The world was in chaos.
Zone walls kept rising across the continents—some tall as mountains—but no zone was truly prepared for what was coming.
"Who the hell was that? He just vanished..." one of Zane's younger brothers muttered, eyes wide as he stared at the scorched patch of ground where Zane had stood just moments ago.
"Who are you talking about, Big brother?" Ariel asked innocently, tugging at his sleeve. She hadn't seen anything. Her small voice trembled, seemingly oblivious to the storm brewing around them.
"It's nothing you need to worry about," Blake Walker said, his voice sharp and heavy. His jaw was clenched, eyes scanning the sky like he was waiting for something worse.
"More importantly," he continued, "is everything in place?"
"Don't worry, Father," Blake's firstborn said, stepping forward with a calm that didn't match the panic in the air. "Everything's ready."
Ariel clung tightly to her father's waist, her small fingers gripping his coat. She was just fourteen, but even she could feel that something was very wrong. The world didn't feel the same. The ground trembled under her feet. The sky looked bruised and broken. She wanted to ask about Zane—but fear trapped the words in her throat.
Then it began.
All over the world, the portals tore open—ripping through the skies like glowing wounds. From them emerged the Gemini, stepping out with monstrous grace. They were cold beings with twisted forms and mocking smiles. The first wave of them spread like fire across the zones. Humanity fought back with everything it had—guns, tanks, missiles—but it didn't matter.
Their weapons were useless.
The Gemini didn't flinch. Bullets bounced off like raindrops. Explosions barely scorched their skin.
Now, they were attacking every zone, every country. Cities crumbled. Skies burned. Governments fell silent. Some zones collapsed within minutes.
It was the end.
Reports flooded in—seven elite-rank Geminis had been sighted across the continent. Each of them commanded an army of lower-ranked monsters, moving like a tide of nightmares.
Eleven hours after the apocalypse began, hope had all but vanished.
Blake Walker stood on the highest wall of the zone, wind whipping through his hair. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides. His mind raced, but nothing made sense.
Guns. Grenades. Even nukes.
None of it worked.
Nothing could hurt them.
"What are you going to do now, Father?" his third son asked, stepping up beside him, his voice tight with fear.
Blake didn't answer at first. He just stared out at the horizon where fire bloomed in the distance. The walls would fall soon. Their zone was next.
He exhaled slowly.
"It won't be long now," he said.
But inside, even Blake didn't know what to do anymore.
Now, several Gemini—ranks just below the elite—were closing in on Zone SS+.
Blake Walker stood silently on the edge of the wall, his arms wrapped protectively around his daughter. The cold wind ruffled his coat, but he didn't move. His eyes were fixed on the horizon where dark figures marched forward like shadows from a nightmare.
His mind was in turmoil.
Zane—his second son—had just appeared out of nowhere… and then vanished again just as fast. It didn't make any sense. Had he awakened some strange ability? He was so thin, so pale, that even his own brothers hadn't recognized him. He looked like he hadn't eaten in weeks.
A thunderous roar suddenly echoed through the land, snapping Blake out of his thoughts.
They were close now.
Too close.
"Is this really it?" Blake muttered under his breath. "Is there truly nothing we can do?"
"I'm scared, Father…" Ariel whispered, her small voice trembling. She clung to him tighter and dared to peek down at the approaching monsters. Her eyes widened in fear.
"Surely you haven't given up, have you?" Blake's firstborn said beside him, his tone calm—too calm for the chaos around them.
Blake glanced at him, wondering how his son could stay so composed while the world was falling apart.
"What else is left, son?" Blake snapped, frustration boiling in his voice. "We've tried everything. Guns, bombs, nukes… and those bastards just keep walking!"
He turned to his third son, eyes hard. "Protect your sister. No matter what."
The boy nodded stiffly, swallowing his fear.
"Dad… where are you going?" Ariel asked softly, her eyes wide and innocent.
Blake knelt beside her cupping her face gently. "Daddy's going to send those monsters back to whatever hell they crawled out from," he said, a dark frown creasing his face. His eyes blazed with determination. He was ready to fight, no matter what.
His firstborn scoffed. "You already said no weapons work on them, remember? What are you gonna do, old man? Nag them to death?"
Blake raised an eyebrow.
"Sit back and chill, Dad. We'll handle this."
"You expect me to just sit back?" Blake growled.
"Exactly." The firstborn turned to face him fully. "Your old bones won't be much help out there anyway."
Blake stared at him, stunned.
"I, Jason Walker—your first blood—will take command now," he said, a confident smirk on his face. "So why don't you go grab a cup of coffee or something? We've got this."
A loud chime echoed in the air like a whisper from another world.
[System Notification]
System error has been fixed.
Your Ability Tree has been unlocked.
Awakening initiated...
A glowing screen suddenly appeared before Blake's third son. He flinched, eyes wide as the words floated in the air like burning light.
"What the hell...? That's the same voice from earlier—but this one's different!" he said, backing away slightly. "Awakening? What's that supposed to mean?!"
Before anyone could answer, another notification appeared in front of Jason, brighter and louder than the first.
[System Notice]
You stand no chance, but you do not run. You refuse to kneel. You would rather die fighting than be hunted like prey.
You carry the spirit of a leader.
Congratulations, Jason walker. You have awakened as an Alpha.
You can now form a pack and have dominion over those beneath your rank.
Then it happened.
A blast of energy fell from the sky like a thunderstrike. It slammed into Jason, swirling around him like a storm. The ground beneath his feet cracked. Dust rose. The wind howled. Sparks of blue and red lightning danced around his body as he gritted his teeth, holding his ground.
His muscles tensed, veins lit with a faint glow. Power surged through him.
"What the hell is going on?!" the fourth brother shouted, stumbling backward. "Is he... is he glowing?!"
The third son shielded Ariel instinctively, his heart racing. "This is insane... Is Jason really awakening?"
Jason clenched his fists as the light dimmed slightly. A translucent holographic screen floated in front of him now, clear as day.
[Ability Tree: Unlocked]
Path: Martial Artist
You can now learn and master various martial arts. The higher you rank, the stronger and faster you become.
[Awakening Points Earned: 12,000]
Jason stared at the screen, breathing heavily. His eyes, once calm, now burned with newfound intensity. His hands flexed. The energy still crackled faintly around his arms.
He wasn't the same anymore.
He was an Alpha now.
'I wonder what that pathetic looser Zane is up to. I bet my right arm he's already crocked under some bridge or something.' Jason thought.
"What the hell is happening? Why is the world changing so fast? And why..." the second son's voice trailed off as his body suddenly froze. His eyes widened. Light flashed around him.
He, too, was awakening.
One by one, the others followed. The third son, the fourth, the fifth—and even Ariel.
The sky above rumbled like an angry storm. Bright streams of energy—less intense than the one that struck Jason—poured down on them. It wasn't violent, but still powerful. The light shimmered in soft hues of silver and gold, wrapping around their bodies like warm fire, lifting their feet slightly off the ground.
Then came the pop-up screens.
[System Notification]
Congratulations. You have awakened as a Beta.
You are now eligible to join a Pack under an Alpha.
The same message appeared in front of the third, fourth, and fifth sons. Their eyes sparkled with awe and confusion as they read it. Power rushed through their veins like a shockwave, and they stumbled, clutching their chests, adjusting to the sudden change in strength.
But when it came to Ariel—it was different.
The clouds above her darkened. A cold wind swirled around her, howling like a lost soul. Then, from the heavens, a beam of energy shot down—but it wasn't white or gold.
It was pitch black, laced with streaks of deep violet. The light hit Ariel gently, but the impact was heavy, like the world itself had acknowledged her. Her hair lifted from her shoulders, fluttering in the air. Shadows danced around her feet.
[System Notification]
Weak in body, but strong in spirit. Quiet, but never blind. You've watched, waited, and wished—tied down by fear and family. You could only cling to hope, unable to help the brother you love so deeply.
Not anymore.
You have been chosen... as a Primordial Being.
Congratulations, Ariel Walker. You have awakened as a Primordial.
The moment the message appeared, the air stilled.
Ariel blinked, eyes wide with shock. Her small hands trembled as she looked at her glowing arms. "Primordial...? But I'm just..." she whispered, barely believing what she saw.
Blake's jaw dropped. "Ariel?" he said, taking a step forward.
Jason turned to her, stunned. "She's... she's not even fifteen..."
The soldiers in the zone watched in awe, their mouths hanging open. Some fell to their knees unconsciously, unable to explain the pressure they felt from the girl.
And the monsters—those rampaging beasts charging toward the walls—froze.
They screeched, roared in panic, some even turning around. One of the larger ones dropped to the ground, twitching. The name Primordial was like thunder in their minds. Something buried in their instincts told them: This one is not to be touched.
The atmosphere shifted.
The battlefield that had once been filled with chaos and screams now stood silent... because a girl had awakened.
And the world had felt it.