The world was once as perfect as humanity could imagine. Technology advanced far beyond what our ancestors could have ever dreamed. We reached the stars, shaped the elements, and crafted life from nothing. We were gods—or so we thought.
At the height of our power, humanity believed that we had mastered everything. There was no mystery left to unravel, no challenge we couldn't conquer. But in our arrogance, we failed to understand one simple truth: with great power comes great responsibility. And we were too blind to see it until it was far too late.
The gods had always been with us, guiding us from the shadows, shaping our destiny, and protecting us from the dangers we could never understand. They were there, always watching, always ensuring we didn't destroy ourselves in our endless pursuit of more.
But when we became too much—when we began to think that we could stand on our own, that we no longer needed them—that's when they made their decision. They turned their backs on us. They withdrew their power. They left us to our own devices.
It was a slow process at first. A subtle shift that no one could quite explain. There were small changes, like the sky darkening just a little more at dusk or the air growing heavier with each passing season. Things we could brush off. Things we refused to acknowledge because we didn't want to believe it. We had been abandoned. Left to fend for ourselves. And the worst part? We had no one to blame but ourselves.
The prayers started to fall silent. Those who once looked to the heavens for guidance now stared at empty skies, waiting for miracles that never came. It didn't take long before despair began to settle into the hearts of humanity. We had always relied on the gods—our protectors—and now, they were gone. We had no choice but to face reality.
But the gods weren't the only ones watching. In the void they left behind, something else stirred. Something darker. The world had become visible to the cosmos—a place ripe for the taking.
And that's when the creatures started to arrive.
They came in all shapes and sizes, from the grotesque to the beautiful. Some were hideous, twisted forms with green boils and sharp claws, crawling from the darkest corners of the universe. Others were radiant, with perfect skin that glowed like the sun, their eyes devoid of mercy. They were all the same, though—hungry, determined, and ready to claim what we had so carelessly discarded.
They came to dominate. To rule. And when they arrived, they brought with them a chaos that spread like wildfire.
The solar system—once containing only eight planets—grew, as if the very fabric of space itself had twisted to accommodate the invasion. Now there were fourteen planets, each with its own story to tell. Some were beautiful, shining beacons of life, while others were filled with death and decay, a reflection of the monsters that inhabited them.
And yet, in the midst of it all, we survived. We adapted.
I suppose that's the human way, isn't it? Adapt or perish. And we weren't about to perish.
When the gods abandoned us, they didn't just open the gates for extraterrestrials to invade. No, they gave us something far more dangerous: spiritual energy. The very energy they had used to maintain their power, to remain gods, was returned to us. And in that moment, everything changed.
Some of us used it to wield the elements—fire, water, air, and earth—harnessing the forces of nature like we always dreamed we could. Others chose a different path. Martial artists honed their bodies to the peak of perfection, becoming living weapons. There were those who sought illusions and made contracts with creatures that had no business existing in our world. And then, of course, there were those who saw the return of power as a way to control the old systems—money, politics, and power.
Humanity had lost a third of its population in the wake of the creatures' arrival. 2.7 billion lives were wiped out. But we endured. We fought. We used what we had left—the ability to adapt, the ability to think ahead—and we clawed our way back.
And now, here we are.
I'm not a hero. I'm no savior of the world. I'm just a man. A man who's decided that in a world where the strong thrive and the weak fall away, I'll be the one who rises to the top. I've seen the horrors of what's out there. I've lost more than I care to count. But I'll be damned if I don't protect the ones I care about.
The world has changed, and so have I. It's a brutal world now, one where you either rise above or get crushed beneath the weight of it all. So, I've made my choice.
And if you're weak, then life's your problem.
As I sit here, staring out at the wasteland that was once a bustling city, I can't help but think how far we've come—and how far we still have to go. The world is a battleground now, a place where the strongest rule, and the weak are left to rot. It wasn't always like this. But I guess nothing lasts forever, does it?
The creatures that came after the gods left us are still here. Some of them? They've tried to blend in. They wear human faces now, pretending to be one of us. I've had run-ins with more than a few of those. They've learned to use our world's resources, adapt to our technologies. But it's easy to spot them if you know what you're looking for. Their eyes—too cold, too calculating. The way they move, like they're always one step ahead. It's unsettling.
Then there are the others—the monsters that couldn't be bothered to disguise themselves. They're the real problem. Creatures of unimaginable strength, ones that make even the most dangerous of humans look like children in comparison. Some roam the land in packs, hunting down the stragglers, while others claim territory as if it was their birthright. I've fought my fair share, but even I know when to retreat. Strength is just one part of the equation; survival is another.
And that's what we've done. We've survived. Not just by fighting, but by using what we've been given. The gods may have left us, but they didn't take everything with them. They left the energy behind, a raw, untapped force that could be molded into anything. Some use it to control fire, wind, or water, but others… they've tapped into darker abilities. They manipulate minds, create illusions, summon creatures of their own. It's a dangerous game, one I'm still figuring out how to play.
Me? I chose a different route. I didn't want to bend the elements to my will. I didn't need to. My power doesn't come from the earth or the sky. It comes from something more primal, more ancient. The beasts that roam this world? I tame them. I make them mine. It's not an easy task. They're dangerous, wild—some have never even been seen by humans before, let alone controlled. But if you can earn their trust, if you can show them that you're worthy of being their master, they'll fight for you. And when they do, you've got power that can tear through anything in your path.
I will tame some of the fiercest creatures in this new world. Maybe they will be the size of mountains, others smaller, but just as deadly. Every one of them is a weapon, an extension of my resolve that I can use to protect what's mine. And when the time comes, when I stand at the top of this broken world, they'll be by my side. No one will be able to stop me.
But I'm not interested in saving the world. I never was.
Some people—most people—want to fix everything, to restore the world to how it used to be. They want to rebuild, to bring back the order we once had. Me? I don't have time for that. The world is broken, and it's never going to go back to what it was. People will keep fighting, the creatures will keep invading, and the strong will rise while the weak get trampled. That's the way it is now, and I'm not about to pretend otherwise.
I have my own goals. I'm going to be the strongest, the apex predator in a world full of chaos. I don't need to save anyone. I don't need to change the world. I just need to rise above the rest. And to do that, I'll use everything I've got—my wits, my strength, and the creatures I've tamed.
The world is a mess, and I'm not going to fix it. But I will make sure that when the dust settles, I'm the one standing on top.
Because that's the only way to survive now