The First Step

I don’t know what I need to do to unlock this hidden power. I know it’s somewhere inside me, but I have no idea how to use it. For now, there’s no need to tell anyone.

Chief Commander Ellie calls me to her office; there’s news about the cultists. When I enter, all the chiefs from every base and everyone with the Black rank are present. I recognize three names: the strongest power-user in history, Victor; my chief Ellie; and Base C’s commander, Blake Miller.

To the point: the cultists sent us a voice video. They’re waiting for everyone summoned to gather before we hit play. In the video they explain why they switched to the aliens’ side—and invite us to join them. Hearing they think we’ll lose is humiliating, but we can’t give up; even if we lose, we’ll lose without regret. To them, the only way to survive is to join. Ellie gets furious, naturally; they’ve underestimated us and gotten many of our soldiers killed. They say if we refuse, the gates will open wider. If the antennaed aliens keep coming like this, we’ll definitely lose. We need a solid plan. Blake raises his hand:

Blake: “I think we should lure them to one place and launch an all-out assault.”

What a stupid idea… As if they’d walk into a trap empty-handed. There’s only one solution.

Ellie: “I don’t know, Blake. If they didn’t have the power to beat us, they wouldn’t act this confident. Look—our bases were nearly wrecked.”

I raise my hand.
Kiyoshi: “Ma’am, I have an idea.”
Ellie: “What is it, Kiyoshi?”
Kiyoshi: “What if we send soldiers they don’t know—make it look like they want to defect?”
Ellie: “Not bad; worth trying. But who goes?”
Kiyoshi: “Ma’am, maybe pick from the students by eye?”
Ellie: “I don’t want to involve students in this.”
Kiyoshi: “If anything goes wrong, I’ll jump straight in to extract them. Our top priority right now is locating their base.”
Ellie: “Maybe you’re right; but every student’s life is worth more than most things to me.”

The Chief cares deeply about the students. She’s right, but…

While I try to convince her, someone else raises a hand: dark red hair with black tips, lean build, almost my height. Black armband. His skin is odd—basically covered in scales.

Magnus: “For those who don’t know me—Magnus Drake. Black rank. For this plan, we can use students from Base B, right, Chief Matthew Quin?”

Matthew: “Possible. But if anything happens to my students, I’ll take students from you, Magnus. Ellie, just so you know.”

Ellie: “Agreed.”

We take five or six students from Base B and plant mics in their gear. We send them separately into cities devastated by the last invasion. Cults have settled in the ruins because they’re safer. Our aim: when strong cult members come to pick them up, we take those elites out and weaken the cult.

I head to ruined cities in Russia. I take two students with me. Before entering the zone we split up, and I shadow them from afar. When they reach the center, cultists appear and ask why they’re there. In shaky voices the students say, “We want to join you.” Among the cultists I spot a familiar face: Matteo. So the bastard’s here.

One question flashes through my mind: if there are others like Matteo in other regions, we’ve got a problem. Matteo approaches one student and starts squeezing his throat. I’m about to intervene when Bastian grabs my arm and whispers:

Bastian: “Captain, look closely: he’s not actually choking him. He’s testing us—waiting for us to break cover.”

I’m about to make a rash call to protect the students, but Bastian’s cool warning lands. Matteo lets go.

Matteo: “So, not a trap, huh? You want to join us, right?”
Student: “Yes, please don’t hurt us.”
Matteo: “Then drink this.”

He pulls out a blue liquid—looks like alien blood.

Matteo: “You have to drink it.”
Student: “Why?”
Matteo: “If you do, it’ll boost your power and bring us closer to destroying the Union. Only requirement to get in. Refuse, and you die here.”

Hands trembling, the students take the vial—desperate for us to step in. Matteo grows suspicious.

Matteo: “Why aren’t you drinking?”
Student: “S-sir, we’re just not used to this yet. Give us a—”
Matteo: “ENOUGH. I’ve changed my mind. I’ll kill you here.”

He raises his sword; just as he’s about to drive it through the student’s heart, I catch his blade with my katana.

Matteo: “You little shits… So it was a trap.”
Kiyoshi: “Hello, scumbag. I came to kill you myself.”
Matteo: “Bad news: you won’t.”

As soon as I jump in, all my soldiers follow and the fight explodes. While I cross blades with Matteo, the others hunt down his cultists. In my team, Linda, Bastian, and Keiji clash with the powered cultists.

After a stretch, Matteo starts using his technique on me: first pinning me to the ground, then teeing off left and right. I trigger Blackout and slip under the ground, creep beneath him, and tag him; his magic cancels, he slows. I pounce with my sword; he barely parries. I drive a punch into his liver and launch him into a wall. Before he can recover, I crash in and spear my katana through his gut—the tip bursts out his back.

Matteo: “You’re actually going to kill me, huh?”
Kiyoshi: “Yes.”
Matteo: “You nearly did. In this state, I really might’ve lost.”

Another state?

Matteo’s body bulks up, his height increases, his skin turns blue; his voice drops.

Matteo: “Try killing me now.”

He stands up like my katana never went in, then sends me flying with a single punch. He yanks my blade from his belly—and breaks it.

Kiyoshi: “What the hell?”
Matteo: “Meet the NEW ME, Kiyoshi. This is your end!”

Get it together. Looks like he transformed into an alien; must be tied to that blue serum.
Matteo: “Hahaha! We found a way to artificially become aliens.”
Kiyoshi: “Sons of—”

I skid a few meters and get to my feet. No sword. Can my fists deal enough damage? While I’m thinking, Matteo blinks in at my side. I guard; a fast right-left combo tries to break through. Lighter than the antennaed one’s punches, but still heavy. I slip his third one-two and answer with a right hook to the face and a left to the liver—he shrugs it off. He’s caught my right hand and crushes—can’t break free. I spin-kick his face and trigger Blackout Armor—force him to let go.

Matteo: “How long can you last in that armor? Four minutes? Five?”

Annoying—but not wrong. I’m only buying time.

Matteo: “Don’t get me wrong, my technique isn’t done.”

He cuts the gap between us—appears at my flank. Before I can guard, his fist smashes my face; I go flying, crash into a wall. He’s on me again before I can reset. I grab onto him and flood him with Blackout; I cover his whole body—he can’t shake it off. I start hammering, all-out, nonstop. Matteo swats me away like nothing and sends me tumbling. A few bones crack; I’m writhing on the ground. The Blackout clinging to him fades. He strolls toward me…

Just as he arrives, a massive fireball detonates on his back. Bastian is the one who fired.

Bastian: “Look at you now, Matteo—turned yourself into a monster.”
Matteo: “Who are you?”
Bastian: “One of the people who’s going to kill you.”

By then my whole team has regrouped: Linda, Keiji, and Bastian chain their attacks. Keiji binds his movement with earth and blinds him with mist. Bastian rains fireballs through the openings. Linda focuses on healing me.

Matteo starts adjusting to the incoming attacks, but Linda’s already patched me up.

Kiyoshi: “Team, get ready! We’re going into a hard fight.”
Radio (in unison): “Copy, Captain!”
Kiyoshi: “Matteo, get ready… I’m not alone this time.”

And now the real battle begins.