The Shapeshifter

CHAPTER 1

In this vast universe, countless realms, stars, planets and unknowns are what occupies this boundless space. The universe is finite. Resources? Finite. With every life occupying a world, resources will cease to exist. Greedy beings will surely rise on the occasion and so does intelligent ones. Therefore; one must do everything to live, to survive.

This cannot be said on a certain planet. A planet which is filled with life. A planet which is surrounded by a mystical aura the natives called MAGIC.

Magic is the foundation of the living beings on Terra. One can say that without magic this Terra would develop, into a different path than what it currently is. Powerful mages arise, technologies built upon the help of magic and even transportation are being aided by it.

Magic is used in everyday life from washing clothes to building homes. It all took one look for someone to say that the natives of this Terra are being over reliant on magic. Well, that may be because they will never lack magic, or maybe they will.

With mountains standing tall at their side and back, the City of Asta stood tall. It was no wonder that this city thrives with such a strategical defending site.

One of the most powerful city in this era of peace, where experts are being nurtured to their full potential and educated to the best of their abilities so that they can make this world a much better place to live.

Countless structures and houses can be seen on this thriving city. Roads that can fit 20 men standing shoulder to shoulder. Pavements as wide as 2 and a half meters so that families can walk together leisurely, children can run around freely with smiles on their faces and even sidewalk vending are allowed.

All these citizens are heading towards a spacious plaza.

This was the day where children aged 10 will be awakened to become a powerful mage. A joyous occasion for every family.

As people make their way towards the plaza. Voices and promises can be heard coming from the young aspirants who wants to take part of the awakening of the mages.

"Mom, once I become a mage I will definitely protect everyone." said a young boy while holding his mother's hand.

"Brother, I will surely get revenge for everyone in the clan. I will make them pay." said a girl to his brother.

When suddenly,

"BOOOOOOOM!!!"

A terrifyingly loud explosion sounded through the air as a large black hole suddenly appeared in the atmosphere of Terra. The black hole acts as if it's sucking the air and magic on Terra.

Everyone in Terra was filled with shock and fear as it appeared.

As they say, the unknown is to be feared.

A bunch of black tiny dots or a humanoid species sized 2 meters, some are even 4 meters tall and seldom are 7 meters emerged from the black hole.

"Oh my God! Demons!" A knowledgeable middle-aged man then shouted.

"W-what? Demons? They should be on their territory. What are they doing here?"

"This should be an i-invasion!"

As if the middle-aged man's shout was the trigger, everyone soon panicked. Parents guiding their children to safety, lone one's trying to run for their own lives. All of them scrambling towards any house they can see to hide from these so-called demons.

Then an old man said in a low voice "Calm down, they aren't even attacking yet. Maybe there are misunderstandings."

Weirdly enough, everyone seemed to hear the voice of the old man then calmed down. Shortly after, however, there seems to be another commotion.

"Hup! hup! hup! It's getting hard to breathe, what the hell-?" a thin man said with a weak voice.

"Help! Help! My brother's not breathing!" cried a little girl.

As the old man was walking towards the commotion he suddenly exclaimed

"What the hell? The black hole is sapping this worlds magic!"

The same thing is currently happening towards every city in Terra. Panic, anger and grief are the most expressed emotion in each inhabitant of Terra.

…

On a big gray castle in the city of Asta, people of high rankings and high nobles could be seen running around the corridors, hoping to get an answer from the wisest and most knowledgeable, the king.

In a throne inside the palace, a handsome man with long black hair who looks to be in his mid-thirties can be seen

"Ben!" called the king.

Then an old bald man appeared behind the king.

"What can I do for you, your Majesty?

"Tell everyone-" Preventing the king from finishing his words was an explosion coming from the city.

"BOOOOOOOM!!!"

"What the hell was that?"

The king soon ran out of the palace and arrived at a balcony that overlooked the entire city of Asta. What he saw made his jaw drop. Half the city was completely obliterated, only a huge crater remained on the once thriving and powerful city.

After looking at the aftermath the king murmured to himself

'The demons which are inhabiting the secondary plane of this world invades the surface so that they can take control of the planet and all its resources. After 3 millennia, they are finally out of resources. If what the oracle said was correct, then this is bad. Everyone will soon be scrambling for power and supremacy. I've waited years for this. Hehe.'

The King then called out his trusted aide after making careful consideration.

"Ben! Send out the messenger pigeons. Write 'Threat Level: Extinction'."

"As you wish your majesty."

Old Ben quickly replied and did everything he could to finish it fast. After a few minutes, six messenger pigeons were sent out.

The King then went to his room and entered a secret chamber that only he knows.

He sat on a chair, took some pieces of paper, grabbed his quill and ink and then he was scribbling words on the paper. He wrote so fast that some words are barely readable. Yet he did not even spare a glance at it, and continued writing.

As soon as he finished writing, he quickly sealed the paper and wrote 'To Scorpion King'.