What is it that humans desire? Is it power? Is it pleasure? Or being superior than everyone? Or perhaps love? acceptance?
What is it, that we desire the most...?
Shin and Sen are still in the room.
"Thank you for understanding the situation Shin." Sen looked at the door and walked up to it.
Humans desired one thing... Control.
Every war in human history started with greed to get control on certain things like power, money and influence.
Wanting control is something humans cannot deny or ignore. Humans want control on all things they desire, Influence on peers and others, income, education and many more...
In the head of Shin all he wants is Justice... But does he want it because he wants to protect the people who can't fight back? Or does he want to have control on things. Crimes to set down and human injustice to die and be buried like the past...
Hours passed and the ground is ready to go. Kaide knocked on Shin's room. "Shin? Sen said it's time to go."
He stood up with the thoughts stuck in his mind. "Got it..." He opened the door and met with them.
"Shin are you alright? You seemed bothered after.. you had an argument with your brother." Kaide softly said.
"Shin I.. don't know the feeling of killing someone. I don't know what you and Sen feels whenever you kill a bad person. But I side with you... People that are taking advantage of human lives and deemed it replaceable needs to go.. growing up a slave I know how humans can be evil that even demons get amused by how humans can go to satisfy their desires if they want to." Kaide softly said.
"Thank you Kaide. Sen and I sometimes reach a point where we questions ourselves if we do it to save or to cleanse..." Shin's expression is filled with doubts.
"Everyone let's go!" Shin said as he and Sen guide everyone out of the house and to the street.
The group continued their journey out of the city toward the nearby settlement.
"Alright, just a few hours' walk left, everyone!" Sen called out, his usual upbeat energy filling the air.
Kirin, however, was struggling to keep pace, weighed down by exhaustion and the load she carried. Seeing this, Shin slowed his pace and fell back in line beside her.
"...Here, give me this," Shin said, his voice steady as he took the bags from her without a moment's hesitation.
Kirin, trying to protest, gasped between breaths. "I can walk just fine... I'm a strong woman, you know."
Shin raised an eyebrow, his gaze assessing her quickly. "You sure about that? You haven't eaten in a while, have you?" His tone was blunt, but there was a quiet care in his words.
Kirin shot him a half-embarrassed, half-amused look. "Lucky guess," she chuckled weakly, though it didn't fool Shin.
He sighed, not wasting any time. "Here have this." Without hesitation, he handed all the gear over to Sen, who blinked in surprise.
"What?!" Sen exclaimed, but despite his surprise, he didn't argue. He just adjusted the weight with a shrug, too accustomed to Shin's commands to protest too much.
Shin, on the other hand, pulled out a protein bar from his pack and gently held it in front of Kirin's mouth. She froze, her face flushing at the unexpected gesture. "Hey, I can eat on my own, I'm not a kid…" she protested, though her voice lacked conviction.
Shin didn't budge. "You need to eat. Something or you'll pass out." he insisted, his tone softening for a moment as he looked at her with a silent understanding.
Kirin looked away, flustered but unable to deny the kindness behind his action. "...Fine. But don't treat me like I can't take care of myself," she muttered as she reluctantly accepted the bar.
Kirin took small bites of the protein bar, her gaze flicking to Shin, who walked silently beside her. She hesitated before speaking, her voice soft.
"...Shin, may I ask you something?"
Shin glanced at her, his expression calm but distant. "Go on."
"Where are your parents? Are they going to meet us at the settlement? Maybe welcome us some warm meals?" she asked gently, a hint of hope in her voice.
The question made Shin falter. His face grew shadowed, the faintest frown creasing his features—not of anger, but of pain. Before Kirin could take back her words, she rushed to apologize.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to—"
"It's alright," Shin interrupted quietly, his voice steady but heavy. He cast a glance at Sen, who nodded in silent agreement.
"I guess it's time everyone knew our story."
The group fell silent, their footsteps slowing as they tuned into Shin's words. Kaide and her siblings listened intently, sensing the weight behind his tone.
"When we were young—me, fifteen, and Sen, thirteen—we had parents. They were everything to us. Loving, caring, and above all, they made us feel safe... like the world couldn't touch us," Shin began, his voice soft but steady.
Kirin gave him a faint, encouraging nod. "You both seemed like you had the perfect family. What happened?"
Shin hesitated, his hands balling into fists. The words seemed to stick in his throat before he finally forced them out.
"Seven years ago, everything changed. You all know what happened—what the world calls 'the end of the world.' That night, during the festival... it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing, celebrating, living. And then—"
He paused, his voice breaking slightly as he took a shaky breath.
"And then, in a blink of an eye, they appeared. The demons. Monsters. They tore through everything like a storm, devouring anyone in their path. They didn't just kill—they feasted, like we were nothing but meat to them."
Shin's fists trembled as he continued, his voice lower now but filled with anguish.
"Our parents... they fought to protect us. But in the end... they were eaten. Right in front of us. We couldn't do anything. We just watched."
Every word was heavy, sinking into the hearts of those listening. Kirin's eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth as tears brimmed in her eyes. Kaide clutched her brother's hand tightly, her face pale.
"After... After we survived we went up the mountain and see cities burning in flames chaos everywhere... The military are trying to fight the demons by firearms and other military vehicles. We hid and after a few hours silent fell on us."
"Me and Sen went out, the street is full of dead pile bodies demon and people. And some is just a lump of meat... We saw a injured demon who can't walk due to its legs being blown up. And I just couldn't held back anymore. I picked up a knife from the dead soldiers and... I just.."
"Shin... Do you want me to continue the story?" Sen said. Shin nodded and just got quiet.
"Shin stabbed the demons body from back, shoulder, neck, and head. He didn't stop even though the demon is just a corpse. Of course I was scared at how Shin, my brother is acting the way he is. As if he isn't himself anymore. He never stopped till I'm the one that stopped him. He is covered in demon's blood back then."
"We survived for days in the demon infested city till one day demons caught us. We're sure we were dead that time. But someone saved us... He is the most powerful we had ever seen in our entire life, even now we don't see anyone being stronger than him."
"He took down the demons with one hit and made them beg and run for their lives. He broke their necks like it's just a weak dead wood." Sen said.
The group listened in silence, each of them absorbing the weight of Shin and Sen's past. Kaide and her brothers could almost feel the pain they'd endured, and Kirin, ever perceptive, finally understood why Shin was always so cold, so distant.
"Poor boys..." an elderly woman whispered, her voice filled with sympathy.
"Our savior's name is Vermis," Sen continued, but he hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should mention angels or the afterlife just yet. There was a certain weight to the truth that didn't seem right to share so easily.
"You know what? Let's change the topic," Sen finally said, shaking off the heavy thoughts. "You'll see what kind of man Vermis is soon enough, and maybe that'll bring a smile to your faces instead of these sad frowns." His tone was light, attempting to ease everyone's tension as he guided the conversation in a different direction.
The brothers exchanged nods agreeing when they will reveal to everyone the existence of the afterlife, and Angels being real, and that the cosmic is bigger than what any scientist studied and learn back then and how supernatural beings exist as well.
Kirin after hearing their past walked beside Shin. "...You two have been through so much..."
Kirin's face is genuine her eyes is showing empathy and understanding for how traumatic Shin and Sen's past.
Kaide joined in. "Shin... How did you manage to do it...?" Shin turned his glance over them. "What?"
"How did you do it? How did you manage to be sane after that traumatic event?"
"...If I didn't me and Sen will die and all of our parents sacrifice to save ourselves will be in vein. I took a run for it, gave everything I got, my soul, my emotions, everything to protect Sen."
"Kirin I have something to say... That might change your perception on me... I.." Shin paused. Hesitating to admit that he is a murderer.
Shin stopped to think. On the front Sen is glancing at them. He is calm because he knows this won't change alot. He knows Shin is hesitating because for once in his life he felt something else rather than anger, revenge, justice, perhaps romantical which made him chuckled quietly.
"...Kirin... I'm a.. I.." Shin stuttered.
"I... Not the person you think I am... I've done terrible things..." Shin looked down.
Kaide turned her back on them. She knows Shin isn't bad because he is a murderer. But a hero, a anti hero who murdered and massacre the people who deserved it.
"..We saved people... But not in a moral way, we do everything to saved them." Shin can't help but avoid looking at Kirin.
He took a deep breath and steady himself, he clenched his fist and let it out. "We're killers. We kill to save we purge the currupted, slaughter the wicked and saved the innocents..."
To his surprise Kirin didn't reacted negatively. She smiled and softly said.
"Shin, that's very selfless of you. I understand why you did it, having your traumatic childhood made you who you are now. And I don't blame you for getting your hands dirty."
"You kill to save, this world that we lived in today is filled with people who are willing to take advantage of it's state. They took advantage of the weak and innocent people and their helplessness and took away their freedoms."
"You saved people and that's what matters, you're not evil or a murderer you're simply just helping." Kirin smiled warmly.
To everyone's surprise they didn't expect Kirin to be that wise. They expected her to have a little time processing everything.
Sen smirked. "Hm. That came out better than I expected."
Kaide breath more calmly now she expected her to be afraid of Shin after that but now she felt relieve. "You're a wise woman you know that?" She said to Kirin.
"Just stating facts." Kirin smiled.
Shin, look at her, his eyes wide in surprise. Kirin giggled.
"Shin. You thought I'll change my thoughts about you and everyone here? I liked it in here. I love being with people. And to be honest I think this is the best group I've been so far because I am with people who do anything to saved innocents."
Kaide walk to slower and lean to Shin's ear. "Marry her." She whispered.
Shin embarrassed creep into his face and he looked away. "...what made you.. say that?"
"Simple. She understood you and clearly she is showing hints that she likes you."
"Huh? How the hell did you know?"
"Woman's things, you won't get it." She said
On the other hand Kirin is standing there smiling while being clueless on what they're whispering about.
Sen whistled to get everyone's attention.
"Everyone! Behold the settlement!"
They finally catch a view of where they will be living of, It's still far but visible, across the Forest stood a fortress.
Everyone's jaw dropped. "Shin? Sen? Is this where we will live now?" Kaide couldn't believe her eyes.
The group is near to the end of the city. They're shocked and couldn't believe their eyes. A settlement of survivor's is what they expected but not a fortress.
Kaide's younger brothers stood in awe, their eyes shining.
"Whoa! Is this the settlement?!" Kirin followed up, She's hyped like a kid.
Shin composed himself and go up front beside Sen. "Everyone, from this day all of you will live in secured and safe place. No one shall live in fear anymore." Shin stood there his presence is imposing in a good way.
"...Handsome..." Kirin's eye's lit up looking at Shin and only Shin.
The group celebrated and very delighted that they won't feel the harsh grim life of the outside.
The group traverse the forest finding no curve into the way and got a smooth travel through the forest.
The group stood Infront of the fortress. It's imposing in hope, the fortress is very rich in look and have very thick walls around it.
"Shin... How rich are you both?" Kaide asked she's curious on how they built this whole settlement.
"...Does it matter?" Shin said.
"No it does not but how did you two made this fortress anyway?" Kaide said.
"Oh, we didn't someone made it." Shin said.
Kirin scoot in the conversation. "...I'm glad you invited me to join your group! This is the safest settlement and place I can call home!" She smiles warmly.
Behind the wall someone is waiting for them, he felt their presence miles away, Vermis is waiting for them.
"Shin brother open the door." Sen said.
"You can't be serious Sen this is a huge metal door Shin or any single normal human couldn't move this even an inch" Kirin said.
"Yeah she's right Sen, Shin is strong but to move a huge door like this on his own is impossible, you gotta be joking there must be a switch to open this gate." Kaide said.
"This is what fortress looked like in the movies!" Kirin joined the conversation again.
Shin smiled softly and gently push them aside. "Step away please."
"Open the door Shin." Sen said.
"...There's just no way Shin could move it even an inch... This is a very thick and huge metal and concrete door Sen, I'm not trying to judge but you gotta be joking there's no human being could pull this off." Kaide said.
"Kaide this wouldn't be called a settlement if it's unlivable and cannot be open, common sense Kaide, common Sense." Sen step back and let Shin do his thing.
Kaide eyes twitched. "What's common here? It's a door maybe hundred tons?!"
Sen scoffed and calmly said. "Correction, 50,000 tons."
"What? How can Shin even 'move' it? It's inhumanely impossible!"
Sen laughed softly. "This is Shin we're talking about my dearest old brother."
While Kirin stood there watching smiling adorably, she just wants to see the inside of the settlement.
The sheer weight of the door and the height of the fortress is really ominous in a good way, it brings the feelings of hope, home, and safety.
Shin stood Infront of the door, his hand bursts into a purple flame as he put his grip into the concrete door.
Without any struggle Shin slowly pull the huge door, Creating a big gap.
Kirin stood in awe as well as Kaide but she's more like shock. "How is that humanely possible?!"
Kaide's younger brothers stood in awe their eyes shining like the sun in the morning.
The others stood in awe but didn't questioned how Shin was able to moved a 50,000 ton giant door. "Am I seriously the only one questioning how Shin able to lift a door like that?!"
Sen chuckled. "You and the rest will get a explanation later, come in everyone." He gesture to everyone to come inside.
The people including Kirin,Kaide and her younger brothers couldn't believe their eyes as Infront of them are a place that can only be seen in the movies before the world went to chaos, a luxurious place so much bigger and beautiful that what they had imagined.
"...Wha..what?" Kaide stood in awe trying to process everything.
Kirin is amazed a luxury she had never imagined now Infront of her, and her new home. "Shin is this..."
Shin and Sen nodded. "Everyone this is the settlement, make yourself at home." Shin said.
The settlement is wide, and more like a hotel if you ignore the fact that this is a heavily fortified fortress made to burn the demons and every one who tried to infiltrate it. "Just look at this place as a 'hotel' Shin on quote said.
"Wow... Just wow..." Kirin spun slowly, taking in every detail. "When you said settlement, I imagined a shabby camp or something—not this. This is basically a luxury hotel!" She grinned, picking up her bag.
Shin nudged Sen. "It's time."
Sen nodded, stepping forward. "Everyone, may we have your attention?"
The room fell silent, every pair of eyes—Kirin's, Kaide's, and her brothers' included—fixated on them. Shin stepped forward, his presence commanding.
"Do you believe in angels?" His voice rang clear, firm, and steady. "Do you believe in heaven and hell?"
The question lingered in the air until an older woman, clutching a worn rosary, spoke up. "Of course we do. God watches over us, protects us, even in times like these."
Shin's gaze softened, but his words carried the weight of truth. "Respectfully, every single one of us here will die someday. So I'll ask again—do you believe there's an afterlife waiting for us?"
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, their faith wavering in the face of reality. Finally, Kaide broke the silence. Her voice trembled, but her anger burned through. "I don't. If God really exists, why did He let the world burn? Why did He let my family… my friends…" She stopped herself, fists clenched at her sides. "Why did He let this happen to us?"
Shin's eyes met hers, unflinching. "I don't blame you for feeling that way, Kaide. The world has gone to hell. Your anger is justified. But the truth remains: there is an afterlife. There are forces far greater than us—angels, archangels, cosmic beings that science could never hope to explain." He gestured to the fortress around them. "This settlement? It was built by an archangel—a being you might recognize from the Bible. His name is Vermis."
His words hung heavy in the air. The crowd's reaction was mixed—some stared in awe, others exchanged skeptical glances. Part of them wanted to believe him, but the weight of their suffering held them back. Still, the memory of Shin lifting that impossible door gnawed at their doubts.
Kirin broke the tension with a nervous laugh. "Shin, I get that you believe this stuff, but… you sound a little crazy."
Before anyone else could respond, a sudden gust of wind rushed through the room. The crowd gasped as a massive shadow loomed overhead. A powerful beat of wings filled the air, followed by a brilliant flash of light. Everyone looked up as a figure descended from above, landing before them with an earth-shaking impact.
The being was enormous, its presence overwhelming. Wings as vast as storm clouds spread wide, their feathers shimmering with unearthly colors. Its face was adorned with countless eyes, each one glowing faintly, watching everything and everyone.
The crowd froze, paralyzed with awe and fear. Some dropped to their knees, others instinctively backed away, unable to process the celestial figure before them.
Shin stepped forward, calm and unshaken. "This is Vermis, the architect of your sanctuary. The proof that what I've said is real."
"Welcome, This place shall be your safe haven, demons and others who tried to infiltrate this shall be burned and melt and throw away their ashes." Vermis said, his voice is more human than before.
The elderly woman stood upfront she's shaking, and holding onto her cross necklace. "Tell me... Does heaven exist, what happened to my husband..."
Vermis leaned down he easily towered everyone, he leaned down and with a calm and soothing voice. "Yes, your husband is waiting for you time to be with him in heaven."
The woman smiled tearing up. She doesn't know before what would actually happened to them, knowing afterlife exist she felt like there's a heavy weight taken away from her, knowing her husband is waiting for her.
Kaide stepped forward, her emotions swirling between anger and sorrow. "…If angels exist, then why did God and heaven let the world fall into chaos?"
Vermis turned his many-eyed gaze to her, gently flicking a fine dust toward her. It shimmered in the air before settling on her skin, calming her trembling heart and encouraging her to speak freely.
Tears streamed down Kaide's face as she broke. "Why… Why did you and the other angels abandon us? You were supposed to be our saviors! Where were you when people started dying? When we were devoured by demons?"
Kirin immediately stepped in, wrapping her arms around Kaide. "Hey…" she whispered softly. Kaide didn't hesitate, clinging to Kirin as if her life depended on it.
Sen opened his mouth, trying to ease the tension. "Kaide, listen, you need to calm dow—"
Vermis raised a hand, silencing Sen with a look.
"I'm sorry," Vermis began, his tone softer than before. "We are angels, yes, but we are far from the perfect beings humans once thought us to be. When the gates of hell opened, it wasn't just earth that suffered. A civil war broke out in heaven—a war that tore us apart and left us blind to the destruction below. By the time we regained control, it was too late."
The crowd listened in stunned silence as Vermis continued, his voice heavy with regret. "Many rogue angels took advantage of the apocalypse, seeking to seize power over heaven and earth. We prayed for guidance, for God's voice to give us direction, but… He didn't answer. Something happened to Him. Something we don't understand."
Kaide's sobs quieted as she listened, her tears falling onto Kirin's shoulder.
"When the war finally ended, heaven was left in ruins, just as hell was. The balance shattered, demons ran free. I came to earth to do what I could—purging demons, one by one, wherever I found them. That's when I saw Shin and Sen fighting for their lives against an onslaught of monsters. I destroyed their enemies, but these two boys… they came to me with fire in their eyes. They begged me to make them strong, strong enough to save others. That's when I decided to train them—to make them warriors for a broken world."
The angel paused, letting his words sink in. "Right now, all I can do is destroy the demons and evil that remain. I cannot undo the damage that has been done. But you should know this: the souls of those who passed on were not lost to the chaos. They were untouched by the civil war. Heaven's gates remain open to them… though many angels gave their lives to ensure it."
Let's return to the question: What do people desire?
The answer is simple: control. Whether they are good or evil, what everyone seeks is control over their lives, their world, and their fate. But the desire for control doesn't belong only to humans.
Every living being craves it—sometimes, even if it means bending everything and everyone to their will.
To be continued...