There are few things more tragic than a cause that has no power to support it.That was the case now.I don’t know what words or deeds Ken Sasaki used to move people’s hearts.Nor am I particularly curious.But one thing is clear—the countless chain reactions that followed him.The overflowing regrets and resentments that would come in their wake.So if you asked me whether I think poorly of what he did,I could give you a definite answer:“He did well.”He stirred the winds.He sparked an altruistic idea that could never exist in such an extreme individualistic society.That is a spark.And someday—if more people are moved by that stubborn idealist’s will and begin to act,and if those who are saved by them start to share that same conviction—then the moment will come when that cause finally gains the strength to uphold itself.The spark will become flame, and spread like wildfire.And when wildfire begins to spread, it doesn’t go out easily.No one can say how far the flames will reach.That is what I desire most—the singularity, the butterfly effect,the moment that overturns hundreds or thousands of predetermined futures.Perhaps that is why I feel so many emotions toward these people.“Already leaving?”“...Sir…”A voice laced with anxiety clings to my ankles.When I look back, countless gazes are fixed upon me.“I hope all of you survive to the very end.”My steps begin toward the hunt—toward the anomaly, [Mountain].There will be no coming back.There isn’t much time left to hesitate anyway.But such steps are open to interpretation.The little boy looks up at me with confused eyes.“You’re from Ark, right? Then why are you running away?”“……”One of the Eastern Team 3 members steps in to stop him.“He’s not running away.”His voice trails off with a complicated look.And the others?Their faces say it all—some confused, some disappointed, some burdened.But none could bring themselves to stop me.Among them, the one who drew my attention most was an old man.“Get it together, all of you! He’s going to report our situation to the Ark forces!The Ark division will come to save us!”His gruff voice carried not a hint of doubt.I wondered why…but decided not to ask.If I did, I might delay what must be done.When I turned my eyes away, they met those of a middle-aged woman.She still seemed unsure whether the stories she’d heard about me were true.But I had no intention of proving who I was—it would be meaningless persuasion.All I could do was give them a breath of relief.“If that thing disappears… will there be hope?”“That… depends.”“It’s important.”“At the very least, if that one creature’s gone, we might be able to try something.”Recalling that conversation, I give her a silent nod.Boris—caught off guard—nods back.A small burden lifts from my heart.“When I return, I’ll increase the broadcasts. Explain how to deal with these creatures more clearly…”It’s about time to finish this.Even if countless gazes tried to hold me back,I walked forward without hesitation.The creature’s location wasn’t far.According to the last report from the shelter’s scouts,it had made its nest nearby, devouring its own kind.Would it still be there?I wondered.And that wonder came mixed with anger.If the source of all this tragedy turned out not to be powerful at all—then that would be far too unsatisfying.***“...Sir.”“Yes.”“Are you sure you’re all right?”His body was swollen and battered.The young man grimaced as he spoke, words spat out like grit.“What can I do? It’s not like I can take a break.”“I’m just worried you’ll collapse at this rate.”A group of dozens trudged through the dark,illuminating their path with flashlights as though it were routine.The young man wondered—would this ever end?“I’m going insane.”A wearisome, exhausting struggle without end.Even if he rested a little, no one would blame him.So why did he keep pushing himself so hard?He couldn’t answer even himself.So he asked instead:“Hey.”“Yes?”“What we’re doing… it’s necessary, right?”“Of… of course.”“Right. Someone’s got to do it.”“Well…”“That’s why we’re doing it.”“……”No one replied.Because everyone already shared his conviction.“To be honest, I don’t even know why I’m doing this anymore.”He finished with a voice lacking confidence.But everyone knew the reason—everyone except the young man himself.“Still… we’re civil servants, aren’t we?”Ken Sasaki.From the moment he left the Central Control Centerand moved to the Ant Cave Shelter—not once had he stopped moving.Pinned to his chest was the emblem of the Mayor.“I just… can’t stay still,knowing there are still people out there desperately waiting for us.”***As I start up the Black Wing,Wrrrrrr—someone else climbs onto the seat.Caw!“Hm?”A crow—I think its name was Cookie.“Go back to your master.”But the crow doesn’t budge.‘It’ll go back on its own. Smart bird.’I didn’t have time to wrestle with it.The sun was already setting.If I delayed any longer, I’d have to spend the night here.I rise into the air.Whooooom—!!Below, the children wave their hands.The one who’d followed me before just stares blankly upward.Now that I think of it,I still don’t even know his name.But sentimentality aside—I just hoped they’d stay here a little longer.At least until I found the anomaly.Until I slaughtered it.I didn’t want them to think I’d run away and feel despair.That would be too cruel for children.Judging by the size of that monster,it’s probably still guarding its territory.If it’s still there,it means it hasn’t dared to leave the Egg residential zone.“Last confirmed location: [Electronics Industrial District].Only 500 meters from here.”The buildings are large, hard to scout from the air.But I don’t need to scout—I’m here to hunt.Circling above, I quickly arrive over the districtand hurl a round flare toward the ground.Fweeeee—!!Light floods the darkness—and there it is.A massive shape.[MOUNTAIN].The instant I face it, two feelings collide within me:relief—at finding it so soon,and fury—at realizing such a wretched creature caused so much destruction.It lifts its head toward the sky,snarling at the shrill sound.“Phew.”KUOOOOOOOOO!!That sound—no longer a mammoth’s cry.The thing roared, frenzied.Its shoulders alone were four meters high.Including the head, even taller.A beast of such brute force it could crush buildings with weight alone.One bullet wouldn’t even pierce its skin—just a bee sting to a mountain.How far had it evolved?Estimating roughly—Stage 2: Eater.It hadn’t yet reached Greed.Probably because there were fewer organisms here than in the city center.How to deal with it?Dozens of simulations spin through my mind.Unlike Jimba, it wasn’t fast.It relied on sheer endurance and overwhelming mass.If I had faced it back in spring,I wouldn’t be able to think so calmly.I glance down at the blade in my hand.Could it pierce that heart?Could it sever that neck in one stroke?At first glance—impossible.But I wasn’t without confidence.If it were hopeless,my [Crisis Detection] trait would’ve already triggered.So I decide on a head-on confrontation.I could take the easy way—leap onto its neck and hack it apart—but that wouldn’t satisfy me.“This is a chance.”A chance to measure how far I’ve grown since the subway incident.It may be disaster to someone else,but to me—it’s just right.Whooooom—!‘A little closer.’Not yet.I’ll lure it.Cawwwk!As the Black Wing dips lower,the crow panics and flies off.And the moment I close in—Slash!Half its ear goes flying.GRRURK!! KUOOOOK!!Caught off guard, the creature reels.I turn the bike and retreat,and it charges after me with a bellow like an enraged bull.Ahead, I see the Egg Residential Zone.People are already watching from the rooftops.Then—When I reach the perfect distance—Wrrrr—!!‘Now.’I hit the auto-landing button on the Black Wing and leap.It’s high—high enough to break a normal person’s legs.But from that height, a descending strike carries even greater force.In midair, I adjust my posture—perfectly.The air time is enough to prepare.[Mountain Split — LV.1]A vertical slash toward its ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) brow.[Mountain] whips its trunk-like nose to block—but I’m faster.SHRAAAAK—!!!!KRRRRRRRRR!!It can’t even feel pain,yet a pitiful cry escapes its mouth.Still, something feels off.“Not yet.”BOOM!I land hard.Pressure floods through my soles—painful yet exhilarating.My calves tighten—and then, a burst of explosive motion.[Flash Strike LV.5]The follow-up slice tears across its left leg.One massive leg falls—and [Mountain]’s giant body tilts.“Not enough.”[Cleave LV.4]SLASH—!Blood sprays like rain.KUUUUURRRGH!!It thrashes, trying to gore me—but half its nose falls to the ground instead.SHRAAAK—!!KIEEEEEEEEEE!!!The louder it screams,the more mutants begin to gather.I didn’t want to drag this out,but this hulking beast couldn’t be felled in one blow.So I simply kept going—cutting,and cutting again.SHRRAK!“It’s regenerating?”The wounds begin sealing within seconds—disgusting.“Good thing I came now.”If I’d delayed a few more days,this fight would’ve been hell.Now, the regeneration takes ten seconds at most.And in that time—I can swing dozens of times.SHRAAAK! SHRAK! SLASH!Enough to grind the thing down.Like a demon, I swing again and again—hundreds of times.When it can no longer scream—its severed vocal cords only wheeze faintly.Every blow, every burst of power stacks up—until finally—“Huff... huff... huff...”Only my breathing echoes in the silence.Ding![Status Effect: Fatigue]Ding![“Legendary Swordsman” Activated][Flash Strike LV.5 → LV.6][Cleave LV.4 → LV.5][Mountain Split LV.1 → LV.2][Strength][Endurance][Agility][“Humanity’s Strongest Weapon” Trait: Cap limit increased][Increased stats boost trait proficiency][Humanity’s Strongest Weapon LV.2 (87%)][Note: Effects apply once all status ailments are cleared][Fatigue → Slight Fatigue]Ding![Guidance of the Black Bird][(Unexpected + Difficult)][(Destroy a Capsule)][(Hunt a powerful anomaly)]Ding!—[Trait: Dyslexia (Warning)]—Silence draped the rooftop.People couldn’t believe their eyes.“...Logout? Connection terminated? Wait… this isn’t… virtual reality…?”“What did I just see…?”“……”The sight was simply overwhelming.The lingering light of the flare made everything clear.Just who was that man?Boris murmured as if entranced.“...That’s the Captain of Ark.”“What? What did you say!?”“Shh. Seems he had his reasons for hiding it…”“This is insane… that monster—he’s that monster!?”“Watch your mouth.”Boris’s eyes followed the black-haired man quietly climbing back onto his bike.And for some reason, what she felt toward himwasn’t just admiration.It was something else—something beyond words.Something like… hope.That faint, forgotten emotion.And she wasn’t the only one who felt it.Beside her, the boy whispered softly:“His name’s Kyle.”“Hm?”“His name.”“Kyle…”“How do I join the Ark Division?”The boy’s eyes—once lifeless—now shone with the spark of life befitting his age.

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