Chapter 1: The Shatterfall Begins
The stars were the first to fall.
On the surface, it had been an ordinary night in Arven, a city of shimmering glass and steel. Neon lights danced across skyscrapers as laughter and the hum of conversations filled the air. Families strolled through parks, couples dined at rooftop cafes, and children played under the glow of artificial lights. Beneath its bustling fa?ade, the city pulsed with life.
At exactly 11:47 PM, the stars began to dim.
It was subtle at first—pinpricks of light vanishing from the night sky, unnoticed by most. But then the dimming turned into an eerie blackout, spreading like ink across the heavens.
In living rooms and bars, television screens flickered as anchors delivered the news with trembling voices.
“Breaking News: A celestial event of unprecedented scale is unfolding. Entire star systems are disappearing without explanation—”
The broadcast cut off abruptly.
Then came the tremors.
The earth groaned as though alive, convulsing with a primal rage. Skyscrapers swayed like reeds in the wind, car alarms blared, and screams filled the streets. The ground split open, revealing glowing fissures of purple light that pulsed like a malevolent heartbeat.
“Run!” someone shouted, their voice swallowed by the chaos.
But there was nowhere to run. From the largest fissure emerged a beast unlike anything Arven had ever known—a hulking, reptilian monstrosity covered in jagged, blackened spikes. Its roar shattered glass and sent waves of fear crashing over the fleeing crowds. With one swing of its massive tail, it obliterated an entire block of buildings, leaving only rubble and ash.
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Chaos in the Streets
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Panic turned into pandemonium. Families clutched each other as they ran blindly through the debris-laden streets.
A little girl clung desperately to her father’s hand. “Daddy, where’s Mommy?” she whimpered, her voice trembling.
“She’s... she’s at home,” the man lied, choking back tears. He knew their home had been crushed minutes earlier. “We’ll find her. Just keep running, sweetie.”
Elsewhere, a young couple huddled beneath the wreckage of a bus. The woman clutched her leg, blood pooling around her. “Go without me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Not a chance,” her partner replied, his voice cracking. He tightened his grip on her hand. “We leave together, or we don’t leave at all.”
Above them, the night sky fractured like shattered glass. Purple lightning arced through the rifts, and a voice resonated across the city—a chilling, guttural sound in a language no human could comprehend. Yet every soul felt its intent: pure malice.
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The Awakening
Amidst the carnage, something extraordinary began to happen.
Eli Ravencroft, an unremarkable factory worker, stumbled into an alleyway, his chest heaving with exhaustion. The sound of claws scraping against concrete sent a chill down his spine. He turned to see a wolf-like beast stalking toward him, its glowing eyes fixed on its prey.
“No, no, no...” Eli whispered, backing away until his back hit the wall. The creature crouched low, muscles rippling as it prepared to strike.
Time seemed to freeze as a voice spoke directly into Eli’s mind, calm and otherworldly.
“Do you wish to live?”
“Yes!” he screamed, tears streaming down his face.
In that instant, a translucent screen materialized in front of him, its glowing text filling his vision:
[STATUS WINDOW ACTIVATED]
Name: Eli Ravencroft
Class: Unawakened
Potential Detected: Combat Type
Skill Unlocked: Ember Strike
Eli stared at the screen in disbelief, but before he could question it, his body moved on instinct. Flames erupted from his hands, searing the beast as it lunged. The creature howled in agony, its form reduced to ash in moments.
Panting, Eli stared at his trembling hands. The warmth of the flames still lingered on his palms. “What... what did I just do?”
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Discovery of Classes
Eli wasn’t alone. Across the city, others began to hear the voice and see the strange screens. Ordinary people—shopkeepers, students, parents—suddenly found themselves wielding impossible powers.
A young woman who had been tending to the wounded discovered she could heal with a single touch. An elderly man who had never lifted a weapon summoned a blade of pure light.
Within hours, the first classifications began to emerge:
Warriors: Masters of physical combat, capable of incredible feats of strength and endurance.
Mages: Wielders of elemental and arcane energy, their spells as destructive as the beasts themselves.
Healers: Rare individuals who could mend wounds and restore vitality with a touch.
The awakening wasn’t universal. Many remained powerless, left to cower in terror or flee as the beasts continued their rampage.
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The First Resistance
By dawn, the city was in ruins, but pockets of resistance had formed. Eli found himself among a small group of the awakened, their abilities still raw and untested.
Jaren, a grizzled soldier wielding a glowing blade, barked orders as they reinforced a makeshift barricade. “If this line falls, those people in the shelter are dead. Hold your ground!”
Eli nodded, though his hands trembled. He had barely grasped the extent of his newfound power, and the sight of another towering beast made his stomach churn.
Clara, a former doctor turned healer, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You saved me last night, Eli. You can do this.”
He swallowed hard, nodding as fire flickered in his palms.
As the next wave of creatures charged toward them, Eli stepped forward. He didn’t feel ready. He didn’t feel brave. But for the first time in his life, he had the power to fight back.
And he wasn’t going to let it go to waste.
