[: Daniel POV :]
As I saw their faces, memories of the post-apocalypse days with the Branch Leaders flooded my mind.
Each recollection brought a bittersweet mix of happiness and regret.
I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow for not having known them earlier.
Their kindness and care had woven their way into my heart, leaving an indelible mark.
It was a heartache to think that I had missed out on their presence in my life for so long.
The pain of their untimely departure weighed heavily on my soul.
It was as if a part of me crumbled with their passing.
However, the knowledge that the Branch Leaders were still alive fueled my resolve to shield them from that unwanted future.
I was committed to doing everything in my power to ensure their safety and well-being.
For the past year, I have been donating 10% of my drips to the Organization.
It was just a small drop, and none of it was as precious.
But for the key figures like my mother and the Branch Leaders, I had given them treasures that suited them the most.
And this act of generosity had transformed the leaders into formidable powerhouses, capable of unleashing destruction upon entire cities.
As for my mother, her powers had surpassed the realm of normality, turning her into a true monster.
Her Metal Conqueror endowed her with an unstoppable wrath, rendering nothing immune from her vengeful grasp.
If humanity’s fate revolved around metal, then her control over it made her a national threat that the Unison Government dared not confront.
However, since they were unaware of my connection to my mother as her son, they seemed daring enough in wanting to oppose her.
Perhaps, they had disregarded my warnings.
Even if they weren’t aware of my connection it doesn’t really matter.
Perhaps it was time for me to pay them another visit.
Soon, the time would come when they would have to take my words seriously, but this time, it won’t no longer be words, but rather, a complete massacre.
And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it’ll happen.
Amid everything that had transpired, I couldn’t bear to remain passive over the past year.
I didn’t want to repeat the same mistake, hence, I decided to forge deep connections with those that I know.
“Hey there, Daniel, why are you standing all alone? Need some company?”
Fara’s playful voice echoed through the air as she noticed me, teasing me gently with a smile.
As I locked eyes with her, a surge of pain flooded my heart, bringing back memories of the harrowing alternate future in which I had lost Fara.
It had been right after my mother’s death when Fara stepped into the role of being my mother, offering me love and tenderness as if I were her child.
She had many names and answered to various titles, but the one she cherished above all was when I called her “mother”.
The last thing that she could be is being a mother, and yet, her maternal instincts surged forth when she realized she needed to protect and nurture me.
She sheltered me, offering me unyielding support and showed me what it meant to belong to a tight-knit family.
And I deeply regretted his inability to reciprocate her love and care.
Once again, the memory of that bleak alternate future resurfaced, where I found myself at the refuge shelter after the Apocalypse had arrived.
“Danny… aren’t you hungry? You need to eat,”
Fara questioned, concern lacing her voice.
“I’m fine, I don’t really need to eat,” At that point, I replied stubbornly.
After the apocalypse, food and water were so scarce that, even a humble loaf of bread held immeasurable value – it was a luxury comparable to gold.
“Quit trying to be tough,” Fara chuckled softly.
“I know you’re hungry, so just have it,”
She insisted, handing her ration for the day to me.
“Fine, but you have to eat half,” I gave up but then, I split the bread in half and gave a portion to Fara. 𝙡𝓲𝒃𝓻𝙖.𝙘𝓸𝒎
“Thank you, Daniel”
Fara gratefully accepted the offering, her genuine smile spreading warmth throughout the small space we shared.
Later, as night descended upon the shelter, I and Fara, along with other weary refugees, nestled close together, seeking solace in each other’s presence.
“Fara, when will this all end?”
I pondered aloud, his gaze fixed on the shelter’s ceiling.
At that point, I had so many things on my mind that I was overwhelmed, and a tear formed as it traced down my cheek.
“Soon, my dear Daniel,”
Fara whispered, her arms enveloping my head as though cradling a child.
“I promise, everything will be fine. Just hold on.”
Seeking comfort in the embrace and the soothing rhythm of Fara’s heartbeat against my ear, I gradually surrendered to the weight of weariness, allowing sleep to claim me.
However, my peace was unexpectedly cut short as menacing monsters invaded.
“Monsters! Run!”
One of the refugees shouted.
His voice pierced the air, a desperate plea that was mixed with surprise and horror as the Apocalyptical Monsters tore through the shelter’s defences.
“R-Run!”
Panic spread like wildfire, a chorus of terror echoing through the underground haven.
Chaos reigned supreme, a symphony of screams and shouts that drowned out reason.
I was stunned, but at that moment, Fara’s embrace became a lifeline.
It was a fragile barrier that sheltered me from the impending horror.
The memories etched in my mind, vivid and haunting, like an indelible scar on my soul.
I watched how the shelter’s resistance crumbled before the relentless onslaught of the monsters as if it were made of paper.
The grotesque visage of those creatures, with their twisted forms and insatiable hunger, was etched into my mind.
“D-Don’t eat me!”
The words trembled on the lips of a doomed refugee, a gut-wrenching plea as the monsters closed in, their fangs dripping with menace.
“Ahhh! Nooo!” The same refugee screamed before he was eaten by the monsters cruelly.
“Please D-Don’t!”
Before my eyes, one unfortunate soul was cruelly toyed with.
His limbs were torn one by one, a nightmare beyond imagination.
But that was just the beginning of the slaughter as families were killed as they tried to protect one another.
I even saw a sight of a father trying to protect his 10-year-old daughter, only for them both to be slaughtered in half.
The shelter was filled with blood, limbs and even lifeless bodies.
My body froze at that moment as fear consumed me.
Tears began flowing down and I clung to Fara with all the strength I had left, seeking solace in her embrace amid the hellish nightmare of suffering and screams.
“F-Fara, I-I’m scared,”
My voice quivered as I was uncertain how were we going to escape from these
impending doom.
The Apocalyptical Monsters’ average levels were above 400.
They were a force unlike any we’d encountered in Modern Fantasia.
Even the mobs of these monstrous abominations were more formidable than the very bosses that some had struggled to defeat in the Modern Fantasia.
Knowing that hopelessness hung in the air, a suffocating shroud that escaped seemed impossible.
Yet, amidst the darkness, Fara’s gentle touch on my head brought a glimmer of peace.
“Daniel…”
Her voice, a soothing melody amidst the chaos, pierced through the clamour and fear that had engulfed me.
“Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine…”
Her words, spoken with unwavering conviction, carried a sense of serenity that defied the impending catastrophe.
I gazed at her, and in that moment, her smile radiated courage and a defiance of fear.
It was as if she held the power to defy the very apocalypse that loomed before us.
“Everything is going to be fine…”
She offered me a reassuring smile before separating herself from me and rising to her feet.
“I will protect you,”
She declared, her words carrying a resolute undertone that left little room for questioning.
As I watched in awe, her human form began to transform.
A black, thin tail protruded from her back, its end taking the shape of a heart.
Two small horns emerged from her forehead, bringing out her changed appearance.
Her pupils turned a sharp, vibrant pink, while her hair transformed into a radiant shade of silvery white.
Before I could even comprehend what was unfolding before my eyes, she vanished from sight.
In that instant, the monstrous beings that surrounded us began dropping lifelessly to the ground.
Their reign of terror was abruptly ended.
Blinking in disbelief, I watched as creature after creature met its demise, unable to comprehend the immense power she possessed.
Awe and admiration filled my heart, as I bore witness to the extraordinary strength she possessed.
At that moment, any doubts or worries were eclipsed by the sheer marvel of her abilities.
However, I was too early in celebrating.
I was clueless at that point about the true terrors of monsters and I regretted not asking Fara to run with me.
We shouldn’t have stayed.