HOPE

Sixteen years ago, in the Philippines, Cebu, the barangay of Paknaan was a peaceful place. Then something happened: a person floated in the sky, and no one knew where he came from. One moment, he was an ordinary human living among them. The next, a strange, glowing portal tore open the sky, and he emerged from it. The sound was like the groaning of a black hole, and he appeared—floating, his eyes filled with an otherworldly power.

Before anyone could react, explosions rocked the city—one after another, tearing through buildings and sending debris flying. The air was filled with the deafening sound of destruction as flames erupted from every corner. Streets cracked open, and firestorms raged through the city, turning everything in their path to ash. People ran in panic, but no one could escape the inferno that consumed everything.

His true nature wasn't human. He wasn't here to save them. He was here to end them. The city became nothing but a charred ruin, the flames reaching higher and higher as the last traces of hope were burned away. But the civilians didn't lose hope. They rebuilt their city, helping each other because they said, "We Are Not Alone."

That happened 16 years ago. Now, the child born to save the world was 16 years old. He was now in 10th grade at PHNS School, the academy for those who would become heroes. The homeroom guidance session began, and their advisor came to tell them that tomorrow was the day they would unlock their powers. There was an age limit for this: one had to be 16 years old or in 10th grade at the academy to unlock their powers and begin their journey. Their advisor reminded them to support each other because, as they always said, "We Are Not Alone."

The next day, after the ceremony to unlock their powers, there was breaking news: Mandaue City was under alien attack. The news spread throughout the academy, calling for their help. The academy agreed to send them, but the students were terrified, especially when they learned that even the professional warriors had been instantly defeated.

Then, their Section-A advisor encouraged the students, telling them they needed to fight, even if it meant dying, because "A life was given courageously defending what truly mattered." His words lit a spark in them, and they agreed to take on the mission. Their advisor told them, "We Are Not Alone."

When they arrived in Mandaue, they saw the pro warriors beaten and bloodied. Zane, the protagonist, immediately helped one of the fallen warriors without hesitation when a creature almost struck him down. As the battle continued, they realized that the number of aliens was growing. Just as they were about to lose hope and accept their fate, Akashi unleashed a powerful "Lightning Strike" and shouted at his comrades not to lose hope. He said, "We are not alone, and even if the number of aliens keeps increasing, our hope and chances of winning are still high."

Akashi's words inspired Zane and his comrades, reigniting their hope. With renewed strength, they kept fighting, and the aliens began to retreat, afraid of their unbreakable bond. In the end, they won, though all of them were injured and wounded.

They returned to the academy, where doctors treated their injuries. But then, they heard the heartbreaking news that one of their classmates had died due to massive blood loss. They had hoped he could survive since he had the ability to heal himself, but to heal his body, he needed blood. Unfortunately, he lost too much.

Before he passed, their classmate's last words were, "We Are Not Alone." He said this until the very end, until the last drop of his blood.

And then, Zane realized that this was only the beginning of the fallen justice.