In the final days of 2075, the world lay under the dominion of otherworldly monsters that had relentlessly poured through portals scattered across the globe. Humanity had been driven to the brink of extinction, reduced to a single vast stronghold located in the heart of what was once Oklahoma. Within its fortified walls, the brightest minds of humanity worked tirelessly and in secrecy, striving to create a device that could potentially turn the tide of the conflict. This invention was humanity's last hope, a chance to reclaim their planet and restore their dwindling existence against the overwhelming invaders.
Humanity had long abandoned its complacent consumption in the face of the current crisis, and every man and woman aged sixteen and above stood on the walls, gazing out at what was once a beautiful world. That world had now become an unending wasteland, marked by scarred battlefields and the ruins of dead cities.
Atop one of the walls, an armored soldier barked commands to the defenders as they unleashed a barrage of attacks resembling fireballs, wind blades, ice lances, and a variety of other magical elements, yes, magic.
In the closing days of the year 2025, the opening of the first portal marked a dramatic transformation for the world, as mana surged through the ruptured fabric of space, pouring multicolored light from its enigmatic surface.
This portal, known as the Heart of Mana, became the origin point of all mana, and its overwhelming volume was sufficient to saturate the entire world.
As mana saturated the world, the people and creatures, as well as other lifeforms within it, began to experience changes as well.
One morning, as a man prepared for a long day at work, he was shocked to discover his newfound strength when he accidentally tore the car door off its hinges. He stood there, frozen in disbelief, with a blank and bewildered expression, as curious neighbors began to gather around him, their amazement growing with each passing moment.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, a man who had leapt from a towering building in a desperate bid to end his life found himself inexplicably suspended midair, as if cradled by an invisible force. His face reflected a mix of astonishment and confusion as he instinctively pinched his arm to determine whether he was dreaming or awake.
"OUCH!"
The sharp sensation confirmed his reality, and he was overcome with elation. The once-hopeless man let out cries of joy that echoed through the skies, having discovered a renewed purpose and a reason to live.
On the other side of the world, a young boy monk at a secluded monastery was practicing his martial arts when, in the midst of a precise chop, his hand became engulfed in what appeared to be flames before colliding with a stack of stone slabs.
BOOM!
The stones shattered violently, scattering debris across the courtyard and forcing the nearby monks and the elders instructing them to dodge to avoid injury. Despite their efforts, a few were left with discolored welts where the fragments had struck.
When the smoke dissipated, the young monk was revealed, frozen in the stance from which he unleashed the attack. Directly beneath his fist was a large, glowing, fist-shaped crater radiating heat from the intensity of the strike.
Events like this happened continuously all over the world, and soon, by popular consensus, the world had gone from the age of information to the age of mana!
Back in the current situation happening in 2075, the commanding officer in charge of a group of mages commanded a line of mages to open fire as a large pack of what looked like a cross between a sabretooth tiger and a wolf.
WENG!
Multicolored orbs of fire formed at the tips of these mages' staves, condensing to a fine point that caused the very air to vibrate audibly around them.
"FIRE!"
The commander roared as he could see his own reflection staring back at him through one of the wolves' teeth.
BOOOSH!
WHOOOSH!
SWOOOSH!
The balls of condensed fire at the tips of the staves launched towards their targets with the intention to instantly vaporize.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive multicolored explosion that, to those ignorant of the situation, would remind one of a nuke, as the scope of its blast was quite the visual spectacle.
As the explosion subsided, the defenders, armed with massive and intricately crafted weapons, vaulted from the ramparts and landed on the charred ground below. Wasting no time, they plunged into a fierce and chaotic melee against the surviving attackers.
SHINK!
A colossal greatsword, inscribed with glowing runes, cleaved cleanly through the neck of a wolf, severing its head in one fluid motion. The wielder barely regained their footing before raising the weapon to intercept the slashing claws of another feral assailant.
The impact of the strike sent the fighter skidding backward, but with exceptional control, they used the momentum to pivot into a sweeping arc with the greatsword. The blade struck true, slicing through the wolf's abdomen and bisecting it in a spray of blood that splattered in all directions.
Similar battles raged across the battlefield, encircling humanity's last stronghold on all sides. The survival of this fortress depended entirely on the quality and variety of loot retrieved from beyond its walls, resources critical for crafting new weapons and armor capable of altering the course of their desperate struggle.
While the warriors engaged the enemy on the ground, mages unleashed artillery and support fire from above. Each elemental attack varied slightly, depending on the caster's cultivation level, any treasures they possessed to enhance their spells, or the influence of elemental seeds absorbed. These seeds provided power and ability modifiers, each with unique effects and potency, further diversifying the nature of their magical assaults.
Within the confines of the lab, a group of technicians and scientists gathered around a newly developed device, a transparent sphere born from the collective ingenuity of the world's most brilliant minds during the age of mana. This device represented the pinnacle of technological and magical innovation, with every ounce of expertise poured into its creation and purpose.
"Activate the Codex!" commanded a calm yet authoritative voice emanating from the intercoms and speakers positioned in the lab's corners.
The technicians promptly began initiating the startup sequence, and the sphere came to life, emitting a mesmerizing, multicolored glow that captivated everyone in the room with its ethereal beauty.
"Magnificent... Truly extraordinary! With this, humanity finally has a chance to prevail! Hahaha!" The lead scientist and chief technician laughed heartily as the sphere ascended, radiating immense waves of mana, an energy source that humanity had only recently mastered in such vast quantities.
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently, sending shockwaves through the fortified chambers buried deep beneath the surface. Despite their depth, the walls groaned under the strain of the powerful vibrations. The lead scientist turned sharply toward the video feed, his expression blanching as he froze in stunned silence, the weight of an unspoken, dreadful realization washing over him.
Driven by urgency, the lead scientist pushed through the gathered crowd, his piercing gaze locked onto the screen with unrelenting focus. His usual calm and commanding presence shattered instantly, replaced by an expression of pure terror etched deep into his lined face.
"Activate the device now!" he shouted, his voice quivering. "The walls have been breached! Demons and monsters are upon us, and we have no time to waste!"
The assembled scientists and technicians, drenched in sweat, scrambled to their positions, rapidly inputting commands into the device. The machine began to radiate an intense glow, its purpose becoming ever clearer as its energy surged.
The fate of humanity now rested on this lone, critical device.
"Sir, the orders have been executed! The device is scanning at full efficiency!" a technician at a flashing console reported to the lead scientist. All eyes turned to the orb, now resembling a miniature sun at the room's center, as it emitted immense levels of mana to complete its mission.
BOOM!
With the explosions drawing nearer, the scientists' panic deepened, their desperation growing with every passing second.
At the center of the room, a small, sun-like orb whirled at an astonishing speed, releasing waves of colorless mana as it scanned the planet in a desperate search for humanity's salvation. Yet, as the orb continued its quest, it observed the ceaseless massacre of human lives. Men, women, and children were brutally slaughtered and consumed, while the less fortunate became toys for the monsters. Vampires, in particular, reveled in the tender flesh and blood of human women, while many men were mutilated and enslaved, and the fate of the children was even more appalling.
Leading the monstrous forces was a horrifying, witch-like being of immense magical prowess named Baba Yaga. She captured countless sobbing children, and the unspeakable horrors she inflicted on them were too dreadful for anyone to imagine, though their screams sometimes still echoed faintly.
The sun-like sphere absorbed the full extent of this violence and carnage, and after scanning every corner of the planet, it concluded that humanity was doomed. The final great stronghold was steadily being overrun by an unending wave of monsters, and humanity's mightiest champions had already perished.
WHOOSH!
Following its grim conclusion, the glowing orb emitted a blinding radiance, creating intricate geometrical runic patterns that distorted the air as they formed. Each pattern radiated a unique elemental energy before transforming into a cascade of runic circles, spirals, fractals, and occasionally elaborate gears and clockwork designs.
The scientists and technicians watched intently, their breaths held, but an ominous dread crept up their spines, raising the hairs on the back of their necks.
CLANG!
CLANG!
The sound of metal screeching against metal echoed as two massive, claw-like hands slashed relentlessly at the reinforced surface.
On the other side of the door, a human with thick, razor-sharp claws continued his assault with ferocious determination. His claws, surprisingly effective, tore through the reinforced metal with ease, sending thick strands of it flying in every direction.
Panic engulfed the scientists and technicians, a profound sense of regret and futility settling into their hearts as they realized their efforts had been too little, too late.
WHOOSH!
Above, the sphere in the sky began to pulsate, its accompanying geometrical formation emitting violent waves of mana that had become visible to the naked eye. The pulsing intensified, building in tempo as the remaining survivors stared in awe and dread at the phenomenon unfolding before them.
The pulsations accelerated to such a rapid pace that they seemed to stop entirely. In an instant, the sphere released a blinding flash of light so powerful that onlookers were forced to avert their eyes. When they looked back, the sphere had vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there at all.
CLANG!
The reinforced metal door began to buckle under the unrelenting force, revealing the horrifying sight of countless ravenous monsters and demons. Their jagged teeth and menacing fangs gleamed as they pushed forward, eager to consume the terrified humans, who appeared weak and defenseless compared to the battle-hardened warriors fighting outside.
It was the end; humanity had been overrun, the beasts and demons victorious, leaving no hope for recovery. The room resonated with the desperate screams of the scientists and technicians, some of whom were still alive as they were consumed by their relentless attackers.
The fortress walls groaned in agony, collapsing at last under the relentless onslaught of claws, fangs, and malevolent magic. Fire and steel collided in desperate final battles, the ash-filled sky streaked with brilliant bursts of mana energy. As warriors fell, their bodies consumed by flame and shattered into fragments, no hope of rescue remained. The gates lay in ruins, the outer defenses splintered like fragile glass beneath the unyielding tide of the monstrous horde.
Within the fortress, screams echoed through the winding corridors, reverberating off fractured walls and jagged steel. Scientists and technicians scrambled in a frenzy, slipping on pools of blood, their faces pale with terror and disbelief. Every turn led them directly into the jaws of death. The clawed human-beasts moved with unnerving precision, blocking escape routes and driving the survivors into the maw of certain doom.
Above the highest spire, Baba Yaga appeared, an embodiment of nightmares given form. Her glowing green eyes swept over the battlefield, radiating a chilling malice that froze the soul. With a single wave of her hand, dozens of soldiers froze mid-stride, their bodies locked as if time itself had turned against them. Their screams tore through the air as magical spears impaled them, pinning their lifeless forms to the crumbling walls, while her laughter echoed, a haunting melody destined to linger in the ruins of a dying world.
The remaining mages launched one final desperate attack, their voices rising in unison as they chanted spells charged with raw elemental power. Blinding bolts of fire, ice, and lightning scorched the battlefield, striking down countless abominations in explosive bursts. Yet for every monster slain, two more surged forward, their blood-curdling roars shaking the earth and drowning the anguished incantations of those who had dedicated lifetimes to the mastery of mana.
In the deepest levels of the crumbling city, the last remnants of humanity gathered, trembling in the dim shadows far below the shattered surface. Children clung to their mothers, their tear-streaked faces smeared with soot, their wide eyes filled with terror. Fathers stood as shields, clutching makeshift weapons against monstrous creatures a hundred times their size, though their efforts were futile. Each passing moment carried the rancid stench of death closer, accompanied by the grating scrape of claws on steel and the guttural growls of predators savoring their inevitable triumph.
Above, the battlefield was a hellscape of pure destruction. The ground was strewn with mutilated bodies of both humans and beasts, twisted and unrecognizable. Mana storms burst forth without warning, splitting the earth with crackling lightning and shattering stone into dust. Gigantic wolves, their sword-sized fangs glinting, tore through the fray with terrifying ferocity, shredding armor like brittle parchment. Soldiers wielding reinforced blades were ripped apart, their dying screams lost in the cacophony of chaos.
Even the mightiest weapons, the legendary runed swords, the devastating magical artillery, the crowning achievements of the age of mana, proved insufficient. Each blow carved a swath of destruction, but the endless tide of enemies rendered every small victory meaningless. Heroes fell in mere moments, their lifeless forms left behind as grim memorials to their courage, while the insatiable horde surged forward, unstoppable in its ravenous conquest.
In the command chamber, buried deep within the city, the remaining leaders stared at shattered screens, their faces pale as they watched the battlefield descend into utter ruin. Every incoming report, every flickering sensor display, conveyed the same grim reality: humanity had reached its end. The final bastion of civilization was crumbling, consumed by the very creatures that had once existed only in the darkest corners of legend and nightmare.
And still, a few refused to surrender. A young mage, just sixteen years old, stood defiantly atop a crumbling mound of debris, channeling every fragment of power she could summon. Her hands radiated with an intense, searing light as she unleashed a devastating storm, obliterating scores of monstrous foes in one dazzling blast. For a fleeting moment, hope ignited. The skies seemed to brighten, and the deafening roar of the horde was momentarily hushed.
But hope is a treacherous illusion. From the fringes of the explosion, shadows stirred, twisting into even more horrifying shapes. Enormous, serpentine demons with molten, metallic scales slithered forward, while vampiric beings descended like streaks of darkness, ripping through walls and ceilings with terrifying speed. The young mage's strength wavered under the relentless assault, her energy drained, leaving her breathless and vulnerable amidst the unyielding chaos.
Above it all, Baba Yaga stretched out her arms, her maniacal laughter reverberating across the desolate ruins. The sheer malice of her presence silenced every remaining human. Soldiers, scientists, children, and survivors, all were overcome. One by one, their screams faded, replaced by an oppressive quiet that signaled the inescapable end. The last echoes of humanity's struggle were consumed by the monstrous symphony, even the air itself heavy with mourning.
The radiant sphere that once hovered in the lab never reappeared. No beacon of salvation came forth. Mana, once humanity's treasured gift, was now wielded by its annihilators. The fortress, humanity's final bastion of resistance, was reduced to smoldering ashes. Its once-unyielding walls lay shattered, and the few who remained were scattered, broken, and lost to the abyss.
By nightfall, the world outside the ruins lay in eerie silence. Cities stood as hollowed skeletons of steel and stone, rivers ran crimson with blood, and the once-vibrant forests were trampled and defiled. The sky, faintly illuminated by the lingering energy of mana storms, cast a pallid, unnatural light over a planet where human life had ceased to exist.
Baba Yaga loomed amidst the destruction, her form monumental, unchallenged, and supreme. Every fragment of the world bore the mark of her dominion; humanity was no more. In the shadows of shattered cities, monsters roamed unrestrained, while the echoes of the final screams lingered as haunting reminders of the cost of arrogance.
Thus, the age of man came to a bitter end, and the age of monsters and demons had commenced.
A world that once thrived with vitality, dreams, and innovation now lay silent, a sepulcher for a species that overreached and paid the ultimate price. The portals remained wide open, the mana untamed, and darkness reigned, absolute and unyielding.
The earth shuddered beneath the weight of its new rulers. Humanity's tale was finished, its legacy, a faint whisper lost in the endless expanse of oblivion.