"Monsters and Runes"

A heavy silence fell over the group as they watched one of the enormous obelisks crash directly into their city.

 The ground trembled, the air pulsed with pressure, and the world itself seemed to hold its breath.

“No way…” Helwin muttered, his voice tight.

“We’re gonna get cooked!!” Jovino yelled, backing up slightly.

Bezkon turned to Shin’ō. “We can get stronger from this, right?”

Shin’ō nodded slowly. “Yeah… but I don’t know what’s going to happen to the others who awakened powers. Not everyone will be as lucky as us.”

“It’s already happening,” Audaxor said, scanning the distant landscape. “The whole world’s in chaos.”

Helwin squinted. “Wait… look. That mountain-sized obelisk that fell—wasn’t that right over the city?”

Bezkon’s eyes widened. “Yeah. And… monsters. They’re pouring out of it.”

Audaxor’s voice turned serious. “People all over the world are fighting right now. We shouldn’t waste time.”

“We’ve got the high ground,” Shin’ō said, stepping forward. “We can hold them off from here.”

Helwin nodded. “Let’s snipe together.”

The group moved into formation at the cliff’s edge. With practiced precision, they began to summon their weapons.
Audaxor conjured a longbow formed from flame, its arrows burning hot even before release.Helwin summoned sharpened ice spikes, glistening cold.Jovino raised massive boulders from the stone below, levitating them with care.Bezkon charged his palm, a spear of lightning crackling into existence.Shin’ō held out his hand—and a spirit pistol formed, glowing softly with raw energy.

“Get into line!” Jovino shouts.

“Shoot at 1!” Bezkon shouted.

“Three… two… one—”

“Shoot!”

Jovino launched the boulders, watching them barrel into the enemy lines and crush dozens.Audaxor’s fire arrows screamed through the air, exploding in heat and flame.Helwin’s ice spikes impaled monsters from afar, freezing and shattering them.Bezkon threw his lightning spear, summoning down a chaotic storm with every throw.And Shin’ō fired calmly, each shot piercing through two, sometimes three enemies with a single blast of spirit energy.
Hundreds of monsters fell in seconds—twisted creatures that had once belonged to other broken worlds. Skeleton knights, fractured giants, corrupted wolves, even winged serpents—they were all wiped out under the combined rain of destruction.

The camera of the world zooms out. Across the globe, militaries, rogue factions, and powered individuals joined the fight.

 Every country, every region—struggling, burning, surviving. The world had become a battlefield.

Back on the hill, the group looked over the now silent field.

Jovino squinted. “Guys… I see something.”

“What is it?” Bezkon asked, stepping forward.

Jovino answering said “There’s a hole. In the obelisk.”

“If there’s a hole…” Bezkon smirked. “There’s a goal.”

Helwin sighed. “That must be the entrance. Where the monsters are exiting from.”

Shin’ō narrowed his eyes. “Let’s go in. We might find something important inside.”

As they descended toward the cratered field, Audaxor’s thoughts grew heavy."The land’s completely dry. Barren. But the impact from that obelisk wasn’t even that big… 

For something that size, it should’ve shattered everything. No… something else is happening here."

The group arrived at the cave-like entrance in the base of the obelisk. A strange hum vibrated through the air.

“Did any of you notice?” Audaxor spoke up. “There are giant runes carved into the obelisk. And smaller ones running along the walls inside.”

“We all noticed,” Helwin said casually. “Except Shin’ō. Because, you know… bad eyesight.”

Shin’ō scoffed. “It’s not that bad! I just can’t see far-off things, alright?”

As the group chuckled and entered the passageway, Jovino suddenly froze.
“Guys… something’s at the exit.”

Bezkon raised an eyebrow. “What? Didn’t we clear the whole area outside?”
“Just… look behind.”

The group spun around—and froze.
Standing silently at the entrance behind them was a metallic golem. Its body was massive and humanoid, covered in ancient inscriptions. Its eyes glowed red—and a low mechanical hum began to build.

With a heavy metallic screeching, the exit behind them sealed shut...