Nantigar: Kelun's Story - The Illusion of Total War
Kelun Phrase's father had a habit of saying, "You gotta have the TV on blaring to make things lively," treating it like nothing more than background noise. The day Kelun first heard the words "total war" was right after finishing dinner with his dad, just like any other evening.
The old TV was droning on with a breaking news bulletin from the management bureau, its contents grabbing their attention instead of fading into the background.
"Confirmed Aria code detected. Signal originating near the ruins of the old British Empire's Prime Minister's office. Rescue request decoded for the first time at the Lumen Guard barrier and now broadcasting repeatedly."
Details poured out alongside multiple maps and explanations.
"Typically, owners of such powerful authorization codes are high-ranking government officials. Therefore... securing the code is expected to allow reclamation of that sector."
Then, notifications chimed repeatedly from the terminal his father had placed on the dinner table, unfolding several holographic windows.
> Rescue request encryption verified, confirmed as authentic_Science Technology Division.
> Provisional Military Supreme Commander Mikhail Chernenko orders commencement of total war. All proxies to be deployed.
> Total war details to be transmitted to each barrier_Intelligence Analysis Department.
> Mikhail Chernenko total war address scheduled.
> Regular army front lines to be reestablished. Assemble at management bureau headquarters two hours early tomorrow.
That was when Kelun first saw unclouded hope spread across his father's face. Watching the unfolding windows together, Kelun felt his own heart pounding inexplicably.
"Dad... does this mean we can take back the world beyond the barrier?"
Kelun's voice was soft, but laced with joyful trembling. His father looked at him with pride at how quickly he'd grasped the situation and replied.
"That's right, Kelun. It means we can reclaim a portion of the core control authority from Aria, the AI that destroyed the world."
The words felt distant and unfamiliar somehow. Life inside the barrier had become so routine after all this time. But if they won the total war and reclaimed the sector... they could step outside the barrier cities.
"Total war means... throwing everything we've got at it, right?"
All the outdated missiles, shells, fighter jets, resources that no longer got produced.
"Yeah. We knew Commander Chernenko was an impressive man, but making such a bold decision... that's the mark of a true great."
Kelun thought innocently. What if they poured everything in and failed? But that thought vanished quickly. The inside of the barrier had felt safe for a long time now. Faith in the military's capabilities. And the proxies with their absurd powers. Since Mikhail was a proxy too... failure seemed unimaginable. His father thought the same. Everyone did.
Once Chernenko's address ended, people's faces were noticeably brighter than before. Inside Stefan Flower, Kelun and Isaac sat at the shop counter, gazing happily out the window. Isaac's father had gone to the greenhouse with an excited grin, saying, "Once total war's over, we'll sell flowers again! Get ready—there'll be tons of customers!"
"Tanks."
Kelun pointed excitedly at the outer road, his face flushed. Dozens of military trucks and armored vehicles snaked along Nantigar's outer roads. Mixed in were old howitzers on manual trailers, fuel tankers. Some vehicles rattled noisily from welded steel plates, but they all seemed to be giving their all for the final push.
"So cool."
Kelun felt something hot rising in his throat. Countless soldiers, vehicles, weapons. And he believed with shining eyes that with the proxies, it would surely succeed.
Isaac chuckled at the sight.
"Yeah. Hey, Kelun, what would you do if you got to go outside the barrier?"
"Hmm, first I'd go back to school, I guess. And if proxies are still needed then... I'd wanna sign up to become one..."
Kelun trailed off uncertainly. He'd seen cases like Bell becoming a proxy at a young age, but no guarantee he'd make it himself.
"Haha, you'll do great. Still, come visit Stefan Flower sometimes."
"Of course. Don't worry about that."
Kelun thumped his chest and shrugged. Stefan was happily misting potted plants out front with a sprayer, smiling.
"I wanna see that big sis again soon too."
"Yeah, she'll pull through and come back."
Isaac felt the weight of that sniper rifle even though she was just a little girl back then. He didn't think people like her could lose. Smiling faintly, Isaac eyed a single blue rose on the shelf. The flower, radiant as ever, seemed to carry an especially strong fragrance today.
"This flower'll mean even more now."
Stefan mulled the words over with a smile. And that night, rare old-model fighter jets streaked across the sky multiple times. As they vanished into dots, cannon fire boomed from the distant horizon. Faint, but unmistakable—the stirrings of war.
But Kelun climbed onto the roof, gazing at the lights beyond the barrier, quietly dreaming of the future to come.
The sky had been ashen for days, choked with smoke and clouds drifting from afar. Dusk lingered even in daylight, and at night, distant thuds of artillery echoed. At first, fighter jets occasionally buzzed overhead. Kids throughout the city craned their necks, chasing their paths as they ran about, while adults looked up with hopeful faces. On the first day, people flooded the streets like it was a festival, cheering the roar.
Kelun was no different. But the euphoria didn't last three days. A day passed, two days, and the jets stopped coming. The sounds still came from afar, but even their direction grew vague.
"We've pushed far beyond the front lines, but no word yet from the lead squads. However, the areas near the barriers have been secured..."
The military broadcasts no longer brimmed with hope; they sounded like excuses. Day by day, Kelun's expression darkened. His father hadn't come home.
On his way to Stefan Flower, Kelun overheard passing women and grew even more sullen.
"This is bad. Real bad."
"Yeah, medical facilities are so packed, even regular folks can't get treatment."
Should he check the hospital? Maybe his dad was there?
"What the hell's going on...?"
Thwack—lost in turmoil, Kelun kicked a stray pebble. When he arrived at Stefan Flower, angry shouting filled the air.
Isaac was facing the soldier as calmly as he could.
"This is a civilian business district. Do you really think the military can just reallocate like this?"
"Orders from the top brass. With total war underway, we need maximum cooperation."
The soldier replied expressionlessly. Only then did Kelun notice notices stamped with the military seal posted in front of every shop. It wasn't just Stefan Flower. Regular army and admin troops were everywhere, inventorying lists. Claiming shortages, they were seizing fresh flowers, medicine, even fuel cans and metal tools—everything under the guise of resource reallocation to the military.
Isaac's father couldn't hold back and yelled.
"What bullshit is this? You just saw your chance to control every resource inside the barrier, huh?"
"Watch your tone. It's wartime resource reallocation. We're all in this to survive together."
The soldier snapped irritably, but Isaac's father fired back.
"Don't make me laugh. If you'd prepared like other barriers, fine—but you sat on your asses and now wanna play communist?"
The soldier ignored him and spoke bureaucratically to Isaac.
"Just follow the inventory and transfer procedures."
"These flowers are fresh ones my father grew himself. Useless for logistics."
Isaac pointed out sharply, but the soldier just noted something on his tablet without responding. Soon, other soldiers entered, scanning the shop. One sniffed a bouquet and scoffed; Isaac's eyebrow twitched.
Kelun saw Isaac's face twist menacingly for the first time and slipped quietly inside, slumping in a chair with his head down. What the hell was happening? Why was this going on? He squeezed his eyes shut. His head felt like it might explode from the chaos.
"Fine, carry on then."
As the soldiers left, Isaac's father growled.
"This can't go on. We gotta round up people and push back."
"Dad, better to stay cautious for now. No proxies in sight, and these guys in regular army uniforms? They're not the real military brass."
"Yeah, I thought so too. But look at this mess. Seems like both sides are the same scum."
"Still, hold off for now."
Isaac pulled his father back, unease gnawing at him, but shouts echoed from neighboring shops, and the fuming owner burst in.
"Stefan! You gonna take this lying down?"
"You know my temper—I ain't."
"Then let's go confront 'em now. These lunatics... we'll be out on the streets at this rate."
Before Isaac could mediate again, his father stormed out.
"Haa... Kelun, you okay? Pretty shaken, huh?"
Isaac sighed and approached Kelun, who was wilted inside the shop. Kelun looked noticeably drained these past few days. Isaac knew his father hadn't been seen either.
"You eat?"
"No..."
"Hang on a bit. Let's grab something simple."
Isaac forced a gentle smile and ruffled Kelun's hair. Anxiety was sprouting in his own heart too, but he shoved it down deep.