2028
Montana, USA
MORINJO
I jolt awake, my body lying cold on a wooden floor surrounded by pallid, lifeless bodies. The musty smell of decay hangs heavy in the air. As I struggle to my feet, the creaking floorboards beneath me seem to amplify my every movement. I reach out, gripping the dusty door handle, and slowly pull it open, my breath catching in the stale air. The next room is a time capsule, frozen in neglect—cobwebs stretch across the corners, dust blankets the antique furniture. Every step I take feels like it could bring the whole place down. The living room is worse. Old brown leather chairs sit in the corners, stained with blood, while a wooden table in the middle of the room is surrounded by dismembered bodies. The stench is overwhelming, but I force myself to keep moving.
Outside, the world is a nightmare. The sun is a faint glow behind a crimson sky. Buildings are reduced to rubble, and the ground is littered with bodies. Smoke chokes the air. In the midst of this desolation, a line of people trudges forward, chained together by the neck. Their bodies are emaciated, mere shadows of human beings, as they groggily step over the dead.
"Oh my God... Where am I?... Who did all this?" I mutter, my voice barely audible.
I approach a group of five men, their dark skin stretched tight over bones, their eyes bloodshot, and hair as white as snow. They stagger towards me, unsteady on their feet. Before I can speak, I notice them—creatures unlike anything human. Towering figures with leathery skin and bony plates, their faces dominated by arthropod-like mandibles. My stomach drops. These are the monsters I fought three years ago.
"Oh no... not again," I whisper, my gaze shifting to a wolf-sized creature with bat-like wings and a snout like a hog's.
"It has begun," a voice echoes in my mind. "These flying creatures are called Vicious Predators—another alien race from my planet," Path Finder explains.
"Erebus... He said this would happen," I murmur, dread tightening around my chest.
"Erebus is not the one who brought Earth to its knees," Path Finder responds calmly.
"Then who?" My voice is strained, barely holding back panic.
Before I can get an answer, the air is filled with the heavy flapping of wings. My heart races as I realize something is approaching—fast. I spin around to see four of the Vicious Predators closing in. Their faces are monstrous, with wide foreheads and strong jaws, and their predatory eyes lock onto me. Panic grips me, and I turn, running on unsteady legs. I spot an abandoned building ahead and sprint towards it, praying for shelter.
The building is barely standing, held up by rusted support bars and cinder blocks. I scramble inside, hiding in a shadowy corner, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I try to calm myself, following Path Finder's instructions to breathe slowly, in and out. I manage to steady my nerves just enough to notice the others hiding with me—fifteen people, terrified and trembling. Then, the bloody scars enter the building. The creatures move methodically, seeking out any survivors. I watch, frozen in fear, as they find eleven of us. The carnage is swift—five are slashed with swords and daggers, the rest are chained and stripped, their clothes torn away. Somehow, I remain unseen, crouched in the dark as the creatures leave.
I exhale a shaky breath. "The heroes... We have to find Zetacode, Menace, Black Cardinal, and Lycon Wolf. Time is running out," I whisper urgently to Path Finder.
"They're no more, Morinjo," Path Finder's voice is heavy with regret. "They're powerless. Three of them now serve Malacoda."
"How... how is that possible?" I stammer, my mind reeling. "Please, tell me this is a joke."
"You failed to protect the universe," Path Finder replies, his tone sharp. "You chose to ignore the prophecy, to care about your career, your family. Now look at your planet. This is your fault, Morinjo... all your fault."
My hands tremble uncontrollably, guilt and terror mixing in a nauseating cocktail. "I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry for everything. I was stupid... Please, forgive me."
"It's alright, but forgiveness doesn't change what's happened," Path Finder says. "You need to find Leonard Martin. He's the only one who can help us now."
"What about Joseph?"
"Joseph is just a governor now. Leonard is a scientist—one of the best. He can restore what we've lost if he gets inside the ultimate tower and powers up the inner circle."
"How do I find him?" I ask, my voice barely steady.
"Touch the ground and close your eyes," Path Finder instructs.
I do as he says, and suddenly, my vision sharpens, my senses heighten. It's like I can see through the very fabric of reality. My spirit soars across the landscape, searching, until I find him—Leonard, running for his life, chased by five Vicious Predators. Despite everything, he's managing to evade them, his quick thinking and reflexes the only things keeping him alive.
I snap back to reality. "I thought you said we were powerless?" I ask Path Finder.
"I lost most of my powers. But I can still see things beyond normal senses," he explains. "Now, you need to meet Leonard, apologize, and work together. But don't leave this building quietly—there are monsters outside."
I brace myself, fear gripping my heart. As soon as I step outside, the creatures spot me, and the chase is on. With Path Finder's guidance, I manage to stay ahead of them for two hours, dodging through the ruins until I finally reach Leonard.
As I approach him, ready to embrace the relief of finding an ally, Leonard's fist crashes into my face. The pain is immediate and intense, my head snapping back as I stagger from the blow. He's furious, his face contorted in rage.
"What the hell, Leonard!" I yell, clutching my throbbing cheek.
"What the hell!?" he shouts back. "You think I'd be happy to see you after everything you've done? After all this?"
"I've been running for hours just to find you!" I shout, anger and confusion boiling over. "I expected you to be glad I found you, not to punch me!"
"Glad? After you ignored everything that mattered?" His voice is venomous. "You should've stayed away."
I grab his arm as he turns to leave. "Please, Leo... I know I messed up, but we have to work together. If we don't, they'll control Earth forever. We have to try."
Leonard spins back to face me, his anger palpable. "And what, Morinjo? What are we supposed to do?"
"We need to power up the inner circle. You can do it, Leo. I believe in you."
Leonard's eyes narrow. "Do you remember when I powered up the inner circle to subdue all kinds of powers? That's why we're here, in this mess."
"I remember. But we can change things—there's still time."
Leonard hesitates, glancing at the ground. "I... I would love to, but we've got company."
"How many?"
"Too many. We can't fight them without our powers."
"We don't have to fight—Path Finder said we can use their weapons against them."
Leonard looks skeptical. "And where are these weapons?"
"At the Black Arsenal, near the ultimate tower," I explain, pointing to a rough, small, red car parked nearby. "We'll take that to get there."
"Steal it, you mean," Leonard says, shaking his head. "That's someone's car, Morinjo. We can't just take it."
"We don't have a choice," I reply, urgency creeping into my voice. "It's a risk we have to take."
Before Leonard can argue, the sound of wings flapping draws nearer. We dive into the car, frantically searching for the keys. Sweat beads on my forehead as panic sets in.
"Where's the damn key?" I shout.
"I can't find it!" Leonard yells back. "We're going to die if we don't move now!"
In a desperate search, I spot the key on the ground, bloodstained and rusty. I grab it, jam it into the ignition, and the engine roars to life.
"Drive! Now!" Leonard screams.
I hit the gas, the car lurching forward as we tear through the ruined streets, the Vicious Predators hot on our trail. Leonard's face is pale, his fear palpable as he clutches the seat, begging me to slow down. But there's no slowing down—not with death on our heels.
One Hour Later
We skid to a stop in front of the Black Arsenal, the car's tires screeching on the cracked pavement. Leonard stumbles out, vomiting from the ride. I rush to his side, concerned.
"What's wrong?"
"You! That's what's wrong!" Leonard snaps, wiping his mouth. "You nearly killed us with that reckless driving!"
"I'm sorry, but what choice did we have?" I ask, pointing to the massive tower in front of us—the Black Arsenal. Its gleaming exterior stands in stark contrast to the ruins around it.