Chapter 1: The Shattered Moment

Kai stood in front of the mecha model kit display, the rows of meticulously crafted plastic mechs glowing under the soft lights of the hobby shop. His fingers hovered over the pristine boxes—each containing the dream of piloting a massive, powerful machine. The kind of mecha that could reshape the fate of a war, if such things existed.

His heart raced as he debated which kit to buy. He'd always wanted to get into building mecha models, but with school, chores, and everything else on his plate, it was a dream that always seemed to slip out of reach.

"Maybe I'll start with something small," Kai thought, scanning the rows. His mind wandered. Maybe one day, he'd pilot one of these titans. A mecha, that's the dream…

He was so lost in the thought of assembling the perfect model, he didn't notice the shadow lurking by the entrance of the shop.

The bell on the door jingled as a group of masked figures burst in, shouting. "Everyone on the ground! Now!"

Kai froze, eyes widening as he saw the armed robbers storming the store. They wore black tactical gear, faces obscured by ski masks, and carried guns that gleamed menacingly in the harsh fluorescent light.

His first instinct was to get low, to find cover—but his legs wouldn't move. No, this isn't happening, he thought. I'm just a regular high school kid. I don't have time for this.

One of the robbers noticed him, stepping toward Kai with a wicked grin. "You!" the man barked, pointing a gun at him. "Hands up, kid!"

Before Kai could even think to comply, a sharp, thunderous crack rang through the air. A bullet shot through the space beside him, grazing his shoulder. He gasped, the pain flaring instantly as the bullet ripped through his shirt and skin.

It's not real, Kai told himself, blinking rapidly, trying to focus. But the blood staining his shirt felt too real.

His vision started to blur. The walls seemed to warp and spin. He heard distant shouts, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. The world was slipping away...

Wait—this isn't normal.

Everything around him began to flicker like a broken television screen. The walls of the shop shimmered, the air became thick with static. He reached out instinctively to steady himself, but the world continued to unravel.

The last thing he saw was the model kit display, its boxes now shimmering like they were suspended in the air, glowing with an ethereal blue light.

---

Next moment...

Kai's eyes snapped open.

Instead of cold tile and the smell of plastic models, he was surrounded by the sound of roaring engines. The air was thick with the scent of oil and metal. He blinked again, and a sharp, unfamiliar hum filled his ears.

The world around him was unlike anything he'd ever seen. Towering, armored giants moved in the distance—massive mechas clashed on a vast, war-torn battlefield. In the midst of the chaos, towering cities loomed, their advanced spires reaching for a sky that flickered with flashes of energy and debris.

"What the hell?"

His mind was racing, heart pounding in his chest. The pain from the gunshot was still there, but... where was he?

Before he could make sense of it, something hummed beneath him. He glanced down and found himself standing on top of a futuristic platform, surrounded by metallic structures, large screens flashing with unfamiliar data. The very air felt electric.

"What... where am I?" Kai muttered, trying to move, but his body felt heavy, as if the world itself was pushing down on him. "Is this a dream?"

The sudden screech of a loudspeaker broke the silence. "Incoming! Prepare for combat!"

A massive, armored figure strode past him—an impossibly huge mecha with intricate designs covering its frame, its eyes glowing a bright, intense blue. The mecha's body seemed to hum with energy, and Kai could feel the vibrations even from where he stood. This was no model kit. This was the real deal.

And then, before he could take another step, a voice, sharp and commanding, echoed from behind him.

"You're late, Kai."

Kai turned. A girl, dressed in sleek armor, stood with her arms crossed. She had long black hair and eyes sharp enough to cut through steel. Her presence seemed as imposing as the mecha behind her.

"Who... Who are you?" Kai stammered.

The girl didn't answer immediately, her gaze piercing through him like she was waiting for something. Then, with a smirk that barely concealed a deeper frustration, she spoke. "I guess I should've expected this. You really don't remember anything, do you?"

Kai frowned, pain still gnawing at him, but the more he looked at her—at the mecha, at the world he was now in—the more it felt... real.

"I didn't just wake up in the middle of a warzone, did I?"