Prologue:

After the successful conquest of Manchuria, a part of China, the people of the Empire are on edge, it may be a great victory for the army and navy, but it gives a heavy toll on the economy of the country. Japan had a highly developed industry, but the land was scarce of natural resources. Empire of Japan turned to Manchuria for oil, rubber and lumber in order to make up for the lack of resources. 2 months had passed, the High Officials and Officers of the Army, where some known officers are still en route from Korea, had called for the next course of action, may it be the invasion of Homeland China or the conquest of South-East Asian Nations that are currently controlled by the West, but planned to "free" them. However, this sparks another huge heated debate of the Officers and Officials about the lack of resources to sustain another war.

The Empire may have just gained a portion of conquered resources, but still not enough to stabilize the falling economy. That until the reports from Hokkaido that a sudden appearance of an unknown structure that is obviously not made by the Japanese just by the looks of it.

This halted the Empire's interest to act, and after a week, a report soon sent out and was received by the High Officers that stated the unknown structure was some sort of gateway that leads to another part of the world. Of course the High Officials and Army Officers only gives disbelief and an insult from their reaction. That was until they all saw it with their own eyes. Curious about this new discovery, the Imperial Army took the first act to send and establish a foothold on the other side of the gate, also to gain power on the region to ensure no information of this discovery to be leaked outside the Empire.

Itsuki Matsumoto, chosen to lead the operation to establish a foothold on the other side of the gateway. He has the rank of Captain, with experienced Battalion of Soldiers under his command.

New World, Gate

Itsuki Matsumoto

3 Weeks passed by, 5 towers, tents, and wooden bunkers were the last things we managed to finish. As of now, we're digging trenches around the area with the high ground on our advantage. I stand inside my assigned tent to rest.

"Captain, a message from Colonel Akio, sir!" a soldier approached and salutes, having his role as the messenger in this base.

"At ease." I said, grabbing the letter from his hand, unfolding the paper. "The Empire wants to expand… We could have used this part of land to flourish economy…" I said in my head, not wanting to be heard by the messenger.

I put down the paper and grab my cap. "Has our communication line set up yet?" I asked the messenger.

"No sir, but we're half-way finish to connect the lines" he says, I nodded. "Anything else, Captain?" he asked, following me outside the tent.

"Send back to Colonel Akio that we'll be ready for his arrival" I said, leaving the messenger to his own actions.

"Captain! Captain Itsuki!" a soldier called out to me, I walked my way to the spotter's post

"What is it?" I asks him, seeing his face sweats like bullets and pale. "Speak up, soldier!" I ordered him.

He shakily gave me a pair of binocular and then pointed at a direction, at first I look at to see a dark area moving forward at the horizon, I raised the binocular on eye level to have a closer look. Armored… Beasts…

"Oni? No… This can't be right" I commented, I scanned through the fronts to see more of those humanoid beasts in armor. "Send word to the men to man their stations" I ordered the spotter.

He only stands there shaking in fear, I put down the binocular and shook the spotter back to his senses.

"Now, soldier!" I shouted at him, as he salutes and left to spread word. "I wish I would have more time to meet my little brother…" I whisper, hearing the faint march of the enemy from afar and the soldiers readying to their positions to defend… "For the Emperor…"

Hakodate, Japan

Kenji Matsumoto

2 weeks after my arrival here in Hokkaido, after the conquest of Manchuria, High Command viewed my actions with interests, I was hoping that should be enough to promote me. Hansuke, Takahiro and I are heading to the Mount Hakodate, with other soldiers like me that I don't know of, but recognize from Manchuria.

"Hey, Hansuke!" I called out.

"What?!" he shouted, annoyed by me interrupting him cleaning his rifle.

"Know anything of where we going?" I asks him, as he only answers with a shrug. I look at Takahiro as he shook his head no.

"I heard rumors of your potential promotion, Kenji. Care to share?" he said, I smirk at him.

"Just happy to know that my actions got noticed" I said, Hansuke scuffs at me.

"Yeah, right. They chose the guy who is crazy enough to use his sword instead of his rifle from that first battle" Hansuke commented.

"Awww, that hurts" I replied, as we both laugh while Takahiro chuckles.

Until out of nowhere, the truck we're in got hit and flipped to its side, getting off-road. The last thing I saw is the soldiers like us in the truck are off our seat, and heard a high-pitch roar…