The warmth of the late afternoon filled the small, modest house. In the living room, Touka, his mother, and his younger sister, Shina, sat together. Their conversation was light, filled with laughter and everyday stories. Their mother smiled, occasionally brushing through Touka's hair, which looked tired after a full day at school. Shina, the younger one, excitedly shared stories about her funny friends at school.
Everything seemed normal—until, suddenly, a rumbling noise shook the ground. The earth trembled violently, halting their conversation. Their bodies shook as they looked at the window, rattling with force.
"What... what is that?" Shina whispered in fear, looking outside as the sky darkened.
Touka's mother quickly stood up, her face turning serious. "Quick, get out now! Let's go!" She grabbed her children's hands and pulled them toward the back door.
But before they could reach the door, a loud explosion shook their home, causing it to tremble violently. Walls cracked, the ceiling collapsed, and flames began spreading from outside. In front of them, a massive figure emerged from the forest—large and covered in fangs—destroying everything in its path. It was an Omnivorax.
"Shina, hurry!" Touka's mother called, holding her daughter's hand tighter.
Meanwhile, the Omnivorax drew closer, crushing anything in its way. Amid the chaos, Touka and Shina tried to run to the back door, but falling debris blocked their path.
"Mom!" Shina screamed, trying to help her mother, who was trapped under the rubble.
Touka, who was also trapped in another spot, quickly ran to help. "Mom! We have to get out of here!"
But as they tried to save their mother, more debris fell, and with the power of the advancing monster, all their efforts were in vain. Just then, the Aether Corps arrived, quickly taking action and distracting the Omnivorax, giving them a chance to escape.
However, as the Aether Corps attempted to rescue Shina and their mother, the chaos worsened. In their effort to save them, the Aether Corps only managed to carry the injured Touka, while Shina and his mother were left behind in the rubble.
"I... I can't..." Touka whispered, his body trembling.
Shina and their mother were presumed dead in the attack, while Touka stood frozen, staring blankly at the spot where they had been. There were no words to say, only deep regret.
That afternoon ended in an infinite emptiness. Touka's world changed forever.
Fifteen Years Later
The heavy rain soaked the empty city sidewalk. Every step Touka took echoed through the street, splashing against the puddles that had gathered along the road. His face was expressionless, showing no emotion at all. In his right hand, his phone buzzed, its light flickering in the dark night.
"No one can fight them," he muttered under his breath, his eyes glued to the news on the screen.
On the phone's display, an image of a massive monster—known as the Omnivorax—filled the screen. The creature threatened the existence of humanity, while Aether Corps—the organization that was supposed to stop these monsters—looked weak and powerless. Touka let out a long sigh, his gaze burning with anger.
Fifteen years ago, the world changed forever. Touka was just a kid when the Omnivorax first arrived and destroyed the small town where his family had lived. Everything he knew—his parents, his friends—was gone in the blink of an eye. All that was left was loss and revenge.
Since then, there's been only one thing on his mind: revenge.
Joining Aether Corps had been Touka's dream. But reality wasn't that simple. After being rejected time and time again, Touka had to settle for a job as a monster corpse cleaner—a job far from what he wanted, but the only one he could get. Cleaning up the remains of monsters that had already been defeated, sweeping away the destruction they left behind.
This was a grueling, thankless job. But in this broken world, it was the only thing Touka could do. And he knew it wasn't enough. To survive—and to get his revenge—he had to get stronger.
As he worked, cleaning up the aftermath of another battle in a ruined city, a low rumble echoed in the distance. The sky darkened even further, and a massive shadow loomed overhead. The Omnivorax leader had returned.
Touka clenched his fists, his jaw set. "This isn't about who's right or wrong," he whispered to himself, his voice flat but filled with rage. "It's about surviving. And I'll do whatever it takes to defeat them."
Unknowingly, the power he sought would come from the very thing he hated.
Because survival wasn't just about strength. It was also about sacrifice. And Touka was ready to risk everything for the revenge he so desperately sought.