The underground facility hummed with the constant murmur of machinery and the occasional distant echo of hurried footsteps. The air was sterile, cold a sharp contrast to the warmth of the world Rin once knew.
He walked in silence, his mind still trapped in the nightmare that had jolted him awake just moments ago.
Beside him, Zack stuffed his hands into his pockets, his usual smirk present but subdued. "Come on, dude, at least smile a little. It won't kill you."
Rin didn't respond.
"Yeah, yeah, figures," Zack muttered with a sigh. "Same as always."
Two years.
That was how long it had been since Rin's life changed forever. Two years since he had lost his sister not to death, but to something worse.
She was still here, still alive.
But at the same time, she wasn't.
As they turned a corner, Mika, their squad's third member, appeared, her blue hair swaying as she hurried through the hall with a clipboard in hand. She wasn't looking where she was going, and before she could stop herself—
Thud.
She crashed into Rin, stumbling backward. "Ah !"
Rin barely reacted, stepping aside without a word.
Mika quickly bowed. "I-I'm so sorry, sir!"
She always called him that. Sir. Even though they were the same age, Mika treated Rin like a superior. Maybe it was because of his reputation. Maybe it was out of respect.
Or maybe, like everyone else, she was afraid of what he had become.
Rin ignored her apology and continued walking.
Mika turned to Zack, whispering, "Why is he like this today?"
"Same reason as always," Zack said. "That nightmare."
Mika frowned, her grip tightening around the clipboard. "I see…"
Zack gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Don't take it personally. He'll snap out of it eventually. Anyway, what are you doing in the medical ward?"
Mika hugged the clipboard to her chest. "Routine RC count check."
Zack winced slightly. "Oh. Right. I should probably do that later."
The Kaijin Experiment
Years ago, humanity realized they couldn't win against the Kaiju.
The monsters weren't just strong—they were adaptive. Every time a Kaiju was slain, the next generation evolved, growing tougher, smarter.
Then, a breakthrough.
A scientist named Dr. Sumeragi discovered that Kaiju cells, when injected into humans, could enhance physical abilities, regenerate wounds, and even develop unique combat skills.
Thus, the Kaijin Project was born.
Rin, Zack, and Mika were among the 80 successful experiments—humans fused with Kaiju DNA, turned into living weapons.
The process was gruesome. It wasn't just a simple injection it was a painful transformation that broke the body down cell by cell before rebuilding it stronger.
Some recruits didn't survive.
Some survived but lost their minds.
The ones who made it through, the Kaijin, were now humanity's only hope.
Their RC (Resonance Core) count determined how much Kaiju power they could wield before their bodies broke down. Too much, and they would lose their humanity.
There were rumors whispers that the Kaijin weren't just weapons, but time bombs waiting to explode.
And Rin knew that better than anyone.
The Medical Ward
Rin pushed open the double doors to the medical ward, stepping into the pristine white corridors. The smell of antiseptic hit him immediately. Nurses moved between patients, checking vitals, adjusting IV drips. The soft hum of medical equipment filled the silence.
But Rin wasn't here for himself.
At the far end of the room, by a large reinforced window, a single wheelchair sat motionless.
In it was a girl with long black hair and bright blue eyes, staring blankly at the artificial sky beyond the glass.
Chizuru.
Rin approached slowly, feeling his chest tighten. He always dreaded these visits. Not because he didn't want to see her but because seeing her like this was unbearable.
She used to be so full of life. Always laughing, always chasing after him. But now…
Now, she couldn't even move on her own.
He knelt beside her wheelchair, his hands trembling.
"…Hey, Chizuru," he whispered.
A soft mechanical beep came from the black collar around her neck. It was a device meant to help her communicate since she could no longer speak naturally.
Her artificial voice rang out. "I'm good, big brother. You look sad. Don't cry."
Rin sucked in a sharp breath.
He was crying again.
"The doctor says I'll get better soon," Chizuru continued, her voice soft, hopeful. "So don't cry, okay?"
Rin clenched his fists.
"It's my fault," he whispered. "It should've been me. If I had been stronger… if I had protected you… you wouldn't be like this."
For a moment, silence.
Then a tiny movement.
Her fingers twitched, barely noticeable, but Rin saw it.
It broke him.
She was trying to comfort him.
The sister who had lost everything—her body, her freedom, her life—was trying to comfort him.
"I promise," he swore, his voice shaking. "One day, you'll walk again. You'll be able to run, eat, play just like before. I swear, Chizuru."
The machine processed her weak response.
"I know you will, big brother."
Rin squeezed her hands gently, trying to ignore how cold they felt.
She was trapped, just like he was.
A shadow loomed in the doorway.
Zack stood there, watching quietly. His usual smirk was gone, replaced with something more serious. More understanding.
He didn't say anything. He didn't interrupt.
Because he knew.
There was nothing he could say to fix the past.
But there was one thing Rin could still do.
Destroy the Kaiju.
And he was going to make sure they never took anything from him again.
Leaving the Medical Ward
As Rin exited the room, Zack fell into step beside him.
"You okay?"
Rin didn't answer.
Zack sighed. "Dumb question. Sorry."
The two walked in silence for a few moments before Zack spoke again. "You know… she's strong."
Rin finally looked at him. "What?"
"Your sister," Zack said. "Even after everything, she's still holding on. She's fighting, Rin. Just like you."
Rin exhaled slowly.
"Maybe," he admitted.
But deep down, a part of him couldn't shake the fear.
What if she never got better?
What if this was all her life would ever be?
His grip tightened.
No.
He wouldn't accept that.
He would tear apart every Kaiju in existence if that's what it took to fix what had been broken.
Zack stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Anyway, we've got another meeting in an hour. Commander's gonna be pissed if we're late."
Rin sighed. "Yeah. I know."
Zack grinned. "See? You do listen to me sometimes."
Rin just kept walking.
The war wasn't over.
And this time, he wasn't going lose.