The scene opens with a typical afternoon in Raiden's room. Posters of the latest anime series and video games cover the walls, and the low hum of music plays in the background. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito sit scattered around the room, books open but clearly distracted. The air is filled with light-hearted conversation, the trio of friends doing their best to avoid their homework.
Raiden: "Ugh, this math assignment's going to be the end of me. How does this even help us in real life?"
Zohar, with a smirk: "Maybe if we throw the homework at our problems, they'll go away."
Kaito, chuckling: "Yeah, 'cause that always works."
They laugh, shifting into a comfortable silence as Raiden scrolls through his phone.
Raiden: "Yo, have you guys seen this new trend? People are doing all sorts of crazy stuff to go viral. Last week, someone was eating an entire jar of mayonnaise."
Zohar, rolling his eyes: "That's just gross. The internet never disappoints."
Kaito, shaking his head: "You guys are too caught up in this meaningless stuff. There's something bigger going on."
Raiden and Zohar exchange skeptical glances. Kaito, always the one to dive into conspiracy theories or religious debates, was clearly gearing up for one of his infamous lectures. He reaches over to his laptop and pulls up a webpage, pointing at the screen excitedly.
Kaito: "Check this out. It's a forum I've been following. People all over the world are saying they've been 'Chosen.' There are reports of strange powers manifesting out of nowhere, signs from the gods."
Raiden, leaning forward: "Chosen? Like... supernatural stuff?"
Zohar, scoffing: "Come on, Kaito. You can't seriously believe this. It's probably just a bunch of people trying to get clout. Like that guy who said he could summon spirits but was just using mirrors."
Kaito, raising an eyebrow: "You really think everything's about clout? These people aren't just pretending. There are reports of people doing things no human should be able to do—controlling fire, moving objects with their minds. You think that's all fake?"
Raiden and Zohar remain unconvinced, but there's a flicker of doubt in their expressions.
Raiden: "Even if it's real... why now? Why all at once?"
Kaito, grinning: "That's the question, isn't it? Maybe the gods are finally stepping in. Maybe they're tired of watching us from the sidelines and are choosing their warriors."
Zohar shakes his head, still skeptical.
Zohar: "You really believe in all this? The gods, the Chosen Ones?"
Kaito leans back with a confident smirk.
Kaito: "Of course. The gods are always watching. It's a sin to be a non-believer, Raiden. You should brush up on your faith."
Raiden laughs, but the seed of curiosity is planted. Zohar, meanwhile, seems more interested in poking holes in the theory.
Zohar: "Okay, let's say you're right. How come none of us have seen anything? We'd know if someone in our school suddenly had powers, right?"
Kaito, shrugging: "Maybe we're just not looking closely enough. Or maybe... we haven't been Chosen yet."
The room falls into an awkward silence, the weight of Kaito's words lingering. Raiden and Zohar exchange another glance, but neither says anything. The thought, however ridiculous it seemed, sticks with them.
Raiden, trying to break the tension: "Right, well, until we start flying or shooting lasers from our eyes, I'll stick to my math homework."
Kaito, smirking: "Hey, don't say I didn't warn you."
As the conversation shifts back to normalcy, none of them realize that Kaito's words would soon prove more than just a conspiracy theory. The world as they know it was on the brink of change, and they would soon find themselves at the center of it all.
The clock reads 17:00, and the warm glow of the setting sun filters into Raiden's room. Kaito checks his phone before standing up from the floor, closing his laptop, and stuffing it into his bag.
Kaito, casually: "I gotta head home. My parents are expecting me for dinner."
Zohar, stretching: "Yeah, me too. Later, man."
Raiden gets up, walking them both to the door.
Raiden, waving: "See you guys tomorrow. Don't forget the math homework."
Kaito, smirking: "I won't. And hey, don't ignore my email later. I'm serious about those forums."
Raiden, shaking his head with a grin: "Yeah, yeah."
They exchange a few more goodbyes before Raiden closes the door behind them. As he heads back into the house, he hears his parents talking quietly in the kitchen. His father is sitting at the table with a newspaper in hand, and his mother is chopping vegetables for dinner.
Raiden's Mum, with a worried tone: "Raiden, come in here for a minute."
He enters the kitchen, where the weight of an impending conversation hangs in the air.
Raiden's Dad, with a serious expression: "We need to talk about your grades."
Raiden slumps into a chair, already knowing where this conversation is headed.
Raiden's Dad: "Your teachers are concerned. If you don't step it up, you might be held back. Maybe not just one year, but two."
Raiden, sighing: "I know. I'm trying, okay? I'll get better. I just... I've had a lot on my mind."
Raiden's Mum, softly: "We don't want to see you fall behind, Raiden. You have so much potential, but you need to focus."
He nods, guilt gnawing at him. They're right, of course, but he can't shake the feeling that his mind has been elsewhere lately. Something about Kaito's conspiracy theories, those strange forum posts about the Chosen Ones, had been sticking with him.
Raiden: "I'll do better. I promise."
His parents share a glance but let the conversation end there. Raiden grabs a plate of dinner—steamed rice and chicken—before heading upstairs to his room.
The room is dimly lit by the soft glow of his desk lamp, casting long shadows across the walls. Raiden sets the plate on his desk, ignoring the cluttered textbooks and loose papers. He quickly eats while scrolling through his phone, then tosses the plate aside and heads to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Refreshed, Raiden dries his hair as he stares into the mirror. His eyes linger on his reflection—short, scruffy hair, a slim frame, and tired eyes staring back at him. His thoughts drift, wondering how he could push himself to be better. Kaito's words echo in his mind: "People all over the world are becoming Chosen Ones."
Raiden, murmuring to himself: "How do I get stronger? How do I... change?"
After slipping into a fresh set of clothes, he returns to his desk and opens his laptop. The dim light from the screen flickers to life, filling the dark room. Absentmindedly, he types in search queries about workout plans, martial arts training, anything that might help him feel more in control. But it feels useless.
Just then, a notification pings in the corner of his screen—a new email from Kaito. The subject line reads: "You're Skeptical, But Check This Out."
Raiden clicks on it, intrigued despite himself.
Kaito's Email: I know you don't believe in all this stuff, but just look at these forums. Some people are talking about ancient Greek gods and how Hercules wasn't just a myth—he was a Chosen One, given divine strength by Zeus. There are stories like this in every culture. Maybe there's something to it.
Attached to the email are links to several forum posts, each with strange, convoluted threads about ancient myths, divine powers, and mysterious phenomena happening around the world. Raiden scrolls through them, his skepticism battling with a nagging curiosity.
His eyes narrow as he clicks on a post titled: "Hercules, A True Chosen One of Zeus?"
The post talks about how ancient myths like the tale of Hercules weren't just stories—they were exaggerated accounts of real people who had been granted powers by the gods. It explains how Hercules' strength was a gift from Zeus, a divine power passed down to him.
Raiden leans back in his chair, staring at the screen, a knot of confusion tightening in his chest.
Raiden, softly: "Could this actually be real?"
As the glow from the laptop illuminates his face, the first seeds of doubt about the world he thought he knew begin to take root.
Raiden's laptop screen flickered with multiple tabs open, the ancient myths and forum posts swirling in his mind. His phone vibrated on the desk as he called Zohar, the familiar ringing sound cutting through the dim silence of his room.
Zohar's face popped up on the screen after a few rings, his expression already exasperated.
Zohar, sarcastically: "Not you too, man. Don't tell me Kaito's got you drinking the Kool-Aid now."
Raiden leaned forward, still scrolling through the forums.
Raiden, shrugging: "I don't know, Zohar. At first, I thought it was just Kaito being Kaito, but some of these stories... they're kind of hard to ignore."
Zohar, raising an eyebrow: "Hard to ignore? Dude, it's the internet. People say anything for clicks."
Raiden, pulling up another tab: "Yeah, but it's not just random people. These myths go way back. Look at this—people talk about Jesus, Asclepius, even figures from different mythologies. They were mortals who supposedly died and came back with god-like powers."
Raiden clicked through the images of ancient texts and theories. The forum users debated the connections between the gods and the supposed resurrection of certain mortals throughout history.
Zohar, crossing his arms: "Okay, I'll bite. But if this stuff is real, how come we've never seen any of it? We've got cameras on every corner, CCTV, the internet—where's the footage of people doing godly things?"
Raiden paused, glancing back at the forum. He scrolled down, reading more of the discussion.
Raiden, thoughtfully: "According to this, there hasn't been a god-demon war in over 400 years. They say these stories are becoming myths, like legends passed down, but no one's seen anything because it's been quiet for centuries."
Zohar tilted his head, a small spark of curiosity flashing in his eyes before he shrugged it off.
Zohar, half-laughing: "So what, the gods just decided to take a break? Go on vacation for a few hundred years?"
Raiden, chuckling: "Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it's just a decent story someone cooked up online."
They both shared a moment of silence, contemplating. There was something strange about the consistency of the myths and the way they were retold across cultures and generations. It left a small but nagging thought in their minds.
Zohar, leaning back: "Alright, well, until I see someone actually throwing lightning bolts or rising from the dead, I'm calling it fiction. But hey, it's an interesting theory."
Raiden, yawning: "Yeah, you're probably right. Anyway, I'm heading to bed."
Zohar: "Same here. Don't let Kaito convince you to join some cult or anything."
Raiden grinned, waving goodbye as they both logged off.
Scene Shift: The Watcher of Worlds
Far away from the teenage discussions and late-night theories, a monastery sat atop a towering mountain, its ancient stone walls bathed in the ethereal glow of both the night and day sky. This place existed beyond time, beyond the ordinary perception of mortals.
At the edge of the cliff, a tall pale man with long white hair stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His piercing green eyes, set against the unsettling blackness of his sclera, scanned the sprawling cities below. Every detail, every movement, every crime, and every breath of the humans was laid bare before him. His gaze was unflinching, his expression one of cold detachment.
Heimdall, the ever-watchful guardian of the gods, stood vigilant, observing the fragile beings below with a mixture of disdain and disappointment.
Heimdall, murmuring to himself: "Look at them... weak. Fragile. It makes me sick."
His gaze lingered on the countless transgressions, the corruption, the lies. Each human stumbling through their lives, ignorant of the cosmic forces at play.
A heavy hand clapped onto his shoulder, breaking his intense focus. Thor, the god of thunder, stood behind him, his broad figure towering over the edge of the cliff, his long red beard catching the light of the divine skies.
Thor, with a gruff voice: "What are you doing, Heimdall? Your watch is endless, but you seem more troubled than usual."
Heimdall turned slightly, his cold eyes meeting Thor's.
Heimdall, with a bitter tone: "Look at them. The mortals. They are a disgrace to the divine. So weak, so fragile, yet they believe they control their fate. It sickens me to see them stumble through their meaningless lives, unaware of the power they were once meant to carry."
Thor's expression softened, though he remained stern.
Thor: "They are flawed, yes. But they are also capable of more than you give them credit for."
Heimdall, shaking his head: "Capable? All I see are failures. The gods have abandoned them for centuries, and look at what they've become. A shell of what they could have been."
Thor sighed, looking out over the vast world below.
Thor: "You see weakness, but I see potential. The time of the Chosen Ones may return sooner than you think."
Heimdall's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening behind his back.
Heimdall, quietly: "If it does, then I will be watching. And when they fail... I will not be so forgiving."
Thor stepped back, watching Heimdall with a mixture of concern and curiosity. The guardian's bitterness toward the mortals was growing, and even Thor could sense the dangerous path Heimdall's thoughts were leading him down.
As the two gods stood in silence, the world below continued its endless cycle, unaware of the divine eyes watching from above.
The next morning arrived, and the sun's warm light seeped through the curtains of Raiden's bedroom. He lay in bed for a few more moments before begrudgingly sitting up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The thoughts of last night's conversation with Zohar lingered, but the mundane routine of a school day began to push those mysteries to the back of his mind.
Raiden got out of bed and glanced at himself in the mirror, a familiar sight. His split-coloured hair, one half red and the other white, was still a mess from sleep. His dark eyes stared back at him, reminding him that today was just another day to make it through. He dressed quickly, tossing on his school uniform and grabbing his backpack. Before heading downstairs, he shot a quick glance at his laptop, the forums still open. With a sigh, he shut it and made his way out the door.
Meanwhile, across town, Zohar was in his own world, lazily getting ready for the day. His black skin gleamed in the morning light as he combed his Afro braids into place, a smirk tugging at his lips as he remembered last night's conversation. His sharp brown eyes glanced at the clock—he was running late, as usual.
Throwing on his school uniform, he grabbed his things and rushed out the door, his mind already forming sarcastic retorts to throw at Raiden and Kaito later.
In another part of town, **Kaito** had already been up for a while. His bedroom was neat and orderly, his school uniform ironed and perfectly in place. His deep blue eyes scanned over his notebook as he read through his assignments one last time before closing it and sliding it into his bag. His black hair, with its frosty blue highlights, was tied back in a loose ponytail, keeping his bangs out of his face. Unlike Zohar, Kaito took pride in being on time—punctuality was a virtue, after all.
As he slung his backpack over his shoulder and made his way out, a thought crossed his mind: Did Raiden and Zohar actually take those forums seriously? Today, he'd find out.
At School
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito met up near the front gates of the school. The usual bustle of students filled the air, with conversations about homework, classes, and social media trends.
Kaito, with a sly grin: "So, Raiden... did you look at the forums like I suggested?"
Raiden glanced over at Zohar, who was already rolling his eyes.
Raiden, nodding: "Yeah, I did. I actually showed Zohar, too."
Zohar scoffed, adjusting his backpack.
Zohar, sarcastically: "Oh yeah, you really got me hooked. Next thing you know, I'll be building a shrine to Zeus in my backyard."
Kaito smirked but didn't let the sarcasm faze him.
Kaito, playfully: "Hey, don't knock it. There's more truth to those stories than you'd think."
Zohar shook his head, but Raiden seemed a little more thoughtful. He glanced at Kaito.
Raiden, hesitating: "I mean... it's hard to deny there's some interesting stuff in there."
Before the conversation could go any further, two figures walked by, catching their attention. Kirashi and Shigenori were making their way through the crowd, with Shigenori trailing just a little behind his older sister. Kirashi's tight black uniform stood out, highlighting her chubby frame, and her blazing purple eyes scanned the area with a bored expression. Her black hair with ultra green highlights swayed as she moved.
Shigenori, on the other hand, was a little more excitable. His bright green eyes and slightly more slender figure contrasted with his sister's serious demeanour. As they passed the group, Shigenori nudged Kirashi and whispered loud enough for them to hear.
Shigenori, teasing: "Hey, isn't that the boy you like? Raiden, right?"
Kirashi's eyes widened, and her face flushed a deep red.
Kirashi, growling: "Shigenori, you little—"
She reached out to grab her brother, but he danced away with a mischievous grin, laughing.
Shigenori, laughing: "What? You're the one who said he's cool!"
The siblings quickly devolved into a comedic argument, Kirashi attempting to catch him as Shigenori ducked and dodged her swipes. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito exchanged amused looks, not entirely sure how to react to the sudden drama playing out in front of them.
Raiden, scratching his head: "Uh... did I miss something?"
Zohar laughed, giving Raiden a nudge.
Zohar: "Looks like someone's got a fan."
Kaito chuckled, but his attention quickly shifted back to the topic at hand.
Kaito, lowering his voice: "Anyway, Raiden, just think about what we talked about. There's more to all this than meets the eye. You'll see."
Raiden nodded, though his mind was still distracted by Kirashi's outburst. As the group continued walking toward their first class, the morning began to unfold like any other—though the seed of curiosity planted by Kaito was already starting to grow.
The morning classes began as usual. The classroom was filled with the quiet murmur of students scribbling notes, half-listening to the teacher's lecture about history. Raiden sat at his desk near the back of the class, absentmindedly tapping his pen against his notebook. He wasn't really focusing on the lesson—his thoughts kept drifting back to the forums and the strange stories about gods and chosen ones.
Zohar, sitting next to him, was much less subtle about his disinterest. His head rested lazily in his hand, eyes glazed over as the teacher's voice droned on. Kaito, however, was fully engaged, his eyes fixed on the board, jotting down notes with his usual precision. He glanced over at Raiden, giving him a small nudge to focus, but Raiden just shot him a look that said, *"Yeah, right."*
As the minutes ticked by, the monotony of the class lulled the room into a state of quiet boredom. The bell finally rang, signaling the end of the lesson. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito packed up their things and headed toward the cafeteria, weaving through the crowded halls.
In the Cafeteria
The cafeteria was buzzing with activity, students grabbing lunch and chatting loudly. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito found an empty table near the windows and sat down, trays of food in front of them.
Zohar, sarcastically: "I swear, if I have to listen to one more history lecture, my brain's gonna melt."
Raiden chuckled, poking at his food with a fork.
Raiden, smirking: "At least you're consistent. Failing all your classes in style."
Zohar, grinning: "Hey, I'm just giving the teachers something to talk about."
Kaito shook his head but smiled as he took a bite of his sandwich.
Kaito, teasing: "You know, if you actually studied, you might not have to repeat the same classes next year."
Zohar, pretending to be offended: "You wound me, Kaito. I'm a man of principles—mediocrity is my brand."
The three of them laughed, the lighthearted conversation a nice break from the usual grind of school. They continued talking about their classes, what they had left to do, and how much they wished the day would end sooner.
As the conversation drifted to social media trends, Raiden suddenly felt his phone buzz in his pocket. A few seconds later, Zohar and Kaito's phones buzzed too. Raiden frowned, pulling out his phone to check the notification.
Raiden, confused: "What the..."
On the screen was a red alert notification, flashing urgently:
"WARNING: STAY INDOORS. LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS. UNKNOWN THREAT IN CENTRAL JAPAN. THIS COULD BE BIGGER THAN WE THINK."
The words sent a chill through Raiden's spine. He looked up at Zohar and Kaito, both of them staring at their phones with the same stunned expression.
Zohar, frowning: "A red alert? Isn't that for, like... terrorist activity or something?"
Before he could finish his sentence, a deafening clap of thunder roared in the distance, even though the skies outside were clear. The sound was so loud it made the cafeteria windows rattle. Everyone in the cafeteria froze for a moment, looking around in confusion.
Then, without warning, a large, winged figure crashed through the cafeteria window, sending shards of glass flying everywhere. Students screamed and ducked for cover, panic spreading through the room like wildfire. The winged figure landed in the middle of the cafeteria, his massive wings folding behind him as he stood tall, his body bathed in an ethereal light.
Raiden's heart raced as he took in the sight of the man. He was tall, at least seven feet, with glowing white eyes and a stern expression. His long, flowing robe rippled as if caught in a breeze that no one else could feel.
Zohar, in shock: "What the hell... is that?"
Before anyone could process what was happening, another figure followed, but this one was nothing like the first. It was a grotesque, demonic beast—its skin was black as tar, covered in jagged, pulsing veins. Its eyes glowed red, and it let out a low, guttural growl as it prowled toward the winged man, claws scraping the floor.
Chaos erupted as students scrambled to the exits, tripping over each other in their desperate attempt to escape. Tables were overturned, and trays of food were scattered across the floor. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood frozen in place, their minds struggling to catch up with the insanity unfolding before their eyes.
The winged man's eyes locked onto the demonic beast, and without hesitation, he launched himself forward, colliding with the creature in a brutal clash of strength. The sound of their impact echoed through the cafeteria like a cannon blast, sending shockwaves that rattled the walls.
Raiden could hardly believe what he was seeing. The two beings fought with a terrifying intensity, the winged man wielding a glowing blade that sliced through the air with deadly precision. The demonic beast countered with savage swipes of its claws, each one narrowly missing the man as he danced around the attacks with incredible speed.
Kaito, wide-eyed: "We... we need to get out of here."
Zohar, still staring at the fight, nodded.
Zohar: "No argument there."
The three of them turned and joined the panicked crowd rushing toward the exits. As they pushed through the swarm of students, Raiden glanced back one last time. The winged man had the upper hand, his blade glowing brighter as he drove it into the beast's chest. The creature let out a blood-curdling roar before it collapsed to the floor, its body dissolving into a dark, smoky mist.
For a moment, the cafeteria was silent, the only sound being the winged man's heavy breathing. Then, he slowly turned, his glowing white eyes scanning the room, searching for something—or someone.
Raiden's heart pounded in his chest as those piercing eyes briefly locked onto him. There was something about the man's gaze that sent a shiver down Raiden's spine, a feeling he couldn't quite explain. But before he could process it, Kaito grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the exit.
Kaito, urgently: "Come on! We need to go!"
Raiden snapped out of his daze and followed Kaito and Zohar out of the cafeteria, his mind racing with questions. Who were those beings? What was that demonic creature? And why did it feel like the winged man was looking directly at him?
As Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito sprint through the crowded school halls, the chaos around them intensifies. Panic spreads like wildfire as students and teachers, faces pale with fear, rush to find any form of cover. Some stumble into classrooms, slamming doors behind them, while others trip over their own feet, screaming and pushing in their desperate attempts to escape. Raiden's heart pounded in his chest, every sound around him feeling louder, sharper, and more terrifying.
Just as they neared the staircase, another deafening bang echoed through the halls. It was as if something massive had struck the walls with force enough to shake the entire school. Raiden glanced back, eyes wide, just in time to see the winged man from the cafeteria hurled through the air like a rag doll. His body collided with a row of lockers, crumpling them with a metallic screech, and he tumbled to the ground, gasping for breath.
A growl erupted from further down the hallway, and Raiden's stomach twisted in horror as he saw them—a pack of demons, far more terrifying than the one from the cafeteria. They were a mix of grotesque shapes and forms: some walked on all fours like feral beasts, others slithered along the floor, their eyes glowing with malice. Their claws and fangs glistened with blood as they descended upon the fallen angelic figure, biting and tearing at him while he struggled to fight back.
But the demonic horde was relentless, and for every swing of the angel's blade, more demons piled on, ripping at his flesh with jagged claws. The sound of his labored breathing mixed with the growls of the demons, creating a symphony of violence.
Raiden's throat tightened as he heard the shrill screams of other students. The sight of the demons overwhelmed the crowd, tearing through anyone in their path. The demons had begun to scatter, some turning their attention toward the terrified students. One of the demons, a creature with glowing red eyes and long, needle-like fingers, suddenly broke away from the group, its gaze locking onto a pair of fleeing students. With a guttural roar, it launched itself forward, pouncing on them with brutal speed.
Blood sprayed across the floor as the demon's claws slashed through flesh, and Raiden had to force himself to look away. Zohar and Kaito were right beside him, their faces pale and eyes wide with shock as they ran.
Zohar, panting: "Holy crap! What the hell is happening?!"
Kaito, breathless, fear evident in his voice: "We need to get out of here! Now!"
The three of them dashed up the stairs, dodging fallen chairs and backpacks that littered the hallways. Their footsteps echoed loudly, almost drowning out the nightmarish sounds of violence behind them. Raiden's legs felt like they were burning, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins pushed him forward.
Suddenly, the sound of guttural growling came from behind them. Raiden risked a glance over his shoulder and his blood ran cold. Two demons, one with spiny protrusions running down its back and another with a grotesque, bulbous head, were racing after them, moving impossibly fast. The demons' elongated claws scraped the walls, leaving deep gashes as they gained on the trio.
Raiden, gasping: "They're right behind us!"
Zohar threw a quick look over his shoulder and cursed under his breath.
Zohar, shouting: "Run faster! They're catching up!"
The stairway seemed endless as they climbed, their hearts pounding harder with each step. Raiden could hear the scraping of claws growing closer, the growls of the demons filling his ears, making his skin crawl.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Raiden glanced ahead and saw a long corridor stretching out before them. Desperation gnawed at his gut. They needed a plan, fast, or they wouldn't make it out.
Kaito, panicked: "Where do we go?! We can't outrun them forever!"
Raiden's mind raced. The demons were too fast, and the hallways were too open. They wouldn't make it to the exits like this.
Then he spotted something—an old supply closet a few feet ahead, its door slightly ajar. It wasn't much, but it was their best chance.
Raiden, pointing: "There! We can hide in there!"
Without hesitation, they sprinted toward the closet. Raiden pushed the door open, and the three of them slipped inside, pulling the door shut just as the sound of the demons' claws scraping against the floor grew louder. The space was small and cramped, filled with old mops and cleaning supplies. They pressed themselves against the wall, holding their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests.
From outside the closet, the sounds of the demons echoed through the hallway. Raiden could hear their heavy breathing, the sickening sound of claws dragging along the floor as they sniffed the air, searching for their prey.
Seconds felt like hours as the demons passed by the closet, their growls reverberating through the walls. Raiden squeezed his eyes shut, praying that they wouldn't be found.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the growls faded, and the sound of the demons' footsteps disappeared down the hallway. Raiden let out a shaky breath, his body trembling with fear and exhaustion.
Zohar, whispering: "We... we're alive. What the hell are those things?"
Kaito, still shaken: "I don't know, but we need to get out of here. We can't stay in this school."
Raiden nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of the winged man and the demons. Something was happening—something far bigger than any of them could have imagined. And somehow, he felt like they were a part of it.
Raiden, pressed against the wall of the cramped supply closet, felt his heart pounding in his ears, the weight of everything that had just happened crushing down on him. His breathing was shaky, his body still trembling from the close encounter with the demons outside.
His mind raced, trying to piece together what he had just seen. Then, in a quiet, stunned voice, he muttered, "Demons..."
Zohar, still panting and trying to catch his breath, looked at him, eyes wide with confusion. "What did you just say?"
Kaito, still visibly shaken but always trying to keep his mind grounded, shot Raiden a sharp glance. "Demons? What are you talking about?"
Raiden swallowed hard, his mouth dry as he struggled to put his thoughts into words. "That man with the wings... and those creatures..." He paused, the reality of it sinking in. "I think those forums weren't just stories or myths. This is the beginning... of another war."
The weight of Raiden's words hung heavily in the air, filling the already tense silence between them. Zohar, always the sarcastic one, usually quick to dismiss anything out of the ordinary, found himself at a loss for words. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a look of genuine fear.
"You're not serious, are you?" Zohar finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "A war... like, gods and demons kind of war?"
Raiden nodded slowly, his gaze distant as the pieces fell into place in his mind. "It makes sense now... those stories about Hercules, Jesus, and all the chosen ones. They weren't just stories. They were real, and we're caught in the middle of something bigger than we ever imagined."
Kaito leaned back against the wall, his face pale. "So what now? What are we supposed to do? We can't just sit here forever."
Raiden looked around the small room, his brain scrambling for a solution. "We need to get out of here. But we can't just run out blindly. There are more of those... things out there." His voice trembled slightly, still processing what they'd just witnessed.
Kaito ran his hands through his hair, trying to steady his breathing. "If this really is some kind of war, then we need to stick together. We can't take on these things alone. But... what about the rest of the students?"
Zohar grimaced, his hands shaking as he ran them through his braids. "They're probably trying to get out just like us. The school's a mess. We have no idea how many more of those monsters are roaming around."
Raiden took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "We'll wait here a little longer, see if the demons move on. Then, when it's clear, we make a run for it. We stick to the shadows, stay low, and don't draw any attention."
Kaito nodded, though his eyes were filled with uncertainty. "But where do we go? Home? The police? I don't even know if there's anyone who can help us with... this."
Zohar, always quick with a comment, couldn't hold back, despite the fear gripping him. "Pretty sure this isn't exactly something the cops can handle, man."
Raiden shot him a glance, the corner of his mouth twitching into a brief smirk despite everything. "Yeah, I think this is way above their pay grade."
They all fell into silence, the weight of the situation settling on them. The screams and chaotic sounds outside had quieted somewhat, but the tension in the air was still thick. Every sound made them flinch—every creak of the building, every distant scream from the remaining students.
Raiden glanced at the door, listening for any signs of movement from the demons. His mind was spinning with the possibilities—if the forums were true, and this really was a new war, then everything they thought they knew about the world was wrong. And they were right in the middle of it.
After a long pause, Zohar finally broke the silence. "Alright, so we wait. But what happens if those things come back? We can't fight them. We've got no weapons, no idea what we're up against."
Raiden looked at him, determination hardening his features. "We survive. That's what we do. No matter what, we stick together and get out of this alive."
The three of them sat in silence, the enormity of their situation sinking in as they prepared for what might come next.