On the scorched, blackened earth, rivers of molten lava crisscrossed the land. Poisonous gases too deadly for ordinary beings to breathe drifted in thick clouds across the barren landscape. Corpses twisted in agony were fused into the hardened magma, frozen in their final, excruciating moments of death.
Yet, despite the desolation, not all life had perished.
With a crunch, a charred, skeletal corpse was pushed aside as a pale-skinned giant crawled out from beneath the dirt. The giant slowly stood, his gaze blank and unfocused as he took in the scene of utter destruction.
"What... What happened here?" Jordan muttered, his voice breaking as he let out a roar of despair. He couldn't comprehend why his tribe had been annihilated in an instant or how the land of his birth had turned into this hellscape.
He vividly remembered the triumphant return from his raid on the small human encampment. He had been full of pride as his fellow tribesmen cheered for him, basking in their admiration.
But when he boasted of his victory to the chieftain, he did not receive the praise he expected. Instead, the old leader sighed heavily, his eyes filled with concern, and once again ordered the tribe to prepare for immediate relocation.
Jordan had argued fiercely with the chieftain, refusing to understand why they needed to flee after what he saw as a decisive victory. Fueled by youthful arrogance, he dismissed the warning and instead organized a grand celebration for the tribe.
It was during that fateful feast that disaster struck.
A massive, unknown object descended from the night sky, crashing into the heart of the encampment. In an instant, searing flames and waves of unbearable heat spread outwards, obliterating everything in their path. The shockwave vaporized flesh and shattered bones before anyone could react.
Jordan had been caught off guard like the rest. He would have perished in the blast if not for the chieftain, who had tackled him to the ground and shielded him with his own body. The intense firestorm swept over them, but somehow, Jordan survived.
Now, standing amidst the ruins, Jordan finally understood the horror of what had transpired. He turned his gaze to the charred skeleton he had uncovered moments ago.
"Chieftain..."
With trembling hands, Jordan knelt and cradled the burnt remains. Tears, hot and bitter, streamed down his face for the first time in his life.
He had once scorned tears as a sign of weakness, but now, overwhelmed by sorrow, he wept without shame.
Regret and fury tore through his heart. If only he had heeded the chieftain's warnings, if only he had led the tribe away that very night, perhaps they would have survived. But his stubbornness had cost them everything.
Now, there was no one left but him. The scorched plains were littered with the lifeless bodies of his kin.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Jordan threw his head back and roared in anguish. His voice echoed across the barren wasteland, shaking the air and causing flames to flicker wildly.
In the distance, scouting soldiers, clad in steam-powered armor, froze at the sound of the giant's primal scream. They exchanged nervous glances, fear creeping into their eyes.
"This... This can't be real. We dropped a 'World Ender' on this place! How is anything still alive?"
A soldier's voice trembled as he spoke, steam hissing from the vents on his armor.
"In our world, no one survives a 'World Ender.' But this is an alien world—things here defy our understanding."
"But that roar... It sounds like he's completely unharmed."
"Enough chatter. Our orders are clear. We're here to eliminate any survivors of the 'World Ender' strike, including that monster. Move out!"
"Understood, Sergeant!"
Jordan wandered through the desolate wasteland, his steps heavy with grief. His eyes were empty, devoid of life, as if his very soul had been torn from him.
Seeing the giant's listless state, the hidden soldiers in the wasteland grew emboldened. One warrior, wielding a massive three-meter blade, sprang from cover and charged at Jordan's exposed neck.
However, Jordan was not as defenseless as he appeared. Without even turning his head, he reached out and caught the armored warrior mid-air. The giant's pale skin withstood the strike, causing the soldier's blade to shatter upon impact.
With a sickening crunch, Jordan's fingers tightened around the soldier, crushing both armor and bone. Blood seeped through his clenched hand and dripped onto the molten ground below. The sound of the soldier's death was a signal to the others, who rose from their hiding spots and launched their attack.
The battlefield erupted into chaos as dozens of elite armored troops assaulted the lone giant. Despite their technological prowess, Jordan fought back with primal fury, unleashing the full might of his strength. The air was filled with the sounds of clashing metal, roars of defiance, and the cries of the dying.
High above the conflict, a massive azure dragon soared through the stormy skies. On its back, a black-haired child and a golden-haired girl watched the scene unfold below.
"More fighting... Son, when will these wars ever end?" the girl sighed, her voice filled with weariness.
"Never," the child answered calmly. "As long as there are multiple civilizations, there will always be conflict. Expansion and survival are inherent to every race. Wars are inevitable."
"You're not going to intervene, are you? Just like before," the girl said, already knowing the answer.
After traveling with him and witnessing countless battles, she understood his philosophy. In wars between different races or civilizations, there was no absolute good or evil—only a struggle for survival and dominance. Unless directly involved, he would remain neutral.
However, this time, the boy gave a different response.
"This time, I will intervene."
"Really? What changed?"
"I have a reason to," the boy replied, his gaze fixed on the pale giant fighting below. A glimmer of recognition flickered in his golden eyes. After months of searching, he had finally found another one of his kin.
"What reason?" the girl asked curiously.
The boy didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lightly tapped his foot, and the dragon beneath them let out a deep, resonant roar. Golden flames flared in its maw, drawing the attention of both sides on the battlefield.
Before they could react, fiery pillars rained from the sky, incinerating the armored soldiers in an instant.
"You chose to help the giant? Why?" the girl asked in astonishment.
"Because that giant is connected to both of us," the boy explained.
"Connected? How?"
"He is my father," the boy said with a knowing smile. "And your mate."
"WHAT?!"
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.