"Gene, unleash!"

A beautiful girl wearing a black outfit with yellow stripes shouted. The air cracked with her voice as she delivered a powerful blow to the revenant. The monster's head slammed into the ground, and she hung in the air for a moment, perfectly balanced. The hand that had delivered the punch was marked with a glowing symbol, a sign of her awakened power.

Renji watched her, his face a mask. He wasn't happy or sad, just frozen. He tilted his head, looking toward where a sword had been moments ago. It had vanished, swallowed by the thin air.

The division girl landed lightly on the ground. Two other members in matching uniforms slid down on gear ropes, landing close behind her. The tension that had filled the air vanished, replaced by the low hum of relief. A woman cried out, "We're saved! The division soldiers are here!" The residents let out a collective sigh, their bodies slumping with relief.

Renji, still standing near the monster, scanned the ground for the weapon he had seen. Nothing. It was gone.

The girl gave Renji a sharp, questioning look. "What are you doing here?"

"Minding my business," Renji replied, "before a black-looking monster showed up."

"No, I mean," she said, her voice dropping, "why aren't you running? It’s dangerous."

"Oh," Renji said casually. "I'll get to it."

The girl's shoulders slumped in disappointment. She was about to lecture the civilian on taking his safety seriously when something on the floor began to move.

The division soldiers were busy with evacuation and public safety. "Move it, civilians!" one of them shouted. The other added, "Please get to safety," his face tight with concern. They didn't notice the monster stirring.

Renji's eyes were still locked on the ground, searching for the sword. He was sure he had seen something. Was he going insane?

"Get moving!" the girl shouted at him.

"I know the danger," Renji said, his eyes still darting around. "I'm just looking for something of mine."

The girl's patience snapped. "Sir, your life is at risk! You can always buy another toy from a toy store. Please leave the area."

Renji met her gaze. "Just a moment. I'll be on my way."

She launched into a lecture. "Why do you ordinary civilians joke with your lives? Don't you—"

"Ma'am, there is something—" Renji tried to warn her, seeing the monster begin to rise behind her.

"Do not interrupt a soldier!" she cut him off. The revenant was now on its feet, close behind her. Renji tried again, but she shushed him.

"No! Not a single word from you unless you're out of here!"

"There's something at your back!" Renji finally screamed.

"Huh?" she said, turning. She activated her Gene in a split second, but it was too late. The revenant's hand shifted, forming a blade that swung sideways. The force of the blow sent her flying, and she crashed to the ground.

The woman who had cheered for their safety now screamed, "It's back on!" Panic erupted. People fled with renewed speed, running for their lives. The two other division members, their attention now on the revenant, saw it standing without a single scratch. Then, their eyes fell on their fallen teammate.

The revenant approached Renji, its steps heavy. Renji's mind raced: What if the sword has returned? Now I'm in danger. He glanced behind him; no sword. The monster charged, its hand forging a sword of its own. Renji closed his eyes, bracing for the impact.

The sound of steel on steel filled the air.

Renji shook, expecting pain, but felt nothing. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. A uniform. A mark on the soldier's right hand was glowing. One of the division soldiers was shielding him. "Run!" the soldier yelled. Renji stumbled backward.

The other soldier, who had been checking on the girl, was now shaking her, trying to wake her. "Wake up, we need you to win this, superior," he muttered. She didn't respond.

The first soldier now joined his teammate. He slid across the street on his gear, then jumped, aiming for the revenant's head. The revenant, locked in a blade cross with the first soldier, noticed him mid-air. The soldier shouted, "Gene, unleash!" A gun appeared in his hands, and he opened fire. His teammate pushed the revenant away, making a slash that the monster countered. The soldier with the gun landed and continued to fire.

They regrouped. "What about our superior?" the gun soldier asked.

"She's unconscious."

"It's gonna be a long battle."

"I'll go short, you go long," the sword soldier said.

"Got it," his teammate affirmed as the revenant charged.

The sword soldier lunged first, closing the distance with a burst of speed. Steel clashed against the revenant's arm-blade in a shower of sparks. They pressed into each other, muscles straining. The revenant pushed back, but the soldier held his ground.

From the side, the gun soldier used his gear to zip to a nearby wall. He kicked off, firing in midair. Bright yellow bullets streaked into the revenant’s flank. Each shot made the monster flinch, breaking its focus just enough for his partner to slash again.

The revenant adapted quickly. Its arm-blade swept wide, forcing the sword soldier to duck. The gun soldier dashed to another position, keeping his shots coming from different angles. When the revenant’s eyes snapped toward the sword soldier for a killing blow, the gun soldier’s fire came sharp and relentless, breaking its attack pattern.

The two rookies fought hard, darting across the street. The clanging of blades, the crack of gunfire, and the hiss of gear lines filled the tense air. Still, every movement grew heavier. Their breathing became ragged, their footing slower. They were holding their stand, but barely.

From the sidelines, Renji stood among the civilians. His eyes followed the fight without urgency, his face unreadable. There was no concern or admiration, just a man watching chaos as if it didn't touch him.

The sword soldier and gun soldier regrouped for a heartbeat, panting. "We're just rookies," the sword soldier muttered, his voice low but edged with resolve. "We have to hold until she's back."

"Then let's go all in," the gun soldier replied, jaw tightening.

The sword soldier launched forward, his blade a blur — left, right, then spinning, slashing at the revenant from every angle. The monster's arms came up in a storm of parries, and then one massive hand caught the blade mid-swing. The revenant yanked him forward and slashed downward, sending the soldier sprawling onto the cracked street.

"Get up!" the gun soldier shouted, yellow streaks from his weapon hammering into the revenant’s torso. He darted in, reaching for his teammate, but the revenant suddenly went still. Then, in a flash, it was behind them — its weapon already mid-swing. Both soldiers scrambled up just in time to block, the impact rattling their bones.

The gun soldier returned fire, pushing the revenant back a step. The sword soldier recovered and joined the push, but in the middle of their counterattack, both felt their weapons shudder. The glow in their gear dimmed. Shots clicked empty. The sword’s edge fizzled. Their Gene power was spent.

The revenant stepped forward slowly, a predator savoring the moment. Each heavy footfall rang across the street as it closed in, its arm-blade rising for the kill.

A sharp blast ripped through the air, slamming into the revenant’s side and forcing it back. From behind the smoke, their superior emerged. She was still battered from before, but standing, her sniper rifle gleaming with fresh Gene energy.

Without pause, she fired again, the blast lighting up the street. The revenant reeled, then turned and charged her. She vanished in a flash, reappearing at a wall’s edge with her gear, firing down at the monster. Her voice rang sharp across the street, taunting it as she moved, forcing it to chase her.

The fight roared on. She blasted, shifted position, and blasted again. But even with her skill, the revenant’s power showed; a vicious backhand sent her crashing to the ground.

She pushed up slowly, wiping blood from her lip, her eyes burning with refusal. She launched into her pattern again — move, shoot, vanish — Gene energy flaring with each strike. She darted in close, her rifle a blur as she peppered the revenant’s body with shot after shot. But the monster’s regeneration was relentless, knitting itself back together before her eyes.

Then, in the middle of its counter, she was gone. The revenant’s head jerked, scanning. Too late. She was behind it, her rifle jammed into the gaping maw where its armor split.

"Gene, unleash."

The blast thundered point-blank.

The revenant convulsed, black light spilling from its mouth and wounds before it collapsed to the street, still and broken.

The superior fell to her knees, chest heaving, the rifle lowering. Around them, the street erupted in cheers and applause. Civilians cried out in relief, clapping for the division’s victory.

Renji stood where he had the whole time, his eyes on the scene, his expression unchanged. They created it. They should fix it. He turned and walked away, unimpressed. He kicked a can on the street, muttering to himself with a sad face.

The girl, breathing heavily, noticed Renji leaving. She stared at his back as he walked away, a silent observer in the middle of a celebration.

Renji resumed his morning like nothing had happened. He walked the street, stretching his legs, trying not to think about what had just happened. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs. He continued his hunt for jobs, his eyes becoming sharper as he looked for a "We are hiring" banner. He saw one — "We ar...hi..." — but a dog was covering some parts. He prayed, Let this be a job.

He lifted the dog up to confirm the sign. It read: "We are hiking." He let go, disappointed. The woman who owned the dog snatched it from his hand with an annoyed look.

Renji continued his job hunt, feeling tired and down. He entered District 17, a neighborhood that had been closed down due to a rev attack. His hopes went up.

His eyes started seeing "We are hiring" signs everywhere. It was a dream come true.

He saw "Kaki Sea Foods," a shop that processed seafood. He was happy, but also sad because he felt cold. He walked in, shivering as AC units filled the room. He didn’t do well with cold, but he motivated himself. "I need to earn a living," he said to himself, his voice echoing with bravery.

A man came in from a cold room. "You're here for the job, right?"

"Yes, I am," Renji responded firmly.

The man directed him to another room. When they entered, it was peak cold. Thousands of fish were stockpiled, all frozen. Renji's body began to shiver, but he tried to hold it down. This is my first job today. I can't ruin it.

The boss noticed his reaction despite Renji's efforts to hide it. "Are you gonna be okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I will," Renji answered boldly, then started arranging the fish as the boss left. After a few minutes, his body began to break down. The cold was too much. He started having difficulty breathing.

The boss re-entered the room. "We forgot to discuss the wa—" He saw Renji lying on the floor. He helped him up and escorted him out.

Renji regained his breath. "Let's get to work." The boss looked at him with a silent, mean expression. He had been fired within 20 minutes.

Renji saw a toy store hiring. Candles and toys filled the display. Renji hummed to himself. What could go wrong? He went inside, awestruck by the millions of toys.

The man at the counter asked if he was there for the job.

"Yes, I am," Renji affirmed.

"You're hired. Your job is to direct customers, make them feel comfortable, and help them."

Renji nodded. "I got it." He proceeded to check the store. He saw a jar of tiny red candies and a jar of red plastic toys. He mistakenly switched the covers.

A woman and her son walked in. The boy ran to get his favorite sweets. Renji met him and they talked. The boy showed him the candy he wanted, but it felt unusual. Renji took the jar and read the label: Red sweet stick, full flavor when dissolved. He told the boy to put it in his mouth. "It will be sweet," he promised.

The boy hesitated. "I'm not sure about this."

"Let me help you," Renji said. The boy opened his mouth, and Renji dropped it in. The boy swallowed it and started choking. "It's choking me!" he shouted.

The owner and the mother rushed over. Renji was holding the boy on the stomach, trying to make him vomit something. The boy spit out a piece of plastic.

The mother asked what happened. "He put plastic in my mouth," the boy replied.

The man checked the jars and saw the plastic lid on the candy and the candy lid on the plastic toys.

Renji’s jaw dropped. "That's not what happened!"

"I will sue this establishment!" the mother lashed out. The shop owner tried to calm her down as she left.

Renji was silent. The shop owner shouted, "You're fired!"

Renji left, his footsteps heavy and sad.

He walked down the street, head bent. He saw a banner: We are hiring teachers. Must be a graduate. His sad face turned to happiness. He zipped inside the school straight to the principal’s office. The principal, surrounded by a messy desk, said, "Start with class 3D." Renji left for the class.

He asked a teacher where class 3D was. "You mean the stubborn class?" she said.

"Just 3D," Renji replied. She gave him a dark smile, and Renji wondered why.

He entered the class. It was messy and loud. He calmed the kids down and asked what subject they were having. "Maths!" they shouted. Renji froze. I'm terrible with kids. I graduated with first-class honors in engineering, but children… hhhm. He maintained his cool and began writing on the board. A kid noticed his shyness and threw a paper at him. He shivered. Then, more papers came. Renji fired back. It turned into a war zone.

The principal walked past and saw Renji firing paper back at the students. He fired him immediately.

Renji left, remembering the woman’s evil smile, adding to his frustration.

He was back on the streets, looking for jobs. A portal opened, and a Rev landed. Goosebumps ran down his body.

Renji looked back and saw the sword again, burning with blue flames.

The Rev rushed at Renji…

The Rev, with a guttural roar, charged. Its arm-blade was a dark streak in broad daylight.

Renji’s eyes flickered from the oncoming monster to the impossibly glowing sword behind him.

"Of course. Of course it shows up now," Renji said...