Countless vehicles speed over the dark roads towards the ghost city. They can hear the distant explosion of those who had gone first. This marks the Revolution as the point where it will finally taint its hands on blood in order to reach a denouement for both the era of corruption and the era of the voices that yearn for freedom.

On one of the streets, someone stood up from their truck, boldly facing the violent breeze and biting cold. Tightening his grip, he spoke with his modulated voice. Not only as motivation but also as a reassurance for the complicated fear inside his fainting heart.

…….

“For decades of unrelenting resistance, we've reached what was known as the greatest revolution and impact within the lives of everyone that lives in the Rhythms.”

“We all know that it was not perfect. It didn't solve problems instantly and it also brought its own problems…”

“-But, we also know that there's no other solution we could have taken in a pacifist way, as a people of the government that we voted for, that we hoped… would serve and protect us.”

“Starlium Gear and the Maker is a beautiful myth that inspired us to voice our resentment, frustration, thought, and power.”

“We reawakened to ponder the questions we wanted to solve. For all injustices.”

“Now… Here we are, in this decade-old myth… that kept the fuel of this divine voice in the heart of the revolution striving forward became true right in front of our eyes.”

“This is the end of times… Ladies and gentlemen. This is the last time we are here to prove something. This is the last and first time that this revolution will be remembered as the bloodiest.”

A deep inhale audible in the air. For all the passing participants that will try to wrestle the myth away from the usurpers.

“This is happening. We are fighting the government. The bastards at the top… I can't believe this… I don't have a pride for this city yet, I feel a betrayal in my heart.”

From the start till now, no one is still cheering or making a noise, except this person. The silence is deafening more than the buzzing of a thousand engines.

“Your families, friends, whether you joined for the thrill of it, or you really want to change the fate of the lives we live in. You are going to kill and you're going to be killed tonight.”

“There is still a chance to back out. And live… Protect your family… Protect your friends. Forget all of this.”

He took his silence finally. To give someone the time they need to think, for themselves.

And no one veered off.

Maybe it is too late.

Maybe the other cars are blocking the path.

Maybe they realized that nothing would change whether they knew or not.

The world will change today no matter what.

These cars remained ants marching steadily to the dark nest.

“Well… I guess if you're here… Then there's no need for a total stranger like me to hear why you're not going back. We might or we might not be thinking the same thing.”

He took another short pause, he knocked on the roof of the truck he's in. And a hand extends with a bottle of beer towards him.

He smiled and took a drink with a refreshing exhale.

“Alright… this is it. Ladies… and gentlemen… godspeed.”

The atmosphere was cold and somber. No one clapped, cheered, or sneered at the speech. Yet deep in their vehicles, acknowledging nods and tight grips were all the praise they could offer, for the same sentiments crept into their hearts.

……

The world, once thought incapable of surpassing recorded levels of light pollution, has now unbelievably saturated every corner of the cities. Aether constructions have reached heights brighter and denser than what was known before.

In Stelaris, indiscriminate violence rages on, and the police, with their monotonous exoskeleton uniforms and visors, find no protection for their frail bodies underneath. The unhinged exit their cars, leaping like frogs in joy.

________________

[This is a live feed for Exrace Media News! Channel 4. Everyone dear citizens, we are hovering above to view the entirety of the chaos happening below!]

[Riots are breaking out simultaneously over the 4 cities of Rhythms and here in Stelaris, a large amount of Aether construct creations are being used as a weapon by the thugs that havoc in the streets! As we can see, they are trying to set arson over there!]

…….

The traffic enforcers stood no chance as the contrarians bashed their heads with Aether constructs, causing concussions and blindness that effectively incapacitated them.

The rich dared not leave their building prisons, and no amount of effort could answer their pleas amidst the riot below. Ordinary people didn't care about the reasons either. "Just run and don't try to be a hero" was on their minds.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Unfortunately, some of the anarchists outside, who came out to play, were not only targeting the authorities but they intended to harm the general.

_____________________

[Oh my god, oh my god! The terrorists are bombing several buildi- AHHHH! No no no!!!]

…..

The shock from the news anchor girl had left a sense of dread to this anticipated chaos.

The once-colorful revolution brought by the Starlium Gear is painting the night sky in crimson and oranges. The terrorists breach open the buildings and start shooting the people indiscriminately, refugee or not.

With their portable hovering devices, they circle tall buildings and throw bombs that collapse on the ground at every explosion it takes.

The bullets and laser beams rained the screens blinded the street for the first time shut its eyes. It is a conflicting image of the destruction of the city being both at its brightest times with the unusual phenomenon happening on Aether energy and also the darkest times with all of the sparking and burning billboards and giant screens broken to pieces.

______________________

[Huff… huff… No… This is not real… Where are the authorities? Where are they!? Oh my god! Oh my god! They, 're lifting someone in the air!]

[Oh shit…]

……..

Even at that point, the cameraman can't stay quiet. He zoomed over the bunch of gangs lifting an old middle-aged man in the air who seemed to have a fancy suit. His horrified face shows the fear he has with all the tight grip he has on his captors.

“I'll pay you! I'll pay you whatever amount you want! Please put me down! Please! What do you want dear sir! I haven't had any grud-”

A loud thud from a face punch and mocking sneers is what he received from the 4 of them.

“Hey, don't be scared, you don't have a grudge against us, right? So what are you bitching about?”

“Hik… Please!!! Please!!!”

“Oh my god boss, this fucker’s annoying. He cries like a bitch! Should we just-”

“No no no… shut the fuck up, Michael. I have a fucking beef over this guy.” One of the guys in the front who threw the punch earlier locked eyes with this wealthy man with clear bloodshot eyes.

“Of course, you have no grudge. You don't even remember the people you fucking trample.”

He grabbed him by his hair and with his rusty metal arm, he punched him 3 times that broke the old man’s nose and ripped the skin hanging from the crevices of his fists.

The blood drips endlessly and the old man is getting lethargic. His voice is already turning to disabled gibberish.

“Phlease stoph-”

“My mother set up her own business on this same street. A mere home restaurant for the people to eat in this busy area.”

The other 3 remained silent for their brother executing his vengeance.

“She painstakingly researched this area to see how effective the traffic was for her potential consumers.”

“She saved a lot of money working, and even got debts just for all the construction, manpower, resources… promotions and all…”

“I was this bastard son… Good for nothing, live a life with these freaking jerks…” He laughed at his friends who also chuckled a bit from his remarks.

“My mother hated my choices in life, you know? But she still cared for me. Always hoping to get a hold of where I fucking am, to give my unemployed ass a job.”

He still laughed with sarcasm but they can see the broken voice he has.

“It was all going too well…” He touched the bridge of his nose, preventing any tears trying to leak out.

“It was all going too well that a bastard like you had to ruin it.”

“You decided to make your commercial space a megamall and connect it towards the rail road towards that fucking ghost city!”

“You fucking joined the hype over a piece of fucking scam! That fucking paradise city? A fucking unfinished stunt like that!? You built a shitty mall, bought other property and space from the other small businesses over fucking nothing?”

“You didn't let my mom reposition at all! You fucking threatened her immediately to close her restaurant unlike the other buildings! You fucking ruined the reputation of her dishes! Sue her in court over the land she bought with your falsified evidence and ruthlessly broke everything without recovering it first!”

He lifted the old man alone in the throat who grasped his hands tightly and pedaled his feet.

“Your old ass is so excited for a non existent shit thinking you're gonna be part of a trend but you're not you fucking idiot! You wasted your flop mall because the railroad was also destroyed out of those fucker’s shame! Your mall had fucking nothing without that rail road! Nothing but pretentious fancy bullshit no one could afford!”

“Im… sorry- cough- cough.” The old man's tears can't stop from all the begging he's trying.

He twisted the old man’s clothes and dropped his hands from his neck, letting him speak again.

“I'll compensate you- cough your mother! 40 million corium, or anything! Anything! Spare me please!”

“Nah… A different payment is what I'm thinking.”

He moved his arm from his front to the side, signing his impending doom.

“You see… When I learned that she's trying hard to reach me to employ me… I ignore her. Shame from what a failure of a human being I am, failing my life, my school, my social and my mom. And then I would learn later that she lost her restaurant. I thought it flopped, that's why she lost it. But when I saw what truly happened. I am angry at you and at myself.”

“But what's truly resentful is that… My mom has no way of paying her debts anymore. She was put on another debt hiring a lawyer and the sueing you made. She's already the same age as you when I was 18. And no jobs are available for a middle aged woman who is not beautiful. Because it is already too late.”

“And so my mom… fell into this… depression. This state… Still, trying her best to be cheerful. But she's already walking blind. She doesn't know how she will pay her debts of course. And with all that daydreaming, she got into an accident. And unfortunately…”

He took a deep breath, looking at the cloudy night sky under the full moon.

“....”

“I am not aware I'm sorry please! I will make it up, I still have childrens I love! They need me! like your mother wanted to take care of you! I- cough, wanted to take care of them as well!”

“Oh…? I see…”

“Please!” Pleading desperately, the man did his best to look as miserable and guilty as possible.

“How inspiring old man… childrens you love huh…? I see… then if you're in my position… If your business got trampled by a miserable greedy pig, what do you think your children can do for you to help you?”

Silence… silence from him looking at the old man’s eyes undeterred, and the old man's wandering eyes, trying to find an answer as if it's in the edges of his vision.

“Uhm..uh- uhhhh” His breathing is getting raspy.

“You don't know what your children are going to do for you to help you?”

“Uhhh- they will lend me mo-” He noticed the sudden widening of his eyes once again. That was not the answer he's looking for.

“They will help me and… you… ch- cheer me! Yes yes! That's it! I don't need money! As long as they are here by my side! I- I am happy!”

The old man smiled, believing he had said something wholesome and genuine. He was sure it was a relatable answer that the other man would find acceptable..

But instead, he looks at him with disgust.

“That's it? Your fucking generic “don't need money as long as I have my family?” You never considered fucking over the bastard that ruined your life? Gain attention from the unfair fuckery you suffered? That's all you gotta say?”

“No- please! I can ex-”

“You fucking stuttered. Your eyes fly off. You don't actually know what your kids are going to do for you. You don't know what to do either. You think you're clever for your answer? No you idiot! That's the most pretentious thing a rich person had ever said! You don't fucking understand at all!”

“No, no no!!!!”

The old man felt the loosened grip from his clothes. The man had become taller and taller until he was beneath his feet.

“I said I'm thinking of a different payment. This is definitely my solution.”

In full detail on camera, the cry and the grabbing air of the old man was captured. The camera man obviously didn't show the plummet body on the ground but the loud thud and cracking from the pavement and the bones is disturbing enough for the viewers to imagine.

…….

“Damn… you got your revenge… what to do now?”

“I don't know. World's fucking chaos. Look at this. There are so few hundred authorities coming for backup enforcing the city. While the other fuckers down there still busy bombing others.”

“This is fucking crazy… Should we go there?”

“Where?”

“The ghost city? Let's join the treasure hunt.”

“I'm done with my revenge. No one would care if we all die anyway. No one is even mourning people's loss. Those police pigs don't care about the injured. Look at them, shooting competitively.

A world who had given up serving their people. A miserable world.

No matter how they try to deny the words of a criminal commiting a crime right in front of their eyes. It is true. How come do they have the guts to criticize him for the misery of his mother? When these are the kind of authorities they entrusted with their lives.

“Let's go and dip.”

The four hovering figures left where they were floating earlier. Away from the ashes of the city.

No one's showing empathy nor care for those injured. What matters is stopping the havoc caused by terrorists out there. No medical stations being escorted nor any personnel.

No rescuers for fire or debris. Just the same old iron hands the people wished they could've utilized but no.

Imagining hope, despair and laughter further turned the night ever so brightly.

The Aether resonates within their emotions, illuminating the world that is breaking apart before their eyes.

…….

[The streets of Mugen have been emptied! Countless hover planes are now going to the ghost city where the rumored Starlium Gear was! Even so, there are still few gangs that are shooting indiscriminately and few of the citizens resisting back… No signs of the authorities…]

…..

[Help! Help! Call the cops at station 6! Shit shit the Rosetail gang is onto us! AHhH-]

[The fire the fire!!!! Get it off! AHHH!]

The video livestream was cut off, the man falling to the ground after his leg was sliced and a burning man from behind were the final recorded moments in Twilight.

[This is scary… Are we the only reporters here at Solaris?]

[Y-yeah… We arrived first. But… what happened to the city? It's all dark, the buildings I mean, I can't see any- AHHHH]

A hand extended from the door of the hover plane, it grabbed the feet of the cameraman and threw him in the air, followed by the news anchor.

It is no exaggeration. The level of violence seen across the 4 cities has never bee

n seen before.

For others, it might be the final resistance before a new era ushered in.

For others, it is the opportunity to let themselves wild in the lawless land given up by the greedy.

And for others…

This might be the end of the world they know.