In the Oregon County prison, a prisoner lay brutally beaten on the cold, bloody, and damp floor.
His whole body in pain, Nova tried to stand, but they didn't let him. The torture continued.
Suddenly, a whistle blew. The guards arrived and separated the prisoners.
In agony, Nova asked for help to get up, but the cruel guards replied:
—We're just here to make sure your long sentence continues. After all, there's still more waiting for you in this hell.
—Yeah! Hahahaha!
The guards walked away, turned off the lights, and everything was swallowed by darkness. Nova lay naked, bruised, and barely conscious, unable to move.
That's when the memories returned—how he ended up in this place.
As a child, Nova played happily in the green meadows with his lifelong friend. His father, a criminal wanted by the Empire, lived peacefully with him. Everything seemed fine—until one day, it wasn't.
Imperial soldiers came to the village looking for Alexis, accused of trying to assassinate the empire's leader, Maxius. No one claimed to know him.
But then they found Aldo. He was offered a deal—go to the capital with a job and full pay.
The capital was the dream of many in that world plagued by poverty. Aldo, driven by greed, betrayed them. Though he didn't know where Alexis was, he told the soldiers Nova might.
Nova was taken from his peaceful home while his cowardly father hid. In court, Nova insisted he didn't know where his father was—but the judge ruled he was protecting a criminal.
He was sentenced to 150 years in prison.
—That's not fair! —Nova shouted.
—Nothing is fair in this world —the judge replied.
Back in the present, Nova regretted ever trusting Aldo or his father. He decided to survive—and change.
Days passed. He hardened. His heart grew colder. Those who once beat him now feared him.
Then he heard the rumors: devourers lived in the prison's basement—monstrous beings from space, virus-like creatures.
With this knowledge, Nova formed a plan: unleash the monsters to escape in the chaos.
He provoked a guard into shooting near the basement. The creatures were released, and in the mayhem, he threw a grenade and vanished in the explosion.
—At last… I'm free.
Nova tasted freedom. Finally, he was free. He watched from afar as the devourers tore everything apart. But instead of pity… he felt satisfaction.
And so, he walked toward the dawn.
To return to his village.
And take revenge on his father and his old friend.