86 Eighty-Six

The Republic of San Magnolia publicly claims its war with the Giadian Empire is being fought without a single casualty—an image maintained through careful propaganda. Behind the walls of the Republic’s eighty-five districts, the silver-haired Alba live in safety, while those deemed different are confined to a hidden “eighty-sixth” sector. Labeled the Eighty-Six, they are sent to the front lines to battle the Empire’s autonomous Legion, directed from afar by Republican “Handlers.”

Vladilena Milizé is appointed as the new Handler for the Spearhead squadron, a role that draws scorn from colleagues due to her refusal to accept the Republic’s cruelty. Leading Spearhead is Shinei Nouzen, a captain feared for outlasting every unit he’s served with and determined to carry the names and resolve of the comrades he’s lost. As their lives intersect across the divide between those protected and those sacrificed, their connection is tested by the harsh realities of war and discrimination.