Nioh opened his eyes to a familiar ceiling. The architecture was old and rusty, the building moldy and appearing ready to crumble at the slightest touch. This was where he had spent the last ten years. Panic gripped him as he called out, "Ekoh?"
"I am here," Ekoh's voice resonated in his mind, a soothing reassurance that he wasn't dreaming.
"What happened?" Nioh asked, his voice still shaky.
"You passed out in the taxi," Ekoh explained. "An old lady helped settle you when you arrived."
"I see. What's the diagnosis?" he inquired.
"Why don't you check for yourself?" Ekoh suggested proudly.
Sliding off the bed, Nioh moved with methodical care. As soon as he sat up, long ashen hair with golden highlights spilled over his shoulders, reaching down to his waist. When he stood, the floor felt unusually distant from his face.
"I grew taller?" he exclaimed in excitement. His enthusiasm carried him clumsily to the nearest mirror, where he tripped on his unfamiliar limbs but refused to slow down.
What he saw in the mirror left him stunned. His once skinny frame had transformed, compact and muscular, toned for explosiveness without excess bulk. His skin was paler than ever, his hair longer, and his face slightly more mature. His eyes had become radiant gold. A golden rune stretched from the center of his forehead down to his left eye, encircling his forehead like a crown.
"Foreheadbound biocore " he murmured, tracing the rune with his fingers. "What rank is my body now?"
"Upper rank C," Ekoh replied. "Close to B, but not quite there yet."
"That's better than I ever expected," Nioh said with a grin. "Compared to ten years ago, at least now I have a starting base."
"What's the plan?" Ekoh asked.
Nioh flopped back onto the bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. "I originally planned to join the military university as a battlefield support engineer. I think we can stick to that plan. But now that you're awake, I'll specialize in weapon design. After graduation, we'll join the military. Until then, we'll aim for a better university. My scores barely passed before because of my poor physiqueal evaluations. Now that my biocore is awakened, I can aim higher."
"You'll need time to adapt," Ekoh warned. "Your body is out of sync with your mind, and you still need to figure out how to harness my power."
"That's fine. I haven't been idle these past ten years," Nioh said with a knowing smile.
"What do you mean?" Ekoh asked, curiosity evident.
"A biocore is a living, adaptive fusion of biological and technological systems," Nioh explained. "It acts as the heart of the machine, synchronizing the corebinder with its functions. Each biocore is unique, evolving based on its binder's physiology and experiences. While my body was healing, I studied everything I could about waves."
"Waves? I thought my power was related to sound," Ekoh questioned.
"Nope. Sound was just the first type of wave you controlled. During the incident, I saw it—radiation, light, heat, matter, gravity—all of it. Your power, no, our power, is dominion over harmonic waves."
"That's... a bit overpowered," Ekoh remarked, awe mixed with skepticism. "We're talking about controlling waves across sound, light, gravity, electromagnetic energy, and maybe even space itself."
"Well, it's all theoretical," Nioh admitted. "We still need to test energy expenditure and physical and mental burdens. The price for such abilities might be beyond what we can bear."
He stood, tying his long hair into a ponytail and slipping on a cap. "Set up a training regimen so I can get familiar with this body," he said, heading toward the door.
Walking through the orphanage's narrow hallways, Nioh felt a strange mix of nostalgia and new confidence. For the first time in years, his chest wasn't caved in, and he walked with assurance, feeling ready to fight for his future.
As he reached the outer courtyard, an old woman—frail and perhaps eighty—sat on a worn pedestal. Surrounded by a group of children, ages six to nine, she held their rapt attention with her stories. Nioh's heart warmed at the sight.
It was a scene he knew well. Granny Leah, the heart of the orphanage, had saved him years ago. She had dug him out of the rubble and spent the last of her fortune to heal his broken legs. Over time, she had taken in more children, giving the orphanage life and purpose.
Nioh stood quietly, activating his hearing aid out of habit, though his new senses rendered it unnecessary. He listened as Granny Leah wove her tale.
Granny Leah raised her hand, and the lantern dimmed, casting long shadows on the walls.
"Long ago, before the BioHives, there was the surface. A land of vast skies and endless possibilities. Humanity ruled it with machines of cold steel and fire. But," she paused, her voice lowering to a whisper, "their greed outgrew their wisdom. They dug too deep, harvested too much, and meddled with forces they didn't understand."
One of the children, a boy with a mop of unruly hair, raised his hand. "What did they find, Granny?"
Leah chuckled softly. "Ah, clever boy. They found BioCores—seeds of life and power, buried deep within the earth. At first, they were a blessing. Humanity used them to create wonders: crops that grew in deserts, machines that healed the sick, and weapons to end wars. But the BioCores were alive, my dears, and they didn't like being tamed."
She tapped her cane against the floor, and the lantern flickered, casting eerie shapes on the walls. "The BioCores rebelled. They grew wild and twisted, birthing monsters that consumed everything in their path. The surface became a wasteland—a cradle for horrors."
Granny Leah gestured at the living walls around them. "This is where our ancestors found hope. A group of brilliant minds—scientists, engineers, and dreamers—created the first BioHives. These weren't just cities; they were alive, just like the BioCores. They could heal themselves, adapt, and protect their people."
A girl with braided hair clutched her knees. "Were they scared, Granny?"
"Terrified, my sweet," Leah replied, her voice softening. "Imagine standing against a sea of nightmares, knowing that if you fail, all of humanity would be lost. But they were brave. They built the BioHives high and deep, fusing living metal with their greatest technology. These cities became our sanctuary."
She leaned forward, her eyes glinting. "Do you know what we call those brave souls who built the BioHives?"
The children shook their heads.
"We call them the Progenitors," Leah declared. "The saviors of our kind."
The lantern brightened, casting a warm light over the children. "But life inside the BioHives wasn't easy," Leah continued. "Food, water, and energy were scarce. To survive, our ancestors had to venture into the Cradle Zones."
"What are the Cradle Zones?" asked a small boy with wide, curious eyes.
"They are wild lands," Leah explained, "where the BioCores grow unchecked, creating both monsters and miracles. Our people learned to harvest these zones, risking their lives to bring back resources. The Cradle Zones became our lifeline—but also our greatest danger."
Granny Leah straightened her back, her voice swelling with pride. "And then came the heroes. Warriors and scholars, pilots and rangers, all united by one purpose: to protect the BioHives. They wore living armor, wielded weapons crafted from BioCores, and piloted mighty Mechas to battle the monsters."
A girl raised her hand shyly. "Did they win?"
Granny Leah smiled wistfully. "Some battles, yes. Others, they lost. But the true victory wasn't in defeating the monsters—it was in learning. They studied the BioCores, understood their power, and used it to make the BioHives stronger."
She paused, looking at each child in turn. "And do you know what that means for you?"
The children shook their heads again, their curiosity piqued.
"It means that every one of you," Leah said, her voice trembling with emotion, "has the chance to be a hero. To explore the Cradle Zones, to study the BioCores, to protect this BioHive and everyone in it. Our ancestors built this world for you, my seedlings. It's your duty to grow strong and keep it alive."
Granny Leah leaned back, her tale nearing its end. "Remember, little ones, the monsters outside are not just enemies—they are our teachers. The BioCores are not just tools—they are life itself."
The lantern dimmed once more, leaving the children in a thoughtful silence.
"Now," she said with a sly grin, "off to bed with you! Tomorrow, we'll learn how to identify a Cradle Zone beast from its roar."
The children giggled and scampered away, their imaginations filled with visions of Mechas, monsters, and the grand legacy of the BioHives.