Monster

3. Sacrifice

The supreme leader retaliated against Genjiro. He had millions of soldiers, but they lacked quality. It took the invading forces seven to eight months to defeat them. The supreme leader, along with a few ministers was imprisoned, and his subordinates except Shoto, who agreed to cooperate with the Shibatas, were killed. The population of humans drastically fell from over fifty million to ten. Establishing complete control over the royal capital took Genjiro five years, after which he went on attacking various districts. In another seven years, he conquered over four districts leaving Nagoya and Okizaki the only places of human inhabitants. The rest of the humans were all wiped out by him. And now, it had been twelve years since the invasion took place.

"Say, Kenji, do you know why they haven't attacked us up until now?" said Denki, the only surviving combatant of the forces that opposed Genjiro, looking at the high mountains, standing at the castle tower along the king, Kenji.

"Yeah, you told me the other day too. It's not that they can't attack, it's just that they didn't attack us merely by coincidence, perhaps, that's the only explanation. However, they keep on sending low-rank soldiers whom the Titan Regiment takes care of..."

"They've not attacked up until now doesn't mean that they'll not attack today...Say, Kenji, what if they attack today?! Will the Celestial Defenders and Titans be able to take care of them? "

"Who knows...I've prepared myself to die for the sake of humanity when the time comes. I still remember the day you suddenly appeared right in front of me, holding that girl in your arms through your teleportation technique and telling me about the situation. And now I look at today when you and that girl have a twelve-year-old brat...Come to think of it, how's your boy Mahito doing?"

"He's always lively, and ever since Izumi told him about the huge world beyond the mountains, that's all he talks about - crossing the mountains. Your daughter, Hanako, keeps clinging to him. It seems like she's obsessed with him..."

"Tsk brats these days..."

In the village of the north, Mahito's laughter echoed through the streets. He would fool around and often get into mischief, and his friends Izumi and Hanako had to intervene to help him out of trouble.

"OI! ALL MY FELLOW VILLAGERS! I'VE MADE UP MY MIND NOW! I'M GONNA JOIN THE TITAN REGIMENT AND SEE THE OUTSIDE WORLD!" declared Mahito, as stood on the tallest tower in the village.

People had mixed reactions to it. Children laughed it off, considering it a joke while the workmen ignored it. The old farts of the village trembled with fear. One of them rushed towards the tower and slapped Mahito.

"Idiot! You...you have no idea about how cruel the outside world is!" said the old man, with tears in his eyes.
He continued "Our village has already lost many young men who joined the Titans...Do you know, kid, the Titan regiment has failed every single mission they did?! Their jobs are not just to keep those devils away but also to secure secret land routes towards the royal capital and the Okazaki district. But to date, they have secured none! Even though they have elite soldiers like Ginko and Mizuki, in every mission about thirty per cent of the Titans die!"

"So in other words, you are saying that joining the Titan Regiment means dying?!" said Mahito, with a cold look in his eyes.

"Ye-Yes it is! We should disband the Titans in the first place! Celestial Dragons are enough for defending our territory!"

"Oi, old geezer!" He suddenly raised his voice, "DO YOU WANNA FOREVER REMAIN INSIDE THESE CRAMPED MOUNTAINS? WE RIGHT NOW LIVE IN THE SHITTIEST WAY POSSIBLE, AND HAVE THE CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING ATTACKED! WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THOSE DAMNED SHIBATAS!"

"They have not attacked us till now!"

"That said, that doesn't guarantee that they'll not attack today! ONCE WE MAKE IT OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS, FREEDOM AWAITS US! "