Under the pale red sky, among the now crystal ridden city ruin, the sound of metal cutting through flesh resounded.

  Two figures, one of red hair and one of black, dances among the crumbling remains of humanity, side by side.

  “Glasses! The last of my swords just broke!”

  The boy in black hair shouted. The edge of his broad sword collided with the flesh of the humanoid monster in front of him, broken in two. Despite this failure, the force of this collision blew this monstrous corpse away, colliding and bringing down several of its kind along with it. Serving well as a minor distraction amidst the chaos of battle.

  “Just hang in there!”

  The boy in red hair replied with similar intensity. The muzzle of his gun pointed at the abominations surrounding him, with fatal intent.

  “Hang in what!? I got no swords left!”

  Bang, bang, bang. The red-haired boy called Glasses felled three rushing monsters by shooting their crystal cores. He then used another as a platform to escape the encirclement.

  “Use your damn fists then! Blast them all!”

  At the same time as Glasses’ retort, the black-haired boy ducked and weaved through the rushing attacks of several monsters before unleashing an uppercut clad in semi-transparent blue energy, blowing them all away. Soon after, he landed and waved his right hand around as if to wave away the pain that he is feeling.

  His eyes chased after the blown away monsters, and landed on a horde of monsters on the other side.

  “One more time!”

  “H-hey wait!?”

  The boy shouted, ignoring his companion’s cry for him to stop, as his hands are slowly enveloped by semi-transparent blue energy.

  With one powerful step, and another, he flew across the ground; towards the horde.

  Mere moments before he made contact, he powerfully stomped his foot into the ground and released a punch towards the empty air, leaving a trailing trace of semi-transparent energy as his fist reached the apex of its speed. In that moment, the energy covering his fist explosively expand forward, unleashing a linear beam of pure heat.

  “[Buster Punch]!”

  The beam travelled through the horde of monsters, vaporizing anything on its direct path and blowing away the rest with a strong force, resulting in a massive veil of dust and smoke.

  “That should be enough, right?”

  The boy asked with a wry smile.

  In that same breath, several monsters rapidly emerged from the veil. Three monsters jumped high towards the sky, and two dashed in an arc along the ground. Despite their tattered bodies, their capabilities for killing are still great and their intent clear.

  They brandished their sharp limbs as they rapidly approached the dark-haired boy. It would only take a single moment, a blink, for the boy to be impaled by the monsters.

  Surely, the image of a boy dying a painful death would occur in this moment.

  However-

  “Hmph!”

  A hair breadth away, then, a semi-transparent mist of energy surrounds the boy. The mist instantly solidified, forming a barrier that absorbed all the kinetic energy that was aimed towards him.

  “Not today!”

  The boy stomped his foot once again, breaking the barrier, and unleashed several punches faster than the eyes can see.

  After a delay, the five monsters were pierced by the fragments of the barrier and were blown away; fading to dust, leaving behind only tiny fragments of red crystals as a remembrance of their existence.

  The boy took a deep breath and briefly inspected the condition of his right arm. There are several cracks on his prosthetic arm here and there. Otherwise, it is still perfectly serviceable.

  He clenches his left hand. It’s wounded here and there. But it still moves as he wants it to.

  “Great. Let’s go.”

  After making sure that he is still fit for combat, he ran back to support his partner.

  —

  Gun shots echoed throughout the ruins.

  Glasses pressed the trigger several more times as he ran for cover. As he reached cover, he threw a grenade right behind him. It exploded with a brief light before seemingly doing nothing. The monsters however are clearly affected by the grenade as they suddenly stopped chasing after him, seemingly confused.

  “I am really not suited for direct combat.”

  Glasses sighed as he reloads his gun. A custom model of a famous sci-fi gun from a popular anime “Sicko Pass”, back when the world has yet turned to an apocalyptic wasteland; or so it says according to the cosplay prop blueprint he found.

  He peeked out of his cover.

  The custom grenade that he made has done its job. To briefly incapacitate the monsters via a transparent gas. He doesn’t understand why the gas affects the monsters like this. It may have unforeseen consequences in the future, but he deemed its function in the present more important.

  Essentially, he is leaving the troublesome things to his future self to handle. The priority of the present is to survive, and that is what he is doing.

  He continued running, leaving his cover behind.

  A minute prior, he noticed an explosion of energy. His partner’s energy. So that is where he is going towards.

  As he ran, he waved his hand in the air to activate the holographic projection function installed on his glasses. On there, statistics and percentages of several things are showed. What’s pertinent to the current situation is the percentages of his [Scanning] tech.

  During the ambush, he let out a drone to scan for the location of the “mother” of all the monsters as well as to mark them as to not let a single one remains. However, progress has been slow, as Glasses is still incapable of properly attaching the [Scan] trait to it yet. His lack of technological know-how and inexperience with using his powers haunts him, yet again.

  Looking at the progress of the scan, he clicked his tongue and vowed to get better. Stronger. Putting more strength into his legs, he ran faster.

  Soon, the two reunites.

  “Glasses! Glad to see you safe!”

  “Same to you, Buku. Here.”

  Glasses reached out his hand towards Buku. The silver glint of metal materialized in front of his palm out of thin air. The force of its sudden existence fuzzled reality as it distorts everything around it for but a moment.

  Glasses had just crafted a weapon for Buku. Using his powers and the materials that he has in his “Backpack”, he had forced his will upon the world and distorted it just enough to create something. A sensitive process. One which Glasses had mastered (according to Buku) on this journey of survival.

  “Thanks!”

  Buku inspects the sword handed to him. He slowly envelops it with his energy, forming a thin layer of film-like substance. The layer shakes and wiggles before finally settling down as if absorbed by the sword itself.

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  “It’s a katana this time huh?”

  Buku swung the sword around, trying to get used to its unfamiliar weight.

  “Don’t be picky. I don’t have enough materials to make your usual bigger swords.”

  “I know, I know. I’m just saying it to make small talk~”

  “Hmph.”

  The two regrouped and discussed their next move. Before that however, Buku was scolded by Glasses, as he had moved far away from him in the prior fight. Making coordinating difficult.

  “Seriously...”

  “Sorry, sorry! I just had to take the chance to blow away a lot of them in one swift move. You were the one that told me to use my fist anyway, right~?”

  “You know DAMN well I was not advising you to break formation, you dimwit.”

  In the end, the two decided to do their usual. They would move around to avoid being surrounded, Buku would be on the frontline, while Glasses would provide support and focusing on scanning and marking the enemies.

  “Let’s go!”

  “Yeah.”

  And so, their assault begins.

  The two ran smoothly across the ruined cityscape. With their ample experience, they navigate around the rubbles and uneven ground like it was nothing.

  At times, stray crystal monsters would attack them. Specifically, they would target Glasses who’s less proficient in combat. Evidently, they have enough intelligence for such strategizing. However, Buku did a stellar job as a guardian. Every single offensive was blocked and countered by Buku. With the occasional gun shots from Glasses that help staggers the monsters, everything is going smoothly.

  “How’s the view from up top?”

  Buku asked, as he kicked away a monster that was emerging from a rubble.

  “Destroyed. As usual.”

  Glasses swatted Buku’s attempt at bantering in an instant.

  “I have pretty much marked all the enemies in the area. I just need to trace their connection to the Mother Unit... and done. Great timing. We are ready for deployment.”

  “Great job! Let’s go to a higher ground then!”

  “Agreed.”

  Ignoring the fact that his banter was ignored, Buku announced the second phase of their strategy.

  Using the drone, the two managed to find a suitably tall enough area to start their clean-up operation. They stood atop a massive pile of rubble. Based on the looks of things, the wreckage must had been an apartment. A high class one too.

  “You ready, Glasses?”

  “Let’s begin.”

  Upon Glasses’ declaration, Buku let out an initial explosive burst of energy. Blowing dust and rocks away from him.

  The horde of crystal monster sensed this burst of energy and immediately rushed towards its source.

  How could they not? Letting out Life Energy in front of these invaders is like putting a plate full of meat in front of a pack of starving dogs. At least, that is what the two believed.

  The air around the two started to tense. Swirls of semi-transparent energy gathered with a rising intensity with Buku as its center.

  Glasses raised his gun upwards.

  He was silent. However, from the rapid movements of his eyes, and the constant changing streams of data reflected on his glasses, he’s not slacking.

  “Energy levels sufficient. Executing [Bullet Guidance System].”

  Thus, as per usual, a delicate game of push and pull between the two commenced.

  Buku must constantly generate energy and control its flow, making sure it’s not running amok, while at the same time manipulate it in such a way that some was still able to be taken from him.

  Glasses must take the energy from Buku, while having to follow the flow of Order and not disturb it.

  This delicate operation, where just the slightest hint of disorder would break the both of them, is done so smoothly and without hesitation. A show of trust and skill between the two of them.

  The energy flowed towards Glasses’ gun barrel and with a bang it bursts outwards, along with a bullet that served as its catalyst, forming a rail made out of energy. The bullet reached its apex as the rail expands rapidly towards the sky and branches out. Each branch of rail flying towards the marked targets; following them, ever expanding.

  “Connection established. The rail has made contact with the marked targets... as well as the mother unit.”

  Glasses closed his tired eyes as he called for Buku.

  “Great!”

  Buku slowly raised his sword in front of him. His sword and right arm are slowly enveloped by a layer of blue. Then, the gathering of swirling energy stopped fluctuating as they split; one flew towards Buku’s center; one flew towards Glasses’ center, both condensing into a dense orb of energy within their body.

  A skillful maneuver. Buku’s face was painted blue as a testament to the difficulty such a feat. Exhausted and spent. Yet he smiled.

  “Go—”

  He firmly grasped the sword in his hand as he readies himself, and in one swift motion, he spun the sword into a stance.

  “[Final Buster]!”

  He swung his sword. Powerfully. Slowly. As if cutting the very fabric of the world itself. The dense orb of energy within is consumed as a faint blue line trailed behind this horizontal motion. At the very end of this slashing motion, Buku’s sword and prosthetic cracks— and shatters.

  At the same time, Glasses utilized the energy he received from Buku. Acclimatizing it into his own, harmonizing it into a form that he can use and modifying it into something that would poison his enemy.

  Sweat poured out of him, signifying the arduous method that he just completed. Similarly, he also smiled. Albeit faintly. Buku must have rubbed off on him, as he was not one to do so originally.

  As the energy finalized its transformation, Glasses pulled the trigger. It rapidly travelled through his body towards the gun and was fired. It flew along the rail, splitting off as needed, flying towards its targets.

  The line of faint blue left behind by Buku’s slash, the wound inflicted upon the world, started to swell and bubble. The many bubbles bursts and are replaced by new ones in rapid succession, each letting out sounds of civilizations, voices of the living, and throes of deaths.

  —the memories of the world.

  The line of faint blue grew with each burst, forming cracks upon reality. In a blink... they stopped. As if consumed. As if they never existed. And explodes forward as a massive burst of energy, moving towards its target.

  These two attacks, like a massive tidal wave amidst a meteor shower, ravaged their surroundings.

  The energy bullet flew along the rails, phasing through any and all obstacles, and only physically impact with the target. The victims of this attack are burned from the inside out, leaving only the falling red dust behind.

  Meanwhile, the burst of energy travels forward. Most things that touch it are instantly vaporized. The flesh, buildings, even the faraway mountains. Gone. Leaving only red dust behind.

  ...

  ....

  .....

  ......

  The dust and debris soon settle. The aftermath of this offensive action is laid bare. Witnessing this scene, the two didn’t react much. A given, considering that this is already a common occurrence for them. Still, their expressions are clearly showing discomfort at what they have just done.

  The true nature of their powers... While no one is there to confirm or deny, their proficiency and familiarity at using them must’ve clued them in on what is really happening whenever they use them. After all, one cannot achieve such high level of control without understanding the core nature of it.

  Buku slowly get on his knees, put his remaining hand on his chest and prays.

  “May your next life be filled with happiness and peace... “

  Prays he, as he tries to fish through his crumbling memories for a picture of a semblance of normalcy and a happy life. For them, the victims of this ruined world.

  “May your good karma help you be born in a better life... “

  Prays he, as he fails to picture a future for the world.

  “May all creatures be happy. Saddhu… saddhu… saddhu...”

  Prays he, as he gives his sincerest wish for the departed.

  “Do you have to do this every time?”

  Glasses asked as he approached beside Buku and helped him stood up.

  “Hmhm... I may not remember much anymore. But I do know that I often pray like this whenever something happens.”

  Glasses fixed his glasses placement to be more comfortable.

  “Even when it does nothing?”

  “Hmhm... Even so.”

  Glasses sighs.

  “I think you should stop. It’d be easier for you if you—”

  “I know.”

  Buku laughed wryly.

  “Still, even if it’s useless, I can’t help the way I feel about all this.”

  Buku shifted his head towards the destruction caused by his action.

  His expression is unchanged, but his eyes tell more than enough for Glasses.

  Glasses does not understand Buku’s feelings. For him, what they are doing is for the sake of the hope of the continuation of the world. Their duty as the last of humanity. It is a necessity. And Buku knows this. Yet, whenever they’re done facing the monsters, he still felt pain.

  Even if these monsters are formerly humans, they are no longer so. Their souls left their body a long time ago. They don’t know where they’re gone to, but they’re gone. Still, Buku prays for them.

  For Glasses, this fact alone is enough for him to see them as monsters to be eradicated. But for Buku, that is clearly not the case. Buku still does what needs to be done, but he despises this. Even after all that these monsters have done, he still cares for what’s happened to their humanity.

  Glasses sighs once more.

  “Hey, you changed the name of the attack again, didn’t you? Last time it was catastrophe smack or something like that.”

  Buku shifted his attention to Glasses and smiled faintly.

  “Yep. I still can’t find one that feels right.”

  There was silence once more.

  After some time, Glasses operate his glasses and numbers and figures are displayed on his glasses.

  “Get moving, think while salvaging. We need more materials.”

  “Make me that arm first dude. I can’t salvage with only one!”

  Buku waved around the stump where his prosthetic arm was as a show of disapproval.

  “Ah, right. I totally forgot.”

  “OI!”

  This jumble of contradiction that is Buku is pretty much an exact opposite of him. However, Glasses has come to appreciate his company.

  The two continue to bicker as they worked to salvage enough materials. As usual, most of the things that they were able to salvage are canned goods. If they were lucky, they’d find a working refrigerator that still contains semi edible goods inside. If they are really unlucky, they’d find nothing and would starve for quite a while. They could not hunt, as there is nothing to hunt. Such is the quality of living in a ruined world.

  Aside from food, they also salvage materials for crafting. A variety of stones and rocks, scrap metals, cloths, etc. All of them are collected and reduced into simple stackable “virtual” form and stored by Glasses for future usage.

  It’s like magic; another survivor once mentioned such. But it is not magic. It has always been there. A core part of how our world operates. We were just given the ability to forcefully interact with it. It is a cry for help, from a world whose life is at its end.

  Their journey is bound to be a hard one. Even with their immense strength and skill, they are bound to face even greater challenges the closer they get to the Pillar.

  Even if they do not know the purpose of it, even if they do not understand its existence, even if they couldn’t fathom how we managed to survive despite the odds... The source of the red crystals, the invaders, they instinctively know that us reaching the pillar is dangerous.

  And so, the two continue on. Their journey towards the bright Pillar of Light on the horizon. Their final destination, ordained by the very thing who gave them their powers… For the sake of this world. And for the sake of their survival.

  Buku and Glasses continues their journey. Facing tougher and stronger challenges. And inevitably they will meet their end.

  But that is why I am here.

  It is my given role as the witness. For I will witness their success. For them to birth hope for this world to repel this invasion… no matter the cost.