(January 1, 2025)

  Tragedies of the Past

  In a small village, the Taliban are terrorizing the locals. Gunfire shatters the air as insurgents slaughter anyone in sight, hurling Molotov cocktails into homes to create a scene of absolute carnage. Amidst the bloodcurdling screams, a young girl stands sobbing; her parents lie in a pool of blood, gunned down by the rebels. Two militants approach, cold-bloodedly aiming their rifles at the child’s head. Just as they are about to pull the trigger, UN Peacekeeping forces storm the area, neutralizing the insurgents in a hail of gunfire.

  Dozens of UN soldiers flood the scene. One soldier approaches the girl. His face is rugged and battle-hardened, but his touch is gentle as he reaches out.

  UN Soldier: "Don’t be afraid, little one. I’m here."

  Suddenly, a comrade shouts: "Leave her! They’re swarming us! We have to move!"

  The soldier shakes his head, refusing to abandon her. As he reaches down to lift her, an artillery shell whistles through the air, grazing a nearby house. The resulting explosion collapses the structure, burying them both. Some time later, the soldier stirs. The firefight still rages around him. He turns frantically toward the girl, only to find her lifeless body crushed beneath the rubble. He freezes, his face pale with horror and guilt. But then...

  The UN Soldier: "Heh... what? Was I... dreaming?"

  A Fleeting Peace

  It was only a nightmare—a haunting memory from his days in the UN. The failure to save that girl remained a jagged scar on his heart. His wife entered the room with their son.

  Wife: "Are you okay? You were screaming. Go wash up and come down for breakfast. I’ve made something for all of us."

  Son: "Dad, you promised to take me to the baseball game today, remember?"

  The warmth of his family slowly dissolved the lingering dread of the nightmare.

  "Go on down, I'll be there in a second."

  He dressed, joined them for breakfast, and tried to act normal. However, the morning paper caught his eye: reports of a "strange energy field" manifested in Florida. He brushed it off. Later, when he moved toward the basement, his wife stopped him.

  Wife: "Why are you going down there today? I thought you wanted to leave that life behind."

  Brian: "Just grabbing some nails, honey."

  It was a small lie to keep her at ease. In the basement, he opened a dust-covered chest. Inside were relics of his past: his UN gear, a helmet with "UN" engraved on it that still fit perfectly, and photos of comrades he hadn't spoken to in years.

  He tucked the memories away and took his son to the stadium. The boy was vibrating with excitement to see the superstar Nolan Ryan. The atmosphere was electric; they bought popcorn and soda, soaking in the cheers of the crowd.

  Coach: "And here is Nolan Ryan! What a hit! Incredible!"

  The joy was short-lived. Brian’s phone vibrated. It was the UN.

  "Soldier Brian? We need you back in uniform. Something major is happening."

  Brian was confused; he had retired two years ago. The voice on the other end grew frantic: "Something is going very wrong in Florida."

  He looked up. The bright blue sky was bleeding into a deep, sickly purple. Panic surged. He grabbed his son and raced to the car. During the drive, his wife called, her voice trembling.

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  Wife: "Brian? Are you okay? There was an explosion at a factory, and the sky... it's turning purple!"

  Brian: "I see it too. I’m bringing our son home right now. Stay inside!"

  The Invasion Begins

  The streets descended into chaos. News stations urged citizens to barricade themselves as the mysterious energy field expanded. Back home, Brian hurried his family inside just as meteors began shrieking down from the sky, pulled by the purple gravitational force. One slammed into the neighbor's house, obliterating it.

  Brian ushered his family into the basement. Outside, the world ended. Cars collided, sirens wailed, and then—rifts opened in reality. Creatures known as Crawlers—grotesque, formless horrors—emerged from the portals. They tore through civilians and police officers alike.

  Brian didn't hesitate. The soldier in him awoke. He donned his UN vest and helmet, gripping his sidearm. Hearing a scratching sound from upstairs, he told his family to stay hidden and went to investigate. He moved with tactical precision until he saw a Crawler. He fired, hitting it in the shoulder, but the beast lunged, knocking him down. As it bared its fangs, Brian drew his combat knife and plunged it into the creature's neck. It slumped, dead.

  The Road to Survival

  He gathered his family and fled by car. The city was a war zone. The U.S. Military was being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Brian navigated through back alleys until they reached a supermarket. The scene was hellish: fallen soldiers and littered corpses under a violet sky. Brian scavenged an M4A1 rifle from the debris.

  A man armed with a hunting rifle appeared from the shadows of the store. "In here! Quick, before more of them show up!"

  The man introduced himself as Steve. They hunkered down for the night. Brian's son clung to him, trembling.

  Son: "Dad, I’m scared. What are those things?"

  Brian: (Tearing up, hugging him tight) "I don't know, son. But I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."

  The next morning, a radio broadcast broke the silence: "To all survivors, head to the military base. We are conducting extraction operations!"

  Hope flickered. They joined forces with Steve and set out. According to Brian's map, the base was a two-day trek. Along the way, they met two more survivors, Adam and Rossy, who were also headed for the base.

  Adam: "We need a clear route if we're going to make it."

  Brian: "The main bridge is out. We’ll have to circle through the town of Villenia. It'll add time, but it’s our only shot."

  The Abyssal Horror

  They reached Villenia, a ghost town of abandoned barricades. Their path was blocked by a massive pile-up of vehicles, forcing them to continue on foot. As they moved silently through the highway wreckage, a scream pierced the air.

  They hid behind a car and watched in horror. A couple was being stalked by an Abyssal Crawler—a four-legged monstrosity with rows of serrated teeth. It crushed the man instantly before tearing into his wife.

  The creature caught their scent. "RUN!" Brian yelled. He emptied a magazine into the beast, but the bullets barely slowed it down. They found a car with the keys still inside, but the engine wouldn't turn over.

  "Push it!" Steve yelled. As Adam, Rossy, and Steve pushed the car to jumpstart it, Brian acted as bait, drawing the monster's attention. The Abyssal Crawler tossed cars aside like toys as it chased him.

  The engine roared to life. Brian sprinted for the moving vehicle. Steve reached out his hand, pulling Brian into the car just as the monster’s claws snapped at the air behind them. They found temporary refuge in an abandoned farmhouse.

  The Endbringer

  The next day, they reached the gates of the military base. It was eerily silent. No guards, no humming engines—just empty tents and abandoned gear. The evacuation had already finished. They were left behind.

  Steve snapped. He began screaming at the empty sky, cursing the military for abandoning them.

  "Steve, calm down! We'll find another way!" Brian pleaded.

  But it was too late. A massive shadow fell over them. From behind a hangar stepped an Endbringer—a towering titan with glowing red eyes, wielding a massive, jagged cleaver. Before anyone could react, the titan snatched Steve. With a sickening crunch, the Endbringer crushed him into a pulp and tossed him aside.

  "GO! RUN!" Brian screamed, ushering the others into the base's interior.

  Brian scavenged a fresh rifle and grenades while Adam and Rossy hid the family. The Endbringer smashed through buildings with its cleaver, hunting them. Brian attempted to distract it, but his gunfire only enraged the beast. In a desperate move, Brian lured the monster toward a fuel tank positioned under a heavy observation tower. He fired at the tank. The explosion brought the tower crashing down onto the Endbringer.

  It wasn't enough to kill it, but it pinned the monster down. Just then, the roar of rotors filled the air. An Apache attack helicopter appeared, raining hellfire missiles and 30mm rounds onto the Endbringer until it was blasted into a deep ravine.

  UN reinforcements touched down. A commanding officer recognized Brian. "Soldier Brian? We heard you were still out here. We need you. The world is falling to The Void."

  In the nick of time, Brian’s family, Adam, and Rossy were pulled onto the transport. They were safe for now, but as they looked down at the burning horizon, they realized the truth: Humanity had fallen, and the earth was now a playground for shadows.