It happened instantly, no one knew where it came from or what it was, but this was the day the earth changed forever.
On this day, a thick blanket of darkness fell over the planet. In some places the sun suddenly disappeared. For others it was the moon. And others, it was the stars.
All the celestial bodies went missing. No…something enormous blocked their light from reaching the earth. Casting an enormous shadow on the entire planet.
The people of earth looked up with disbelief and fear, all freezing at the sight, as if someone hit a pause button on the entire planet.
But the next second as if that same entity hit play, everyone reacted.
Some bowed praying to gods.
Some fell into anarchy.
While others just stood still as if frozen in time, unable to react, which in itself was a reaction.
Others used the panic as a chance to carry out crimes, you wouldn't lack those in any situation.
But then there were a few others who were smiling, convinced their fantasies had finally come true.
But they all shared one thought:
This is the end.
One way or another the earth was not going to be the same, either for good or bad.
As if reading their minds, a bright light shone on the planet at that moment, blinding.
Yet slowly built up.
Thrumming, swelling with energy and pressure that made the air feel stale and hot.
Silence swept across the world, like the calm before the storm.
Then it began.
Somewhere in the chaos, a little girl clung to her mother's hand, staring at the light.
Then she heard a pop, like a balloon bursting.
She blinked as something wet and warm splattered on her face.
Using her small palm she wiped the liquid off, looking at the palm, it was smeared red.
She turned to show her mother, but she found no one, just a red puddle, popping, a putrid smell radiating from it.
"Mom," she whispered.
A scream rang out, drowning out her voice. Then a pop.
Another scream.
And chaos broke out.
Screams everywhere as people started bursting like fragile water balloons.
At that moment, a lightning strike ripped across the sky, thunderclap drowning out the screams. A colossal silhouette with large wings spread out, suddenly appeared before the white light.
To most who saw it, the only thing that came to mind was an angel, a savior.
Many dropped to their knees, praying to it, begging for salvation.
But it wasn't an angel.
And standing on the head of the silhouette, which turned was a gigantic bird-like craft, was a young man.
Long black hair whipped behind him, a grim expression on his bloodied face.
His clothes were absolutely torn, scorched in places and just outright missing in others. Blood dripped steadily from his hands, onto a broken katana. Gripped tightly in his right hand.
His eyes lifted towards the thrumming light above, which was getting brighter, as he ascended.
Below him people continued to burst and scream. Yet the worst of all were those bowing to him as if he were some divine savior.
He scoffed at the thought and glanced at the broken katana.
If someone would have told him three months ago that he'll be the last hope, the last defender of earth against this. He would scoff and say they were delusional.
But this damned katana, a simple delivery turned into this situation, twisting both his fate and the planet's.
Am I even human anymore? He wondered.
It doesn't matter.
He looked up at the light getting even closer, he could feel the immense energy contained within it. If he fails here, humanity ends.
Not that he cared.
"Let's go," he muttered, the craft humming in response.
But before that, we have to understand how we got here, what led to this apocalypse.
How a simple delivery turned into the end of the world.