Modern Monster

Sen saw a punch coming straight at him. It was fast and swift; he could tell that it was cultivated from long hours of hard work and practice. Anticipating this, Sen quickly dodged to the right.

His opponent was twice the size of his youthful, teenage build. He paled in comparison in both size and strength. But what set Sen apart from others was his composed and keen eye. He knew that some would lose their technique in the fit of competition. So, he just needed to wait for an opening—

Too late.

Before he had a chance to get away from the broad-shouldered man and assess his strategy, he felt the opponent's foot intertwine with his. Lacking the physical strength to retaliate, he slipped and fell to the ground.

He cursed silently in his mind. A wave of sudden anger overwhelmed him suddenly, to the point he felt like throwing his fist at the opponent when he was caught off guard. But—

“Good sparring match, Sen. You’re improving more and more each time,” a low and kind voice told Sen, gazing down at him. The opponent extended his hand as a kind gesture. Feeling the sudden anger ooze out of him, Sen let out a sigh of defeat. He accepted the kind gesture from the big man and was lifted from the ground.

“Thank you, sir.” Sen bowed his head respectfully at him. The person he was just sparring with was none other than Master Grit, his martial arts instructor.

Since Sen didn’t have a Super Sense, he thought he would train in martial arts to defend himself. Even though using your super sense to hurt anyone was against the law, he still decided it was for the best. It wasn’t at all to do with his discontent of being deprived of such a necessary power. He didn’t need a Super Sense, after all.

So why did I get angry when I lost just now? he thought to himself disapprovingly. I lost my composure there; I can’t let that happen. He could easily prevent it from happening the second time, but he was more interested in knowing why he felt it in the first place. He stared at his hand, lost in thought.

At that moment, he wanted to punch his master in the face. A person that had been nothing but helpful and kind to him. Some even called him a gentle giant. And yet, regardless of all that, I wanted to punch him…

“Well, Sen, I think it’s about time I give you a promotion!” Grit chuckled heartily.

Sen blinked, puzzled. “What do you mean, Sir?”

“Hahaha! Well, maybe this will answer your question,” he sneakily implied, a hint of playfulness gleaming in his eyes. “TADA!” the teacher exclaimed with a smile. There was a purple belt in his hand.

“No, you don’t mean…” Sen wasn’t stunned too often, but this made him think he was in a dream. “I can’t accept this.” Sen bowed his head respectfully.

“Aww, come on! Of course, you can! You deserve this. I see how much you train each and every single day. I’m not giving you this to make you feel good. I’m giving you this as a symbol of how hard you worked,” Grit prompted.

Thinking about it for a few moments, Sen knew it would be rude to deny such an earnest gift.

“Okay, as long as you think I earned it, I guess I have no objections.”

“HA! THAT’S MY MAN! Hey everyone, give it up for Sen!”

Sen's mouth fell open in surprise. He didn’t want to get attention to himself; that was the last thing he wanted. But people around started cheering regardless.

“Ay! Way to go, Sen!”

“You deserve it!”

“He should’ve given it to you sooner!”

“Tsk, can’t believe a senseless kid got a purple belt...”

“Woo, that’s my man!”

In between the cheers and congratulations from people, he heard a quiet mutter by someone. He wasn’t sure if that person thought he couldn’t hear him or specifically said it so he could, but as usual, it wasn’t something new to him. He knew most were just jealous they weren’t getting attention or jealous he was simply better at it than them. Of course, if he went up against someone with Touch as their Super Sense, he would be screwed. But if he went up against a person who lacked the physical strength of their Super Sense, he would put up a decent match.

Sen even had a sister who had Touch as her Super Sense, and she would obliterate him in hand-to-hand combat, regardless of how bad her technique and battle experience were.

“I couldn’t be prouder, Sen,” his master said again. “With or without a Sense, you are very talented.”

“Thanks, I guess,” he gave a nod of appreciation. Even if the master didn’t mean it, Sen was fed up with people taking pity on him. He’d much rather have everyone around him make fun of him for lacking a Super Sense than someone who was sympathetic.

I don’t need anyone’s sympathy. I wasn’t the one who made me like this. I don’t have any control over it, so why take pity on something I cannot change? It doesn’t accomplish anything. With that, Sen gave one final bow to his master.

“It’s getting late, so I’m going to head home for the day. I appreciate the gift, Master Grit.” Without expecting much response, Sen started to slip on his shoes and attempt to exit the dojo. But before he could—

“Hey, Sen, wait!”

“Hm? What is it, sir?”

His instructor's expression changed from his usual happy and playful self to more serious and dark-toned. It was clear something was bothering him, so Sen waited patiently to hear him out.

“Well, uh…” Grit stumbled over his words. “I just wanted to make sure you stay safe out there.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just that there’ve been more monster attacks in the cities than usual. Just be safe, alright?” His strong and deep voice softened into genuine concern for him. Sen would usually take this as sympathy, and he didn’t like that. But in this case, if a person was concerned about his safety, there was no reason to disregard their trepidations. That would be rude of him, after all.

“I appreciate the concern, master, but I assure you not to worry too much. My house isn’t too far from here. I’ll be alright,” he reassured his instructor. Sen could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced, but in the end, he reluctantly nodded. Sen gave his teacher a brief wave of his hand before leaving the dojo and entering the cold, polluted city he lived in.

#

The air itself was getting quite brisk, but every moment he exhaled wasn’t refreshing or relieving but pungent and revolting. This was the air in a dense metropolitan area of his generation. He had read books that, back then, cities were rare and small. There was even a time, not so long ago, when cars were uncommon in most households.

Most were designated for the rich. Just thinking that made him frown in confusion. The year was 2088, so he simply couldn’t grasp things that he didn’t experience firsthand. And it wasn’t just mundane objects he couldn’t understand not existing. Since he was born, his parents would teach him and warn him about vile and sinful creatures called monsters.

He was sure everyone had a similar experience. It was as normal as teaching your child to look both ways when crossing the street, except one wrong move meant certain death. Sen referred to them when he said, “Nothing comes free.” In the school.

Shortly after the phenomenon of Super Senses, monsters started to appear, killing any human on sight. Said to be caused by the root of Super Senses, it was confirmed they did appear because of the meteor that struck the earth. Those vicious and abhorrent creatures were the reason humans were forced to make overpopulated and loud cities.

But regardless, there were always exceptions to the rule. That was why you always needed to keep one eye open wherever you went. And, no matter how safe you felt, there could always be one lurking in the dirty alleyways of the city.

This was just one of the daily requirements every human needed to follow. If they wanted to live, that is. The more society grew, the more fed up they became. Because, in truth, why would they want to live in constant danger and paranoia every step they took outside?

At that point, what was the point of living? And Sen couldn’t blame them for thinking like this either. In fact, he thought the same. He wasn't suicidal by any means. Though he didn't wish for death, he struggled to find something to live for...

It may sound redundant, but it's like there's a hole in my chest that I can't fill. He’d always felt like this. No matter what he accomplished or how good his academics were, nothing filled the empty void he felt. And it wasn’t because of depression or the lack of happiness. It was something else he couldn’t explain. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he truly didn't know why.

He remembered feeling ‘whole’ when he was a child, but something changed after. And he was ashamed to admit it because he did have people who cared about him. But yet, the hole in his chest grew broader and more distinct as time went by.

Maybe, just maybe, when I find him, that hole will be filled. What he said to his teacher wasn't all lies and sly remarks. He did have ambition, but for something different. He wanted to find someone who had been abruptly taken from him. And he didn't just disbelieve their disappearance—he refused to accept they were gone.

Perhaps if he found that person, his gaping void would disappear. But he couldn't shake off the thought that it wouldn't. Regardless, Sen was determined to find a way. He always figured things out, and he always did it alone.

Letting out an exasperated murmur, he glanced at the gloomy sky. "Shit, it's getting dark. I should hurry home."

He had planned to visit the local library for his daily research but reluctantly decided to postpone it until tomorrow. Venturing out late risked encountering a monster. Gradually picking up his pace, he moved steadily through the city.

It was moderately crowded, so he wasn't overly concerned about a monster attack. Monsters usually avoided densely populated areas, perhaps intimidated—a stark contrast to the fear they instilled in people. Nonetheless, this didn't guarantee safety; some monsters brazenly inhabited the city, heightening the danger.

While hurrying, Sen tripped over a tin can, briefly losing his balance. This was a common occurrence in the littered streets of the city, where cleanliness and quiet were unheard of.

Sometimes, Sen longed to live beyond the city's confines, where the air was fresh, free from pollution and large buildings, and life was quieter, without cars and constant activity. Yet, as much as he yearned for this escape, it was an unattainable dream. Monsters claimed the less populated territories, making such areas perilous for humans. Despite the risks, some still chose to live there, though few dared to brave the dangers.

Humanity seemed enslaved by creatures. Their population drastically reduced by over ten million lives lost annually to monster attacks—a toll surpassing any virus or pandemic. Forced into condensed living spaces, humans faced declining health alongside the perpetual threat of these creatures.

Yet, humans fought back. Governments worldwide established the Administration of Knights, A-O-K for short, a defense corps dedicated to eradicating monsters. They also dealt with other threats like violent criminals, monster smugglers, and those posing risks to the administration, leaving lesser crimes to the police.

Knights were omnipresent, crucial to public safety. As Sen walked through the city, he noticed well-dressed Knights at their posts, their neat academy attire signifying their status. Passersby cast wary glances before moving on.

"I wouldn't want that job," Sen mused, observing the Knights. "Always on high alert for monster attacks, the pressure must be great."

The thought of being responsible for so many lives was daunting. Sen doubted his ability to handle such responsibility, not that he was particularly concerned about others.

Suddenly, a demonic, vile scream echoed through the city streets.

Sen stopped dead in his tracks, staring in shock.

"A MONSTER!" someone yelled in terror.

A shadow slithered across the street like a snake, its hideous, terrifying face becoming visible under the streetlights. Its eyes gleamed red with bloodlust, its ears sharp like a German Shepherd's, and its body resembled a deformed goblin. But its face was the most horrifying—its snout squashed, a grotesque mix of a pug and a bat, with razor-sharp teeth peeking from under its muzzle. A truly abominable creature.

A Grim…