The Earth was burning.
It happened so suddenly that by the time people realized something was wrong, everything was already on fire. Screams tore through the air as panic set in. No one understood what was happening, only that everything was pain.
Curled up on the floor of a restaurant, Julian screamed as pain consumed him. He felt as if the air itself was squeezing into him. The agony was so complete, so overwhelming, that when it suddenly vanished, he thought he had died.
Gasping, shivering, he staggered to his feet. Around him, others were rising too — bloody, trembling and confused. But it wasn't the people that caught his eye.
It was the puddles of blood, still steaming, scattered across the floor.
Before he could even process what he was seeing, the restaurant's roof, which was already starting to fall apart vanished, melting into nothing. Above, the sky had turned red, like a fresh wound, and a figure hovered there motionless, watching.
Julian tuned out the gasps and whispers rising from the crowd below. His eyes were locked on the man in the sky.
The figure wore a long black robe, reminiscent of a buddhist monk, though far more regal. Golden gloves made of light shimmered on his hands, casting strange reflections in the smoky air. Everything about him radiated power and wealth. He looked at the crowd below with a look of indifference.
Then, as if on cue, something pressed lightly on Julian's shoulder. Julian felt himself calm down. His bubbling fear and panic mellowed. The crowd suddenly went quiet.
"I am Lord Rozan," the man declared. His voice rang out effortlessly, cutting through the air like a bell. It felt less like an introduction and more like a proclamation — a gift.
"I come under the orders of the Human Emperor. This planet is crumbling even as I speak and will not last."
A hush spread like frost over the crowd.
"Some of you have died to the mana. But those who survived will be relocated to other worlds that have endured the transition. There you'll train, learn and grow stronger so that you may make humanity proud. You survived only through the grace of His Majesty. Do not let it be in vain."
He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in.
His eyes glowed a icy blue.
"Do not forget. Wherever you end up, you owe your lives to his mercy. Repay this kindness. If not you'll face his wrath."
And just like that, he vanished in a brust of light.
No questions answered. No time for hope or doubt. Just gone.
Chaos returned instantly As people tried to make sense of what was happening. And in that moment, the ground started shaking. If one looked from afar, they would have seen fire buring all across the earth as it crumbled — as if it it could not longer bear it's own gravity.
Julian braced himself, half-expecting the madness to pass. But then the ground began to glow, a dull golden pulse that spread beneath their feet.
And everything went black..