Egoist Breakers (Volume I) Chapter 1: A Brave Young Girl

At this very moment, an emergency military meeting is taking place in the city of Amethysia. The events in which numerous people were devoured and grotesquely merged into one large, fleshy mass have been recorded on multiple security cameras, including those on flying drones.

The sheer number of complaints received by government agencies is vast.

Countless people who lost family members or loved ones are grieving, demanding an explanation. Anyone could fall victim to one of these anomalies and suffer the consequences of whatever is causing them to manifest so suddenly.

Alongside this phenomenon, there are also reports of individuals who have managed to confront these occurrences. Many of their faces are recognized by the authorities through their identification records.

"Strangely enough, there have been cases where those brats managed to handle the threats by themselves, with no Egôn military units involved. How is that possible?" comments a well-dressed, overweight man.

"Somehow, these individuals seem to understand what's going on. I recommend we locate a few and question them. But do so calmly—don’t interrogate them or try to intercept them. They've acted as heroes amid this bizarre situation. We simply need to know what they understand that we do not," adds another man in the meeting room.

Behind him, a large display loops footage, showing the faces of various individuals. Among them stands out a blonde girl with a green scarf tied around her head—the same girl who had contained one of these incidents when it broke out in a public avenue on the platforms.

That very girl is now walking home alone, carrying her school backpack. She's a second-year high school student, returning from her school in the capital city. She walks with her hands tucked in the pockets of her white bermuda shorts, avoiding people as much as possible. She is paranoid after everything she’s witnessed lately.

This city is called Amethysia, named after the country itself. It’s the main city, with smaller sub-platforms branching off, forming districts. The entire platform floats at high altitude, supported by a massive tower anchored to the earth below. The skies above are filled with dirigibles and airships.

Her name is Shioto Hibihara. She lives alone. Her parents died in a train explosion years ago during a terrorist attack that wiped out part of the circular platform system, including some of the spiral subways. Since then, she’s lived on her own and learned to wield a local power called Egôn.

Egôn is an energy source that emerges from one’s ego. Each ego manifests uniquely in people and grants them abilities based on the development of their sense of self. There are elemental, psychic, and state-augmenting types, among others. One of the rarest is the summoner type.

Shioto possesses this summoner-type Egôn.

Upon arriving home, she opens the door and is seen with a whiteboard full of notes. She has been self-studying Egôn, trying to understand the origin of the anomalies that seem to feed off her energy. She has investigated these occurrences but so far remains clueless.

After resting, she leaves again, heading toward a district where the edge of the capital’s platform can be seen. This residential zone offers views of lower, side, and even higher platforms. From here, one can admire breathtaking sunsets, like the one glowing now.

Perhaps that was her motivation to come.

She stands there, lost in thought, as the wind rushes past her and her blonde hair flutters wildly. The moment feels perfect—until she hears a commotion. Turning to the source, she sees a girl in the same school uniform being chased by a group of thugs—around twenty of them.

One of them activates his Egôn, emitting a red vapor and forming a large hammer, which he tries to slam down on the fleeing girl. Surprisingly, she dodges with a roll.

Without hesitation, Shioto runs toward them to help the girl, realizing no one else is around. If she does nothing, something awful could happen. To ignore it would be to condone it.

The girl being chased has long black hair and wears a beret. During one dodge, she trips. The boy with the hammer approaches, ready to strike.

"D-damn it, I-I won't make it! W-why are so m-many from m-my s-school a-after h-her!?" Shioto yells, running in panic. Her characteristic stutter worsens under stress.

Suddenly, the girl on the ground stretches out her hands, creating a force field that cushions the hammer’s blow.

She stands.

"You're all pathetic losers! I’ll prove you’re wrong for supporting that vile principal!" she shouts, encasing herself in her force field and launching a full assault.

Shioto watches in awe as the girl fights with remarkable skill, knocking back enemies with well-aimed punches and kicks. Her movements are sharp and practiced, like a martial arts master. Each blow lands with heavy impact.

One boy even tumbles to Shioto’s feet, unconscious.

"W-what's h-happening...?" she mutters, holding her green scarf.

"We’ll break your legs, you bitch!" shouts the hammer-wielding thug, unable to land a blow despite multiple hits due to his build.

The girl defeats fifteen of them. Only five remain, including the brute. They activate their Egôn and attack together with elemental projectiles. She counters with energy shields.

Now Shioto steps in. Her blue Egôn vapor surges. Enhanced physically, she dashes in and punches one attacker in the temple, knocking him out.

Fighting her own way, Shioto helps.

The other girl, confused but thankful, gains an opening. She climbs the brute’s back, breaks his hammer arm, and throws him to the ground. She then blasts two others with massive green energy fists.

Only one remains. He steps back, terrified.

"Tch! You had backup, Tomura?! Principal, you saw that, right!?" he shouts upward at a drone recording the scene—clearly a school surveillance drone.

He runs, leaving the others defeated.

The girl named Tomura sits on the ground, panting.

Shioto approaches, cautiously.

"W-what w-was a-all t-this...?" she asks.

"You're from our school too? Why ask? Are you new?"

"N-no, I’ve b-been there t-two y-years..."

"Remember the new principal from fifteen days ago?"

"Y-yes...w-what about h-him?"

"He abuses anyone who opposes him. He controls the school, even has students attack others! How didn’t you know?!"

"I-I just g-go from h-home to s-school... I d-don’t t-talk t-to a-anyone. I’m d-distracted a-all the t-time...!"

"You used your Egôn well. Be careful. That drone belonged to the principal. He saw everything."

"W-what’s y-your n-name?"

"Tomura. Tomura Kobayashi. You?"

"S-Shioto H-Hibihara..."

Tomura approaches with her phone.

"I don't want to involve you, but if he causes you trouble, tell me. I’ll get revenge."

They exchange contacts.

The next morning, Shioto heads to school in Amethysia.

Along her usual route, she notices students watching her. The brute from yesterday appears, arm in a cast.

"So, you’re Tomura’s friend, huh?"

"I-I’m n-not h-her f-friend!"

"Oh, really? Then why interfere? Get her, boys! Principal’s giving us extra credit!"

They start to surround her. One girl laughs:

"She has no parents... No one will complain if we hurt her!"

Shioto’s fists clench in rage. Her body cracks, releasing thick blue Egôn vapor.

Some activate their Egôn to block it, but she shouts:

"You asked for it! Egôn: Reveal yourself!"

Her blue energy blasts everyone away with a massive shockwave. They crash into walls and pavement.

Only the brute escapes, terrified.

"Is that some special kind of Egôn?!" he wonders, fleeing.

Shioto breathes heavily, then hurries off, now late for school.

She arrives five minutes late. As she apologizes and sits, all eyes are on her.

Moments later, the principal walks in. The teacher swoons. He’s tall, broad, sharply dressed, with slick hair and a smug smile.

"Good morning to all, except that disgraceful student!" he says, pointing at Shioto.

She freezes.

"You’re a shame to this school. You have two demerits. One more and you’re out. With no legal guardian, I’ll sign your expulsion myself."

"W-wait! W-why t-two d-demerits!?"

"I have proof of your behavior yesterday and today! One more incident, and it won’t just be expulsion—you’ll face jail time!"

"Shioto Hibihara, out of the classroom until noon!" adds the teacher.

No one defends her. Her classmates whisper, judging her.

She grabs her bag and exits.

Outside, she sees Tomura, also kicked out. Tomura waves.

"S-so s-she's in t-trouble t-too... W-what do I d-do now...?" Shioto wonders, gripping her chin.

Suddenly, the principal walks by. For a moment, their eyes meet. She senses the same dark feeling from the day the monsters attacked.

His gaze holds real hatred—for a child.

How did Shioto become his target?

The same disturbing sensation she felt before now emanates from him.

Something isn’t right.

She watches him disappear down the corridor, feeling deep unease.

How will she survive what’s to come?