Before the current attack on Merediun, a similar catastrophe unfolded a decade ago. Back then, Merediun was nearly destroyed during a fierce military conflict. Vern, the neighboring nation to Alpha—Merediun’s homeland—launched an assault on the city, driven by its proximity to Vern's borders. The war was brutal, with countless military personnel and civilians pushed to the brink of death. Among those caught in the devastation was a 13-year-old boy named George.

The military made every effort to evacuate the residents of Merediun, including George and his family. However, a meticulously planned night raid by Vern crippled much of the city’s military infrastructure, leaving Merediun in chaos. With the exits from the city blocked, the residents were trapped, forced to endure starvation and the constant threat of violence as they struggled to survive the war.

One day, George spotted a platoon of soldiers heading toward the battlefield. Desperation overwhelmed him, and he ran to block their path, arms wide open. "Please, allow me to fight!" he cried, his voice choked with tears and desperation.

One of the soldiers stepped forward, looking down at the young boy. "No, we can't allow that," the soldier said firmly, his tone final.

"Please, sir, I want to protect my loved ones too" George begged, his voice trembling. "At least give me a chance. I can learn to use a gun, I promise. I just want to help."

The soldier’s expression softened for a moment, but he quickly steeled himself. "I told you, we can’t," he repeated, this time more sternly. "Now, step aside and let us pass."

The soldier attempted to push George aside, but the boy held on, gripping the soldier's arm with surprising strength. The soldier paused, noticing the determination in George’s eyes.

"Fight me," the soldier said suddenly, his tone shifting. "If you can defeat me, I'll let you join us."

Hope sparked in George’s chest. "I will defeat you," he declared, taking up a fighting stance, ready to give it everything he had.

The soldier shook his head slightly. "I’m sorry, child, but that’s simply not going to happen."

With newfound resolve, George charged at the soldier, launching his strongest punch. But the soldier moved swiftly, dodging the blow with ease and closing the distance between them in an instant. Before George could react, the soldier delivered a swift kick to his stomach, sending him flying backward.

"If it’s about strength, you’re not ready. It’s not possible," the soldier said, his voice firm but not unkind.

"Hey, Captain! That’s too much, don’t you think?" one of the other soldiers called out, concern evident in his voice as they watched George struggle to catch his breath.

"Shut up! Don't take the boy's chance. He wants to fight, so let me teach him a lesson," the captain barked back at his comrade, not taking his eyes off George.

While the captain was distracted, George seized the moment, rushing forward with renewed determination. He threw a flurry of punches, each one fueled by desperation and frustration. But the captain saw him coming and effortlessly dodged every strike, his movements fluid and precise.

"Why can't I hit him? Why? Why? Why?" George muttered through gritted teeth, tears streaming down his face as his fists flew through empty air.

The captain’s expression hardened. "When it comes to skill, you are no match for me at all."

With that, he delivered a powerful uppercut to George’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him. George crumpled to his knees, gasping for breath, the pain in his body nothing compared to the sting of failure.

"How dare you talk about protecting your loved ones when you’re this weak!" the captain’s voice was harsh, cutting through the silence like a blade.

The captain slowly turned away from George, rejoining his unit as they prepared to continue their march toward the battlefield. But before the captain could fully integrate back into the formation, a voice rang out behind him.

"The next time I see you, I will definitely defeat you!" George shouted, his voice trembling but resolute.

The captain paused, glancing over his shoulder. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I’m looking forward to fighting with you, child," he replied before moving on.

That single word—"child"—echoed in George's mind, fueling a fire within him. He made a vow then and there to grow stronger, to become someone capable of protecting those he loved. But as fate would have it, George never saw that soldier again. Their paths crossed only once, and that fleeting encounter would remain a defining moment in George's life.

A week later, the city of Merediun received the long-awaited news: the war was over. A group of elite soldiers had infiltrated the Vernian command center, capturing their chief commander and forcing Vern to retreat. The conflict had finally come to an end, sparing the city from further devastation.

It took three long years for Merediun to rebuild, to recover from the scars of war. And during that time, George rebuilt himself as well. The captain's words—"How dare you talk about protecting your loved ones when you’re this weak!"—had left a deep mark on him, driving him to seek strength at all costs. He trained relentlessly, throwing himself into street brawls and any fight he could find, determined to grow stronger with each passing day.