20 Years Ago.
Carmelo sits on the edge of his bunk bed.
"You up, Shing?"
A tired voice comes from the top bunk.
"Course. We need to get up in 30."
Carmelo exhales,
"You think anything's gonna happen today?"
Shing drops down, bare feet hitting the cold floor.
"Today? What can happen? It's just the newly elected president's first press conference. Not like he'd need us as bodyguards or anything…"
Carmelo lets out a quiet laugh.
"You're a dumbass."
Shing sits himself in front of the cracked mirror by the wall. He runs his fingers through his dark green hair.
"You got a hair tie, my man?" he asks while slicking it back.
Carmelo gets up, stretching.
"A hair tie? Who are you trying to look good for, dude?"
"No one… nah… nobody… alright, Layla. I think she's feeling me."
Carmelo shakes his head, rummaging through a drawer.
"We're on a job. Layla is a bodyguard, just like us."
He tosses the tie to Shing.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, just because you don't get puss."
"Right." Carmelo mutters, with a slight smirk on his face.
They finish getting ready and head down the narrow dorm hallway. It's early morning outside. They take their posts by the grand entrance, side by side.
Shing checks his watch, impatient.
"Oh man, I can't wait to see Layla."
Carmelo sighs,
"Relax, dude."
Moments later, a black limousine drives up to the gates. Two bodyguards step forward, Layla, one of them, opens the door for the president.
"There she is, Layla…" Shing whispers.
Layla had shoulder-length light brown soft hair, her skin was clear and smooth. She had a well shaped and elegant figure, her black dress sitting tightly on her curves.
The president, Hango, climbs out slowly, an older man with a fading hairline and an indifferent face.
"Should I say something?" Shing whispers.
"Just be quiet, dude."
They open the tall glass doors for Hango.
"I'm so tired…" the president mutters, stepping past them.
Layla glances back and flashes a small smile at Shing, Shing returns it instantly.
Carmelo chuckles quietly.
Hours later, the press conference begins. The room is bright, cameras flashing, filled with reporters. The four bodyguards stand evenly around the room.
A journalist stands up.
"There are concerns that you're simply following orders from higher powers rather than leading independently. How can the public be certain you will make your own decisions?"
Hango gives a slow nod and a forced smile.
"As president, I am only accountable to the people of Entoria. I will make decisions based on evidence, consultation, and the nation's best interest. My administration will operate openly, inviting public input and debate."
The press continues their questions.
"Looking forward, what message do you want to send to citizens who feel uncertain or fearful about what your presidency will bring?"
"My message is I am here to serve every citizen. This presidency is about partnership with my people."
Another voice rises above the others,
"Mr. President, can you tell us how-"
A massive explosion cuts through the room, the ground shakes. People start screaming in a panic.
"Shing!" Carmelo shouts.
Shing nods instantly.
"Layla! Get the president and everyone out of here!"
Hundreds of bodies flee toward the exits. Carmelo and Shing split, one to each side of the palace.
Heading in opposite directions, Carmelo sprints through a hallway, heart pounding, he hears a distant cry upstairs. Without hesitation, he jumps and bursts through the ceiling, landing on the upper floor.
He sees a man crouched near a trembling woman. The man pats her head gently.
"Good, good. Run now."
The woman stumbles away, crying, nearly tripping as she flees.
"Who are you?" Carmelo yells, his stance dropping low.
The man rises slowly and turns around. His voice calm, composed.
"We are Equity."
It's Jovi.
Carmelo frowns and lunges forward, throwing a punch straight for his face.
Jovi catches his wrist easily. Carmelo spins, follows up with a high kick that Jovi Blocks again.
'He's pretty skilled…' Carmelo thinks to himself,
"I didn't think you'd be here today, Carmelo," Jovi says, dodging another swing. "But since you are, we should talk."
'He knows my name?!' Carmelo pulls back,
"No talking. I'm going all out."
Red mana bursts from his body. He raises his hand, forming a finger gun.
"Shatter."
A silent projectile cuts through the air. Jovi's eyes flash wide as he summons a black shield just in time.
The blast hits, erasing everything behind him.
"He blocked it?!"
Jovi dashes forward. His movement is instant, palm slamming into Carmelo's chest.
"Wolf Style: Push Mentira."
Carmelo's body shoots backward, crashing into the wall and landing hard in the distance.
Before he can recover, Jovi plants his hands on the floor.
"Jaiva Style: La Llorona."
From the floor rises a figure, a woman with soaked black hair, pale skin, and tears streaming down her face.
She lunges.
"What the?!"
Her hands clamp around Carmelo's wrists, grip like iron.
"Oh, my children!" she cries.
Carmelo's muscles tremble, his arms shaking under the pressure. He feels his mana draining slowly from the woman's grip.
"ENGINE!" he roars.
Mana bursts from his pores in a violent wave, the ghost woman burns to ashes in seconds.
Jovi's eyes widen.
"His mana… it's burning the air?!"
Carmelo crouches low, eyes glowing red. The floor beneath him cracks.
"Nibiru Style: Scream of Anger."
Jovi moves fast,
"R Style: Chains ofHeldmaschine."
Chains burst from the ground, spiraling toward Carmelo.
Carmelo doesn't dodge. The chains strike his body, and disperse instantly.
"Hmph."
Carmelo's entire body turns red, his outline blurring, and energy vibrating violently.
Jovi steadies himself, a faint smirk forming.
'I can't beat him right now, huh?'
Carmelo launches forward like a beam.
"Salem Style: Full Moon Fever."
Jovi says, just as Carmelo passes through him.
The impact detonates, ripping the entire upper floor apart. The palace roof collapses, smoke, and dust rise into the air.
When the smoke clears, Carmelo stands shirtless, his body steaming, breathing heavy. His chest rising with slowly,
"That's that."
Suddenly, Jovi claps behind him and whistles.
"The rumors didn't do you justice at all."
Carmelo spins around. Jovi stands there, unharmed, smiling faintly.
"How are you still alive?!"
Jovi reaches into his pocket, flips open an old phone, and turns the screen toward him. A photo, Crowley holding Shing by the hair, defeated.
"Shing!"
Jovi snaps the phone shut.
"It wasn't my intention to try to recruit you right now, but I might as well. You're not protecting who you think you are."
Carmelo's clenches his jaw.
"Recruit me? What are you talking about? Where is Shing?"
"Shing is fine. Just listen to what I have to say."
Carmelo stays still, his eyes look between Jovi's calm face and the destroyed room around them.
'What the hell is going on… Shing is fine? Should I listen to him?'
Jovi lowers his voice,
"It's pointless for us to continue fighting. Listen to what I have to say, and I promise we'll be on the same side by tomorrow."
…
Six Months Later.
"Take some more, I insist."
Carmelo hands an old woman a loaf of bread. She accepts it with trembling hands,
"You're too kind…"
He smiles softly, nodding before stepping away from his small stall.
He walks in the streets of Huairuro until he reaches the hillside cemetery. A single headstone stands before him. His father's.
"It's today, father."
He takes off his golden chain and hangs it on the gravestone.
'The things Jovi told me about the world's state were ridiculous. Too ridiculous. I had to see for myself.'
He looks out toward the town, where smoke rises faintly in the distance.
'Turns out that nineteen-year-old brat wasn't lying. Noza Ginova is slowly taking over the world.'
He walks back through town, helping a group of children get to their families, steadying an old man by the arm.
'I betrayed my friends… my allies… Sangre de Reyes. How can they not see what they're doing?'
The sky darkens. He sees soldiers march in the distance.
'They're coming after innocent people just to get to me.'
His eyes lower.
'Shing… Layla… both killed by Vino. They will never know the truth.'
He exhales, steady.
'Not today. Today I'll fight until my last breath.'
When the last civilians are hidden away, Carmelo walks alone to the town's edge. The open field stretches far,
An army of thousands stand waiting.
'They cut off the country's supplies. Water, food, medicine. Just to take me out.'
Carmelo stands tall up, seeing the massive army in front of him, ready to charge.
He doesn't budge, ready to take everyone on.
His eyes lock on the endless line of soldiers.
"Today, I die, for my people."
…