Chapter 39 protocol : Bloody Arrival

The night sky split open.

A jagged tear of crimson light carved through the heavens, painting the towers of the city in an eerie blood-red glow. People screamed as billboards flickered, lights shattered, and car alarms blared in unison. The Rift pulsed like a malignant heart, widening with every beat.

Then, it came through.

The first step it took made the ground quake. Standing seven feet tall, its body rippled with muscle as though carved from obsidian stone. Its head bore the twisted features of a goblin, warped by the hooked beak of a hawk. Emerald eyes glowed with unnatural fire, wings stretching wide before folding tight against its back. Scales shimmered faintly across its arms and chest — dragon’s blood pulsing in its veins.

Behind it marched thirty armored foot soldiers, grotesque humanoid beasts with jagged claws and sharpened weapons. Their movements were disciplined, almost militaristic. And with them came three towering generals, each radiating a power that bent the air itself.

The civilians didn’t stand a chance.

“Run!” someone screamed, and chaos erupted. Families scrambled, cars swerved into each other, sirens wailed. A young father clutched his daughter in his arms, his wife stumbling close behind. They bolted down the street as the first fireball exploded overhead. The blast tore through a bus, metal shrieking, bodies burning alive inside.

The father shielded his child as debris rained down, but his back was ripped open by shrapnel. He didn’t stop running.

The hybrid creature’s voice screeched across the night like nails on steel.

“This world will burn.”

At its command, the foot soldiers surged forward. Blades cut through civilians. Flames washed across streets. Screams mixed with the sound of breaking bones.

Executioners arrived late.

Lightning cracked down as David leapt into the fray, swords of crackling electricity forming in each hand. His strikes shredded the first wave of soldiers, flesh splitting, smoke hissing from their charred bodies.

At his side, Julius descended, spear of pure blue-white light burning in his grasp. He hurled it through the skull of a foot soldier, the impact exploding its head in a burst of molten flesh.

“Keep them away from the civilians!” Julius roared, his voice echoing through the carnage.

At first, it looked like they could win. Civilians cheered faintly from alleys and shattered cars as the Executioners tore through their foes. David’s lightning was merciless, Julius’ spear burned through armor like paper.

But then — the generals stepped forward.

One swung a colossal blade with such force the air cracked. Another slammed his fists into the ground, splitting the asphalt like glass. The third moved faster than the human eye could follow, appearing behind an Executioner and tearing him in half at the waist. Blood sprayed in fountains, painting the streets red.

David’s eyes widened. “What the hell—?!”

Julius’ jaw tightened, sweat and blood mixing on his face. “These aren’t normal monsters”

The clash was devastating. David slashed, sparks flying, but his sword was parried and a massive claw drove into his shoulder. Blood gushed down his arm, his teeth gritting against the pain. Julius lunged with his spear, piercing a general’s chest — only for the monster to rip it out and slam him into a wall, ribs shattering. He coughed blood, vision blurring.

Executioners around them screamed as they were slaughtered. One was picked up and crushed until his spine snapped. Another was set ablaze by a fire spell, rolling on the ground as his flesh melted.

The family from before tried to reach cover. The father shoved his daughter under an overturned car. “Stay there! Don’t move!” he screamed. Then he turned to face a foot soldier, grabbing a loose pipe and swinging desperately. The soldier cut him down with a single strike, cleaving through his chest.

The mother shrieked, throwing herself over him. Fire consumed them both.

The little girl trembled under the car, watching through tear-filled eyes as smoke and ash consumed her parents. Her small fingers clutched her torn doll, her body frozen by terror.

And then — the sky darkened further.

The hybrid leader descended, wings spreading wide as he landed amidst the chaos. His presence alone silenced the battlefield. Soldiers bowed their heads. Generals stepped aside.

David staggered back, blood dripping from his arm. Julius tried to stand, his spear dimming. Both knew instantly — this was the true threat.

The creature raised its claw. Magic circles burned into existence around him, swirling with fire and lightning.

“So these are your champions?” His voice was a guttural growl, shrill yet thunderous.

“Pathetic.”

He clenched his fist — and a dome of blazing emerald energy erupted, sealing off the battlefield. Reinforcements from the Guild Tower smashed helplessly against it from the outside, their spells bouncing off.

Inside, the air grew thick. Suffocating. Hopeless.

Julius coughed blood and whispered, “They… they planned this…”

David glared, lightning sparking weakly from his blade. “We’re trapped.”

The little girl under the car stared at the towering monster through the gaps, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

The hybrid raised his claw higher, magic swelling like the end of the world. Fire and lightning condensed into a burning sphere above his head.

“Now… let despair begin.”