1 Chapter 1: Humanity

I'll never forget that day, three years ago. The day I lost everything, including my humanity. I peered into the despair that is the cold lifeless bodies of my friends, family, and neighbors. The only thing I could latch on to was revenge, but the realization that all of the Nue Faction was eradicated by "Asura's Breath" sent me in a downward spiral. My Sanity was desperately grasping at anything to not drown from the tears.

I am Alone

**Asura's Breath was a chemical weapon used by the Chimera King to end the "Edo Civil War." It was spread across the Nue Faction's territory 1 month into the war killing nearly 15 million people. No one knows why he decided to go to that extreme and no one even knows how we got his hands on something so dangerous.

I was training in an underground bunker I discovered back in my childhood. It had the logo of Dr. Misami. I assumed she used the bunker for research at one time in her life. Dr. Misamai was always neutral and both sides never questioned her. No one has ever seen her, she uses an android proxy. Mysterious but also a brilliant scientist. She is the sole reason Japan has advanced tech. Everyone in the country deems her a god, she has made everyone's life easier. I hope she wasn't in Northern Japan during the spread. It's thanks to her I survived.

Is surviving a good thing?**

Every day up until now I have been dragging my feet searching for a purpose. The only solution that seems just is for me to join my loved ones.

Why was I the only one who survived?

That question plagues my thoughts and dreams. Every day is a struggle, traveling from village to village searching for food and necessities, but most importantly I'm looking for salvation. I NEED humanity.

I stumbled across a dead body that's moving. I thought it was just my sleep deprivation playing tricks on me, but no. A whirlwind of emotions washes over me wondering if It is a living person. It doesn't matter who they are, male or female I just want someone. Something.

"Please God, please save me"

The corpse suddenly got up and stumbled towards me. Eyes glowing like lightning bugs, I could tell this was no longer a human being. This is not the Humanity I am looking for. One glance at this creature has me seething with anger, this is just another thing that must be cut out of my life.

"I will not discriminate!" Shrieking with despair

There is no Salvation for me here

I drew my katana for the first time in years and the memories of all my training as the Nue King's elite guard came rushing back This is who I am. I didn't become the Elite guards Ace swordsman at 17 years old for nothing.

Kanji for Usui is imprinted right above the collar of the sword.

Wait, Can I do this? My life is on the line. I have to fight back, right?

But should I fight back? This could end it all. . . wouldn't that be nice?

NO! I will fall on my terms.

Driving the sword through its chest piercing where a heart should be, it drops to the ground. The first "living" thing I find I have to kill.

"Is this my punishment for being the only survivor?"

I am not sure what to call this thing, but for the sake of my sanity, I will turn around and walk away. Even though it was once a human being I can't think twice about putting it down.

Walking away I hear a dog bark nearby as I turn around to look for it, the corpse lunges at me. I have no choice and in one fluid motion the head of the walking corpse is now laying next to the body it was once attached to. The eyes stopped glowing, I realize there is no time to hesitate against these things. I have a purpose now, I need to train so I can eliminate these monsters.

Who would've thought my saving grace would be a walking corpse and a black german shepherd.

I named the dog Cole, I guess Asura's Breathe spared animals.

"Thank you, Cole, you saved my life in more ways than you know" Usui weeping while embracing his new dog.

Later that night we found an abandoned Dojo in a small village not too far from where I found Cole. Once we got into the town I noticed there are no dead bodies on the ground, which is very weird. From what I have seen in my travels I can deduce people died almost instantly after inhaling Asura's Breath and fell where they stood.

So where are the dead bodies?

I wonder if there is a person who managed to stay alive and decided to bury their fellow villagers. . . I can't get my hopes up, even though I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited thinking about it.

Either way, this place is perfect to hold up for a while while I train. No dead bodies that can come alive, a lot of food, and this Dojo even has the equipment to clean and sharpen my sword. Training can wait, tomorrow I want to spend all day with my new dog. I think this will be the first night I can get some good sleep; We found somewhere that doesn't smell or look like a battlefield filled with corpses plus just laying next to a living thing brings me so much relief and joy.

But the battles at night are much different than the battles of daytime. My mind runs rampant with depressing thoughts even though I am happy for once. Am I not allowed solace from the depression for even one night?

As I watch Cole sleep with his tongue hanging out I close my eyes, but I can't drift off. It isn't because of his snoring, even though it's the loudest snore I ever heard. The thing that pops in my head is the vision of that undead standing up.

At that moment it was fight or flight and I refused to die like that. I have killed hundreds of men, hell maybe thousands. It wasn't about should I kill the once human being, but should I let it kill me so I can finally be free. It did cross my mind, but I will never fall to creatures like that. I decide when I die.

I have been living next to dead bodies for 3 years now, if they decide to get up I will

be there to put them down. I have no choice. It's the only thing saving my sanity. A goal.

I finally drift off. Not even thirty minutes go by I hear Cole barking. I quickly grab my katana thinking it's one of the undead, but no. There's a beeping sound nearby. I follow Cole into the woods behind the dojo and as we stumble upon a drone emitting a signal of some sort. I realize after inspecting it that it's one of the drones that was used to spread Asura's Breath.

Then it hit me. Dr. Misami's logo is on the drone. She must have made Asura's Breath. She murdered everyone. I will still put this undead to rest, but I have a bigger goal now. I must travel to the Chimera Border and somehow convince them I am an ally. Any higher officials or anyone that was in their military at that time will recognize me, but I have to try. It's the only way to get to Misami.

I am taking a huge gamble here, they may kill me on the spot. I have killed a lot of their loved ones and I wouldn't blame them for hating me, but maybe I can show them the undead and use that information as a bargaining chip. Before I go there I need 7 more years to reach the apex of my abilities. I will train Cole to fend for himself and be a scout for me, this could work if I bring tangible proof the dead bodies are coming alive.

The Chimera Faction always had large walls and they prolly sealed themselves off for a couple of years in the case that the chemical lingers. I know I wouldn't have taken the chance if I didn't have to. They might have no idea about these bodies starting to come alive and if so I think they will want me as an ally to kill them. Worst case scenario I will give them my life in exchange for letting me be a part of their military until the undead is no longer a threat.

I will start by taking out their military leaders and the Chimera King. Most importantly I must kill that bitch Dr. Misami. I will slay a GOD!

She will feel my pai. . . !!!!!!

Suddenly we hear a loud snarling sound coming from the darkest part of the woods, a large being draped in shadows slowly approaches us. The ground vibrates as it takes each step. I draw my katana out of pure instinct, but as it stepped into the moonlight I knew even my darkest dreams couldn't prepare me for what stood before me.

I just wish that Drone would stop beeping, I can't concentrate!

Continued in Chapter 2- Releasing soon.