As Kuro sifted through the items in his room, stacked neatly in cardboard boxes, his hands brushed against a worn-out diary. The moment his fingers touched the cover, his expression twisted, as if he'd stumbled upon something grotesque.
"Ugh," he muttered, frowning deeply.
Reluctantly, he flipped open a random page. The scrawled handwriting sent a chill down his spine:
March 12, 1756
I didn't do it. I don't even remember what happened two days ago. Mom still hasn't come back from the hospital. They're whispering that I did something—to her, to my friends—but I swear, I don't know anything. Dad's the worst. I hate him.
Kuro's grip faltered as he slammed the diary shut and hurled it across the room. A pitiful smile crept onto his face.
"So much for something interesting," he sneered under his breath.
"I'm making sandwiches! Want some?" Ilya's voice rang out from the kitchen.
"No, enjoy them yourself," he retorted, his tone sharp.
As he stood, his eyes wandered to the window. Two sleek, black cars were parked ominously at the building's entrance. His heart skipped a beat, his gaze narrowing as recognition flashed across his face. And then—the doorbell rang.
"Ilya, go to your room. Don't come out until I say so!" Kuro shouted, bolting toward the door.
"But why, who is at the door"
"Just do as I say" Kuro shouted
He slowly opened it, revealing an elderly man with white hair and a meticulously trimmed beard, accompanied by a younger man—a striking figure with silver hair that fell lazily over one eye. His chiselled face, combined with a towering, muscle-bound frame, exuded raw power even through his formal suit.
"Are you not going to invite us in, Mr. Kurozumi?" the old man asked in a deep, measured voice.
Kuro's reply was ice-cold.
"Who are you, and what do you want?"
The older man's smile didn't waver.
"All your questions will be answered. Let us talk calmly, shall we?"
Reluctantly, Kuro led them inside. The old man settled into the sofa, his composed demeanour at odds with the tension in the room. The younger man stood rigid behind him, flanked by two others, all radiating an air of authority.
"Now, answer me. Who are you?" Kuro's voice was firm, but his hands betrayed him, clenching into fists.
The old man leaned forward slightly.
"I am Brog, the representative of Lumine in the United Front of Nations. And this," he gestured to the man standing behind him, "is Arthur, captain of the strongest Rangers Squad in Lumine."
Kuro's expression darkened.
"Why are you here?"
"Ah, straight to the point," Brog said, an unsettling smile creeping across his face.
"We are here to recruit you, Mr. kurozumi . As one of the Rangers."
Kuro's voice turned harsh, laced with disbelief.
"Stop spouting nonsense. I'm not a retainer."
Brog's smile only widened.
"And yet, how do you explain your miraculous transformation? A frail, stick-thin body just the other day, now brimming with muscle—within so much as a day."
Kuro froze. His eyes widened; his voice faltered.
"You… you know something, don't you? Tell me."
Brog's expression shifted, his eyes gleaming.
"Let us start from the basics Mr. Kurozumi, as you may know about the King who ruled Lumine two Centuries ago wished to rule the whole world as one"
Kuro nodded warily, as if the story's weight bore down on him.
Brog continued, his tone grave.
"For that he wanted to win over the other 3 nations of the world, but that could not be achieved through normal means, so he sought otherworldly Inhumane powers, He experimented on various things and as a result of one of the experiments he opened a dimensional rift to the otherworld."
Kuro listened intently, his fists clenching tighter.
"some say it was the devils doing but none of it matters, He gained immense strength and tried to seize control of the 3 nations, it is still unknow what stopped him but he failed in his pursuit, It was not long after his death that the dimensional rifts started appearing out randomly all around the world, The rifts brought up a tree which grows at astounding speed and as it matures it engulfs all the area around it with its roots and soon enough weird plants start growing out of nowhere turning the once habitable land into a piece of forest where even sunlight can't reach." He paused for a moment then continued,
"It produces a pollen when it matures which is highly dangerous to humans if inhaled it causes several reactions causing disfigurement and some unknown phenomenon which makes human bodies green, giving them unknow powers"
"We call those people as Withered ones, but some humans gain the extraordinary inhumane powers without showing any of those features these individuals are called Retainers"
Kuro's voice dripped with frustration.
"What does that have to do with me? Don't try to avoid the question you old geezer"
The room fell silent as Brog stared into Kuro's eyes, his voice dropping to a chilling tone.
"We believe you were exposed to the pollen as a child. You didn't change outwardly, but your powers lie dormant. You were imprisoned for eight years—because they believe you killed your mother and friends."
"Shut up…" Kuro growled; his face flushed with anger. He slammed his hands onto the table, sending a crack echoing through the room.
The tension escalated as the men behind Brog raised their guns. Arthur was standing right behind Kuro, he could feel his intimidating presence from his toes to his head, but he couldn't even see him move,
"Enough," Brog commanded, his voice cutting through the air.
"Arthur, stand down."
"Yes, sir," Arthur replied, his tone disciplined.
Before anyone could speak further, a man burst through the door, "Sir, we have a problem! Forbidden Zone C12—communication with the Rangers team that entered two hours ago was cut off."