The Dawn of the Dark Age.
It’s said that on an otherwise ordinary afternoon, cracks of various sizes suddenly appeared in the sky, causing mass panic worldwide.
These cracks weren’t just anomalies—they became portals from which monsters poured out, wreaking havoc and destruction.
Michael knew the historical accounts well, both from school and from forum discussions.
But the current situation felt different.
For one, he believed people back then had sharper survival instincts, reacting swiftly to the unknown anomaly.
Secondly, according to records, the highest-level cracks during the dawn of the dark age were only level 2, and even those were rare. It wasn’t until much later that stronger cracks began to appear.
Now, as Michael assessed the chaotic energy radiating from the sky, he could sense at least two level 2 cracks in his vicinity, along with multiple level 1s.
He wasn’t overly concerned about the level 1 or 2 cracks—he might not be able to protect the entire neighborhood, but he could certainly shield his family.
At this point Michael had stopped feeling guilt about the issue with the suspicious duo earlier. Looking at how it seemed like the entire city was covered in this cracks, there was really nothing he could do except make the final result slightly better.
What worried him were the cracks above level 2, the ones farther from the ground.
Though Michael’s understanding of power levels among Awakeners and Cultivators was still shaky, he doubted he could handle a Level 4 crack on his own.
He figured that, with Lucky and Prince by his side, a Level 3 might be manageable, but even that wasn’t guaranteed.
Crack monsters were different from regular monsters, with their overwhelming numbers being their most dangerous trait.
Yet, those cracks weren’t his primary concern.
The Federation and the Association were tasked with handling such large-scale threats.
As Michael watched the cracks near the ground turn a deeper red, the people outside finally began to sense the danger and grew visibly uneasy. His thoughts raced.
“Isn’t it said that aside from the initial cracks at the start of the apocalypse, cracks naturally form due to negative energy? But all these cracks were caused by demonic cultivators. Or is it one of those natural disasters triggered by human actions?”
More pressing was whether he could boost his strength at the last minute.
The only viable method was to use his Evolution Points.
Unfortunately, Michael wasn’t in a position to leave the original world for the Land of Origin.
Closing his eyes for even a second could result in waking up to a monster inside his apartment.
More importantly, leaving would endanger not only his family but also himself, as his body would remain defenseless while he was in the Land of Origin—a glaring weakness for Awakeners at his level.
It was said that this vulnerability diminished at higher ranks, but such knowledge was far beyond Michael’s reach.
Thankfully, before leaving the Land of Origin earlier, Michael had summoned all the undead he could dismiss back into the Netherworld.
The only ones left behind were either newly revived, unevolved, or unable to be summoned yet.
“At least this happened after I equipped my undead.”
That thought gave Michael some solace, though he knew it was the least of his concerns. Still, a part of him was relieved that he wouldn’t have to summon a bunch of naked corpses in front of his aunt and cousin.
Just as that faintly amusing thought crossed his mind, Michael’s phone vibrated. In a daze, he pulled it out and saw a notification.
It was a message from the Association.
[Urgent! Monsters are emerging from cracks in the city! Every supernatural is mandated to protect the public. Non-compliance will result in severe punishment. Repeat: All Federation-affiliated supernaturals in Woodstone City must safeguard the public from immediate threats. Free use of ability in public is permitted. May the will of aurora live for a million years!]
As Michael finished reading the message, a sudden shout echoed from outside the apartment, drawing his attention—and that of his aunt and cousin.
“Look! Something’s coming out of that crack!”
Michael cursed under his breath.
The sight of a crack alone should have been enough to keep anyone inside. Even without knowing about monster-infested cracks as one wouldn’t know what it looked like until one saw it, a knowledge reserved for supernaturals, basic survival instincts should’ve kicked in.
Michael turned toward the direction of the shout.
A couple stood outside, the woman pointing at a specific crack in the sky.
Michael followed her gesture, his eyes narrowing.
Then he froze.
Emerging slowly from the crack were small, green figures.
The couple, hindered by the dim light, couldn’t make out the details, but Michael could.
His sharp eyes caught the unmistakable sight of green hands clawing their way out of the rift.
“What’s that?”
Michael heard Lily’s voice beside him as she tried to squeeze past him for a better view.
Michael wasn’t about to let that happen.
With a firm grip, he pulled her back and spoke in a calm but commanding tone.
His cold green eyes sent a chill down Lily’s spine, the first time her cousin had ever unsettled her like this.
“Stay here and don’t move. You too, Aunt Mia.”
His voice was soft yet authoritative, leaving both of them in a daze. They nodded instinctively.
Michael turned his attention back outside.
By now, it had finally dawned on the crowd that staying outside was a terrible idea, and people began rushing indoors. But it was too late.
The full appearance of the green figures came into view as they plummeted from the sky.
Some crashed into the ground, breaking limbs and leaving pools of blood. Others landed directly on fleeing civilians, crushing them on impact.
The chaos escalated.
Some of the green creatures survived with broken limbs; others were cushioned by their companions, emerging in better shape.
Hundreds of these figures rained down, filling the surroundings with screams and carnage. Enjoy new stories from empire
It felt as though hell had descended on Aurora.