Destruction, Death, and Suffering.
Hundred years ago, when a mysterious phenomenon unfolded across the globe, the world plunged into unprecedented chaos. Countless portals materialized in the skies, unleashing a horde of monstrous and otherworldly creatures that wreaked havoc on a scale never before seen by humankind.
The sudden appearance of these nightmarish beings disrupted the very fabric of civilization, plunging society into a state of fear and uncertainty. Some people refer to it as Cataclysm Day. Some call it judgment day. But for some, they called it the 'great apocalypse'.
Blood, Despair, and Survival.
As the portals continued to spew forth these malevolent entities, cities crumbled, resources dwindled, and humanity found itself on the brink of collapse.
The catastrophe caught every nation off guard. All they knew was that they were ill-prepared to face the unearthly monstrous beasts; they felt hopeless and powerless. Even their best-of-the-best, state-of-the-art weapons had no match against every monstrous beast's astonishing powers.
Humanity is trampled to its core. The world is engulfed in darkness.
But then...
A shed of light appeared, tearing apart the deathly smoke and giving humanity its luminous hope.
A miracle happened. A savior had arrived, possessing the eternal fire that brings death to all monstrous beasts.
No one has ever laid eyes on this man, whose brilliance is unmatched. But everyone who saw him knew he was the savior with fiery wings, wielding a fiery sword of hope.
They called him 'The Fiery Knight Angel'.
Grace upon him, humanity was able to rise and survive from the great-apocalypse, unite, and stand together as one under a new global unitary government, the 'Omni's'.
Under the Omni's leadership, they established a formidable force capable of fighting against the monstrous beasts they dubbed 'Hollow Beasts'.
These formidable new dawn warriors are known as the 'Ark Knights'.
===
Chapter 1: Hangetsu
Only a fraction of humanity survived, as nearly ninety-eight percent of the global population perished. Those who managed to survive must now endure the harrowing reality of a world consumed by fear and despair.
Approximately sixty percent of the world is inhabitable. As a result, the Omnis created zones to determine where the remaining human survivors had to live.
They are divided into three categories.
Green Zone.
The Green Zone, also referred to as the Habitable Area, serves as a new home for the survivors. The Omni protects approximately six hundred green zone colonies built around the world.
Grey Zone.
The Grey Zone is a prohibited place for any normal human survivors to enter, as hollow beasts roam in these lands, and only Ark Knights and expeditionary forces can enter this place. They either liberate the land from the hollow beasts and establish it as a new green zone or, in the worst-case scenario, turn it into a red zone.
Red Zone.
The Red Zone, also referred to as the danger zone, is a highly hazardous area. The Red Zone is a place of extreme danger, devoid of any signs of life. Either an unknown energy infests the area, making it impossible for any 'normal humans' to survive, or the hollow beast's destruction has left it in complete ruins.
***
Green Zone.
Colony number seventy-six, Manila.
As the sun's bright rays illuminate the sky, a striking scene unfolds as a colossal concrete wall looms overhead, casting its shadows over a ferry that waits for a large gate to open, inspiring a sense of awe and wonder among its passengers.
As the large gate creaked open, The vibrant colony of Manila, a bustling metropolis teeming with life and culture and home to a diverse population of over five million residents, greeted the passengers in awe as the ferry made its way towards them.
And as the ferry docked and the passengers disembarked, a group of military police welcomed them, saying, "Welcome to Manila, everyone!"
"We're glad that you arrived safely and did not encounter any hollow beasts from the sea."
Every passenger was delighted, with a huge smile on their faces, cheering and clapping.
However, it was different for Kandril.
"W-why?"
He is not in a positive mood as he is dry heaving, suffering from motion sickness.
"GWAAAHK!"
"If only the old man hadn't coerced me to try to join the Expeditionary forces.. I shouldn't be suffering right now—"
"—GWAAAAAAAHKK!"
Kandril traveled for two days all the way from colony number seventy-eight, Davao. He is in the Manila to participate in an upcoming Ark Knight entrance examination and join the expeditionary forces.
Upon disembarking from the ferry, Kandril was dumbfounded by the view. The sun's warm rays gently illuminated the cobblestone streets, casting a soft golden hue upon the vibrant market stalls and historic buildings that lined the waterfront.
The sea breeze carried with it the invigorating scent of salt and adventure, heightening Kandril's surprise as he navigated the winding alleyways in search of his hotel room.
He found himself immersed in a sea of activity and infrastructure in Manila, realizing the significance of the colony as a former country capital. In stark contrast to his quaint hometown colony, Davao, Manila was a sprawling metropolis.
HONK! HONK!
[CHATTERING NOISES]
While walking the busy streets, Kandril smelled something appetizing that triggered his stomach to gurgle in hunger.
GRRRR!
"Oh! This smell... is this?"
He followed the scent, walked for more than two kilometers, and ended up on the outskirts of the colony, where he found something interesting.
'Mamihan'—a noodle soup shop.
"Eh? A Mamihan? I never expected that this kind of food shop existed in this colony."
Upon entering the establishment, he was rendered curious by its emptiness, punctuated only by the hum of the ceiling fan and a news anchor speaking from an old television: "For the news report, another child has been found missing..."
[TV CHATTERING]
However, it wasn't the location that drew Kandril in, but rather the aroma of the beef stock in the air, which he detected from a distance, that ultimately guided him into this noodle shop.
A middle-aged man, clad in an apron and a hairnet, suddenly emerged from behind the shop's counter and cordially greeted, "Welcome to Hagor's Mamihan."
Kandril acknowledged the man's welcome with a nod and proceeded to take a seat at a table near the counter. After settling in, he asked the man, "Are you the owner of this Mamihan, uncle?"
The middle-aged man promptly confirmed, "Yes, I am the owner of this Mamihan, young man. What can I get for you today?"
Promptly scanning the menu board above the counter, Kandril made his selection: "Uncle, I would delight in savoring a serving of your medium-sized beef mami along with a refreshing twelve-ounce glass of orange juice."
== Beef Mami is a beef noodle soup composed of tender beef brisket and egg noodles, boiled eggs, and other toppings that are soaked in a hot and flavorful beef stock ==
As Kandril patiently awaited his meal at the noodle shop, his eyes wandered around, taking in the vintage photos adorning the walls. The snapshots seemed to tell a story of a time long past, perhaps even predating the great apocalypse.
Turning his attention to the shop owner, Kandril couldn't help but inquire about the shop's history. "Uncle, may I ask how long this shop has been in operation?" The curiosity in his voice was evident.
As he prepared Kandril's order, the shop owner, with a smile on his face, began recounting the shop's lineage. "My great-grandfather established this shop nearly a century ago," he revealed with pride.
The revelation stunned Kandril. "A century? Does that imply it was more than a hundred years ago?"
"Damn! This shop has been around since before the great apocalypse and is way older than me." He exclaimed, astonishment coloring his words.
The owner chuckled at Kandril's reaction as he approached and served the beef mami to his table. "Indeed, young man. It has weathered many storms, including the great apocalypse that reshaped this world."
However, a somber note crept into his voice as he reached Kandril's table. "Unfortunately, I fear that I may be the last caretaker of this legacy. You, young man, could very well be my final customer as well."
Kandril was surprised by the shop owner's sudden change in demeanor.
"Your last customer?" he echoed, confused.
"But why, uncle? Surely, in these times, people seek out the comfort of tradition, like the wholesome food your shop offers, over the questionable, poisonous, and cancerous offerings of the supermarkets."
The owner of the shop took a deep breath, his somber tone undeniably reflecting the weight of his words as he responded to Kandril's probing questions, "It's a long story, young man..."
"When my father died ten years ago, I had no other choice but to continue this business alone... Everything went well from the beginning..."
"But when the syndicate suddenly started to illegally run this district, we couldn't do anything but follow their rules."
Visibly taken aback by the sudden revelation, Kandril sought clarification: "A syndicate? What do you mean by that, uncle?"
"Hangetsu Gang. That's what they call themselves," the shop owner disclosed, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
He continued, "Their nefarious activities span from extortion and violence to the distribution of illicit substances. Those who dare to oppose them face dire consequences."
"At the end of each week, they come into my shop and charge me to give them at least a thousand bronze papers. And if I fail to meet their demands, they threaten to kill me."
"Since the establishment of this syndicate in this district, their presence has led to an increasing number of people leaving."
"That's why I'm losing customers, and, obviously, without income, I can't afford to pay them!"
As the tension escalated with the shop owner's revelation, the atmosphere grew increasingly fraught.
Suddenly, it was shattered by the forceful swing of the shop door and a commanding voice making menacing demands.
"Where is your payment now you old fart?"
"It's been two weeks that you haven't showed yourself to me? are you avoiding us?"
Four intimidating individuals suddenly entered the shop, jolting the shop owner in surprise.
Kandril was confused by these individuals but he remains calm and vigilant.
'So these are the 'syndicate' that the shop owner was talking about?' He pondered seriously.
He was observing them through a reflection coming from the mirror above the menu board.
'These smell trouble' He added.
Each of these gangster-like figures exuded a sense of authority, their penetrating gazes assessing the shop with calculated precision.
Among them, a particularly striking man commanded attention as he confidently strode forth.
"You shitty old man!"
Standing at a height of five feet six inches, he possessed a commanding presence despite his relatively modest stature. His bald head and the prominent scar over his right eye hinted at a life marked by violence and danger.
This man was none other than Gabron Alorka, a notorious criminal who had evaded capture for three years after a daring prison escape. Known to be a key member of Hangetsu. His three loyal henchmen accompanied him, faithfully enforcing his will.
"G-Gabron?" the shop owner stammered.
"What brings you here?"
As soon as Gabron reached the shop owner, he quickly and forcefully grabbed him by the neck, pressing him towards the counter while firmly asking, "Do you have the money now?" His voice was clearly irritated.
"Um, Gabron. Please! I need you to understand my situation. I still don't have enough money to pay you." The shop owner begged.
"Customers visit this place quite often. Additionally, I still need to send money to my family in Cebu." He continued, his voice filled with anxiety.
Gabron grows annoyed by the shop owner's plea. He glared at him, veins snapping out of his forehead.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Without second thoughts, he suddenly delivered a swift punch to the shop owner's face, accompanied by a heated exclamation: "What the f*ck do you mean that you don't have the money to pay me today? It's already been two weeks, you old fart!"
The shop owner was overcome with tears as Grabon's sudden outburst unfolded. His nose was gushing blood as he begged once again, "Gabron. Please don't hurt me."
However, Gabron displayed no remorse or guilt for his violent and reckless actions towards the shop owner. Instead, he delivered another forceful blow, shouting angrily, "Your situation means nothing to us, you fool!"
"Do you not remember? You're living under Hangetsu's rule! If you refuse our request, it's obvious what's going to happen to you ne—"
BAGSH - CRACK - SHATTER!
In a sudden and unanticipated occurrence, a glass bottle filled with orange juice collided with Gabron's head, shattering into countless shards upon impact.
The sheer force of the unexpected assault inflicted evident pain upon him, compelling him to crumple to the ground, dropping to his knees in a grimace of discomfort.
The irrefutable cacophony of glass fragments clattering against the ground reverberated throughout the area, startling his three henchmen, gaping in disbelief. Their expressions were a mixture of shock and concern.
As the sharp sting of the shattered glass subsided, Gabrons remained on the ground, stunned and bewildered by the swift and unprovoked attack.
Following this, a strong voice echoed, prompting the gangsters to quickly turn behind their backs.
"Oi, hitting an innocent individual who was just barely working and providing for his family is such a cowardly act; you should know that, right?"
As they fully turned, they were filled with astonishment upon seeing Kandril, who was gradually approaching them with a heavy aura, his neck and both knuckles crackling.
CRACK - CRACK
"What's going on with those big eyes, buffons? It looks like you filthy, vile creatures have just seen a ghost," Kandril continued, mocking their reactions.
He then shifted his gaze to the shop owner, giving a friendly order, "Hey, uncle. Please hide somewhere safe. I am going to do something that these buffons won't like."
The shop owner immediately followed Kandril's order with no second thought, moving swiftly out of the shop.
After the shop owner leaves, Kandril gradually directs his attention towards Gabron, who is standing, swirling, and irking in pain. "Tsk! That really hurts, you damn punk!"
"You are a really brave young man to declare a fight against a well-known criminal like me."
As he fully stands, he turns around and swiftly pulls out a silver revolver from his waist, cocks it, and aims it towards Kandril.
"Let's see what you can do now that I have a gu—"
However, to his surprise, and in a blink of an eye, Kandril abruptly appeared right in front of him, grasping tightly the barrel of his revolver.
The next moment, Kandril powerfully bent and twisted the barrel of the revolver.
TWIST—BENT!
Kandril's unexpected actions surprised Gabron and his minions, whose eyes were bulging with astonishment.
'What did he just do?' Gabron inquired, surprised, inside his thoughts.
After he bent and twisted the revolver, Kandril then pulled the gun out of Gabron's hands. With remarkable speed, he then seized Gabron by the neck, lifted him up, and without second thoughts slammed his face to the table.
BAM - BREAK!
The impact is reverberating through the shop like a thunderclap!
Observing Kandril's violent actions, his henchmen swiftly retaliated, attacking him with icepicks coming from their waists.
"Hey! Who do you think you are, punk?" The skinny, tall-looking gangster, one of Gabron's minions shouted in anger.
However, an unforeseen twist met their assault, as bolts of lightning suddenly crackled and danced around Kandril, encasing him in a formidable shield of electrifying energy.
BZZT!
The lightning bolts swiftly bursted out and crept towards the gangsters, electrocuting them, causing them to twitch, drop their weapons, and fall to the ground unconscious.
BWOOOOZT!
Kandril then turned his attention to Gabron who was crawling backwards, stunned and stuttering, asking in disbelief, "Hey you! D- Don't tell me you're a theurgist?!"
Kandril didn't utter a word. In his intense moment of silence, he abruptly seized Gabron by the neck, clenching tightly around his throat and slowly cutting off his air supply.
"GWHKK!"
"Are you choking me... to death? ... AGGHKK!"
Despite Gabron's desperate attempts to gasp for air, Kandril's grip only grew stronger, causing him to ultimately lose consciousness.
Kandril then returned to his table and called out the shop owner, who had been watching the confrontation for the entire time.
"Hey Uncle. I've knocked down these syndicates that have been ruining your business. Maybe you can reconsider your decision and refrain from closing your shop at this time."
The shop owner entered his store, gaping while shaking his head in disbelief.
"No! No! No! What have you done, young man? You clearly don't know what you just did!" He addressed the young man frantically, his voice tinged with anxiety.
"Eh? What do you mean, uncle? I just need to eliminate them and report them to the military police, right? " Kandril, confused, questioned the shop owner.
"You clearly don't understand what you just did!" The shop owner exclaimed anxiously. He then approached Kandril, grabbed his collar, and continued seriously, saying, "Even if you're a theurgist, you clearly have no chance against the syndicate."
"What you just did is an act of war against the Hangetsu!"
- AWAKENING THE DARK SYSTEM -