The world didn't end with a bang, but with a sudden, violent mutation.
They were called Akuma. Nightmarish anomalies born from spontaneous genetic distortion, they possessed strength that defied the laws of physics and an aggression that made them nearly impossible to kill. Humanity was pushed to the brink, leading to a desperate, twisted solution: voluntary mutation. Men and women willingly spliced their own DNA with trace amounts of Akuma genetics, sacrificing a piece of their humanity just to stand a fighting chance.
While the rest of the world saw a terrifying apocalypse, Faiz Adriansah saw the greatest biological puzzle of the century.
A fresh biology graduate from Tadulako University in Palu, Faiz had watched the senior professors and elite researchers run from the Akuma phenomenon in terror. The creatures were too savage, the field research too lethal. But where they saw certain death, Faiz saw a golden opportunity. He packed his bags and left Indonesia for Japan alone.
Now, he sat near the window of a high-rise apartment in Yokohama, courtesy of the research institute that had sponsored his arrival.
Faiz took a slow sip of hot green tea, watching the neon lights of the city bleed into the rainy streets below. Well, it's my first time in Japan, he thought, letting the warmth of the cup seep into his hands. Thank God for all those years of casually absorbing the language. My Japanese might be a bit passive, but at least I won't starve.
A sharp, rhythmic knock at the door broke his train of thought.
Setting his tea down, Faiz opened the door to find a young man standing in the hallway. He was dressed in an impeccably neat corporate suit, looking more like a banker than someone involved with apocalyptic monsters.
"Good evening," the man said, offering a crisp, formal bow. "My name is Hironaka Kiyoshi. I have been assigned as your liaison and guide for the duration of your research here."
Faiz's mind worked for a fraction of a second, translating the formal Japanese. He smiled, offering a nod in return. "Ah, I see. Nice to meet you, Hironaka-san. So... when do we start?" Faiz leaned against the doorframe, his eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement. "I heard we'll be starting with tissue sampling?"
Kiyoshi blinked, clearly caught off guard by the foreigner's eager lack of fear. "Ah, regarding that... yes. The institute has already contracted a professional Akuma Hunter. They will track and subdue an Akuma for us to extract samples from. So, you will just need to wait here until—"
"I want to see it."
Kiyoshi froze. "Excuse me?"
"I want to see how the Akuma fights," Faiz said, his tone casual but firm, stepping out into the hallway. "Can we watch the hunt?"
Kiyoshi's professional composure cracked, his face paling slightly. "W-Wait, Adriansah-san. That is highly irregular. It's incredibly dangerous. As a researcher, you are strictly non-combat personnel. It is best if you stay—"
"As a researcher, I cannot rely solely on post-mortem data," Faiz interrupted, his voice dropping to a serious, clinical timber. "I need empirical evidence. I need to observe its biomechanics, its combat instincts, and its behavioral patterns in a live, high-stress environment. Dead tissue only tells half the story, Hironaka-san. I came all this way to see the truth with my own eyes."
For a long moment, the hallway was dead silent. Kiyoshi stared at the young biologist, realizing with a sinking feeling that he was not dealing with a normal academic. He was dealing with a fanatic.
Kiyoshi let out a long, defeated sigh and adjusted his glasses.
"Understood," Kiyoshi replied, his voice strained. "The hunting party moves out at 10:00 PM tonight. Dress practically. I will come to pick you up."