21st September, Year 300.
The sky was dreary, and the earth was a red and dry caked soil, with a few patches of odd, black grass. The sky was dark purple, instead of sky blue, and the sun, or moon, or whatever celestial body hovered above, gleamed red like blood.
The air rocked with wave pulses, that came from explosions, accompanied by a cacophony of roars and shouts and everything in between.
It was chaotic in every sense.
"Dammit, are these waves unending?" A hollow male voice, echoed from a large mechanical beast, its arm a large cannon that shot of continuous ammunition rounds against the invading army.
"Hold the line!" A voice ordered from behind, causing those who manned the frontlines, to tighten their jaws.
Elemental attacks rained from the sky, lightning crackling, flames exploding, tides of water and frost washing over the horde, but their numbers did not relent.
For everyone that went down, two more took its place, and slowly but steadily, humanity's forces were being pushed back.
On the side of the horde, were beings that ranged from eldritch monsters to humanoids, some humans even amongst them... Well at least they looked human enough, judging by the physiology of this said horde.
Every creature that was part of the horde, man or beast, had red, hairless skin... It was a very jarring and sickening sight, to see many usually hairy animals, naked and completely furless, but that wasn't the most surprising part, the humans too, or what looked like them, were naked and unclothed too.
Each attacked like mindless monsters, their red skin made it seem like they had a perpetual blush on them, and a few red marks adorned their faces. Some of them had just one, some two, three, four and perhaps there even was a five, though those were yet to show themselves.
They pushed in like hordes of zombies to prey, dying waves after waves to attacks from humanity's forces, but more than making up for it with their numbers.
On humanity's side, the situation looked dire. The mecha beasts, humanity's greatest technological might against beasts and out-worlders, were beginning to run low on energy, and their users were beginning to feel the mental strain of piloting such beasts for too long.
The mana enhanced humans were running low on mana. Fighting required expending mana, and they couldn't even try to recover it, as the ambient mana within gates, were toxic and corrupted life.
Amongst these forces was a familiar olive haired man, withe deep green eyes, heavy with exhaustion. His expression was entirely grim, but his focus was unwavering.
While he might be an asshole, he was still a diligent man.
Just when it seemed like humanity's forces would get overrun, a soul shuddering pressure suddenly washed over the chaotic battlefield. Deep, unfathomable, and abyssal.
There in the sky, a man stood over a hover board. His appearance, something none had been able to detect coming.
Even the endless sea of mindless out-worlders stalled their movements, as though beholding his might.
His deep red eyes settled over the massive sea of red creatures. However unlike their faint red that looked somewhat pink, his' were as deep as blood.
"Die!" He muttered softly, yet his voice seemed to echo over the whole world, drumming into the heart and soul of whoever was watching.
Instantly, the shadows of all beings left their masters to respond to his command, and they swarmed the beasts.
There was no scream, no shout, no explosion or flashy move... Just an endless sea of shadows. Yet when they settled, all the out-worlders, as far as the eye could see, were dead.
The power of a Stage-5 being. Before them, even Stage-4s were worse than ants.
"Damn! So coooool!" Drew practically squealed like a child, his eyes glued to the super large television screen, as he watched.
Sean threw him a deadpan stare. What was cool about some dude aura farming?
Noticing his unimpressed reaction, Drew turned to him with a raised brow. "What?" He questioned. "He's cool you gotta admit."
Sean's gaze only turned even more disdainful, not bothering to grace him with a verbal reply.
Today, was their last day as ordinary inner sector residents, as tomorrow, both of them, as well as many other teens their age, would be stepping into the big stage.
After two week straight of continuous training to their limits, Richelle had mandated them both to rest up, drilling the importance of rest, into their psyche.
Besides, a monumental expedition, same one they were watching, was being carried out and broadcasted today, and she wanted them to watch it, to glimpse true power.
If it was in his world, on a Sunday like this, Sean and his father would probably go to the local church, and spend some time together... When he was on holidays that is. But here, things were quite different.
"Not gonna talk?" Drew asked smugly.
Sean just sighed with a shake of his head. He really didn't know what Richelle wanted him to see. Some cocky ass vampire putting up a show and aura farming? He also failed to understand why Drew found it "cool".
Give him a few years, and he could do even more.
"Are you jealous?" Drew leaned in closely, his lips curled into a mischievous smirk that hinted at his suspicion of Sean's reaction.
Sean's eyes darkened at his question, and he looked at him like he was looking at a madman.
"Jealous of?" He asked with a raised brow.
"It's quite obvious, you don't need to hide it." Drew said shaking his head, his smile still on his face. "Deep down, you know he's cool, your ego just doesn't want to accept it."
Sean looked at the clown, and shook his head, deciding to ignore his useless ramblings. Why should he be envious of something he could achieve... even better than that, given enough time?
"You know," Drew began, "I know Miss Richelle is very beautiful, and trust me brother, even I too admire her, and yunno..." His eyes flicked to the red eyed man with ink black hair on the screen, steal hording the spotlight.
"She's already taken." He said, his eyes that remained on the man's profile, implying the already known obvious.
"Besides..." He turned to Sean now, his expression one of pure disgust. "Dude, she's your sister."
Sean's face darkened. He really wanted to punch this fucker in the face. What did he mean she was his sister? What did the bastard assume he was thinking?
Thinking about spending the whole day lazing about with this idiot, Sean felt it wouldn't take long, before he probably snapped his neck.
His muscles also felt quite itchy and antsy, just the imagination of not training or doing anything physical to push himself, for the whole day seemed to make his mood sour, spending it with this boy would just worsen it.
Luckily, Richelle was not around.
Without a word, he stood up, leaving the living room.
"Where're you going?" Drew asked confused, seeing his odd reaction.
"Morti, Stage-2 gate simulation." Sean's voice echoed, his steps and movement, paying no attention to Drew's question.
Drew was stunned for a few seconds, before he burst into laughter. A deep and rumbling laughter, that didn't sound like a fifteen-year-old's at all.