Chapter 1: The Last Age - The Fall of Civilization
21:47 - Russian Strategic Command Center
"Mr. President, all missiles are in launch position."
General Alexei's hand trembled as he delivered the report. On the giant screen, red dots were spreading like a rash across the world map.
"They've begun the attack on the Middle East."
The Russian president slowly took a drag from his cigar. "If we are to die, we won't die alone."
22:03 - An Apartment in Cairo
Omar had no idea that the "World War" game he was playing on his phone would turn into a prophecy. An explosion shook the windows, then the internet cut out. His mother's scream from the kitchen broke his silence: "Oh God! Look at the sky!"
He looked out the window and saw fiery streaks cutting through the darkness.
22:15 - The White House
"Mr. President, China has launched all its nuclear warheads."
The American president was looking at a two-hundred-year-old oil painting depicting a peaceful rural scene. "They always said history repeats itself, but not this fast."
In the 85 years of "peace" that followed World War III in 2047, they had built everything: smart cities, virtual reality, a comfortable life... and overlooked one truth - humans don't change.
After World War III in 2047, the world thought it had learned its lesson. 85 years of superficial peace, but beneath the surface, the same old game continued: the strong dominate, the weak submit.
The West continued "exporting" its culture: personal freedom turned into chaos, technology into addiction, youth growing up believing the only borders were those in video games.
22:47 - Somewhere Over the Atlantic Ocean
Pilot James, in his F-45 fighter jet, watches his radar screen fill with target indicators. Just ten minutes ago, he was dreaming of his vacation in Hawaii. Now, the orders were clear: destroy the specified targets in North Africa.
"Base, this is Falcon One, I'm over the target..."
Then he saw something that made him freeze. Missiles from the East, not tens or hundreds, but thousands.
"Oh my God..."
In Paris, Emma was trying to flee the city with her two children. In Beijing, Dr. Chen was locking up his lab for the last time. In a small village in South Sudan, Sheikh Musa was praying.
But prayers, like plans and escape, had become meaningless.
23:01 - The Big Bang
There wasn't one explosion sound, but the entire sky was exploding. The satellites shattered first, falling like dead stars. Then the shockwaves began.
In the Pentagon, the screens showed terrifying predictions: 70% of the world's population in the direct danger zone.
"We don't have shelters for even 10% of them."
In Tokyo, Hiroshi gathered his young children and hid them under the table, just as his grandfather had done a century before during the 1945 bombing. History truly does repeat itself, but this time, no one would be left to tell the story.
23:47 - Silence
An hour after the missiles began launching, a strange silence fell over the world.
Those fortunate enough to be in a place far from the main explosions looked up at the sky and saw clouds forming an arc of darkness that swallowed the stars one by one.
And in the Russian Command Center, where it all began, the president was still sitting in his chair, the giant screen before him completely black.
"Is anyone..." he started to ask, but the audio system was dead.
00:00 - After the Blast
Only 20% of humanity remained. But the survivors soon realized a terrifying truth: in a scorched world, survival might be a punishment worse than death.