Descent Of Evil
1306 Words
Five years ago, a most spectacular event occurred.
Towers that ascends to the heavens suddenly appeared on Earth.
They were pure white, gleaming with luxurious wonder, but their sudden appearance was left as a mystery to the denizens of the planet.
These towers existed in every country of the world, so no one could classify it as an international attack.
It was also too sudden to be explained by logic.
The governments of the world were at a loss for words—desperate to find answers
That was when ‘they’ first appeared.
The Harbingers!
They were people who had been confirmed dead, yet they came back to life.
And they had a special message.
“The Towers are all connected to the 99 Floors of Trials. They have been provided by the Supreme God of all, and they are for our sakes.”
The Harbingers unanimously revealed the truth of the current state of the world, and the one to come.
“Darkness is approaching. And in order to prepare for it, the Supreme God has sent the Towers.”
Each one was a gateway to the same location, a dimension not known to man.
The reason they were in every country—no matter how small or obscure—was to give all humans a fighting chance.
Apparently, a great evil was coming. And to fight it, the people of Earth were supposed to use the resources within the Towers
Magic Items. Special Ores. New Technology. Mystical Treasures.
The list went on.
The creatures within the Towers were dangerous, but that was they had the Harbingers.
The Harbingers would defeat the monsters and share the resources found in the Floors to strengthen the world.
Of course… this gave rise to their influence.
The first Harbingers were known as the Twelve Apostles, and instead of working together as a unit, they each established separate groups known as Guilds.
Their reason for this was simple.
“Inasmuch as we all desire to save this world, we are also competitors. The one who finishes off the final evil will be rewarded by the Supreme God.”
Each of the Twelve wanted the rewards for themselves, which inevitably ensured they were divided.
More Harbingers appeared after that, and while some established Guilds, most of them found it unwise to challenge the already unquestionable power of the Twelve Apostles.
As a result, they simply joined the Guilds that the Twelve created.
The Twelve Guids increased in power and wealth, causing lower Guilds to either give in to their overwhelming strength, or resist with all they had.
Those who chose the latter were doomed to struggle—fighting for scraps until the very end.
In conclusion, Harbingers were the supreme beings of this world.
They held more influence than the government, and they were unstoppable forces thanks to their Gifts.
The only reason no one could protest against them was because all their actions were geared towards the greater good.
To protect the world from the coming evil.
And now… five years later…
… The great evil had come.
********
~WHUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!~
It all happened in the blink of an eye—a sight so devastating that it could cause even the bravest soul to show despair.
Just as it occurred five years ago, Towers appeared all over the world.
But this time, they weren’t gleaning bright nor were they oozing with purity.
Instead… they were the opposite.
Crooked and ugly beyond description, these monoliths rose to the skies with their despairing image taunting the landscape around them.
They were obsidian black, with crimson energy oozing out of various corners. Spikes protruded out of the black towers, and they seemed to radiate some sort of ominous energy.
Areas where the white towers appeared were the most prosperous due to the amount of positive energy that they gave off.
But the black ones did the opposite.
The lands around dried up, and devastation seemed to radiate from the stationary forces of darkness.
The prophesied day had finally come.
“The Twelve Apostles are currently having a strategy meeting to discuss the future of the world and how they intend to save us all.”
News began to circulate in order to assuage the masses and calm them down.
“They will call for a Press Conference soon. For now, let us all remain calm.”
Every news outlet did their best to control the situation.
“Let’s put our faith in the Harbingers. They haven’t failed us yet. The Guilds will surely spring to action!”
Despite being warned of this very day, all the denizens of the world were shaken.
Perhaps they thought they had more time.
Or maybe they had secretly hoped that this moment would never come.
But it was too late for regrets or fear.
All humanity could do was stand together in unity and await their saviors—the Harbingers and their ilk to come and save them.
******
“O-ohhhh! They already released the Towers! The Boss sure works fast!”
Seth was eating in a local restaurant when he saw what was going on on the television.
‘It’s already time, huh?’ He smiled to himself.
The White Towers and the Black Towers.
They represented the influence of Heaven and Hell on Earth.
‘The representatives of Heaven are supposed to venture into the Black Tower and advance through all the Floors.’
Once they reached the 99th Floor and successfully cleared it, they would be the winners of the contest between God and the Devil.
‘But my mission is different.’
As the Harbinger of Hell, he was tasked with the opposite—clearing all Floors of the White Tower and gaining the grand prize.
‘And I have to do it before the Harbingers succeed on their end.’
When considering the stakes involved, it was a very serious deal.
However, realistically looking at it, Seth could see how much of a disadvantage he was currently in.
‘The Harbingers had five years to prepare, and there are also quite a few of them…’
But Seth was the sole representative of Hell, and right on his first day, he was already on the clock.
Despite all of this, however, Seth was grinning widely.
‘I just have to do what I’ve always done. Grind like crazy!’
There was a reason why he was excited about his Boss bringing the Black Tower down so soon.
It was because of his Gift.
“To Level-Up… I need to challenge the Black Tower as well.”
According to the System, he couldn’t Level-Up by killing enemies from the White Tower.
Something about the lack of ‘Authority’ to take their EXP, and how they would all return back to where they came from.
But for the Demons… it was different.
‘I have permission to harvest their EXP. That means I can grow infinitely stronger by subjugating them.’
Taking their EXP meant they would forever be gone, but Seth didn’t care.
He never developed any attachment to the Demons in Hell, and he hardly interacted with any besides the Six.
‘Most of them don’t even know who I am…’
That was perfect!
Seth could simply fight them as enemies, and none would suspect a thing—that he was on their side.
‘And once I advance to the last Floors, I’ll finally be able to meet them…’
The ones who had caused him so much misery and pain.
“Wait for me, you all.” He grinned as he stepped out of the local restaurant.
The wind lashed on his face and he inhaled the fresh breeze that invaded his nostrils.
The comfort and bliss of this world… they were too much for him.
Seth was already missing the horrors he left.
“I’m coming!”
- Writer
