The sky was black. Rain hit the broken concrete like nails falling from heaven. Smoke, fire, and blood mixed in the air, making it hard to breathe.
Yuto Kurogane lay on the rooftop of a bombed-out building. His uniform was soaked, his rifle cold in his hands. Through the scope, he watched a man in a dark coat step into the open below.
"Target in range," Yuto said calmly, speaking into his earpiece.
"Wait for confirmation," replied a voice. His commander.
Yuto's finger rested on the trigger. His breath slowed. His heartbeat followed. Time almost stopped.
One shot. That was all it would take. He had done this a hundred times before. A sniper doesn't miss.
Then the voice in his ear changed.
"Yuto. New orders."
He frowned. "What?"
"Stand down. The mission is canceled."
He paused. "The target is right there."
"We know. Let him go."
"Why?"
No answer.
A moment later, he heard something—a click. A sound no soldier ever wants to hear behind him.
He turned too late.
Bang.
Pain exploded through his chest. He fell backwards, rifle slipping from his hand, breath caught in his throat.
Footsteps approached.
He looked up, blood filling his mouth. A familiar face stood over him—his teammate, the one who had trained with him, eaten beside him, joked with him.
"You were never meant to come back," the man said. "They can't control you. So they chose to erase you."
Yuto tried to speak, but only blood came out. His eyes burned with rage. Betrayed. Thrown away like trash.
The man raised his gun again. "Goodbye, brother."
Another shot.
---
But Yuto didn't die. Not truly.
He woke in darkness. Floating. Weightless.
[ SYSTEM BOOTING... ]
[ USER: KUROGANE, YUTO ]
[ CLASS: GUNNER ]
[ STATUS: REBIRTH COMPLETE ]
[ WELCOME TO ARDIA — WORLD ID: 0473 ]
[ SURVIVE. ADAPT. FIRE. ]
Yuto gasped. Air rushed into his lungs.
He sat up on cold grass, surrounded by tall trees and glowing plants. Two moons hung in the purple sky. Somewhere in the distance, a monster roared.
Yuto looked at his hands. His body was younger. Stronger.
In front of him, a silver pistol floated in the air, shining with strange symbols.
The voice echoed in his mind:
> "You have been chosen.
You are the first Gunner.
Change this world—or let it destroy you."
Yuto stood slowly and reached for the gun.
He wasn't ready. He didn't understand.
But one thing was clear.
This time, he would never let anyone pull the trigger but him.