0.1 Enough is Enough

Lem was sitting on a bench in the school's courtyard, the cool breeze ruffling his hair as he focused intently on the screen of his phone. He was on the verge of beating his high score in the latest mobile game—just a few more points, and he’d finally surpass Isamu's bragging rights. His thumb hovered over the screen, ready to make the final tap, when suddenly, everything went dark.

The game vanished, replaced by an ominous black screen. Confused, Lem tapped the power button, swiped at the screen, even shook the phone, but nothing happened. Then, without warning, the darkness gave way to a shadowy figure that filled the screen.

The figure was massive, towering even in his seated position, clad in demonic armor that seemed to suck the light out of the surroundings. The armor was gothic, spiked and plated in dark, weathered metal, engraved with symbols that pulsed with a crimson glow. His helmet, horned and ornate, obscured most of his face, but Lem could see a pair of burning red eyes staring down at the world with contempt. Shadows seemed to writhe and coil around him, as if they were alive, and in his gauntleted hand, he held a sword that looked more like a shard of darkness itself than any weapon.

Lem’s heart pounded as he watched, paralyzed by the sheer presence of the being on the screen. This was no ordinary interruption; this was something out of a nightmare, something that shouldn’t exist outside of a fantasy novel or horror movie.

The figure spoke, as a communication banner read on the bottom of the screen:

Communication from the Paramount Demon King of the United Demon Realms, Gorgoroth the I

Then, the dark figure known as Gorgoroth spoke, his mouth a gleaming inferno akin to his very fiery eyes.

"Greetings, mortals of Earth, insignificant insects beneath the boot of destiny. I am Gorgoroth the First, Paramount Demon King of the United Demon Realms, and I bring you a message of your inevitable doom.

For far too long, your world has been the breeding ground of countless heroes—those who have been transported, reincarnated, or summoned to our realms. From your soil, they emerged, thwarting our every plan, foiling our every conquest, turning our proud legions into mere playthings for their amusement. No longer.

In this moment, the mightiest of demon lords and princes have united under a single banner, a single cause: to bring unending destruction and war to the Tree of Worlds. We have crushed all who stood in our way, and now, Earth, the greatest spawning pool of your pesky heroes, shall be subdued and finally conquered.

Your champions, your so-called saviors, are no more than fleeting echoes in the vastness of our might. Your world, once a nursery of defiance, will now be a cradle of despair. Prepare yourselves for the darkness that will sweep across your lands, for the United Demon Realms have come, and there will be no escape.

Tremble, mortals, for your end is nigh!"

Lem stood rooted to the spot, his phone now completely dead. The words echoed in his mind, but he couldn’t quite grasp their meaning. His thumb, frozen in the air, hovered over the shattered game screen. Everything else seemed to blur, the reality of the park fading into a disorienting haze.

"This is weird," he said, trying to keep his cool since the world around him felt oddly distant after that video as if he were watching it through a foggy window. The park, once filled with the chatter of students and the rustling of leaves, had fallen eerily silent. Lem's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing to make sense of the impossible.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the fog of disbelief. 

“Lem! Lem!” Isamu’s voice was urgent, almost frantic. Lem turned to see his black-haired friend sprinting toward him, face flushed with concern. Lem had always said his best friend since elementary school was the living image of a regular mob character who was about to turn into a protagonist.

“What’s happening?” Lem asked, his voice shaky.

“You won’t believe this,” Isamu said breathlessly. “Something has appeared in the track field. It’s... it’s massive and weird. You need to see it.”

Isamu caught back his breath and cleared his sweat before noticing the curly-haired boy with a beanie on top had not moved an inch.

"What's the matter?" Isamu wondered.

"If you say it's weird and big, I probably should be running in the opposite direction, no?" Lem said, putting away his phone and doing exactly that.

"Heh?" Isamu was speechless for a moment, "W-wait, Lem! Oi!" he called as he ran to Lem's side.

"Listen, Isa," Lem began, "We've seen too many alien invasions in movies and we know what happens to those who are too curious to risk their lives. No thank you."

"But!"

"No, that's my answer, I'd rather go home, I think I got hacked or something, I was watching this video with a very creepy dude—"

"You too?!" Isamu asked, "Everyone in the classroom had the same weird broadcast!"

Clouds began to form in the sky, obscuring its blue hues into grayer, sinister ones. The sound of running students and teachers was heard inside the school, and the mob appeared in the doors behind them. Students stormed out of the building while teachers tried helplessly to contain them as all of them moved towards a single point.

"They're going to see that thing!" Isamu said.

"Seriously, we never learn," Lem said, "You said everyone saw the broadcast of that... Gururugu the first?"

"Y-yes!"

"Hmm..."

"D-do you think—?" 

There was a sudden tremor in the direction of the track field, and deafening screams filled the two friends' ears, sending shivers down their spines.

"I-I think, yes..." Lem said.

The two began running towards the exit of the school, as the sounds from behind grew louder and louder.