September 14, 2034, Sky Boys Island, Chinese Administrative Zone
Up here, the wind sang rather than just blew. Carrying the scent of ozone and faraway rain, it whistled amid the rusted guardrails of the long-forgotten research station. The world seemed to be a painting someone had dropped on the floor beneath the floating island, with cities tiny as toys and oceans gleaming like spilled ink. Laughing and shoving each other like they were still teenagers skipping class, seven figures were standing in the middle of the cracked concrete plaza.
Orced grinned in that distinctive way that somehow made everything seem attainable and pushed his sloppy white hair out of his eyes. At age 29 he still looked like the guy who had just passed his first college course. Bright eyes, strong jaw, the sort of face that immediately led people to trust him.
"Alright, alright, calm down" he yelled, voice clear and strong against the wind. The day is today. No more discussion of "someday. At 3 a.m. no more group chats debating names. Officially born here, Sky Boys is available right now.
Macker threw both arms in the air as he had just won the lottery. "YES! Finally! Since you first murmured the name in that shabby warehouse, I have been waiting for this. Sky Boys. Seems like we own the damn sky. Strictly speaking, we are presently standing on it, therefore we do right now."
With arms crossed, one eyebrow lifted in that ongoing half-smirk, Kruna slumped against the railing. As if it had its own personality, his black hair fell over one eye. "Take charge of the sky? We are on a floating rock the Chinese government perhaps forgot existed after the last experiment failed. Pretty boy, let's not begin penning our legend in the sky just yet."
As if it were a coin, Aftor was whirling a little knife between his fingers. "Right now Kruna is appropriate. We lack even matching jackets. Without coordinating jackets, how should we seem like a respectable company? Black is my vote with white wings. Not difficult. Bad ass."
Ema kicked Aftor in the shin without looking up from his phone. "It's not a cult; you moron. It's a movement. I already developed the logo yesterday night, too. Black sky, white wings, small glow effect. Five minutes from now, I'll email it to the group chat. You're welcome."
Nix pop his knuckles so loud it echoed. "Movement, cult, boy band, anything. provided I may try out my new gauntlet. Naturally, responsibly."
Deep laughing from Sano sounded like far-off thunder. He banged Nix on the head hard enough to cause the smaller guy to trip. "Each time the training dummy ends up three pieces on the mainland, you say 'responsibly'. There are still some pieces of it in my shoes."
Orced laughed, the sound natural and pleasant. With hands on his hips and white hair flying around like a flag in the wind, he entered the circle's center. "See us. Seven utter fools set to declare war on every curse, every monster, every jerk who believes they have the ability to destroy people's lives, standing on a flying island no one remembers. It is wonderful. This is how every great narrative begins: in the middle of nowhere with individuals who share the same absurd fantasy."
Macker swung once more at the air. "Definitely! Boss, then what is the initial formal priorities? Speaking? Oath? Same tattoos?"
Orced's smile became cheerful. "Speech comes first. I worked on it in front of the mirror for one week. Wanted it to sound hip. He cleared his throat sharply. We'll annihilate any trace of wickedness we come across. No half-measures, no hesitation, no mercy. The planet has been waiting for someone to really act. We are that person. Sky Boys!"
Kruna sniffed. "You absolutely rehearsed that. It seemed like literally every shonen main character speech ever."
Yes, but laughing Orced said, it felt proper. "Come on, confess it seemed awesome."
Ema was already cheering. "Ten out of ten! Tears are threatening to come out of me. Almost. Give someone a microphone for this man."
Aftor sheathed his knife. "Even with excellent speech, we still need a strategy. Alternatively, at minimum a first objective. I cannot simply stand here looking brave for all time as the wind wrecks my hair."
A low, guttural rumble swept over the plaza from the far side of the island, as though the universe had been listening and chose to deliver on cue. Everyone turned at once.
Two hundred mis away, near the broken guardrail indicating the island's drop-off, the air was undulating like heat haze. From the clouds below, a C-class mindless curse had risen—some terrible, melted-shadow creature the size of a little truck. No eyes, just a huge mouth with too many teeth and twisting black tendrils. Typical low-intelligence curse: all hunger and no intellect.
Nix's eyes flashed like fireworks. "Oh, honey. First official target arrived on day one right at our front door. The cosmos loves us."
Orced bent his neck but kept smiling. "Perfect timing. Day one Sky Boys let's show the world what they can do. Time to form! Kruna, on the left flank. Macker, right. Aftor, stand back and search for vulnerabilities. Ema, Sano—support fire. Nix... try not to blast the whole island on the first try."
Nix saluted using two fingers. "Boss, no promises."
They moved like they had rehearsed this precise scene hundreds of times in vacant warehouses and late-night workouts. Orced sped forward first, his white hair flying behind him like a flag.
The curse pounced, opening its mouth wider than a car door. Orced dropped beneath the first swipe, palm faintly shining with curse energy, and delivered a strengthened punch at its side. The force caused spider-webbing across its gloomy surface.
"Too slow!" Orced shouted, laughing. If you want to wreck our founding celebration, you're going to have to do better than that.
On the left Kruna seemed hazy; two little blades gleamed in the sun. "You talk too much when you argue, Orced. Keep the speeches until after victory is ours."
"Yes, but it's inspiring." Orced retreated, avoiding yet another tendril. "You fellows find my speeches to be fascinating."
Macker arrived from the right like a human freight train, brass knuckles buzzing with electricity. "Left side clear! Going for the underbelly! Somebody cover me!"
Aftor lingered, narrowed eyes scrutinizing every gesture. Its core is pulsing at the weak area on the right shoulder. "Nix, if you're going to blow up anything, do it right there. Not too late."
Nix chuckled like a lunatic scientist. Gladly consume this, filthy son of a bitch.
The gauntlet crashed home. A carefully planned explosion tore into the shoulder of the curse. Black ichor poured everywhere like greasy rain. The creature staggered sideways and screamed—a wet, unconscious sound that shook the air.
Ema was already shooting a cascade of brilliant blue light trailing each arrow from his bow. "Sano now. Pin this!"
Sanno screamed and flung his enormous shield to the ground, generating a shockwave that totally unbalanced the curse. "Pinned it! Get done it!"
Orced sprang high into the air, white hair shining like a halo in the sunlight. "Sky Boys first triumph is just here!"
He slammed his fist directly at the revealed core. Like thunder, a vivid crack burst the air. The curse let out one last gurgling scream before breaking into dissolving shadows blown like ash across the wind.
There was silence for half a second.
Then the cheering erupted.