Prologue: They appeared!

[ Author's note: skip ahead to the second "***" if you're not interested in the intricacies of world-building. I don't recommend doing that though. ]

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The following events happened in all major cities of the world; almost simultaneously.

January 7th 2021.

1:45 pm GMT+8.

Washington.

"Issue a state of emergency! Evacuate the city!"

"Mr. President, you need to get to the bunker immediately!"

"Damn it all! Who the hell is doing this?! Is it the Koreans, Chinese, Russians or the Germans?!"

"Were not sure yet, Mr. President!"

"How the hell did you not notice warheads in our air-space until five minutes before impact?!"

"There's nothing we can do about it now, Mr. President!"

"We're the greatest nation on this planet! And you're telling me we'll go down without a fight?!"

Beijing.

"Take President Li Na away from Zhongnanhai. Get her to the bunker immediately!"

"Issue a state of emergency! Evacuate the city!"

"I don't get it. Is it the start of a Nuclear War? I thought the Arms Deal was still in effect!"

"Is it the Americans?"

"We're not sure what's going on either, Ms. President!"

"Contact Defense Minister Wang immediately! Tell him he's fired!"

Tokyo.

"Have you evacuated the city yet?"

"Well… not yet Prime Minister."

"Not that it matters anymore, but did you find out who is responsible?"

"Were still not sure, Prime Minister!"

"Is that so?"

"Prime Minister Dazai! We insist you move to the bunker!"

"Yamaguchi, you forget I was once a Yakuza. I would never abandon my people and cower in safety. If we ate together, celebrated together and cried together, then we might as well die together too. Don't you think so?"

Moscow.

"Mr. President. What do we do?"

"Have you ensured the safety of women and children?"

"Almost, Mr. President!"

"They caught us off guard!"

"It looks like this is it, men! We are about to join our fallen brothers!"

Berlin.

"Chancellor! We have issued the evacuation notice!"

"Will they all make it out in time?!"

"It is highly unlikely, Chancellor! Millions are still in disarray and panic!"

"Damn it! Who is behind this?!"

"Are we going to go down without fighting back?"

Seoul

"To think all those years of military service, would not pay off after all!"

"President Park! What do we do?!"

"Is the city evacuated yet?!"

"Not yet, Mr. President! It seems millions are still in the city!"

"Right now men, were out of options. It would appear this is the end. It was an honor serving with you!"

"Mr. President! T-10 seconds to impact!"

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1…"

***

More than half of the planet's population died on that day—in a modern day apocalyptic purging! Remnants of major powers were in disarray. Playing the blame game, each pointing fingers at one another. Billions had died in a purging of unparalleled magnitude—and no one knew who caused it.

Soon they appeared out of nowhere. Countless warships, the likes of which no one had ever seen before. They flooded the skies and were visible for miles on end.

For months, these warships swarmed the skies; never once landing. As if observing the masses. One thing was certain; no nation on earth had technology advanced enough to pull it off.

On October 24th 2021, they held the last UN General Assembly. On that day, they declassified Area 51. And the existence of the Centrials became known the world over. That day later went down in history as the Day of Apocalypse!

Centrials were much like humans were; having an almost identical appearance to our own. However, they had distinct red eyes, and remarkable abilities; that the humans could not fathom.

They claimed the purge was essential for evolution, in order for their race to start life anew on our planet. Every millennia, their race migrated to a different planet, and eliminated half of all life forms living on that planet. And this time, they had chosen earth.

Panic and fear struck humanity. The word powers formed a temporary alliance to fight back. However, they were no match for them; this struggle led to meaningless slaughter. The Centrials destroyed the remaining world powers and built new colonies.

Colonies were settlements where humans lived like birds in cages. Ordered to go about their lives as if nothing happened.

It has been over seventy years since then. And the recent emergence of the Inventory Systems has given humanity hope for the future.

***

Present Day: March 5th 2093.

Colony: New Tokyo; Shibuya Ruins.

5:40 pm GMT+8.

"There's no escape this time, Hiromi! Hand it over!"

Hiromi's heart was racing, and he was raggedly breathing and panting. He knew if they caught up to him then, it would be all over. But if he made it, he would go down in history as a legend among those of his class.

"This is what you guys want, right? Come up here and get it!" Hiromi taunted as he raised his middle finger.

"Why you little..." they exclaimed. "You're going to get it once we catch up to you!"

Hiromi runs up the old rusty broken staircase with agile and nimble movements. Every step he took, impeccably calculated and precise.

"Hey code! How much further till we reach the top?" He said.

< Considering the pace at which you are moving, you are approximately fifty seconds from achieving your goal, Hiromi. >

< Unless hindered by an unforeseen external force. >

"An unforeseen external force? Are your bugs acting up again code?" Hiromi asked, as he laughed and said; "You forget I'm..."

A loud bang suddenly echoed through the decrepit, abandoned old building, as the central pillar collapsed, sending loud vibrations, dust and debris throughout the entire building.

"Those idiots! Are they actually using level three boosts?! What if the damn Centrials notice?!"

< ⚠ Warning ⚠ >

< Visibility impaired. Night Mode strongly advised! >

"Damn, I'm all out of boosts too! Activate Night Mode Code!" He exclaimed.

"I see you, Hiromi!" someone yelled from the rubble-laden ground floor of the old building. It was a teenage boy. His face and black hair turned brown with dust and soot, because of the explosion earlier. Despite that, he had an eerie smile on his face.

"Damn, Takashi?!" Hiromi exclaimed. "Today just really isn't my day, is it code?"

"Display Offensive Inventory code!"

< Kazuya Hiromi >

< Offensive Inventory >

< Boosts: 0 >

< Grenades: 1 >

< Bullets: 0 >

< Plasma Blade: 1 >

...

< Funds >

< Bytecoin: 0.5 >

"You have got to be kidding me! That's all I've got?!" Hiromi exclaimed.

< We would not be in this situation had you not accepted the bet, Hiromi! >

"C'mon… I had no choice. You saw that look she had on her face, right?" He replied, as he chuckled. "How could I say no to that?"

"Let's try something crazy for now! Shall we code? Plasma Blade 50% output!"

A blinding light suddenly appeared around Hiromi.

"There he is! Is he crazy why's he emitting so much light?! That's showing us exactly where he is!" Takashi exclaimed. Despite the cuts and bruises on their bodies, Takashi and the three others with him looked up at Hiromi with starved expressions, like scavenging hyenas out on a hunt.

"Great! All four of them fell for it!" Hiromi said, with a grin on his face "I'm going to call this one; Combined Skill: Flashy Grenade!

"What?! He tricked us!" They exclaimed.

An enormous explosion went off, and the surrounding air started vibrating. Knocking down two more of the pillars supporting the building. Hiromi then darted up the rusty staircase with haste. For a moment, he looked down at the piles of rubble and had a smile of utter contentment on his face.

He then grabbed onto one railing, and using his upper body, flung himself up the roof with strength one would think was impossible for someone of Hiromi's stature. He was at least 3-meters in the air above the roof, when he yelled;

"Great! I made it to the top of the building! I did—"

Three gunshots suddenly went off. Hiromi dodged two of the bullets, but one ended up in his right shoulder.

"Ugh!"

A loud grunt escaped Hiromi's mouth as he landed on his feet and swiftly hid behind a large, rusty, metallic structure of sorts.

"Who did that code?!" Hiromi exclaimed, as he bled profusely. One could see an enormous gaping hole in his shoulder; almost as if his flesh had been lacerated by a shotgun pellet.

< Sensors do not detect any life forms within your vicinity, Hiromi! >

"What?! Then who shot at me?!" He exclaimed, with a dazed expression on his face as he desperately searched for his assailant.

"We finally meet. Code #00156 Hiromi Kazuya!" an ominous voice said.