***
Dust flies everywhere, covering the entire city. Houses are destroyed and damaged, trees and branches are broken, the bridge cables are snapped in two. The atmosphere is filling with sounds of wailing, crying babies, coughing, and voices asking for help. The dust obscured everyone's eyes, making it difficult for them to see. This is disaster that has just struck them, not knowing what actually happened, whether something has just struck the earth with terrible force. Is this catastrophe?
The teenage boy could barely see what lay before him. His face was bruised, his clothes were torn and his body was covered in wounds. He walked with an uneven limp, struggling to keep his balance. The screams around him were growing louder and louder.
"Mum! Dad!" he cried, calling for his parents, but all he could hear were desperate sobs and overwhelming panic.
Thick smoke filled the air, making it almost impossible to see. He stumbled and fell hard to the ground. A groan of pain escaped his lips. Moments later, he slowly looked down beneath him...
And instantly, his face twisted in shock and terror.
A lifeless body lay there; a man, already dead. One of his arms was missing and one of his legs had been completely crushed beneath the rubble. He screamed at the top of his lungs. It was a horrifying sight.
He forced himself to look around. From the ground, his vision cleared slightly and what he saw was pure devastation. Bodies were scattered everywhere. People were crying for help. Others were trapped beneath dirt and collapsed buildings. Chaos beyond control. Everything changed in an instant.
Makari was lying down, his face covered in dust. After a moment, he coughed and wiped it off. He seemed to have just woken up, hearing an unmistakable commotion. His body was covered with stones and dirt, which he brushed off until he felt lighter. He tried to get up but couldn't. Looking to the side, he realized he was already trapped among the rocks.
Out of the blue, a hand was offered to him by man. He made an effort to glimpse the person's face, but the air was too hazy with dust.
"Hold my hand, Makari." A man said.
"Its you, Soren... Ugh... Ugh."
Makari didn't waste any time. He reached for Soren's hand and he yanked him up, freeing him from the rock.
"Are you okay?" Soren asked.
"I'm fine. I might be a little bruised, but it doesn't matter much." Makari said. "What actually happened?"
"I'm not sure what really happened, but the last thing I saw was something from the sky crashing down and obliterating everything on the ground." Soren said.
"Where is Saugrar?"
"The Lone's current location and situation are unknown and Rhydian along with the others are desperately searching for him."
Makari grabbed his hand, his eyes scanning the chaos around him. Houses reduced to rubble, trees shattered and burning. People screamed and ran in every direction. The situation was completely out of control. But something crossed his mind.
Something from the sky? No... it can't be them. This place should be impossible to find, it's hidden deep within the forest. Unless... Someone led them here.
Makari tried to look around again, searching for any clue that might give him answers. His eyes eventually fell on a burning tree, nearly reduced to ruin.
Fire? How is that possible... Wait... This...
Makari's eyes widened in shock. Out of nowhere, a powerful gust of wind surged from the west, sweeping away the dust that clouded their vision. Everything became clearer. But Makari froze. Had he found the answer?
Suddenly, he shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing throughout the area.
"EVERYONE! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! TRANSFORM AND RUN!"
"ANYONE WHO STILL ALIVE WHO CAN HEAR ME... DO NOT FALTER!"
For a brief moment, everyone who heard the voice – despite their wounds, pain, broken bodies, and near death state struggled to transform and flee.
But before even a single one of them could fully transform, they froze as the air turned eerily clear...
Before them stood three massive dragons, their scales a dark crimson-black, their fins tipped with deep blue and traces of gold. Their wings stretched wide, casting shadow over everything and from the maw of one of them, flames poured forth.
Suddenly, the dragons' bodies began to shrink, as if their massive forms were being absorbed into flesh. Their sharp, menacing claws receded, their massive teeth diminished, and their wings once so vast they blocked the sunlight slowly contracted.
In their place stood a towering human, taller than anyone else around. His skin was pale, his features strikingly handsome. Small horns protruded from his head.
He wore the attire of a high noble: white silk garments overlaid with gold, intricately engraved with noble patterns. On his shoulders, dragon heads extended, their golden horns winding from top to bottom. Beneath, a deep navy undergarment hinted at regal sophistication.
Golden wings unfurled behind him, shimmering like sunlight itself… A figure that looked as if an angel had just descended from the heavens.
Everyone watching opened their eyes wide in fear; standing before them were three winged men dressed in noble attire. The crowd watching felt that this was truly the end. Makari stared, frozen in place. The atmosphere became silent because no one was willing to bear the danger of what was to come.
The winged man standing in the middle between them glanced to his left and said... "Xurmag..."
Xurmag looked at the person who had glanced at him, as if he understood its meaning. A moment later, he stepped forward so that everyone could see him.
"Attention, to all wretched and lowly wolfkind, the Revelation has come to you; therefore, heed it."
Suddenly, the winged man on his right spoke up.
"Anyone who interrupts while this Revelation is being delivered shall, by the divine and exalted power of Kaelar, be executed instantly."
Everyone watched in fear, gulping. None of them dared to protest. Some closed their eyes and ears because they didn't want to see or hear. Some raised their hands as if in prayer, hoping that their prayers would help them. Meanwhile, mothers holding their children put their hands over their young children's mouths so that they could not scream. Some could not accept the statement because they all knew it; this is a Revelation that comes from...
The winged man in the middle walked forward, hand on his back. Up to a point, he stopped in front of everyone, waiting to see what he would say. He extended his hands and began to speak.
"I am Draghar, of the dragon race, rank one in the Kingdom of Throne... Rejoice... This Revelation has come to you, for it is other than the mercy from the king of us all, His Exalted Majesty King Kaelar."
"This Revelation exists for you to bow before Him. Become His loyal followers, for by the grace of His Exalted Majesty King Kaelar, you shall receive abundance. The choice is simple: bow and surrender to Him."
"But beware; anyone who rejects this Revelation shall incur the wrath of His Exalted Majesty King Kaelar and shall be wiped from the world, becoming part of history. And in that moment, remember it will be your own fault."
"So, to all wretched and lowly wolfkind, make your decision now, and remember your only choice is to bow or be destroyed."
For a moment, everything fell into silence. No one dared to speak. People trembled, some sank to the ground, convinced this was the end, while others teetered on the edge of madness.
Suddenly, a man drew a knife and tried to stab himself but Makari grabbed him, stopping him just in time.
"What are you trying to do?"
Tears welled up in the man's eyes as he gazed at Makari.
"It's over. There's no point in living anymore. Being dead is better than living as a slave."
Hearing those words, Makari couldn't utter a single word. His gaze dropped to the ground. Despair gripped everyone present.
Xurmag looked at them with a gaze filled with disdain.
"What a disgusting sight." He said.
Suddenly, a man stepped forward from the crowd, gripping his sword, standing face to face with the three noble-clad men.
"We've made our decision... the decision is... fuck off!"
All eyes turned to the man. Makari watched in shock.
"Is that Rhydian? What is he doing?" Makari spoke and turned toward Soren. Soren's eyes widened.
"If he's here, it means Saugrar has already..."
"Hey, Soren... what is all this? Wasn't he looking for Saugrar? Don't tell me Saugrar has already... no... no... that's impossible."
Soren couldn't utter even a single word.
Draghar looked at the man standing before him. There was not a trace of fear on his face. With a proud expression, the man spoke, meeting Draghar's gaze without blinking.
Xurmag moved to step forward, but Draghar held him back by showing his hand. Rhydian and Draghar stared each other for a few moments before Draghar finally spoke.
"Well, if that's your decision... then, destroyed."