2021, Outskirts of Tokyo

It's a Gastrea!

It's heading straight for us!

Open fire!

If you do not want to die, survive, Rentaro!

The world is vast, but broken and ravaged

God's great creation is plunged into chaos

All our pain confirms this as reality

We put our life together deep into this darkness

I want to shed light onto the path you showed me,

and my black bullet will pierce through whatever stands before me

In your fiery, red eyes, I can feel

the pulse of a wonderful life

I can feel it in my very being

With a wounded soul

I will pull the future towards us

I will use every ounce of my strength and fight

Black Bullet

I want to believe in hope

10 Years Later

10 Years Later

Tokyo Area

Tokyo Area

The Last Hope

The Last Hope

Huh?

Permit

Tendo Civil Security Agency

Satomi Rentaro

You're the civil officer who's come to help us out?

You're just a kid.

I'm still a civil officer, whether you like it or not.

Tendo Civil Security Agency, huh?

Never heard of it.

Hey, how about we get down to business?

Fourth floor.

Someone on the floor below reported that blood was leaking through their ceiling.

Based on the information we have,
it's definitely a Gastrea.

What a relief. Now that you're here, I can finally go in.

The law requires you to be accompanied by a civil officer for a good reason: it prevents casualities.

That's exactly what I don't like about it!

So, where's your partner—your "Initiator"?

It thought it was standard procedure for civil officers to fight in pairs.

I-I figured we wouldn't need her help.

Oh, Inspector...

Any updates?

I-I'm sorry.

Two of our point men rappelled down and entered through the window to engage.

We haven't heard from them since.

Why didn't you just wait for a civil officer to arrive?

We don't want guys like him stealing all the glory!

Out of the way. I'm going in!

You're rather late, Mr. Civil Officer.

What?

Are you one of us?

I was, in fact, also after the Gastrea that came through here.

I'm not one of you.

the one who killed these police officers...

was me.

Not bad.

Is that you, Kohina?

Yes. Right.

I'll meet up with you in a moment.

You'll pay for this!

Hidden Art: Gale of the Dark Heavens!

Hidden Art: Iridescent Void!

Oh, it's nothing. I'll be right there.

Splendid.

I didn't think you'd actually land a hit.

What is your name?

Satomi Rentaro!

Satomi, eh?

Let us meet again, Satomi.

Just who are you?

I am...

the one who will destroy the world.

No one will be able to stop me.

Where's the Gastrea?

The victims were attacked here.

Then they escaped through the window in search of help.

Come on, now.

How could they have escaped from an apartment on the fourth floo—

And if they were able to move after losing this much blood...

So not only is the infector running about, but the infected are as well?

Pandemic!

Inspector Tadashima, set up a blockade around the area!

Rentaro, you imbecile!

Saying you're busy doesn't give you the right to push me, your fiancée, off your bike like that!

Little girl!

What is it?! I am in quite a hurry!

Little girl, I wanted to ask for directions.

Do you not understand what is happening to you?

Huh?

There is nothing that I can do for you.

Do you have any last words?

Do you remember now?

When I was on the balcony,

a Gastrea almost killed me, so I ran for my life.

I'm afraid that it won't be long before you transition from victim to aggressor.

H-Help me!

What is this?! It's all sticky!

Gastrea!

Model Spider Stage One confirmed!

Engaging!

Whaddya think you're doing?!

Normal bullets have no effect on Gastrea!

They'll just agitate it more!

It's working.

Black bullets... Varanium!

Yeah. It's a metal that stops the Gastrea's regenerative abilities!

This one's a Stage One element,

a Jumping Spider Gastrea!

Damn it! I'm out of bullets.

Enju!

Hmph!

You're too quick to let your guard down, Rentaro!

I can't bear to watch you!

I see. So this kid is...

Indeed. I am Rentaro's Initiator.

Or rather,

his partner, Aihara Enju!

Don't you forget it, you public servant!

More importantly, are you all right, Enju?

Yeah. It'll heal soon.

I'm more angered by the destruction of my outfit.

The Cursed Children...

What is it? Are you smitten with me?

Unfortunately for you, Rentaro and I have sworn to be together forever.

Give it up.

No one swore anything!

What are you doing?!

What? Did you want to do more, Rentaro?

You idiot!

By the way, are you going to make it in time for the limited time sale?

Oh crap!

Hey, you're leaving already?

Bean sprouts are six yen a bag!

Rentaro, are you trying to leave me behind again?

What happened earlier was inevitable!

How rude!

Varanium, huh?

Initiators, born to fight Gastrea,

and Promoters, who are in charge of keeping them under control...

You mean that civil officer who was just here?

Yeah.

They're humanity's last hope.

Tendo Civil Security Agency

Is there anything you'd like to say before you die, Satomi?

I-I can't do anything about something that already happened.

You idiot!

Why did you run away?! You're so infuriating!

Don't be ridiculous!

Let me get this straight. You forgot to get compensation from the police

because you were in a rush to buy something that was on a limited time sale?

You then tried to call them, but they didn't pay you.

And yet you bought two bags of bean sprouts.

Very

Bean

Sprouts

Delicious

Very

Bean

Sprouts

Delicious

Would you like some, Kisara?

Tendo Civil Security Agency

President Tendo Kisara

Call me President while we're at work!

Listen, Satomi.

We made nothing this month.

Whose fault do you think that is?

You're useless! A weakling! An idiot!

And you actually gave the sale priority over reporting to your boss?

And most of all...

Why didn't you tell me about the sale?!

Can't go on...

I want steak...

So do I.

Running a company is harder than I thought.

It's all because you're such a useless idiot, Satomi.

You're not going to blame it on the company's location?

If we were a better company, the location wouldn't matter!

I know!

Why don't you put on a maid outfit and hand out fliers, Kisara?

Are you saying I should act like a hostess?

If anything, you should run into a crowd of people and yell,

"Tendo Civil Security Agency is right here!"
then catch on fire or explode!

That'd be an act of terrorism.

Hey, the Gastrea you killed was an infected, right?

Yeah. I didn't encounter the infector, though.

Maybe some other company has taken care of it.

Nobody's taken care of it.
In fact, nobody's even seen it.

NO HITS

NO HITS

Why didn't you send out a warning?

This is why we civil officers have our jobs.

It's not in the police's database, so it won't be easy to find.

I'll ask others in the business if they know anything.

Satomi, we're going to hunt down the other sources of infection.

Understood.

If you're going home, I'll walk you partway.

I have a hemodialysis appointment today, so I have to go to the hospital.

Oh, I see.

It's almost been an entire year...

since you became a Promoter and met Enju.

It's only been a year.

You and I are still only partway to our goals.

You've really changed lately, Satomi.

You smile a lot more.

That's not true.

So, what exactly is your current goal?

You always said as a kid,

"I know Mom and Dad are alive, so I'm going to find them."

Do you still think that?

That has nothing to do with this.

Stop bringing it up all the time!

It doesn't matter anymore.

My parents died in that war!

Damn...

I still can't handle it when people bring it up.

It's already been ten years.

I need to stop being so sensitive about it.

Professor, where are you?

Over here.

Whoa!

Boo!

Don't scare me like that, Professor!

Well, hello, Rentaro.

Welcome to the abyss.

Corpses are great. They don't waste time with idle chat.

So, who's the guy?

Charlie.

My boyfriend.

I thought you had a thing with some woman named Susan.

The Gastrea you defeated earlier was brought here a little while ago.

Do you have to make such a mess when you kill them?

Also, there were bullets lying all over the place.

Not only are you a perverted, lazy coward, but you can't shoot worth a damn, either.

Why haven't you killed yourself yet?

Am I that much of a lost cause?

If you don't shape up, Kisara's never going to look your way.

Where'd that come from?!

If you like her, you should just make her yours by force.

Kisara is a master of the Tendo Martial Arts form of iaido.

She'd kill me in an instant.

When you lived in the Tendo household,

Kisara protected you from her older brothers, right?

Yeah. I think I've gotten strong enough to at least protect Kisara now, too.

But you're still as worthless as ever?

Now let's get down to business.

You didn't come here to just ask about the autopsy, did you?

The infector hasn't been eliminated or even spotted for that matter.

At this rate, there'll only be more victims.

Investigation, huh?

Do you know what makes the jumping spider unique?

The color of its body, right?

And it's known to jump when hunting its prey.

Precisely.

Naturally, if an insect grew to the size of a human,

it would no longer have the ability to jump.

Really?

If a flea were to get that big,

it wouldn't be able to support its own body,

nor would it be able to breathe properly.

However, the Gastrea virus turns all that around.

When an organism turns into a Gastrea,

the strength of its skin and physical functions are elevated to compensate for its size.

The speed at which the Gastrea virus is able to rewrite DNA

is irregular in every way.

And once it's taken over more than 50% of the body,

the body of the host can't maintain its human form.

It goes through a process in which its form is destroyed and becomes a Gastrea.

This process sometimes results in new, original powers.

The source you've yet to find may have acquired a new, original power, as well.

Like optical camouflage?

If it truly had that kind of ability,

the Tokyo Area could be eradicated by a pandemic as early as tomorrow.

It'll be okay.

Enju and I will make sure that won't happen.

Enju, huh?

Wh-What?

Your share...

Are you going to eat it?

Wow!

Stir-fried bean sprouts,

chilled bean sprouts in soy sauce,

and bean sprout miso soup!

It all looks so delicious!

This is amazing, Rentaro!

Hey, before you eat...

What? I've already passed along the neighborhood bulletin.

That's not what I'm talking about.

Oh! I see, Rentaro. You want to do that thing.

Would you like dinner first or your bath?

Or...

Hurry up and put some clothes on!

The meals you make are so delicious, Rentaro.

How can you make such delicious meals from just bean sprouts?

Enju, it's time for your shot.

All done.

Our daily routine is complete!

Now that we've filled our bellies,
there's only one thing left to do, Rentaro.

Yep. Good night.

You insolent pig! How dare you ignore me?!

Really now...

What kind of man are you,
passing up an offer from a lady?

Ladies are modest and prudent.

Not to mention, you're as flat as a board.

Th-They'll get bigger soon enough!

It's important to know when to give up.

However!

I hear there are many unfortunate people

like yourself in the world who cannot love mature women.

Things like, "Big bro, inject Enju with your shot of love,"

are what you're into, right, Rentaro?

I'm begging you, don't lead me down the road to hell.

And eat your breakfast.

Okay!

Look! It's Lady Seitenshi!

Lady Seitenshi has appeared on the balcony!

Seitenshi

Seitenshi

Tokyo Area Ruler

Tokyo Area Ruler

She has appeared alongside her advisor, Tendo Kikunojo.

Tendo Kikunojo

Tendo Kikunojo

Seitenshi's Advisor

Seitenshi's Advisor

Hey, that's your...

Finish your food already and let's go, Enju.

Say, Rentaro.

Why don't you take this opportunity to transfer into my class?

Don't be ridiculous.

Then keep failing school for the next six years, until I'm in my second year of high school.

There'd be quite a few problems with being a 23-year-old high school student.

Enju, at school...

Worry not.

No one has realized my true identity.

Morning, Enju!

Morning to you too, Mai.

I'm delighted to see that you're faring well.

I see you're talking weird as usual.

Did you watch Tenchu Girls yesterday?

Most certainly!

The nihilistic nature of Tenchu Black, whom we are uncertain is friend or foe, is quite real.

Yeah, but I think Tenchu Gold is cooler.

Normally, the Gastrea virus is only spread among humans through bodily fluids.

However, there are very rare cases in which the Gastrea virus

enters the mouth of a pregnant woman, infecting the offspring.

These offspring are the Cursed Children.

All of them are born girls.

Their eyes are red,

and the Gastrea virus is rooted deep within their bodies.

Because of an inhibiting factor within their bodies,

the virus's corrosive effect is slowed.

There are quite a few people who refuse to accept that these children are human.

Ten years ago, humanity was infected by Gastrea,

spreading like a wildfire and nearly exterminating us.

On the brink of extinction,

humanity surrounded itself with giant Monoliths made from Varanium,

a metal that's harmful to Gastrea, and managed to survive by staying within these barriers.

Ten years have passed.

After much trial and error,

humanity has been gradually arming itself with ways to fight the Gastrea.

At the core of that are Enju and the other chosen Cursed Children, the Initiators.

Peace is being maintained thanks to those girls who inherited

the Gastrea's regenerative and physical abilities.

The Cursed Children are indeed the curse that Gastrea put upon humanity.

However, they are also currently the only thing that makes it possible

for humanity to defeat the Gastrea.

Those girls are humanity's last hope.

The Mask of Madness

The Mask of Madness

Why didn't you save them?

Time for work, Satomi.

To the Ministry of Defense...

Despair... The day of extinction is nigh.

Are you even human?