Grey: Monster

Benchiro Saiya

Four years ago, creatures with various physical forms invaded our planet Earth. These beings consumed humans and destroyed our habitat. They were named Nephilim due to their superhuman strength and other extraordinary features they possessed.

The government deployed the military to combat these creatures, but it soon became clear that our weapons had no effect on them. As a result, nearly seventy percent of the military was wiped out. Every day was a battle for survival; it was hell on Earth.

At that time, I thought that hell itself must be more peaceful than Earth.

As the battle raged on, humans were dying daily. Meanwhile, the world's top officials were moved underground to various bunkers, leaving ordinary people like us with nothing to do but fend for ourselves.

The Japanese government, along with other surviving countries, held a world conference and agreed to build walls and barricades in different parts of the world to protect humans from the Nephilim. However, our technology proved useless. When attacked by a swarm of Nephilim, the walls were easily destroyed.

As time passed, the human population dwindled daily. At the rate it was decreasing, our extinction seemed inevitable. However, top scientists working underground began developing weapons and other technologies to aid us in our fight against the Nephilim.

That same year, new weapons were created, and they worked. These weapons were made from materials extracted from the Nephilim's core. Guns, knives, and more were fashioned from this core energy. The scientists also found a way to multiply the core's energy, using it to create materials for building houses and drafting a new plan for constructing more effective walls.

While these plans were in the drafting phase, a new military force known as the Rangers was deployed. Armed with these newly developed weapons, they set out to save the remaining survivors on Earth. In Japan alone, the remaining population was about twenty-five million, less than half of the original population.

The rescued citizens were moved to underground bunkers for shelter as the new walls were being built. Engineers and volunteers worked on constructing the walls, but many of them died in frequent Nephilim attacks. After a year and a half, the towering walls were finally completed, not just in Shibuya, but in eight other regions across Japan and in over a hundred countries worldwide.

In the following year, life slowly began returning to normal. We grew accustomed to living behind these towering, metallic walls. Within the safety of the walls, agriculture thrived. We planted crops and raised various animals. People resumed different occupations, and a single global currency was established to promote unity—though, in reality, the world was not much different from the one before the Nephilim attacks.

Many people lost their lives in the Nephilim attacks, including men, women, and even children. Among those casualties were my parents, who died protecting me.

My name is Benchiro Saiya, and I am a nineteen-year-old Ranger lieutenant. At this moment, I am standing at the columbarium, paying my respects to my deceased parents. They were bakers by trade, but in their final moments, they fought more flashy than any Ranger I've ever known.

I focus on their cheerful pictures because there's nothing left of their ashes—they were devoured by the Nephilim. I was almost made into a meal myself before the Rangers rescued me and took me to the bunker, where I spent a year before moving up to the walls.

Once I reached the walls, I immediately enlisted as a Ranger. I wanted to be like my parents in their last moments—I wanted to be flashy, like them.

After completing my exams, I was quickly promoted to the rank of lieutenant, skipping the cadet stage entirely. They said I was too skilled to remain a cadet. I was happy that my flashy skills were acknowledged, but deep down, I felt empty. In my desire to emulate my parents, I had neglected the joys of youth. Part of this was due to the Nephilim invasion, but the rest was my own fault.

My roommate always nags me to get a boyfriend and enjoy life, but I don't have time for that. I'd rather spend my time playing video games and reading comics than holding hands and engaging in romantic activities.

I pack up the items I brought with me for my visit: a bottle of alcohol and a bento box filled with various meals. I'm not a drinker—in fact, I've never had alcohol, except when I come to visit my parents. Both of them were heavy drinkers.

After packing, I head straight to the Rangers' training camp in Shibuya.

Shibuya was later dubbed the City of Iron. The name didn't come from the materials used to build it, but because it became the hub for all technology and construction in Japan.

The Shibuya base is so large that it has three distinct areas: the residential base, the industrial base, and the farming base. The military base, where I'm headed, is the fourth. Each of these bases is bigger than most other bases in Japan.

The residential base consists of homes, markets, parks, cinemas, and more. The industrial base is where most of the work happens—construction, material multiplication, and even the creation of new Ranger battle suits, like the one I'm currently wearing. In the industrial base, scientists and engineers work together to improve life in Shibuya and Japan as a whole.

As the name suggests, the farming base is where food and snacks are produced.

The military base is where my next destination lies.

After leaving the columbarium, I walk down the busy streets of the residential base. Almost everyone I pass greets me—I'm somewhat of a celebrity.

The journey from the residential base to the military base takes over thirty minutes by cab. On foot, it would have taken more than an hour.

The military base is not just one building but a collection of them, each serving a specific purpose. I head to the training camp, then to the women's locker room.

"Oh, Saiya! Good morning!" the girls in the locker room chorus.

"Good morning, everyone," I reply with a smile.

Most of the girls are my juniors, some are my peers, and very few are my seniors. The locker room arrangements are somewhat complicated.

As I change out of my military uniform and into my training suit, someone approaches from behind and grabs my breast. I'm annoyed, but I know exactly who it is, so I let it slide. I've warned her countless times, but she never listens.

"Good morning, Sarada," I say.

"Good morning to you, Saiya!" she responds with a grin.

Inoue Sarada is my one and only friend and also my roommate.

"You're late, as usual, Saiya. We're about to start training."

"Sorry, I'll be there soon."

Sarada is nineteen, like me, but she's far more energetic and full of life. We met long ago in the bunker, and we've been friends ever since. I really like her, but there's one thing about her that drives me crazy…

"Oh, before I forget, Saiya, I told Issei you're into him and want to be his girlfriend."

There it is.

"Your jokes aren't funny anymore. Stop it," I say as I continue changing.

"No, I'm serious. Here, look."

She shoves her phone in my face.

I can see it clearly—her message to Issei. At that moment, my heart sinks.

"Sarada, what is this?"