<< Void Fortress - Main Entrance >>
"What in the name of all that's holy...!"
His voice cut through the hum of the Void Fortress.
"Insects as big as hounds... Rats, the size of tigers?"
Responding to his compatriot, another soldier, his voice a ghostly whisper, murmured,
"What horror has this world become...?"
A collective sigh of relief wafted through the assemblage as a third guard muttered with a shaky laugh,
"Thank God Boss saw this coming!"
Another soldier exclaimed,
"Still can't believe it. How'd the Boss see this coming?"
On the top of the towering walls of the Void Fortress, Brandon's loyal subordinates stood vigilant, gazing with mixed horror and fascination at the grotesque tableau unfolding below.
The once-familiar city now warped into bedlam, monstrous mutations snarling and roaring in dissonant fear.
Insects, once harmless and inconspicuous, now swarmed with a voracious hunger, their size grotesquely magnified.
Rodents, normally a mere nuisance, had grown to the size of tigers, their sharp teeth and ravenous appetite turning them into formidable predators.
Among the group of subordinates, a mix of reactions unfolded, reflecting the diverse perspectives and emotions that simmered within their ranks.
One man—once an assassin known for his icy silence—finally found his voice.
"Can we stand idle… as innocents are torn apart?"
But another leaning against the fortress wall, countered, his gaze fixated on the distant castle in the heart of their fortress.
"Boss's word is law,"
He murmured, his voice filled with conviction.
"We're neither saints nor heroes. Besides, aren't you an ex-Assassin Guild killer? Did you get some superhero complex zapped into you?"
Caught amidst this moral tug-of-war, a female voice chimed in, her warning clear.
"You know how the generals are,"
A female subordinate chided.
"Don't you dare act outta line, I can't even imagine what the punishments will be now that we've all attained these powers."
This diverse group of 500—ex-assassins, orphans, freed prisoners, mercenaries, outlaws—weren't merely followers.
Over a decade, Brandon had shaped them into a formidable, battle-hardened private army.
Most of them owed their lives to Brandon and his army, some were indebted in other ways but they all had one thing in common, an unwavering dedication and loyalty to their Boss and leader - Brandon Void.
But it wasn't as if all of them were cold-blooded killers…
As the chaos and cruelty continued to unfold below, many members of Brandon's loyal circle found solace from their fellow humans getting mauled and devoured by these mutated beasts in stolen glances toward the central castle.
Sure, many felt a primal urge to save their fellow man…
But regardless of their personal opinions, their Boss's word is law.
*VROOOSHHHHHH!!!*
Just then, an explosive rush of energy punctured the tense silence.
The balcony doors of the main castle swung open with a resounding thud, unveiling the imposing figure of Brandon clad in his malevolent black armor.
The helmet that once concealed his face was now open, revealing his striking face.
Awe and reverence swept through the ranks as the subordinates beheld their leader, his mere presence commanding a fire deep within their souls.
Behind him, ten black vortexes hovered in a perfect circle, resembling a celestial dance of swirling darkness.
As his command echoed across the walls,
"Assemble in the Main Courtyard, brothers and sisters!"
As they all beheld Brandon's entrance, one soldier couldn't help but think,
"Even in the old world, the Boss was always ten steps ahead. It's as if he saw this chaos coming."
Awe and reverence surged through the ranks.
There was a wild, heady thrill in the air—anticipation shivering up their spines.
In response, five hundred voices chorused,
"BOSS!"
The word rang out—a symphony of undying loyalty and zealous conviction.
Unleashing their ethereal armors, the 500 soldiers sprang into action.
Each armor bore a unique design, radiant with the power of the vortexes that danced behind them.
The number of cosmic vortexes varied, representing the individual strengths and potential of each member.
In a breathtaking display of supernatural prowess, the 500 subordinates burst into the air, their ethereal armors radiating with an otherworldly glow.
Their movements were swift and purposeful, guided by an unspoken understanding of their destination.
The scene unfurled with a mesmerizing blend of grace and urgency, through narrow corridors, over towering spires, and across vast courtyards, they descended upon the Main courtyard in front of the central castle with breathtaking precision.
The air crackled with anticipation, and even the ground beneath their feet quivered in reverence, bearing witness to the sheer magnitude of their power.
Descending last were the five generals—Baal, Baph, Asmo, Lili, and Levi—landing with a formidable grace that quieted even the smallest whisper.
And then, in a synchronized display of devotion, the 500 subordinates, as one cohesive force, raised their right fists to their hearts and bent a knee, their movements executed with disciplined synchronicity.
"BOSS!" echoed once again, a mantra pledging unflinching allegiance.
Brandon Void gazed onto the court where the army of 500 stood at attention.
As Brandon raised his arm, a wave of his power surged forth, manifesting an ethereal scripture before the army.
The script, shimmering with ancient wisdom, held the essence of the [ Incantation of Constellations ( Tier 1 ) ] —a sacred knowledge passed down through the ethereal pyramid.
From it, 500 individual streaks of brilliant light shot forth from the scripture, each finding its mark in the forehead of a subordinate.
The radiant glow of the streaks illuminated their features, infusing them with the newfound teachings of the Book of Thoth.
With the ethereal scripture fading, Brandon stood before his army, his gaze unwavering and filled with a profound determination.
"Welcome to the End of the World!"
Brandon's voice, a powerful blend of resolution and intensity, resonated with a profound sense of destiny.
He continued,
"Whatever your conceptions of the status quo may have been, forget them all. We stand on the precipice of a new era, where the rules of old no longer apply."
His eyes swept across the faces of his loyal subordinates, a flicker of pride shining through his stern countenance.
"There are no longer laws that can govern this world, unless we make them!"
"There are no longer protectors of humanity, unless we become them!"
"You've noticed the ethereal pyramid disappearing,"
Brandon continued, his voice filled with a mixture of solemnity and triumph.
"I have laid claim to it, and from this point forth, this territory belongs to us alone. Each and every one of you is a founding father and mother of the City of Void!"
As he spoke, a surge of energy rippled through the air, causing ethereal manifestations to materialize around Brandon.
[ Imperial Aura Activated ]
An ethereal crown, resplendent and radiant, settled upon his brow, while a regal cape, billowing with otherworldly hues, draped over his broad shoulders.
He stood, a figure of regal authority, the embodiment of a true king.
"And I…"
Brandon's voice carried a weight of purpose and destiny.
He raised his gauntlet-clad hand, an ominous black glow emanating from his ethereal armor.
"Am the first King of New-Earth!"
His proclamation triggered a roar of approval, shaking the fortress's very foundations.
His soldiers, their hearts full of admiration and reverence, pledged their unwavering loyalty.
The echoes of their thunderous cheer—"ALL HAIL KING BRANDON!"—heralded the dawn of a new era.
They had placed their unwavering faith in this man, their Boss, and now, their king.
Their declaration that resounded far and wide—a clarion call announcing the dawn of a new era, a generation where they would leave an indelible mark on the tapestry of history.
"Remember this moment,"
Brandon's voice sliced through the jubilation
"THIS GENERATION IS OURS!"