The pinnacle of human civilization has come and gone, leaving only ruins in its wake. Society and science now struggle to rebuild, rediscovering scraps of knowledge from powerful ancient artifacts that defy comprehension. These relics of the “Old World” can make the fortunes of those who find them—if ancient security systems and rogue bioweapons don’t kill the relic hunters first. Akira, a young street orphan, sets out to become one such hunter to escape his brutal life in the slums. Untrained, malnourished, and poorly armed, Akira would be lucky to make it back from the ruins alive—until an encounter with Alpha, a mysterious, ghostly woman, changes his fate forever. Alpha needs a hunter, and she’s willing to train Akira to get one. Will her support be enough to help a penniless kid from the slums climb to the top of a crushing and merciless world?
The pinnacle of human civilization has come and gone, leaving only ruins in its wake. Society and science now struggle to rebuild, rediscovering scraps of knowledge from powerful ancient artifacts that defy comprehension. These relics of the “Old World” can make the fortunes of those who find them—if ancient security systems and rogue bioweapons don’t kill the relic hunters first. Akira, a young street orphan, sets out to become one such hunter to escape his brutal life in the slums. Untrained, malnourished, and poorly armed, Akira would be lucky to make it back from the ruins alive—until an encounter with Alpha, a mysterious, ghostly woman, changes his fate forever. Alpha needs a hunter, and she’s willing to train Akira to get one. Will her support be enough to help a penniless kid from the slums climb to the top of a crushing and merciless world?
Akira has come a long way from his life on the streets. He’s a proper hunter now, with a roof over his head, food on his plate, and cash in his pocket. And under the guidance of the mysterious Alpha, he continues to acquire superior weapons, skills, and gear. But success has its downsides, and unfamiliar threats are hurtling toward him—both in the desert wastelands and in the city streets. Akira’s deal with aspiring gang leader Sheryl puts him in conflict with the rival bosses eyeing her territory, and it’s going to take more than firepower to navigate the web of schemes and alliances ensnaring the slums. Meanwhile, a massive swarm of monsters bursts out of the ruins, heading straight for Kugamayama City. Rushing to answer the call for help offers Akira a fresh chance for advancement, but the real danger may prove to be his fellow hunters...
Akira is riding high after his successful rescue operation. With new gear and new friends, he’s ready for the next phase of his relic-hunting career. But Akira isn’t the only young hunter in the wastelands, and success might just paint a target on his back. Katsuya, a rookie with the hunter syndicate Druncam, is desperate for recognition, but the veterans around him are more interested in Akira’s feats. Unaware of how much support Akira receives from the ghostly Alpha, Katsuya struggles to outdo his fellow up-and-comer, pushing himself and his friends into ever greater danger in the process. But just when it seems he’s pushed his luck too far, Katsuya has a mysterious encounter of his own. When a major job throws these two young hunters together, Akira must come to grips with Katsuya’s one-sided rivalry while facing down a nest of new and deadly monsters.
Akira has only spent two days exterminating the heavily armored scorpions hiding out in the underground tunnels, and he’s already had more close calls than he bargained for. And try as he might, his bad luck’s about to get worse. A chance encounter soon proves that the biggest threat in the tunnels aren’t monstrous bugs but other humans. Now a gang of cyborg relic thieves have him in their crosshairs, and his fellow hunters may not take his side. With his lines of communication cut off, and forced to fight new enemies and old allies, Akira is outclassed, outgunned, and out of options. How will the young relic hunter stop a threat that can pursue him from beyond the grave? As Akira fights for survival, the scheming ghosts of the Old World look on...
Healed, rested, and armed with a powerful new arsenal, Akira is ready to resume relic hunting. His first target is a field of rubble that he suspects conceals an untouched ruin. Does the barren ground hold fabulous riches or disappointment—or long-dormant perils? The young hunter will need to put all his new skills to work in his quest to find out! But even that won’t be enough to profit off the answer—Akira will need to set aside his deep-seated suspicion and put greater trust in his allies if he hopes to make the most of his discovery.
Akira has made it out of Yonozuka Station alive, but he’ll have to put his next relic hunt on hold—the ruin’s drastically altered ecosystem is spawning mutant behemoths, rendering the wasteland unsafe. The Hunter Office steps in and offers a large bounty for exterminating them, leading to an enticing proposition for Akira from an unlikely source. Meanwhile, the internal conflict within Druncam escalates. Akira must now face deadlier foes than ever before, and this time Alpha’s support might not be enough!
Akira has grown by leaps and bounds as a hunter, and so he decides to tackle the dangerous Mihazono Town Ruins. In Mihazono’s factory district, he unexpectedly comes across Carol and Monica, two hunters who are working together as surveyors. But the real surprise comes when a horde of menacing machines defy their own programming in order to pursue the hunters! What does this mean for Akira and his companions? Friends both new and old, and some unlikely allies, join the fray against their toughest foes yet!
With his adventures in the Mihazono Town Ruins behind him, Akira returns home to find that Sheryl is joining forces with Katsuragi to start a relic shop in the slums. When the years-long war between the two largest gangs—the Ezent Family and Harlias—comes to a head, Sheryl and her business get caught in the cross fire! With Sheryl in both gangs’ crosshairs, it’s up to Akira to save her! But with Viola scheming behind the scenes and Akira having another unexpected encounter with Carol, it won’t be easy. Will a brand-new set of gear and weapons be enough to go up against two gangs at once and rescue Sheryl from a grisly fate?
With the gang war behind him and touting a brand-new set of gear (again), Akira is ready to dive back into the ruins for relics once more! In the depths of Kuzusuhara, the enigmatic Alpha guides him to an Old World city. There he encounters Tsubaki—the AI managing the area—who seems to hold a grudge against Alpha! Meanwhile, Sheryl’s relic shop finally opens for business. All is going well for Akira, but the city seems to have other plans for him. Many lives hang in the balance as conspiracies unfold and the Old and New Worlds clash!