Then, Amaya stood up and looked around, her expression bright with anticipation. “Hikari sir, should we tell them everything? I mean… explain it all?” she asked, clearly excited at the thought of sharing the truth.

Rin sighed and shook his head slightly at her enthusiasm.

Hikari rose slowly, his face composed. “Alright, everyone. Wait here for me,” he said, then turned and walked toward the corner of the room where a second door stood. Without another word, he opened it and stepped inside. The others stayed behind, glancing at each other with growing curiosity and unease.

Ming wondered anxiously what Hikari intended to show or reveal. Inside the small adjoining room, Hikari switched on the light, revealing an old, weathered book resting on a table. He walked over, picked it up carefully, and returned to the main room. He placed the book down gently on the table before them.

“What are you going to show us?” Ming asked.

“Be patient, my dear,” Hikari replied calmly. “And listen closely.”

Everyone leaned in as Hikari began to speak. “Those monsters… someone made them that way. Someone is controlling them. And this didn’t just start a few days ago. I know you all have questions—and I promise to answer them, one by one.”

Kenzo, Sofia, Akiko, Ming, Ash, and the others stared at him, wide-eyed and alert. Amaya, Rin, and the other leaders stood to the side, watching silently. Hikari took a deep breath and looked at his fellow leaders. They gave him a nod of encouragement.

“Yes, it’s true that people only began transforming into monsters recently,” Hikari continued. “But the one responsible… they began their destruction over two thousand years ago. Back then, it looked like natural disasters—earthquakes, strange viruses. But it wasn’t. And then, suddenly, it stopped. I’m sure you’re wondering how I know all this.”

They nodded silently, intrigued and confused.

Sofia felt a knot forming in her chest. Why is this happening? What are they saying? I don’t understand anything…

Luca shifted uncomfortably, his thoughts clouded with doubt. Are we even safe here?

Akiko was growing restless, desperate for more answers. Ming watched Hikari closely, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Kenzo, ever composed, remained calm but attentive.

“It’s because of this,” Hikari said, tapping the book. “My forefathers left behind this diary for their descendants. According to this record, everything began 7 hundreds  years ago. At first, it took the form of earthquakes and pandemics. They believed it was natural—until they realized it wasn’t. Someone was behind it. Maybe they knew more than I do now, but they didn’t share everything. It’s not written in the book either.”

He paused, exhaled deeply, and then continued.

“They never found the person responsible. Many lives were lost. Then, after five years, it all just… stopped. People believed the curse had lifted. But my ancestors believed differently. They thought it was only the beginning. So, they wrote this book—to prepare us for what might come.”

Hikari glanced around the building as he spoke.

“My father and his friends built this headquarters for training and protection. A haven to get ready for the war we hoped would never come.”

Akiko stepped forward, frowning. “What about those swords? We’ve never seen anything like them before.”

At her question, Hikari looked down at his own weapon—the Thunder Sword—and sighed.

“These Thunder Swords,” he began, “they’re like a blessing from the gods. We have about a hundred of them. Originally, there were ninety-one of us here. And now, with all of you, we’re ninety-nine—excluding the old lady, of course. She’s too old for battle. And that child… we’ll train him with wooden or regular swords until he’s older. The rest of you will train with Thunder Swords.”

He stopped, his tone shifting. “But—”

At that word, Ming, Luca, Akiko, Sofia, Kenzo, and the others turned their full attention to him, sensing something important was coming.

Hikari looked to Rin, who stood up and addressed the group.

“But it’s not easy to use a Thunder Sword,” Rin said seriously. “They’re dangerous if used carelessly. During training, you’ll need to remain calm and focused, or you could seriously harm yourselves—or others.”

The group was taken aback by the warning. Amaya, however, offered a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry. We’ve thought of everything. These trainee uniforms we wear—they’re not like regular soldiers’ gear. And the gloves—those gray gloves everyone wears—they help stabilize the power of the Thunder Swords. You’ve probably noticed that already. But even with them, you’ll still need to learn control.”

Hikari stepped in again. “Speed. Discipline. Skill. Even if you wield one of these swords, without proper training—without sharpening your instincts—they’ll be useless. This isn’t just training. This is survival. And the only reason we’re doing this is to prepare you to fight for your lives.”

He turned to Amaya and Rin. “Amaya, show those two young women and the old lady to their rooms. Give the women their uniforms and gloves. Rin, take the men and the boy to theirs and do the same.”

Both nodded.

Amaya led Sofia, Akiko, and the elderly woman down one corridor. Rin guided Ming, Luca, Kenzo, Ash, and the others in the opposite direction. Since there were seven men, he assigned them to two rooms. Kenzo, Ming, Luca, and Ash shared one.

The room was simple—nothing fancy. Three beds, an old wardrobe, an attached bathroom, and stone walls worn by time. Still, it was clean and secure. Rin handed them their trainee uniforms and gloves, then left without a word.

The four of them stood there, staring at their new gear in silence, letting the reality of their situation sink in.

Somewhere beyond the walls, hidden deep in the shadows… someone laughed..