PART 1
Life begins with human beings. It’s the year 1980 in Japan, where everyone is enjoying life. Suddenly, a meteorite falls to Earth, bringing with it a creature that evolves into a monster. Fast forward to 2023: our main character, Yeon, is in his final year of college, living for food and enjoying life with friends, often playing games like Minecraft.
One day, Yeon wakes up to find a giant blue creature—one that appeared after the meteorite crash in 1980. This creature had killed every person on the island back then and vanished. Now, it has returned, and it’s different. This creature is blue and possesses a protective shield.
After the mass killing in 1980, a group was formed to combat these monsters, known as the Shadow Hunters. These fighters use swords because guns do not affect these kinds of creatures, which are also called Shadows. When a group of 50 soldiers was dispatched to confront the new creature appearing on the eastern side of Japan, specifically on the island of Shimanshi where Yeon lives, chaos ensued. The citizens were ordered to evacuate immediately, but our protagonist was still asleep.
As Yeon goes through his daily routine and prepares for college, the battle unfolds. Only five soldiers survive the encounter, and the headquarters quickly dispatches the elite Shadow Hunters. Unfortunately, they are occupied with a mission to rescue an orphanage raided by Shadows. With no other choice, 100 soldiers are sent to confront the creature.
Despite their efforts, the soldiers’ swords do no damage. Captain Neil, the smartest of the group, realizes that the creature is protecting its kidney area rather than its heart. It’s worth noting that stabbing a Shadow's heart is the only way to kill it. The soldiers regroup and attack the creature's heart, but it anticipates their move and retaliates, sending the soldiers crashing into a building.
Left alone, Captain Neil chooses to retreat. Meanwhile, Yeon is about to enjoy a hotdog when a blast sends it flying away. As he leaps to catch it, he glances down an alley and sees a girl crying...
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PART 2
The girl Yeon saw was beautiful but in distress, confronted by three men involved in human trafficking. One of the men stepped into the dark alley, crushing Yeon’s hotdog underfoot. Without hesitating, Yeon sprang into action. His movements were sharp and precise, breaking their bones with cold efficiency, not a trace of hesitation in his eyes.
Once the traffickers were incapacitated, Yeon turned to the girl. His tone was indifferent, as though what had just happened was routine. “What’s your name?”
“Jia,” she stammered, trying to steady her voice.
“Yeon Inzui,” he responded, casting a quick glance down the alley to ensure there were no more threats. His gaze returned to Jia, unreadable. “Why were you out here alone?”
Jia hesitated. “I was… looking for my brother.”
Yeon’s eyes narrowed at the mention of a brother. “Kaito?”
Jia’s eyes widened in surprise. “How do you—?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Yeon cut her off, stepping back. “You shouldn’t be here. Go home.”
She looked at him, torn between fear and curiosity. “Where are you going?”
“Somewhere you don’t belong,” he replied coldly, walking away. But before he could leave the alley, Jia hurried after him.
“I can’t… I can’t be alone,” she said, her voice softer now.
Yeon stopped, not looking back. His voice was still emotionless, but there was a slight pause before he spoke. “Do what you want. Just don’t get in my way.”
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PART 3
The streets were chaos as the blue shadow continued its rampage, leveling everything in its path. The Shadow Hunters, despite their numbers, were losing ground fast. Hundreds had already fallen, and the reinforcements that were supposed to arrive hadn’t shown up yet.
As Yeon and Jia made their way through the wreckage, the news played on a nearby television in a shop window. The broadcast detailed the ongoing battle—400 Shadow Hunters had been deployed, but already more than half had been wiped out.
Jia looked at the screen, horrified. “Four hundred soldiers… and they’re still losing?”
Yeon, unbothered, took a bite of his food. “Doesn’t surprise me.”
“How can you be so calm?” Jia asked, disbelief in her voice.
“Getting worked up won’t change anything,” Yeon replied bluntly. “People die. That’s just how it is.”
Jia stared at him, unsettled by his coldness. “But… doesn’t it bother you?”
He glanced at her. “Not really.”
Suddenly, the ground shook, and another explosion sounded in the distance. Jia flinched, but Yeon continued walking as though nothing had happened. She followed him closely, her mind racing.
They eventually found refuge in an underground bunker, where survivors had gathered. Inside, the atmosphere was tense—people wept for their lost loved ones, and the air was thick with fear.
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Yeon sat down, resting against the wall. Jia watched him, still trying to figure him out. He hadn’t shown any emotion since they met. “Do you ever feel anything?” she asked quietly, sitting beside him.
Yeon glanced at her but didn’t answer right away. Finally, he spoke, his voice low. “Feeling things gets you killed.”
Before Jia could respond, a loud crash echoed through the bunker. The blue shadow was drawing closer, and panic erupted among the survivors.
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PART 4
The loud crash that shook the bunker was caused by the high-level threat known as the blue shadow. Drawn by the smell of food, the creature burst through the wall, sending everyone into a frenzy. People inside the bunker screamed and scrambled for safety, while Yeon remained calm amidst the chaos.
Ahito, one of the survivors, took charge, helping others evacuate, while Yeon assisted where he could, still composed. Suddenly, the blue shadow snatched a small boy whose parents were lost in the mayhem. Without hesitation, Ahito charged at the beast, revealing his superhuman abilities—his strength a hundred times that of an ordinary human. He leaped toward the blue shadow, trying to rescue the boy, but the monster was too strong and threw him back with ease. Ahito landed hard, blood seeping from his wounds.
Jia, watching the horror unfold, was frozen, realizing she was powerless. As they all helplessly watched the boy being consumed, despair took over. Jia shut her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Yeon, though his expression remained cold, couldn't ignore the scene entirely.
Just as it seemed all hope was lost, the blue shadow's hands were severed in a swift motion—the Elite Shadows had arrived in Shimanshi. A fierce battle ensued as the seven strongest warriors in the world engaged the creature. For the first time, the survivors saw these legendary figures in action.
Yeon’s eyes widened slightly when he recognized them—Kaito, Namata, Axel, Hinto, and Shinzo. The very people who had once been his closest friends, the ones who had betrayed him.
Ahito, who had taken a day off from his elite duties, rose to rejoin the fight. Hinto lent him his gear, and together, the elite warriors charged at the blue shadow. Remembering its weakness, they coordinated their attack, dodging its fiery strikes with unmatched skill.
Kaito and Hinto focused on the legs while Ahito struck the killing blow to its kidney. The blue shadow collapsed, defeated. As the dust settled, Yeon stood silently, watching his former friends—unsure of how to feel.
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PART 5
With the battle over, humanity had claimed its first victory against the Shadows. But it was a bittersweet triumph—so many lives had been lost, and the air was thick with sorrow. The elite squad members apologized for their late arrival. The survivors breathed a sigh of relief, but the heavy losses weighed on them all.
Yeon stood apart from the others, lost in thought. Seeing Kaito and the others again had stirred up memories from the past—days spent together playing games, laughing, until the betrayal that shattered their friendship.
Nearby, Jia was weeping for the lives she couldn’t save. Kaito, noticing her, rushed over, embracing her tightly. “Why did you leave?” he asked, his voice filled with emotion. “I missed you.”
The reunion was bittersweet, but as the elite warriors gathered, Kaito noticed Yeon for the first time. “Jia, who helped you?” he asked.
“Yeon Inzui,” she replied softly.
At the sound of his name, Kaito froze, his face going pale. He knelt in front of Yeon, eyes full of guilt. “Yeon… I—I'm sorry. For everything.”
The other elite members followed suit, expressions somber as they faced the person they had once betrayed.
Yeon looked at them, his expression unreadable. “It’s been a long time, Kaito.” His voice was calm but carried a weight that silenced everyone. “But I’m not here for apologies.”
Turning his back on them, Yeon started walking away. Jia hesitated, then followed him. Outside, the ruins of the city stretched endlessly before them.
Kaito, his voice trembling, called after Jia, “Please… stay with us. You’re safer here.”
Jia stopped, torn between her brother and the unknown path she was about to take with Yeon. She turned to face Kaito, her eyes full of conflict. “If I stay, I’ll never know what I’m capable of. You’ve always protected me… but I need to find my own way now. I need my freedom.”
Kaito clenched his fists, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “But you don’t know what’s out there. The Shadows… they’re getting stronger.”
“And I’ll face them,” she replied, her voice firmer now. “But I can’t do that if I’m always hiding behind you.”
Yeon, who had been silently listening, glanced over his shoulder, his cold eyes briefly meeting Kaito’s. There was no sympathy, no softness in his expression. “She’s made her choice,” he said in his usual detached tone.
With that, he turned and began walking again. Jia gave her brother one last look, her heart heavy, but she knew this was the path she needed to take. She hurried to catch up with Yeon.
As they walked through the ruins of Shimanshi, the silence between them was heavy. The stench of blood and burning wreckage filled the air, but Yeon seemed unbothered, his eyes focused ahead.
After a long stretch of silence, Jia finally spoke. “Why didn’t you forgive them?”
Yeon didn’t stop walking, didn’t even glance at her as he replied, “Forgiveness isn’t something I give lightly.”
She frowned, her footsteps slowing a little. “But they’re sorry… They—”
“They made their choice,” Yeon interrupted, his voice cold and final. “And I made mine.”
Jia fell quiet again, realizing that pushing Yeon for answers wouldn’t get her anywhere. He was an enigma, a man who kept his emotions locked away behind a wall of indifference. But there was something about him that drew her in, something that made her want to understand him.
They reached the edge of the city, where a boat waited to take them to Tokyo. As they boarded, the sun was setting, casting an eerie orange glow over the destruction they were leaving behind.
Yeon stood at the edge of the boat, looking out over the water as they sailed away from Shimanshi. Jia joined him, the wind tousling her hair as she tried to read his expression.
“I never expected you to be the one my brother betrayed,” she said softly.
Yeon’s jaw tightened slightly, but he kept his gaze on the horizon. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“It matters to me,” Jia insisted. “You helped me… I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” His voice was steady, emotionless. “I didn’t do it for you.”
Jia tilted her head, studying him. “Then why? Why did you help me?”
Yeon finally turned to look at her, his dark eyes unreadable. “Because you were there. And I don’t leave people behind. Not unless they give me a reason to.”
Jia blinked, taken aback by his words. It wasn’t the answer she had expected, but it gave her a glimpse into who Yeon really was—someone who hid his kindness behind a mask of cold detachment.
As the boat sailed onward, leaving the ruins of Shimanshi behind, Jia realized that her journey with Yeon had only just begun. And though he was distant and unreadable, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him than he let on.