Prologue

Third Person's POV.

It was the year 2027. Three years after the invasion of extra-terrestrial beings from another galaxy. It started after the US received a transmission from a distant galaxy. They didn't disclose the location of the galaxy but they sent a transmission back to the galaxy. They sent the transmission on 2018. On the year 2021, the beings came and started sending down their forces. The army from all countries tried their best but the aliens proved themselves to be stronger until the world couldn't bear the fight and surrendered. The aliens took control of everything. Humanity now joined forces and wage war against them in order to win back the land they called home. For seven years, men have gone to war and lost their lives either being killed or experimented on. It seems there is no hope for humanity…

Except there is a sliver of hope exist within humanity…

Chapter One.

Unknown Figure #1 POV.

Tonsberg, Norway.

January 4th, 2027.

21:50 PM.

I was walking around the city in search of the army that was deployed by the Hydraconiacs. I wore my disguise as I walked through the debris of what is left of the city. I hid when the searchlights from their drones light up and searched the city. I heard bells chiming from the church. I slowly got myself to the church and saw a Hydraconiac tank had pillaged through the church's walls. I hid within the rubbles. I saw several Hydraconiacs soldiers inside. The Hydraconiacs are a race of reptilian alien with dragon heads and the body of a human but with claws and tails. I saw the priest looking very scared. ''I praise your bravery. I think you are a man with a great vision and this way, we are much alike…'' A voice said. A voice that humanity hates. The voice of Raku Kurogaki. A traitor to the humankind. A traitor that broke my heart and killed innocent lives with no remorse. ''I am nothing like you, Raku. You're obsessed with gaining power through sinful acts.'' The priest said. ''Of course but what other see as sinful, you and I know it as glory.'' Raku said as he scrapes his right hand on the wall, sharpening his claws that he was given by the Hydraconiac kings. ''What you seek is just a legend…'' The priest said but…

''But why make such an effort to hide it? To conceal it from humanity?'' Raku said with a smirk in his tone as he took off his hat that has the symbol of a three-headed dragon. He gave his hat to one of the soldiers and walked off to a stone coffin. He looks at it with no emotion and pushes the top off. His left hand slowly reached inside the coffin and pulls out a small eyeball-shaped crystal with snake slit on it. He held it to his face and looked at it with no emotion. ''The Dragon Eye is a powerful relic of Ra's treasure room. Made from the blood of all of the gods and carried through several pantheons of several powerful countries.'' Raku said before dropping it to the ground, shattering it to pieces.

''It's not something one would bury in an unguarded coffin.'' He continues as he walks back to the priest and looked at him in the eyes. ''But I think it is close. Concealed here.'' He finishes as he smirks, showing his sharp canines. ''I cannot help you.'' The priest said as he looks down. ''No… but maybe you can help your people. Your children. Your wife. She looks nice. A young and beautiful wife.'' Raku continues as two Hydraconiacs dragged in a woman. ''Maria.'' The priest said but he was held back by the soldiers. Raku walks slowly to the woman. ''A beautiful name fit for a beautiful woman.'' He said with a small smile as he gently touched the wife's right cheek. ''However, I have no need for them to die.'' Raku said as he turns around and looked at the tank. The priest watched as the tank turns around and stood menacingly towards the remaining group of people of the city. Kids who are innocent and wives who lost their husbands to the war. The priest looks back to Raku with fear and sadness laced in his eyes. Raku turns around and saw a stone carving. ''Yddragssil. The tree of life and the bridge to all worlds from the Norse mythology.'' Raku said as he saw the head of a snake. He approached it slowly before pressing the eye of the snake.

PSSSSSS…

A hiss came from the carving and Raku pulls out a box. The priest watched with fear as Raku opens the box, revealing a purplish blue glow coming from inside. ''And to think, they were thought to be hoaxes now the myths are real.'' Raku finishes as he looks up towards the priest. ''You haven't seen it, have you?'' Raku asked with glee and excitement laced in his voice. ''It is not for the eyes of a man.'' The priest said. ''Exactly…'' Raku said as he closed the box back. He walks to one of the soldiers. ''Give the order to open fire.'' Raku told the soldier and the soldier walks away. He nearly walks out from the hole…

''Fool…!'' The priest said and Raku turns back to the priest. ''You cannot control the power of the gods. You will burn and suffer in a never-ending torment!'' The priest continued as he looks at Raku with distaste and anger. Raku looks at the priest with no remorse. ''I already have.'' Raku said as he creates a purplish green ball of flames and burned the priest to dust. I walked away from the scene quickly. I took my phone as I got far enough. ''Director Freeman, he has the Eye.'' I said with panic and fear. ''We have to initiate the project.'' Director Freeman said through the phone. ''We don't have the right candidate for the project and we're running out of time.'' I said. ''In time, Agent Camachio. Return back to New York. It's time to initiate Project Hero.'' Director Freeman said and he cuts the call. I returned my phone to my bag and got back to my ship, which is waiting for me to be returned to my base of operation.

Unknown Figure #2 POV.

New York.

January 10th 2027.

9:40 AM.

Life isn't always this way. Life before the war was peaceful. A few occasional fighting along the way but we're getting there. A lot of people wanted to fight against the Hydraconiacs. Several men from my country have witnessed the sheer horrific and viciousness of the Hydraconiacs.

All except me, of course.

My name is Ezekiel. A man who is a small stature and have many defects in the body than anyone could count. I can't run fast. I can't jump high. I can't carry anything heavier than myself and of course…I can't fight. I'm now standing in an enlistment office with my…uh…records. ''Next!'' The man at the counter shouts as he finished with the man before me. I went to the counter and I knew from the man's eyes…he's laughing from the inside. ''I already told you. You can't enlist to the war.'' The man said. ''Come on, Robert. Many men have given up their lives to fight for the freedom of the country. When is it my time for me to repay the debt that America has given me?'' I pleaded as I looked at him in the eyes. ''Even if I could, you would die just smoking the air from the war with your asthma. I'm saving your life out here.'' Robert said with a small chuckle as he pushed the documents back. ''Come on, man, can you at least give me a chance?'' I pleaded once more. He just shook his head and I walked off with shame surrounding my head.

I walked out from the office and into the roads of New York. The war touches every single city in every single continent but New York managed to worm its way into making a barrier that will hold back any invasion from outsiders. I looked at the billboards, talking about the enlistment to the war and many posters talking about the importance of joining the fight against the Hydraconiacs. I reached to the cinema, watching the film. The cinema is showing several old clips from the old war times. However…

''Who cares?! Play the movie already.'' A guy in front of me said with a boring tone in his voice as he looks at the screen. ''Mind showing some respect?'' I said but my voice didn't get to him. The clips keep going but he's still saying some bullshit that caused people to shake their heads at him. ''Hey, you wanna to shut up?!'' I asked louder. The man slowly stood up from his seat and looked at me. I gulped as I knew where this is going.

Now, I'm getting my ass kick by the guy behind the cinema. I got back up again but he lands another hit on my face, causing me to stumble back on the ground. I got up and did what Captain America did in the movie and the comic. I took a garbage can lid and held it to protect me. Unfortunately for me, he is stronger and pulls the lid away from me before landing another hit on my face. I went tumbling back to the ground before getting up again. ''You don't know when to give up, do you?'' The man asked. ''I can do this all day. I don't have anywhere to go.'' I said as I put up my fists. I tried to land a right hook on him but he dodged and punched me in the face, knocking me into a pile of trash bags. The man tries to punch me again but…

''Hey!'' I heard a familiar voice and I saw the man being pulled away by another man in a soldier uniform. ''Why don't you pick on someone your own size?'' The second man said as he pushed the first man to the ground. The first man got up and tried to hit the second man but the second man held the right hook and punched the first man before kicking him. He looks at the man running away before going back for me. ''Sometimes, I think you have a knack for getting a punch in the face.'' The man said. I dusted off any trash from my body before recognizing the man in front of me. ''You're getting your orders?'' I asked as I looked at his outfit. ''Brigade 107. Sergeant Jason Cain. Shipping off to England first thing tomorrow.'' He said as he looks at me with pity. I just looked down with shame and shook my head.

''I should be going.'' I said. Jason looks at me before pulling me with him. ''Come on. It's my last night. Got to get you cleaned up.'' Jason said. ''Why? Where are we going?'' I asked as I walked by his side. 'The Truman Expo.' He said with a bright smile. I smiled as we both walked to our home. Me and Jason stuck together like glue ever since my parents…died. We got in and saw some of our roommates are inside. ''George! James! Arthur! You guys going to the expo?'' Jason asked as he high-fived Arthur. ''Hell yeah, we are. We have our dates for the night and Sabrina told us that she's bringing her friends.'' Arthur said before the three saw me. ''Again?'' James asked with exasperation in his tone. ''It's an accident.'' I said. ''This is the twentieth time you got in a fight. You might die sooner than you think.'' George said. I just shrugged him off and went to my room. I took off my clothes and took a bath. I winced in pain as I scrubbed my bruised face. However, the bruises disappear as soon as I looked into the mirror. Doctors can't explain what causes the disappearing but I'm glad they're gone. I got my clothes on and exited my room.

The three have got themselves into their uniforms. The three somehow got in with Jason in the same brigade. 'You're done changing clothes?' Arthur asked. 'Yeah.' I said as I pat down the shirt. The four of us went out and got into James's Camaro. He drove us to the expo, who was handled by…Mordred Truman. Another friend of ours. James parked the car and we went to the open expo. Several new gadgets are shown created by his company while older generations of technology are shown in the display cases such as the infamous Samsung Galaxy S8 and the more older, Nokia 3310. We walked around when Mordred caught us.

''My friends!'' He said with a happy tone. His company is also in charge of creating weapons for the army and he's getting paid a hefty amount for that. ''Mordred! Great to see you again.'' George said. ''Well, I need to see my friends before they're getting shipped off to England for the war.'' Mordred said. I looked down with shame. 'No worry, Ezekiel. I could get you a job for the army. You can even work in my company. I'm sure I have a position for you.'' Mordred said. I just smiled sadly at him. ''It's fine.'' I said when…

''Guys! Our dates have arrived!'' James said as he points towards the six girls. Sabrina, Jenny, Elsa, Yuki, and Mira. ''Hey, handsome.'' Sabrina said as she gave a small peck on Jason's right cheek. I saw the girls going off on their dates and Mira left me for another guy. I walked around before seeing another enlistment office. I looked around and nearly went there when…

''Zeke. Please don't do anything stupid until we get back.'' Jason said as he appears right next to me with Arthur, Mordred, George, and James. I just smiled and looked away. ''How can I? You guys took the stupidity with you.'' I jokingly said. The five sighed before hugging me. I hugged them back before they went off with their dates. ''Don't win the war till I get there.'' I shouted at the five. The five saluted before going off. I walked off to the enlistment office and entered the checking area. I passed everything and I'm now sitting in a room. The doctor has finished checking on me and nearly say something to me when the nurse came in and whispered something to his ears. He nods and put down the gloves. ''Wait here.'' He said as he walks to out to the room.

''Is there a problem?'' I asked with a nervous tone. ''Just wait here.'' The doctor said as he went out. I looked nervous as I know what's going to happen. I nearly put on my shoes when a soldier came in stood inside. I was nervous when an old man came in. ''Thank you, soldier.'' He said and the soldier went. I looked at the old man. He's holding my documents and I was very nervous. ''So…you want to go overseas? Killing all the Hydraconiacs?'' The old man asked. ''Excuse me?'' I said with a questioning tone. He closed my documents and walked towards me. ''Dr. Jacob Grey. I represent the scientific and strategic research part of the army.'' He said as he lends me his hand. ''Ezekiel.'' I introduce myself as I got up and shook hands with him. He nods and walks to the wall beside me. ''Where are you from?'' I asked. ''Brooklyn. Before that, Germany.'' He said as he looked through my documents again.

''So, how many times did you come to the enlistment offices from all over America? Seven? Ten? Twenty?'' Dr Jacob asked. ''Those might be the wrong files.'' I interjected him. ''It's not about the several tries that I want to know. It's about why go so far.'' Dr Jacob continues. He walks back to me. ''But you didn't answer my first question. Do you want to kill Hydraconiacs?'' He asked in a serious tone. I looked at him questioningly.

''Is this a test?'' I asked as I was nervous to answer. He blinks once and just nods. I took a deep breath and looked at him. ''I don't want to kill anyone. I just don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from. I just want to help anyone who needs help.'' I spoke from the heart. Dr Jacob nods and looked at my document. ''Well, there are so many big men in fighting in this war. I think it's time we need a little guy.'' He said. My heart made several laps around as I hear his words. ''I can offer you a chance.'' He said as he and I went out from the room. ''Only a chance.'' He continues as he looks at the document and brings out a stamp. ''I take it.'' I said with a full excitement in my heart. ''Good. So…who are your parents?'' He asked. I went quiet. ''I…don't have any parents…they died when I was an infant. They were attacked by the Hydraconiacs during their first invasion.'' I told him quietly. He was saddened by this. He takes the stamp and placed the mark on the document.

''Congratulations…soldier.'' He said as he walks away and gave me the document. I was happy and I looked at the document. I saw the stamp and I was excited. I get to help people.