Destruction. Death. Suffering.
A century ago, the world was swallowed by an unspeakable calamity. Without warning, the sky fractured, and a storm of portals erupted across the globe, releasing horrors beyond comprehension—Hollowed Beasts.
These monstrous entities defied logic, tearing through cities, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake. Nations crumbled, their mightiest weapons proving useless against the beasts' unnatural power. Humanity, once masters of their domain, became nothing more than prey in a world turned hostile.
Blood. Despair. Survival.
As the portals continued to spew forth their nightmarish spawn, resources dwindled, and civilization teetered on the brink of extinction.
But then—hope.
Amid the smog of death, humanity found a way to fight back. They united under a single, global government—the Omnis—forging a new order from the ashes. With time, they formed an elite force of warriors known as the Ark Knights, their last line of defense.
Chapter 1: Hangetsu
Year 118 After the Apocalypse.
Only a fraction of humanity remained. Ninety percent of the population had perished, and what was left of the world was carved into three distinct zones:
Green Zone: The last bastions of human civilization, protected and regulated by the Omnis.
Grey Zone: A land of shifting danger, where Hollowed Beasts and other entities still roam. Only the expeditionary forces dare to tread here, seeking to reclaim territory.
Red Zone: The wasteland of the damned. Infested with energies unknown, it is a graveyard where only monsters reign.
Colony 76 - Manila, Green Zone
The ferry creaked as it approached the towering concrete walls of Manila, the gates groaning open to reveal a colony brimming with life. Unlike the desolation outside, this colony thrived—a rare sanctuary in a broken world.
As the passengers disembarked, a welcoming committee of military police stood at attention.
"Welcome to Manila, everyone! We're glad you made it safely!"
Cheers erupted from the weary travelers, their relief was palpable. But for Kandril, it was a different story.
"W-why…?" he stammered, his stomach lurching.
"GWAAAHK!"
Doubled over, he retched violently over the dock.
"Damn it… If only the old man hadn't forced me to apply for the Ark Knights, I wouldn't be suffering like this!"
After two days of travel from Colony 78—Davao—he had finally arrived in Manila for the Ark Knight entrance exams.
Wiping his mouth, Kandril groggily stepped onto solid ground, only to be struck speechless.
"Woah."
The sun bathed the colony in golden light, its rays glinting off the remnants of pre-apocalypse ruins, now repurposed into homes, markets, and fortifications. The scent of the sea mingled with the aromas of street food, teasing his senses.
His stomach growled.
"Oh? That smell…"
Following the enticing scent, Kandril wandered through the bustling streets, past chatter and honking vehicles, until he found himself on the colony's outskirts—standing before an old, weathered sign.
"Mamihan?" he murmured.
A noodle soup shop.
"Huh. Didn't expect to find a place like this here."
Curiosity piqued, he stepped inside.
The air was thick with the rich aroma of beef stock, but the shop itself was eerily empty. A single flickering television muttered in the background:
"…another child has gone missing today in the seventh district…"
A middle-aged man emerged from behind the counter, clad in an apron and a hairnet.
"Welcome to Hagor's Mamihan," he greeted with a warm smile.
Kandril took a seat, scanning the aged photographs lining the walls.
"How long has this shop been here, uncle?" he asked.
The man chuckled. "My great-grandfather built this place nearly a century ago."
Kandril's eyes widened. "A hundred years?! That means—"
"Yes," the owner nodded. "It survived the apocalypse."
But as he set down Kandril's bowl of beef mami, his expression darkened.
"Unfortunately, I fear I may be the last in my family to run this place."
Kandril frowned. "Why? This place has history. Why close it?"
The shop owner sighed, voice heavy. "It's not by choice. It's… the syndicate."
"Syndicate?" Kandril's brow furrowed.
"Hangetsu. They run this district now. Extortion, violence, drugs. Every week, they demand 'protection fees.' If I don't pay, they promise to kill me."
The air grew tense.
Then—
BANG!
The door slammed open, and a harsh voice cut through the silence.
"Where's our payment, old man?"
Four figures stepped inside, their presence suffocating. Among them, a scarred, bald man took the lead, his very presence oozing menace.
Gabron Alorka.
A notorious fugitive, a ruthless enforcer of Hangetsu.
The shop owner paled. "G-Gabron…"
Gabron's eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement as he grabbed the shop owner by the collar.
"Do you have my money?"
"P-please, I still need time—"
Gabron sneered. "Time? Customers still come here, don't they?"
CRACK!
His fist slammed into the shop owner's face, blood splattering onto the counter.
"You live under Hangetsu's rule! If you don't pay up—"
BASH!
A glass bottle shattered against Gabron's head.
For a moment, silence.
Then, as the shards hit the ground, a voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Oiiii."
Gabron's men turned, their expressions morphing from shock to rage.
Kandril stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"Beating an innocent man just trying to make a living? That's low, even for scum like you."
Gabron staggered, his vision swimming from the impact. His eyes locked onto Kandril, filled with pure rage.
"You little shit!"
With a swift motion, he pulled a revolver from his belt, cocking it.
"Let's see you talk now that I have a gu—"
FWIP!
In a blink, Kandril closed the distance.
With inhuman speed, his hand grasped the gun's barrel and—
TWIST—BENT!
The steel groaned, warped out of shape.
Gabron and his men froze, eyes wide with disbelief.
"H-how did he got that kind of strength?"
"I-is... he a Theurgist?!"
Before they could react, lightning erupted from Kandril's body—
BZTT!
Bolts of electricity lashed out, electrocuting the gangsters.
Gabron barely had time to gasp before Kandril grabbed him by the throat and slammed his face into the table.
BAM—BREAK!
His world turned black.
As silence settled, Kandril turned to the shop owner.
"Hey, Uncle. Maybe now you won't have to close your shop after all."
The old man shook his head, eyes filled with dread.
"You don't understand… What you just did…"
He gripped Kandril's collar, voice trembling.
"You've declared war against the Hangetsu!"
The shop owner had resided in the colony long before the syndicate had ever formed. He had witnessed their rise, their cruel deeds, and the merciless way they dealt with anyone who dared oppose them. The atrocities committed by the syndicate were inhumane, and the shop owner knew better than to challenge their authority.
But there was another reason for his concern.
Kandril was a Theurgist.
What is a Theurgist?
It is said that Theurgist's are humans chosen at birth by the Great Sun God. These rare individuals wield divine power called an 'Adamic Aura' or 'Adamic Soul'. Some calls it 'Mana' or 'Blessings'.
Those who possesses and Adamic Aura can manipulate nature, welding supernatural powers, using nature's elements.
Kandril was one of the few humans of his generation to possessed an Adamic Aura.
Legend speaks of the first Theurgist—a fiery knight angel whose true identity remains unknown.
The shop owner, realizing the danger, gestured urgently towards the exit, his voice firm and commanding. "Leave my shop now!" he ordered, his words carrying the weight of impending peril.
Kandril stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean, Uncle?" He shrugged, perplexed. "I can't just leave you here with them! They're dangerous!"
The shop owner took a step back, inhaling deeply before exhaling a heavy sigh.
"You are in big trouble," he declared. "The Hangetsu isn't just a small gang—they're a massive organization. And they will kill you!"
Just then, a gruff voice cut through the tension. "Too late for him to leave, old fart!"
Gabron, who had been unconscious, was now awake. He stretched his arms, cracked his neck, and flexed his fingers before grinning ominously. "I've already called reinforcements."
A sudden screech of tires outside—
SCREEEECH!
—followed by the indistinct chatter of approaching figures.
[CHATTERING NOISES!]
Alarmed, the shop owner cursed under his breath.
"Sh*t!"
Without hesitation, he grabbed Kandril's wrist and pulled him toward the kitchen. Through the kitchen was an exit door, which he flung open.
"Get out now, young man!" he commanded.
Kandril hesitated. "No! I will protect you, Unc—"
Before he could finish, the shop owner shoved him hard, sending him tumbling through the door. He landed on the concrete with a painful BUMP!
The door slammed shut behind him with a loud BLAG!
Scrambling to his feet, Kandril pounded against the door. "Uncle! Open the door!"
Suddenly, a glowing magical array formed beneath his feet, its radiant light swirling upward.
'Huh?!'
In an instant, he vanished, leaving behind a trail of dark smoke.
Somewhere in a dark alley of the colony, a shimmering light materialized, and Kandril reappeared, stumbling forward in confusion. His belongings clattered against the pavement.
'Did I just... "
His words trailed off as he noticed something— a parchment affixed to his chest. Before he could react, it crumbled into ashes, vanishing as if it had never existed.
But something else remained.
A small piece of paper, still attached. Kandril tore it off, his eyes narrowing as he read the message scrawled across it:
"Find the Templars."
His brows drew together.
'Templars?'
Below the message was a symbol—an inscribed cross. The sight of it sent a strange flicker of familiarity through him.
'I've seen this before… but where?' he pondered, trying to recall. His head throbbed as he struggled to remember, the pain intensifying.
"Agh! I can't recall!" he groaned, shaking his head.
Needing air, he stumbled forward, stepping out of the alley.
The moment he did—
HONK! HONK!
A blaring horn cut through as a vehicle whooshed past, the rush of air whipping against him.
[LOUD VEHICLE NOISES!]
Pedestrians bustled along the sidewalks, holographic billboards flickered with advertisements, and the sun's golden light reflected off the towering buildings. The scent of fresh street food mixed with the faint metallic tang of the colony.
But something else caught his attention.
Towering near the road, twin skyscrapers loomed over the cityscape, their glass facades gleaming under the morning sun. Sleek and imposing, they stood like silent sentinels, their mere presence radiating authority.
Kandril's gaze locked onto the massive structure, a chill creeping down his spine.
"The Ark Knights..."
His breath hitched as his eyes drifted to the bold insignia displayed high above.
"HEADQUARTERS!"
---
Somewhere Along the Coastlines of Manila
[INTENSE LIGHTNING FLASHES AND THUNDER RUMBLING!]
A grand mansion stood illuminated, its chandeliers casting an elegant glow over the marble floors. A golden chair rested at the center of the lavish hall, occupied by a mysterious figure wearing an ornate masquerade mask.
The man poured himself a drink, the ice in his glass clinking softly. He muttered four names with an air of authority: "Claire, Zamer, Haide, and Rio."
In the dim light, four cloaked figures emerged, each bearing an inverted cross insignia on their backs.
They knelt in unison.
"Your will is our command, Supremo."
Taking a sip of his luxurious drink, the masked man called out, "Zamer."
A tall, slender man with monolid eyes and a worn book in his right hand stepped forward. "What is it, Supremo?" he asked, his deep, raspy voice cutting through the room's stillness.
The Supremo leaned in and whispered something into Zamer's ear. Upon hearing the words, Zamer bowed deeply. "Si, Supremo. It is my pleasure…"
THUNDER RUMBLES!
The mansion's massive doors burst open, and a bespectacled man rushed inside, his expression urgent. He knelt before the Supremo. "I bring news, Supremo."
The masked man raised a hand, signaling him to stand. "Is it good news or bad news, Krauze?"
Krauze adjusted his glasses, sighing deeply. "It is bad news, Supremo."
The Supremo remained calm. "Speak."
Krauze's voice turned grave. "We have found the third awakened. He is in the colony."
His next words carried even more weight.
"However, he is being protected by the Ark Knights."
A heavy silence fell upon the room. The air grew dense as the Supremo's presence darkened. The glass in his hand shattered, the crimson liquid spilling onto the floor.
His voice was deep, ominous. "The Ark Knights, you say?"
He fixed his gaze on Krauze, then uttered a single command.
"Prepare for War."
THUNDER RUMBLES!