Location: School – Baghdad, Iraq
Time: 11:50 AM
Date: January 29, 2023
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Mia was sitting at her desk in the classroom, waiting for the lesson to begin…
The sun was piercing through the tall windows, and the cold air gently slipped between the shoulders of the students.
Suddenly!! Mia was pulled out of her thoughts by Reem's voice…
Reem (in a slightly teasing tone): "What are you doing, you goody-goody girl?"
Mia (raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smile): "Huh? And what do you want from me?"
Reem (shifting her eyes nervously): "Ahem… You know well, the homework?"
Mia reached into her school bag—a small light-pink bag with a sleepy bunny keychain and corners adorned with soft lace threads…
She pulled out a cute notebook and handed it to Reem.
Mia: "I did your math homework for you, best friend in the whole world!!"
Reem (smiling at her, then sitting on the seat next to her): "Thank you… Just like I promised, we'll go out together after school!"
About Reem Sandra:
She is a beautiful girl… and Mia Hasty's friend… and also a relative of Lucas Draco.
As the minutes passed during the lesson, the atmosphere felt… strange, as if something was waiting to happen.
The teacher was writing on the board…
Reem (whispering to Mia in a low voice): "Mia! Something's not right…"
Suddenly!!
The clouds turned gray, and the atmosphere became foggy… in a frightening way!
Mia (thinking to herself): "Huh… how did the weather change like that?"
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Location: Heroa Camp Residence – Baghdad, Iraq
Time: 11:50 AM
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Ryan was training on Curse No. 40, but it required an exhausting movement…
It was a technique where Ryan had to focus his energy into the palm of his hand with intense concentration.
Ryan (annoyed): "Aaaargh!! It's so annoying… but it's powerful!!"
He struck the training dummy with a powerful curse he had just learned from a book!
The curse was a burning-type curse, capable of incinerating everything…
Suddenly… an unnatural wave of fog spread all around!
Ryan (surprised): "Huh? What just happened?"
Some noticed the sudden fog… others didn't notice a thing.
But this fog… it wasn't ordinary!!
Up on one of the tall buildings, a mysterious figure stood.
He was tall and slim, wearing a long black coat that flowed to his ankles, swaying slightly in the cold breeze.
His face was hidden behind a dark metallic mask with two narrow slits for his eyes—
—two red glows shimmered behind the lenses.
His hair was jet black, relatively long, tied loosely behind his head with a red string, with a few strands falling over his shoulders.
His hands were gloved in black, and on the palm of his left hand was a complex glowing tattoo in sky blue, pulsing faintly—like a tiny heart.
??? (whispering): "This is only the beginning… the first fog is just a warning…"
Then, in an eerie and strange way, he disappeared into the mist!
At Heroa HQ…
Alarms were blaring in every direction… Something about that fog wasn't right.
Three individuals of high-ranking status—even above that of a general—
headed toward a private office…
The office of the Director General of the Heroa Unit…
They all stood in respect upon entering.
Commander 1 (calmly): "Sir… an unusual fog has spread across five cities, including the one housing the camp…"
Hirato Nakami, Director General of the International Heroa Unit, stared at them coldly.
Hirato (in a chilly voice): "Send twelve soldiers to the location… but give the new recruits a chance to grow."
Meanwhile…
Kern (firmly): "Well done, new recruits… it's time to assign your ranks!!"
Everyone received a card bearing their name along with their rank type!
Most of them received the rank:
"Beginner / F | Weak – Not Strong"
—Ryan was among them.
But what about Lucas and Shiro?
They were awarded the rank:
"Semi-Beginner / D | Slightly Average – Still Not Strong."
Ryan (smiling as he looks at them): "Interesting! Maybe I'll become stronger in the future!!"
Suddenly… everyone turned their attention to General Kern as he pointed toward Ryan, Lucas, and Shiro.
Kern: "You three will be sent on your first mission!!"
And so… the Operation: First Fog begins.
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Time: 1:15 PM
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The location of their first mission was on the outskirts of a district crowded with typical buildings.
The streets were deserted.
Shops were shut.
Windows sealed tight…
It was as if the entire city held its breath.
The fog consumed everything—only silhouettes of buildings could be seen, like trembling gray phantoms beneath a cold sun.
Lucas (looking around): "It's strange how the fog didn't cause any damage… everything looks intact, but I don't like this silence."
Ryan (breathing heavily): "The air feels… heavy. Like something is watching us from every corner."
Shiro (placing his hand on his sword handle): "Stay alert. Don't trust the silence…
We don't want our first mission to be a failure."
Their footsteps echoed faintly across the asphalt,
while the fog swirled around their legs—
like a living creature…
teasing…
waiting.
Suddenly…
Lucas halts mid-step.
Lucas (in a low voice): "Something's there…"
In a blink, a red spark flashed within the fog. Lucas felt the air tighten — as if time itself had curled inwards.
Lucas (sharpening his focus): "Activating ability: Time Slow… only fifteen seconds!"
Time around him slowed down.
The fog's movements became sluggish.
And within that moment… a terrifying image revealed itself.
From deep inside the mist…
A mysterious figure emerged—
dressed in a long, black coat flowing silently…
his face concealed behind a dark metal mask with two glowing red eyes.
He charged straight at Ryan with blinding speed, raising his gloved right hand—
about to deliver a deadly blow!
Lucas (yelling): "RYAAAAAAAAAN!!!"
Lucas lunged forward with all his might, his fist clashing with the masked man's in a thunderous impact—
the shockwave tore through the fog, pushing it back momentarily.
Shiro (drawing his sword): "Hostile detected! Engage!!"
Shiro dashed forward with a calculated swing of his blade—
but the masked enemy vanished like a mirage!
Ryan (stepping back): "Is he… fog…?"
The enemy reappeared—behind Lucas!
Ryan (whispering): "Activating Curse of Destruction…!"
He struck the ground with force—
cracks erupted beneath the enemy's feet—
but the figure leapt with incredible agility.
The fog thickened even more.
??? (in a muffled, eerie voice): "You're merely the first trial… Let me test you…"
Shiro lunged from behind, aiming a stab at the mask—
but the enemy activated his second ability:
{Fog Vanish}
—and completely disappeared within the mist!
Lucas (worried): "We can't see him! Ryan, don't use the Flame Curse—you might hurt civilians!"
Ryan (shouting): "Then I'll rely on the Destruction Curse!!"
Suddenly—
an explosion echoed from within the fog!
A powerful blast shook the district—
flames flared briefly—
parts of the fog melted away,
revealing charred trees.
Lucas (in awe): "That… was a fog explosion?! Impossible… That's a high-level ability!"
The enemy reappeared—his coat partly burned, light injuries across his body…
??? (angrily): "Ryan… Ryan… your name is carved in my blood…
I'll return for you when you're stronger…
because I hate the weak."
Before escaping, he took a step back—
unleashing a thick veil of fog as he faded like a shadow into darkness.
Shiro (whispers): "He's gone…
but he's no ordinary foe."
Lucas (looking at Ryan): "Why… is he after you specifically?"
Ryan (silent): "I don't know… but something's not right."
And just like that…
the mission ended… with no resolution.