Hunters brave the ruins of a long-dead civilization at the behest of the corporate city-states who thrive on its detritus. Amidst the decay lie powerful artifacts of ancient technology, eclipsing anything the corporations can develop. For a few successful hunters, the search for these relics is a road to untold riches. For most, it’s a shortcut to slaughter at the hands of mutant bioweapons and robotic sentinels. And for those trapped at the bottom of society, it’s the only way out. Akira is uneducated, underfed, and unprotected—just another homeless kid in the sprawling slums between the walls of Kugamayama City and the deadly wastelands which surround it. Relic hunting offers his only hope of clawing his way to a better life outside the slums. But his first, desperate foray into the ruins threatens to end his brief life—until he meets a mysterious, incorporeal woman named Alpha.
Hunters brave the ruins of a long-dead civilization at the behest of the corporate city-states who thrive on its detritus. Amidst the decay lie powerful artifacts of ancient technology, eclipsing anything the corporations can develop. For a few successful hunters, the search for these relics is a road to untold riches. For most, it’s a shortcut to slaughter at the hands of mutant bioweapons and robotic sentinels. And for those trapped at the bottom of society, it’s the only way out. Akira is uneducated, underfed, and unprotected—just another homeless kid in the sprawling slums between the walls of Kugamayama City and the deadly wastelands which surround it. Relic hunting offers his only hope of clawing his way to a better life outside the slums. But his first, desperate foray into the ruins threatens to end his brief life—until he meets a mysterious, incorporeal woman named Alpha.
Akira has learned the hard way that his fellow relic hunters can be just as deadly as anything else in the wasteland. He’s more determined than ever to go it alone, but life has other ideas. Suddenly, fortune seekers are crowding his favorite hunting grounds, and when a mysterious phenomenon blankets the ruins, he finds it harder to steer clear of conflict than he’d like. Back in the city, his luck isn’t much better: one of the many gangs that rule the slums is out for his money—and his blood. Compared to the ravenous beasts and killer machines that roam the wastes, these petty outlaws don’t seem much of a threat—but they won’t stop coming after him until he racks up a body count that shows gunning for him doesn’t pay. And to cap it all off, he crosses paths with a girl who might just end his self-isolation for good. Akira has an arsenal of new gear and the ever-mysterious Alpha to guide him, but will that be enough to navigate the rocky road ahead?
When a pair of ambitious arms dealers lead a horde of ravenous monsters into Akira’s usual hunting grounds, his routine training in the wasteland turns into a fight for survival. And with no time to run and nowhere to hide, the young relic hunter needs all the help he can get. But can even the reckless merchants’ firepower and the ghostly Alpha’s expert guidance see him through this onslaught alive? As wave after wave of mutant creatures wear down his defenses, it becomes clear that only a miracle can save him. And if the beasts of the wasteland don’t kill Akira, the people of his home city just might. After he takes a fledgling gang leader under his wing, he finds himself in the crosshairs of syndicate underlings hoping to climb the ranks, not to mention rival bosses looking to expand their territory. He’s already proven that he can handle himself in a fight; now he’ll need to prove himself as a negotiator if he ever wants to walk the streets in peace again.