A man stood in the midst of the chaos, his eyes gleaming with a mix of satisfaction and greed. In his hand, he held a device that blinked feverishly, its lights reflecting off a crimson-hued artifact embedded in the wall. The artifact, with its rich and alluring red glow, was both beautiful and rare. The man's smirk widened as he marveled at his find.

Elsewhere, a young girl stumbled through the war-torn landscape, her path strewn with the lifeless bodies of fallen soldiers. The horror of the scene was etched on her face, her eyes wide with a profound emptiness that spoke of both fear and resignation. Her movements were erratic and desperate; she ran and stumbled over the corpses, her horror only deepening as she vomited in a fit of panic. Yet, despite the overwhelming distress, she forced herself to stand and continue desperately, driven by a sense of urgency that seemed to overpower her physical and emotional exhaustion.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Meanwhile, another man fought with every ounce of strength he had left. His opponent was relentless, and despite his fierce determination and clenched fists, victory seemed increasingly out of reach. He was locked in a desperate struggle, each blow exchanged a testament to his unyielding resolve. Yet, as he fought valiantly, it became clear that today would not be his day. His strength was waning, and the outcome of this fierce battle seemed tragically inevitable.

The fates of these three individuals were inexorably linked to tragedy. Each faced their own form of despair.