Prologue

The calm night air hung still over the small iron cell. Three men stood within the building, their sterile white robes and masks contrasting them from the dingy surrounds they huddled within. Their eyes and hands were poised over a single object " a small container. Within this container, there was a substance that they were experimenting with...

The substance itself appeared quite ordinary, especially considering the uniqueness of the men and their surroundings. It was a liquid... A pale blue liquid, that seemed to slide up the edge of the flask it was contained in. Further inspection would reveal none of the liquid's secrets, only that it was not water. The only other defining mark on this flask was a label.

VAMPS. Nothing unusual about that, right? Maybe it was just a labelling system, maybe it was simply a code. No, this was something darker. The surroundings made sure of that. So did the aura that hung over the men in their sterile white coats. One of them picked up a phone, dialing a number with a gloved finger. He raised it to his air, and spoke in guttural tones, almost deeper than Hell itself.

“It is ready for testing, sir.” The phone crackled, and a toothy grin showed up beneath the mask. Orders were orders, it seemed.

“5-J? Understood. They will be kept behind for testing.” He put the receiver back into his pocket, and raised his head to the other two with a nod. They were to finally do what they were hired to do.

And on an unsupecting group of innocents bred for testing, the first batch would be released.

This is the story of Kojima Hayate and his friends. This is the tale of the final moments of their lives. This is the legend of VAMPS...