Imelda's eyes widened in horror as she stared at Mr. Cavan's mangled head. She stumbled forward, vomiting uncontrollably. The creature's gaze shifted towards the siblings, its eyes burning with an unholy hunger. Without hesitation, Ayid yanked Imelda off the ground and sprinted towards the safe zone.

"Come on, Imelda! We have to go, NOW!" Ayid yelled, his voice laced with determination.

Imelda's eyes were fixed on the white line marking the safe zone, her mind racing with the countdown. "Can we make it?" she thought, her heart racing.

Ayid could hear the countdown too, the seconds ticking away with agonizing slowness. Three... Two...

With a surge of adrenaline, Ayid hurled Imelda across the white line, spinning around to face the creature mere feet away. His hand closed around the pistol Mr. Cavan had tossed to him in a final act of sacrifice.

"Die!" Ayid snarled, pulling the trigger with a fierce cry.

The bullet tore through the creature's mouth, but it barely flinched. Enraged, it swung its massive arm, striking Ayid with a bone-crunching blow. Ayid felt his ribs crack beneath the impact, the pain exploding through his body like a supernova. He was sent flying across the white line, landing hard on the ground.

As the creature raised its arms to deliver the final blow, Ayid heard the countdown reach zero. Time seemed to slow as he gazed up at the creature's descending arms, his vision blurring...

Ayid gazed up at the sky, seeing tiny objects falling like meteors. But as they drew closer, he realized with a start that they weren't tiny at all. Instead, they were four massive mechanical structures descending from the sky like colossal pillars. The structures slammed into the earth with a deafening crash, sending shockwaves through the ground.

Each structure was shaped like a truncated pyramid, with a flat top and sloping sides. They were made of a metallic material, with a textured, machined surface that gleamed in the light. Gears, cogs, and pistons moved in a blur of motion, as if they were alive. The structures hummed with energy, emitting a low, pulsating glow that illuminated the surrounding area.

As the creature attacked, the structures responded by projecting a vast, half-circle dome of holographic energy. The dome arced overhead, its edges anchored to the pyramids, sealing off the safe zone from the outside world. The hologram was so realistic that it seemed like a solid barrier, its surface rippling and shimmering like water.

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The dome stretched high into the sky, piercing the clouds like a shard of glass. It covered the entire city, enveloping skyscrapers and buildings in a protective embrace. The creature slammed against the dome, but it held firm, repelling the attack with a blast of force energy. Ayid stared in awe, realizing that the structures were generating a massive, interconnected hologram to protect the survivors.

Ayid's eyes remained fixed on the dome above, his mind reeling in shock. How did it just...appear? He couldn't wrap his head around it. The sound of clapping broke through his trance, growing louder with each passing moment.

He spun around, his gaze scanning the crowd, and that's when he saw them - people parting like a sea, making way for someone. Ayid's eyes landed on the man, and his breath caught. He was in his mid-30s, with a charming smile that seemed to light up the space around him. His black army shirt with glowing blue edges was open at the top, revealing his chest, and a black band crossed his chest, attached to shoulder pauldrons. A black cape with a purposeful split flowed behind him, reaching his legs, and he wore black pants and tall black boots with white heels and toes.

There was something strange about him, an aura that Ayid found oddly familiar, like a memory he couldn't quite place. The man's presence seemed to command attention, and Ayid felt drawn to him, despite himself.

"Bravo, kid!" the man exclaimed, his clapping slowing to a stop as he approached. "You've certainly made an...impact on everyone here who watched you." His voice was warm and rich, but there was an undercurrent of something else, something that made Ayid's skin prickle.

Ayid's mind raced, trying to process what was happening. Who was this man?

"Who are you?" Ayid asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The man chuckled, his smile growing wider. "Ah, you'll learn that soon enough. For now, let's just say...I'm a big fan of you." His eyes glinted with amusement, and Ayid felt a shiver run down his spine.

The man surveyed the crowd, his calm smile a stark contrast to their confusion and surprise. "Welcome, everyone, to those who made it here safely. My condolences to those who didn't – may they rest in peace." He paused, his voice booming through the silence. "My name is Captain Levy, and I'm here to explain our situation."

The crowd exchanged nervous glances, unsure what to make of Levy's enigmatic statement. Ayid, however, felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at Captain Levy, who continued, "Let's come to an understanding before I proceed. Please remain calm; I'd prefer not to repeat myself, okay?" The crowd stared, awaiting answers to their questions.

Levy's next words sent a wave of panic through the crowd: "The world you knew is no more." Mumbling erupted, with fear and anxiety taking hold. An elderly man, badly wounded, spoke up, his voice rising with anger: "What are you saying? We don't understand! Is this some kind of prank, young man?"

Levy exhaled slowly, his expression somber. "I wish it were, sir. But unfortunately, it isn't."

Ayid's eyes widened in disbelief, struggling to accept the reality of the situation and the deaths he had just witnessed. A part of him clung to the hope that this was all just a dream, and he would soon wake up. Captain Levy's words only added to the surreal nature of the scene.

"I know it's hard to accept, but try to forget everyone and everything you knew that aren't here. It'll save you a lot of pain. Trust me," Captain Levy said, his gaze fixed on Ayid as if reading his thoughts.

A voice from the crowd responded, laced with skepticism, "How can we believe a word you say? You're just a liar!"

Captain Levy's smile remained, but his voice took on a firm tone. "Believing me is your choice, not mine. And please, don't interrupt me again."

The air was thick with tension, and the unpredictability of Captain Levy's behavior only added to the sense of unease. He paused, looking up slowly, and his smile faded.

"The world you see today, you shall see no more... I think that's how the Bible put it, or something," he said, chuckling to himself, a hint of irony in his voice.