Chapter 1:
Catalyst Approach
Destiny’s Corpse: Bound to the Kingdom’s Will, Reassembled for an Endless War
The morning sun slowly climbed higher into the sky, casting its gentle warmth across every corner of the Kingdom of Finchster. The bustling crowds had begun to fill the central plaza of the capital, where the ordinary rhythm of daily life continued as though nothing were wrong. Merchants called out to passing customers, townspeople went about their errands, and the familiar sounds of a peaceful morning drifted beneath the clear blue sky. Yet that peaceful atmosphere did not reach the kingdom’s outermost borders.
At the main gate, thick clouds of brownish dust swirled violently through the air, obscuring the otherwise clear sky. The atmosphere had transformed into one of sheer dread as the Valiant Knight struggled desperately to hold back wave after wave of pale-skinned creatures that continued crawling upward toward the fortress walls.
“Grrrrrr…!”
“Hold the gate! Don’t let those SleepWalker get inside!” Commander Aren’s voice rang out, cutting through the thunderous collisions of armor and the shrill cries of monsters.
Clank! Clank! Slash!
Flashes of steel filled the air as the knights unleashed one sword strike after another. Thick black fluid sprayed whenever their blades tore through the bodies of the SleepWalker, carrying with it a foul, metallic stench that clawed at the nose. Dozens of monsters had already fallen, their pale bodies littering the ground, yet the Valiant Knight formation was beginning to erode beneath the sheer number of enemies.
“Damn it! What kind of attack is this?! They just keep coming!” A young knight shouted, his hands trembling violently around his weapon. Before he could even pull his spear back, five dark claws from a SleepWalker lunged toward him at once, seizing him and dragging him straight into the swarm. His piercing scream was abruptly cut short, leaving nothing but the horrifying sound of gnashing jaws disappearing beneath the cacophony of battle.
In the next instant—Slash!—Aren’s sword swept through the air with lightning speed, cleaving apart a cluster of SleepWalker as they charged forward. Their bodies were torn apart beneath the merciless arc of his blade, fragments scattering across the ground.
Commander Aren stood among piles of corpses, his eyes radiating absolute vigilance. His fingers clenched around the sword hilt so tightly that the strain had caused fresh blood to drip along the blade. He bit down hard on his lower lip until it bled, suppressing the fury blazing within his chest. Damn it! These bastard creatures really don’t have an end!
“You all, split into two groups!” Commander Aren barked without turning around. “One group comes with me to maintain the defensive line! Everyone else, evacuate the civilians immediately!”
“But what about you, Commander Aren?!” one of the senior knights called out, concern plainly visible across his face.
Aren rotated his sword in his hand before allowing a faint smile to appear at the corner of his lips. “It’s fine. We’ll hold them here. The evacuation of the civilians comes first. Whether this defensive line breaks or not… we’ll worry about that later.” He finished with a light chuckle—a fearless, almost challenging laugh in the face of death itself.
---
Meanwhile, in the center of the capital, the earth suddenly began to tremble violently from somewhere deep beneath the city.
DUUUMMM… KRACK… DUUUMMM…
“What was that sound? It sounded like it came from underground,” a merchant whispered from the corner of the plaza. He paused his work for a moment, staring uneasily at the stone road beneath his feet as it continued to tremble.
“Tch, it’s probably just a little earthquake. Nothing unusual. Don’t worry so much,” the man beside him replied casually, waving one hand dismissively before taking another relaxed sip of his drink.
Although some of the citizens had begun to feel uneasy and chose to evacuate on their own, moving away from the open areas, the majority of the people gathered in the plaza remained unconcerned. Trade and Casual conversations continued, and the ordinary bustle of the morning persisted beneath the bright sky, completely ignoring the ominous premonition that had begun creeping through the air. Until, at last—the stone floor of the plaza was no longer merely trembling.
Krack! Kra~ckkkk! Swoosh! Boommm!
The ground sshattere, chunks of stone erupted violently into the air, accompanied by thick clouds of dust that swallowed the surrounding area. From within the enormous crack that had torn open across the plaza, a gigantic shadow began to rise. A colossal figure, standing as tall as a five-story building, emerged from the billowing dust. And in the blink of an eye, the lively sounds of the plaza vanished. Silence, a suffocating, unnatural silence. Then—
At the main gate, thick clouds of brownish dust swirled violently through the air, obscuring the otherwise clear sky. The atmosphere had transformed into one of sheer dread as the Valiant Knight struggled desperately to hold back wave after wave of pale-skinned creatures that continued crawling upward toward the fortress walls.
“Grrrrrr…!”
“Hold the gate! Don’t let those SleepWalker get inside!” Commander Aren’s voice rang out, cutting through the thunderous collisions of armor and the shrill cries of monsters.
Clank! Clank! Slash!
Flashes of steel filled the air as the knights unleashed one sword strike after another. Thick black fluid sprayed whenever their blades tore through the bodies of the SleepWalker, carrying with it a foul, metallic stench that clawed at the nose. Dozens of monsters had already fallen, their pale bodies littering the ground, yet the Valiant Knight formation was beginning to erode beneath the sheer number of enemies.
“Damn it! What kind of attack is this?! They just keep coming!” A young knight shouted, his hands trembling violently around his weapon. Before he could even pull his spear back, five dark claws from a SleepWalker lunged toward him at once, seizing him and dragging him straight into the swarm. His piercing scream was abruptly cut short, leaving nothing but the horrifying sound of gnashing jaws disappearing beneath the cacophony of battle.
In the next instant—Slash!—Aren’s sword swept through the air with lightning speed, cleaving apart a cluster of SleepWalker as they charged forward. Their bodies were torn apart beneath the merciless arc of his blade, fragments scattering across the ground.
Commander Aren stood among piles of corpses, his eyes radiating absolute vigilance. His fingers clenched around the sword hilt so tightly that the strain had caused fresh blood to drip along the blade. He bit down hard on his lower lip until it bled, suppressing the fury blazing within his chest. Damn it! These bastard creatures really don’t have an end!
“You all, split into two groups!” Commander Aren barked without turning around. “One group comes with me to maintain the defensive line! Everyone else, evacuate the civilians immediately!”
“But what about you, Commander Aren?!” one of the senior knights called out, concern plainly visible across his face.
Aren rotated his sword in his hand before allowing a faint smile to appear at the corner of his lips. “It’s fine. We’ll hold them here. The evacuation of the civilians comes first. Whether this defensive line breaks or not… we’ll worry about that later.” He finished with a light chuckle—a fearless, almost challenging laugh in the face of death itself.
---
Meanwhile, in the center of the capital, the earth suddenly began to tremble violently from somewhere deep beneath the city.
DUUUMMM… KRACK… DUUUMMM…
“What was that sound? It sounded like it came from underground,” a merchant whispered from the corner of the plaza. He paused his work for a moment, staring uneasily at the stone road beneath his feet as it continued to tremble.
“Tch, it’s probably just a little earthquake. Nothing unusual. Don’t worry so much,” the man beside him replied casually, waving one hand dismissively before taking another relaxed sip of his drink.
Although some of the citizens had begun to feel uneasy and chose to evacuate on their own, moving away from the open areas, the majority of the people gathered in the plaza remained unconcerned. Trade and Casual conversations continued, and the ordinary bustle of the morning persisted beneath the bright sky, completely ignoring the ominous premonition that had begun creeping through the air. Until, at last—the stone floor of the plaza was no longer merely trembling.
Krack! Kra~ckkkk! Swoosh! Boommm!
The ground sshattere, chunks of stone erupted violently into the air, accompanied by thick clouds of dust that swallowed the surrounding area. From within the enormous crack that had torn open across the plaza, a gigantic shadow began to rise. A colossal figure, standing as tall as a five-story building, emerged from the billowing dust. And in the blink of an eye, the lively sounds of the plaza vanished. Silence, a suffocating, unnatural silence. Then—
“GROOARRRRRR!”
The creature’s hoarse roar exploded across the city with tremendous force. The sheer power of the sound shook the atmosphere itself, causing the windows of nearby buildings to shatter into countless fragments. Flocks of birds perched atop the towers scattered into the sky in a desperate panic.
“Th-th-that bastard… what kind of monster is that?!” The man who had dismissed the tremors only moments earlier now lay helplessly among the shattered stones. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, his eyes widened in absolute terror as a pair of enormous eyes slowly shifted behind the thick curtain of dust, they locked onto him. The colossal shadow began to move forward. In the next moment, all that remained was a distant scream, brutally cut off by the thunderous impact of the monster’s enormous foot.
A city that had been wrapped in peaceful tranquility only minutes earlier had suddenly become a living hell.
Hundreds of people poured into the streets without direction, scattering in every possible direction as they desperately fought to save their lives. The cries of children mingled with the hysterical screams of parents. Shopping bags and merchandise were abandoned across the cobblestone streets, trampled beneath countless feet as terrified citizens shoved and pushed one another in their desperate attempts to get ahead.
The wailing Howling Flare split through the sky, deafening everyone within earshot. A moment later, the Voice Reflector from the watchtower echoed loudly throughout every corner of the capital, its amplified resonance trembling together with the unmistakable panic spreading through the city.
“Damn it! Damn it! How could something that huge suddenly attack the capital?!” A young knight ran against the flow of the fleeing crowd, his breathing ragged and uneven. His trembling hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly enough to turn his knuckles pale.
---
In a chamber overflowing with radiant light, a man dressed in full battle attire and adorned with numerous gleaming insignias stared at a magical reflector, his jaw had hardened, his eyes were fixed intently upon a massive red point that had suddenly appeared in the center of the projected map. As he watched the red points multiply and move at frightening speed, tearing through the outer barricades one after another, a deep irritation began to burn within his mind. Tch… even the outer defenses are almost breached.
“Yes, sir! We’ll carry it out! The soldiers of the Sovereign Vanguard will be deployed!” The three company captains answered with firm respect.
Now, three fully armed Division stood in neat, rigid formations across the field, waiting for the final command from their captains. Considering the increasingly dire situation outside and the precious seconds slipping away, there was no room to mobilize the troops through conventional routes.
“For now, the situation is urgent, so we’ll use Gate magic!” the company captain shouted from the front of the formation.
“Yes, Captain!” The soldiers responded in unison. With disciplined steps, they marched into the two magical Gate pillars that hissed as they split the air before them.
At the front line, two Division of the Sovereign Vanguard were already tightly assembled in the middle of the plaza. They moved quickly, forming a variety of tactical formations to secure their positions. Heavy shields locked together into a formidable barricade, creating a solid defensive wall intended to halt the movements of the gigantic monster as it attempted to advance toward the palace.
Meanwhile, throughout the narrow corners and alleys of the city, members of the Valiant Knight moved swiftly from house to house, inspecting every door. They checked every residence. Every room and very possible hiding place. Their objective was simple: ensure that not a single civilian had been left behind before the knights themselves raised their blades and returned to the battlefield.
Not far away, another group could be seen. They wore mismatched clothing and carried a collection of equally varied weapons. They were volunteer fighters—people who had refused to run. In silence, they sharpened their weapons, preparing themselves to stake their lives beneath the shadow of death.
The three forces had now taken their respective positions. All eyes were locked toward the place where the monster had appeared.
Meanwhile, at the main gate, Division Three arrived only seconds before the wave of SleepWalker managed to breach the kingdom’s capital fortress. Without wasting a moment, the soldiers immediately raised their weapons and unleashed a continuous barrage of fire.
BANG-BANG-BANG!!!~SWOOSHHH!!!
The wind magic compressed within the Wind Rifles shot forward at speeds reaching 1000 km/h! The invisible projectiles slammed directly into the ranks of SleepWalker, producing a chain of thunderous impacts as thick clouds of dust erupted from the battlefield.
---
The atmosphere inside The Pentagon Chamber of the Kingdom of Finchster was suffocatingly tense. At the far end of the luxurious conference table, the King sat with his gaze fixed straight ahead, presiding over an emergency meeting that would determine the fate of his kingdom alongside the Elite Four.
To his left sat a stern-eyed man dressed in full combat armor adorned with gleaming insignias, Azeer, The General of the Sovereign Vanguard. Directly beside him stood a young man wearing brilliantly polished iron armor, Glind, The Royal Commander of the Valiant Knight.
On the right side of the table, attention shifted toward an elderly man with a thick beard, Grith, The Grand Mage. Beside him sat a man dressed in an eccentric gray robe, Alain, The Head Alchemist.
Now, the atmosphere within The Pentagon Chamber had grown even more serious. Five pairs of eyes were completely focused on the magical reflector that General Azeer’s assistant had prepared in the center of the room.
“This attack was far too sudden,” the King said, his heavy voice breaking the silence, his eyes moved sharply from one member of the Elite Four to another. “Do we have a solid plan for dealing with this Catalyst Approach attack?”
Glind straightened his back, the polished plates of his armor gave a faint metallic ring as he answered firmly. “As for the Valiant Knight, everything has been arranged through the Ritterlichkeit protocol. As soon as the requirements of that protocol are fulfilled, a portion of the Valiant Knight will join the battlefield, Your Majesty the King.”
“The mages from the Academy have also mostly been dispatched to the evacuation points,” Grith interjected, stroking his thick beard. “Everything has already been fully coordinated with Glind’s subordinates, Your Majesty.”
“The Alchemist team is also on full standby and ready to move should the need arise, Your Majesty,” Alain replied succinctly.
General Azeer then stepped forward, his palm enclosed within a leather glove. “The Sovereign Vanguard has dispatched three Division at once, Your Majesty,” Azeer explained in his deep baritone voice as he pointed toward the moving visuals displayed upon the magical reflector.
“According to the latest report, one company has successfully held back the horde at the main gate. The monsters attacking there have been identified as SleepWalker, category E. However, their numbers are extremely massive, and they are attacking in swarms. As for the threat that just appeared in the plaza, that is a Salamandra Gigants, category S. My two strongest Division have already been deployed there to lock down its movements, Your Majesty.”
Hearing such a structured tactical briefing, the heavy weight pressing against the King’s chest slowly began to ease, a faint breath of relief escaped him. “Good work, all four of you,” the King replied briefly. His eyes returned to the magical reflector before him, once again locking onto the movements of the monsters displayed across its surface.
---
To the west of the Kingdom of Finchster, an enormous circular barrier rose high into the sky. The colossal defensive field protected the area where civilians had been evacuated by the Valiant Knight. Mages from the Academy had also descended into the area to assist in treating those who had been injured during the attack.
The citizens who had previously been thrown into panic were gradually beginning to calm down now that they felt safe. Even so, despite the situation having become relatively stable, there were still a handful of people trembling with fear because of what had just happened.
“Thank you, Young Man, for saving me,” an elderly man said as he bowed deeply.
“Ah, you’re welcome, Grandpa. It’s the duty of the Valiant Knight to prioritize the safety of civilians,” the young knight replied with a smile. “If that’s all, I’ll be going now. If you need anything, just ask another knight.”
“Very well. Thank you again.”
“All Valiant Knight members, assemble immediately!” one of the senior knights shouted.
The Valiant Knight gathered and formed neat rows. The sunlight reflected beautifully from their polished iron armor, causing their bodies to shimmer beneath the morning sky.
“For now, the Ritterlichkeit protocol has been successfully completed, and the civilians have been safely evacuated under the protection of the Aegis Barrier, with additional assistance from the Academy mages,” Commander Bardal’s baritone voice thundered from the front of the formation. “We’ll divide into two teams. One team will remain here on standby. The other will accompany me back to the plaza and join the Sovereign Vanguard!”
“Understood! We’ll carry it out, Commander Bardal!” The knights answered in unison, striking their hands firmly against their chests.
---
“It’s time for us Resilient Warriors to take part in this Catalyst Approach attack once again! Come on, comrades! Let’s have some fun like we always do! Hahaha!” One of the large-built men laughed loudly.
“Hell yeah! Even though the Resilient Warriors aren’t affiliated with any institution, His Majesty the King still recognizes our existence and fighting strength! Wahahaha!” Another fighter beside him replied with a hearty laugh while preparing his combat equipment.
The large-built man swept his gaze across their headquarters. “Is everyone ready? We’re heading to the main gate closest to our location.”
“Ready!” The Resilient Warriors answered together.
“Let's go!” The large man hoisted a massive axe onto his shoulder.
After walking for some time along the route toward the main gate, their steps suddenly came to a halt. “Look at that! There are several SleepWalker that managed to get inside! Gas, let’s attack!”
With lightning speed—Shlabb!—the giant axe belonging to the large man plunged directly into the head of a SleepWalker, splitting straight through its body all the way down to its chest.
“Ahahaha! Awesome, Bill!”
“Thanks, Shen. Come on, let’s clean up these damn monsters!” Bill answered with a satisfied chuckle.
But then—the beautiful morning sky that had been illuminated by the radiant sun suddenly changed in an instant. The horizon above Finchster churned violently. The brilliant blue was swallowed by a gathering storm as powerful winds whipped through the sky and enormous rolls of ominous black clouds spread across the heavens.
ZAPPP~DHAARRRRR!!!
A single bolt of lightning descended violently, striking the eastern direction with devastating force, exactly where the Sovereign Vanguard Headquarters stood. The resulting thunderous explosion roared across the kingdom, its tremendous vibration echoing from one end of Finchster to the other. The sound alone was enough to make anyone who heard it instinctively feel their courage falter.
Feeling the atmosphere suddenly grow colder, Bill stopped walking for a moment. The large-built man slowly raised his head, staring at the countless flashes of electricity that intertwined and struck across the darkening sky, his jaw tightening.
“Damn it… What is it this time?”
Chapter 1 — End
Copyright © 2026 [Rei Vo Lution] - Project Destiny's Corpse.
All Rights Reserved.
Next on Destiny's Corpse (Teaser) :
Is the sudden, raging thunderstorm over the Kingdom of Finchster merely a passing whim of nature? Or is it a harbinger of something catastrophic waiting to manifest as a brand-new threat?
Please sign in to leave a comment.