📖 Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Strike
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[Fade in from black.]
A towering building loomed under a twilight sky, bathed in the last golden rays of the sun. The camera panned slowly—cinematically—zooming in on one of the upper floors. It glided through the wall like mist, slipping into a training room still pulsing with warmth and static after battle.
Inside, four elite young fighters—Anya, Lanya, Gary, and Rosan—sat in a circle, catching their breath. Weapons leaned against the wall nearby, still humming faintly with residual energy.
Laughter echoed through the space.
"Yo, Anya!" Lanya smirked, tossing a towel over her shoulder. "Did you finally fall for someone?"
Rosan leaned in, flashing a mischievous grin. "C'mon, don't tell me the Ice Queen has no heart."
Anya replied, deadpan, "No."
Lanya laughed. "You know, you'd be a lot more approachable if you just smiled sometimes."
Rosan added with mock wisdom, "A cute face with no emotion is wasted potential, y'know?"
Anya puffed her cheeks in mock frustration like a child. "What's wrong with me, then?" she muttered, sighing as the air escaped.
Then—BZZT!
The comm-link buzzed sharply.
> "Unit-7, report to mission control. Now."
In an instant, the mood changed.
They stood.
Cue intense background score.
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[Cut to: The General's command cabin.]
The air was heavy, silent. A man stood by the display screen—General Arlo, his eyes like sharpened steel.
"This mission will determine your next step," he said gravely. "Complete it, and you'll rise to Alpha Rankers. The enemy is a mid-grade demon cluster—dangerous, but within your level."
He turned toward Anya. "You're leading the squad. As always."
She gave a sharp nod. Her aura flickered faintly—ice blue and calm, like a sword just before it's drawn.
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[Fade to black. Rising music.]
TITLE APPEARS IN BOLD KANJI: ASHES OF THE VOID