NATSUKI444

In a world ravaged by mysterious invaders known as the Kais, humanity has built a brutal system to survive: anyone ranked below number 18 is nothing more than cannon fodder in an endless war.

As a child, he didn’t understand the meaning of war or hierarchy. But one day, a dusty old book and a list of monstrous beings changed everything.

Now, caught between survival and fate, he must discover the truth behind the Kais, the forgotten history of the continents, and the real power behind the rankings.

Are they heroes? Or just tools of a dying world?

Welcome to Project 26 — where your number decides your life... or your death.

sector 26

Nobles are ranked from Number 1 across eight major houses:

I was born into the Rose family, but anything that's considered "abnormal" turns you into trash. Every noble is born with a number. I was born with the number 22. I was labeled a failure and sent to Sector 26 as a baby.

There was me, Dan, the rejected son of House Rose.

And Hayato, a boy without a class—no one knew if he came from a middle-class noble family or if he was just regular trash. He just seemed... normal.

"Calm down, boys. There's enough for everyone."

Karla, our big sister figure, always took care of us. But she was killed when we turned twelve.

> "You're arrogant for showing up here alone."

"Come on, show me all that power. Or are you scared?"

Dan stood tall, full of confidence.

"Don't test me, brat. I could kill you in an instant," Azel snapped.

Azel charged, kicking hard, but Dan blocked it—breaking his own arm from the impact.

Dan realized Azel wasn't hesitating. He really intended to kill.

Dan drew his Sora daggers and charged straight.

> "Red Tomb – Rise of the Skulls!"

The ground cracked open. Skeletons, glowing red, rose from a blood-colored cemetery.

> "Try surviving my ascension," Azel grinned.

Dan's feet were trapped by skeletal hands. Azel walked up and kicked his leg, snapping it like a twig.

> "Try walking now. Let's see how far your pride takes you."

> "I want to see your friends when I rip their bodies apart."

Dan remembered—Karla's body torn in two. His sister's headless corpse.

That rage… it exploded inside him.

But just as he was about to act on impulse, a voice from the past came to mind:

> "I wanna travel, Dan. See the world. Feel the air..."

"You don't get it, I'm just angry all the time."

"Dan, that's not the problem. Your real enemy is your pride."

"C'mon, you loved Jessica, right? But you held back."

"Exactly. You care too much. You try to hold it in. That's your pride speaking."

Dan stood up slowly, breathing deeply.

"Seriously? You're praying now?" Azel mocked.

A dark aura burst from Dan. His number changed—from 22... to 1.

Dan charged, faster than lightning. Azel tried to block with his claws—too late.

A hook to the jaw. A dagger to the lungs.

Blow after blow, Dan hammered Azel's face, his fists fueled by rage and precision.

Ashura and Sora—his twin daggers—shined with energy.

Even without a head, Azel kicked Dan in the neck, making him collapse.

The battle ended with both on the ground.

The mysterious black box was recovered.

Maria returned, holding Ernesto's head.

> "Damn, Maria, that's... brutal," Hayato said.

> "Took me all afternoon to get back."

Until a new aura, sinister and powerful, filled the air.

> "So… you killed those weaklings, huh?"

"That's why I always say… do it yourself."

Chapter 5 – Final Battle of the Black Market Arc – coming soon!

CHAPTER 4 – MONSTER VS PRIDE