The Highly Classified Footage Video

  Sakamiya University - Inside The Dimension Rift

  Not Far From The Mysterious Building’s Ruins

  05:15 AM

  Dust consumed the battlefield like a creeping fog. A storm of smoke and shattered concrete swallowed the horizon, casting everything in a sickly, apocalyptic gray. Visibility dropped to near zero.

  When Sergeant Makoto and the surviving members finally pushed themselves beyond the collapse zone, they stumbled to a halt, lungs burning, chests heaving. They coughed violently, sneezing and gasping for breath as the thick dust clung to their skin and filled their mouths.

  What had once been a 5-floor building was now a broken crater of wreckage—a jagged graveyard of ruins, rubble, steel, and choking smoke.

  9 soldiers remaining. They had made it out alive. Barely.

  * *

  Few moments later..

  "You did well, Kuroda and Omura. And Otani. We will not forget you. May your souls rest in peace, in a paradise free from suffering. Farewell…" Sergeant Makoto said, stood tall as he offered his final tribute, saluted and prayed for his fallen comrades.

  The other soldiers followed Sergeant Makoto’s lead, saluting and honoring their three comrades. Their eyes were filled with grief and sadness.

  "We will not forget you. Thank you, Kuroda, Omura, and Otani, for your sacrifice to protect our beloved country, our Japan!" another soldier cried out, his voice trembling with emotion.

  "Goodbye, Kuroda, Omura, and Otani. You were all good friends. Rest in peace." said one of the remaining soldiers, shedding a tear.

  A female soldier could no longer hold back her emotions and fell to her knees.

  "Haaaahhh!! Huhuhu… Uwaaaahhh!" cried the dual-wielding handgun female soldier who had earlier fallen into despair and had tried to stop the two fallen soldiers from sacrificing themselves. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, devastated and heartbroken. She couldn’t accept the reality that her close friends were gone. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to control the storm of emotion raging within her.

  "Thanks, Kuroda, Omura, and Otani. Your actions gave us the time we needed to escape, allowing us to live for another day and fight again. We will avenge you in the next battle!" vowed a senior soldier, who appeared older than the others, recalling the moment his comrades sacrificed their lives.

  "If only I had given the order to retreat sooner, before the monster stones broken.. or even before we found them… no one would have died. This is all my fault! I’m not a good leader. I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry.." A few tears slipped from Sergeant Makoto’s eyes as he clutched his chest, overcome by a surge of emotion.

  "No, Sergeant, don’t blame yourself. We weren’t trained to face monsters that couldn’t be hurt by bullets and grenades. It turned out that the C4s and the collapsing building could destroy them. Hopefully." another female soldier said, tried to comfort her superior.

  —

  "Sergeant Makoto! Are you okay? How is your team?"

  General Victor’s voice suddenly crackled over Sergeant Makoto’s radio, filled with worry and concern.

  "Yes, General. My team was ambushed by those worm monsters. I lost three comrades, and the rest of my team is alive but emotionally and physically traumatized, barely able to walk, and injured." Sergeant Makoto replied, painfully recounting what happened in the mysterious building earlier.

  "Okay, just get the hell out of there now. Can you and your squad make it to the dimensional rift entrance on foot, or should I send another team to extract you?" General Victor asked, concerned about the team’s physical state.

  "No, it’s not necessary to send another team. It’s too dangerous. Besides, we’re not too far from the entrance. I can lead the squad myself. Give us five minutes to rest and catch our breath. Just have medics ready when we get out." Sergeant Makoto replied, fully aware of his team’s injured and weakened condition.

  "Affirmative, Sergeant. Five minutes, then you’ll have to keep moving toward the dimensional rift entrance and get out of there ASAP. One more thing—are you sure the C4s and the building collapse really killed and destroyed them?" General Victor asked, wanting to confirm if the monsters were truly neutralized.

  "Yes, General. I'm positive. The building collapse must have killed them. There’s so much rubble—broken stones, rocks, debris, and metal everywhere. There’s no way they could have survived the C4 explosion and the building’s collapse." Sergeant Makoto replied with confidence.

  "Understood. I’ll be waiting for your return. Medics and other Special Forces Division members will be ready to treat and assist all of you when you reach the dimensional rift exit." General Victor confirmed, preparing the necessary support.

  “Oh, and don’t turn off your camera and audio; we’re still recording everything you see.” General Victor instructed, ensuring the documentation continued.

  "Yes, General. Thank you." Sergeant Makoto then ended the radio call.

  * *

  Five minutes later…

  “Okay, it’s time. Let’s go.” Sergeant Makoto ordered his team to start moving.

  Believing the threat was over, they prepared to walk toward the labyrinth entrance, exiting through the dimensional rift in the first room. After resting briefly and gathering their belongings, they began their careful march toward the labyrinth entrance.

  KREEK..!

  A distant sound came from behind them as some debris shifted and moved, but it went unnoticed. Shifting rubble was common after a collapse, and they dismissed it, assuming it was merely debris settling. Their minds were solely focused on escaping—moving forward, toward the dimensional rift exit. The subtle noise of shifting rubble was lost in their haste.

  KREEK..! KRETAK..! KRAK..! TREEEKK..!

  None of the soldiers noticed. They believed they were finally safe and had their backs turned to the ruins, oblivious to the movement behind them.

  Then… something stirred beneath the pile of debris—slowly, deliberately. From the wreckage, three large silhouettes began to rise. Time seemed to slow as the shadows grew larger.

  The figures moved with eerie stillness, rising tall from the rubble until their monstrous forms took shape. Three towering creatures, about three meters tall, straightened, their slow rising movements unnoticed by the soldiers walking toward the labyrinth entrance.

  And then, it came!

  SHREEEEEEEEEKSSSSHHH..!!

  An earsplitting shriek tore through the air, piercing the silence and shaking the ground beneath their feet. The soldiers whipped their head around, eyes wide with shock. Their breaths caught as the horror dawned on them.

  They couldn’t believe it—the monsters were still alive, even after the C4 explosions and the building collapse.

  Somehow, these monstrous creatures had survived, despite their severely injured bodies. They’re back on standing and looked more dangerous than ever. Fear gripped the squad, spreading like wildfire.

  "WATCH OUT! They’re coming!"

  One of the soldiers yelled, his voice trembling with urgency.

  Without warning, the worm monsters launched themselves upward in a high, forward leap, moving with terrifying speed that belied their massive size. They lunged directly at Sergeant Makoto’s squad, forcing the team to scatter. Three soldiers dove to the left, while the remaining six, including Sergeant Makoto, moved to the right. Their hearts pounded as they scrambled to evade the creatures' sudden attack.

  As the massive creatures descended, their sharp, armored scales cut through the air with deadly precision, slashing the space where the soldiers had just stood. The beasts slammed into the ground, their impact sending dust and debris skyward, momentarily blinding the soldiers.

  "Aarrgh, my eyes!" Some soldiers clutched their faces as dust and sand stung their eyes, forcing them to close and shield them from the airborne grit.

  "Oh no, this is bad!" a soldier who managed to avoid the dust muttered, worry evident in his voice as he watched his comrades struggling.

  The creatures had split the squad, dividing them into two groups and blocking the entrance to the labyrinth with their massive bodies. Their towering forms obscured any hope of escape, leaving the soldiers with no clear path to safety. Panic surged through them as they realized the gravity of their situation.

  The creatures turned their full attention to the three soldiers on the left, the closest targets. With a ferocious growl, the monsters lunged at them, their massive bodies and razor-sharp scales slicing through the air. The two soldiers blinded by dust barely had time to raise their weapons before the beasts were upon them.

  Endo and Ueda, positioned closest to the monstrous worms on the left, had no time to react. The first beast lunged at Endo with terrifying speed, its massive mouth opening wide, revealing rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. In an instant, Endo was caught, his body lifted off the ground as the creature devoured him whole. His screams of terror filled the air, quickly silenced as the worm’s jaws crushed him.

  The second monster followed suit, grabbing Ueda and tearing his body apart in mere seconds. His blood sprayed through the air, freezing even the bravest soldiers with horror.

  “NO! ENDOOOO..! UEDAAA..!” one of the soldiers in Sergeant Makoto’s group screamed, his voice filled with anguish and horror. The sight of his comrades being torn apart left him paralyzed with rage and despair.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Kaneko, the only soldier near Endo and Ueda, somehow managed to dodge the monster’s attack. Her body shook violently, adrenaline surging through her veins as she narrowly escaped death. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed in terror, her voice breaking.

  "Endo! Ueda! No!!" Her cries echoed, her heart heavy with sorrow.

  —

  Sergeant Makoto clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he realized he had lost two more of his squad. Seven soldiers remained, including himself, and the weight of responsibility pressed down on him like never before. He needed to act quickly, but the fear of losing more lives was suffocating.

  Kaneko didn’t waste a moment. With tears still in her eyes, she sprinted toward Sergeant Makoto and the rest of the group, regrouping as fast as she could.

  Just then, General Victor’s voice crackled over the radio. "Sergeant Makoto! What’s going on? Oh… is that… Oh my God…" As he viewed the live feed from the camera on Makoto’s shoulder, his voice faltered, the gruesome sight rendering him momentarily speechless.

  "I…" Makoto started, but General Victor interrupted. "Sergeant, you need to get out. Do whatever it takes. Survive!"

  As Kaneko reached them, Sergeant Makoto immediately began to issue commands. “Everyone, form a defensive position! We’ll hold them off and...”

  “No!” Kaneko interrupted, her voice filled with desperation. “We need to plant C4 at the entrance to the labyrinth! It’s the only way to block their path! If we don’t stop them from following us, we’re all going to die!” She pointed urgently toward the entrance behind them.

  Sergeant Makoto narrowed his eyes. “That’s not the plan, Kaneko! We’ll hold them off and—”

  “There’s no time, Sergeant!” Kaneko snapped, her voice firm. “I’ll distract them and keep them away from the entrance while the others plant the explosives. It’s the only way we survive this!” Her eyes blazed with determination, urgency clear in her tone.

  Sergeant Makoto hesitated. “You’ll get yourself killed! We’re not sacrificing anyone else!”

  “I’m not asking, Sergeant!” Kaneko retorted, her voice hard. “If we don’t do this, we'll all die. I’ll distract them, but I need someone else to help me.”

  After a brief pause, Naito, the soldier carrying a rifle, stepped forward. “I’ll go with her,” he said quietly but resolutely. “If it means saving the rest of you… I’ll do it.”

  Sergeant Makoto shook his head, clenching his fists. “No, no, no! We can make it out of here together! I can’t afford to lose more soldiers.”

  “There’s no other way, Sergeant,” Naito said softly, his eyes meeting Makoto’s. “We’re out of time, and you know it.”

  Without waiting for further approval, Kaneko and Naito handed their dog tags to Suji, the female soldier standing nearby. “Suji, give these to our families. Tell them we died with honor, protecting Japan, our country,” Kaneko whispered, her voice heavy with finality.

  “Don’t do this, Kaneko-senpai.” Suji pleaded, gripping Kaneko’s hands tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. But Kaneko only smiled sadly and gently patting her on the head as a final farewell.

  —

  Without another word, Kaneko and Naito sprinted toward the worm monsters, rifles blazing as they unleashed a hail of bullets. The beasts roared in anger, their attention shifting to the two brave soldiers as they ran in the opposite direction of the labyrinth entrance.

  "NOOO..!" Sergeant Makoto yelled, his voice filled with fury and helplessness. The thought of losing Kaneko and Naito as the next fallen soldiers tore at him, filling him with guilt.

  "Hey! Over here! Hey, HERE!" Naito shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield. He fired his rifle a few times toward the three monsters.

  "Come and get us, you bastards!" Kaneko joined in, her eyes blazing with fierce determination as she fired shot after shot, drawing the monsters toward them.

  RATATATATA! TZING! TZING!

  “NOW! Plant the C4!” Kaneko shouted back at the group, her voice barely audible over the deafening screeches of the worm monsters.

  "Quick! Plant the C4 at the entrance!" one of the remaining soldiers urged, snapping the others into action.

  "Suji, I'll help you. Give me one!" another soldier offered help, reaching for a C4 charge to help set up the explosives.

  "Here, Kurata. Thanks." Suji expressed her gratitude to Kurata as she handed him one of the C4 charges, knowing that their other explosive expert, Kuroda, had been one of the fallen soldiers who sacrificed himself earlier.

  Together, Suji and Kurata rushed forward, hastily planting the explosives at the entrance of the labyrinth. Their hands trembled as they worked, knowing they were sealing the fate of their comrades. The weight of their actions pressed heavily on their hearts.

  "This is all my fault. I should have protected them. I’m responsible for my soldiers’ deaths. I put my team in danger. I am so… so sorry." He slammed his fist into the ground, cursing himself for not being the leader he believed he should be.

  Meanwhile, Kaneko and Naito kept shouting and firing their rifles, leading the monsters farther away and buying the team precious moments. As Kaneko had predicted, the three worm monsters were slower than before due to their severely injured bodies, especially after the building collapse.

  "Done!" Suji and Kurata called out, finishing the setup of the C4 on both sides of the labyrinth entrance.

  "Sergeant Makoto! Get out of here!" Kaneko screamed over the sound of gunfire. "Get inside the labyrinth and blow the damn entrance once you’re in! Don’t waste any time! NOW!"

  Sergeant Makoto’s throat tightened as he watched them go. Tears welled in his eyes. He didn’t want to lose anyone else, but he knew there was no other choice.

  "Damn it… DAMN IT..!" he cursed under his breath, feeling the weight of command bearing down on him.

  Two soldiers grabbed Sergeant Makoto by the arms, urging him toward the labyrinth.

  “I’m sorry, Sergeant,” one of them muttered, their voice breaking. “But we have to go.”

  "Please survive, Sergeant! Thank you for everything! Goodbye!" Naito shouted in a final farewell.

  "NOOOO..!" Sergeant Makoto reached out his hands, screaming as he was dragged through the labyrinth entrance.

  As Makoto and the remaining four soldiers entered the labyrinth and took cover, the soldier holding the detonator pressed the button. A massive, deafening explosion echoed through the labyrinth as the entrance collapsed, sealing it off with debris and preventing the worm monsters from following. Dust filled the air, and the sound of the explosion faded, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

  * *

  Outside The Labyrinth

  When their bullets ran out, Kaneko and Naito, sensing the end was near, took their last grenades, prepared for a final stand. They knew the grenades couldn’t harm the monsters from the outside—it seemed futile. But Kaneko had another plan.

  The cold metal of the grenades in their hands was a grim reminder of the reality they faced. They tightened their grips, knowing there was no turning back. But both felt a sense of relief, knowing their sacrifice had given their remaining comrades a chance to survive. They had no regrets.

  “Naito,” Kaneko whispered, her voice barely audible over the rumbling ground and the distant screeches of the monsters. Her hand trembled slightly. “We need to blow them up from the inside. We have to get as close as we can before we toss the grenades into their mouths... That’s the plan.”

  “With their injured bodies, this will be a finishing strike, blowing them up from within. At least we can take down two of them along with us.” Kaneko added, her eyes meeting Naito’s.

  “Yes, Kaneko,” Naito replied, his expression calm yet fierce. They slowed their pace, taking positions as the monsters advanced, the tension thick in the air.

  But as they readied themselves, Kaneko hesitated. A question lingered on her lips, one she hadn’t dared to ask until now. It was something that weighted heavily on her heart, something she needed to know before the end. This was her only chance—her last chance—to speak what had long been buried for a long time.

  A brief silence settled between them before Kaneko finally braved herself to ask a question that seemed out of place, yet deeply important.

  “Naito… is there… any woman you like?” Her voice was soft, almost fragile, as if the words themselves might break her. She forced a small smile, masking the vulnerability she felt.

  Naito glanced at her, surprised by the question. “No… not yet." he admitted, his voice steady, though a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. “But why ask that now? Especially at a time like this?” He tried to laugh, but the gravity of the moment was too overwhelming.

  “Nothing. I was just curious…” Kaneko replied, the faintest hint of relief in her voice as her cheeks warmed with a soft blush. She smiled, hiding the bittersweet emotions stirring within her. Good, she thought. If he doesn’t have anyone… maybe, just maybe… But she knew there would never be another chance to tell him how she felt. Their time was slipping away, like sand through her fingers.

  —

  Kaneko’s heart swelled with an unspoken confession, her mind flashing through the moments they’d shared, moments she had silently cherished. She wished, just for a second, that they had more time—time to say what she had never been brave enough to admit.

  But, time was a luxury they no longer had.

  Anger suddenly flared within her. “It’s your fault!” she screamed at the approaching beasts, her voice cracking with fury. “You damn creatures! You took everything from me! YOU WILL DIE!”

  “Is that all you’ve got? Come on, come here, you’re too slow!” Kaneko yelled again, taunting the worm-like monsters as they drew closer, her rage fueling her courage.

  “Kaneko, are you ready?” Naito asked, his voice steady, though a softer tone lay beneath—a hint of gratitude, of acceptance. His eyes remained locked on the closing beasts, but for a moment, his gaze flickered back to her, and an unspoken understanding passed between them.

  “Yes, Naito.” She swallowed hard, her voice trembling with a mix of sadness and gratitude. “Thank you… for being with me in my final moments. I’m so happy right now… because it’s you.” Her voice wavered, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

  It wasn’t just the fear of dying—it was the sadness of knowing this was their end, without ever having the chance to live what might have been. She pulled the pin of her grenade, her hands shaking not from fear, but from the weight of all the unspoken feelings within her.

  Naito paused, his expression softening for a fleeting moment. “Thank you, Kaneko. Don’t mention it. There’s no one else I’d rather spend my last moments with.” He gave her a small, sad smile before pulling his own pin, sealing their fates.

  —

  SCREEEAAAAAAKSSS..! SCREEEEEESSS..!

  They shared one last look—an unspoken farewell, a silent confession neither could voice—before turning to face their enemies. The monsters lunged at them, their jaws snapping hungrily.

  “FOR OUR COUNTRY!” they shouted together, their voices fierce and defiant as they charged forward in unison.

  “All right! Let’s go!” Kaneko screamed, her body moving with deadly precision. Fear no longer gripped her; it was replaced by something purer—a mix of adrenaline, resolve, and the bittersweet knowledge that she would at least die beside the one she cared for.

  At that moment, time seemed to slow as Kaneko and Naito faced their end together.

  The first creature lunged, its massive mouth open wide, ready to devour her. Kaneko gritted her teeth, raising her grenade and waiting for the perfect moment. As the creature's jaws closed around her, she shoved the grenade deep into its throat. The explosion rocked the ground, sending shards of metal and bloody flesh flying.

  Naito followed suit, throwing his grenade into its mouth just as the second monster swallowed him whole. The explosion tore through the creature’s insides, ripping it apart from within.

  In their final moments, Kaneko and Naito fought bravely, sacrificing themselves for a cause greater than their own. There were no grand confessions, no last-minute declarations of love.

  Yet, in that brief glance they shared before the end, something passed—a quiet, unspoken love that lingered between them, never voiced but deeply felt. And that was enough.

  Had things been different, if only the world had been kinder.. perhaps…

  That love... could have blossomed..

  — — —

  Inside The Labyrinth

  KABOOM! DUAAR!

  CRAACCKK!

  BRAAK! RKRKRKRKRKRK!

  The sound of a grenade explosion echoed through the air, followed closely by another blast that reverberated ominously from outside the labyrinth. The entrance, now sealed by the initial detonation, had collapsed to prevent the monsters from pursuing Sergeant Makoto's squad further inside.

  Suji clutched the dog tags of Kaneko and Naito—symbols of their lives that had been entrusted to her. She couldn’t hold back the overwhelming wave of sadness and grief that crashed over her. Her comrades had sacrificed everything, laying down their lives so that those who remained could have a chance to survive and escape.

  With trembling hands, she silently placed both dog tags into Sergeant Makoto’s small bag, which already held the tags of their other fallen comrades.

  Her eyes glistened with tears as she reached for Sergeant Makoto’s hand. "Come on, Sergeant. We need to move,” she whispered, her voice soft but firm. Suji squeezed his hand tightly, pulling him forward, refusing to let him falter.

  The remaining five squad members moved swiftly through the labyrinth, their breaths ragged and hearts heavy with sorrow. But, they had no time to mourn—every second counted.

  "Keep moving! We need to reach the dimensional rift at the first chamber quickly!" one of them shouted, urging the others forward.

  "I’m sorry, Sergeant Makoto.” Suji said softly, her grip on his hand tightening as they pressed forward. “We can’t let their sacrifices be in vain. We need to survive. Just… keep moving, okay?” Her voice wavered, a reflection of her own struggle to remain composed. She, too, fought against the overwhelming sadness, but she didn’t want their comrades’ deaths to be for nothing.

  Sergeant Makoto, still dazed from the emotional toll, letting Suji guide him deeper into the labyrinth. Suji held his hand tightly, anchoring him to reality. The other three soldiers guarded them in a triangle formation, staying vigilant in case any hostile enemies appeared within the labyrinth.

  Makoto’s mind was clouded with guilt, but as they pressed on, a new determination began to stir within him.

  They gave their lives so we could escape. So we could live..

  He had to honor their sacrifice, he couldn’t afford to break down now.

  No… I can’t give up now. I need to protect the ones who remain..

  A new resolve filled him—to protect and lead the remaining team out of this nightmare.

  We’ll make it out of here. Even if it costs.. my life…

  — — — — —

  early access chapters plus optional PDF downloads (each PDF contains up to 10 chapters), so you can read anytime, anywhere—even without an internet connection.

  — Ren Lumino —