The End of Calm
"Peace was never a permanent state, only a pause before the next scream of chaos."
Three months had passed since Rob's celestial slash, an act that changed the course of human history. During that time, the alliances used every moment wisely. In South America, the bastions not only rebuilt—they flourished under Rob's strategic leadership.
The La Paz bastion in Bolivia was designated the regional defensive core. Surrounded by mountains and protected by a series of natural formations, it became the tactical capital of South America. There, Rob spent long weeks training new Guardians and developing an integrated defense system alongside his team.
Meanwhile, Alex, Thea, Lee Ming, and Nikolav continued their training in their respective bastions, raising the standards of Guardians across North America, Europe, and Asia. Mohammed and Ali, though still unmoved, remained stationed in their strategic zones—India and Egypt—ready to respond to any emergency call.
A New Threat
One clear morning, everything changed.
Global screens—linked through the new unified system created by Alan and María—began broadcasting an unprecedented alert. A message from the Survival System appeared in multiple languages:
[WORLD MISSION ACTIVATED: "TRIAL OF UNITY"][10 SS- Class Entities have been released][Location: Randomly selected bastions][Time limit for neutralization: 72 hours][Special rewards activated]
Within seconds, the global map lit up. Ten red points marked impact sites—five in bastions aligned with Rob, and five in opposing ones.
Rob remained calm as he stared at the blinking marker over Bolivia. A creature had landed near El Alto, moving toward La Paz with brutal speed.
—The beast chose our home —he said with a tense smile— Let it come.
Tactical Division
—We split up! —Rob ordered immediately— Each of us protects their territory. Mohammed, Ali: stay alert in case any region needs reinforcements. No one acts alone or without a plan.
The Guardian network activated.Thea headed toward the European bastion in the Alps.Alex left for Seattle.Lee Ming deployed her fire squad toward the South Pacific.Nikolav headed to the mountainous region of Siberia.
As for Rob, he didn't hesitate. He flew straight into the heart of the conflict, knowing this wouldn't be just another battle.
Rob's Decision
As he descended into La Paz, Rob could feel the beast's aura. It was enormous—a six-armed bipedal colossus, its body covered in metallic scales, and a glowing core blazing from its chest. The creature's power was immense.
He could use the Void Blade. He could end this in an instant. But he wouldn't.
—Not this time —he muttered— This is my chance to ascend. To push my sword to S-rank and transform my body. Today, I fight with everything I've learned.
He activated the two new skills he had perfected over months of training:
• Unstoppable Edge (Rank S+) – An active enhancement that boosted his weapon's penetration power, strength, and speed for a full hour.• Leap (Rank S+) – A spatial teleportation skill, allowing movement within a 100-meter radius, creating unprecedented offensive and defensive opportunities.
—Let's see what I can do without shortcuts —he said, gripping his sword.
The Phrase That Caught the World's Attention
On global channels, a military commentator from the EuroAsia Defense Network summed up what millions were thinking as they observed the contrasting responses between alliances:
—This isn't just a battle for survival... it's a demonstration of who was truly prepared for the inevitable.
The phrase went viral within minutes. Social media, civilian and military forums, digital news outlets—everyone was repeating it:
"A demonstration of who was prepared for the inevitable... and who can lead humanity."
It became a slogan, a hymn, a silent judgment against those who had never believed in Rob.
Blood in the HeightsSouth American Bastion – La Paz, Bolivia
The roar of the creature could be heard from kilometers away. With six arms and a body covered in metallic scales that shimmered beneath the Andean sun, the SS- beast advanced with destructive fury. Automated defense towers were ripped from the ground like dry branches, while B+ rank Guardians held their positions with unshakable discipline.
—Formation one! Tighten the flanks! No one enters the attack range until I give the order! —shouted Rob, activating his tactical link with regional commanders.
The Guardians obeyed. They had trained under him. They trusted him. Their movements were precise. Their formations, flawless. Civilians had already been evacuated hours earlier thanks to the early alert system.
Rob, on the other hand, held nothing back.
He leapt in a flash, reappearing above the creature's head, sword raised high.
—Unstoppable Edge! —he roared.
The impact shattered one of the monster's cranial plates. It howled in rage, swung one of its six arms, and tried to crush him—but Rob vanished.
—Leap!
In an instant, he reappeared 80 meters behind the colossus, already ready for the next strike. An epic duel unfolded in the Bolivian highlands, with one goal in Rob's mind: ascend to S-rank, together with his sword, through this victory. His strength and energy would double. He had to win without using the Void Blade.
Bastion of England – Manchester
On the other side of the world, horror was taking shape. A serpent-like creature made of black energy with rotary saw-like teeth emerged from the underground right in the middle of the city. Its breath released a poisonous mist that corroded steel.
Manchester was one of the core centers of the alliance that rejected Rob's vision. There, A-rank Guardians had underestimated the threat. They did not evacuate in time. They didn't set up proper defenses. They weren't organized.
—We have no formation! Where is the tactical leader?! —cried a young B-rank Guardian, her shield cracked.
The few high-rank Guardians present were scattered, fighting in different zones with no coordination. In less than fifteen minutes, the command center was wiped out. C and D-rank Guardians, used as frontline without backup, were devoured or crushed.
—They're killing us like rats! —screamed one survivor— There's no one in charge!
Bastion of Canada – Alberta Region
In the snowy forests of western Alberta, a beast resembling an obsidian bear with four columns of light along its back unleashed a wave of destruction. The Canadian Guardians tried to ambush it… without studying its attack pattern.
It was a fatal mistake.
—Flank it! Now! —ordered a young officer.
But the creature, with instinctive precision, turned and released a gravitational wave that dismembered twenty Guardians in a single movement.
—Oh my God...! There's no way to win like this…! —sobbed a soldier before being consumed by one of the light columns.
Bastion of South Korea – Gwangju Region
The creature that descended there resembled a spider, with steel legs and a body covered in floating mirrors. Each mirror reflected and amplified enemy abilities. The South Korean commander attempted a frontal assault… without understanding how the beast worked.
—Concentrated fire! Now! —he ordered.
The beast absorbed the attacks and returned them doubled. Over 40 Guardians died in the first hour. Surveillance footage showed burning bodies, pointless explosions, and leaders arguing instead of coordinating.
Bastion of Germany – Munich
The German bastion was considered one of the most technologically advanced… but its weakness was its pride.
The beast there was a transparent dragon, visible only to those with sensory abilities. But the German commander ignored the perceptive Guardians' warnings, believing they were overreacting.
—It's an illusion! Attack the air! —he ordered.
The invisible dragon descended upon them in silence. By the time the dying began, it was too late. The troops disbanded. Communications were cut. And arrogance collapsed in blood.
Bastion of Australia – Coast of Perth
In the waters of the Indian Ocean, a gigantic shape emerged like a forgotten ancestral shadow. A colossal sea serpent, its black scales as dark as the void and its mane made of crystalline spikes, lunged toward Perth's coastal bastion, devouring defensive ships in seconds.
The creature emitted a sonic shriek that destabilized Guardians with low mental resistance. Several collapsed immediately. The rest, still disoriented, tried to regroup… but there was no structure.
—Where are the pulse cannons?! —shouted one operator— Who's managing the southern perimeter?!
—There's no control! The general is down! The channels are jammed!
Waves smashed through the coastal structures, and the serpent's body —stretching for kilometers— whipped the shore like a lash. Each strike triggered a mini-tsunami, sweeping Guardians into the sea. Amid the chaos, one of the last field leaders was swallowed whole.
The creature coiled in a spiral, generating a vortex that sucked in not only water, but also the wounded trying to flee. Combat drones were struck down by spikes that shot from its back like spears.
—Perth is falling! —reported a desperate communications channel— The city… no longer exists!
Global Synthesis: The Judgment of Chaos
Global broadcasts showed split screens. On one side: faces full of fear, screams, destruction —young Guardians dying one after another in Manchester, Alberta, Gwangju, Munich, and Perth. On the other: international media kept their eyes on Bolivia, France, China, and the other bastions aligned with Rob. Fierce battles, yes —but with order, with strategy, with hope.
There, Guardians weren't dying in vain. Every step was planned. Every formation rehearsed. The difference was crystal clear.
Commentators couldn't ignore the contrast. Social media exploded with reactions. One post, shared millions of times, read:
"Ten beasts… ten trials… and we already know who's losing this war."
And amid the chaos, the European commentator's phrase —now etched in history— echoed in the hearts of all still fighting to survive:
"This is not just a battle for survival… it's a demonstration of who can lead humanity."
And with it, the beginning of a new era was written.One where preparation, unity, and real leadership made the difference between living… or being erased from the map.
[End of Chapter 31 – The Roar of the Chosen Beasts]