Prologue - Calamity Trigger

  ‘Sup my name’s Aubrey Magnum, though I'd rather change this lame name to something cooler. But I don't think it's a good time for that yet. Maybe after I get good at fighting, because I want to protect those I love; I may have the bravery, but I lack the strength.

  I live in Gearopolis with my sister, Lotus. There are a lot of things to do here, like laser tag, neo-hockey (which is hockey, but even faster and more violent), and a lot of skyscrapers, which I just don't understand why; the view just ends up being blocked by more towers.

  Lotus, on the other hand, likes to stay locked up at home all day. She also likes to reverse the order of her names, because it sounds like "Magnum-opus". She wears very strange clothes while researching in her laboratory or going out; she looks like the mascot of a voice synthesizer.

  Well, I'd love to have something to do today, but I don't have anything scheduled. I think I'll just spend the afternoon playing "RageRed" then.

  Then, when I went to close the window to darken the room, I spotted a flyer hanging on a lamppost that was right in front of me, with a poster advertising “Tournament of the Cogs! The winner gets to be a weapon of destruction!” Hmph, I hope it's not that literal, maybe the prize is exercise equipment. Anyway, I found something to do!

  So I went toward the front door, stopping in front of Lotus's room to let her know.

  "Hey, hermit!" I knocked on the door. "I'm going to some 'Tournament of the Cogs,’ wish me luck!" But before I could turn around and head out the door, Lotus flung the door open, looking at me with a terrified face like I'd told her that I was about to jump off a bridge.

  "Have you lost your mind, Magnum?!" She yelled. "Don't you remember the chaos that other Cog caused in the city ?"

  “No… or at least I forgot about that.” I scratched my head.

  "Why am I not surprised?" Lotus sighed. "Well, he was crazy. They had to keep him locked up in some old facility to this day."

  "So what? He wasn't exactly sane before he became a Cog." I shrugged. "He just got the tools to carry out the massacre he wanted."

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  “It doesn't matter, those things tend to be dangerous! Why do you think the Order was founded?”

  “And what does that have to do with you? All I hear about it is the commander being a childish officer!”

  "You idiot! I'm worried about you, Magnum!" She banged on the wall. "I don't want you to become another one of those freaks!"

  “Well, you shouldn't, I'm only a little younger than you. You don't need to spoil me!”

  “You have no idea what's going to happen!”

  "Have you forgotten about the pain I went through when he died?!" I yelled furiously.

  Ah…?

  A deafening silence then took over the house, lasting almost a minute until Lotus broke it.

  "I'm really sorry," she said in a dry tone. "But still, if you turn into a Cog, it's going to get out of control."

  Then I exploded:

  “Then piss off, you heartless bitch!! Go back to your burrow and read one of those books of yours that can bore someone to death!” I ran outside, slamming the door shut with all my might.

  I love my sister, but she drives me crazy sometimes.

  The stadium isn't very far from home, only about five blocks, I can even see it from here—it's huge. But this traffic doesn't help, I'm surprised they haven't installed traffic lights at every intersection.

  Hey, that's the Rustbucket bar over the street, cozy as ever. I'll definitely stop by later to celebrate my certain victory!

  Phew, I arrived just in time! The stadium looks even bigger up close, and even in the afternoon, the lights are able to illuminate the entire block and then some.

  This ticket booth is a pain too, but the fighter's queue is almost empty despite the time; apparently few had the courage to come and fight, but the stands are packed.

  "Miss, please proceed to the back of stand 01, your fight will begin shortly." The ticket booth attendant told me after I entered.

  “Excuse me. Can I have a bottle of water?” I asked.

  “One gear and ninety-nine cents.”

  “Piss off.”