Chapter Zero
“The illusion of separation has long divided this world. But I have found a way to become one with the higher powers that be.” — Horus the Whole.
“In this world known as Gaia, war has been known by many as a way of life throughout the ages. For centuries, humankind battled endlessly for land, resources, survival, and glory. As history progressed, humanity’s desire for conflict endured. Then something entered our world that many could not comprehend: the blessing of Chi.
Chi was a supernatural power, quickly regarded as a divine gift meant to end the savagery of war. It was bestowed upon the world’s most righteous empires, but those empires soon became drunk with pride. Conquest and domination of the ‘unblessed’ followed, and many people were born without access to the gift of Chi.
Because Chi relied upon the discipline of martial arts, those who lacked it often viewed it as a sacred power. Many considered themselves unfortunate to have been born without it. Then came the second blessing: Mana. This field of energy allowed practitioners to wield magic and cast spells. Unlike Chi, which depended upon physical prowess and training, Mana required dedicated study and mastery of the laws of magic.
The arrival of Mana inspired countless people to devote their lives to observation, research, and the acquisition of magical knowledge. A few centuries after this second blessing appeared, institutions dedicated to the study of magic arose across the land. Although war continued to plague Gaia, the Sirius Sovereign—an empire founded upon mageocracy—stood tall, bringing order to humanity’s chaotic nature. Yet its conquests demanded sacrifices of personal freedom and fostered oppression against those born without the gift of Mana. At the same time, the people blessed with Chi fought for supremacy while claiming to champion the liberation of those lacking either Chi or Mana.
The heavens then bestowed a third blessing upon the world. While the first two blessings granted Chi and magic, this new power, known as Prana, was first given to the most spiritually advanced among the people. After Prana’s arrival, no further blessings came to Gaia.
Though conflict and war continued even after the appearance of the three blessings, a vision of peace began to emerge. Empires once divided by ideology and power started to unite in pursuit of a common goal. Together, they sought to create an order that would stand against war and conflict, fighting for peace on behalf of all the people of Gaia.
Thus, the Aokanshu Order was founded—an organisation dedicated to peace and the unity of the world. Yet despite its noble purpose, the world of Gaia has long yearned for peace while struggling beneath the destructive ambitions of some of its people…”— Unknown.
It was mid-afternoon in the Midori Province of the UPK (United Provinces of Kyusekai), where rolling green hills stretched endlessly toward the horizon. A flock of birds glided peacefully through the cloudless sky above. The region was renowned for housing some of the country’s toughest wildlife. Wyverns, gryphons, and falcons ruled the skies, while coyotes, panthers, bears, and countless other creatures roamed the plains below.
The summer sun hung high overhead, casting its warm light across the land as a gentle breeze swept through the grasslands. Beneath that peaceful sky, a lone wyvern slept soundly on the ground, unaware that a band of poachers was preparing to shatter the tranquillity.
A group of four poachers crouched together, weapons at the ready, reviewing their battle plan. Their ringleader addressed them in a low voice. “Okay, we’ve got the green from Team B. Remember the plan—we keep the beast down, hammer away at its wings, and go in for the kill once it’s weakened.”
One of the hunters frowned. “What about the patrol?”
“To hell with the patrol!” the leader spat, clearly unconcerned about Midori Province’s anti-poaching forces. “If we do this right, we’ll be out of here within half an hour.”
“If you say so, boss.”
The broad-shouldered hunter rose to his feet and ended the discussion. “Let’s get ready. This is going to be the kill of the season. Now quit your bitching and move out.”
High above on a cliffside, another poacher carefully positioned a cannon. Through the iron sight, he lined up the sleeping wyvern below.
“Steady... now... Perfect position...”
The cannon thundered. A deafening explosion echoed throughout the valley as the cannonball streaked through the air. Moments later, the wyvern cried out in agony as the projectile slammed into its torso. Smoke and soot erupted from the wound.
“A hit!”
Despite the injury, the female wyvern desperately attempted to take flight.
“Ha! She’s trying to fly!”
The enraged creature beat her wings furiously, refusing to surrender.
“Keep her down and fire the muzzle!” the boss shouted.
“Aiming now!”
The cannon’s mechanism shifted, transforming it into a multi-purpose hunting weapon. A second shot was fired, launching an electrified muzzle that wrapped around the wyvern’s left wing. The net crackled with energy as it tightened. The beast screamed and crashed back to the ground.
“Now, the harpoons!”
A harpoon shot through the air and buried itself deep in the wyvern’s belly.
“A strike to the belly!”
The creature struggled violently against her restraints.
“Quickly, before she gets up!”
With a powerful roar, the wyvern tore herself free of the net.
“It’s free!”
Then a distant rumble rolled through the valley.
“They’re here,” the ringleader muttered.
A massive airborne vehicle emerged from the horizon, resembling a flying tank suspended by powerful engines.
“Team B and the landstrider are here.”
The landstrider slowed as it approached, revealing eight cannons mounted along both its port and starboard sides.
“Fire all cannons!”
A devastating barrage rained down upon the wounded wyvern. Explosions engulfed the valley. When the smoke finally cleared, the beast lay motionless beneath a cloud of black soot.
“It’s down. Let’s advance and surround it.”
The four poachers descended the cliff by rope and formed a circle around the dying creature. Each carried a different weapon. The boss drew a massive greatsword crafted from scales and bone, its edge sharp enough to carve through hide and flesh with ease.
The wyvern lay gasping for breath, eyes still open.
“Another kill for the collection, boys. We’re going to be rich.”
He raised his blade and brought it down in a single brutal stroke, ending her life.
That night, the poachers gathered at their campsite to celebrate what they believed would be their final hunt of the season.
The full moon illuminated the valley as nearly four dozen poachers feasted around roaring fire pits. They ate roasted meat, drank heavily, and laughed together while the landstrider sat dormant nearby with the wyvern’s corpse secured upon its deck.
As their leader finished boasting about a previous hunt, the camp erupted in laughter.
Then a horrifying screech shattered the night.
“UOUARH!”
The laughter died instantly.
“The hell was that?”
A second screech echoed through the darkness, sharper and more unsettling than before.
“...Another wyvern?”
“Wyverns should be sleeping by now...”
“Botan. Daichi. With me.”
Weapons drawn, they moved toward the source of the sound. A hunched silhouette emerged from the darkness, gripping a battered club.
“Who’s there? Show yourself!”
Three figures stepped into the moonlight. The one in the centre was noticeably larger than the others.
A deep, demonic laugh echoed across the valley.
“GrHaHaHa.”
The boss’s eyes widened.
“Can’t be... Taigun!”
“Taigun here?!”
The massive creature pointed its club forward, commanding the other two to attack.
One lunged at the boss, who barely parried the strike. The second rushed another poacher and beat him to death without hesitation. The boss cut down his attacker, but the enormous hunchbacked Taigun continued its advance.
Their weapons clashed in a savage struggle until the boss stumbled backwards. The monster towered over him and brought its club crashing down, killing him instantly.
Then the rest arrived.
Forty-eight Taigun surged into the campsite from every direction. Fires spread rapidly as tents were smashed apart and reduced to ash. Poachers fell one after another beneath the monsters’ relentless assault. The Taigun revelled in the destruction, pillaging and slaughtering without mercy.
By dawn, nothing remained but smoke, ash, and silence.
That night, a peaceful hunting camp became the breeding ground for Gaia’s most terrifying threat: the Taigun—a horde of ungodly beings sustained by fel energy and among the world's greatest forces of destruction.
No one survived.