The entire population of Earth felt the weight of the world crushing down on their shoulders. No one could move. Those who were outside could only stare up at the sky, frozen in terror.
The horizon turned golden. A glowing, pulsating mist covered every inch of the sky, surrounding the planet like a celestial prison.
After five seconds of absolute silence.
**BUZZ**
A deep tremor seemed to be born from the planet's core, echoing like a heavy, droning hum.
At the center of each of Earth's six States, a pillar of light shot upward. They were like columns of energy piercing through the clouds and surging toward the cosmos.
Three pillars were a pure, immaculate white; the other three were an abyssal black, devouring all light around them.
**BOOM!**
The impact was deafening. The six pillars slammed into the golden dome surrounding Earth.
The sky cracked. In seconds, the entire firmament looked like it was covered in shattered glass. Spatial fractures glowed with unstable energy.
