MEMELAND

The alarm bells rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then continuously.

Taai's eyes snapped open.

A soldier burst into the training hall.

"Leader!"

"The assassin has escaped!"

Silence.

Then—

Taai vanished.

The floor beneath him cracked as he sprinted.

Kai followed immediately.

By the time they reached the prison—

The smell hit first.

Blood.

Far too much blood.

The entrance had already been sealed off.

Guards stood frozen.

Some looked sick.

Others simply stared.

Taai slowly walked inside.

The prison corridor...

Had become a slaughterhouse.

Bodies lay scattered everywhere.

Walls painted crimson.

The reinforced cell stood open.

Empty.

Taai closed his eyes.

"..."

His fists trembled.

Not from anger.

From disappointment.

"...Akari..."

Before anyone could speak—

Another soldier came running.

Completely out of breath.

"Leader!"

Taai turned.

"What now?"

"The eastern district!"

"A monster!"

"It's attacking civilians!"

No one wasted another second.

People ran through the streets.

Shouting.

Crying.

Buildings burned.

Several guards struggled to hold the creature back.

It barely resembled anything natural.

Part human.

Part monster.

Its skin shifted between flesh and scales.

One arm ended in jagged claws.

The other looked almost human.

Almost.

Beneath its skin—

Faint glowing lines pulsed.

Kai froze.

"..."

Magic Circuits.

His eyes widened.

They looked...

Almost identical.

To his.

The same branching patterns.

The same glow beneath the skin.

The same unnatural structure.

"...No..."

The hybrid roared.

A guard disappeared beneath one swing.

Blood painted the street.

"KAI!"

Taai's shout pulled him back.

Kai drew his knuckle duster.

The hybrid lunged.

Kai dodged.

Wind burst beneath his feet.

He countered with a punch.

The creature barely flinched.

Taai arrived from the side.

His fist crashed into its ribs.

BOOM!

The hybrid slid several meters.

Then immediately stood back up.

The guards surrounded it.

More soldiers poured into the street.

The creature smiled.

Then charged again.

Kai clenched his fist.

Magic Circuits...

Move.

Nothing.

Come on...

He closed his eyes.

He remembered what Taai had said.

Don't force it.

Let it flow.

Kai took one breath.

Then another.

Something...

Answered.

Pain.

An unbearable pain.

It spread beneath his skin.

The faint lines across his body glowed.

For only an instant.

Power surged through every muscle.

Everything became lighter.

Faster.

Stronger.

Kai vanished.

His fist slammed into the hybrid's jaw.

CRACK!

The monster stumbled.

Taai's eyes widened.

"...What the hell?"

Then—

The strength disappeared.

Instantly.

Kai coughed.

Blood splattered onto the pavement.

He dropped to one knee.

His chest felt like it was being torn apart.

The glowing lines vanished.

The pain remained.

Taai immediately appeared beside him.

"What the hell was that?"

Kai quickly wiped the blood away.

"...Adrenaline."

Taai stared.

"...Bullshit."

Kai forced a grin.

"...Worked though."

Taai looked unconvinced.

Before he could press further—

The city's defensive cannons fired.

BOOM!

A massive mana shell struck the hybrid.

At the same time—

Several elite soldiers pinned it down.

Taai seized the opening.

One punch.

Everything behind the monster exploded.

The hybrid's body collapsed.

It stopped moving.

Silence.

Then—

Cheers erupted.

"We got it!"

"It's dead!"

"We won!"

People embraced one another.

Guards laughed in relief.

Children cried into their parents' arms.

Kai remained quiet.

His hand still rested against his chest.

It still hurt.

Deep inside.

Like something had awakened...

Only to reject him.

Then—

Another scream.

Everyone turned.

A second hybrid emerged from another street.

Then—

A third.

Then—

A fourth.

Panic spread once again.

The celebration died immediately.

Soldiers rushed toward the new threats.

Another messenger came sprinting toward Taai.

This one looked even more terrified.

"Leader!"

Taai turned sharply.

"What now?!"

The soldier struggled to breathe.

"The outer wall!"

He pointed toward the horizon.

"A massive horde!"

"Demons..."

"...and monsters..."

"They're marching together!"

The entire street fell silent.

Demons...

Working together with monsters?

That had never happened before.

Unless...

Then—

BOOOOOOM!!

An explosion thundered through the city.

The ground shook violently.

Far in the distance—

Smoke rose above the walls.

The invasion...

Had begun.