The beasts came like a flood—wild, mindless, and nonstop.
Peter met them first. His hammer swung hard, crushing anything that got close.
Jack stayed beside him, cutting through the swarm with clean, sharp strikes. Ciara moved even faster—her daggers flashing as she took down enemies before they could react.
And Alex?
He just walked.
His sword dragged behind him, but it didn't scrape the ground. It made no sound. He didn't attack. He didn't rush.
But wherever he went, the beasts moved away.
They didn't growl.
They didn't strike.
They avoided him.
Like something deep inside them was warning: Don't go near him.
Even the one who called himself the God of War stepped into the fight. Beasts rushed at him—but when they got close, they slowed… then turned away.
Not fear. Not obedience.
Something else.
These creatures were made to kill. Humans were their prey.
But Alex… wasn't seen as prey.
Inside the walls, the command post was full of soldiers—injured, tired, barely holding together.
Then he walked in.
Tall. Cloaked. His armour seemed to swallow the light around him.
General Arvek.
Most people didn't know him. But the soldiers did.
They feared him.
"The walls are lost," he said calmly. "Fall back. Seal the gate."
The room shifted. Some soldiers hesitated.
One stepped forward. "But the commanders—they're still out there fighting!"
Arvek looked at him.
Just looked.
The soldier dropped.
No scream. No blood.
His body turned grey… empty… like everything inside him had been taken. A dry shell hit the ground.
Silence filled the room.
"Vorrsink," Arvek said quietly. "Your energy belongs to me the moment you disobey."
No one spoke again.
They moved.
Orders followed.
Then—
BOOM.
Something crashed down from above.
A massive armoured figure slammed into the compound like a falling star. Stone broke apart. Fire burst from shattered lines. The command tower collapsed.
Dust filled the air.
Slowly, it settled.
All eyes turned to the crater.
A figure stood there.
Still. Burning slightly. Cloak torn.
Watching.
Then a voice came from the smoke behind him—calm, almost amused:
"Leaving so soon?"