My Story- The ALPHA

The ALPHA

June 2, 2025 was the day the world CHANGED. On the streets of Valentino, Italy, the people were happily celebrating their nation’s birthday. The sound of cheering and laughing could be heard from miles away, the bustling streets now filled with people dressed in the colours of green, white and red. The marching band played a happy tune as they marched down the streets with the audience staring at them with awe, the atmosphere was filled with glee. What a beautiful day for Italy indeed, to celebrate their national day. Suddenly, the ground shook but stopped almost immediately. The people were shocked with the sudden ground movement and looked at one another but smiled when it stopped, the commander of the marching band urged the band to continue playing when he made sure no casualties were made, but when the trumpets hit their first note, the ground shook again, this time, IT DID NOT STOP. The people panicked and fled for their lives, screams and cries could be heard. What was then a happy group of people with smiles plastered on their faces had been replaced with a frown and was running for their lives. The policemen tried to maintain order by ushering the people to safety grounds as windows started to shatter and buildings started collapsing. Amidst the chaos, you could hear the shriek of the creature coming out from the ground with its long and hard claws making its way through the street, clawing each living creature it sees as it moves.

THAT, was 5 years ago…5 years since we made first contact with the creatures living under us for millions of years. 5 years since humans understood that there is a much superior being living on Earth, the creature we call, ALPHA. ALPHAs have thick shell-like skin, with long skinny legs which pierces the ground when it moves and eyes positioned in front and behind its head, making it hard to attack this already deadly creature. Many have tried to kill this creature but only a small portion succeed, even more have died without laying even a finger on the creature. With that said, almost half of the human population was wiped out by ALPHAs. Those who survived lived in fear of the ALPHAs and only dared to come out during the night when the ALPHAs went to rest underground. The government created an organization known as ‘THE KNIGHTS’, an organization consisting of trained soldiers to fight the ALPHAs. I, Yoshi Kaku, am one of them and THIS is my story.

My team consist of 5 members, me, Kuro, Tanya, Mika and our leader, Kiyo, who also happens to be my brother. After 2 years of training in the academy, it is finally time to join the battlefield with my brother who had just been promoted to Lt. Colonel after his 50th kill in his 3 years on the battlefield. We had just received information on an ALPHA spotted in Nagoya, Japan and are currently preparing to fight the ALPHA. After getting dressed in our battlefield outfits, we went to our weapons chamber to choose our weapon of choice. As a long-ranged fighter myself, I went to the rifle section and chose my most used weapon of choice, the PGM Ultima Ratio Hecate II, with a combat knife, two 9mm pistol and a grenade. After we finished choosing our weapons, we quickly entered the attack chopper and head off to our destination.

In the air, the whirring sound of the chopper made my heart pound louder and louder, I gave a sigh as the base could no longer be seen and started to get a little bit anxious. I looked at my teammates faces which are also looking quite pale like mine and turned to my brother. He gave me a small smile and said “Don’t worry guys, you have me as your leader. Break a leg, we just need to hold off the ALPHA until the big guys get back from their fight in Hokkaido”. Everyone turned to him and smiled weakly, the tension in the air still visible.

“Hey, remember that one time when we were training and Mika got all scared when the hologram of the ALPHA was projected and started pounding on the door, screaming ‘Let me out! Let me out!’ and started crying?” asked Tanya trying to lighten up the mood. “Yeah, I remember. I thought he was going to wet his pants back then.” said Kuro while laughing, followed by everyone. “Hey, that was during our first training and the hologram looked so real, I thought it was really the ALPHA.” said Mika with a frown on his face. “Besides, look at me now, I’ve got a higher winning streak in close combat than you have, Tanya.” said Mika with a grin on his face while pounding his chest. “Sure. But remember you are still on the same team with me now, Mr Mika.” Replied Tanya while rolling her eyes. The conversation continued as the mood lightens during our ride to Nagoya.

After a few hours ride on the chopper, we have finally arrived at the once beautiful city of Nagoya, in a chaotic state with flames coming out from houses, smoke polluting the clear blue sky and the once bustling streets, now quiet and filled with abandoned cars. I took a whiff of the burning sky and felt pain in my heart for those who have lost their homes to the ALPHA and probably their families as well. We landed on top of a building and got off the chopper to search for the ALPHA, which is currently concealed behind the tall buildings of Nagoya, waiting for its prey to appear to sink its teeth into it, like all predators do. We carefully scanned through our surroundings on top of the building as the chopper left us, each of us looking in one direction with caution, trying not to miss the monster. While scanning through the city, I started thinking, why did the ALPHAs start coming out to the ground? They were living in the grounds for so long, why now? As I was deep in thoughts, Tanya’s spotted the ALPHA. “1 o’clock behind the blue skyscraper!” She shouted and immediately got everyone’s attention.

As we are still looking at the ALPHA, Kiyo have already hatched a plan. “Alright guys. We will now head over towards the ALPHA and proceed to terminate it. Yoshi, you are going to be positioned on top of that red building right next to the skyscraper. Mika, you and Tanya will cover me while I head under the ALPHA and try to eliminate it. Kuro, you will go with Yoshi, but stand by until backup arrives. Understand?” asked Kiyo with a stern look and we replied “Sir, yes sir!” in unison. “Good. Now, get in position!” We immediately abseiled the building and get into our positions, while the ALPHA is still scrapping the blue skyscraper aimlessly.

" Yoshi in position."

"Kuro in position."

“Ok, we’re moving in now. Go! Go! Go!”

            With that said, Tanya and Mika started to throw their smoke bombs at the ALPHA to distract it. While the ALPHA is blinded by the smoke and struggling to get out of it, Kiyo quickly climb up the ALPHA from its leg when the ALPHA was still not moving so much and unsheathe his katana, slicing  the gigantic creature’s hard shell, trying to penetrate it, while clinging on the creature’s spike for dear life and also dodging the deadly claws of the ALPHA which are trying to get rid of him. With the ALPHA moving around trying to get out of the smokescreen and clawing at Kiyo, making a scratch on the shell was already hard for him let alone making a hole in it. To make things worse, this ALPHA seemed a lot more active than others we’ve ever seen. We started shooting at the ALPHA to distract it from Kiyo, it worked, but it did not work well, as its claws were still clawing at Kiyo, who is almost at his limit from dodging its attacks while it darted towards us at full speed. Its sharp long legs trying hard to stab Mika and Tanya who were trying to slice its legs while running away from it but still making sure it is still possible for me to shoot it. I aimed for the ALPHA’s left eye and shoot at it, but the net-like structure covering its eyes made it impossible for me to make a hole in the creature’s eye. Of course, shooting at the same spot repeatedly will break the net, but it is extremely hard in this situation. Still, I continued to shoot at its eye, hoping to blind the creature sooner or later.

            SUDDENLY, I heard a cry. I turned my head to the direction of the cry and my eyes widen. “Kiyo!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as the black-haired boy fell from the creature’s back after he was flicked away by the creature’s claw. I watched as he fell to the ground helplessly while the ALPHA’s razor-sharp leg started coming down towards him. Thankfully, Mika managed to grab him before the creature did, but I could see my brother’s painful expression as his hands squeezed his lower right thigh which is now oozing bright red blood. The ALPHA must have scratched him, I thought to myself.

“Kiyo, put pressure on the wound. Kuro and I are coming down!”

“Be careful! I’ll lure the ALPHA away from you guys, but I’m not sure how long I can hold it. Hurry!”

“We’ll be in the convenience store right under you.”

Kuro and I headed downstairs as fast as we could as my heart beat a million times faster, hoping Kiyo is alright. “Kuro, you go help Tanya distract the ALPHA. I’ll join you as soon as I see to it that my brother’s ok.”

            Kuro gave a slight nod and headed off to help Tanya as I headed inside the messy space where my brother is currently in. My legs were heavy as I walked further inside the store, following the blood trails left by my brother, listening to the painful wails of my brother. At the furthest corner of the store, I could see the silhouette of my brother curled by the wall and Mika tending to his wound. I quickly rushed forward and knelt beside him. Blood was gushing out of the deep cut the ALPHA made, probably 2 inches deep. The dirt and dust had become enmeshed with the raw pink flesh and was covered in oozing blood. The thick smell of iron filled the air as my brother rest his head against the wall, his eyes squeezed shut together, his lips pale and dry, sweat trickling down his face as he gritted his teeth in pain. Mika gave him a shot of painkiller and started disinfecting the wound and bandaging it as my brother who is on the verge of passing out cried in pain. I held his hands tightly, my knuckles turning white. He opened his eyes and smiled weakly at me. “Do not worry about me, I’ll be fine.” He said weakly as he struggled to get those words out of his mouth before passing out.

            After Mika assured me he will be fine, I went and meet up with the others, the anger rose in me like a tide. I was furious at the ALPHA for all the chaos it has caused but most importantly, for hurting my brother. The more I think about it, the more I was determined to kill this creature from hell. Just as the ALPHA was in sight, I started running towards it, my legs carrying me faster and faster towards that hideous being as I screamed in anger, wielding my katana at it, making useless cuts at its ridiculously long legs. I knew it was useless, but I needed to let my anger out. I was on the verge of breaking down. My legs no longer supporting me as tears filled my eyes and I fell to the ground. It’s useless, it’s so hard to kill and they just keep coming. When is this going to end? Why did they appear? I thought to myself as Tanya and Kuro shouted at me, trying to pull me out from my thoughts as the giant creature stood in front of me.

            THEN, I SAW IT. Just as the ALPHA trotted into one of the boxes by the roadside, the hard shell of the ALPHA started to disintegrate, it melted away leaving a white puddle of ooze behind. Just as the glistening claw of the ALPHA strikes down, I quickly use the katana to block it and jump to the side. The claw hits the ground and when it lifts its claw, a huge hole was left in place.

“Kuro! Tanya! Cover me!”

I immediately went to the boxes to look inside while Tanya and Kuro try to lure it away from me. As I peek my head inside one of the ruined boxes, I saw it was filled with broken bottles, the thick white substances which were once held inside the bottle now splattered on the ground. I dipped my finger into the sticky substance, with my other hand grabbing the broken bottle which was covered with the white substance. I rubbed the substance between my thumb and index finger and immediately knew, what it was. I smiled as I read the words printed on the bottle. Who would have thought the ALPHA’s shell would be easily soften and melt as it touches this, the common substance one uses to moisturise their skin, LOTION! I turned my head towards the two who were still waving their katana at the ALPHA, sweat dripping down their faces, their breathe ragged, still trying their best to keep up with the ALPHA’s speed, dodging its attacks. I instantly dip the katana inside the box, coating it with the lotion. I gripped the katana in my hands tightly, the excessive lotion dripping to the ground as I make my way towards the ALPHA, hoping it all goes to plan.

As I approach the ALPHA, Kuro and Tanya immediately jump back, leaving me and the ALPHA, fighting one-on-one. I held the katana high with both my hands as I run up the ALPHA’s leg onto its back, dodging its attacks, the shell of the ALPHA melting away as the drops of lotion touches it. As the ALPHA’s claw headed straight for me, I took the chance to take down its huge claw in a swift movement, the claw leaving the ALPHA’s arm and dropped onto the ground, its blood stained my clothes as it splattered out from the cut I made. The ALPHA screeched in pain as it lifted its now bloody arm, but its voice quickly died down and the streets went silent. I took in a deep breath and smiled, that smile slowly turning into a laugh as I pull out the katana from the ALPHA, blood gushing out from the wound I made when I plunged the katana deep inside its body. After a while, the creature rumbled slightly and fell to the ground, the ground shook as the lifeless body of the humongous creature hit the ground. I jumped down to the ground, Tanya and Kuro’s eyes both wide, their mouth agape as they still can’t believe the ALPHA has been killed with just a stab of a katana. I turned my head back to the ALPHA, my eyes glistening with joy as I look at the dead creature and back at the now bloodied katana. I reached for my communication device and happily reported back to Mika and my brother who is probably still unconscious. “The ALPHA is dead. I repeat, the ALPHA is dead.” I looked at the two tired figure who are now sitting on the ground with smile plastered on their faces and their weapons by their sides. ‘It was finally over.’ I thought to myself as the whirring sound of the chopper’s blade became louder and louder. That was the last thing I heard as my body plopped to the ground and I entered the world of eternal darkness.

“Yoshi!” “Yoshi!”

I slowly opened my eyes as my body swung from side to side as Mika tried to wake me up.

“Mika?”

“Are you okay?” He asked with concern in his voice. I nodded and I turned my head around, taking in my surrounding. I was lying on the ground from where I had just fainted. I watched as I saw a stretcher was carried by two men into the chopper. I can’t see who it was, but I assumed it was my brother as he was the only one who suffered the most damage on the battlefield. The rest of us suffered only minor cuts and bruises. “I hope Kiyo will be okay.” I said as I clenched my fists. “He’ll be alright. Just a few stitches and a few weeks in bed, he’ll be up and running again.” Said Mika as he patted my head. “Let’s go home.” I said while standing up, brushing the dirt off my clothes, heading towards the chopper. “Yeah let’s go home. MY LEGS are already trembling from all the running and dodging I’ve done today.” Tanya said as she stretched her body and walked beside me towards the chopper. I laughed.

“By the way, who would have thought that thick shell of the ALPHA would be so easily penetrated by a katana coated in lotion?”

“I know right? Did you guys report back to HQ?”

“Yup.”

The way back to base was filled with laughter as everyone was happy the ALPHA was killed and the method to kill the ALPHA easily was found. With that said, I believe with my friends and my family by my side, as well as a bottle of lotion, no ALPHA will be able to cause more harm to the world and no obstacle is too hard when I have them with me.