Amid the rubble, a group of soldiers moved quickly. Their faces showed exhaustion, and their clothes bore the results of an unrelenting battle. None of them could remember how long it had been since they last had a place to rest; after all, in this war-torn world, a few hours of sleep had become a luxury hard to come by.
Out of nowhere, an explosion went off ahead of the path they were taking. Immediately, the group's expressions changed. Despite traveling a long distance without rest, they hadn't managed to reach a safe zone, and the enemy had found them. Without hesitation, the leader of the group raised his voice, his face serious and filled with determination, and spoke what would be his final words:
—It's been a pleasure traveling with you. Each of you has shown the courage and determination that every human being possesses. However, the oath I took and my sense of duty prevent me from continuing this journey.
Adam, one of the youngest, replied:
—The oath we took also commands us to fight to the last man.
The leader sighed. During the short time he had been with Adam, he realized the great sense of duty that the young man possessed. If not for this war, that boy would surely have become a great person, a great hero. Unfortunately, the circumstances had changed, the world had changed exponentially in just a few years. This was not the time to allow the sacrifice of people like Adam. This time, with a voice of authority, he gave a concise order:
—As squad leader, I order the immediate evacuation of the objective.
The other members sprang into action instantly. Grabbing Adam, they began to retreat from the area.
—This isn't the time to be a hero —said one of the soldiers—. After all, your life is worth much more than all of ours. We came for you, and if you die, all our sacrifices will have been in vain.
Adam simply stayed silent.
Suddenly, a terrifying voice was heard:
—It's time to end the game, you filthy race.
That voice caused Adam to wake up immediately. He was breathing heavily, shaken by the bitter dream. Despite the time that had passed, the memories of that day kept coming back. He got out of bed, put on his shoes, and left the small room where he had been living for the past few months. He was in a military base, perhaps one of the last places inhabited by humans. His mind automatically guided him to the cafeteria to get something to eat.
As always, the place wasn't empty. The war had left scars all over the planet, leaving its inhabitants stressed and struggling to sleep; after all, an attack could happen at any moment. Adam grabbed a cup of coffee and looked for an empty spot. Soon, he found one in the corner of the room. However, it wasn't long before someone approached him.
—Adam, I'm glad you're here. The director wants to see you.
Adam lifted his head and immediately recognized the person who had spoken to him.
—Hero Thirteen —he whispered.
Anan Kurose remained silent, and after a moment, simply let out a sigh.
—My time as a hero ended years ago. Today, I'm just a member of the resistance, trying to find a future for humanity. There's no time to live in the memories of the past. Follow me.
Anan didn't wait for an affirmative response and began to walk. Adam simply stood up and followed. Little by little, they ventured down a strange path. This wasn't the route to the director's office. Feeling uneasy about Anan's mistake, Adam pointed out that they were going the wrong way. Anan didn't bother to stop and merely said:
—We're heading in the right direction. Everything will make sense once we reach the director.
After passing through several rooms and security doors, they arrived at their destination. In that space, there were other people, as well as a being that was half bear, half mouse, dressed in an elegant suit. He was the director of the military base, and years ago, he had been the director of the best hero academy: UA Academy.