In the vast, endless expanse of the universe, billions of planets orbited their respective suns in silent harmony. Yet, amid this cosmic ballet, one gargantuan ship, the size of a sprawling nation, cut through the void. Its metallic hull, studded with jagged spikes, exuded a menacing presence as it silently approached a planet on the fringe of habitability. Unlike the lush greens and blues of Earth, this world was barren, a dry wasteland painted in shades of ochre and crimson. With little water and sparse vegetation, it was a stark and desolate contrast to the vibrant worlds humanity often dreamed of. The ship's purpose, however, remained shrouded in mystery.
---
"Finally done packing!" Kaine Auron exclaimed, collapsing onto his unforgiving mattress. His voice carried a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. He ran a hand through his spiky black hair, his orange eyes reflecting a glimmer of excitement. At last, he was eligible—old enough to join the military, to finally leave this forsaken rock and set foot on Earth.
Earth. The word alone was a beacon of hope for Kaine. A world of endless oceans, thriving forests, and towering cities built by humanity's ingenuity. He had heard stories of its wealth, its power, and its people—fabled tales passed down through generations on this forgotten planet. The thought of stepping onto its soil brought a faint smile to his face.
He rose from his bed, crossing his cramped apartment to the rickety balcony overlooking the city. The view was far from glamorous. Houses made of worn stone and wood dotted the landscape, their crude construction betraying the planet's struggles. Most buildings barely reached three stories, and the streets below were a chaotic blend of vendors, scavengers, and children playing with makeshift toys.
"This place… I'll never forget it," Kaine muttered, his voice tinged with nostalgia. Despite the hardships, this had been his home for seventeen years. Now, he was leaving it behind for an uncertain future.
The planet—known only as Velran was a melting pot of species. Humans made up the majority of its 4 billion inhabitants, but interstellar refugees from other races mingled within its borders. It was a harsh place, scarred by history. Once isolated, it had come under Earth's control after the Dark Ages, an era when The Swarm had brought countless civilizations to the brink of extinction. Now, Velran was part of Earth's vast intergalactic empire. With that came responsibilities: every child, upon turning 17, was required to join the military or government forces to combat The Swarm.
Kaine wasn't idealistic. He wasn't joining to protect humanity or fight for justice. He needed money, plain and simple. The military was the fastest route to survival, and survival was all that mattered to him.
---
"Time to get going," Kaine muttered. Slinging his worn backpack over his shoulder, he turned toward the door.
Before he could take another step, the world was shattered by the deafening wail of alarms. They echoed across the city, shrill and unrelenting, a sound every resident dreaded. Kaine froze.
"No… not now."
The alarms meant only one thing: invasion.
Quickly grabbing his gear, Kaine bolted outside. The streets, moments ago bustling with life, had devolved into chaos. People screamed, their faces etched with terror as they scrambled toward evacuation centers. Vendors abandoned their stalls, children cried out for their parents, and panic surged through the crowd like wildfire.
Kaine looked to the sky, and his heart sank. A colossal shadow loomed overhead, cast by a ship so large it blocked out the sun. Its jagged brown surface bristled with spikes, and an ominous hum reverberated through the air.
"It can't be…" Kaine whispered, his voice trembling.
The underside of the ship opened with a deafening mechanical groan, revealing countless black forms swarming within. Then, they began to fall—monstrous creatures with six legs, two thick tails, and grotesque, eyeless faces. Their leathery skin glistened under the dim sunlight, and their gaping mouths, filled with razor-sharp teeth, seemed to hunger for destruction.
"The Swarm," Kaine muttered, his voice barely audible.
The creatures rained down in a relentless torrent, their sheer numbers overwhelming. Hundreds died upon impact, crushed beneath the creatures' massive forms, and countless more were slaughtered as the monsters began their rampage.
"RUN!" a man screamed, his voice raw with desperation.
---
Kaine's survival instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, he bolted toward the evacuation checkpoint. His body moved with purpose, weaving through the panicked crowd. People shoved past him, their faces pale with fear, their screams blending into a cacophony of despair.
A woman grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with terror. "Please! Help me! My son—"
"I'm sorry!" Kaine yanked his arm free and kept running.
His legs burned as he pushed himself to the limit, his speed augmented by an E-rank ability. His surroundings blurred as he sprinted, vaulting over debris and shattered stalls. But no matter how fast he ran, The Swarm was faster.
He glanced back and felt his stomach churn. The creatures moved like a black tide, their insect-like legs propelling them with terrifying speed. Those who tried to fight back stood no chance; the monsters were relentless, shrugging off attacks as if they felt no pain.
"This is insane," Kaine muttered, his voice shaking. Sweat dripped down his face as he pressed on. "There's too many of them!"
But amidst the fear, a grin crept onto his face.
"So, this is what they're like…" he muttered.
For a brief moment, his body glowed with a faint golden light, and his speed surged. Buildings became a blur as he left the chaos behind, his mind focused solely on reaching the checkpoint.
---
Just as he began to feel hope, a deafening roar split the air. Kaine skidded to a halt and turned, his eyes widening in horror. Winged creatures descended from the ship, their massive forms blotting out the sky. They moved with terrifying agility, diving into the fray and snatching up victims with razor-sharp claws.
"This is bad," Kaine muttered.
He crouched, channeling energy into his legs. Muscles bulged as golden light enveloped his body, and with a powerful leap, he soared into the air. The force of his jump left cracks in the ground.
From above, the destruction was even more horrifying. Entire neighborhoods were in ruins, engulfed in flames as The Swarm spread across the city like a plague. The military had mobilized, but their efforts were futile. Soldiers fired weapons and unleashed abilities, but the creatures' sheer numbers and resilience overwhelmed them.
Kaine's momentum began to wane, and gravity took hold. He braced himself, crashing into a building and rolling to a stop. Pain shot through his body, and blood trickled from his mouth, but he forced himself to his feet.
The evacuation ship was within sight—a sleek, black-and-red vessel emblazoned with the military insignia. Soldiers were ushering civilians on board, their faces grim.
"Move! We're running out of time!" one of them barked.
Kaine pushed himself forward, his legs trembling with exhaustion. He stumbled through the crowd, barely making it onto the ship before the doors slammed shut.
---
Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Families clung to each other, soldiers barked orders, and the wounded groaned in pain. Kaine found a seat by a window, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
"Is this… what the universe is really like?" he muttered, staring out at the planet below.
The ship ascended, leaving the chaos behind. But as Kaine watched, another vessel entered the atmosphere—a massive military warship, twice the size of The Swarm's. Its sleek, metallic surface gleamed with advanced technology, and its cannons began to glow with an eerie blue light.
"Get the cannons ready," a commanding voice echoed through the warship's comms. "We need to destroy the mother nest before it's too late. The Swarm is adapting."
---
Kaine's gaze remained fixed on Velran as the warship fired. A blinding blue beam pierced the planet's surface, and a deafening explosion followed. The shockwave rippled through space, obliterating the planet in an instant.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Kaine lowered his head, his orange eyes dull with despair. "So, this is the true nature of the universe," he whispered.
A soldier approached, his voice gruff but sympathetic. "Kid, you're lucky you made it out alive. The universe doesn't care about fairness. You either survive, or you don't."
Kaine clenched his fists. "If this is survival… what's the point?"
The soldier sighed, placing a hand on Kaine's shoulder. "You'll find a reason. We all do."
As the evacuation ship carried them toward Earth, Kaine's mind swirled with questions. What awaited him on the fabled planet? Would he find purpose, or was he destined to be another cog in humanity's endless struggle against The Swarm?
One thing was certain: he was going to become stronger.