There are wars we don’t see.
There are people who dedicate their lives to fighting the shadows of the night. People who put themselves in the face of death to make our world safer.
I, Kazui Nihei, was as ignorant as anyone is to the group known as Crest, and the agents of justice known as Weapon Bonders, for the first eighteen years of my life.
Then, early in the summer of my eighteenth year, I was forcibly dragged into that world- The world of Crest, Bonders, and the war of good and evil.
1-1
[Kazui]
“College life sure is kicking my ass…”
I rolled my eyes as Shiro lamented for what felt like the twentieth time that hour about how hard he was having it with finals. My friend had a heart of gold but he sure did like to complain at times. And when he started, it was hard to stop him.
“Maybe if you hadn’t spent so many late nights gaming, Shiro…” I began, and he exclaimed before I could go any further.
“For shame, Kaz! You can’t blame a guy for liking games! A hell of a lot more interesting than calculus anyway… Anyways, you’ve got all this ahead of you next year, so talk to me then.”
“Oh, ah… I’m not planning on going to college, Shiro.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot. You’re going to try and get one of your novels published, right?”
“Y-Yes. I think I might really have a chance…”
“Of course you do, dude! If you manage to get that huge fantasy series you’ve got planned off to a start, you’ll be winning awards in no time, I swear!”
I smiled shyly and mumbled my thanks. Shiro may have been a griper, but when he got amped up and encouraged my efforts like that, he could make you feel like truly nothing was impossible. It would be hard work, yes, but that was my plan. To make a living by publishing my novels. I’d been writing from a very young age. Writing, anime and video games were pretty much my life for as long as I could remember, so story craft was something I’d been obsessed with for a long time, and this was the time to make it happen.
Or so I’d thought.
“Hey, did you hear that urban rumour that’s been going around?” Shiro’s eyes lit up, “Sounds like something straight out of one of your stories, I’m telling ya…”
I shook my head. “No? What’s it about?”
Shiro grinned and clapped me on the shoulder, “Always on the hunt for inspiration, huh?”
“Gotta look for it everywhere I can if I’m going to be an award-winning novelist, right?”
“Too right. Anyway, I saw a post on one of the forums I frequent about some group… What was their name, Quest? Blessed? I can’t remember. But, get this, these guys fight monsters! They’re the only ones equipped to do it, thanks to some kind of special aptitude. I bet they probably have to train like heck. Damn…”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Um… Monsters? Sounds bogus to me. Everyone knows monsters aren’t real.”
“You think so? I believe, for sure! Think of how interesting the world would be if these rumours were true! I know you can’t believe everything you hear, but a guy can dream right? Speaking of guys dreaming, I saw that transfer student you have a crush on last night…”
I felt my face grow hot even at this vague mention of her.
“Yup, Ari Minato was prowling around after hours, dude. Maybe she had a date or something…”
I shrugged, “Maybe.”
“Or maybe,” Shiro grinned that mischievous grin again, “Maybe she’s part of that monster-fighter crew from the rumours! Think about it, she transferred in a couple months ago, and now all of a sudden these rumours are starting? Seems pretty convenient to me.”
“This is a huge city, you dimwit,” I laughed it off, “Besides, Ari, a monster-fighter? She’s just a regular old bookworm honour student, for sure…”
“For someone who makes such fascinating stories, you really have no imagination when it comes to real-world stuff.”
“Nah, outside of my books I’m just a jaded realist.”
“Anyway, gotta get back to the net café today, back to the grind, right?”
“I guess. I’ll probably just go home and write.”
“Enjoy it, man. Maybe see if you can incorporate some honour-student-bookworm-slash-monster-fighter into your next story, eh?”
I groaned as we parted ways. He knew how to push my buttons, alright. Unsurprising, considering we’d known each other since we were kids.
After making my way home, I wrote for a few hours until dark. By that point I was just lying on top of my bed, with my phone out, playing a mobile game. I kind of wanted to get some sleep, but I hadn’t had the chance to do my dailies yet today since I’d been hanging out with Shiro for a bit after school and had then been doing some writing.
Then came the notification.
CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE
And another.
CONNECTION ESTABLISHED
I dropped my phone from my hand onto my chest in shock and sudden worry. Was this some kind of virus? Had my phone been hacked? If so, were my computer and consoles okay?
I calmed myself and touched the second notification, but my calm didn’t last very long when I saw what application I’d just entered.
WELCOME TO CREST
Next, before I could fully process what was going on, I heard a deafening wail and the sound of a window smashing downstairs.