Nioh opened his eyes to a familiar ceiling. The design was old and rusty, the corners of the building were moldy and appeared ready to crumble at the slightest touch. This was where he had spent the last ten years. Before he could sink into another daze, panic gripped him as he called out, "Ekoh?".
"I am here," Ekoh's voice resonated in his mind sending a soothing reassurance through his body marking that he wasn't dreaming.
"What happened?" Nioh questioned in a shaky voice.
"You passed out, before the hospital and some passerby hauled you in a hover car" Ekoh explained. "An old lady helped settle you when you arrived in this place."
"I see. What is the result?" he inquired doubtfully.
"Why don't you check for yourself?" Ekoh suggested proudly.
Sliding off the quaky bed, Nioh moved with methodical care. At first, he sat up, and long ashen hair with golden highlights spilled over his shoulders reaching down to his waist. He fiddled with them curiously and 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, while 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 into a compact and muscular one. His muscles were toned for explosiveness without possessing any excess bulk. His skin was still pale, and his hair grew longer, along with his face that gave a slightly more mature feel. His eyes had become radiant gold while a golden rune-like tattoo stretched from the center of his forehead down to his left eye, encircling his forehead like a crown.
"Forehead-biocore bind," he murmured simultaneously tracing the rune with his fingers. Exactly like how it had been before the incident.
"How would my body frame rank now?" he quizzed Ekoh.
"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."
"How have you been living all this time? What is the plan?" Ekoh asked.
Nioh flopped back onto the bed while staring at the cracked ceiling. "I was not sure if you perished during the explosion or not. After trying to awaken you for years this was my last attempt. I would have given up and joined a military university as a battlefield support engineer or a mechanic. I think we can stick to that plan. But now that you're awake, I'll specialize in weapon design.
After graduation, I'll join the military. Until then, we'll aim for a better university. My scores barely passed before because of my poor physical 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 ancient technological systems" Nioh explained. "It acts as the heart of the bio-machine, synchronizing the corebinder with its functions. Each biocore is unique, evolving based on its binder's physiology and experiences. While you were in slumber, 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 explosion, I saw it briefly—radiation, light, heat, matter, gravity—all of it. Your power, no, our power, is dominion over harmonic waves."
"That's...a bit overpowered no?" Ekoh remarked in 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, it is not far-fetched you are the only scient biocore ever recorded" 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 up and tied his long hair into a ponytail and slipped on a cap. "Set up an Ideal training regiment, so I can get familiar with this body," he said while 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 ambitions.
As he reached the outer courtyard, a frail old woman, perhaps eighty years old sat on a worn out pedestal. Surrounded by a group of children with ages varying from six to nine, she held their undivided attention with her stories.
Nioh's heart warmed at the sight. It was a scene he knew well. Granny Leah, the name she went by, the heart of the orphanage, had saved him ten years ago. She had dug him out of the rubble and spent every single penny of her hard earn money to fix his broken legs. Over the years, she had taken in more children, giving the this rundown place life and purpose.
Nioh stood quietly at the entrance, and after activating his hearing aid he listened as Granny Leah wove her tale.
Granny Leah raised her hand, and the lantern cast long shadows on the walls as the lights dimmed.
"Long ago, before the BioHives, the world was prosperous and abundant. There were lands of vast skies and endless possibilities. Humanity ruled it with machines of cold steel and fire. But," she paused, her voice lowered into 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., They birthed monsters that consumed everything in their path. The world rapidly became 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—conquered 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 with a softening voice. "Imagine standing against a sea of nightmares, knowing that if you fail, all of humanity would be lost. But they were brave. These cities became our sanctuary."
She leaned forward, her eyes glinting. "Do you know what we call those brave souls who conquered 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. 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 humanity 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 conquered this place 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 also 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.