Chapter 1 – The Blood-Stained Arena
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[Opening Scene]
Amidst the ruins, steeped in the scent of blood and scattered corpses, as if the land itself had witnessed a brutal war, a boy ran aimlessly. Strange sounds surrounded him—screams and shouts filled the air—but nothing pierced the chaos, as if the noise collided with an invisible wall inside his mind.
He glanced to the right and saw furious faces, people screaming and crying, their words lost in the roar of disorder. Suddenly, a voice pierced through:
"Do you hear me?!"
The boy trembled but replied with blazing eyes:
"Yes… I hear you now!"
The challenge came hot and sharp:
"Why didn't you save her when you could? Answer me… coward!"
He could do nothing but lift his head, facing their shouts, his voice barely a whisper, as if confessing a deadly secret:
"I could have saved her… but I chose not to. And I will carry pride in that choice until my heart burns in the hell of regret."
In that moment, there was nothing but ruin, blood, and a secret that would change everything.
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[Kingdom of Crendalia – Present]
In the heart of a kingdom, its streets gleamed with an almost invisible secret. Golden carriages lined the avenues with artistic precision, while soft melodies drifted from cafés, mingling with the morning breeze. The people moved in peace, untouched by fear, as if shadows of terror had never tainted their paths.
They were ruled by a beloved, just king, whose orders were unquestionable. From this peace, the "Contracts" were born—mysterious powers granting humans extraordinary abilities. Some were for cultivation, some for cleansing, others for protection and exploration. Those who bore these Contracts were known as "Contractors," each possessing a unique strength that set them apart.
These elite warriors, who had forsaken comfort to dive into the unknown, devoted their lives to defending the kingdom, carrying the flame of hope in a time when monsters lurked just beyond the walls.
Suddenly, the ground trembled softly, like a mysterious heartbeat passing through the city's veins.
A small child clutched his mother's hand, his eyes wide with awe and fear, whispering:
"Mom… I'm scared."
She smiled gently, stroking his head:
"Scared of what, my little one?"
The child shivered, gripping her robe:
"Of the monsters… I don't want to live through their hell."
The mother laughed lightly, her eyes brimming with confidence:
"The monsters are behind the walls, contained. The kingdom and its knights will always protect you."
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[Varethia – "City of Monsters"]
At the edge of the inhabited world stood a towering black fortress, gleaming with glowing sigils, its spires ablaze with endless battle spells. Below stretched a desolate arena, cracked and shrouded in mist, encircled by twisted trees that seemed to writhe with ancient pain.
As dawn broke, the first screams erupted—clashing swords, monstrous roars, and labored breaths blending with dust and blood.
At the forefront, the squad leader stood firm, his voice booming like a slap against the storm:
"Maintain formation! Cavalry to the front! Archers at the back! Rescue teams, gather who you can and retreat immediately!"
To his right, an Eastern woman with sharp features bore a sword at her waist. Behind her, a young woman with orange hair swayed nervously, eyes scanning left and right.
To the left, a Southern youth cleaned his spear carefully, a faint scar marking his face, while beside him, a hulking man with a blonde beard gripped a massive axe.
They appeared like flashes of lightning in a turbulent sky. Clad in uniform armor adorned with a horse-and-golden-sword insignia, the forces of the "Contracts" harnessed nature's elements, swirling around them like life itself coursing through their veins.
The leader shouted mockingly:
"Aim for the beast's mouth!"
The youth didn't respond, only nodded, and his spear streaked forward like a burning comet.
An Eastern girl with flowing black hair cut through the air with a swift sword strike. The massive man lifted a colossal boulder over the monster's head:
"Don't worry, dragon… this will be your last!"
Among the wounded, an orange-haired girl moved gracefully, her touches like magic that revived the fallen:
"Stay calm…"
She whispered to a bleeding youth, and his body slowly regained composure.
The monster—a colossal dragon—radiated dark energy, its eyes ablaze with fury.
At the rear, an Eastern youth with curly hair, face streaked with dust, fought:
(Internally)
"Endless tide… attrition war… just as I feared."
He spotted an Eastern girl fighting behind him and heard his name called:
"Kaelin! Fall back!"
A hyena-like beast lunged at him; he rolled swiftly, slicing it in half with a single motion.
The commander shouted:
"Well done!"
But a horrifying scream echoed—their unit reduced to just five.
"Retreat! Join the elite!" the commander roared.
Kaelin's leg was grabbed by an Eastern girl, pleading in a soft voice:
"Wait… carry me… I can't stand…"
Kaelin whispered, voice trembling:
"…Liara?"
Her face conjured a ghost of an old memory.
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[Memory – Small Orphanage, Four Years Ago]
A boy played in a courtyard lush with trees and grass.
One child shouted:
"Look! A trapped bird!"
They hurled stones at it. Kaelin held a rock in a trembling hand but withdrew as blood flowed from the bird.
An adult entered, struck the bird violently with a stick.
Liara approached, crying:
"Poor thing…"
Kaelin remained silent, staring at the sky.
(Internal Monologue)
"Humanity? Not in them… so where is my place?"
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[Return to Present]
Kaelin froze as the girl fainted. A stern voice pierced the silence:
"Kaelin! Carry her immediately!"
Kaelin snapped back, his sword trembling, tension at its peak.
The faces around him were stunned. He gathered his resolve, bit his lip, and turned, barely moving.
"What are you doing?!" the commander shouted.
(Internally)
"Why her, of all people? If I were in her place, I'd be dead… I can't save everyone. Some are born to die."
He whispered to himself, lashing his own heart:
"I could have saved her… and I wanted to… but her death is mercy."
A soldier grabbed her angrily:
"Even the beast wouldn't say what you did! Heartless!"
The commander whispered:
"Kaelin… you're dead inside, even if your heart still beats."
Kaelin lowered his head:
"Is this the fate of the weak? My mother, my father… and now Liara… If you blame me, blame yourselves first."
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[Frontline – Height of Battle]
The monster roared. The Eastern girl struck, severing its wing.
"It resembles him… yet it's corrupted." she spat angrily.
The hulking man swung a massive rock, the Southern youth hurled a spear charged with electricity.
The Northern girl touched the monster's electrified limb; it writhed and shattered.
A soldier yelled:
"We're like heroes from a legend… yet improvising."
The squad leader brought down his hammer upon the beast's head; flames engulfed it.
Its head charred, then crushed.
Elaria rushed forward, placing her hand upon it; the creature healed as if untouched.
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[Rest and Recovery]
Elaria's light healed the wounded. The commander watched the walls, sensing eyes upon him.
"The battle isn't over… the monsters advance."
A soldier said mournfully:
"The rescue teams… only five survived."
The news struck the commander like a blade.
"A venture ignoring its fragility… damn… where is justice?"
A young woman placed her hand on his shoulder:
"Don't blame yourself… every death is a tragedy."
A Southern youth sneered:
"Even if they survive, you remain a failure."
Bel's forced laugh:
"I'm the only failure in the team."
The commander looked at Kaelin, whispering to Sira:
"I've never seen him like this."
Sira:
"He seems to blame himself."
Silence. Dark stares.
Commander:
"There's no place for him here."
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[End of Chapter]
Two shadowy figures on the wall:
"Monsters wear many faces… and each shard has begun to move… starting with: The Justice Squad."
"Justice built on corpses… we shall mend it."
A cloaked man breathed slowly, like a disaster:
"The time has come… and the day will come when the name of the Justice Squad burns with the first sun of the revolution."
–The End
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💬 Author's Note:
> Kaelin was not born a monster… life made him one.
💬 Share Your Thoughts:
If you were in Kaelin's place…
Would you save Liara?
Or let her die—for mercy?
👇 Comment below!
The real story begins when we refuse to be heroes.