The same waves pass through the mountains and the forest.
Toshido – Human Kingdom
In the grand courtroom of Toshido, King Alvin sat among his ministers and generals. These were not ordinary men — every soldier in Toshido was a master swordsman, their skill unmatched, their discipline absolute. This was a kingdom allied with Windan, and Alvin, a wise and knowledgeable ruler, was known for valuing strength and honour above all.
He had just risen to leave when the air changed. A sudden, crushing weight pressed down on everyone present, forcing even the most seasoned warriors to their knees. The marble beneath them groaned, and their breaths turned shallow. Alvin's legs gave way — not from weakness, but from the sheer, alien force bearing down on them.
He knew immediately that something had happened in Windan. Yet even with his wisdom, he could not grasp the truth. To him, it could only be the work of a mighty mage who had lost control. He steadied himself, the echo of that invisible wave still burning in his bones.
---
Narvus – Human Kingdom
Meanwhile, in Narvus, King Leoric Thandrel walked through the slums with his ministers. Unlike Alvin, Leoric was a man of envy, fear, greed, and cruelty. His eyes saw the poor not as his people, but as stains to be erased.
"One day, I will see this filth cleared," he declared with cold disgust, turning to return to his gilded wagon.
A minister suggested they walk further, to see what lay ahead, but Leoric waved him off. "I will not set foot in this place again. Even the smell offends me," he sneered.
But before he could take his next step, the wave struck.
It slammed him down into the very mud and animal dung he so despised. His ministers crumpled beside him, terror flooding their faces as the crushing power pressed them to the ground. The moment the wave passed, Leoric scrambled up, trembling and pale. Panic twisted instantly into paranoia.
"This is an attack," he spat, eyes darting wildly. "Toshido. Windan. Karthrod… all of them. They think they can bring me to my knees?" His voice rose to a manic shout. "Prepare the army! We will strike Toshido before they even think to move against us!"
The ministers, still shaken, ran to carry out his orders, unaware that the true source of the wave was far beyond their imagining.
The drums of war thundered in Narvus as King Leoric's orders spread like wildfire. Soldiers rushed to arm themselves, messengers darted through the streets, and fear mixed with the stench of mud still clinging to their king's robes.
---
Karthrod – Elves and Dwarves
But even as Narvus prepared for battle, the same wave of raw, crushing power tore across valleys and mountain passes, swallowing leagues in seconds. It surged westward, past forests and stone citadels, until it reached the towering gates of Karthrod — the realm where elves and dwarves shared one crown.
Inside Karthrod's grand arena, the day had been filled with laughter and cheers. The dwarven warriors were locked in a friendly tournament, their hammers clashing in the ring, while the elf king, Larios Maro, watched from the high seat, his smile warm and proud. A final, bone-rattling strike sent the last challenger sprawling, and the victor roared in triumph.
The king rose to applaud — and then the wave struck.
It crushed the air from their lungs, forcing the mighty Larios to his knees in an instant. Even the strongest dwarven champions, men who could wrestle stone trolls bare-handed, trembled as the invisible force pressed upon them. Larios's sharp elven senses recognised the signature instantly — power from the Domain of Darkness. And if that was true… Windan was in danger.
His thoughts snapped to the Queen of Windan — his beloved. Terror gripped him, but it was not the kind that froze a man. It was the kind that made him move.
"Get the women and children to safety — prepare the armies! We march west!" His words were sharp, but the worry in his eyes betrayed his thoughts. The Queen of Windan… was she safe?
---
Fuyuto – The Dwarven Kingdom
As his orders echoed through the fortress, somewhere not far across the mountains, in the heart of the dwarven lands, another ruler felt the same wave.
The dwarven kingdom of Fuyuto was ruled by King Borin Anvilfist — a kind, good-hearted ruler who cared deeply for his people. Though a peace-loving man, he carried the stubborn pride of his race and was known for his strong friendship with King Larios of Karthrod. The two often shared ideas, inventions, and the occasional prank.
On this day, Borin sat in his royal dining hall with his queen, enjoying a simple meal. As he lifted a bite to his mouth, the wave struck.
The crushing force slammed him into the table, splintering wood, scattering food, and sending goblets rolling across the floor. The queen cried out as the weight of the wave pinned them both.
Thinking it was one of Larios' outrageous experiments gone wrong, Borin roared in frustration, smashing the table apart to free his wife. As the pressure faded, he rose to his feet, eyes blazing.
"Larios! If this is your doing, you've gone too far!"
But the truth was far darker than any friendly mischief — and Borin had no idea what had truly awakened.
---
Kazmara – Island Council
In the far west, across the ocean between Toshido and the mainland, lay Kazmara — a kingdom ruled by a council of all races: humans, demi-humans, and dwarves. It was an island of great trade, and on that very day, the council members were gathered at the ports, planning to expand the harbour and its operations.
Merchants bustled, ships rocked gently in the water, and laughter carried on the sea breeze. But suddenly, the wave struck.
It smashed down upon the port with a fury like no other. The ships shattered, their masts snapping like twigs, while the council members were hurled to the ground. Stone piers cracked and collapsed, and some of the rulers were thrown into the sea as the weight of the wave pressed even the ocean itself downward.
The pressure broke into the waters, unleashing a tsunami that surged eastward, slamming into Kazmara's cities. Entire districts drowned, houses crumbled, and thousands fled in terror.
Panic spread across the island. Whispers turned into cries: "This is Windan's weapon! Windan has betrayed us!"
Fear and hatred grew, twisting the council's thoughts. To them, Windan had become the enemy.
---
Sothin Qaiju – The Demi-Human Wastelands
Above Toshido lay Sothin Qaiju, a land of wastelands and fire, mountains laced with lava, and skies filled with ash. This was the kingdom of demi-humans — descendants of the first dragon born at the dawn of creation. They carried immense strength, resistance to flame, and the ability to command fire magic.
On that day, all tribes had gathered at the Great Mountain Palace. It was a festival — the crowning of the new prince, who had come of age to inherit the dragon's fire. Celebrations filled the air, with flames and sorcery blazing across the volcanic sky. Lions, wolves, crocodiles, serpents, and eagles with the power of healing all came to honour him.
Then the wave struck.
The mountain groaned as the crushing power descended. Yet none of the dragon-blooded bent their knees. They stood firm, but terror grew in their hearts. Magic sputtered and failed. Flames died. Healing spells vanished. For the first time in memory, their power abandoned them.
Bodies collided as the invisible pressure slammed warriors against one another. Even the king himself felt his dragonfire vanish. He clenched his fists, fury in his eyes.
"This is no trial," he muttered. "This is something greater than dragons… greater than us all." The same waves pass through the mountains and reach. South Qaiju is a kingdom blessed by all gods. The royal family comes from the first descendant, the first human ever created by the gods. Because of this bloodline, they possess god-level power.
In this kingdom live all kinds of people — humans, demi-humans, elves, dwarves, and even witches of darkness. Its ruler, King Emerald, was knowledgeable, courageous, and strong. He was known for his righteousness, his sense of justice, and his punishments delivered without bias. He was loved deeply by his people and feared by the entire world.
King Emerald was not the kind of man who attacked others — he was the one who maintained peace in the world. His strength even rivalled that of the elves, and for that reason, the elves — proud and prideful — bowed only to him, respecting his fairness and equality.
On that day, the king walked the streets in disguise, watching his city. The markets were lively, the people were happy, justice prevailed, and no corruption could be found. Seeing this filled his heart with pride.
But suddenly, Emerald sensed something dangerous approaching.
With all his strength, he sprinted toward the main gate. In one mighty leap, he climbed to the top of the wall, drew his sword, and narrowed his eyes at the distant fields. Something was moving closer, destroying everything in its path, uprooting trees, and tearing through the land.
He understood immediately: some great power was coming for his kingdom.
Summoning his courage, King Emerald raised his sword. With one stroke of pure might, he unleashed a slash of divine energy that split the wave into two, diverting its path. The broken halves of the wave slammed into the mountains on either side of the kingdom, sparing his people.
But as the dust cleared, his sword cracked and broke in his hands. Emerald stared at the shattered blade, his heart sinking.
This is something far more powerful than the gods themselves, he thought. For a brief moment, he even wondered if a god had become angered, releasing punishment upon the world.
He dropped to his knees and prayed:
"O great gods, if anything unwanted has happened by my hand, then punish me. Do not punish my people. If this is judgment, strike me alone."
Suddenly, a golden flame rose from the skies, descending to the ground. From the light, a beautiful figure appeared before the king. A voice, divine and commanding, filled the air:
> "King Emerald. Something far more dangerous has awakened in THE Domain of Darkness
You must prepare your armies and gather all the kingdoms to fight together.
Unless you unite them, none will survive.
The gods believe in your strength. We grant you wisdom for this battle against darkness.
You must win — or you will bring shame to all gods."
The golden flame vanished, leaving silence in its wake. Emerald stood still, shaken. The message from the gods did not sound like encouragement, but a warning. Even they feared what had awakened.
He returned slowly toward the city walls. But before he could descend, his commanders and soldiers arrived, their eyes blazing. They had seen the broken sword, felt the quake, and heard the echo of the divine presence.
They fell to one knee, voices rising in anger and loyalty:
"Who dares to challenge our king? Who would bring this against us? Give the word, my lord — we are ready to die for you!"
"Just one order, sire," shouted his generals. "We will not let anyone who dares oppose you walk away alive!"
King Emerald raised his hand for silence. His voice was steady, but heavy with meaning.
"Calm yourselves, my soldiers. This is not the time to rush into battle. This is the time to think, to prepare. Read the messengers. Send word to every kingdom. Tell them to prepare their armies. We march toward Windan. Something has awakened there — fearsome monsters beyond imagination. We must defeat them at once."
He mounted his horse and rode back to the palace, his mind racing. The broken sword weighed heavily in his grasp, and the gods' warning echoed in his thoughts.
If even the gods fear this power… then it must be something far beyond anything we can imagine. I need to HARE before it's too late