It's been ten years since the world changed forever. Everyone remembers that day as if it were yesterday. It seems to have started high up in the clear sky over the vast Pacific Ocean. Suddenly, a gigantic crack opened in the middle of the sky, a fissure that seemed to split the sky in two. From that crack emerged two illuminated figures, one dark gray and the other deep red, both shrouded in a glow that filled the air with overwhelming energy. No one knew what they were or where they came from, but their appearance marked the beginning of our misfortune.
Those two figures did not take long to confront each other. With every blow they exchanged, the world beneath them trembled. Their shocks unleashed colossal storms, earthquakes and gigantic waves that swept away everything in their path. It was as if nature itself bowed to the power of its struggle. Countries around the Pacific were the first to fall under chaos, and the disaster soon spread across the globe. In a matter of hours, everything we knew was shattered, millions of lives were lost. But most disturbing of all was how it ended.
After what seemed like eternal hours of destruction, the two figures disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. The crack in the sky closed behind them, as if it had never been there. But the world had already been shattered. The survivors were left with more questions than answers, wondering what those entities had been and why their battle had wiped out everything.
The worst, however, came later. As time went on, small cracks began to appear again, this time scattered all over the planet. From these cracks, which emerged from the sky, amorphous, distorted creatures emerged, vaguely reminiscent of human beings. But they were not the only ones. Alongside these creatures, human figures with extraordinary powers, whom people called "celestials," began to appear. These celestials fought the creatures, as if they were meant to protect us from a threat we are only beginning to understand. However, the only thing these entities brought was destruction and death.
Faced with this problem, humanity did not sit idly by, and deployed its arsenal and ingenuity that has always adapted in difficult times. He created a specialized group for the annihilation of these invading beings called...
Suddenly a voice was heard in the distance shouting as if he wanted the other voice that was commenting on the above to want him to pay attention to him.
— Hey, Judah! Saito Judah! Pay attention to the class!
— Uh!? – The commenting voice replied with solemn surprise.
— You stop looking into the distance and you have to pay attention! If you keep it up, you'll be left after school writing that you have to pay attention! – The voice said energetically.
The voice that emitted energetically was that of a woman no more than 36 years old, beautiful among some students with long, straight and wavy hair. On the other hand, she was wearing a blue skirt with a white blouse and she had her gaze fixed and a little annoyed on a person who had her gaze for a moment lost on the horizon of the window, but now with nervousness since she did not know what to answer. Saint John's 3-C classroom teacher, Marie.
— Yes, Professor Marie. I'll pay more attention – the other voice replied with resignation.
The other voice of a young man already resigned was that of Saito Judah, a 15-year-old boy with a thin build, tall and brown hair. He was distracted in his imagination remembering moments that once happened in his unfortunate childhood. The day the world changed for everyone.
— Well guys, going back to today's topic we have to talk about how OASIS was founded – Marie said.
— Yes, teacher – All the students answered.
Hearing this name, Judah Saito looked at his book and began to read about the mentioned topic. Apparently he was already bored since he had heard it many times in previous years. The organization that many mention saved the world from the devastation of amorphous beings and celestials, the OASIS or Organization for Alert and Security against Invasive Supernaturals, which arose as a countermeasure of the nations of the world to fight against these calamities and have the world at peace. Every time a dimensional opening as mentioned by the governments, they act and annihilate these invaders.
— I wonder what OASIS does – Judah thought.
Looking at his book, and listening to Marie's euphoric lesson, time passed by in a flash until it was time to leave. Many teenagers were excitedly leaving the classrooms to go home, among them was Judah. As he walked a few steps out of the school, another presence approached Judah with great energy, putting his arm on his shoulder and in a relaxed voice, he mentioned:
— Wow Judah, now Marie has really given you another dressing down.
— Haha – With an ironic laugh – It seems that the teacher always has me in mind for any mistake – Judah answered
— But you are lucky, everyone wants to be in your position because of the beautiful Marie. That she catches my attention is a gift from God.
— Haha, yes, of course, Kazuki – He replied in an ironic voice.
Indeed, the other voice belonged to Yamada Kazuki, his classmate and friend since high school. A boy of the same height as Judah, always with a relaxed and carefree attitude.
— Hey, seriously – Kazuki said, leaning forward and looking at Judah with an expression of curiosity mixed with a hint of mockery – You seem to be thinking a lot lately, as if you were preparing to face some invisible monster. Why don't you let your guard down a bit? Relax, enjoy life a little.
Judah sighed, looking into the distance with a gloomy expression
— I don't know, Kazuki. Lately… these weird dreams, the nightmares… it's like I'm reliving what happened ten years ago. And today… today is another anniversary.
Kazuki clicked his tongue and gently tapped him on the head.
— Look, bro, I know those dreams are getting to you, but hey, look around! Everything is still standing, and we… well, here we are, surviving and fighting as usual!
Judah couldn't help but smile a little.
— I guess you're right. Maybe I'm letting these nightmares control me too much.
— That's the attitude! – Kazuki said, patting him on the back – Besides, I saw a recipe for sleeping like a bear on the internet. Or better yet, let's forget about nightmares and play a few rounds of that MOBA you like! Nothing like yelling at strangers to relieve stress!
Judah laughed, imagining Kazuki trying to imitate the "bear sleep technique."
— Okay, but this time… you get to be the tank!
Kazuki rolled his eyes, feigning resignation.
— Okay, but only because I want you to stop being a walking zombie. Who knows? Maybe your nightmares are just from not having enough hours to play with me.
Over the past few days, Judah's nightmares had grown increasingly intense, reliving with cruel precision what happened a decade ago... and, most of all, what happened to him. It was as if fate was mocking him, forcing him to remember what he should never have witnessed. And like a flashback he began to remember as he walked. That day, ten years ago, everything seemed normal. He was playing in the park with his father, until the sky, without warning, darkened unnaturally. That was when he saw it.
A figure shrouded in red light descended from the sky, crashing hard near a building in his neighborhood. The presence did not belong in this world, and deep down, Judah knew it. He had barely processed what he was seeing when another figure, this time tinted a spectral gray, appeared at high speed, stopping in midair a few feet above the ground. The silence was overwhelming. The gray figure observed the crowd for a few moments that seemed like an eternity, before raising his hand to the sky. The air filled with energy. Lightning exploded in all directions, and suddenly , a blinding white light enveloped everything, fading the memory around him.
Judah blinked, shaking his head slightly as he came back to reality. He had been deep in thought, but Kazuki's voice brought him back to the present.
— Right, Judah, shall we play later? – Kazuki mentioned.
— Oh? Oh, of course, at the same time as always. This time we win no matter what.
—Perfect! Well, bro, I'm going home for now. See you later.
— Sure, see you.
Kazuki winked at him before walking away.
— That's what friends are for! Get ready, we win tonight!
Kazuki hurriedly said goodbye, taking a detour, while Judah continued towards his home. Although he tried to concentrate on the road, his mind was still anchored in the nightmares that had returned without warning, reliving the events of ten years ago. For a long time, those memories had remained silent, but now they came back to haunt him every night. Despite the discomfort, he decided not to let himself be consumed by those images. Instead, an idea crossed his mind. Maybe it was because he lived on an island close to the sea, or maybe it was because of the beauty of the sunsets that the region offered, but he thought that nothing would relax him more than a visit to the viewpoint.
He veered off course, leaving the road to his house behind and headed toward the viewing point a few blocks away. There was a belief on the island: if you were worried, you should go there and let the sea breeze carry your worries away. Obeying that tradition, he reached the viewing point, which was almost deserted at that hour. A few people were walking with their pets, but the place was quiet, ideal for clearing the mind.
Judah walked over to the railing, where the view of the ocean stretched majestically before him. The sunset tinted the sky with warm hues, and below, the road wound along the cliff, about five meters below. However, what really struck him was not the landscape. Just a few steps away, there was someone else. An athletic figure, with long, snow-white hair, contrasting with her soft, delicate skin. Her face was so captivating that any boy would be speechless upon seeing her. Judah was no exception.
— Isn't she Setsuna Yukishiro? I didn't think she has problems too – he thought.
Setsuna Yukishiro, the smartest and most admired girl at Saint John High School. A true celebrity among the third years, and the future prodigy of Pearl Island. Rumors about her were endless, and her powerful and wealthy family belonged to a faction of OASIS, one of the most influential organizations there. Judah stared at her, dazed, until he suddenly shook his head, looking away. He looked back at the sea, trying to concentrate, but the image of Setsuna kept throbbing in his mind.
— Come on, a girl like that would never notice me, I'm just a normal guy – he thought.
However, his desire to continue looking at her, left him trapped by a beauty so dazzling that it seemed impossible to look away. At that moment, the girl noticed the boy's gaze and turned her head to see who was watching her, realizing that it was Judah with his face a little red with shame hiding it. She approached him and full of innocence asked him.
— Hello, are you Judah Saito, from room 3-B?
— ....
He didn't expect her to recognize him. After all, Judah was just an ordinary boy who didn't stand out too much in his class. But he instantly remembered that, in addition to Setsuna being incredibly popular, she was the student council president. Perhaps it was normal for her to know the names of the students, even the most inconspicuous ones. After a brief silence, she finally answered:
— Yeah, I'm sorry… I think I made you a little uncomfortable by doing that.
— Don't worry – she replied with a slight smile – I thought you wanted to ask me something, since you were looking at me.
— Haha, no, I was just a little surprised, that's all.
— Surprised? – she said, arching an eyebrow – And why would you be surprised?
— Ah, well… I… —Judah hesitated, his voice reflecting nervousness.
Suddenly, he was at a loss for words. An awkward silence began to grow between the two of them as Judah desperately tried to think of something to say. He didn't want his behavior to be interpreted as inappropriate, but he also didn't want to draw a blank and seem like an oddball. Suddenly, something caught his eye and he saw an opportunity to keep the conversation going.
— I was surprised by your bracelet on your right hand... it seems to be the latest smartwatch model.
— Oh! This…– Setsuna said, holding up her doll to show him – Yeah, sort of. It has a lot of cool features I could show you.
Setsuna told the nervous Judah about the functionalities while he paid no attention to her explanation and could only concentrate on the beautiful Setsuna. Lost in his thoughts, Judah tried to concentrate on the little that the girl explained to him, however, his effort was useless and the only thing he managed was to get dizzy between useless thoughts. At that moment she answered
— And this is what vital functions are for, although I don't use it very often... Maybe it will help me do exercises
— Ah! How interesting – Judah replied haltingly – I wish I had one for my exercises, too.
— I have an old one – Setsuna said, her voice relaxed – Maybe I can lend it to you so you can help.
After finishing his sentence, a brief silence settled between them. The sea breeze caressed the atmosphere, but it was Setsuna who broke it first.
— You know, you come here often, don't you? —she said in a soft but inquisitive voice.
Judah gave a small smile, remembering moments from his childhood.
— Well, when I was a kid I used to come here a lot with my parents. But now… they don't have as much time anymore.
— I understand – Setsuna replied, her tone slowing, almost melancholy – It's similar at home. There aren't many people I can talk to, and my parents… they're almost never around.
Judah couldn't help but feel surprised. He had always thought Setsuna radiated an aura of self-sufficiency, a girl who, despite her popularity, seemed unattainable and lonely by choice. However, the reality was quite the opposite. Even though she was the center of attention at school, her personal life was far emptier than any student, including him, would have imagined. At that moment, Judah just wanted to prolong the conversation, hoping to connect with her better.
But before she could say anything else, a sharp sound broke the moment: the notification from Setsuna's smartwatch. The expression on the girl's face instantly changed from kind to serious.
— I'm sorry, Judah. Maybe we can talk another time – she said in a firm voice – I have to go.
— Don't worry. If you have to go, go ahead – Judah replied, trying to keep his tone calm – See you another day.
Setsuna smiled fleetingly at him before quickly walking away. Judah raised his hand in farewell, returning the smile, though he couldn't help but feel a slight awkwardness as he watched her leave. His interaction with the girls in his class had never been as natural as it had been today, and he didn't want it to end so soon.
Once Setsuna disappeared from his sight, Judah slowly lowered his hand. He stood a little longer on the lookout, gazing at the ocean and the sky tinted with warm colors. He let time pass as dusk enveloped the island. Finally, when the sun had almost completely set, he decided it was time to return home, satisfied that he had at least had a small respite from such an ordinary day. However, that ordinary day he had was going to change drastically in a moment.
Suddenly, a sharp sound, like a blade tearing through flesh, echoed through the air. At Judah's sight, the sky ripped right above the lookout, leaving behind a small crack that seemed to open up in reality itself. Judah couldn't believe what he was seeing, and before he could react, a deafening boom shook the earth. The few people still wandering the streets scrambled to hide, but he remained motionless, paralyzed. That crack dragged him into a grim memory, a flashback of what he had witnessed years ago in his neighborhood park, leaving him in a state of shock.
From the crack emerged a figure bathed in an intense blue light, descending at full speed towards where Judah was standing. He barely had time to process what was happening before the figure hit the ground, causing a small explosion that shattered the observation deck in the blink of an eye. Judah was thrown into the air by the impact, but miraculously, he was barely harmed
— Where am I? What happened to the place? – he murmured, stunned.
The beautiful scenery he had once admired had been transformed into chaos. In the center of the small square, a deep crater replaced what was once his refuge of tranquility. Judah, still recovering from the blow, looked from where he was at the hole and what he saw took his breath away. In the middle of the rubble was a girl. He wore strange, youthful armor with a powerful air. His purple hair fluttered in the breeze, and his crimson, furious gaze was fixed on the sky.
Judah, full of curiosity, looked up. What he saw left him perplexed: a squadron of figures flying over the place, all of them equipped with metal armor and pointing their weapons at the girl. It was an unreal vision, something out of a nightmare or a delusional dream.
— I told you to leave me alone! – the girl shout, her voice echoing with a mix of anger and determination.
Judah couldn't believe what he was witnessing. With a racing pulse, he noticed something unsettling: the logo on the squad's armor belonged to OASIS. At that moment, he understood everything. He was in the middle of a battle, a confrontation that had turned his most nostalgic place into a field of destruction and chaos. What until a few minutes ago was a sanctuary for young people, was now nothing more than a ruin about to be devoured by violence.