December 2013, District Four of City World Star.
Neon flickered, steam roared, and amid the bustling city traffic, a group of people looked utterly out of place.
Some had lost arms or legs and leaned on crutches. Some were covered in blood and bandages. Others lay on stretchers, their eyes closed, long since unconscious.
Pedestrians stopped along the street, unable to hold back their sighs.
"Only this many Heroes came back."
"Keep it down. If they hadn't fought with their lives on the line, we'd all be dead."
The situation was the exact opposite of 2121, when Monsters had only four districts left.
At this point, aside from Districts One through Four, where people still survived, the rest of City World Star had been occupied by Monsters.
Among the onlookers were two young brothers.
Huddled on a street corner, they gnawed on bread and complained.
"Good grief, big brother, this bread's hard enough to crack walnuts."
"Just hang in there. Once I become a Hero, I'll get you the softest sliced butter bread, lobster, steak, caviar, and the dry red wine rich people drink."
"Big brother, what's caviar?"
"I've never had it either. Probably fish babies made into a paste."
"Then I don't want it. I want chocolate ice cream!"
"Oh, my foolish little brother. Chocolate's so bitter. What's good about it? Vanilla is the god of all flavors. Ah! I've decided. When I become a Hero, my code name will be God."
"God?"
"That's right. I'll save the world like a god."
"Good grief, then I'll be Angel and follow you."
"Wait, did you hear something?"
Boom!
With an enormous crash.
A colossal creature fell from the sky. The shock wave from its landing alone flattened an entire city.
Everyone cried out in shock.
"Giant snake tentacles all over