Chapter 5: Ashes of the Continent
As Zane fought for his life against goblins in the far northern wilds, far to the south lay the last remnants of civilization.
The continent had still been whole.
It was vast—so large that most who lived upon it would never see its edges.
To the west lived the Elves, guardians of the World Tree. Their lands had once been an endless rainforest, overflowing with life and mana, where the air itself shimmered with vitality.
To the south lay the Demon territories. Once beautiful, they had been reduced to a volcanic wasteland. Charred forests crumbled into ash at the slightest touch, the remains of a land already conquered.
The east was shared by Beastfolk and Dwarves. The Dwarves ruled the northern half—towering mountains rich in ore and ancient forges carved deep into stone. The Beastfolk lived in the southern lands, a brutal mix of desert and untamed forest.
And to the north—
A massive frozen mountain range stretched endlessly beneath eternal snow.
Before the madness began, every race had tried to claim that northern land.
None succeeded.
The mountains were nearly impassable. Countless warriors froze to death attempting to cross them. Those who tried to sail around them never returned, devoured by sea monsters that ruled the surrounding waters. Some believed a few had survived the crossing.
Most believed none had.
Humans lived at the center of the continent.
And Zane—
He was far to the north, beyond the mountains, deep within the unknown.
Two years ago, in the south, members of several races succeeded in performing a forbidden ritual.
A portal was opened.
What emerged were creatures of unknown origin, beings that brought destruction wherever they went.
They swept through the Demon lands first, without mercy, then spread outward—to the Elves, the Beastfolk, the Dwarves, and finally the Humans.
The Demon territories were completely conquered.
Eighty-five percent of the eastern and western lands fell soon after. Seventy-two percent of Human territory was destroyed.
When other races lost their homes, many fled to Human lands seeking shelter. Some stayed behind to defend what little remained.
It made no difference.
Whether they stayed or fled, most were doomed.
The World Tree died.
As it began to collapse, the Elf Queen claimed its final gift—the World Tree seed. The moment it left the ancient tree, the trunk crumbled into dust. With no homeland left to defend, she led the surviving Elves to the Human Kingdom. A few remained behind, swearing they would one day reclaim their land.
The Dwarves suffered no less.
Forced to flee, they abandoned much of their massive machinery—too large to fit inside magic pouches. Their mines were lost, and their resources were reduced to whatever they could carry… or scavenge.
The Beastfolk paid the highest price.
Their king stayed behind with half of their strongest warriors to hold the creatures back.
None survived.
The remaining warriors sacrificed themselves to escort civilians, their Queen, and the Queen's daughter to safety.
The Beast Kingdom was left with nothing.
The Demons had it worst of all.
Most perished. The only survivors were those within the Demon King's palace and a handful who escaped alongside evacuation forces. Two months before the catastrophe, the Demon Queen had foreseen the end of the world.
She vanished the moment the invasion began.
Only her warning remained.
With their lands annihilated, the Demons fled to Human territory, seeking refuge—and an alliance.
The Humans were more prepared than most.
At first, they believed the Demon King's warning was a deception. Only when villages began to vanish—and when the Human King's most trusted friend returned, barely alive—did they accept the truth.
Alliance letters were sent to every race.
They arrived too late.
If the Humans had believed sooner…
Things might have been different.
Now—
The remnants of the world gathered to decide what came next.