Chereads / SHADOWS OF THE CHOSEN / Chapter 3 - Shadows of Despair

Chapter 3 - Shadows of Despair

The demonic plague cast Earth into a state of never-ending darkness. Once, the sky adorned itself in azure hues, bathing in the sun's warmth and serenading with the symphonic chirping of birds. Now, it lay permanently covered beneath a thick cover of ominous and swirling clouds. Anxiety gripped the survivors, suffocating them in the oppressive malevolence pervading the dense air. Since the curse's onset, the dawn and comforting embrace of the sun have remained elusive. Instead, the world languished in ceaseless dusk, a lasting reminder of the impinging darkness. Two years had passed since the curse's alpha, an era marked by ruthless misery and sorrow.

Following the initial demonic onslaughts, humanity had been decimated. Approximately 60 percent of the global population had been wiped out in the initial wave of attacks, leaving behind a world of ruins and despair. Those who survived did so in fragmented settlements, scattered across the desolate landscape. These settlements, isolated and vulnerable, were bastions of hope in an otherwise hopeless world.

Within these fragments of civilization, life was a living hell. Many survivors initially suffered from severe health conditions, their bodies weakened by the corrupted environment and tainted food sources before they invented their survival devices by artificial means. The very essence of the land had been poisoned, and only a select few had managed to adapt naturally. These individuals, known as the Protectors, had somehow developed a tolerance for the corruption, a twisted gift from the demonic curse. They stood as the guardians of their communities, fighting off the lower demons that roamed the lands.

The lower demons, Wraiths and Reapers, were relentless in their pursuit of destruction. The Wraiths, with their shadowy forms, spread fear and despair, while the Reapers, with their skeletal visages, harvested souls and spread corruption. Despite their relatively lower rank in the demonic hierarchy, these demons were formidable adversaries. Many humans fell to their attacks, leaving countless others injured and crippled, adding to the overwhelming sense of dread that permeated the world.

Amidst this backlash of suffering and resilience, Rex had begun to understand his role as a Divine General. With his newfound powers, he had become a beacon of hope for the people. He had been training tirelessly since the time he received his powers, honing his abilities and preparing for the inevitable confrontations with the demonic forces, and finally he has gotten the chance to shine and fulfill his due purpose..

 

One evening, as Rex stood near the ancient temple where he had received his powers, he felt a disturbance in the air. The clouds began to roar violently, and a sinister energy filled the atmosphere.

The ground trembled as a ferocious and absurd roar echoed through depths of the night. Rex's heart raced as he sensed something far more dangerous than the Wraiths and Reapers approaching.

Emerging from the darkness, miles away from Rex's position, was an Archdemon riding atop a colossal demonic beast. The beast's eyes flashed with a fiery malevolence under the shadowy cover of the night, and its massive, hollow energy-luminating body exuded an aura of pure terror. The Archdemon, with his towering frame and behemoth appearance, was unlike any demon Rex had encountered before. His eyes burned with malevolent intelligence, and his armor was adorned with the bones of fallen foes, a testament to his brutal power.

The Archdemon was heading towards Hollowvale, the hometown of Rex. The high-ranking Protectors within the settlement, who had amplified their senses and felt the impending doom as it drew closer, prepared for the upcoming battle and assembled all the battle equipment, including mortars, cannons, swords, shields, spears, bows, arrows, and armor, in a state of utmost emergency. The town people were instructed to remain in their houses, lock themselves inside, and keep hidden until the battle reached its conclusion. The seven great protectors, also known as the Ethereal Knights, took the lead as the supreme commanders and gave a rousing speech to boost the confidence of their army, consisting of more than a thousand normal soldiers, basically townsfolk trained to reinforce the army, and all the protectors, numbering 500 in tally, ranking from the bottom up until the top, who took the duty of commanding the human army as their generals. Despite their iron will to fight, the sight of the Archdemon sent waves of panic throughout the settlement, shaking it to its very core. The atmosphere grew heavier, and the air thickened with the scent of bloodlust and terror.

The Protectors marshaled their forces, but even they seemed to tremble with fear and uncertainty of the great battle that was going to engulf Hollowvale under its ominous shadow. The sky above the settlement darkened even more as the Archdemon and his beast drew closer. The malevolence in the air grew stronger, and the very ground seemed to shake and tear apart from their presence. The demon's eyes locked onto the settlement, and a cruel smile spread across his face. This was a being of immense power, and his arrival marked the very beginning of a great nightmare.

As the Archdemon halted his beast at the edge of the settlement, he raised his hand, and a dark, swirling energy began to gather around him. "Humans," he bellowed, his voice echoing through the night, "your time in this world has come to an end. The true reign of darkness is upon you."

The Protectors braced themselves as the Archdemon unleashed a wave of dark energy. Buildings crumbled, and the ground split open as the demonic power tore through the area. The Protectors tried to resist, but they were no match for the Archdemon's might. Despite their efforts, the atmosphere was still thick and jammed with despair and terror, and the sense of impending doom was discernable.

As the settlement struggled to withstand the onslaught, Rex, miles away, felt the disturbance deep within his soul. He knew that this was no ordinary encounter; it was a harbinger of greater horrors to come. The Archdemon's presence was a grim reminder of the demonic hierarchy that sought to dominate and corrupt the world.

The demonic hierarchy was structured in a way that ensured their reign of terror. At the lowest level were the Wraiths, shadowy beings that sowed fear and despair among humans. Above them were the Reapers, demons that harvested souls and spread corruption. The Archdemons, immensely powerful and cunning, led armies of lesser demons in their conquests. These were the beings that now posed an imminent threat to the surviving human settlements.

At the pinnacle of their hierarchy were the Hex Demons, the seven elite defenders of the Demon King. Each Hex Demon wielded power just below that of their king but had their unwavering loyalty submitted under him, making them nearly unstoppable. Their true king, a figure shrouded in mystery, had never been seen by human eyes but was the very source of the curse's power.

The settlement's struggle was a stark reminder of the hostile state of the world. The people's resilience in the face of such overwhelming despair was inspiring, yet the looming threat of the Archdemon and his kin casted a long shadow over their yet the looming threat of the Archdemon and his kin cast a long shadow over their stalwart efforts. The true scale of the demonic threat was becoming even more clear.

Rex, standing resolute near the ancient temple with a serious look on his face, His eyes revealed a steely desire to offer all he could to this great conflict as he glanced towards the distant town, where he detected the Archdemon's terrible presence. The weight of his newfound powers and the responsibility they carried settled upon him, telling him that it was his great duty to contribute the most to making a world free of demons. The first fight deciding Earth's future was about to begin, and Rex was ready to lead the charge as the Divine General.