The entire world was left in ruins after that day—a day in the distant past when everything took a different turn, one that no one would want to experience. Peace was destroyed, and the true nature of the world came to light.

The law of the jungle made more sense than ever: the strong survive, while the weak die in the most miserable and horrible way possible. The natural balance was shattered, and everything underwent a radical change. The seas, oceans, land, and skies all changed, becoming fiercer than ever.

Dangerous phenomena and beings never seen before slowly and steadily populated the world. Horrible creatures came to light, monsters that had been asleep, and new species appeared in the world—beings that defied what was known. Every corner of the planet was filled with these creatures. Species constantly evolved; those that were once weak became more dangerous and unique. Humanity was caught between a rock and a hard place.

It didn't take long for a war for supremacy to break out. Humans, who once ruled much of the world, became the prey. It wasn't the first time something similar had happened, but this time there was something strange, something hidden in the darkness. Throughout the long history of the world, many civilizations had risen and fallen. Events of destruction and numerous cataclysms occurred.

Humans managed to survive everything. They managed to start from scratch and rebuild everything they once had. They thought it would be the same this time, but they were very wrong—the history is much more extensive than they know.

Restlessness and fear gradually arose in human hearts; despair began to make its presence felt. An uncertain future lay ahead, one where no one knew what the fate of humanity would be. The dangers didn't end, and they hoped for a ray of hope that never came. Wars broke out one after another. The horrors of war were unleashed. Chaos and despair took hold of human civilization.

Entire nations were destroyed, razed to their foundations. In the devastation, thousands of lives were lost in a matter of days. The battles they once managed to win only began to suffer miserable defeats. Entire families perished, and those lucky enough to survive were marked for eternity.

Traumas haunted them; every night, they remembered that day. The images of their loved ones being killed before their eyes without being able to do anything haunted them. The string of defeats only plunged them into despair and paranoia. The fear of suffering an attack was always present. The world slowly fell into chaos.

It couldn't end this way—humans were one of the most resilient and adaptable species to such extinction events. They did not forge their history by giving in to adversity. They would fight to the end without giving up. In the desperation where everything seemed lost, heroes would emerge to lead the resistance.

In the following years, humans regrouped in the few cities that had not yet been destroyed. They became symbols of human resistance and their struggle for survival. The indomitable spirit of humans became more important than ever.

The walls were reinforced to provide protection. Their streets, once full of life and joy, now only showed the wear and tear of wars. Every victory, no matter how small, was the fuel that kept the human fighting spirit alive. Each piece of news about a victory lifted their spirits.

They would not surrender as long as the spark remained alive. They would rebuild human civilization no matter the cost. The horrors of war had given birth to horrendous monsters and grotesque-looking beings. Death always lurked, ready to take the life of an unfortunate soul; no one was safe from crossing paths with these creatures. The deepest fears materialized in the world.

The destroyed cities and war fields became the perfect breeding ground. Rivers of blood and scattered corpses provided the perfect elements for the birth of repugnant beings that sought only destruction. The nights became much more terrifying than before; nightmare monsters would emerge, ready to kill.

As the years passed, large fortified and walled cities emerged. These were the last strongholds of human resistance. These cities housed tens of thousands of inhabitants and were the only safe places to live. They protected everyone from wild beasts and the horrors outside. The fortress cities became the heart of humanity's future.

…

"What happened?" he wondered as he rubbed his head with his right hand after feeling a horrible and piercing pain. He used his left hand to lift himself off the ground, still confused and dazed by the blow.

It took him some time to recover from the blow. Minutes passed until he remembered what had actually happened. The headache gradually subsided as the cold air hit his body.

Around him was a pile of rubble. The sounds of collapsing structures revealed the poor condition of the place. He looked at the ground and found some traces of the collapsed roof. Some pieces were hitting the floor.

Roots hung from the cracked ceiling, the place was dimly lit by the light filtering from the surface. The faint light created peculiar shadows in the lonely place.

Some puddles of water had formed, and moss grew on the rubble. It was not ordinary moss; it emitted a faint phosphorescent green light. In the silence, his footsteps echoed throughout the place.

His appearance was that of a young man between 17 and 18 years old. He had white hair with some black streaks. His eyes were a deep golden color and his pupils resembled those of a reptile. His gaze showed mystery and something more…

He wore a simple long-sleeved shirt currently rolled up and adjusted below the elbows. His hands were protected by a pair of sturdy gloves with some dark metal plates. Dark pants held by a belt with several pouches or compartments that contained some useful items.

Black leather boots completed his outfit. His appearance resembled that of a hunter or mercenary who had survived numerous battles and experiences. He walked around the place, always on alert, until he found a brown fur cloak, which he placed over his shoulders, covering much of his left arm.

The cloak was more than just an ornament; it was useful for protecting against attacks and the cold of the area.

"I hope those damn things are gone," he muttered to himself with a tired voice. His eyes darted from side to side as he walked toward the exit. He moved aside some rubble that blocked his path, which made a peculiar sound; he hoped it wouldn't attract any creatures' attention.

The place where he was located was in the middle of a large dense forest surrounded by imposing mountains that seemed to watch everything that happened. He cleared the debris and stepped out of the ruins. The fresh air hit his face, and he heard the creaking of branches and the rustling of leaves.

The reason behind why he ended up in that place was due to an unexpected encounter with powerful enemies. He didn't expect to run into such beings; they were strange and powerful. All he could do was escape.

The fresh memories kept him alert and in a state akin to paranoia. He moved forward with firm steps, always on alert, with one goal in mind. Leaving the forest was of utmost importance; in his current state, it was impossible to face such creatures.

Not only did he worry about them; the loose monsters throughout the forest were a big problem. He ventured into the forest, remembering the path he had taken to reach those ruins and his encounter with those things.

The forest was surprisingly full of life. He clearly remembered what had happened, and his eyes shone intensely. He turned his gaze after hearing the crackling of branches from a nearby bush; fortunately, it was only a small iguana that fled as soon as it saw him. He took out a dry cereal bar and ate it.

His body was resilient thanks to the constant threats, but eating something wasn't a bad idea. The path was quiet, with no apparent monsters in sight, which wasn't a good sign. He took a breath and stopped to inspect the surroundings.

There was only one reason why there wouldn't be monsters nearby: something had scared them away. He didn't want to encounter that something. He couldn't afford a confrontation with an unknown monster.

The young man's figure disappeared into the vegetation. His silhouette blended into the shadows and dense foliage.

…

The skies were covered with dark, water-laden clouds. Thunder rumbled and echoed across a great distance. A few minutes after the first lightning strike, drops of water fell from the sky. Soon, a torrential rain began, accompanied by loud and thunderous claps. The young man got soaked, or at least he should have. The cloak protected him from the rain thanks to its waterproof property.

Strange shadows moved among the vegetation. They seemed to watch the lonely young man attentively. He was aware of the dangers, but he didn't care; he continued on his path, hoping to encounter an enemy along the way.

His footprints were marked in the wet ground. With the rain, many rivers increased their flow and overflowed. A lightning strike hit a large tree that ended up destroyed by the impact. On a branch, the young man observed what was happening on the ground.

He began to move at great speed; the more time passed, the more likely he was to face those things again. He vanished once more into the vegetation and the darkness.