The City on the Edge
The sky above Buenos Aires burned with a reddish glow. Though it wasn't real fire consuming the atmosphere, the thick air—choked with dust and ash—made the once-vibrant and historic metropolis appear shattered, chaotic, overcrowded, and on the brink of collapse. Yet what remained of Argentina's capital was more than ruins: it was a bastion. The last in the south.
Buenos Aires was not just a military refuge—it was a symbol. A final beacon for a fractured nation.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees lived in improvised structures, under bridges, in abandoned train stations, and shopping centers converted into fortresses. The government had disappeared. Only local militias, religious groups, civil organizations, and zones ruled by force or fear remained.
Rob stepped down from his transport, eyes fixed on the massive improvised dome covering part of the Palermo neighborhood. The nearby structures were reinforced with metal plates, recycled materials, and core energy. The place had surveillance, watchtowers, and most importantly—human life.
"So this is the point of resistance," Rob murmured as a recon team escorted him toward the heart of the refuge.
It didn't take long for Rob to draw attention. His very presence radiated authority. Within hours, he was brought to the core of the resistance: a half-ruined government building where the three most influential leaders of the city had gathered.
There he met them:
Ramiro, a 55-year-old former soldier, widowed, beloved by all, with the A+ ability Reaction Field. He had maintained discipline and order in his sector through strength—but always with fairness. He was not just the leader of Buenos Aires, but its moral pillar—a representative of Argentina's combative and resilient past.
Lucía and Santiago, both 25 years old, had been known before the apocalypse as rising stars in biotechnology and political strategy, respectively. After the world began to fall, they abandoned comfort and joined the defense of slums, soon becoming known as Argentina's golden couple. Lucía had the A+ ability Physical Reinforcement, and Santiago, Wind Control. Together, they led a zone where protecting the weak and cooperation were core principles.
Upon meeting the trio, it was Ramiro who spoke first, even before Rob introduced himself:
"Rob," said Ramiro with respect, "you don't know how long we've waited for you to arrive."
Rob nodded.
"I'm here to unite what remains of the south."
He introduced himself and explained why he had come. It didn't take long to earn their trust.
Shadows of the Fallen
It was then that the news everyone feared was confirmed: a new horde of beasts was approaching from the northeast. Their estimated arrival—less than 72 hours. Among them, at least three B+ rank beasts. The horror of the Amazon was now knocking on the southern door.
In parallel, international allies began to arrive. All of them were A+ ranked ability users, all of them ready to fight:
Ramona (Paraguay): ability Damage Reflection. A woman hardened by loss, yet burning with unstoppable inner fire.
Lorenzo (Uruguay): ability Acid Rain, meticulous and quiet—but lethal in combat.
Gabriel and Elena (Brazil): inseparable siblings. He controlled earth, she water. Their synchronization was almost magical.
These leaders had led the last survivors of their nations toward Buenos Aires, unifying the Southern Cone.
Upon arriving, Rob understood he had to take the lead. He defeated a B-rank beast with ease, instantly earning everyone's respect.
Later, Rob gathered them all at the highest point of the central building. The leaders, soldiers, and hundreds of citizens listened as he spoke. His voice—firm and deep—resonated over the city.
"I've been in Chile. In Bolivia. And now I'm here. Not because I'm the strongest—but because I know what's coming."
"The beasts approaching feel no pity. They know no fear. And they won't stop… unless we stop them."
He paused, scanning the tense faces before him.
"You are not alone. You have brave leaders. You have allies from other lands. And now… you have a chance."
"We're not just fighting for Buenos Aires. We fight for the future of the South. For the generations that may still be born on this land. We fight to show the world… that South America will not fall."
A roar of applause erupted from the crowd.
Preparations for Judgment
That night, preparations began for the war that would determine the continent's fate.
Over the next hours, Rob toured the bastion. He saw hydroponic food production centers, improvised laboratories, and training zones for the survivors. Over 8,000 people were resisting there—an astonishing number, given the continent's state.
Lucía told him the truth:Paraguay had fallen three weeks ago. Uruguay was overwhelmed by a leviathan-type beast that emerged from the ocean. And Brazil… was consumed from the heart of its jungle. Only Argentina remained—and that, largely thanks to Ramiro.
"He organized everything," Lucía said, eyes glossy. "We lost nearly all our leaders… but Ramiro never broke."
That night, Rob spoke with Ramiro atop the control tower. He told him how he had used his "Reaction Field" ability to defend civilians even in zero-visibility zones.
"I'm no hero, Rob," Ramiro said. "Just someone who didn't want to watch his city burn."
Rob looked at him. In that moment, he knew Ramiro was more than a soldier. He was a symbol.
The Fall of a Pillar
The next day, Rob gathered the surviving regional leaders. Only five remained with abilities above A rank. It was a grim meeting, but Rob didn't allow despair to take root.
"We have two days to prepare. Three B+ ranked beasts are coming from the west, drawn by the recent migration of colossals."
He shared the intel from the Survival System, projecting trajectory maps, impact forecasts, and potential casualties. His tone was firm and direct.
"I'll take care of two of them. I need all of you to protect the civilians and support Ramiro with the third."
Ramiro looked at Rob with a mix of pride and concern.
"Are you sure you can handle two?"
"I won't be alone," Rob replied. "I've got my ability that lets me recover energy during combat. I have my faithful sword—one that grows stronger the more beasts it slays. It absorbs their energy and evolves. And I came here to close this chapter."
Time waited for no one. And without realizing it, the moment arrived.
The first roars echoed across the ruined landscape, followed by a bone-rattling cacophony of howls and war cries. It was as if their very presence was enough to crush the spirit of resistance.
There was no time to hesitate.
After three thunderous roars that silenced every sound on the battlefield, the battle of Buenos Aires began—one the city would never forget.
A massive wave of beasts charged forward like there was no tomorrow, driven by fear of what stood behind them: the three B+ ranked beasts, standing like generals commanding their armies.
Rob didn't stand idle. He issued commands—each group assigned to their targets. Led by the guardians of their respective nations, waves of elemental abilities, tactical defenses, and fierce counterattacks began to thin the enemy ranks.
Hours passed. The toll on the human side was evident—fatigue, blood, and dwindling energy.
That's when the three B+ beasts joined the fray—unforgiving and monstrous—tearing through everything in their path.
Rob knew this was his time.
He leapt into the field.
The first beast roared—a creature resembling a puma the size of a building, its fangs dripping acid. Rob met it head-on, his body cloaked in dark energy. Within seconds, his sword pierced the beast's skull.
The second was airborne—a mutated condor with multiple wings and steel talons. It was harder to reach, attacking civilians from the sky. But Rob, empowered by his mastery of gravitational energy, leapt higher than ever and ripped it apart mid-air.
The battlefield fell silent.
Beasts and humans alike froze, unable to believe what they had witnessed. Rob, drawing from the memories of his past life and years of endless battles, now stood as a true master—at the zenith of human strength.
Lucía, unable to contain her awe, murmured to Santiago:
"Love… Rob is on another level. He's not just the hope of our country—or even the continent. He's the light in the darkness."
"I'd say he's becoming the Guardian of Humanity," Santiago replied.
But fate waits for no one.
Their moment of wonder did not go unnoticed by the last B+ beast—a towering fusion of bear and armadillo. It charged, targeting the couple with terrifying speed. With one brutal blow, it left them gravely injured. They thought it was the end.
Until someone saved them.
The only one with enough experience, close enough to act.
Ramiro.
He dove in like a comet, shielding them with his ability and sealing the beast with himself.
Sensing it was cornered, the beast stilled… and began to glow.
Ramiro realized what was coming and shouted at the wounded couple struggling to rise:
"You are the future of our nation. You must become strong. In this world, without strength—you are no one. You're young. You're special. You'll be the future pillars of Argentina. So let us old folks pave the way one last time."
He laughed, then thought to himself,
"My beloved wife… I'll finally see you again. I've done all I could for this country. Now, it's time to pass the torch."
Resolved, Ramiro locked eyes with the glowing beast.
As if it understood, the beast self-destructed—detonating from within.
Ramiro, though distant from the core of the blast, did not explode. He died standing, with a smile.
His final words were etched into the memory of all.
Lucía and Santiago crawled to his side, sobbing like children who had just lost their guiding light.
That day, Argentina mourned the loss of one of the greatest leaders in its history.
Heirs of the Flame
Buenos Aires mourned as one nation.
Few times in its history had it known a leader as respected and beloved as Ramiro—a man who had helped countless people, who embodied the essence of the country: pride and unshakable love for a nation that, despite its struggles, would do whatever it took to protect its people.
Lucía and Santiago, shaken, were summoned by Rob. He looked them in the eye and spoke the truth plainly:
"You are now the symbols of an entire country."
"What if we're not enough?" Lucía asked.
"Then you'll rise until you are," Rob replied.
The bastion mourned its hero's death—but also celebrated its survival. For the first time in weeks, the threat had been repelled without losing the city.
Rob led the ceremony. The funeral drew thousands. The people sang the national anthem with visceral passion. For the first time in decades, Argentina became one soul.
Ramiro's insignia was placed at the center of the great dome, surrounded by blue fire—a symbol of fallen guardians.
"Ramiro showed us that courage doesn't depend on power," Rob declared before the crowd. "It depends on the will to protect, even when all seems lost."
Lucía stepped forward. With trembling hands, she proposed something that would shape the south's future:
"Let the next generation of warriors train under Ramiro's name. Let his legacy become the shield of the South."
Rob, at the end of the ceremony, looked up at the sky, now tinged gray.He knew the calm was only temporary.
Later, from a rooftop, Rob watched in silence.
Something had changed. Something had been born.
They were no longer just fighting monsters.Now, they were fighting for something greater than themselves.
The true hell was only just beginning.
[End of Chapter 21 – To be continued in Chapter 22: The Awakening of the North]