Chapter Text
Generations ago, a catastrophe forced part of humanity to survive inside a massive underground bunker. For seventy years, the people of the bunker lived completely isolated from the outside world. They survived thanks to reserves left by their ancestors and strict rationing. Now, those reserves were gone. Water tanks stood nearly empty. The hydroponic farms produced less food every month. The air filtration systems failed more often than they worked. For the first time in decades, the bunker was dying. And everyone knew it. What they didn't know was that Earth was no longer empty.
___
The council chamber was silent. Rows of tired faces stared at the large screen mounted on the wall. Numbers flashed across it.
Water reserves: 8%.
Food reserves: 11%.
Power reserves: Critical.
No one spoke. There was nothing left to argue about. At the center of the room stood Noel Noa. Even after years of leading the bunker, his expression rarely changed. Calm. Focused. Unshaken. Beside him stood Chris Prince, arms crossed over his chest. Lavinho leaned against a table nearby, unusually quiet.
Noa looked at the council members. "The situation is simple." His voice echoed through the room. "If we remain here, we die." No one disagreed. Some lowered their heads, others clenched their fists. The truth hurt. For seventy years, the bunker had been humanity's sanctuary, now it had become its tomb.
Chris stepped forward. "The surface scans are stable." Several heads lifted. "Radiation levels have remained safe for six consecutive months." A murmur spread across the room. The surface. A place most people had only seen in old recordings.
Blue skies.
Forests.
Oceans.
Things that sounded more like fairy tales than reality.
Lavinho finally spoke. "We don't know what's up there. We don't know if the scans are accurate. We don't know what happened during those seventy years."
Noa nodded. "Correct." Then his gaze hardened. "But we know what will happen if we stay." Silence. Because everyone already knew the answer.
Death.
Noa pressed a button on the console. The image behind him changed. A gigantic reinforced gate appeared on the screen. The surface access. The only exit. The only entrance. The door that had remained sealed for seventy years.
"We leave tomorrow."
The room froze. Even those expecting the announcement looked shocked.
Tomorrow.
Not next month.
Not next week.
Tomorrow.
Chris exhaled slowly. "It's time."
___
News spread through the bunker faster than wildfire. People filled the corridors. Families gathered in cramped living quarters. Children asked endless questions.
Would there really be trees?
Would there really be sunlight?
Would there really be animals?
Most adults couldn't answer. They had never seen those things either.
In the training sector, a group of young fighters received the news in their own way. Bachira was practically vibrating with excitement. "Tomorrow!" He grinned. "We're actually going outside tomorrow!"
Kunigami looked skeptical. "You're acting like we're going on a school trip. We might be walking into a disaster."
"Exactly!" Bachira replied. "Doesn't that make it exciting?"
Nearby, Chigiri adjusted the straps on his equipment. His red hair was tied back neatly. "The scans say it's safe."
"Mostly," Reo corrected. "Mostly safe."
"That's not reassuring." Kurona blinked.
At the edge of the room, Yukimiya watched the conversation quietly. Unlike the others, he looked thoughtful. Nervous, but no one could blame him. Tomorrow would change everything.
A few meters away, two figures stood apart from the group. Nagi Seishiro and Isagi Yoichi.
They watched the activity around them in silence. Nagi's eyes remained fixed on the giant reinforced wall that separated them from the surface. His expression was calm. Focused. No trace of fear. "Do you think anyone's up there?" he suddenly asked.
Isagi considered the question. The official answer was no. Humanity was supposed to be gone. The bunker was supposed to be all that remained. But seventy years was a long time. Long enough for anything to happen. "I don't know."
Nagi nodded. A simple answer. An honest one. The best kind.
Isagi looked toward the ceiling, far above them. Beyond layers of steel and concrete. Beyond seventy years of separation. The surface waited.
Unknown.
Silent.
And tomorrow, for the first time in generations, humanity would return to it.
Neither of them knew that somewhere beyond the forests and ruins, other humans were already watching over the land. Other people who had never heard of bunkers. Other people who had built kingdoms from the ashes of the old world. And among them stood a commander who ruled from the top of a tower.
A commander named Rin Itoshi.
But for now—Neither side knew the other existed. And the world remained quiet.
Waiting for the door to open.
Long after the council meeting ended, the bunker remained awake. The announcement had spread to every corridor, every dormitory, every workshop.
People talked.
People hoped.
People feared.
And deep within the command sector, two men were still working. Noel Noa stood in front of a large map projected onto the wall. The map was incomplete. Ancient satellite scans, outdated topography. Information from a world that no longer existed. Or perhaps a world that had changed beyond recognition.
Chris Prince entered the room carrying two metal cups. He handed one to Noa. Noa accepted it without a word. For several moments, both men studied the map.
Then Chris sighed. "We can't send everyone."
Noa didn't look away from the projection. "No."
"It would be reckless."
"Yes."
Chris took a sip. "The council thinks we're opening the bunker tomorrow."
"We are."
"That's not what I mean."
Finally, Noa turned toward him. Chris continued. "If the scans are wrong... If the water is contaminated... If there are dangerous animals... Or If there's something we haven't accounted for..." He paused. "...then sending thousands of civilians outside would be suicide."
Noa remained silent. Because he agreed. They had spent years preparing for this possibility. Years discussing every scenario imaginable. And every plan reached the same conclusion. The first people to step onto the surface could not be civilians.
They needed fighters.
Explorers.
People capable of surviving if something went wrong.
"We send a reconnaissance team."
Chris nodded. "Exactly."
Noa crossed his arms. "A small group."
"They establish a secure perimeter."
"They test the water."
"They collect soil samples."
"They search for food sources."
"They monitor radiation levels."
"And if they survive... Then the rest follow."
Chris smiled slightly. "See? Sometimes you do listen to me." Noa ignored the comment.
___
At night, the leaders of the younger generation were summoned. A large circular table occupied the center of the room. Isagi arrived first. Then Reo, Kunigami, Chigiri. Yukimiya, Kurona, Bachira. And finally Nagi. The atmosphere felt different. Serious and important. Noa stood at the head of the table. Chris beside him. And Lavinho leaning casually against the wall. The moment everyone sat down, Noa spoke. "We are not going outside tomorrow."
Confused looks immediately appeared. Bachira blinked. "...What?"
Noa continued. "Not everyone."
The room quieted. A screen behind him lit up and a map appeared. Several marked zones surrounded the bunker's location. "We are sending an expedition team first." Now everyone understood. At least partially. Chris stepped forward. "The surface scans are promising. But scans are not enough. We need confirmation before thousands of people leave the bunker."
Yukimiya nodded slowly. "That makes sense."
"It does," Reo agreed.
Kunigami crossed his arms. "So who's going?"
Chris smiled. "That's why you're here."
The room became silent. Noa activated another screen. Names appeared.
ISAGI YOICHI
NAGI SEISHIRO
KUNIGAMI RENSUKE
CHIGIRI HYOMA
BACHIRA MEGURU
YUKIMIYA KENYUU
REO MIKAGE
KURONA RANZE
Several seconds passed. No one spoke. Then Bachira grinned. "Oh. We are."
Lavinho laughed. "Congratulations. You're officially the first generation to walk on Earth." The reality of that statement settled over the room.
For seventy years, nobody had done what they were about to do. Not their parents. Not their grandparents. Nobody. They would be the first.
Isagi stared at the screen. The responsibility felt heavy. Too heavy. Yet he couldn't deny the excitement growing inside him. "We'll establish a base camp?" he asked.
Noa nodded. "Correct. You'll remain outside for several days. Possibly longer."
"We need information."
"We need resources."
"And we need proof that humanity can survive there."
Nagi finally spoke. "What if we find something?" Everyone looked at him. His expression remained calm, unreadable.
"What kind of something?" Chris asked.
Nagi looked toward the ceiling, toward the surface. "Anything."
Animals.
Ruins.
Danger.
People.
Nobody said the last possibility aloud. Because it sounded impossible. Seventy years. How could anyone have survived?
Noa answered anyway. "If you encounter an unknown threat..." His voice hardened. "You prioritize survival. So you return immediately."
The room nodded. Simple. Clear. Necessary.
But as Isagi looked at the map, he couldn't shake a strange feeling. The world above was unknown. Seventy years was a long time. Long enough for forests to grow. Long enough for cities to collapse. Long enough for nature to reclaim everything. And perhaps—Long enough for new civilizations to emerge.
___
Far beyond the bunker. Far beyond the marked zones. Beyond forests, rivers, and forgotten ruins. A young commander sat near the window of a tower overlooking his lands. Unaware that strangers were preparing to enter his world. And tomorrow—The distance separating them would begin to disappear.
___
The meeting ended shortly afterward. Noa dismissed them with a final list of instructions, and one by one, the young adults left the command sector. The corridors felt different now, heavier. Every person they passed looked at them with curiosity. Some had already heard rumors. Others simply noticed the serious expressions on their faces. The chosen expedition team. The first people who would step onto Earth. The title felt strange, almost unreal.
Bachira was the first to break the tension. "Tomorrow!" He threw his arms behind his head. "We're actually doing it..We're actually leaving. Isn't that insane?"
"Very," Yukimiya replied.
"Extremely." Kunigami frowned. "I still think we should've gotten more combat training first."
"We've been training for years," Chigiri said.
"Yeah, but not against giant mutant monsters." Bachira said.
"There are no giant mutant monsters." Kunigami declared.
"We don't know that."
"We do know that."
"We really don't."
Reo rubbed his forehead. "I'm already regretting this."
Kurona nodded.
The group gradually split apart as they reached different residential sectors. Soon only two people remained walking side by side. Isagi and Nagi. Neither seemed in a hurry to speak. The bunker corridors stretched endlessly around them. Steel walls and artificial lights. The same scenery they had seen every day of their lives. Tomorrow would be the last day those walls represented their entire world. Eventually, Nagi spoke. "What do you think it'll look like?"
Isagi glanced at him. "The surface?"
Nagi nodded.n"Yeah."
For a moment, Isagi considered the question. "I don't know. The recordings showed forests, rivers, cities... But those recordings are over seventy years old. Everything could be different."
Nagi hummed quietly. "Maybe there won't be any buildings left."
"Maybe."
"Maybe everything got swallowed by trees."
"That's possible too."
Nagi looked strangely interested by the idea. A world consumed by nature. No walls. No ceilings. No endless metal corridors. Just open space. Neither of them had ever experienced that. The concept almost felt impossible. They reached their living sector. The doors slid open automatically. Unlike most residents, expedition members shared larger rooms designed for fighters and scouts.
Isagi entered first. Nagi followed. The room was simple. Two beds. Storage lockers. A small table. Nothing luxurious. Nobody in the bunker lived luxuriously anymore.
The moment the door closed behind them, silence settled. Isagi sat on the edge of his bed. And Nagi dropped into a chair near the table. For several minutes, neither spoke. Both were thinking about tomorrow. About the surface. About everything waiting beyond the bunker door.
Finally, Isagi exhaled. "I think Noa's worried."
Nagi looked up. "He always looks the same."
"Exactly."
That made Nagi pause. Because Isagi wasn't wrong. Noa rarely showed emotions. Yet during the meeting... Something had felt different. More cautious. More tense.
"They don't know what's out there," Nagi said.
"No."
"And they hate not knowing."
A small smile appeared on Isagi's face. "Especially Noa."
Nagi nodded. That sounded accurate. Then Nagi leaned back in his chair. "What would you do if we found other people?" The question caught Isagi off guard.
He blinked. "Other people?"
"Yeah."
The possibility sounded ridiculous. And yet... Nagi had asked it twice now. As if the thought refused to leave him alone.
Isagi crossed his arms. "I'd try talking first."
Nagi raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Of course."
"What if they attack us?"
"Then we'd defend ourselves."
"What if they're dangerous?"
"Then we'd assess the threat."
Nagi stared at him for a moment. "You sound like Noa."
"I do not."
"You kind of do."
"I absolutely do not."
The room fell quiet again. Outside, somewhere deep within the bunker, machinery continued its endless humming. The sound had accompanied their entire lives. Tomorrow, they would wake up to something different.
Wind.
Birds.
Maybe rain.
Things they had only read about. Things that belonged to another world. A world waiting just beyond a giant steel door.
Nagi turned toward the ceiling. "What do you think the sky looks like now?"
Isagi followed his gaze. The ceiling lights glowed above them. Artificial. Cold and unchanging. Nothing like a real sky. "I think it's probably bigger than we're imagining."
Nagi considered that. Then he nodded. "Probably."
They sat there, thinking about tomorrow, thinking about the unknown.
___
Isagi woke before his alarm. For a moment, he lay still in bed, listening. The familiar hum of the bunker surrounded him. The same sound he had heard every day since birth. Yet somehow, it felt different now. As if he were hearing it for the last time. Across the room, Nagi was already awake, sitting on the edge of his bed. Strange. But neither commented on the unusual fact. Both had too much on their minds. After dressing and gathering their equipment, they headed toward the surface access sector. The closer they got, the more crowded the corridors became. People lined the walls.
Watching.
Whispering.
Waiting.
The entire bunker seemed to have gathered for this moment.
The surface access chamber was enormous. Its ceiling disappeared into shadows high above. At the far end stood the giant blast door. The same door that had remained sealed for seventy years. Massive steel bolts locked it in place. Warning lights glowed along its edges, beyond it lay the unknown. The expedition team gathered near the center of the room. Each member wore reinforced exploration gear.
Not military armor. Not yet. But sturdy enough to survive rough terrain. Each carried a large backpack filled with essential supplies.
Water.
Emergency food rations.
Medical kits.
Rope.
Portable tools.
Navigation equipment.
Field notebooks.
Sample containers.
Every gram had been carefully calculated. Every item had a purpose. A radio hung from each of their belts. Their connection to the bunker. Their lifeline. Attached to their packs were radiation scanners and environmental testing kits. Small devices designed to analyze soil, water, and air quality. If humanity was going to survive outside, these tools would provide the answers.
Bachira inspected his scanner. "So this thing basically decides whether we live or die?"
"More or less," Reo answered.
"Great."
"That wasn't supposed to be reassuring."
"It wasn't."
Nearby, Kunigami checked the contents of his pack for what felt like the tenth time. Chigiri stretched quietly. Kurona adjusted his radio. Yukimiya stood calmly beside them. Nagi remained completely still, watching the giant door. As if trying to imagine what existed beyond it. Isagi found himself doing the same. The steel seemed impossibly thick. A barrier separating two worlds. One humanity had known. And one humanity had forgotten.
A loud metallic sound echoed through the chamber. Everyone turned, Noel Noa had arrived. Chris Prince and Lavinho followed close behind. The conversations immediately died. The crowd became silent. Thousands of eyes fixed on the three leaders.
Noa stopped in front of the expedition team. His gaze moved across each of them.
One by one.
Measuring.
Evaluating.
Trusting.
"You all know your mission." Noa continued. "You are not soldiers. You are explorers. You are scouts. You are humanity's first step back into the world." The weight of those words settled over the chamber. Even Bachira looked serious now.
Chris stepped forward. "Your priority is survival. Not heroics. Not unnecessary risks. If something feels dangerous, leave. If conditions become unstable, leave. If communication is lost, return immediately." Everyone nodded. The instructions were simple.
Clear.
Necessary.
Lavinho grinned. "And try not to die on the first day." Several people rolled their eyes. Even Noa looked mildly annoyed.
The tension eased slightly. Just enough. Then Noa turned toward the giant blast door. For a moment, nobody moved. The entire chamber seemed to hold its breath. Seventy years. Seventy years separated humanity from what lay beyond that wall.
Finally, Noa spoke. "Open it." The command echoed through the room. Technicians rushed into position. Control panels lit up. Warning sirens began to sound. Deep mechanical vibrations spread through the floor. The gigantic locking mechanisms started to move.
CLANK.
CLANK.
CLANK.
Massive steel bolts retracted one after another. Dust fell from the ceiling. Ancient gears groaned to life. Many people in the crowd had tears in their eyes. Others stared in stunned silence. Nobody alive had ever witnessed this.
The door was opening for the first time in seventy years. A narrow line of light suddenly appeared between the steel plates. The entire room froze. Real sunlight. Not a screen. Not a recording. Not artificial lamps. Sunlight, bright and golden. The gap widened slowly. More light flooded into the chamber.
Warm.
Natural.
Beautiful.
Several people instinctively shielded their eyes. Bachira simply stared, speechless. For once. Isagi felt his heart pounding against his ribs. Beside him, even Nagi looked captivated.
The opening grew larger. And larger. Until they could finally see beyond it. Blue sky. Endless blue sky. A gentle breeze entered the bunker.
Fresh air.
Real air.
Not recycled. Not filtered.
Wild.
Free.
For a moment, nobody moved. Humanity stood at the edge of a forgotten world. And for the first time in seventy years—The Earth welcomed them back.
The doorway stood open behind them. The bunker lay at their backs, the world stretched before them. And still, nobody took the first step. Not because they were afraid. Because they understood what it meant. For seventy years, no human from the bunker had touched the Earth. The first footprint would become history.
Bachira looked around. Then his gaze landed on Isagi. "Yo, Isagi."
Isagi turned toward him. "What?"
Bachira pointed outside. "You should go first."
Several heads turned.
"What?"
Bachira shrugged. "Come on. You've always been the one leading us. You should be the first."
Isagi immediately shook his head. "There isn't any reason—"
"There is." This time, Nagi spoke.
Isagi looked at him. Nagi was standing beside him, hands resting on the straps of his backpack. His expression remained calm as always. But when their eyes met, Nagi gave a small nod. An agreement. "You should go." For some reason, hearing it from Nagi carried more weight. Around them, the others seemed to agree.
Reo nodded.
Kunigami crossed his arms but didn't object.
Yukimiya smiled slightly.
Chris looked amused.
Isagi glanced toward Noa. The older man simply said, "Your choice." Great. That wasn't helpful at all.
A nervous laugh escaped Isagi. His heart was pounding now, far harder than before. Because suddenly everyone was looking at him.
Waiting.
Expecting.
The first person.
The first step.
The first breath.
Slowly, Isagi turned toward the open doorway.
The sunlight warmed his face. The breeze brushed against his skin. Real wind. Not artificial ventilation. Not recycled air. Wind.
For a moment, he simply stood there. Then he began walking. One step. Two. Three. The sounds of the bunker faded behind him.
The grass came closer. Green. Bright. Alive. Nothing like the images from the archives. This felt real. Messy. Wild. Beautiful.
Isagi stopped at the edge of the doorway. For a brief second, he hesitated. Then he stepped forward. His boot sank slightly into the grass. Soft. The sensation startled him. The ground wasn't perfectly hard like the bunker floors. It wasn't metal, it wasn't concrete. The earth gave beneath his weight. Tiny blades of grass bent against his boots. Alive. The realization struck him unexpectedly.
This wasn't a simulation.
This wasn't a recording.
This was Earth.
His Earth.
Humanity's Earth.
For the first time in seventy years, one of them stood upon it. A strange emotion tightened his chest. Something between awe and disbelief. Slowly, Isagi crouched down. His hand reached toward the ground. The grass brushed against his fingertips.
Cool.
Soft.
Real.
He had seen pictures, read descriptions and studied countless educational files. None of them had prepared him for this. The grass moved gently beneath the wind. As if greeting him. Welcoming him. His throat suddenly felt tight.
Behind him, the entire bunker watched in silence. Nobody spoke. Nobody dared. This moment belonged to him. To all of them. To humanity.
Isagi slowly stood again. Then he took a deep breath, and froze. The air. The air was different. Completely different. Fresh. Clean. Filled with scents.
Earth.
Plants.
Flowers.
Water.
Life.
For his entire existence, he had breathed processed air. Filtered air. Manufactured air. This felt limitless.
The breath filled his lungs more deeply than anything he had ever experienced. For a second, he almost laughed. Because it felt ridiculous. How had humanity ever survived underground after experiencing this?
The sky stretched endlessly above him. A vast ocean of blue. No ceiling. No walls. No boundaries. Just space. Infinite space.
Isagi slowly lifted his head and stared. He stared so long that his neck began to hurt. Yet he couldn't look away. The sky seemed impossible. Too large, too open, too beautiful.
Clouds drifted lazily overhead. Birds flew in the distance. Actual birds. Not recordings. Not archived footage. Living creatures moving across the heavens.
His heart pounded harder. Behind him, he heard Bachira laugh softly. A stunned, breathless laugh. The kind someone made when words failed.
Isagi finally looked around. Rolling fields stretched beyond the bunker entrance. Forests covered distant hills. Trees towered toward the sky. A river glittered somewhere far away. And beyond everything—Ruins. Ancient structures swallowed by nature. Remnants of a forgotten world. Evidence that people had once lived here. That humanity had once ruled this land. For a long moment, Isagi simply stared, trying to take it all in. Trying to understand that this was real. Then he smiled. A genuine smile. The first one since arriving at the surface. And without looking back, he said quietly, "...You guys should see this."
Behind him, seven young guys immediately started moving forward. Ready to follow him into a world none of them had ever known. One by one, the others stepped through the doorway. Bachira was the first after Isagi. The moment his boots touched the grass, he burst out laughing. Not because anything was funny, but because he couldn't believe it. "This is real." His voice was barely above a whisper. "It's actually real." He crouched immediately, running both hands through the grass. The blades slipped between his fingers.
Soft.
Cool.
Alive.
Unlike anything he had ever touched before.
"How is this allowed?" he asked nobody in particular.
Reo sighed. "I don't think nature asks permission."
Bachira completely ignored him.
Nearby, Kurona slowly knelt beside a patch of wild flowers. He stared at them. Then poked one carefully. As if expecting it to disappear. "It moves."
Yukimiya laughed softly. "Plants tend to do that."
Kurona nodded seriously.
Kunigami walked several steps away from the group. His eyes remained fixed on the forest in the distance. The trees were enormous, far taller than anything inside the bunker. Their branches swayed gently beneath the wind. Leaves rustled softly. The sound was unlike anything he had ever heard.
No machinery.
No ventilation systems.
No engines.
Just nature. Pure and endless. For the first time, he understood how small he really was.
Nagi stood completely still, looking upward. The sky fascinated him. There was simply too much of it.
No walls.
No limits.
No ceiling.
It stretched forever.
The realization should have been uncomfortable. Instead, he found it strangely calming. A breeze brushed through his white hair, and he closed his eyes briefly. Feeling the warmth of the sun against his face. The sensation was impossible to describe. The archives had explained sunlight. The science behind it. The biological effects. But none of those explanations came close. This wasn't information. This was experience. And for once, Nagi understood the difference.
Behind them, a loud mechanical noise echoed across the field. Everyone turned. The bunker door was closing. Slowly. The massive steel structure began sealing itself once more. The opening narrowed. The figures of Noa, Chris, Lavinho, and the others disappeared behind the closing gap. For a brief moment, Isagi's stomach tightened. The bunker was all they had ever known. And now it was gone. Hidden once again beneath the Earth. The final section of the door locked into place. Silence followed. The eight young adults stood alone. Outside. For the first time in their lives.
Bachira looked around. "So. We own Earth now."
"No," Reo immediately replied. "We absolutely do not."
A flash of red caught Chigiri's attention. Something growing among the grass. Curious, he walked toward it.
The others followed. Nestled between patches of green stood a flower. Bright red. Its petals seemed almost luminous beneath the sunlight.
Beautiful.
Delicate.
Chigiri crouched down. For several seconds, he simply admired it. Then he carefully plucked it from the ground. Holding it between his fingers. The flower looked surprisingly small against his hand. Without much thought, he turned and held it out toward Kunigami.
Kunigami blinked. "...What?"
Chigiri shrugged. "It looked nice."
Bachira immediately started grinning. "Oh?"
"Oh?" Kunigami looked horrified. "Stop."
"Stop what?"
"Whatever you're thinking."
"I'm not thinking anything."
"You absolutely are."
"I'm definitely thinking something."
Kunigami rolled his eyes. Meanwhile, Chigiri remained completely unbothered. Simply holding out the flower. Eventually, Kunigami accepted it, awkwardly. As if it were some kind of explosive device.
The group immediately found this hilarious. Kunigami examined the flower, turning it carefully between his fingers. The petals were deep crimson. Almost the same color as Chigiri's hair. "What kind of flower is this?" Nobody answered immediately. Then Yukimiya stepped closer. He studied the flower for a moment. And recognition flashed across his face. "A poppy." Several heads turned. "A poppy?" Isagi repeated. Yukimiya nodded. "At least that's what it looks like. I remember seeing them in one of the old botanical archives." He gently touched one of the petals. "They've existed for thousands of years."
Bachira stared. "Wait. People used to spend time naming every flower?"
"Yes."
"That's amazing."
"That's normal."
"No, that's amazing."
The conversation continued as they walked through the field. Discovering new plants every few steps.
Flowers.
Bushes.
Tall grass.
Tiny insects.
Every detail felt extraordinary. Every discovery felt important. Because almost everything was new. Everything was alive. And for the first time since leaving the bunker, the expedition team began to relax. The Earth no longer felt like an unknown threat. It felt beautiful. Peaceful.
None of them noticed the distant figure watching from the top of a hill several kilometers away. A hunter returning home. A member of The Commander's people. And as he stared at the strange newcomers wandering through the field, confusion slowly appeared on his face. Because he had never seen clothes like theirs. Never seen equipment like theirs. Never seen people emerge from the ground itself. And he immediately knew one thing. The Commander needed to hear about this.
The hunter did not stay. The moment he spotted the strangers wandering through the fields, every instinct screamed at him to leave. He had watched them long enough to know one thing. They did not belong. Their clothes were wrong. Their equipment was wrong. Everything about them was wrong. And most importantly—They had come from the ground. The hunter had seen it with his own eyes. The giant metal structure hidden beneath the earth. The opening door. The strangers emerging from it. No story he knew could explain such a thing. So he ran.
Three hours later, the hunter reached home. The Tower rose above the surrounding settlements like a giant spear piercing the sky. Stone walls. Wooden fortifications. Watchtowers. Soldiers. The beating heart of their people. The hunter pushed through the gates without slowing. Several guards immediately noticed his condition.
Sweat.
Dust.
Exhaustion.
Urgency.
One stepped forward. "Ste bilaik?" (Are you alright?)
The hunter shook his head sharply. "Nou." (No.)
"I laik kom daunon." (I need the Commander.)
The guards exchanged glances. The Commander was not someone ordinary hunters could simply request. But something in the man's voice made them hesitate. "What happened?"
The hunter took a breath. Then said three words. "Osir kom graun." (People came from the ground.)
The guards stared. One frowned. Another looked genuinely confused.
The hunter continued. "I saw them. With my own eyes. They came out of the earth."
The guards immediately straightened. This was no longer a normal report. One of them nodded sharply. "Wait here."
The hunter did not have to wait long. Within minutes, the message had reached higher ranks. And once the words "people came from the ground" reached the command structure...Everything changed.
The hunter was escorted directly toward the Tower. Past soldiers. Past officers. Past civilians who moved aside as he hurried through the streets. Whispers followed him. Rumors spread quickly. Nobody knew the details. Only that an emergency report was being brought to the Commander.
At the very top of the Tower—Rin Itoshi was working.
The Commander's chamber was quiet. A large map occupied one wall. Reports were spread across a heavy wooden table. Rin sat near the open window. Reviewing patrol routes. Supply inventories. Border activity. The usual responsibilities of leadership. The room's door suddenly opened. Kiyora entered first. His expression remained calm. But Rin immediately noticed something unusual. "There is a hunter requesting an emergency audience."
Rin looked up. "A hunter?"
"Yes." Kiyora paused. "He claims strangers appeared from beneath the earth."
The room fell silent. Rin's eyes narrowed slightly. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Rin placed the report aside. "Bring him in."
The hunter entered moments later. The journey had left him exhausted. But he immediately dropped to one knee. "Gonplei, Heda." (Commander.)
Rin studied him carefully. The hunter was terrified. Not of punishment. Of what he had witnessed. That alone made the report worth hearing. "Speak."
The hunter swallowed. Then began. "I was hunting near the western fields. I noticed movement. I thought it was animals at first." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "But then the ground opened."
Rin's gaze sharpened. "The ground?"
"Yes. A giant metal structure. Bigger than any building I've ever seen." The hunter's voice grew more certain as he continued. "I hid and watched. People came out. They wore strange clothing. And they carried objects I couldn't identify. No markings from any clan." Even Kiyora was listening closely now. The hunter took a breath. Then delivered the detail that had haunted him for the last three hours. "They looked around like children seeing the world for the first time." Rin said nothing. The hunter continued. "They touched the grass, the trees, the flowers. As if they had never seen them before." A strange tension settled over the room. Because the story sounded impossible. And yet the hunter believed every word he was saying.
Rin could tell. The man wasn't lying. He was confused. Frightened. But not lying.
"How many?"
"Eight."
"Armed?"
"Not that I could see."
"Soldiers?"
"I don't know."
Rin leaned back slightly. Thinking. Analyzing. Eight unknown individuals. Emerging from underground. No known clan markings. Technology unlike anything currently used. The report made no sense. Which made it dangerous. Because things that didn't make sense were often the most dangerous.
Finally, Rin spoke. "Did they see you?"
"No."
"Good." The hunter visibly relaxed. Rin stood. The movement immediately drew everyone's attention. His teal eyes moved toward the map. Toward the western territory. Toward the location where the strangers had appeared. "They are still there?"
The hunter nodded. "Most likely."
Rin's expression remained unreadable. Cold. Focused. Then he gave his first order. "Send for Aiku." A pause. "Kiyora."
"Yes, Commander?"
"Find Lorenzo." Another pause. "And Karasu."
The hunter's stomach dropped. The Commander was mobilizing his most trusted people. Which meant he was taking the report seriously, very seriously. Rin's gaze returned to the distant horizon visible beyond the window.
Somewhere out there. Eight strangers were walking through his lands. People who claimed no clan. People who came from beneath the earth itself. Something truly unexpected had appeared in Rin Itoshi's world.
The summons spread quickly through the Tower. Within the hour, Rin's most trusted people had gathered. The council chamber occupied one of the highest floors of the Tower. Unlike the Commander's private quarters, this room had no comfort. No decorations. No luxury. Only a large wooden table surrounded by chairs and maps covering the walls. A room built for decisions. A room built for war. Or for problems. And tonight, Rin suspected he had both.
Aiku arrived first. The older man immediately noticed Rin's expression. Something unusual had happened. Kiyora entered next, taking his place silently. Then came Lorenzo. Followed by Karasu. Otoya slipped into the room a few moments later.
Charles arrived last. Naturally. The teenager pushed open the door without ceremony. "What's so important that I got dragged away from dinner?" Nobody answered. Charles took one look around the room. Then sat down. Immediately realizing this wasn't a normal meeting. Nanase followed shortly afterward and quietly took a seat near the end of the table.
When everyone had settled, Rin stood. "Hours ago, a hunter returned with an unusual report." That alone was enough to capture everyone's attention. Hunters rarely interrupted the Commander's schedule. For one to request an emergency audience... Something serious had happened. Rin continued. "He reported seeing eight unknown individuals."
Karasu raised an eyebrow. "Unknown how?"
Rin's gaze shifted toward him. "No clan markings. No known affiliations. No identifiable origin." That immediately earned several frowns.
Aiku crossed his arms. "There are no unknown groups in our territory."
"Exactly." Rin's response was immediate. And that single word made the room quiet. Because everyone understood what he meant. Something didn't fit. Rin continued. "The hunter claims they emerged from beneath the earth."
Several seconds passed. Then Charles burst out laughing. "What?" Nobody joined him. The teenager looked around. "...You're serious?" Rin didn't answer. Which was answer enough. Charles slowly stopped laughing.
Rin explained everything. The giant metal structure. The opening in the ground. The strangers. Their appearance. Their behavior. Every detail the hunter had provided. When he finished, nobody spoke immediately. The information was too strange. Too absurd. Too unexpected.
Finally, Lorenzo leaned back in his chair. "They could be lying."
"The hunter?" Aiku asked.
Lorenzo nodded. "People misinterpret things. Fear makes them see nonsense."
Karasu shook his head. "Not like that." Everyone turned toward him. Karasu tapped the table thoughtfully. "A giant metal structure? People emerging from underground? That's oddly specific." The assassin frowned. "If someone wanted to invent a story, they'd choose something more believable."
"Fair point," Aiku admitted.
Nanase shifted uneasily. "So...what if they're dangerous?" Nobody answered immediately. Because that was the real question. Not where they came from. Not who they were. Danger. Everything ultimately came back to danger.
Rin looked around the table. "We do not know their intentions. We do not know their capabilities. We do not know how many there are." The room remained silent. "We are operating with incomplete information." Which meant there was only one solution. Gather more information."
The map on the table flickered in the lantern light, marking the western fields where the strangers had been seen. Eight unknown people. From beneath the earth. Rin stood at the head of the table, teal eyes calm and unreadable as he absorbed the reports. Around him, the council waited.
Aiku leaned forward slightly. "If they really came from underground… then they’ve been hiding for decades. Maybe longer."
Karasu clicked his tongue. "Or they’re bait."
Lorenzo didn’t bother looking up. "Or prey."
Charles let out a bored sigh. "This is so dramatic. They’re just people."
Rin's gaze remained fixed on the map. Then he spoke. "They are not just people." Silence fell instantly. Because when Rin said something like that, it wasn’t speculation, it was conclusion.
Kiyora shifted slightly behind him. "Heda?"
Rin continued. "They have unknown technology. Unknown origin. Unknown strength." His fingers tapped lightly on the table. "And they entered our land without permission." Then, colder: "That alone makes them a threat."
Otoya tilted his head, interest sharpening. "So I go, watch them, report back… same as usual?"
Rin finally looked at him. Those teal eyes were steady. Measuring. Then—"No."
Otoya blinked once. Aiku frowned. "Then what are you asking him to do?"
Rin’s voice didn’t change. "You will find them." A pause. "You will observe. And you will capture one." The room went completely silent.
Charles straightened immediately. "Capture? Seriously?"
Karasu’s eyes narrowed. "Alive?"
Rin nodded once. "Alive."
Aiku exhaled slowly. "That escalated quickly."
"You want a souvenir?" Otoya asked.
Rin didn’t respond to the joke. His tone remained absolute. "We need answers. Observation is insufficient."
Aiku rubbed his forehead. "This is how wars start, you know."
Rin finally turned to him. "If they cannot survive capture… they will not survive this world." No one replied to that. Because no one could argue against it. Not here. Not in this place.
Otoya stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, alright." "So I find them, watch them, and bring one back. Preferably the pretty ones?"
"Focus," Karasu muttered.
"I am focused."
Kiyora stepped forward slightly. "You understand the risks?"
Otoya tilted his head. "Of course." Then he added, lighter: "I always come back."
Rin studied him for a moment longer. Then gave a single nod. "Go."
That was all Otoya needed. He turned toward the door, already shifting mentally into motion.
Maps.
Paths.
Shadows.
Distance.
Hunting.
Before he left, he paused just slightly. Without turning fully back, he asked: "Any special instructions if they resist?"
The room waited.
Rin’s answer came without hesitation. "Bring them anyway."
And with that, Otoya vanished into the corridor.
Far from the Tower, sunlight bathed the fields in gold. Bachira was laughing somewhere behind Isagi. Chigiri was still admiring the flowers. Nagi was watching the sky like it might answer him. They had no idea that they were no longer just explorers. They were now observed. Hunted. And somewhere in the distance, a man named Otoya moved through the forest, closing the space between worlds.
Unseen.
Unheard.
And already—Almost close enough to reach them.
___
Night had fallen over the land. The sky, once overwhelming in its brightness, had softened into deep shades of indigo and black. Stars scattered above them like distant sparks—endless and unfamiliar. The expedition team had set up a small camp near the edge of the forest. A fire crackled at its center. Its orange glow pushed back the darkness just enough to make the surrounding trees flicker between shadow and shape. It was the first fire any of them had ever built outside the bunker. The smell of burning wood filled the air. Real wood. Not synthetic fuel. Not controlled combustion. Just nature, transformed into warmth and light.
Kunigami turned a piece of roasted meat carefully over the flames. Bachira was already eating, completely unbothered. “This is actually insane,” he said between bites. “We’re eating something that used to run around freely.”
Reo sighed. “You say that like it’s poetic instead of disturbing.”
“It’s both!”
Chigiri sat a little closer to the fire, watching the flames reflect in his eyes. Yukimiya leaned back against a rock, arms crossed, quiet but alert. Kurona poked at the firewood. “It’s calming.”
Isagi sat slightly apart, watching the group. Thinking. Planning. Tomorrow would be for exploration again. Mapping the terrain. Testing water sources. Learning how far their reach extended beyond the bunker’s old coordinates.
Kunigami, sitting nearby, spoke without looking up. “We should train tomorrow.”
Isagi glanced at him. “Train?”
“Yeah.” Kunigami tilted his head slightly toward the dark forest. “We don’t know what’s out here. So we should be ready.”
Nagi nodded. “Annoying... But that part makes sense.”
Bachira grinned. “Outdoor training sounds fun.”
Reo frowned. “We’re not turning Earth into a playground.”
“Too late,” Bachira replied.
A short silence followed. Then Isagi exhaled. “Tomorrow we split into two groups. We explore further west and north. Mark safe zones. Collect more samples. Try to understand the ecosystem.”
Yukimiya nodded. “That’s logical.”
Nagi added calmly: “And avoid unnecessary risks.”
Kunigami glanced into the dark trees. “There’s a lot we don’t know yet.”
“Yeah,” Bachira said, smiling. “But that’s the fun part.”
Nobody answered that.
The fire began to lower. The wood was almost gone. Chigiri stood up first. “We need more.” He looked around. “Kunigami, come with me.” Kunigami nodded immediately. “Got it.”
Isagi looked up. “Stay in visual range. Don’t go too deep into the forest.”
Kunigami waved. “We’ll be quick.” Then he and Chigiri disappeared into the trees, their footsteps fading into the night.
A few seconds later, the fire crackled weaker. More wood was needed. Nagi stood up. “I’ll get more.”
Isagi looked at him. “Alone?”
Nagi nodded. “It’s close. I’ll be faster.” Before Isagi could respond, Nagi had already started walking toward the forest edge. Casual. Calm. As if the darkness had no meaning. As if the world had never been dangerous at all.
Above them, unseen in the branches of a thick tree, a shadow shifted. Otoya had been watching for a moment. Silent. Patient. He had studied all of them. Their behavior, their coordination, their lack of formation discipline. Too loose. Too untrained for soldiers. But too structured for ordinary civilians. Interesting. Especially one. The one now walking alone.
Otoya tilted his head slightly. "Perfect." He moved. No sound. No visible motion. Just disappearance.
Nagi walked deeper into the trees. The forest at night was different.
More alive. Crickets. Wind. Leaves shifting.
He stopped briefly, looking up at the canopy. “…This place is loud.” He said it like an observation, not a complaint. Then he continued. Behind him, Otoya followed step for step. Distance perfect. Breathing controlled. He watched the boy carefully. Calm posture. No fear. No urgency. Strong awareness—but not enough.
Otoya smiled slightly. “Too relaxed,” he murmured under his breath. Trigedasleng slipped quietly from his lips. “Yu ste yu laik gon wan kru?” (Are you one of the Grounders’ people / Are you part of a Grounder clan?)
No answer came. Of course not.
Otoya continued following. Closer now.
The trees thickened. The light from the camp disappeared behind them. Only moonlight remained. And the target walked on. Nagi finally stopped. He tilted his head slightly. “…Weird.” Then softly: “I feel like there's... something." Behind him, Otoya froze instantly. Still. Even his breathing stopped for a moment. Nagi remained standing there. Listening. The forest answered only with wind. Slowly, Otoya resumed movement. One step closer. Then another. Careful now.
After a moment, Otoya decided there was no more need for observation. He stepped out from the shadows, fast. A blade flashed briefly in his hand as he moved behind Nagi. A clean strike aimed for the back of the head. A knockout. Efficient. But Nagi reacted on instinct. He ducked. The attack sliced through empty air. For the first time, surprise flickered across his face.
“…Huh?” Nagi turned slowly. And saw him. A stranger. Standing in the dark between the trees. That should have been impossible. “Who—”
Nagi started. His voice calm, but alert. Not fear.
Assessment.
“What are you doing here?” It wasn’t panic. It was curiosity. Like Isagi would have done.
A question. An attempt at understanding.
Otoya clicked his tongue. “Too slow.” He didn’t answer. He moved again instead. This time faster. Nagi barely raised his arm in time to block the strike. The impact sent a sharp shock through his body. Strong. Too strong for a normal human.
Nagi slid back one step, eyes narrowing slightly. “…You’re not from the bunker.”
Otoya didn’t respond. He attacked again. Short movements. Precise angles. A trained killer’s rhythm. Nagi defended as best as he could, adapting quickly, reading patterns, trying to match the speed—but the environment worked against him. Uneven ground. Darkness. No space. Otoya was better here. He used the forest like a weapon.
A quick feint. A strike to the side.
Nagi barely blocked. Then another. Faster. Closer. “Come with me,” Otoya said casually between attacks. As if it was an invitation, not an order. Nagi frowned. “Why would I—” He tried to extend the conversation again. To understand. To delay. But Otoya cut him off immediately with another sharp strike that forced him back into defense. “Stop talking.”
Another attack. Then another. Nagi managed to land a counter, hitting Otoya’s arm—but it wasn’t enough. The spy barely reacted, twisting away with a grin. “Good,” Otoya muttered. “You can move.” Then he stopped holding back. The next sequence was faster than anything Nagi had faced before.
A blur of motion.
A misdirection.
A sudden shift behind him.
Before Nagi could fully adjust, Otoya struck the side of his head with the flat of his weapon. Not meant to kill. Just to end it. Nagi staggered, his vision blurred for a split second. He tried to steady himself. But the forest tilted. The world slowed. And Otoya stepped closer, catching him before he fell too loudly. “Got you,” he whispered. Nagi’s body went slack. And everything went dark. Otoya exhaled softly, adjusting the unconscious boy over his shoulder. “Mission complete.” Then he turned toward the trees. And disappeared deeper into the night.
___
The fire had burned lower. The conversation around it had faded into silence. Most of the group assumed Nagi would return at any moment carrying an armful of wood and his usual indifferent expression. Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen. No one said anything at first. Until Isagi finally looked toward the forest, a frown forming on his face. "Nagi's taking a while."
Kunigami glanced up. "He probably found a larger pile."
"Maybe." But Isagi wasn't convinced. Nagi wasn't the type to wander aimlessly. Another five minutes passed. Still nothing. The uneasy feeling in Isagi's stomach grew. Finally, he stood. "Nagi should be back by now."
That got everyone's attention. Bachira stopped playing with a stick. Yukimiya looked toward the trees. Reo checked his watch. Twenty minutes. Far too long for gathering firewood. "Let's go find him," Isagi said. Nobody argued.
The group spread out carefully. Not enough to lose sight of one another. Just enough to cover more ground. Their flashlights cut through the darkness. The forest looked completely different at night. Shadows stretched between the trees. Branches twisted overhead. Every sound seemed louder. Every movement more suspicious. "Nagi!" Bachira called. No answer.
"Nagi!" Kunigami's voice echoed through the woods. Nothing.
The only response came from the wind.
Twenty minutes later, they still hadn't found him. No footprints. No supplies. No signs of struggle. Nothing.
The forest seemed to have swallowed him whole. The group slowly regrouped near a large fallen tree. Everyone looked increasingly concerned. Even Bachira wasn't smiling anymore.
Isagi clenched his fists. "This doesn't make sense." His voice was tight. Controlled. Barely. "Nagi wouldn't just disappear."
Nobody disagreed. Because they all knew it. He wasn't the type to wander off. Especially not on their first day. Isagi looked deeper into the darkness. As if he could somehow force the forest to give him answers. "We keep looking."
Yukimiya immediately shook his head. "Isagi."
"No. We keep looking." Isagi said.
"Listen to me." Yukimiya stepped closer. His tone remained calm. Reasonable. "We can't see anything. We don't know this terrain. We have limited equipment. And we're exhausted."
Isagi looked away. Not convinced. Not even close.
Bachira spoke next. Something he rarely did when things became serious. "We'll find him tomorrow." The words sounded wrong. Almost cruel. But Bachira continued anyway. "At sunrise. We'll cover more ground. We'll see tracks. We'll actually be able to search."
Isagi's jaw tightened. "And if something happened to him?" Silence. Nobody answered immediately. Because that was the fear everyone shared. Finally Isagi looked around at them. One by one. "Something happened. I'm telling you. Nagi didn't just vanish." His voice had become sharper. More emotional. "Nagi would have come back. He would have found us. He would have answered." Nobody could deny that. Because Isagi was right.
Chigiri stepped forward. "Or he got lost." Isagi immediately looked at him. Chigiri held his gaze. "The forest is huge. We've never been outside before. We don't know directions. We don't know landmarks. He could have wandered farther than intended. That's all."
Isagi wanted to argue. Wanted to reject the possibility. But part of him knew Chigiri wasn't being unreasonable. The problem was that it didn't feel right. None of this felt right.
Nagi getting lost? Maybe.
Nagi disappearing completely? No.
Something about it bothered him. Deeply. Instinctively.
Reo finally spoke. "We need to think clearly." No one interrupted. "If we continue searching now, we risk losing someone else." That hit harder than expected. Because it was true. The darkness was becoming a problem. The forest was becoming a problem. And if one person disappeared... A second could. Then a third. Then all of them.
Kurona nodded. "Too dark. Way too dark."
Kunigami exhaled heavily. "I hate it."
The group fell silent again. The weight of the decision pressing down on everyone.
Eventually, Isagi lowered his head. Not because he agreed. Because he knew they were right. Tomorrow they would search every corner of this forest if they had to. Tomorrow they would find Nagi. They had to. Slowly, Isagi looked toward the darkness one final time. The trees stood motionless. And somewhere beyond them, hidden by the night, Nagi was gone. For the first time since stepping onto Earth, genuine fear settled over the camp. Not fear of the unknown world. Not fear of wild animals. Not fear of nature. Fear for one of their own.
The camp had gone quiet. Nobody was sleeping. The disappearance of Nagi hung over them. Sitting near the dying fire, Isagi suddenly grabbed his radio. A thought had crossed his mind. If Nagi was lost, he would answer. If he was injured, he would answer. If he was anywhere nearby, he would answer.
Isagi pressed the communication button. "Nagi." Static. "Nagi, this is Isagi." Nothing. His grip tightened. "Nagi, answer me." Only the crackling of interference replied.
The others watched silently. Isagi tried again. And again. And again. No response. Not a single word. Not a single sound. At that moment, something cold settled in his chest. Nagi wasn't ignoring them. Something had happened. He was certain of it now.
Immediately, Isagi switched frequencies. "The bunker should still be listening."
Reo nodded. "They told us to maintain communication."
Isagi pressed the button. "This is Expedition Team One requesting contact." Static. "Noa, do you copy?" Nothing. "Chris?" Still nothing. "Lavinho?" Only silence. The radio hissed uselessly in his hand.
Yukimiya frowned. "Try again."
Isagi did. Several times. Every frequency. Every channel. Nothing worked. No answer came from the bunker. None.
The realization made everyone's expression darken. Their only connection to home had vanished.
An hour later, the group stood before the massive metal door hidden within the hillside. The bunker entrance. The place they had emerged from that morning. It looked just as imposing as before.
Cold.
Sealed.
Isagi stepped forward. He entered the access code they had been given. Nothing happened. Reo tried. Nothing. Then Kunigami. Still nothing.
The giant door remained motionless. As if it didn't even recognize their existence. The bunker wasn't opening.
Slowly, the truth settled over the group. Nagi was gone. Their radios didn't work. The bunker wasn't responding. And the only way home was sealed shut. For the first time since stepping onto Earth, they felt completely alone. Completely cut off. And as Isagi stared at the giant metal door, one thought repeated itself over and over. This wasn't an accident. Something was wrong.
___
Nagi woke to stone. Cold stone beneath him. Cold stone around him. The first thing he noticed was the headache. The second was the silence. Slowly, he opened his eyes. A small cell greeted him.
Stone walls.
Iron bars.
A narrow cot.
A bucket in the corner.
No windows. No obvious exit. For several moments, he simply stared at the ceiling.
Processing.
Forest.
Wood.
A stranger. A fight. Then darkness.
"...Oh." So he had been captured. That was annoying.
Unlike most people, Nagi didn't panic.
Panic solved nothing.
Panic wasted energy.
Instead, he sat up slowly and studied his surroundings.
Prison.
Definitely prison.
That told him everything he needed to know.
These people weren't friendly. They weren't interested in introductions. And they certainly weren't interested in cooperation. If they were, he wouldn't be behind bars.
His thoughts immediately drifted toward Isagi. If Isagi had been here, he would've started asking questions already. Trying to understand. Trying to negotiate. Trying to create an opportunity. Nagi understood that approach. But right now? There was no point. The people who kidnapped him had already made the first move. And it wasn't a peaceful one.
A moment, footsteps echoed through the corridor. Nagi looked up. The same man from the forest appeared.
Otoya. Though Nagi didn't know his name yet. The spy stopped outside the cell.
"You're awake." Silence.
"Good." Still silence.
Otoya leaned against the bars. "Let's try this again."
Nothing. Nagi simply looked at him. Watching. Evaluating. The same way he had evaluated opponents his entire life.
Otoya found it mildly irritating. Most prisoners talked. They shouted. Threatened. Begged. Asked questions.
This one simply stared.
"What's your name?" Silence.
"Where did you come from?" Nothing.
"Who are the others?" No response.
Otoya sighed. "You know, conversations usually involve two people."
Nagi blinked. Then returned to staring.
This was becoming annoying. "Fine." Otoya straightened. "No more easy questions."
Nagi remained unmoved. Otoya continued. "You appeared on our land. You entered territory that belongs to our Commander. You have equipment nobody recognizes."
Still nothing.
At this point, Otoya was beginning to understand something. The prisoner wasn't refusing because he was scared. He genuinely didn't care. Which somehow made things worse.
Otoya stepped closer to the bars. His playful attitude disappeared. "If you don't answer..." He let the sentence hang. A deliberate threat.
Most people filled in the blank themselves.
Most people imagined consequences.
Most people became nervous.
Nagi simply looked at him.
Expression unchanged.
"...Okay."
That wasn't the reaction Otoya expected. He narrowed his eyes. "You understand you're a prisoner, right?"
Silence. "You understand your situation is bad?"
Nagi finally spoke. The first words since waking up. "You kidnapped me."
Otoya blinked. That wasn't what he'd expected either.
"You brought me to a prison." Nagi's voice remained calm. Flat. Matter-of-fact. "So obviously we're enemies."
Silence filled the corridor. Otoya stared at him. The response was so simple that it caught him completely off guard. "That's your conclusion?"
"Yes."
"Nothing else?"
"No."
Otoya rubbed his forehead. This was somehow more difficult than interrogating actual soldiers. He decided to try pressure again. "Your friends won't find you." Nothing. "We know where they are." No reaction. "We could capture them too."
Still nothing. Not fear. Not anger. Nothing. Nagi simply sat there, watching him. As if Otoya's threats were weather reports. Interesting information. But not information worth reacting to. Eventually, Otoya sighed heavily. "You are unbelievably stubborn."
Nagi tilted his head slightly. For the first time, something resembling amusement appeared in his eyes. A tiny amount, barely noticeable. "Maybe."
Otoya finally understood. This wasn't someone he could intimidate. Not easily. Threats bounced off him. Fear didn't work. Pressure didn't work. And the more Otoya talked, the more it felt like Nagi was silently judging him. Which was somehow worse.
After a long moment, Otoya pushed himself away from the bars. "Fine." He started walking toward the exit. "We'll try something else."
Nagi didn't stop him. Didn't ask where he was going. Didn't ask what would happen next.
The spy glanced back one final time. The prisoner had already leaned against the wall again.
Calm.
Silent.
Waiting.
As if being imprisoned by strangers wasn't enough to disturb him.
Otoya shook his head. "You're weird." And he disappeared around the corner. Leaving Nagi alone in the darkness, waiting for whatever came next.
The prison had become quiet again after Otoya's departure. Only the occasional sound of distant footsteps echoed through the stone corridors. Nagi sat against the wall of his cell. The people here clearly wanted information The question was how far they were willing to go to obtain it.
A while later, footsteps approached again. Two sets this time. Steady. Purposeful. Not Otoya. Nagi looked up. Two figures emerged from the shadows. One of them he recognized immediately. Kiyora. He had seen him briefly while being escorted through the Tower.
The second person, however, was new. And immediately different. Nagi noticed it before the man even spoke. He was younger. And his clothes... Everyone he had seen so far wore practical outfits suited for soldiers, hunters, or scouts. This man's clothing was more elaborate. Not luxurious. Authority didn't need luxury. But distinct. Recognizable. Made to be seen. Made to remind others who he was. And unlike the others, he carried himself with absolute confidence. Certainty. The kind that came from being obeyed. Nagi immediately understood. "Commander." This had to be him.
The two men stopped outside the cell. The newcomer studied him silently. Teal eyes. Sharp. Cold. Nagi met his gaze without hesitation. Neither looked away. For a few moments, the prison corridor became completely silent. Then the Commander spoke.
"You came from beneath the earth." Not a question. A statement. Nagi said nothing. The Commander continued. "How many people are down there?"
Silence.
"What is the structure?" Nothing.
"How long have you lived there?" No response.
The questions came one after another. But Nagi remained completely silent. The same strategy he had used with Otoya. The same strategy he intended to keep using. To his surprise, the Commander didn't seem bothered. Not annoyed. Not frustrated. If anything, he looked mildly interested. Then the Commander turned toward Kiyora, and spoke in a language Nagi had never heard before. "Gon op. Ai laik ste nou em bilaik." (Leave. I want to be alone with him.)
Kiyora hesitated only briefly. Then nodded. "Yu gaf, Heda." (As you wish, Commander.)
Without another word, he walked away. His footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Leaving only Nagi and the Commander. Alone.
The silence returned. Then something unexpected happened. The Commander reached for the cell door. The lock clicked. The metal gate slowly opened. Nagi's eyes narrowed slightly. The Commander stepped inside.
No weapons drawn.
No visible concern.
The door remained open behind him. For several seconds, neither moved. The atmosphere changed instantly. Tighter. Sharper.
The Commander stood only a few steps away now. Close enough that Nagi could clearly see his face. Close enough to understand why everyone obeyed him. There was something unsettling about him. Not because he looked threatening. Because he looked calm. Far too calm.
Nagi slowly stood. The movement was automatic. Instinctive. If the Commander was entering the cell, sitting down felt wrong. The moment he rose to his feet, the tension became immediate.
Neither looked away.
Neither stepped back.
The distance between them suddenly felt very small.
The Commander spoke first. "You aren't scared."
Nagi blinked. Of all the questions he expected, that wasn't one of them. Still, he didn't answer.
The Commander tilted his head slightly. "Most prisoners are."
Another few seconds passed, then Nagi finally spoke. "Most prisoners probably weren't kidnapped for collecting wood."
The Commander's eyes narrowed slightly. Interested. Not offended. "You talk after all."
Nagi shrugged. "Sometimes."
Then he asked the question that truly mattered. "Who are you?" The cell became silent once more. Nagi looked directly into those teal eyes. And for the first time since his capture, he felt something unusual. Recognition.
Because the man standing before him wasn't like Otoya. Wasn't like the guards. Wasn't like anyone else he had met today. This was the person making decisions. The person giving orders. The person who probably was responsible for his capture. And somehow, Nagi suspected that this conversation would matter far more than any interrogation.