It was a simple, fine afternoon. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds lazily drifting by. The air was warm and pleasant, the kind of day that made the citizens of Razhivaliyah feel grateful for the peace within their towering walls. Sivera and Miyawa were strolling through the bustling market square, enjoying the lively atmosphere. Vendors called out their wares, children laughed and played, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. Miyawa carried their infant daughter, Malaes, cradled gently in her arms. Sivera walked beside her, his hand protectively on her back.
They were on their way to visit Miyawa's parents. It had become a weekly tradition since Malaes was born. As they walked, they chatted about mundane things – what they would have for dinner, how quickly Malaes was growing, and the latest gossip from the market. The familiarity of their surroundings and the predictability of their routine filled them with a deep sense of contentment.
As they approached a familiar corner, something unusual caught Sivera's eye. He paused, tilting his head slightly, his gaze fixed on a point above. Miyawa noticed his sudden stop and followed his line of sight. Up in the sky, something was glinting in the sunlight. It was a metallic object, far above the city.
"What's that?" Sivera muttered, squinting against the bright light. Miyawa shielded her eyes with her free hand, trying to make out the object.
Around them, others began to notice too. The cheerful chatter of the market gradually quieted as more people looked up, pointing and whispering among themselves. The object in the sky seemed to be getting larger, descending slowly but steadily. It was unlike anything they had ever seen – sleek, metallic, and emitting a faint, otherworldly hum.
"It's a flying ship," someone in the crowd murmured, the words rippling through the gathered throng like a wave. Sivera and Miyawa exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding in unison. "Is that...?" they both started to say, trailing off as their eyes were drawn back to the sky. The ship, now distinctly visible, was an imposing structure. It hovered with a grace that seemed almost magical, its metallic surface gleaming under the afternoon sun.
The townspeople, initially mesmerized, began to feel a growing sense of unease. Whispers turned to murmurs, and murmurs turned to cries of alarm. "What is it doing here?" "Is it dangerous?" "Should we run?" The questions bounced around, fueling the rising panic.
Sivera and Miyawa, however, remained rooted to the spot, their minds racing but their bodies frozen. This was it – the manifestation of their dreams, the physical embodiment of all they had read and fantasized about for years. A flying machine, a true Yahunyens' marvel, was right before their eyes. It was as if their dreams had pierced the veil of reality and come to life.
But as the ship descended to about a thousand feet above the ground, it became clear that this was not a friendly visit. The ship's hovering seemed more like a predator surveying its prey. The noise of the crowd grew louder, a mix of awe and fear. Some people started to back away, pulling their children close, while others stood transfixed, unable to look away.
Sivera, still holding onto Miyawa's arm, felt a chill run down his spine. Something was off. The ship was too quiet, too ominous in its movements. "We should move," he whispered urgently to Miyawa, but she was as entranced as he had been moments earlier, her eyes wide with a mixture of wonder and apprehension.
Suddenly, without warning, the ship emitted a low, menacing hum that vibrated through the ground. It was a sound that struck fear into the hearts of all who heard it. Sivera's protective instincts kicked in. He tightened his grip on Miyawa, his eyes darting around for an escape route. But before he could take action, the ship's hum crescendoed into a piercing whine, and a bright light began to gather at its base.
Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, the ship fired a blinding energy blast directly into the heart of the town. The ground shook with a deafening explosion. Miyawa's awe turned to horror in an instant. He saw the blast hit the town square, a place that had been filled with laughter and life just moments before. Now, it was a scene of utter devastation.
Sivera lost his balance, his ears ringing from the shockwave. He instinctively reached out, grabbing Miyawa to steady her and shield Malaes as she started crying. As they stumbled, he managed to keep them from falling, his arms a protective barrier against the chaos.
When they regained their footing, the scene that met their eyes was one of unimaginable destruction. Buildings lay in ruins, fires raged uncontrollably, and the air was thick with smoke and the acrid smell of burning. People screamed, running in all directions, their faces masks of terror and pain. Sivera saw friends and neighbors lying motionless on the ground, their bodies charred and broken.
"Miyawa, we need to move!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the cacophony. Miyawa, her eyes wide with fear, clutched Malaes tightly to her chest trying to console her to make her feel comfortable and protective. She nodded, tears streaming down her face. They started to run, weaving through the debris and chaos, their minds reeling from the sudden onslaught.
"We have to find shelter!" Sivera yelled, his voice hoarse. The heat from the fires was intense, and the ground was littered with obstacles. They could see people desperately trying to help each other, pulling loved ones from the wreckage, but it was clear that the blast had left little hope for many.
As they ran, the ship above them emitted another low hum, preparing for a second strike. Sivera glanced up, his heart pounding. "We need to get out of the open!" he urged Miyawa, pushing her toward a nearby building that still stood amidst the wreckage.
They dashed inside, the relative quiet of the interior a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Sivera took a moment to catch his breath, his mind racing with thoughts of survival. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning Miyawa and Malaes for any signs of injury.
"I'm fine," Miyawa replied, her voice trembling. "But what is happening, Sivera? Why is this happening?"
Sivera shook his head, his face grim. "I don't know, but we need to stay hidden. We need to protect Malaes." He looked around, trying to formulate a plan. The walls of their haven might offer some protection, but he knew they couldn't stay there indefinitely. The ship was still out there, and it was clear that it had more destruction in store.
Outside, the town continued to burn, the cries of the wounded and the dying filling the air. Sivera clenched his fists, his mind filled with a mix of anger and helplessness. This was not the dream they had envisioned. This was a nightmare.
As they huddled together, Sivera made a silent vow. No matter what it took, he would protect Miyawa and Malaes. He would find a way to survive this onslaught, to keep his family safe in this world that had suddenly turned so cruel. The dream of flying machines and exploring the skies seemed distant now, overshadowed by the immediate need to survive the horrors raining down from above.
Chaos had just begun, and there was more yet to come. Sivera, still reeling from the initial blast, noticed something else amid the smoke, fire, and dust. His eyes were drawn to the giant wall that had protected the city for as long as anyone could remember. It was their fortress, their shield against the unknown dangers of the outside world. But now, it was under attack.
To his horror, he saw cracks forming along a certain portion of the wall, stretching from left to right in the middle. The fissures widened with alarming speed, the stone groaning and shuddering as if under immense pressure. The once-impenetrable barrier now seemed fragile, on the verge of collapse.
"Look at the wall!" someone screamed, their voice cutting through the cacophony. Sivera's heart pounded as he saw the massive structure begin to give way. The cracks snaked their way upward and downward, intersecting and creating a lattice of destruction.
Then, with a deafening roar, the wall gave in. A section from top to bottom, the full 10,000 feet of it, crumbled into enormous pieces. The impact was catastrophic. Massive chunks of stone and debris plummeted to the ground, crashing into buildings and streets, obliterating everything in their path.
A tremendous grey dust cloud erupted from the collapse, billowing out with terrifying speed, a storm enraging. It moved like a tidal wave, engulfing everything in its way. Sivera barely had time to react. He instinctively pulled Miyawa and Malaes closer to him, trying to shield them from the oncoming onslaught of dust and debris.
The force of the falling wall sent shockwaves through the ground. Buildings shuddered and trembled, some collapsing under the sheer weight of the stones crashing down around them. Sivera could feel the vibrations in his bones, the noise so loud it seemed to penetrate his very soul.
"Get down!" he shouted, his voice hoarse from the dust and smoke. They huddled together, trying to find shelter behind a sturdy wall. Sivera squeezed his eyes shut, his arms wrapped tightly around Miyawa and Malaes. The dust cloud swept over them, a choking, blinding fog that blocked out the sun and turned day into night.
The air was filled with the sound of destruction – the grinding, crashing, and shattering of stone, the desperate cries of people caught in the chaos. Sivera's mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, but the overwhelming sensory assault made it impossible to think clearly.
As the initial shock passed, Sivera dared to open his eyes. Everywhere he looked was shrouded in a thick, grey haze. It was like being inside a storm cloud, the visibility reduced to mere feet. The dust clogged his throat and stung his eyes, making it hard to breathe.
He coughed, trying to clear his lungs. "Miyawa, are you okay?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Miyawa nodded, though her face was streaked with tears and grime. Malaes was crying terrible screams like any child would naturally in a situation like this, her tiny wails piercing through the muffled chaos.
"Need to move again," Miyawa said, her voice trembling but determined. "We can't stay here."
Sivera nodded. "Follow me," he said, gripping her hand tightly. They began to move, stumbling through the debris-strewn streets, their movements slow and cautious in the dense cloud of dust. The world around them had been transformed into a misery landscape, and the full extent of the devastation was still hidden from view.
As they moved further away from the immediate blast zone, the dust began to settle slightly, though the air was still thick with particles. Sivera could barely see a few feet in front of him, but he knew they had to keep moving. He could hear the terrified cries of survivors all around him, people calling out for loved ones, desperate for any sign of life amid the destruction.
"Please! Someone help!" a voice called out from the distance. Sivera's heart ached at the helplessness in the voice, but he knew he had to keep moving to ensure his family's safety first.
The dense cloud of dust covered the area like a thick fog, making it impossible to see what lay ahead. Sivera and Miyawa stumbled onward, their hands clasped tightly together. They were far from the area where the wall had fallen, but the destruction was evident everywhere. Houses and markets were buried under the massive debris, reduced to rubble and ruin.
The surviving townspeople began to gather, driven by a mix of fear and curiosity. They kept their distance from the broken wall, wary of further collapses and the unknown dangers beyond. The air was filled with a mix of panic and hushed whispers as people tried to make sense of the catastrophe.
Through the settling dust, they saw something that both terrified and intrigued them. Where the wall had stood unyielding for a millennium, there was now an immense gap, a window to the world outside. For the first time, the light from the outside world poured into their city, almost blinding in its intensity. The sight was both beautiful and horrifying, a stark reminder of the vulnerability they now faced.
"What is that light?" someone near Sivera exclaimed, shielding their eyes from the brightness. The crowd murmured in confusion and fear, their voices blending into a cacophony of anxiety.
"It's the outside," another person answered, their voice tinged with awe and dread. "The wall is gone. We're exposed."
Sivera looked at Miyawa, who held Malaes tightly. "We need to get to your parents," he said urgently. "They might know what to do."
Miyawa nodded, her eyes wide with fear and determination. They pushed through the crowd, trying to make their way towards Miyawa's family home. All around them, people were in various states of shock and distress. Some were crying, others were calling out for loved ones, and many were simply staring at the fallen wall in disbelief.
As they moved, Sivera overheard snippets of conversation that only added to the sense of chaos. "Let's get out of here!" "What if more attacks are coming?!" "There's no way to get out of here..."
One elderly man, his face lined with terror, clutched his chest and gasped, "The wall was our protection. Without it, we're doomed."
A woman nearby, cradling a young child, tried to calm him down. "We need to stay calm. Panic won't help us now."
Sivera knew she was right. Panic would only make things worse. But he also knew that the situation was dire. The destruction of the wall meant that their city was no longer the safe haven it had always been. They were exposed, vulnerable to whatever threats lay beyond.
The chaos in the city was only the beginning. As Sivera and Miyawa tried to process the immediate destruction, they began to notice the sheer scale of the attack. The fallen sections of the wall had created a massive hill of debris, towering at least 1500 feet high near the gaping opening. The sight was surreal – a monument to the sudden vulnerability of their once-secure home.
Sivera's attention was drawn skyward by a deep, reverberating hum. Hundreds upon hundreds of giant flying ships were streaming in from above the remaining sections of the great walls. They were sleek, dark, and menacing, with designs that seemed both advanced and alien. The ships moved with eerie coordination, as if directed by a single, malevolent intelligence.
As the ships poured into the city, they blotted out the sun, casting a dark, foreboding shadow over everything below. What had been a bright afternoon was suddenly transformed into an artificial night. The sky was filled with the ominous silhouettes of the ships, their presence so overwhelming that it seemed as though the heavens themselves were being consumed by darkness.
People all around Sivera and Miyawa began to panic anew. Children cried, clinging to their parents. Adults shouted in fear and confusion, pointing at the sky and the approaching ships. The sense of terror was noticeable, an almost tangible force that seemed to grip everyone in its vice-like hold.
"This can't be happening," a woman next to Sivera whispered, her voice trembling. "We're surrounded."
Another old man, his face lined with age, shook his head in great disbelief. "This is the end. We're done for."
The flying ships continued to descend, some swooping through the gaping hole in the wall, others lowering themselves over the city, hovering menacingly just above the rooftops. Their engines emitted a low, resonant hum that seemed to vibrate through the very bones of the city's inhabitants. The sound was a constant reminder of the doom that was descending upon them.
Sivera held Miyawa and Malaes close, trying to shield them from the growing sense of dread. The ships were now so numerous that they formed a vast, impenetrable canopy over the city, cutting off any remaining light. It was as if a giant hand had reached down and smothered the city in darkness.
"Shit! This is just too much!" Sivera said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides. "We have to get there." But even as he spoke, he knew that their situation was dire, Miyawa's parents' home was not visible.
The sheer number of ships and the speed of the attack suggested a level of planning and intent that was terrifying. Whoever these invaders were, they had come prepared for a swift and decisive conquest.
Amid the countless flying ships, one particular vessel stood out. It was significantly larger than the others, and it moved with a deliberate, almost majestic grace. This ship did not hover menacingly above the rooftops like the others but descended steadily through the opening in the wall, heading directly for the ground.
The people who had gathered near the site of the wall's collapse watched in stunned silence as the giant ship touched down. It landed with a soft thud, its massive bulk settling into the ground. The ship was sleek and black, with sharp angles and an intimidating presence that seemed to radiate power and authority.
As it came to rest, a large door at the front of the ship began to lower. The door, which doubled as a ramp, descended with a smooth, mechanical precision, coming to rest on the ground with a metallic clang. The ramp created a direct path from the ship's interior to the outside world, an ominous bridge between the unknown and the terrified people of Razhivaliyah.
For a moment, there was a tense silence as everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would emerge from the ship. The air was thick with anticipation and fear, the silence almost deafening in its intensity.
Then, from the darkened interior of the ship, a figure began to emerge. At first, it was just a shadow, a massive silhouette framed against the ship's internal lights. As the figure stepped forward, it became clear that this was no ordinary invader.
The person was at least three meters tall, towering over even the tallest of the city's inhabitants. His broad shoulders and imposing stature made him look like a giant among men. He wore a long, flowing coat that billowed dramatically in the wind, the fabric dancing around his legs like a dark flame. The coat was part of a uniform, meticulously designed and imbued with an air of authority and menace.
As he walked down the ramp, the ground seemed to tremble under his heavy footsteps. The little cloud of dust and smoke around the ship only added to his dramatic, epic and mass entrance, creating an almost ethereal aura around him. His every movement was deliberate, exuding a sense of power and control.
People near the ship began to tremble, their fear escalating with every step he took. The man's presence was overwhelming, a tangible force that seemed to press down on them, making it hard to breathe. His entrance was not just an introduction; it was a declaration of dominance, a display of strength meant to cow the city's inhabitants into submission.
Sivera moved towards that direction to hear and witness all of what was happening. Beside him, Miyawa clutched Malaes tightly, her eyes wide with fear.
The figure finally stepped into the open, his features becoming visible through the dissipating smoke and dust. He had a chiseled, angular face with sharp eyes that gleamed with a cold, calculating intelligence. His expression was one of ruthless determination, a man who knew his power and intended to wield it without mercy.
A murmur ran through the crowd, a mixture of disbelief and terror. "Who is he?" someone whispered, their voice barely audible over the collective gasp of the crowd.
"He's not here to save us," another voice answered the obvious, trembling. "He's here to destroy us." It didn't seem like the end of the city, it seemed like the end of the world.
End... of their worlds.
The man's coat flared out behind him as he stopped at the base of the ramp, surveying the chaos he had helped unleash. The sense of dread among the people intensified, and it felt as though the very air had thickened with fear.
"Oh my my, what do I see? Son of a shit man! Sorry mah guys like a little bit of destruction, that adds to their grand entrance. But consider yourself still lucky, it wasn't General Orem." the man's voice boomed, amplified by some unseen technology. It was a voice that commanded attention, deep and resonant but there was mockery and insult for the people in his words and tone. "People of Razhivaliyah, your time of isolation is over. Your walls have fallen, and with them, your illusion of safety."
"I bring... your next dawn's new fate."
As he spoke, the other flying ships began to lower more ramps, and armed soldiers began to pour out, their weapons at the ready. The scale of the invasion was becoming clear, and the city's inhabitants could do nothing but watch in horror as their world crumbled around them.
Sivera and Miyawa stood together, holding onto each other and Malaes, the enormity of the situation sinking in. They were facing a force beyond anything they had ever imagined, and their lives would never be the same again...