Chapter 9: The Day the World Broke

The sky at dawn looked strange.A gray mist covered the horizon, and although the sun tried to rise, its light was weak, dim.It was the last sunrise of the world as they knew it.

Rob woke up early, as always. From the observation tower, he watched his people move nervously.Even though they were trained, even though they were protected behind the bastion's walls, the fear was palpable.

And it was not without reason.

In the past few weeks, the world had changed brutally.

Global Panic

News arrived with difficulty, amidst blackouts and signal failures:

The Amazon rainforest had stopped sending signals. No communications, no successful overflights. Some satellites sent images: massive clearings where thick jungle used to stand, and gigantic shadows moving through the mist.

Australia's coast had also fallen. Perth, Brisbane—entire cities disappeared. Last distress messages spoke of giant sea beasts, trees that snatched ships like toys.

And the recordings...

Leaked videos showed scenes of nightmares:

Beasts of impossible shapes, some as tall as skyscrapers, destroying entire cities.

Carnivorous plants the size of buildings dragging soldiers and civilians into their gaping maws.

Rivers turned poisonous. Cities swallowed by colossal roots.

The entire world plunged into panic.Governments collapsed.Military units deserted.Entire families fled aimlessly.

Rob knew there was no turning back now.The apocalypse was just around the corner.

Tension at the Bastion

Inside the bastion, the atmosphere was heavy.

Training sessions became more intense.Guards were doubled.Children were moved to the reinforced inner sectors.

Victoria organized medical rounds and emotional support sessions.Alan, along with the other leaders, reinforced the security at all entrances.

Rob didn't rest.He supervised.He planned.He saw the fear in their faces... but also the determination.

They were ready.Or at least, as ready as anyone could be.

The First Attack Came by Surprise

It happened near dusk.

The perimeter sensors detected fast-moving masses.

—"Alert! Alert!"—the sentinels shouted.

Rob ran to the main wall.Through binoculars, he saw the first wave: mutated, deformed animals, medium-sized.They looked like twisted mixes of wolves, boars, and creatures that had never existed.

The mini-horde launched itself at the outer barriers.

—"Defensive positions!"—Rob ordered.

The automated systems repelled most of the attack: turrets, traps, electric discharges.

But some managed to get dangerously close.

A small side breach accidentally opened in one of the ventilation modules.Some children playing nearby were suddenly exposed.

Matthew, seeing the danger, ran without hesitation.With strength and skill, he pushed the metal gate closed just in time, blocking two mutant rat-beasts from entering.

His quick action saved the children's lives... and possibly many others.

Rob, watching from a distance, felt his heart explode with pride... and terror.His son was growing up—in the cruelest world imaginable.

Meanwhile, in another sector, a group of mutant rats managed to bypass some defenses.

Apolo and Maya, trained to protect, sprang into action.

The two dogs hurled themselves at the deformed creatures.Apolo bit the neck of one beast, bringing it down.Maya, quicker, took another down by attacking its legs.

Although they suffered some cuts, they defended the children with superhuman ferocity.

The terrified children managed to escape while Apolo and Maya held the line.

When the adults arrived, they found the two heroes covered in blood but standing tall, victorious.

The mini-horde was annihilated.The corpses of dozens of mutated creatures piled up outside the bastion's walls.

There were tears.There were hugs.And there was a reverent silence for their first true battle...Though this time, they were the survivors.

For now.

When Night Fell, the World Changed Forever

First, there was a subtle tremor.Then, a noise, like a deep roar...And then they saw it.

A massive crack opened in the sky.As if the very fabric of the heavens was made of glass—and someone had shattered it.

From the crack came bursts of impossible lights: colors no human being had ever seen before.

And then, the voice.

A voice that resonated in every corner of the Earth.

—"Welcome, humans. Your world has reached Life Level One. The Survival System has begun. From now on… fight or die. There are no other options. Entertain me."

The voice disappeared.

But the change was already done.

In front of every human being, even inside the bastion, a glowing interface appeared in midair:

[Survival System Activated]

Status: Initialization Complete

Base Level: F

Skills: None assigned

Survival Missions: Pending

Rob, standing atop the wall, looked up at the torn sky.

He clenched his fists.

—"This is where it all begins,"—he murmured—"And I swear... we will not fall."

The war for survival... had begun.