Humanity had faced wars, pandemics, and natural disasters, but nothing prepared it for the true threat: creatures that emerged from the depths of darkness, devouring everything in their path. We didn’t know what they were, but we knew what they wanted—destruction. The global population was reduced to a fragment of its former self, while survivors clung to any hope they could muster. Cities that were once beacons of civilization now lay in ruins, and fear permeated the air.

These monsters, known for their cruelty and immense power, seemed invulnerable. Our weapons, our armies, everything failed against the impenetrable flesh of these aberrations. But amidst the despair, humanity found a small glimmer of hope: a rare metal, hidden deep in the ground, capable of piercing the skin of these creatures. It was a breakthrough, but it still wasn’t enough.

Then, the unexpected happened. On one of the battlefields, after a bloody victory, a soldier touched the lifeless body of one of the monsters. To the horror of everyone around, the corpse reacted. Their muscles contracted violently. Of the ten people present, only two were able to provoke this reaction. This phenomenon left everyone astonished, but it also opened the door to new understanding.

Scientists began to study the bodies of the creatures, and it was then that a true discovery came to light. There was a way to use the strength of these aberrations to our advantage. The secret lay in special suits, designed to amplify human potential. However, not just anyone could use them - only those with a special connection, a rare compatibility with the suit. And so the Special Forces were born, formed by individuals with this unique ability.

The suits did not grant supernatural powers, but they enhanced instincts and reflexes, transforming ordinary warriors into highly efficient fighting machines. With these new weapons and cutting metal, humanity resisted for years, eliminating the creatures one by one. But it soon became clear that the hordes were endless. The surviving cities began to fall, one after another, as the ghoul forces grew stronger.

The Liberation Army, the last bastion of hope, continues to fight, but the weight of the war only intensifies. The battle is far from over.

In a small town in the countryside...

- What do you think, Kay? - Mira exclaimed, closing the book with a brusque gesture.

- A waste of time! How many times are you going to read the same thing? - Kay replied, standing up from her chair with disdain.

- You need to pay more attention to the history of humanity! - Mira insisted, irritated.

- If you really want to join the Army, then focus more on your training, not on these books! - Kay replied, crossing her arms.

- You only think about that, training every day and nothing else! Reading a book every now and then is also good for you, you know? - Mira said, exasperated.

- Unlike you, I have no interest in joining the Army. This stick here is enough to kill the ghouls. - Kay took a quick look at the simple stick he carried with him.

Mira looked at him, crossing her arms, and sighed.

- You say that, but someday this laziness will get you in trouble.

Kay shrugged.

- Maybe. But today, definitely not.

Kay, this is my childhood friend... Oh, how lazy he is. Ten years ago, our village was attacked by a ghoul. We lost our homes, our crops... our happiness. Kay lost his parents in that attack, and since then he has lived with us - me and my mother. Everyone who survived deals with it the best way they can. But Kay... he holds a grudge, a deep grudge against the ghouls. Day after day, he trains without stopping. And we both carry a secret that no one in the village knows. Not even my father.

That ghoul was brutally murdered... by Kay. I still don't understand how he managed it. The only weapon that can kill a ghoul is made of Noxium, and yet, he killed him with that stick. When I saw that, I was scared. What could I do? I was just a little girl. But I realized how amazing he was... and I started to accompany him in his daily training. But what a regret... every day I come home exhausted...! - Mira thought, letting out a tired sigh.

- Hey, Mira, you can go home! - said Kay.

- Seriously? Are you going to release me without having trained? - Mira exclaimed, smiling.

- It's not like I forced you to train. You come on your own... Tomorrow, wearing yourself out today will affect your performance in the test! - said Kay.

- Are you thinking about me? - Mira exclaimed, surprised.

- It would be shameful if my disciple didn't pass a test like that! - replied Kay.

- Since when did I... It doesn't matter. Tomorrow is the test to enter the Army, we need to rest! - Mira said.

- Do we need to? I've told you several times that I'm not interested. Good luck! - Kay said, leaving.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

- Hmm, he's still being stubborn! - 

Mira thought.

Mira went back to her house.

- I'm home! - Mira said, taking off her shoes.

- Welcome back! - her mother said from the kitchen.

- It smells good! - Mira exclaimed.

- Go take a shower and then come down with Kay to eat. You need to eat well for tomorrow! - her mother said.

- Kay keeps saying the same thing. He doesn't want to go for the test! - Mira said, going up the stairs.

- He doesn't want to go? - her mother muttered, irritated.

At dusk.

- I'm home! - Kay said, taking off her shoes.

- Welcome back! Go take a shower and then come eat! - her mother said.

- It smells good! - Kay exclaimed.

- It's going to get cold! - her mother said.

- I'll be quick! - Kay said, going up the stairs.

- Why are you smiling so strangely? - Mira exclaimed at the table.

- Did you make the coffee? - her mother exclaimed, smiling.

- He likes to drink after training. You know how discouraged he gets when he lives without coffee! - Mira said.

- I know! Don't drink coffee today or you won't be able to sleep well! - her mother warned.

- Okay! I'll finish putting my things away while he's in the bathroom! - Mira said, leaving.

- I already imagined he would keep thinking that, but I can't let Mira go to the city alone! - her mother thought, opening the bottle cap.

After dinner.

- Thanks for the food! - Mira thanked.

- Thanks for the food! - Kay thanked.

- What did you think? - her mother exclaimed.

- It was great, as always! - Kay said, satisfied.

- It was worth my effort! - her mother said, smiling.

- Stop spoiling him! - Mira said.

- You need to rest. You'll wake up early tomorrow! - her mother said.

- Okay, I'm going to my room! - Mira said, leaving.

- How do you think she'll do? - her mother exclaimed.

- I don't know! Mira is smart, but she's anxious. We train every day, so I know her physical abilities are good. But if she thinks too much, she might end up failing the test. And there's that whole suit-compatible thing - Kay said.

- I know what you're going to say: because she's not compatible, the Army eliminates a lot of promising people! Isn't that right? - Mira's mother exclaimed, serving him coffee.

- If they dismiss her, they'll be fools, but I don't think that'll happen! She just needs to stay calm and she'll be fine! - Kay said, drinking her coffee.

- Are you sure you don't want to go too? This might be the last coffee you'll have with my daughter! - Rem, Mira's mother, said.

Kay choked.

- Last? They also have days off, so she'll have time to come here! - Kay said.

- How long will this take? Can you really live without drinking coffee? I remember Mira didn't make coffee for a week and you looked like a sloth crawling on the floor! - her mother said, laughing.

Kay's hand was shaking.

- I can handle it! - Kay said.

- Her coffee is really good, it's perfectly and carefully prepared. Why is that? - Rem exclaimed.

- Talent? - Kay exclaimed.

- We won't have that talent around here, so enjoy it! - Rem said, leaving the bottle near him.

- Aren't you going to drink it? - Kay exclaimed.

- I have to drive tomorrow, so I'll go to bed early today! - Rem said, leaving.

- Good night! - Kay said.

- Yes! Good night! - Rem replied.

An hour later.

- Daughter! Get your things and let's go! - Rem said.

- Now? - Mira exclaimed, confused.

- Let's go! - said Rem.

- These bags...? - said Mira.

- I'll explain later, let's go! - said Rem, leaving.

They put the bags in the car.

- What's going on? - exclaimed Mira.

- Did you get your cell phone? Is everything in the car? - exclaimed Rem, entering the house.

- Yes! Why are you so agitated? - exclaimed Mira.

They went back to the kitchen.

- He fell asleep on the table! Kay can't get over it! - said Mira.

- He drank it all! - said Rem, putting the bottle away.

Mira remembered her mother's words: "Don't drink coffee today or you won't be able to sleep well!"

- What did you do? - exclaimed Mira.

- Sleeping pill, strong enough for him to sleep until the test time! - said Rem, carrying Kay.

- Why did you do that? - exclaimed Mira, in shock.

- Did you really want to leave him behind? - Rem exclaimed, putting Kay in the car. - Lock the house and let's go! - Rem said, getting in the car.

- I have to get something! - Mira said, going into the house.

She came back with Kay's staff and locked the house.

- Let's go! - Rem said.

They started the trip to the capital. A few hours later...

- Aren't you going to sleep? - Rem exclaimed.

- I'm still trying to believe it! - Mira said.

- You'll get over it when you're in the Army together! - Rem said.

- I didn't say I'm upset, I'm just trying to process that my mother did this! - Mira said.

- He'd be discouraged without coffee. You know him! And you'd be scared without him, so I did it for both of you! - Rem said.

- I'm going to be with the best soldiers and you think I'd be scared just because he wouldn't be there? I'm not a kid anymore! - Mira said.

- Okay, I believe you. Now go to sleep

r! - said Rem.

- He's going to be very angry when he wakes up! - said Mira, looking at the back seat.

- I put a box full of coffee in the back. Just make it for him and his anger will go away! - said Rem.

- Using your daughter, you're smarter than I thought! - said Mira, falling asleep.

- You're already sixteen, you're already adults. If you take too long, it might be too late! - thought Rem.

She reached a guard post.

- Good evening, officer! - said Rem.

- Good evening, identification! - said the guard.

Rem handed it over.

- What brings you to town? - exclaimed the guard.

- The Army exam! - said Rem.

- This year there are a lot of young women trying, it's going to be hard, but I wish you both luck! - said the guard, returning the identification.

- Thank you! I'll pass the message on! - said Rem.

- Open the gate! - said the guard.

- Okay! - said a person from the Army.

- Have a good trip! - said the guard.

- Good job! - replied Rem.

She continued on her way.

That coat of arms belonged to the fourth division, Rem thought, smiling.

The journey continued without any problems. They arrived at the capital's wall.

- Good evening! - said another guard.

- Good evening! - replied Rem.

- What brings you here? - exclaimed the guard, taking her identification.

- The Army exam! - said Rem.

- This year there are a lot of young people... - said the guard.

- Yeah, I heard! - said Rem.

The guard looked inside the car.

- The Imperial Army is also an option! - said the guard.

- What did you mean by that? - exclaimed Rem.

- It was nothing, go ahead! - said the guard, handing back the ID.

The entrance to the wall opened.

- Thank you very much! - said Rem, heading towards the city.

- Country folks who think they can join the Army! - said the guard, laughing.

- They'll soon realize that things aren't that easy! - said another guard, laughing.

The next morning.

.