Crimson Rebellion

Rain hammered the rooftops of Kurogane City like bullets from the sky.

Neon signs flickered across soaked streets while motorcycles roared through the midnight traffic. Sirens screamed somewhere in the distance, but nobody cared anymore. In Kurogane, violence was as common as rain.

Ren Akashi pulled his hoodie tighter as he hurried through the alleyways behind the train station.

He hated nights like this.

Too many gangs.

Too many fights.

Too many chances to get caught in something deadly.

A loud crash echoed nearby.

Ren froze.

Shouting followed.

“GET HIM!”

Footsteps pounded against wet concrete.

Ren cursed under his breath and quickly ducked behind a stack of rusted barrels just as six teenagers stormed into the alley. Their black jackets carried a crimson snake emblem across the back.

Crimson Rebellion.

The most feared gang in the eastern districts.

Ren’s heartbeat quickened.

Everybody in Kurogane knew them.

A gang built from runaways, fighters, and monsters.

Their members feared nothing.

Not police.

Not rival gangs.

Not death.

A boy stumbled into the alley from the opposite side, bleeding heavily from his forehead. He couldn’t have been older than seventeen.

The Crimson Rebellion members surrounded him instantly.

“You thought you could steal from us?” one of them snarled.

The injured boy backed against the wall. “I-I was gonna return it—”

A punch slammed into his stomach.

He collapsed.

Ren looked away.

This wasn’t his business.

It never was.

That was how he survived.

Stay quiet.

Stay invisible.

Stay alive.

One of the gang members grabbed the boy by the hair.

“Where’s the package?”

“I lost it…”

The alley became silent.

Then another voice spoke.

Cold.

Calm.

Dangerous.

“That answer just cost you.”

The gang members immediately stepped aside.

A tall figure walked through the rain wearing a long black coat with crimson markings running down the sleeves. His dark hair stuck to his face as water dripped from his chin.

But his eyes…

Those eyes were terrifying.

Sharp.

Empty.

Like someone who had already buried his humanity.

Ren recognized him instantly.

Raiden Kuro.

Leader of Crimson Rebellion.

People whispered his name like a curse throughout the city.

Some said he once defeated twenty fighters alone.

Others claimed rival gangs disappeared overnight after threatening him.

Nobody knew which stories were true anymore.

The injured boy trembled violently.

“P-Please… I can explain…”

Raiden stared at him for several seconds.

Then he sighed.

“You stole from your own family.”

CRACK.

The kick landed so hard the boy slammed into the wall.

Blood splattered across the pavement.

Ren’s breathing stopped.

Raiden crouched beside the boy and pulled a small metal pendant from his pocket—a crimson skull symbol engraved into it.

“The moment you joined Crimson Rebellion,” Raiden said quietly, “your life stopped belonging to you.”

The boy weakly reached toward him.

Raiden stood.

“Finish it.”

Ren’s eyes widened.

No way…

The other gang members moved forward.

The boy screamed.

Ren acted without thinking.

“STOP!”

The entire alley froze.

Rain poured heavily between them.

Six gang members slowly turned toward the voice.

Ren immediately regretted everything.

One of them laughed.

“A civilian?”

Raiden’s gaze shifted toward the barrels.

“Come out.”

Ren’s legs felt numb.

But hiding now would only make things worse.

Slowly, he stepped into the open.

Rain soaked through his hoodie instantly.

One of the gang members smirked. “Kid’s shaking like crazy.”

Ren clenched his fists.

Raiden stared directly into his eyes.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Raiden asked, “Why interfere?”

Ren swallowed hard.

“I… I just…”

His voice failed.

Because the truth was embarrassing.

Because he was terrified.

Because he wasn’t a hero.

But seeing someone die in front of him felt wrong.

Raiden stepped closer.

Ren felt pure pressure from his presence alone.

“What’s your name?”

“…Ren.”

“Ren what?”

“Ren Akashi.”

Raiden studied him silently.

Then—

Headlights suddenly flooded the alley.

A motorcycle skidded to a stop nearby.

Another gang member jumped off, breathing heavily.

“Raiden!”

Everyone turned.

“There’s been an attack on Division Three!”

The atmosphere changed instantly.

“What?” another member shouted.

The biker looked panicked.

“It’s the Iron Phantoms! They ambushed the warehouse district!”

Raiden’s expression darkened.

“How many?”

“…Twenty injured.”

Silence.

Even the rain suddenly felt colder.

The Iron Phantoms.

Crimson Rebellion’s deadliest enemy.

A gang known for brutal massacres and street executions.

Raiden’s eyes sharpened.

“Who led the attack?”

The biker hesitated.

Then—

“…A guy called Zero.”

Several gang members visibly tensed.

One even stepped backward.

Ren noticed immediately.

Whoever Zero was…

Even these monsters feared him.

Raiden slowly cracked his knuckles.

For the first time since arriving—

he smiled.

But it wasn’t normal.

It was the smile of someone walking toward war.

“Gather everyone,” Raiden ordered.

“Tonight…”

The crimson symbol on his coat glowed beneath the alley lights.

“…we remind this city who owns it.”

The gang members roared in response.

Motorcycles ignited across the street.

Adrenaline filled the air like electricity.

Ren stood frozen as Crimson Rebellion prepared for battle around him.

Then Raiden suddenly looked back at him.

“You.”

Ren flinched.

Raiden walked over and tossed him the crimson skull pendant.

Ren barely caught it.

“Keep that safe.”

“…Why?”

Raiden stared at him for a long moment.

Then he said something that made Ren’s blood run cold.

“Because starting tonight…”

Rain crashed against the alley as sirens echoed through the city.

“…you’re part of Crimson Rebellion now.”

END OF CHAPTER 1

Ending Note: Somewhere in the city…A boy named Zero smiled after hearing Ren Akashi had joined Crimson Rebellion.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmFpjoWC0R

“So it finally begins.”

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DON'T MISS OUT ON CHAPTER 2163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ326vZQl0S2

COMING SOON

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