[Chapter Header]

ARC: Back Attack Land

The city of Sinish was buzzing with noise, but Akos Tasaku moved through the crowd like a shadow. At eighteen years old, carrying a heavy bag filled with his entire life's possessions, he looked like a simple traveler.

However, his eyes were far too calm for someone his age.

As he wove through the passersby, an eerie scream pierced the air. It came from a dark alley just a few meters away. Akos stopped.

Approaching silently, he witnessed a scene of brutal violence: fifteen men had surrounded three people. Two young men were already on the ground, covered in blood. In front of them, a girl stood defiant, desperately trying to protect her friends.

Akos remained motionless, observing the situation with icy detachment. Then, an unknown voice echoed in his head, deep and commanding:

"Go... Go help them!"

Akos didn't answer, but his gaze locked onto the attackers. The girl threw a punch, but one of the men grabbed her arms violently. A second man drew a knife, its blade gleaming dangerously in the dim light of the alley.

Before the knife could find its mark, Akos lunged.

With a lightning-fast movement, he took to the air. His kick landed squarely on the face of the man with the knife, sending him crashing into a trash bin. The rest of the gang froze, unable to comprehend where this stranger had come from.

He gave them no time to react.

With a spinning motion, Akos kicked the next man while simultaneously grabbing a third man's arm, snapping it with a dry crack. Another attacker rushed him with a blade, but Akos dodged smoothly to the right.

The attacker, losing his balance, accidentally stabbed his own comrade. Akos finished them both off with a double kick that pinned them against the wall.

"Get him!" someone screamed.

A burly man managed to grab Akos by the throat while another punched him hard in the stomach. But Akos didn't flinch. He slammed his forehead into the face of the man holding him, broke free, and delivered a low kick followed by a devastating strike to the jaw that left the man unconscious.

One last man, blinded by rage, raised an iron bar and swung it with all his might at Akos's head. With reflexes beyond those of an ordinary mortal, Akos caught the bar mid-air. Before the enemy could realize what happened, he received a gut-wrenching punch to the stomach and a final blow to the face.

The few left standing looked at the bodies of their friends on the ground. Terror took over. Without a word, they turned and fled, leaving behind only Akos's heavy breathing and the silence of the alley.

Akos stood for a moment, brushing the dust off his black hoodie. The tension of the battle had evaporated, leaving only the heavy scent of the damp alleyway.

"Who are you? Where did you come from?" Ronika asked, looking at him with a mix of admiration and suspicion.

"From the mountains," Akos replied curtly, offering no further details.

"From the mountains?" Ronika's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me... I've never met anyone who lives up there."

Before she could say anything else, Naoto Arin jumped forward and enthusiastically extended his hand. "My name is Naoto Arin! Man, you saved our lives, thank you!"

"And I'm Sora Haze," the other girl added with a kind smile. "Honestly, I don't know what we would have done without you."

"Akos Tasaku. You're welcome," he said, but suddenly felt a sharp pain pierce his head. He closed his eyes and pressed his temple as the unknown voice inside him abruptly went silent.

"Ronika, you forgot to introduce yourself properly!" Sora teased.

Ronika blushed slightly. "I'm Ronika. Just Ronika. And... yeah, thank you so much for what you did."

"It was nothing," Akos whispered, trying to ignore the pain.

"Since you saved us, the least we can do is treat you!" Naoto exclaimed. Before Akos could resist, they led him toward a café called "NX."

As they stepped through the door, a girl working there, Anna, looked at them in confusion. "You guys look terrible... What happened to your faces? And who is this guy?"

"Long story, Anna," Ronika replied wearily. "We got jumped by a gang, and this stranger pulled us out of the mud."

Anna burst out laughing, mocking them. "Seriously? A random passerby saved you? You guys must be getting old!"

"Give us a break, Anna!" Naoto laughed, already placing an order. "Just get us something to eat, we're starving."

"Alright, alright," Anna said, winking at him. "I'll whip up a bowl of hot Ramen for your guest to get his strength back."

The atmosphere inside Café NX was warm, a sharp contrast to the cold and blood of the alley they had left behind. Akos sat on a wooden stool, dropping his heavy bag on the floor. Naoto and Sora sat next to him, while Ronika remained slightly distant, observing his every move.

"So, Akos," Naoto began, leaning his elbows on the counter. "You said you're from the mountains. What's life like up there? Here in Sinish, we never see anything green—just concrete and smoke."

Akos looked up, staring into space for a moment. "It's quiet. There are no voices, no gangs. Just the air and training. Here... everything is too loud."

Sora and Naoto exchanged a quick look. Their eyes flashed with excitement. To them, a guy who could take down fifteen men alone and didn't belong to anyone was the opportunity they had been waiting for their whole lives.

"Which gang do you belong to?" Sora asked abruptly, leaning toward him. "With moves like those, you must be in a major faction. Are you with the Iron Phantoms? Or the Red Dragons?"

Akos took the bowl of Ramen that Anna placed in front of him. Steam rose against his face. "None," he replied simply, picking up his chopsticks.

"None?!" Naoto exclaimed, nearly falling off his stool. "Man, walking around Sinish without protection is suicide! But... if you're a free agent, then..."

The eyes of Naoto and Sora were practically glowing. In their minds, Akos was the perfect new member for their small crew. A "Conqueror" without a master.

Akos tasted a spoonful of the broth. He remained silent for a few seconds, analyzing the flavor. "It's good," he said finally, looking at Anna. "But it has too much salt. In the mountains, we use herbs for flavor, not chemicals."

Anna stopped wiping a glass and squinted at him, resting a hand on her hip. "Too much salt? Listen to the mountain prince! This is Sinish, kid. If you want herbs, go find a meadow. Here we eat to survive, not to give gourmet reviews!"

Naoto stifled a laugh, while Ronika stepped a bit closer. "Akos, you didn't tell us... where exactly are you planning to go? Do you have a place to stay? Anyone you know in the city?"

"I don't know," Akos answered between two mouthfuls of noodles. "I'll just walk until I find what I'm looking for."

"And what is that?" Sora asked, but Akos didn't offer an answer.

Anna, seeing Akos's apparent naivety, turned serious. She took a cloth and began tracing invisible lines on the counter.

"Listen to me, mountain boy. Sinish is no ordinary place. It's divided into five sectors. Five gangs control everything. Every side of the city is inhabited and ruled by one of them. If you walk aimlessly, sooner or later, you'll cross into territory that isn't yours. And then, it won't just be fifteen thugs in an alley. It'll be an entire army."

Akos continued eating, appearing completely indifferent to Anna's warning. To him, the "armies" and "borders" of the city seemed like children's games. His calm was almost frustrating to the others.

"Did you even hear me?" Anna insisted. "This area is the 'quietest' part of town, but even here—"

Suddenly, the heavy door of Café NX slammed open, crashing against the wall. The chime of the bell above the door rang out like a death knell.

A tall man with a scarred face and veins bulging in his neck stepped inside. He wore a leather vest with an emblem that Ronika and Naoto recognized instantly. Behind him, two other men, armed with brass knuckles and grim expressions, blocked the exit.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Akos has just met his first potential allies, but danger found him much faster than expected. Who is this tall man's gang? And how will Akos react to having his meal interrupted?

[Chapter Header]

ARC: Back Attack Land

The heavy door of the NX Cafe slammed against the wall with a deafening crash, making the dishes on the counter rattle.

But instead of a hostile attack, a towering figure stepped into the light, followed by two men who kept their hands close to their belts, ready for anything.

The tall man's eyes, sharp and filled with the intensity of a veteran, immediately scanned the room. They bypassed the trembling customers and locked onto the table in the corner.

"Ronika!" the tall man shouted, his voice sounding like grinding stone. "Are you all alright?"

He strode toward them, his long coat fluttering behind him. The tension in Naoto's shoulders melted instantly, and Sora let out a breath she had been holding since they were in the alley.

"Keal!" Ronika stood up, her voice still a bit shaky. "What are you doing here?"

Keal reached the table, ignoring the empty bowls of ramen.

"I got a call. Someone told me a gang had cornered you in the back sector. We got here as fast as we could."

"We're fine," Naoto added, gesturing with his thumb toward the figure sitting next to him. "But only thanks to him. If he hadn't stepped in, that threat would have crushed us. This guy, Akos, helped us."

Keal finally shifted his gaze to the young man in the black hoodie. He looked at the calm, almost bored expression on Akos's face.

"And who are you?" Keal asked, narrowing his eyes. "You've got guts, kid. Not many people would mess with gangs like that for strangers."

Akos took a slow sip of his water and then looked up. "I'm Akos. Akos Tasaku. I just moved here from the mountains."

"Tasaku?" Keal repeated the name, furrowing his brow.

He felt a strange itch in the back of his mind. Tasaku... I've heard that name somewhere before. Something old. Something dangerous. But the memory refused to surface.

Ronika intervened, sensing the weight of Keal's stare.

"Akos, this is Keal. He's the 'Second Hand' of ALPHA. He's the top lieutenant of Reino Shino, the leader of our organization."

She turned to Keal, her eyes shining. "The way he moved, Keal... it was like he wasn't even trying. He neutralized them in seconds."

Akos gave a simple, short nod. He didn't seem impressed.

"ALPHA, organizations, gangs... they don't mean much to me," Akos said flatly. "I just wanted to eat my meal in peace."

Keal let out a short, dry laugh. "A mountain boy with attitude and a name that rings a bell. Interesting."

He leaned closer, his expression becoming serious. "Listen, Akos Tasaku. You saved our people tonight. But now you've put yourself in the crosshairs of dangerous people. You're in the game now, whether you like it or not."

Akos simply stared back, his dark eyes showing no hint of fear. "Then I guess I'll just have to keep moving."

"I like you, kid," Keal said with a slight nod of respect. "It's rare to find people like you. You have an immense will, and you don't bend in the face of threats."

Akos didn't respond immediately. He looked at him with an icy, cold gaze, as if Keal's recognition meant absolutely nothing to him.

"You know, I wanted to tell you that..." Keal paused.

He glanced at the two men accompanying him. On his right stood Taro Hex, and on his left was Shika Wren. Both had their eyes fixed on Akos, waiting for their leader's next move.

Keal looked at them meaningfully, as if he wanted to say something important, but he was interrupted.

Suddenly, Sora jumped forward, full of excitement. "Akos! Do you want to join our gang?" she asked, her breath hitching.

Akos remained motionless for a few seconds. His silence made everyone hold their breath.

Finally, in the same cold voice, he spoke only two words: "Fine. I'm in."

A wide smile of joy formed on Keal's face, while Taro and Shika appeared relieved, showing their satisfaction.

Only Ronika remained expressionless, observing Akos with a calm, analytical gaze, as if trying to decipher what lay behind that stoic face.

A short while later, the group arrived at their destination: the school that served as their base.

The building was imposing, surrounded by thick trees and climbing plants that hugged the walls. A high stone wall and a heavy iron gate protected the privacy of the grounds.

The building had two floors—old, yet well-maintained.

However, what truly caught the eye was the rooftop. There, the deep red flag of the ALPHA gang fluttered proudly.

In its center, an eagle with spread wings was embroidered, clutching a skull made of pure gold in its talons.

Entering the school courtyard, the scene was full of life and tension.

On the court, some gang members were playing basketball; one of them made an impressive shot and ran to hug his friend in celebration.

However, just to the right, the atmosphere was different. Two guys were locked in a fierce brawl, surrounded by a cheering crowd.

"I'm the strongest one here!" one roared. "No, I am!" the other snapped back with fury.

Akos watched them for a moment, his gaze indifferent, almost contemptuous.

Keal noticed his reaction and let out an annoyed sigh.

"Ignore them, Akos. They're just two idiots. Let's go, they're waiting for us."

They entered the main building and headed toward a large room that looked like a headquarters.

Inside were three people: one was calmly reading a book, another was sipping juice while looking at his phone, and a third with snow-white hair stood silently, staring out the window.

"Reino, we're here," Keal said.

Reino Shino, the leader of ALPHA, turned around and welcomed them with a confident smile.

"Ah, welcome. Akos, I've heard a lot about you. You saved my members, and I want to personally thank you for that. I am Reino Shino, the leader of this family."

"I'm Akos Tasaku. I came down from the mountains today," Akos replied with the same cold honesty.

"I have a feeling our relationship will be excellent," Reino said, but he didn't get to finish his sentence.

Suddenly, the guy with the juice stood up abruptly. With lightning speed, he lunged at Akos and threw a powerful punch at his face.

But Akos didn't flinch. With a subtle move to the right, he evaded the strike as if it were in slow motion.

Reino and Keal froze.

"What are you doing, Zen Kurosu?!" they shouted almost simultaneously.

Even the guy with the book looked up, startled by the newcomer's reflexes.

Zen Kurosu stood still for a moment, staring at the empty air where his fist should have landed.

"I just wanted to make sure he's truly one of us..." he said coldly.

As he walked out of the room, he closed the door behind him, whispering: "...or a Tasaku."

Reino immediately apologized, but Akos remained unshaken, as if nothing had happened.

The leader began telling him about ALPHA.

"We are a family here, Akos. We go through the good and the bad times together. Do you want to be part of this family? Yes or no?"

"Yes," Akos answered, his gaze still icy.

Reino handed him a red and white jacket. On the back, the eagle clutching the golden skull was embroidered.

Reino smiled as Akos took the jacket in his hands.

At that moment, the door opened again. A young man walked in.

"Excuse me if I'm interrupting..."

"Jin!" Reino sounded irritated. "What on earth are those two doing out there again? Are they fighting over who's the strongest every single day?"

"You know how Oz and Bliss are, Reino," Jin Tori replied calmly.

"Tell them to quiet down immediately. And then, take the newest member of our family and show him the school."

Jin turned and looked at Akos. Their eyes met, and for a few seconds, neither of them moved.

There was a strange tension between them, as if they knew each other from the past, from another life.

Jin reached out his hand. "My name is Jin Tori."

Akos shook it loosely. "Akos Tasaku."