The barriers weren't supposed to fail.
For decades, they had been the unyielding line between survival and annihilation—a shimmering dome of arcane energy, powered by the strongest Awakened in the city. Watching it crumble felt like the end of the world.
For a brief moment, everything stood still. Civilians, soldiers, even the monsters seemed frozen in the shock of what had just occurred. Then the Rift pulsed, a low, resonating hum that sent chills down Leon's spine. The first creature emerged: a hulking monstrosity with jagged claws and a twisted, insect-like frame. Its six glowing eyes scanned the street before letting out a deafening screech. That sound was the spark that ignited chaos.
Screams erupted from every direction as people bolted for safety. Leon instinctively pressed himself against a crumbling wall, his heart pounding in his chest. Around him, the once-orderly city descended into a scene from a nightmare. Cars were overturned, debris rained from the sky, and the monsters poured through the breach like a tide of death.
"Get to the shelters!" someone yelled, their voice barely audible over the cacophony.
Shelters. Right. That's where Leon should've been heading. But his feet didn't move. Instead, his eyes were locked on the battle unfolding in the middle of the street.
A team of Awakened had taken position, their weapons glowing with energy as they charged at the advancing monsters. Flames roared, lightning crackled, and the ground itself shook with their combined might. For a moment, it seemed like they could hold the line. But these monsters were unlike any Leon had ever seen before. They moved with terrifying speed, their sheer numbers overwhelming even the strongest of the guild warriors. One by one, the Awakened fell, their glowing weapons dimming as their lives were snuffed out.
Leon's stomach churned. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. The Awakened were humanity's saviors, the ones who could face these horrors head-on. If they couldn't stop this… what hope did anyone else have?
A piercing scream snapped him out of his thoughts. Across the street, a woman was trapped beneath a collapsed awning, her young son tugging desperately at her arm. Without thinking, Leon darted forward.
The air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning metal. He reached the woman and dropped to his knees, grabbing hold of the heavy beam pinning her leg. It didn't budge.
"Hold on," he said, more to himself than to her. Gritting his teeth, he threw his weight against the beam again. This time, it shifted just enough for her to pull her leg free.
"Go!" he shouted, helping her to her feet. The boy clung to her as they stumbled away, their figures disappearing into the chaos.
Leon barely had time to catch his breath before a shadow fell over him. He turned, his blood running cold as he found himself face-to-face with one of the monsters. Its elongated limbs moved with eerie precision, and its glowing eyes bore into him like it was looking straight through his soul.
He froze.
The monster raised a claw, ready to strike.
Then, a burst of energy exploded nearby, sending the creature reeling. Leon shielded his eyes from the blinding light. When he looked up, he saw an Awakened warrior standing a few feet away, their weapon crackling with electricity.
"Get out of here!" the warrior shouted, their voice strained.
Leon didn't need to be told twice. He turned and ran, his legs carrying him through the chaos as fast as they could. He didn't know where he was going—just away. Away from the monsters, the destruction, the screams.
He rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. In front of him lay a small plaza, eerily quiet compared to the chaos he had just escaped. At its center stood a lone figure, slumped against the base of a shattered fountain. It was an Awakened, their armor cracked and bloodied.
Leon hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to keep moving. But something about the figure drew him closer. As he approached, he saw that they were clutching a small, glowing object in their hand—a crystal, pulsing faintly with a soft blue light.
The Awakened's eyes flickered open as Leon knelt beside them. "You… you have to take it," they rasped, holding out the crystal.
"What?" Leon stared at the object, his mind racing.
"Take it," the Awakened repeated, their voice growing weaker. "It's… the only chance…"
Leon's hand trembled as he reached out and took the crystal. The moment his fingers closed around it, a strange warmth spread through his body. The light intensified, casting long shadows across the plaza.
"What is this?" he asked, but the Awakened didn't answer. Their head slumped forward, and the faint glow in their eyes dimmed to nothing.
A low growl echoed through the plaza. Leon turned to see another monster stalking toward him, its movements predatory and deliberate.
He gripped the crystal tightly, his mind racing. He had no weapon, no powers, nothing. Just this strange object and the faint hope that it could do… something.
As the monster lunged, Leon's body moved on instinct. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's claws. The crystal pulsed in his hand, and for a brief moment, he thought he felt… something. A surge of energy, a spark deep within him.
But it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Damn it," he muttered, scrambling to his feet.
The monster circled him, its glowing eyes filled with hunger. Leon's mind raced. He wasn't Awakened. He wasn't a hero. But if he didn't do something, he was going to die here.
His eyes darted around the plaza, searching for anything he could use. His gaze landed on a broken metal pipe lying near the fountain. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
As the monster charged, Leon grabbed the pipe and swung with all his strength. The makeshift weapon connected with the creature's head, sending it stumbling back.
Leon didn't stop. He swung again and again, each strike fueled by a mix of fear and desperation. Finally, the monster collapsed, its body twitching before going still.
Leon stood over it, his chest heaving. His hands were slick with blood—his or the creature's, he couldn't tell.
For a moment, the plaza was silent. Then the crystal in his hand pulsed again, brighter this time.
Leon looked down at it, his mind racing. He didn't know what it was or why the Awakened had given it to him. But one thing was clear: this wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.