The constant hiss of the respirator was the first thing Lucien noticed when he woke up. His vision still blurred, and for a moment he thought he was drowning—until the white ceiling and became sharp and he heard the relentless beeping of monitors. That reminded him he was not.
He tried to move. A relentless pain lanced through his back, up his spine, and across his ribs. His right arm felt like it had turned to cement. He drew a ragged breath. He suddenly heard a nurse's voice murmured, "Easy… just rest."
Lucien's mind drifted back to the alley. The monster's claws. The darkness. Then three silhouettes emerging came to rescue him: the Nightguard Corps. He closed his eyes again, just trying to rest.
He saw movement at the edge of his vision. A figure in a crisp white coat hovered above him, eyes kind behind a face mask.
"Mr. Lucien," she said softly, checking his IV. "Can you hear me?"
Lucien swallowed hard. "What happened?" His voice cracked, each word a battle.
"You took some heavy damage," the doctor replied. "Broken spine, crushed eye socket, three ribs fractured, and your arm… well, you snapped it clean in two. We used our newest techniques to heal you. Nanite infusion and bio‑scaffold implants. Without them, you'd be dead or paralyzed."
He closed his one good eye against the afterimages of that battle. "Was it all… worth it?"
She offered a sad smile. "You're alive. That means it was all worth it."
He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding and started crying. The nurse stood by his side and offered a hug.
Over the couple of hours, Lucien went through examinations, scans, and gentle nursing care. His chest still ached, but so did his mind — still thinking about the echo of the God of Vengeance. Why me? he wondered. Why grant me this kind of power only to leave me in a hospital bed almost dead?
Late afternoon sun came through the blinds. As the room grew dimmer, three visitors entered nice and calm. They didn't wear their combat suits, but their presence felt familiar.
The first was a young woman with pink long hair, green eyes and a frail body. Her suit was the most gentle of the three, its golden seals humming with healing energy. She carried herself with both humility and confidence.
"Hello, Lucien," she said, voice soft and sweet. "I'm Emiluna Uminari, your… well, your lifesaver."
He managed to get a weak nod off. "Uminari… right."
She went and sat on the edge of his bed. Her eyes were bright, though tired. "I'm only eighteen. Fifth Division's newest and future best healer. I—I've never faced anything like you before."
Her honesty surprised him a lot. He half‑smiled. "Guess I'm a rough first case."
The second visitor stepped towards Lucien: tall, lean, black hair going sideways, with cold, black calculating eyes and a big scar slicing down his left cheek. I could just tell he was the leader of this Division.
"Captain of the Fifth Division Rylen Minazaku," he introduced himself, voice clipped. "Fifth Division. I commanded the field team last night."
Lucien tried to read the man. Strict, disciplined, but with a flicker of appreciation in his gaze. "You paid for my surgery," Lucien said softly.
Rylen inclined his head. "Your life is an asset. Not one to waste."
Lucien was suprised, he´d never thought someone would say that about him. He was speechless.
The second was brash by contrast: broad‑shouldered, with an easy grin and a spark in his dark brown eyes and light brown hair forward.
"Name's Jason Higamizu," he said, clapping Lucien's good shoulder. "'Kinetic specialist' is the fancy term, but in simple terms I'm just the guy who punches things really hard."
Lucien let out a short laugh. It hurt, but it was a relief. He finally laughed after a long time "Thanks for the save… and the bill."
Jason shrugged. "Think of it as an investment and a thank you . You've got something rare. Could help a lot of people. in the future"
Lucien stared at his three saviors. "Why me? I'm nobody."
Emiluna Hamidane.
The third member that fought that night exchanged a glance with Rylen and laughed. She answered with a smile: "You weren't nobody when you stood up to that beast solo. You have courage and heart—and something else we can't explain yet."
While Lucien drifted between wakefulness and medicated naps, the trio explained the Corps and the city's hidden war that is already lasting 10 years.
The Nightguard Corps:
Origins: Formed ten years ago after the first wave of monsters struck Tokyo.
Structure: Five divisions in total; Fifth is the "recon and recovery" unit—sent in when cleanup and low‑priority threats arise in the city.
Suits: Powered exo‑armors, each customized for a specialty depending on the person for example: healing (Emiluna´ power), blades (Rylens power), and kinetic force (Jason´s power).
Duty Cycle: Recent upgrades due to investments now allow suits to function all night, not just a single hour. But high energy consumption still limits daytime use. But they are still working on that
Rylen's tone was factual. Jason was more fun to listen too but less usefull. He added color with anecdotes about building camaraderie in the Corps. Emiluna spoke passionately about saving lives which was nice to hear. Lucien listened, trying to fit himself into this strange new family.
Over the nexy week, Lucien went under rehabilitation:
Physical Therapy: Jason demonstrated basic exercises—light resistance exercises and training to coax strength back into Lucien's broken arm, ribs amd back.
Meditation Sessions: Emiluna guided Lucien to calm him and the roar of the God of Vengeance inside him, teaching him to control the telekinetic pulses that shook the therapy room.
Tactical Briefings: Rylen learned Lucien about monster profiles, response protocols, and the Corps' chain of command. Lucien realized quick how little he knew about all this stuff—and how much he needed to learn.
One evening, Lucien found himself alone in the courtyard outside the ward. The moon was hidden by clouds, but the world still felt charged. He closed his eyes and reached inward.
He felt the god's hunger—a restless ache for revenge. But beneath that, something else: a desire to protect, to redeem. To become more than a weapon. To become a god.
Back in his room, he caught Emiluna tucking a stray hair behind her ear. Overcome by sudden gratitude, he spoke before he could think:
"You saved me. All of you." His voice was rough and harsh. "I… I don't know why, but… thank you."
She paused and smiled, then reached out and placed a hand over his. "You already paid your debt with blood and almost your life. Rest is the least we can give."
Rylen, leaning against the wall, watched them both. "Tomorrow, you'll be cleared to leave the medical wing. Fifth Division needs you."
Lucien was shocked and swallowed. "Am I… ready and am i allowed to join the fifth?"
Jason grinned, flexing his hand. "Ready or not, we move at dawn."
Rylen smiled and said. '' Of course your allowed to join the fifth otherwise i wouldn´t have trained you and gave you those boring brievings.''
Lucien thought about it and accepted the offer and was very thankfull for this opportunity.
Rylen said '' your not an official member Lucien, you need to earn that place and I haven ´ t told the higher ups about this yet. So your still a unoffcial member, remember that.''
At sunrise, Lucien hobbled down the hospital corridor, supported by Jason's strong and steady arm and guided by Emiluna's gaze. Rylen followed, tablet in hand, reviewing patrol assignments for today.
They reached the main exit. Beyond it lays the Fifth Division's makeshift command post—mobile trailers, supply crates, and a lot of weaponry. Lucien paused at the threshold, feeling its gravity.
"This is home now," Jason said to Lucien, looping an arm around Lucien's shoulders. "Welcome to the fight and your brand new family."
Lucien inhaled sharply with tears in his eyes. The smell of ozone and machinery filled him with a fierce, brand-new resolve.
He was Lucien without a last name: vessel of the God of Vengeance, survivor of death, and member of the Fifth Division, well an unofficial a member.
The city of Tokyo and the world still slept, unaware of the fact that the future of this world will rely on three armored warriors and one scared god–host.
And as the sun's first rays touched the horizon, Lucien raised his gaze beyond the buildings and towards the future—uncertainand very dangerous, but finally not on his own.