The air was laden with the pungent odor of blood, a gruesome tapestry of severed limbs strewn across the battlefield. Echoing cries of anguish pierced the smoky haze, as the flickering glow of ember fires cast ominous shadows in the background.

Amidst the carnage, the lifeless forms of men lay intermingled with the slain bodies of monsters—a testament to the ferocity of the battle they had engaged in. The great war that had ravaged the land was drawing to a harrowing close. Many, devoid of the bravery to face the conflict, had fled to the sanctuary of mountains and forests. Yet, a greater number remained, resolute in their determination to defend the land of their birthright.

In the midst of this desolation stood two solitary figures.

One, an elderly man, his visage marred by blood and wounds that veiled his once venerable countenance. His hair, which had flowed with the dignity and grace befitting a sovereign, was now matted with the dust and blood of battle. The armor that had once been his protection lay in tatters, a testament to the multitude of blows he had endured. Yet, amidst the ravages of war, there was an anomaly—a peculiar, radiant energy that emanated from his hands, signaling a power untold and formidable.

Opposite him towered a monstrous behemoth, fifteen meters tall, its form indistinct and shrouded in its own battle scars, mirroring the afflictions of its human adversary.

"I have relished our journey thus far, Gunglain," the monster declared, its voice a sinister echo across the desolate field. "The tables have now turned in my favor, and the end of your tyrannical reign is imminent!"

Too weakened by blood loss to muster a verbal response, the old man simply raised his hands, now clasped together as if in solemn prayer. A faint smile played upon his lips as he replied with a pained whisper, "It seems my sins are too great to be absolved, even in death."

A formidable force began to coalesce between his hands, a gravitational pull that seemed to draw in the very essence of the earth around them.

Perceiving the impending peril, the monster amassed its residual strength for a final onslaught. "CURSE YOU, GUNGLAIN!" it bellowed, its maw glowing like a cauldron of molten lava.

"GRAAHHH!!"

Just as the monster unleashed its fiery assault, the old man unfurled his hands.

"SEAL!"

A surge of black and white energy enveloped the battlefield, slowly expanding to consume the earth in its wake. The vibrations were immense, dwarfing even the most catastrophic of natural disasters. This was the moment when humanity's dark epoch was brought to a thunderous close.

With a sharp "Slap!" the tranquility of the classroom shattered.

"Owww! What the-!?" Kenneth's hand flew to his reddening cheek, stung by the unexpected slap.

"Disgusting! And drooling, no less! Was my lecture so tediously dull that it lulled you into such a profound slumber!?" The irate voice boomed through the room, unmistakably that of Mr. Harwick, their usually composed history teacher.

Kenneth winced, recognizing the disappointment in those familiar stern tones. Curse his late-night gaming marathon. Had it really been until 4 AM?

Groggily, he tried to orient himself, his senses sluggishly returning after being jolted awake in such an abrupt manner. His eyes focused on the fuming figure before him—Mr. Harwick, his face a mask of indignation.

"This makes it the twelfth time, Alvison! If you have no interest in learning, perhaps you'd be better off outside these school walls!" Mr. Harwick's voice cut through the air, more bitter than usual. Kenneth couldn't help but think about the rumors of the teacher's recent breakup. Poor guy, pushing 42 and back to bachelorhood.

The verdict came down like a hammer. "Your penance—write an apology letter and clean this entire classroom. Alone!"

With a resigned nod, Kenneth acknowledged the punishment. The classroom, once abuzz with whispers, fell eerily silent, the other students pretending to bury themselves in their books. This wasn't an unusual scene, after all.

As the day waned and the school bell echoed its final toll, students hurriedly vacated the room, eager to escape the confines of academia. The setting sun cast a melancholic orange glow across the empty classroom, the sounds of life outside slowly fading into the evening.

Kenneth, having finished his cleaning duty, sat alone penning the apology. The task was oddly meditative, a welcome distraction from his otherwise solitary existence at home. His parents, always away on business, left him with an echoing house and no one to share his daily trials.

Midway through his writing, a shadow loomed over his desk. Glancing up, he saw Eric, his classmate—tall, with a charisma that matched his dark, thick hair.

"What's the story this time? Another brawl, or...?" Eric's voice trailed off, an eyebrow raised inquisitively.

"Just nodded off. Too many games last night," Kenneth muttered, shrugging off his friend's concern.

Eric let out a small chuckle. "Everyone needs a break, Ken. But try not to make it a classroom habit, huh?"

Kenneth couldn't help but smile. "Easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect. What brings you here, anyway?"

A flash of realization crossed Eric's face. "You forgot? I promised to help you search for your necklace. Remember?"

"Oh, right." Kenneth quickly finished the letter. "Just give me a sec, then we can head out."

Together, they stepped into the quiet corridor, embarking on a quest for the lost necklace—a small adventure in the mundane routine of their school lives.

Green Rose was an institution for the elite, vast and sprawling, renowned as one of the finest schools in the country. Among its many intriguing locales was "The Tomb," a small forest behind the school, infamous for leading many who dared enter back to the eternal embrace of nature.

The place was known to be perilous, its slippery, rocky terrain having compelled the school to seal it off for decades.

Yet, the previous day, during a physical education class, some of Kenneth's classmates had stolen his necklace from his bag and flung it into "The Tomb." Luckily, Steven had overheard part of their conversation, followed them, and witnessed their actions. However, he didn't venture further, knowing the single narrow path to "The Tomb" could easily expose him.

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Many resented Kenneth for his aloof demeanor and apparent disregard for others, perceiving it as condescension.

After school, Kenneth and Steven met in front of the academic building.

"Ready to go?" Kenneth asked.

"Absolutely. I've prepared some provisions—food, a flashlight, and stickers to mark our path to ensure we don't get lost in case it's larger than we anticipate."

"This is why I always need you, Steven. Always so prepared!"

"No problem. But Kenneth, what are you planning to do about the culprits? Have you figured out who they are?"

"Not yet. I might just let it slide, considering the hassle of searching for them. I'll just make sure to secure my belongings better in the future."

"I thought you'd give them a thrashing."

"I'm not like that... unless I catch them. Then, I'll make sure they regret it... hehehe."

"That's why I like being friends with you, full of surprises."

They began their walk towards the back of the school.

It took them 15 minutes to reach the gate that separated the school grounds from "The Tomb." The gate, about three meters high and made of rusted iron, seemed neglected for years, despite the school's reputation for cleanliness.

Ivy snaked over the gate, and a hefty padlock secured it shut.

The gate was connected to a climbable wall, and it was apparent they would have to scale it.

Kenneth, more athletic than Steven, naturally went first. Reaching the top, he extended a hand to help Steven over.

"Hey Kenneth, be careful, the ground here is quite wet and muddy. We don't know if it's safe to step on."

"Okay, I think we should split up—I'll head west, and you go east. We'll find the necklace faster that way."

"Yeah, we need to hurry. It'll get dark soon, making it harder to search."

"Take these stickers. Stick them on trees so if something happens, I can follow them to find you."

With a plan in place, they ventured into the depths of "The Tomb," each taking a different direction, the fading light casting long shadows among the trees.

They nodded to each other and set off in different directions, the task at hand made increasingly difficult as night's cloak began to descend upon the forest.

The necklace, a family heirloom passed down through generations of the Alvison lineage, was of immense importance. Kenneth knew too well the displeasure his father would harbor if it were lost.

After a fruitless search near the wall, Kenneth decided to venture deeper into the foreboding woods.

Steven's worst fears materialized.

"huh?"

CRACK!

"oh, no-"

"WWWAAAA HELP!!!"

Kenneth tumbled down into a ravine, rolling violently and rapidly.

"ARRGGHH!!"

His body was marred with scrapes, and it seemed his right arm was fractured—a searing pain, but bearable. As an athlete, he was no stranger to such injuries.

"STEVEN!! I fell down here!!" Kenneth's voice echoed up.

"I did warn you about running carelessly."

Steven's voice floated down from above, his flashlight beam illuminating Kenneth's pained expression.

"Can you walk?"

"My legs seem okay. Is there a way back up?"

"Not the way you came down. I'll look for another route. If you can walk, try to find a way too. And remember the stickers."

Steven disappeared, searching for a safe path down, while Kenneth, albeit forgetfully, left no stickers behind and soon realized he was hopelessly lost.

"Oh no, I think I'm lost."

Drip.. Drip

"..."

"Huh?"

Raindrops began to fall, soaking and chilling Kenneth to the bone. His wounds stung sharply as the rain lashed against him. Confused and desperate for shelter, he delved further into the forest.

After some time, he stumbled upon a cave. Oddly, it was sealed with a door. Could this be the fabled "Tomb" spoken of in hushed tones?

Now was not the time for pondering. Shelter from the relentless downpour was paramount.

The door, though made of sturdy iron, was partially collapsed, unable to withstand the ravages of time.

Peering inside, Kenneth ensured it was safe. No sign of life, just a faint smell of bat droppings, but it seemed secure.

Once inside, he assessed his injuries, tearing strips from his shirt to bandage the wounds and prevent infection.

Outside, the rain intensified, making any attempt to leave an impossibility.

After calming himself, Kenneth decided to explore the cave rather than wait idly. Perhaps he'd even find his necklace.

Venturing deeper, he discovered signs of human habitation—freshly lit candles, scattered food supplies, and a warmth that permeated the air.

"Hello??" Kenneth called out, his voice trembling slightly.

He wasn't sure if it was wise, but he needed to confirm his safety.

Silence. No response.

Swallowing hard, Kenneth pressed on deeper into the cave's depths.

The cave now resembled a dwelling, with stairs and carved niches on either side, forming alcoves for storage. Inside these alcoves lay various items from the school: cigarettes, bags, umbrellas, and more.

It seemed the cave's occupant had a penchant for collecting artifacts from beyond "The Tomb."

Kenneth rummaged through the items, hoping to find the missing necklace.

No luck. Maybe it wasn't here? Should he delve deeper?

But just as he took a step, a familiar voice echoed from above.

"KENNETH!! ARE YOU THERE!?"

Steven's voice, laced with worry, rang out loudly, indicating his struggle to find Kenneth.

"I'M DOWN HERE!" Kenneth shouted back.

"HEY! I told you to stick those stickers on the trees, bro. You made it hard to find you." Steven's voice was a mix of relief and frustration.

You know the feeling when you find a lost pet?

"Anyway, check out this cave. Seems someone's living here."

"Yeah, they seem to have a thing for collecting stuff. Found your necklace?"

"Not yet. Maybe further in?"

"We've come this far, and the rain doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. Let's try our luck deeper inside. But stay alert, we don't know what kind of person the cave dweller is, and they might not be alone."

"Yeah, I know. If it looks dangerous, we run."

After a brief chat, they ventured further into the cave, which soon branched into two paths—one to the left and one to the right.

"Hmm, with the current situation, it's too risky to split up."

"I think it's still okay since we can see the end of these cave paths. We should still be able to shout to each other if needed."

Steven looked uncertain, but after a moment, he sighed again.

"Okay, okay. But if it gets too far, let's head back here."

"Don't worry, there's no sign of anyone here so far."

They parted ways, Kenneth taking the right path and Steven the left. At the end of the paths, they tested shouting to ensure safety.

There, a massive stone stood, about 5 meters high and 2 meters wide. Inscribed upon it were ancient symbols, indecipherable, with strange stains scattered across its surface.

In the center, a hand-shaped carving seemed to beckon for someone to place their hand inside.

"Hey, Steven! Do you see what I see?"

"A big stone with a hand carving?"

"Same here. Shall we try?"

"In horror movies, when you get too curious, you usually end up dead, you know?"

"You think this is a fantasy novel?"

"..."

"Come on, Steven! Maybe it'll unlock a secret place where my necklace is hidden!"

"Talking about fantasy, and he thinks like this.."

"Alright, big kid, if something bad happens, it's on you."

"Alright! On the count of!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

Steven placed his left hand, and Kenneth his right.

Silence.

"Huh?"

"Nothing happening?"

"... I told you not to read too many fantasy novel-"

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, an earthquake ripping through the cave!

"OH GOD, RUN KENNETH!"

"!!!!"

"ARRGHH!!"

For some reason, they couldn't pull their hands away from the stone, and from their shoulders, wounds peeled open, forming strange, unreal symbols on their arms.

"WAARGGHH.. W..WHAT IS THIS!?!?"

As the world trembled, they collapsed, exhausted.

And it seemed the epicenter of the earthquake was right in front of the cave.

Suddenly, a tremendous explosion erupted from the epicenter, a pillar of light shooting up from the ground, piercing the cave, the sky, splitting clouds and rain, silencing the world for a few terrifying seconds.

The rain abruptly stopped.

After a while, the light vanished, but the world remained silent, eerie screams echoing from the sky and the depths of the earth.

Everywhere, unknown creatures began to emerge.

From the sky descended dragons, gargoyles, griffins; from the ground came goblins, imps, ogres, and more.

From the sea emerged Leviathans, giant turtles, and other terrifying sea monsters.

"The Tomb" had awakened a terrifying force, releasing a millennia-old seal that contained all monsters harboring vengeance against humanity.

In this newly begun destruction of the world, Kenneth and Steven lay unconscious at the heart of the seal.