> AUTHOR'S NOTE:
>
> The creation of this story was a long, messy process, especially in the first few chapters. This isn't an official final release, so there might be other drafts in the future if some fixes are needed. Please point out any egregious errors that you may find. I accept any kind of criticism because I strive to make this story as best as it can be, or at least make it fun and engaging, and I hope you can help by sharing your thoughts.
>
> That would be all, have fun...
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CHAPTER 1: IN THE MIDST OF...
The great, never-ending struggle, tormenting nations alike for countless generations and marking thousands for life, etches yet another chapter of tragedy and collective hardship developing in the history of a time-bent, twisted, and unforgiving world. Spanning multiple generations since, its relentless conflict of unknown magnitude condemns its inhabitants those unlucky to stick around and witness their self-destruction.
From its inception and the first who suffered through it, there was never a choice; their fate was sealed. Cursed with infertility and fleeting mortality, they are fated to combat their own inner demons, to the detriment of their very souls. But their efforts were futile, as their punishment worsened at a rapid pace with each passing day and with no end in sight.
Evidenced time and time again, this grim and taxing conflict reared its head, this time in the form of a massive assault against several Echokin factions, brought by the dreadful Omens. Whether born of spite, greed, or desperation, it served as yet another daunting reminder of the harsh reality they had come to accept. Despite their conflict being one of many blemishes in history, a fire burning as old as the world itself was reignited with their destructive spark.
They deliberately unleashed another vicious round of an eternal war for those states daring enough to defy their fate and risk their livelihood for a chance of abrogating their existential burden. Even if they managed to defend and secure the safety of their states, at this point, they had learned the harsh truth: they'd never be fully set free, not as long as they lived. Another fight was just part of their routines. Survival wasn't a choice but a grim necessity that they had to fight, albeit that through any victories, the only rewards seemed to be an ever-widening distance and rancor among them.
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Therefore, battle by battle, the nature of the battlefield had been smoldered by the collective grief and hatred of all survivors. Consequently, with every generation further scarring the land, their world now hosted souls festered by malice, adrift in a sea of senseless violence and despair as they subjected themselves to their own despicable atrocities without reason.
Without knowing the reasons that they had forgotten to ask a long time ago, and driven by hollow notions of territory and honor, they waged war blindly, their actions serving only to perpetuate the cycle of violence and anguish. They fought on, fixated on empty justifications, fueling a global massacre, and ignoring the sadistic amusement they provided to those in power. Covering up their feebleness their sole goal remained the same, and so, those poor souls fought unyieldingly and followed orders from the next in the chain of command, all in the desperate hope of finding a justification or purpose for surviving another day.
In the grand scheme of things, only a handful of notable heroes and figures are worthy enough to rise above the sea of disposable pawns. Their stories, immortalized in legend, offer glimpses of hope amid the endless conflict, providing meaning past senseless rivalry. Yet, amidst the turmoil, one figure stands poised to shift the balance, rewrite the narrative, and inspire change.
As violence rages on the battlefield, they await the arrival of a catalyst, a force capable of redefining their existence and reshaping the course of history by ending the war. A mere chapter in this saga could hold the power to alter the narrative, and it falls upon a single protagonist to write it. But whoever takes up the mantle and avoids the past mistakes of their ancestors must possess the strength to not only survive but recount the tale for generations to come. Thus, the stage is set for the emergence of a new hero...
| WHEN THEY ASKED ME IF I KNEW YOU
I'D SMILE AND SAY YOU WERE A FRIEND OF MINE |