Marine Knight

**The Year 2535 - Drum Tower City**

In the sun-dappled yard of St. Mary's Orphanage, a young Gilbert De Nune leaned against the weathered bricks of the building, gripping two intricately carved wooden laser guns. His heart raced with thrill as he scanned the yard, spotting the other three members of the opposing team inching through the shadows, eyes searching for him. With a determined breath, he rolled from his hiding place, imitating laser sounds with energetic gusto. He narrowly avoided detection by two boys: one was about to turn the corner, while the other peered up into the branches of a tall tree.

In a sudden burst of energy, Gilbert sprinted toward the tree, sliding to the ground just as imaginary laser shots whizzed past him from the direction of a girl stationed at the door. He dove into cover behind a vibrant bed of flowers, the colors a stark contrast to the muted tones of the orphanage.

"Ha! I must be the greatest of us all! One day, I shall become a glorious marine knight like my older cousin!" he declared, his voice full of bravado. "You'd all better step up your game if you want to keep up with me—" His boastful words trailed off abruptly as a cold piece of metal pressed against the back of his head.

"Oh, glorious marine knight, remember many enemies are searching for you, even after the battle is won. Now join your brothers in nihility," came a muffled voice from behind him. Gilbert, the thrill fading, raised his hands slowly, glancing back to see a towering figure clad in a sleek, black mechanical suit, over seven feet tall and adorned with brilliant azure embellishments. The suit bore the designation D33U1931 on the right chest and a fierce dragon emblem on the left. The imposing figure held a menacing laser rifle, its muzzle pointed directly at Gilbert's forehead.

"Daniel, you don't count," Gilbert retorted defiantly. "I promise, once I get examined, I'll be even better than you!" Pride infused his voice as he regarded his cousin, with awe and admiration. Daniel epitomized the dreams of every boy and girl in the poorer districts—strong, courageous, and emblematic of hope.

"I do not doubt that. But first, let me speak with Mother and Grandmother before I take you all to the pharmacy center." With that, Daniel lowered the rifle from Gilbert's forehead and removed his helmet, revealing a strong face framed by a buzz cut and marked by a scar that ran across the bridge of his nose. He strode purposefully toward the orphanage, each step radiating authority.

As Gilbert watched Daniel's commanding presence disappear inside, he beckoned to his friends—Adam, Anastasia, and Kean. They crept up to the window, their ears pressed against the glass, eager to catch snippets of the conversation. Just then, the head caretaker, Madam Margery, Gilbert's grandmother, swung the window open, her face framed by strands of silver hair.

"Listen here, every last one of you! Clean this yard until it sparkles! I don't want to see a single leaf left behind. Just one leaf and you shall know the wrath of the clock tonight!" she bellowed, sending them scattering in all directions. After ensuring they obeyed her command, she retreated into the building.

As they busied themselves with the task of cleaning the yard, Gilbert couldn't help but wonder what urgent matters Daniel and his grandmother were discussing. He knew all too well about her infamous temper; if they dared eavesdrop again, they'd be punished with a week of chores.

"Hey, Gilbert, do you think we'll become marine knights?" Kean, a lanky boy with striking white hair and piercing blue eyes, asked, his voice tinged with hope.

"What's so great about being a marine knight? It's way cooler to become a machinist," Anastasia chimed in, her bright red hair reflecting the sunlight. "Just imagine—we could create an anti-gravity bus for everyone at the orphanage! We'd be pioneers in Drum Tower City!"

"Oh please! Marine knights are the ultimate heroes. Plus, my dad was one, and I want to be just like him! I have to find him and ask him everything!" Gilbert exclaimed, eyes sparkling with determination.

"You all better hurry up, or it won't matter what you want to be! If Chief Madam doesn't see this yard spotless, you won't get that chance," Adam warned a dark-haired boy with brooding eyes. At this, they all fell silent and resumed their work with renewed urgency.

After what felt like an eternity, Daniel emerged from the orphanage, and upon seeing the hopeful expressions of the four friends, he sighed softly. He gestured with his head towards the door, where Madam Margery and her daughter stood waiting, each holding a bag in their hands. Moving quietly over to his aunt Deborah—a brown-skinned woman with a pixie cut—Gilbert accepted his bag from her; she bent down and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"Listen closely, all of you. Should you meet the requirements to join the army, you'll be taken to military school, where you'll learn while serving your voluntary service. And for those who don't, you're always welcome back here; we have connections to help you on your journey through life." As she spoke, she produced a letter and a small box from the folds of her dress, handing the letter to Gilbert. "This was left for you by your father. He provided instructions for it, but I thought it wise to ensure I see what he intended for you. You may have this letter now; I'll give you the present when you've made strides in your military career."

With those words, she handed over the letter, and Gilbert's heart raced. Stunned, he realized that aside from a few dim memories, this was the first tangible connection he had to his father.

"Okay, off you all go! We can't afford for you to be late. Literally." Margery's voice rang out, filled with urgency.

"Bye-bye!" "See you later, Kean!" and "Don't come back, Gilbert!" echoed a chorus of cheerful voices as the children leaned out of the windows, their faces alight with excitement. As Gilbert waved goodbye, he caught sight of his family, their eyes glistening with tears, and felt a pang in his heart. He and his three friends hurried through the yard, their anticipation building, before climbing into the rear of a sturdy military vehicle alongside Daniel. As the vehicle rolled out of the familiar confines of Drum Tower City, an unexpected sensation of weightlessness enveloped them, adding an air of suspense to the journey.

Silence settled over the group, punctuated only by the hum of the engine, until one of the drivers—his mechanical suit identical to Daniel's—broke the quiet.

"What's up, Daniel? Not going to introduce us to your buddies from back home, or are they all mute?" he teased, a playful smirk on his face.

"Shut up, Alex," Daniel replied tersely, already reattaching his helmet. "These kids are practically family. They grew up in the same orphanage as me. Gilbert, my actual cousin, is the dark-skinned one; Anastasia, the brilliant girl who has a flair for mechanics; Kean, the lanky one with blond hair; and Adam, the dark-haired aspiring marine knight." He gestured toward the kids before shifting his attention to his fellow marines in the vehicle. "And these two are Alex Johnson, the best close-quarters combatant in our unit, and Roland Wade, our unit's field mechanic and medic."

"Marine knights and mechanics? Your little hometown is a treasure trove of talent, but they'll need more than just words to impress us," Roland interjected from the co-pilot seat, his tone teasing.

"Shut up, Mark. What's the matter, Gilbert? Getting scared already? You're usually more chatty," Daniel prodded.

"That's not it," Gilbert replied, his brow furrowed in thought.

"What then?" Daniel urged.

"Well, I want to be a marine knight, but to be honest, I don't know much about them aside from the armor you wear," Gilbert admitted, an edge of vulnerability in his voice.

"Ah, well, I suppose I can shed a little light on military life. The rest you'll learn at the academy," Daniel said, his tone shifting to one of mentorship as the others leaned in, eager to absorb his words.

"As you know, the military's primary adversaries are the fearsome beasts of Stygian, which led to the development of our iconic power armor. The military is divided into two main branches: the Marine Knights and the Dread Marines. Within the Marine Knights, there are five legions—the Dragon Legion, Fairy Legion, Panther Legion, Iron Wall Legion, and Asura Legion—each tasked with overseeing specific territories, except the Panther Legion, which covers both the Asian and Oceanian regions. Generally, we Marine Knights are classified as squires, knights, high knights, great knights, and grand knights. This hierarchy doesn't necessarily reflect our power but rather our longevity in service."

"That's amazing! What legion do you belong to? What rank are you?" Kean fired off the questions, his enthusiasm was palpable.

"Ha, I'm nothing special. Our entire continent of Europe is governed by the Dragon Legion. As for my rank, I'm a Great Knight. Just give me a bit more time, and I'll be a Dread Marine," Daniel responded with a mix of pride and determination.

"Wow, that means you're really strong, cousin! But what exactly are Dread Marines, and why haven't I heard of them before?" Gilbert asked, astonished by the reverence his cousin had for this lesser-known division of the military.

"You don't want to know they exist," Roland chimed in, his tone grave.

"Why not? What makes them so special?" Adam pressed, curiosity etched on his face.

"If you know of them from a city where you're from, it implies you've faced a disaster at some point," Roland replied, his expression reflecting the weight of his words.

Suddenly, the cabin lights flickered crimson, and a synthetic voice filled the air:

'5 Tier 3 wild Stygian spotted. Estimated time of arrival (ETA): 39 seconds.'

"Well, kids, it's time to show you what being a Marine Knight means," Adam said, excitement coursing through him as a screen illuminated the cabin, revealing the unfolding drama outside and tracking the movements of the approaching Stygian.