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.

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?

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?

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 is riding high after a lucrative deal when he encounters a young pickpocket who shatters his newfound confidence. In a blind rage, he gives chase, desperate to restore his pride—but his rampage brings him up against familiar faces: Katsuya and his team. The young hunters already have bad blood between them after their misunderstandings in the ruins, and Katsuya can never resist a damsel in distress. When he sides with the thief, Akira’s fury boils over, and not even Alpha can rein him in. Will he unleash his resentment and attack the group—even without his powered suit or most of his gear? Or can he keep his cool and find another way to get even? And if he manages to navigate this minefield, what will he find as he explores a new site beneath the wasteland—a fresh opportunity, or disaster?

Hot off the heels of discovering an unexplored ruin, Akira accompanies Sheryl to an upper-crust district near the city walls, hoping to find some new clothes that fit her disguise as a high-class lady. The only problem? Akira has zero fashion sense! And when Katsuya and his friends show up at the same boutique, Katsuya falls for Sheryl—while Sheryl sees Akira happily talking to Yumina! With the bad blood between Akira and Katsuya, can the young relic hunters avoid coming to blows? Then a return trip to the ruin lands Sheryl and her gang in hot water thanks to some desperate and unscrupulous hunters. Will Akira rescue Sheryl before it’s too late?

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.