, it wasn't enough.

And then it happened. Rue's next attack was aimed directly at them. Beni moved without hesitation, throwing himself in the path of the deadly strike to save his students. The impact was catastrophic, leaving Beni gravely injured.

With his life hanging by a thread, Beni called upon the last of his strength.

FIFTH FORM: CRIMSON CROSS.

In one final, desperate move, Beni took the battle to the skies. His voice echoed through the air as he poured every ounce of energy into the attack. The crimson flames blasted Rue, disintegrating its body. But the core—the heart of the beast—remained untouched.

Beni fell to the ground, defeated. His once mighty flames flickered and died as he slipped into unconsciousness. His students rushed to his side, but the sight of their master—broken and unmoving—shattered something inside Ken.

Grief and rage consumed him. In a haze of uncontrolled emotion, Ken unleashed his own power, flames erupting from his body and engulfing the entire island. Okiris was set ablaze, reduced to a scorched wasteland by the time Ren and Mina managed to knock him out and stop the destruction.

They saved Beni, but he never woke up. The once-great pacifier lay in a coma, his life hanging in the balance, while Ken, Ren, and Mina were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered world. After this incident, Ken quit being a pacifier and went abroad for studies, Ren stayed as a pacifier but parted ways with the rest of them, eventually planning something to avenge his master and Mina stayed at the association, attended the ACADEMY OF ELITE BATTLE ARTS, for next 3 years.

Year 0146: Present Day...

The air in the hall was tense as Eden recounted the Battle of Okiris Island to the newly appointed Pillars—Rose, Fel, and Cid. Mina listened silently, her hands clenched into fists as memories of that day flooded back.

"That's the story of Okiris Island," Eden concluded. "And soon, you'll meet one of the legends yourself."

Fel, wide-eyed with excitement, leaned forward. "But I've always wondered—if monsters are born from negative emotions, how do special-class beasts get so powerful?"

Cid smirked. "Did you sleep through your Academy lessons? After the war between dragons and leviathans, not all of them died off. Some survived, their hatred festering. Special-class beasts are born from that hatred."

"I see," Fel said thoughtfully. "That's why they're so rare."

"And so dangerous," Rose added quietly. "Ken went to Britalhyde, didn't he? Previously known as The United Kingdom in the pre-apocalypse era?"

Eden nodded. "Yes. But now, he's back."

At that moment, the door swung open, and a figure stepped into the room. The atmosphere shifted instantly. The new Pillars felt a wave of bloodlust wash over them—a stark reminder of just how different their power was compared to his.

Ken stood before them, calm but radiating an aura that spoke of both mastery and danger. His eyes, however, carried the weight of someone who had seen far too much.

"Hello," Ken said, his voice steady. "I'm Ken, and I'm rejoining the association as a Pillar Pacifier."

Mina, unable to contain her excitement, nearly leaped out of her seat. "Whaaaaaa… Ken! It's so good to see you in your outfit again! It brings back so many memories!"

Ken groaned, rubbing his temples. "Aaaaaargh… When will you stop shouting in my ears?"