1 Just another ordinary day

"In a world ruled by anthropomorphic cats and dogs, they stand on two legs, possess ten fingers, and exhibit human-like behavior. They refer to themselves as "people," though they bear the unmistakable physical traits of their animal counterparts, such as dog ears and tails, and an acute sense of smell. This is where our story begins.

For eons, cats and dogs have been engaged in a brutal, never-ending war, resulting in the deaths of millions. Despite countless attempts at resolution, the conflict continues to rage on, with no end in sight. The weapons used in this war are terrifying, and none more so than the Arcgeomedons, which have decimated the dog army.

In recent years, the dogs have been forced onto the defensive, while the cats continue to escalate their attacks. Brutal strikes have been made against the canine population, irrevocably changing the lives of many, including mine.

I can still recall that fateful day in my village as if it were yesterday. The sun was shining, and the village was alive with the sounds of children playing, the streets bustling with activity, and the sweet melodies of birds chirping. It seemed like any other ordinary day, but little did I know, that everything was about to change."

With a smile on his face, a young boy descended the stairs to greet his mother. Katsu's mother prepared a basket for him, and as he approached her, she asked with a loving tone, "Can you buy me some bread, Katsu?"

"Of course, Mom!" the boy replied cheerfully before embarking on his journey to the bakery downtown.

As he walked, Katsu noticed flocks of birds flying overhead, appearing distressed. He pondered the reason for their unrest and continued on his way, admiring the beauty of the avian creatures along the route.

Upon reaching the main town square, he saw Hiroto, an air force pilot, staring skyward with a puzzled expression.

"Good morning!" Katsu exclaimed, waving his hand.

"Ah, Katsu. I didn't see you there," Hiroto replied, surprised that he hadn't noticed Katsu approaching.

The two approached each other, and Hiroto inquired, "What's on your agenda for today, kiddo?"

"I'm headed to the bakery to buy bread again," Katsu responded.

"Want me to tag along?" Hiroto asked jokingly.

"I'm not a little kid!" Katsu retorted, scowling as he walked away. Hiroto chuckled at the boy's reaction.

At the bakery, Katsu found the baker sleeping beside the entrance. He cleared his throat, waking the baker up, and greeted him with a mumbled, "Excuse me, sir!"

The baker stood up, stretching and greeting Katsu, "Good morning, young man. Need your usual bread?"

"Yes, please, sir!" Katsu replied, placing his basket on the table.

"Alright, just wait here, and I'll get it for you," the baker said before heading inside his shop to retrieve the loaves.

As Katsu waited, he noticed the garrison guards running around, appearing troubled.

He thought to himself, "Something doesn't seem right," but dismissed his concerns and continued to wait.

An unknown voice reflected, "I didn't know what was happening at that time. I didn't have a care in the world. How foolish of me back then."

The baker returned with the bread and remarked, "It's getting pretty hectic out there. Something big must be happening."

Surprised, Katsu snapped back to reality and responded, "Huh? Oh, yeah..." before looking towards the distance.

The baker placed the bread in Katsu's basket, remarking, "Well, it's probably just someone getting caught stealing again."

After Katsu paid the customary amount, he set off for home, the weight of unease hanging heavy in the air.

As he walked, the atmosphere of the situation had changed. The once lively streets were now eerily quiet and deserted, and the cold, dead street made Katsu feel uneasy. It was as if the very air around him had turned thick with a sense of foreboding.

Suddenly, an unknown voice lamented once again, saying, "I had a good life, a great future ahead of me. And unfortunately, it all changed that day."

On his way home, Katsu was called by his friends who yelled, "Katsu! Wanna play!?"

He turned around and declined, saying, "Sorry, everyone! I'm busy today! Maybe next time."

"I had a good life, a great future ahead of me. And unfortunately, it all changed that day," the voice silently stated once again, as Katsu continued walking.

As he walked back home, the atmosphere of the situation had changed even more. The once bustling streets were now eerily silent and desolate. The cold and lifeless street made Katsu's heart race with fear.

"I need to head back home, today seems weird," he thought to himself, quickening his pace.

But just then, a black crow swooped in and snatched a loaf of bread from the basket. Katsu was shocked and chased the bird in an attempt to get his bread back.

"Ah! Wait! Come back here!" he said, struggling to catch up to the bird. "You're not getting away from me!" he desperately pleaded as he ran as fast as he could.

Soon after that, he tripped and fell, and all the bread fell on the cold asphalt road.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch," he painfully groaned as he tried to stand up. Struggling to his feet, he gazed up at the bird flying away. But then he saw something that made him freeze in terror.

Hundreds of birds were now flying in the same direction as the crow that had taken his bread, as if they were trying to run away from danger. Katsu's heart raced with fear as he realized that something was very wrong.

He turned his gaze towards the garrison guards, who were now panicking and alarmed. Something was happening that was so serious that even they were frightened and in disarray. Katsu frantically looked around, trying to understand what was going on. And then he saw it.

Something was emerging from the clouds above, and the air-raid sirens started blaring, a sound never before heard by the villagers. People started to run amok, and everything was happening too fast. Katsu's mind raced as he pieced everything together.

The terrifying sirens of several k-38 strategic katzbombers ringed around town as the planes filled the sky. Katsu couldn't believe what he was seeing and fell over, overwhelmed by the terror that had befallen him.

"Huh? But how…" he mumbled to himself.

The sounds of bombs whistling as they fell to the town below were terrifyingly mesmerizing. Katsu snapped back to reality, worrying about his parents' safety, and made a run for his home. He dashed through the town streets, the sounds of buildings collapsing, and explosions surrounding him.

As he neared his home, an explosion detonated a few meters away from him, and he was knocked out by the blast.

At that moment, he thought to himself, "Am I dead?" It was as if his life were balancing between life and death, slowly losing its balance.

"That day is the day I will never forget," the voice sorrowfully remarked once again. Katsu hit his head on the broken road, his consciousness faded, and he closed his eyes. But the nightmare wasn't over yet.

End of Chapter 1