Lotus

Number 55 strongly grips the katana handle. Suddenly, the handle spikes out and pierces through Number 55's hand. The blood from his hand clumps up into the broken part and creates a new katana. Number 55 launches the invisible slashes but with LT. Carol reflexes and blocks the attacks " It seems like you're getting used to it." said Number 55.

Lt. Carol's mind was 'doesn't know why the attack pattern seems clearer. Am I in the flow state? It doesn't matter. Right now, all I need is to take down that thing.' She immediately launched toward Number 55. She then fully swung her Katana toward Number 55 as she heard the cracking sounds. She realizes she can cut through the invincible thing that protects Number 55, but Number 55 deflects the attack using the katana.

'I can cut through that thing, this time I'm sure that, I can cut through the Armor and Katana.' LT. Carol seems confident and sheathes the katana, ready for the last quick draw attacks. But with a blink of an eye, Number 55 already stood behind her. Suddenly Lt. Carol's front bodies burst out of blood. Meanwhile, in the N.E.S.T hospital, one of the nurses approached and opened the door "Mr. Hughes, time for your routine check-up. Mr. Hughes?" but she noticed that he was not in the room, and Immediately rushed out to report.

After receiving the attacks, Lt. Carol fell to her knees. 'Never thought that I would be dead by my own moves' sudden memory flashed before her eyes.

Five years ago, the first ever Number appeared. They destroyed half of the city and disappeared just like that, didn't know what their motive was. At that time we were merely a college student, even though the incident happened in the neighboring city. A year has passed, and everybody seems still somewhat Uneasy. But it seems like the government is leading to something, Someone from behind calls out "Hey, what are you reading." Carol was shocked and closed her Notebook. 

Carol looks behind "Iori!"

"Seriously, what are you reading you seem so serious." and sits beside Carol.

Carol opened the Notebook and shown Iori what is she reading.

Iori reads it out "N..E..S..T, Number Extermination Special Teams.", she was a bit shocked "Eh, you're going to join the military?"

Carol [chuckles] "Maybe, I still don't know yet."

"Why so sudden?" Iori asked.

"You see, I have been thinking a lot lately," said Carol leaning in her chair.

"What's on your mind?" asked Iori.

"The reason I want to join is because maybe I can make changes to this world," said Carol.

"Yeah, you always have that kind of dream. saving the world or maybe doing something to make this world better," said Iori, chuckling.

"So? What do you think?" Carol asked.

Iori with a smile replies "But I don't think that was a bad idea."

A few months later after we graduated, we immediately joined the N.E.S.T. Cannot say we struggled a lot with the training because, in our college days, we were pretty sporty people and joined the kendo clubs. A year has passed, and we saw the news. The first-ever Number finally got taken down, at that time I thought this might be the chance we could make the world a better place. After that, we have been summoned to the N.E.S.T hall. When we arrived there was only a few people got summoned there.

"I wonder what's happened," Iori asked.

"Dunno, maybe they have something to announce," Carol replies.

Later there were two men walked into the podium, an Old man accompanied by a young man. The old man grabbed the mic and said "Greetings, everyone.", "Before we start, let me introduce myself. My name is Ishin Mori and this young fella beside me is my grandson Takumi Mori." after hearing the names everybody began to mumbling except Carol and Iori.

Carol and Iori were confused by the situation "What? Is he some kind of a bigshot?" said Carol.

one of the N.E.S.T. cadets shushed Carol "Don't you know?! the Mori clan is one of the founders of N.E.S.T." After hearing that both Carol and Iori were shocked.

"Silence everyone." Said Ishin, "I gather everyone here because you all have been chosen as part of a newly found project by N.E.S.T." Everyone seems a little bit confused by the statement.

One of the cadets raised his hand and asked "Why Us?"

"Because this particular project needed excellent individuals who are great at swordsmanship, and you guys have shown great skills in swordsmanship during the training days. That's why you're chosen for this project," said Ishin.

Carol raises her hand "What's the project called?"

Ishin smiles and replies "The Lotus Squad."

Iori was confused "Lotus Squad?"

"Yes, it is a newly assembled squad. That uses the newly developed Katana, the Lotus Katana, That's why we needed a skilled person in swordsmanship," said Ishin.

"Why Lotus?" Carol asked.

"Because Lotus symbolizes rebirth, that's why," said Ishin.

"Rebirth." Slowly mumble the words.

"That's right!!, humanity will rebirth once again just like the Lotus and defeat those Numbers!!" said Ishin and got Everyone hyped up.