The Third

Decades after a catastrophic war eradicated eighty percent of Earth's population, the surviving humans live under the watchful gaze of The Third, an enigmatic group of beings residing in the city of Hyperius. Named for the crimson, jewel-like "Space Eye" on their foreheads—a node used for data access and communication—The Third are dedicated to protecting humanity. Their primary method of safeguarding the species is enforcing the "technos taboo," strictly regulating human access to technology. Those who violate this mandate risk execution by Bluebreaker, an AI robot serving as their ultimate autoenforcer. Amid this harsh reality lives Honoka, a seventeen-year-old girl born with a blue third eye. Because her unique eye cannot interface with the rest of The Third, they dismissed her as a mutation and left her to be raised by human parents. However, her blue Space Eye grants her extraordinary abilities: she can perceive Chi, detect cloaked enemies, and sense the emotions of all living things. Operating as a jack-of-all-trades, Honoka traverses the barren wasteland in a sand tank piloted by Bogie, an AI guardian gifted by her grandfather. She earns her living taking on various contracts, from exterminating giant spiders and ants to escorting clients across the desolate terrain. One night in the desert, Honoka encounters Iks, a mysterious man whose true purpose for arriving on the planet remains hidden until the story's climax. His sudden appearance deeply unsettles The Third, who fear he may pose a threat to humanity. Seeking to better understand the world, Iks hires Honoka to accompany him on her journeys. As they travel together through the ruins of civilization, Honoka passes the quiet nights reciting the poetry of a writer named Dona Myfree.