The World 'till Now

The world wasn't like this before.

I think it all started in the '90s?

Maybe earlier?

Honestly, I don't care. I wasn't alive back then, and history has never really been my thing.

All I know is, at some point, shit hit the fan.

At first, it was like something out of a bad action movie—random monster attacks, people getting superpowers, entire cities being leveled overnight with no explanation. Nobody knew what was going on. Scientists were running in circles, governments were scrambling to keep order, and corporations were circling like vultures, waiting to see how they could turn a global catastrophe into profit.

Eventually, the nerds figured out a name for all this insanity.

F.L.A.R.E.

Or, if you want the full, unnecessary mouthful: Fundamental Life Aether Resonance Expression.

(Yeah. I know. Sounds like something a guy with three PhDs made up just to sound smart.)

Basically, FLARE is some quantum-aetherean energy that comes from the part of the brain where emotions are stored. Don't ask me to explain what the hell 'aetherean' means. Some scientist probably slapped that term onto a research paper, and now we all have to live with it.

The important part is this: when people are under extreme stress, FLARE activates.

And sometimes, that means getting superpowers.

Other times, that means turning into a flesh-hungry nightmare creature.

It's kind of like Schrödinger's Cat—until a FLARE User actually manifests, you never know if they're gonna be a hero or an Aberration.

Which, y'know, is just fantastic for the general public.

Naturally, the world did not handle this well. Governments collapsed. Populations plummeted. China and India aren't pushing billions anymore—turns out, more people equals higher odds of someone FLARE-ing out and wiping out an entire city block.

At least Asia only has 27 Red Zones now.

South America? From what I've heard, they're sitting at a minimum of 41.

Not that I really care. There are plenty of people stronger than me who can deal with that mess.

I'm just a Risk Level C FLARE User.

At best, I handle Yellow Zones.

Could I take down a Risk B Aberration?

…Probably.

Would I try?

Absolutely not.

Furthermore.

As I already said, the initial shock was bad.

Mass panic, governments scrambling, doomsday cults popping up overnight—it was a whole thing. (Why am I repeating myself... oh right, emphasis.)

But, y'know, humans are weirdly good at adapting.

Now? FLARE Users and Aberrations are just another part of daily life.

Sure, some of the old-timers are still stuck in denial, mumbling about how "things used to be different back in my day" while sipping their overpriced coffees. But for the rest of us?

This is just how things are.

Speaking of which.

Since I'm a legal FLARE User—(important detail, because getting fined is a nightmare I do NOT want to experience again)—I'm technically funded by AetherCorp.

It's kind of nice… until you realize they're basically your boss.

And they love paperwork.

And taxes.

Lots and lots of taxes.

They track everything.

Casualties? Taxed.

Property damage? Taxed.

Extra combat fees? Also taxed.

If you're a Risk Level S, you're basically living under financial house arrest.

Lucky for me, C-Ranks like me get a slightly better deal.

Still sucks, though.

And then there's NeuroSync.

They're basically AetherCorp's bestie, since our job is to handle Aberrants and their job is to predict, analyze, and classify the things we fight.

Think of it like this.

AetherCorp handles FLARE Users, funds our work, and makes sure we don't go completely rogue.

NeuroSync tracks Aberrants, defines Risk Levels, and warns people before things get messy.

In theory, it's a great system.

In practice?

It's about as reliable as a weather forecast.

And look, I get it—Aberrants are unpredictable by nature. Their power fluctuates based on stress, emotion, or whatever nightmare fuel they run on. But that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.

Because when NeuroSync messes up, I have to clean up the disaster.

And trust me, they mess up.

A lot.

They're usually fine when labeling the big guys—nobody's confusing an S-Risk for a C-Risk. But B-Risks and below? That's where the chaos starts.

I've lost count of how many times I've been sent to deal with a "manageable" C-Risk, only for it to suddenly start flattening buildings like an B-Risk on a bad day.

And I don't care what anyone says—that is not a skill issue.

Maybe I'm just petty. Maybe I just really hate surprises.

Or maybe, just maybe—NeuroSync needs better employees.

Of course, AetherCorp and NeuroSync aren't the only ones running the show. The whole industry surrounding FLARE and Aberrations is massive, with different corporations carving out their own piece of the chaos. Some of them are useful. Some of them are just trying to make a profit. And some? Some are just straight-up shady.

Take Umbra Dynamics, for example. They're the ones handling FLARE-integrated tech and weaponry—from custom combat suits to weapons that react to a user's FLARE output. If you've ever seen a FLARE User wielding some ridiculous, high-end prototype that looks like it came out of a sci-fi movie, chances are Umbra made it. They're always pumping out new gear, always looking for "testers," and always burying some poor sucker in a contract from hell.

(Which I think is stupid considering FLARE Manifestation comes in with a whole set.)

See, Umbra doesn't just sell their tech. If you sign a deal with them, they technically own whatever they give you. Test a weapon for them? It's theirs. Get a custom FLARE-enhanced suit? Also theirs. They can—and will—reclaim anything they want, whenever they want, usually right when you start relying on it. I learned that the hard way. Never again.

Then there's Zenith Bioworks, which deals with Aberration containment and research. Unlike AetherCorp, which funds people like me, or NeuroSync, which mostly just tracks and categorizes Aberrants, Zenith is the hands-on type. If a high-risk Aberrant gets captured instead of killed, it's Zenith that takes it in. What do they do with them? No clue. Their whole operation is locked behind a thousand layers of corporate secrecy.

Rumors say they're trying to domesticate Aberrants. Others claim they're working on hybridization experiments, mixing human FLARE Users with Aberrant biology. Of course, Zenith denies all of it, but come on—when has a secretive biotech company ever been trustworthy?

And then there's Everguard Security. Not a research firm, not a tech company—just straight-up mercenaries for hire. Officially, they provide FLARE-trained security teams for high-risk clients, ranging from rich politicians to entire city districts that can afford their services. Unofficially? They're a private army. They get their hands on classified weapons, experimental tech, and FLARE Users trained for maximum destruction.

They don't just protect people. They eliminate problems before they become a problem. I try to avoid them when I can, because Everguard doesn't see FLARE Users like me as "freelancers"—they see us as potential assets. Or worse, potential threats.

And those are just the big names. There are plenty of smaller companies, start-ups trying to cash in on the FLARE boom, and underground black-market operations that deal in illegal enhancements and unregistered Aberration parts. The world adapted to all this supernatural insanity by doing what it does best—turning it into an industry.

Somehow, that almost feels more dystopian than the Aberrants themselves.

BZZZZZ.

Oh. That's my phone.

I glance at the screen. Kanna.

Great.

I answer it, already bracing for whatever fresh hell she's about to dump on me.

"You missed the meeting."

Right. The meeting. The one about "bonding" with my new teammate.

I take a sip of my probably expired energy drink and lean back against my couch. "Yeah, that was today, huh?"

Silence. The kind that burns.

Kanna exhales sharply, and I can already imagine the vein popping on her forehead. "It was a mandatory team-building session. Do you even understand the concept of mandatory?"

"Yeah, yeah. It's like when my bills say 'payment due immediately' but don't actually send anyone to break my legs."

"Ryo."

I sigh, rubbing my temples. "Look, I'm exhausted, okay? Cut my pay if you have to, not like it's gonna make a difference."

"You're already getting deductions for property damage, excessive force, and ignoring regulations. You cannot afford to keep skipping mandatory—"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." I check my bank app. Debt's still sitting at 82% paid. That last Aberration fight barely made a difference. Just 18% more and I'll be clear, but with the way things are going?

Not happening anytime soon.

Kanna clicks her tongue. "You better show up tomorrow. I'm not covering for you when the higher-ups start asking questions."

"Got it, boss."

I hang up before she can yell at me more.

Outside, the sky's cloudy. No rain, though.

Damn.

Guess I'm not getting paid today either.