Kai was jolted awake by the sound of frantic voices outside his hospital room. The dull ache in his left side and the absence of his arm were momentarily forgotten as the world outside erupted into chaos.
The door to his room burst open, and Lyra stormed in, her usually composed expression replaced by urgency. "Kai, you need to see this."
Before Kai could respond, Lyra grabbed the remote from the bedside table and switched on the TV. The screen flickered to life, displaying the Global News Network. The familiar logo was overshadowed by a bold red banner at the bottom: **"EMERGENCY ALERT: BEASTS RETURN IN GREATER NUMBERS."**
Kai's heart sank as the footage cut to scenes of destruction. Cities around the world were under attack. Massive portals, larger and more chaotic than the one in the Himalayas, had begun appearing randomly across the globe. From each portal poured wave after wave of beasts, their forms larger, stronger, and even more grotesque than before.
In one clip, soldiers armed with high-tech weapons fired desperately at a horde of beasts in downtown Tokyo, but their bullets barely slowed them down. In another, helicopters rained missiles on a portal in New York City, only for the beasts to leap high into the air and rip the aircraft apart.
Kai's grip on the edge of his bed tightened. "No… this can't be happening."
A grim-faced news anchor appeared on the screen, her voice steady despite the chaos in the background. "Reports indicate that the beasts have returned with greater numbers and unprecedented strength. The Global Defense Coalition is deploying all available forces, but the situation is escalating rapidly. Citizens are advised to remain indoors and seek shelter immediately."
The screen switched to a live broadcast from a GDC spokesperson standing behind a podium. Her voice carried the weight of desperation as she spoke:
"We believe the beasts are evolving, adapting. Their sudden reappearance, along with the random formation of new portals, suggests that *Comeion*'s forces are no longer contained. We are working to understand the nature of these new attacks and will provide updates as soon as possible. To all military forces: engage with caution. These beasts are unlike anything we've faced before."
Lyra turned off the TV and looked at Kai. "This isn't just an attack. It's a full-blown invasion."
Kai stared at the blank screen, his mind racing. He thought back to the beast he had encountered at the portal site. It was stronger, smarter—different. Had he witnessed the beginning of this new wave?
"What do we do now?" Kai asked, his voice low but steady.
Lyra hesitated before answering. "For now, we survive. The military is doing everything it can to push back the beasts, but it's clear they're overwhelmed. We'll need every advantage we can get if we're going to stand a chance."
Kai's eyes drifted to the gauntlet on the bedside table. His father had built it to fight beasts like these, but it was just a prototype. What if there was a way to improve it, to create something stronger?
He clenched his remaining fist. "I have to help. I can't just sit here while the world falls apart."
Lyra's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're injured and untrained. Going out there without a plan is suicide."
"Then help me," Kai said, his voice firm. "You're a soldier, right? You've seen these things up close. If anyone knows how to fight them, it's you."
Lyra studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts alone won't keep you alive. If you want to help, you need to be ready—mentally and physically. There's no room for mistakes anymore."
As the hospital shook from the distant echoes of explosions, Kai nodded. He had made his decision.
The beasts had returned, and the war for humanity's survival had begun again. But this time, Kai wouldn't be a bystander.
This time, he would fight.