The roar of the monstrous creature echoed through the streets of Tokyo, a stark contrast to the usual hum of city life. Izumi Kai, a junior high school student at the time, scrambled for cover, his heart pounding against his ribs like a trapped bird. The creature, a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and fury, seemed unstoppable. Just as its massive claw descended towards him, a figure in white materialized, a whirlwind of motion and light. With an almost supernatural grace, she dispatched the monster, the air shimmering with residual energy. Kai, stunned and awestruck, could only glimpse her retreating form as she vanished amidst the smoke and fire. He vaguely remembered her words, echoing in his mind: "You have potential."
The encounter left an indelible mark on Kai. He couldn't shake the image of the girl in white, her strength and compassion a beacon in the face of terror. Later that day, his parents revealed a secret they had kept hidden for years. They were not from Earth, but from a dimension called Firstraum. They had come to Earth under the guise of working for the Air Armament Service (AAS), a cover for their true mission. His father, a retired General, had wanted to wait until Kai graduated college before revealing the truth, but the monster attack had forced their hand. Kai also learned he had a sister, but she had no interest in the interdimensional affairs of their family.
The revelation led Kai to a clandestine meeting with General Lindy Harlown. He wasn't alone. His school friends, Yoshitaka Fuji and Hakone Renjou, were also present with their parents. All three boys were destined for Midchilda's military training program. They excelled, achieving the rank of Sergeant simultaneously. Fuji wielded a device that manifested a suit reminiscent of an emperor, while Renjou's suit was knightly in style. Kai, however, was still using a generic device. No intelligent device seemed to resonate with him, a source of quiet frustration.
Their training culminated in a mission to apprehend a suspect carrying a dangerous item. The target was holed up in an abandoned building. The mission began smoothly enough.
"Tango Team, status," Fuji reported.
"Tango Four, no sign of the suspect," a TSAB member responded.
The reports continued in the negative, until Kai's turn. "Tango Five, no sig—"
A scream ripped through the night air, emanating from the fifth floor of a nearby block. Kai and two other TSAB members, closest to the location, rushed towards the sound. They found the suspect, but he was unlike anything they had ever encountered. He was a grotesque mutant, a hybrid of human and animal, his eyes filled with a primal rage.
The suspect lunged, tearing through the two TSAB members. Kai was left alone to face the creature. His attacks were useless, the mutant's flesh seemingly impervious to damage.
Yet, Kai's agility allowed him to dodge the creature's savage blows. He saw an opportunity and plunged his device into the mutant's core.
Suddenly, darkness engulfed him.
"Wha-what the?!" Kai exclaimed, disoriented.
"...Do you want power?..." a mysterious voice echoed, the words laced with an eerie quality.
"Who is it?!" Kai demanded.
"...Do you want power?..." the voice repeated.
"...Looks like it's pointless to ask... What power?" Kai muttered, trying to make sense of the situation.
"It's an upgrade for your intelligence device.... do you want it?..." the voice replied.
"....What kind of upgrade are you offering?" Kai asked cautiously.
"...Do you want it?...." the voice pressed.
"...sigh... won't answer, eh... okay fine, I want it. What do you want in return?" Kai conceded, realizing the futility of his questions.
"The deal is done," the voice stated.
"What?!" Kai exclaimed, surprised.
A heavy sensation washed over him, his eyelids becoming impossibly heavy. He collapsed to the ground. Fuji and Renjou arrived to find the suspect subdued, but their attention was immediately drawn to Kai. He was unconscious, his weapon and outfit drastically different. He now wore a long black coat and blue pants. His device pulsed with an unsettling life, its eye blinking rhythmically. When Kai awoke, he had no memory of the exchange. He looked at his device and asked its name.
"Soul Edge," it responded.
A research team meticulously examined Kai and his device. They found nothing unusual, a perplexing mystery. When Kai used Soul Edge, it felt like any other device. Fuji and Renjou often asked him what it was like, but Kai could only describe it as normal. Unbeknownst to him, Soul Edge was more than just a weapon; it was a living entity, a beast bound to his will.
Four years later, Fuji, Renjou, and Kai had achieved the rank of Lieutenant. Commander Yagami Hayate, taking a special interest in their abilities, invited them to join Riot Force 6, a unit under her command. Riot Force 6 was a special task force comprised of hand-picked members from various battalions, all selected by Commander Yagami herself. Having received the necessary clearances, the three Lieutenants finally arrived at the Riot Force 6 headquarters, marking the beginning of their service with the elite unit.
"So this is Riot Force 6, eh..." Renjou commented, surveying the base.
"Well, this is our new base and our new Commander. I guess we need to know why she's interested in us," Fuji added.
"You've finally come. I've been waiting for you," a familiar voice greeted them.
It was Takamachi Nanoha, the 1st Air Captain. She welcomed them to Riot Force 6 and personally assessed their abilities, tactics, and skills in a mock battle. Nanoha, an ace among aces, defeated all three of them. Kai, Fuji, and Renjou were given the codename "Forward Phantom" by Commander Yagami. She envisioned them as a special elite team, operating behind the scenes, a secret weapon in her arsenal.
Riot Force 6 grew, adding members like Ginga Nakajima, Subaru's older sister from Battalion 108, and others. They also took in a child rescued by Nanoha, a girl named Vivio. Tragedy struck when the Numbers attacked, capturing Vivio and Ginga, who was revealed to be a Type Zero cyborg. The loss devastated the team, especially Nanoha, who had grown to love Vivio as her own.
The climax arrived during the final mission to rescue Vivio and Ginga, and to capture Jail Scaglietti. The battle took place within the Saint's Cradle.
"This is Phantom One, area clear," Fuji reported.
"Phantom Two, enemy exterminated," Renjou confirmed.
"Phantom Three, all clear. Now it's up to Captain Takamachi and Captain Vita," Kai stated.
Suddenly, an eerie laugh echoed around Kai. He scanned his surroundings, but the source of the sound was too elusive. He tried to contact Fuji and Renjou, sensing something was wrong, but the voice grew closer, the laughter more chilling.
"...I found you..." the voice whispered from behind him.
Kai swung Soul Edge, but his blade met only air. Panic began to set in. The eerie laughter continued, sending shivers down his spine. Then, something strange happened. Soul Edge began to writhe, snarling as it flung Kai aside. The weapon flew towards the unseen presence. The figure, cloaked and obscured, caught Soul Edge effortlessly, revealing a bizarre form.
"....Your contract with Soul Edge is finished... And your name shall be mine..." the figure proclaimed.
The figure lowered his hood, revealing a face identical to Kai's. It was his doppelganger, an artificial mage. Before Kai could react, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. A wound had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Fuji and Renjou arrived, but Kai, realizing the danger, warned them to stay back. Another slash, this time across his face, blinded him and sent him crashing to the ground.
Fuji and Renjou were stunned. The doppelganger, calling himself Izumi Kai, vanished as quickly as he had appeared, using a technique similar to Kai's own, Shadow Dive. Fuji and Renjou rushed the real Kai to the medical team just before the Saint's Cradle began to collapse.
(To be continued)