Chapter 1: Prologue
"Thank you! Please come again!"
With a cheerful voice from the employee, the automatic door of the supermarket opened. A young man wearing a gray hoodie and carrying a strawberry-patterned shopping bag filled with various ingredients headed towards the bus stop.
"A rift has appeared at the intersection, and traffic is being controlled. Please cooperate."
The young man tilted his head at the unfamiliar scene unfolding on his usual route. Someone wearing a fluorescent yellow safety vest over a suit and a yellow safety helmet was blocking the passage, waving a red flashing baton. Over their head, the entrance of a shimmering blue rift was visible.
Below it, hunters were desperately fighting monsters that had squeezed through the rift.
"Kyahaaa!"
"Ugh! Not yet?"
"Just a little more…!"
A lizard the size of a car swung its spiky tail fiercely, emitting a bizarre cry. A hunter with a shield blocked the attack, but the lizard, excited, thrashed its tail around wildly, as if sweeping the surrounding area. The hunter barely managed to fend off the relentless attacks and cursed.
"Damn it, die! Fireball!"
A bright red flame engulfed the lizard. Seizing the moment of hesitation, another hunter shot an arrow at the lizard. The arrow pierced the lizard's eye, causing it to writhe in agony and scream.
"Kieeek!"