SD | Prologue

A massive shadow loomed over the defensive wall. A three-headed monster howled as it clawed at the barrier, cracks forming between the bricks. Its eyes, brimming with venom, glistened menacingly, and thick, sticky drool dripped from between its fangs.

“Commander, it’s too huge!”

A soldier shouted, his hands trembling as he gripped his shield, already slick with sweat.

“We can’t possibly—”

“Silence.”

Blake’s voice was low and firm—so commanding that it instantly quelled the soldiers’ unrest. Drawing his gleaming sword, he locked eyes with the monster’s yellow gaze from atop his horse.

“Our duty is to protect this city. Prepare yourselves.”

The soldiers quickly fell into formation at his order. Blake tugged the reins, halting his horse before charging down the wall. The insignia on his uniform glinted under the sunlight, and his billowing cloak cut through the dust of the battlefield as he surged forward. The sound of his soldiers’ footsteps followed, but Blake didn’t look back.

He had already calculated everything.

The monster twisted one of its heads toward him, jaws gaping wide. The moment its thick fangs flashed in the light, Blake spurred his horse and leaped into the air.

A deafening crash erupted as the fangs shattered the ground. Amid the rising dust, Blake drove his sword down onto the monster’s head. The sharp blade pierced through its thick scales, sending a gush of viscous blood spraying outward.

“Commander, the right head!”

One of the soldiers yelled. Without turning, Blake twisted his body midair. The second head spewed a deadly cloud of poison, grazing past him—yet he remained unharmed.

“Focus!”

His voice was calm, but the soldiers were so tense they could barely breathe.

“Prepare to fire. Shoot in three!”

Giving the order, Blake kicked off the monster’s nape and landed on the ground. The moment his feet touched the earth, he reversed his grip on his sword and slashed toward the beast’s abdomen.

“Fire!”

The soldiers unleashed a volley of bullets. Though the rounds tore through the monster’s body, it thrashed even more violently, lashing out with its tail and sending several soldiers flying.

Yet Blake didn’t retreat a single step.

“This ends now.”

Raising his sword high, he delivered the final strike. The blade cleanly severed the monster’s neck, sending the second head tumbling to the ground. The massive body lost its balance and collapsed. Blood and dust blanketed the battlefield, and the monstrous howls ceased.

Blake slowly sheathed his sword. His face was smeared with dirt and blood, but his eyes remained calm and steady. The soldiers surrounded him, erupting into cheers.

“Commander! You did it!”

But Blake turned his gaze toward the sky, now veiled in red dust.

He didn’t speak.

This world had long been in crisis, overrun by monsters that appeared out of nowhere. Cities were now encircled by defensive walls, and venturing outside was tantamount to suicide. Even rain had become scarce, leaving resources in constant shortage. Some whispered that these were signs of the world’s end.

Once, the nation had classified its citizens from Grade A to D based on survival skills and contributions. But now, those distinctions had lost their meaning.

Social classes had solidified, and grades were endlessly inherited from parents. The government no longer assigned ranks based on merit—only bloodline and family name mattered.

Thus, the grading system had become meaningless, a cruel punishment where children bore the sins of their parents.

The soldiers returned safely to the city, met with cheers and applause. At the forefront stood Blake, hailed as a hero. Children dreamed of becoming someone like him.

Yet amid the celebration, Blake felt the weight of their praise pressing down on him. He knew better than anyone that this wasn’t a true victory.

‘If I weren’t an A-rank, I wouldn’t even be standing here.’

As the soldiers marched back, the lavish villas of the A-rank residential district came into view inside the walls. Meanwhile, the D-rank zone near the defenses was nothing but crumbling houses and parched streets.

As an A-rank, Blake received better support and more resources—privileges that left him uneasy. He thought of those who, unlike him, never got the chance to rise, denied even basic education because of their low rank.

Even as the city celebrated his triumph, he couldn’t ignore the privilege he held or the countless sacrifices it had cost. His resolve wasn’t just about victory—it was about changing this broken world.

Blake clenched his fist tightly.

‘That’s why I must succeed.’

Amid the thunderous cheers, Blake’s gray eyes burned with intensity. He believed that he and Adrian existed to change this world. The battles they had fought together proved it.