Year 2027, Place Unknown.
A man in a black suit with an eyepatch enters a conference room. Everyone inside the room salutes him. He sits and lights his cigar. He looks at the screen and, with a deep voice, asks, "What's the status?"
A lady officer standing next to a large screen points at it. "We reached our destination eight hours ago and have already placed barriers ahead. Our team is ready to move forward. We are waiting for your order, Sir."
He exhales the smoke. "Then let's start the mission. Make sure that this time we succeed, no matter what. Commence the operation."
The operation begins. The special armed forces stationed at the frontline start to move while commands flow from the control room, where all major figures and the chairman watch through specialised cameras.
They enter the MIST, an unknown boundary that separates Earth's environment from something otherworldly. The mission continues. They move slowly in three groups. Each group contains three scientists, four special ops, and hunters ranked 6C, 2B, and 1A guarding them. A total of 48 participants. Their mission was to scout the new region, take samples, and retrieve them.
They move forward slowly. After a certain point, their devices begin to malfunction.
Control Room Officer 1:- "Sir, we have a problem, there's a lot of noise interfering with the signals."
Officer 2:- "Sir, visuals are shattering. We are losing image feeds."
The lady officer speaks with tension in her voice, "Sir, I think it's due to highly dense energy. We should retrieve."
One of the majors sitting beside the chairman stands up. "Sir, we cannot abandon this mission. This is an opportunity to seize control over the new realm, and ...."
He is immediately stopped by the chairman, whose mana releases. The pressure crushes him until the chairman ceases. The major collapses to the ground, barely conscious.
He realises, "This is why he's called the strongest in the country. Even as an A-rank, I couldn't withstand his mana pressure for even a second. I'm lucky to be alive… but still, this is our last chance…"
The chairman orders them to retrieve. He looks up at the ceiling and says, "We must ensure the safety of our people above human greed. We'll get another chance...don't worry about the new realm. After all, it appeared in our home country, so we have the first rights of ownership."
The command is passed to the field commander.
The field commander orders the officers to stand by and sends a signal using a special device embedded with a white crystal. It emits a specific wavelength. On the other side, the officers' devices begin to glow, they understand the mission has failed and that they must withdraw.
He relays the message to other teams.
Officer One: "Sir, we're so close to stepping into the new land. Why are we retreating now?"
A hunter hears this and pats his back. "It's not about being close, it's dangerous. My instincts are screaming. Something is wrong. We must move."
They begin marching back. One of the scientists, too focused on collecting samples, doesn't hear the order and drifts away from his squad, moving too deep into the mist.
Outside, officers see them returning one by one. All of them enter the sanitation chamber, a large, mobile cube like unit built with the latest technology. Each person undergoes several examinations.
One man looks confused. His teammate asks, "Hey buddy, what are you looking around for? I've been watching you for a while. Are you uncomfortable?"
He whispers, "I can't see Jimmy. I'm sure he was with me, but he's not here."
"Maybe he went to report to the commander. I'll ask the doctor." He approaches the doctor collecting blood samples and places a hand on his shoulder. "Sir, is anyone missing? Did someone go straight to report after exiting the mist?"
The doctor replies, "No. Everyone is here. Reporting comes after checkups."
He realises they left someone behind in the mist. He tries to run to the exit but is restrained. The doctor yells, "No one steps outside! I'll inform the commander myself. Wait here. First, we must confirm there's no contamination on anyone. If everything is clear, you will be released."
The doctor walks out and contacts the commander, reporting everything. The commander checks Jimmy's profile. From the details, he understands exactly what happened, Jimmy, an enthusiastic and hardworking researcher, often gets lost in curiosity. This time, it likely led him deeper into the mist.
A meeting is assembled. The discussion shifts from rescuing him to abandoning him. They all know that sending a team into the mist gives less than a one percent chance of survival.
But the commander mentions the man backing Jimmy. The moment they hear the name, the room freezes. The man is none other than the Guildmaster of Japan's strongest guild. The atmosphere changes, and everyone agrees to attempt a rescue.
A team of four A-rank hunters is assembled. They gear up with heavy equipment and prepare to move.
But suddenly, a massive earthquake strikes. It shakes the armory and the entire force. Damage is minimal, but moments later everything falls silent,except the mist.
Monstrous sounds erupt from deep inside: screams, cries, chaotic noises. Every sound sends chills down the hunters' spines. None of them have ever heard anything so horrifying.
The mist begins to clear. A shadow appears within it. The commander orders all units to aim at the figure, ready to issue the attack command.
The mist dissipates.
A tall, naked man, around six feet, walks toward them, carrying another person in his arms. One member recognises him and shouts, "It's Jimmy!"
The commander signals his forces to surround the unknown man. Suddenly, the figure collapses. A hunter rushes forward, checks both of their pulses, and reports, "They're alive but unconscious."
The commander orders both to be taken to the sanitation chamber and tells his assistant to establish communication with the control room. He stares toward the new land and smiles as though they've discovered a treasure.