It had been exactly one week since the apocalypse began. The world had fractured into chaos. Some people thrived in this new reality, their darkest instincts finally free from the shackles of society. Others clung to the memory of civilization, terrified and lost. Governments had collapsed, leaving only fragments of factions, with self-appointed rulers dictating harsh laws to those who swore loyalty. Survival was no longer just a challenge; it was a brutal test of adaptability and strength.
Beneath the sprawling shade of an old, withering tree sat a young man dressed entirely in black, flanked by two mature, well-trained bodyguards. His posture was calm, but his eyes betrayed a storm of sorrow and determination. Adesanya Adeyemi, once the pride of Akure City and heir to the throne, stared out across the ravaged streets. The memories of his city and the people who had sworn to protect him were fresh, like an ache in his chest. His family, his palace, his servants were gone. All consumed by monsters or scattered to the winds.
Adeyemi had returned home after completing his one-year NYSC service. He had expected the ordinary world, not a nightmare turned flesh. When the apocalypse struck, the streets filled with mutated beasts and horrors once unimaginable. Most of his guards had fled, abandoning him in fear, leaving only two loyal men who had sworn to stay at any cost.
Though the prince had always lived a life of comfort, wealth, and privilege, the apocalypse revealed the one thing wealth could not buy: survival instinct. Yet fortune still favored him in one regard, his innate stats. Above the average human, his physical and mystical potential allowed him to keep up with the monstrous threat of the new world. He learned quickly: in this era, only strength mattered, and he would need every ounce of it to survive and one day, reclaim his throne.
For the past week, Adeyemi had followed a strict routine. His guards would weaken beasts during hunts, forcing them to expend their strength. Then, Adesanya would strike the finishing blow, absorbing the lessons from each encounter, feeling his power grow bit by bit. Each fight was a reminder, in this world, one either adapted or died.
"I think it's time we move toward the palace," Adeyemi finally said, rising to his feet. His two guards, Philip and Niyi, straightened immediately in unison.
"Yes, Your Highness," they responded, their voices a mixture of loyalty and concern.
As they walked through the streets of the ravaged city, Adeyemi's gaze fell upon a grotesque sight, a massive mutated cockroach gnawing on a human corpse. Once, such a scene would have caused him nightmares and trembling, but now it was mere observation. The prince had learned to steel himself, to treat death and decay as lessons in adaptation.
The cockroach sensed their approach. Its multiple legs clicked sharply against the ground as it raised its grotesque body, hissing loudly.
"Your Highness, allow me to handle this!" Philip's voice cut through the tense silence as he rolled up his sleeves.
Adeyemi shook his head slowly, a cold determination settling over him. "No, I will handle this myself. If I am to reclaim what was once mine, I must face this world head-on."
Niyi placed a hand on Philip's shoulder. "His Highness is correct. Experience is the ultimate teacher. Strength alone will not be enough; he must feel the weight of survival firsthand."
The cockroach lunged. Adeyemi inhaled deeply, channeling the crimson energy that coursed through his veins. It flowed over his hands like molten blood, pulsating with raw power. He charged forward, meeting the creature head-on. With a roar that echoed through the empty streets, he thrust his fist into the beast's armored shell.
The energy surged into the cockroach, freezing its limbs momentarily. Its body convulsed violently, shrieking as if something deep within it was being torn apart. Adeyemi felt the familiar tug of energy siphoning from the creature, and for a moment, he imagined the monster's essence as a test of his own limits. But the cockroach did not explode as he had hoped; its body fell lifeless to the ground, a grim reminder that mastery over his power was still incomplete.
"That was incredible, Your Highness!" Philip exclaimed, clapping his hands.
Adeyemi's gaze remained fixed on the corpse. "No. It is not enough. This is only the beginning."
Niyi nodded thoughtfully. "One step at a time. Strength builds slowly, even for those born to lead."
Adeyemi's eyes flickered with urgency. "I must ensure that I am ready. There could be creatures stronger than this or humans who have already learned to wield the apocalypse as a weapon. We cannot afford hesitation."
"Agreed, Your Highness. Caution is necessary," Niyi said, calm yet firm.
The three continued their journey, the prince leading with the confidence of one who had seen both privilege and devastation. As they moved, Adeyemi observed the city around them. Once bustling streets now lay silent, broken windows staring like empty eyes. Fires smoldered in distant buildings, and distant roars reminded them of the dangers lurking beyond every corner.
Despite the chaos, Adesanya felt an awakening within himself, a burning need to grow stronger, to survive, and to reclaim not just the palace, but his destiny. He adjusted his grip on the energy coursing through his hands, feeling its warmth and potential.
"We continue toward the palace," he said, voice steady. "We must prepare for the trials ahead. The Oba's palace is no longer a symbol of peace, it will become the stage where survival, cunning, and strength are tested against both beasts and the unknown."
"Yes, Your Highness," the guards answered.
As they moved further into the city, Adesanya's steps grew surer. Each fallen creature, each narrow escape, and each surge of energy reinforced the harsh reality of their world. Here, only the strong survived, and he intended to be among the strongest.
The journey to the palace was far from over. Beyond the misted streets and ruins, darker forces were gathering, and the first trials were waiting to test every ounce of their resolve. For Adesanya Adeyemi, the former prince, the would-be king, the apocalypse was no longer a curse. It was the forge in which a true ruler would be reborn.
And he was ready to walk that path, no matter the cost.