Rebuild World (Manga)

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.

Armed with his brand-new powered suit, Akira takes his first formal job from the Hunter Office: a patrol around his home city. Working with a team offers safety in numbers—but getting along with his fellow hunters provides a whole new challenge, thanks to competition for kills, conflicts between veterans and rising stars, and Akira’s own universal distrust. To make matters worse, Akira’s barely settled in before a fresh disaster turns his routine job into a nightmare. Something has driven the monsters out of the nearby ruins, and they’re stampeding straight at the city! Answering a distress call, Akira rides off alone—and into a swarm of killer robots like nothing he’s ever fought before. Even with Alpha’s powerful support, what can the young hunter do against enemies so heavily armored that his bullets bounce right off them?

Sporting a new motorbike and an upgraded arsenal, Akira is ready to tackle ruins more distant than Kuzusuhara. The long-abandoned town he comes to is supposedly safe, but you can’t trust everything you hear—and he isn’t the only relic hunter looking to test his mettle on its streets. Before his expedition is over, Akira finds himself dodging would-be rivals and contending with colossal beasts. And when his training leads him underground, beneath an unassuming building, he discovers an ancient threat like none he’s ever faced before. Meanwhile, Katsuya and his team are in for an ordeal of their own. The young hunter is desperate for recognition as a full-fledged member of his syndicate, and he’ll run any risk—or strike any deal—to earn it. But even if Katsuya lives long enough to achieve his dream, it may cost him more than he bargained for.

It’s Akira’s first day on the job in an underground labyrinth crawling with giant scorpions, and his supervisors just ordered him to hold the line against a fresh incursion. Not even his newly upgraded arsenal will suffice to fend off this relentless assault from all sides. His survival rests on his ability to work with two of his fellow relic hunters, the temperamental Reina and her overprotective chaperone Shiori. But Akira doesn’t work well with others at the best of times, and his last encounter with both women nearly ended in a shoot-out. Can he learn to work as part of a team and overcome the unexpected perils of his biggest job yet? Meanwhile, Katsuya and his team are in for an ordeal of their own. The young hunter is desperate for recognition as a full-fledged member of his syndicate, and he’ll run any risk—or strike any deal—to earn it. But even if Katsuya lives long enough to achieve his dream, it may cost him more than he bargained for.

After surviving a surprise attack, Akira has the man behind it dead to rights—but explaining the situation to his fellow hunters won’t be easy. When Reina and Shiori arrive on the scene, they only see the young hunter pointing his rifle at an injured man. Accusations fly, and in the confusion, his wily cyborg opponent takes Reina hostage. Caving to the thief’s demands means certain death—but if Akira refuses, he’ll be turning his back on the people he fought side-by-side with just yesterday. And since Shiori would never abandon her beloved “Miss Reina,” she’ll become his enemy too. Can the ghostly Alpha’s support see him through before her superhuman maneuvers wreck his body—or before the thief’s accomplices show up?

Akira has narrowly escaped the relic thieves’ second attempt on his life, but their deadly cyborg ringleaders have pinned him down in a ruined skyscraper. The blade-wielding Nelia moves in for the kill, forcing the young relic hunter to do battle on her terms—and out of his depth. And even if he ekes out a victory, the ominous Kain is waiting outside with enough firepower to vaporize him in a heartbeat. Once again, Akira’s only hope is to trust the wiley Alpha’s schemes—and to fight like hell. Meanwhile, the city authorities have finally caught on to the heist in progress, and one young hunter’s life seems like a small price to pay to save face. When they make their move, can Akira expect to be rescued—or executed?