Perseus Jackson: Legends of the Monarch

World peace—a goal many thought was impossible—became reality on January 1, 2020. On that day, all governments around the globe came together to solve humanity's biggest problems. This cooperation created a new age of unity and progress. Issues that had plagued societies for centuries were resolved, and the world was transformed into a true utopia. I was born into this golden age, a time when no one thought peace could ever end.

But everything changed one morning when the impossible happened. News spread quickly: every nuclear missile in the world had been launched at the same time. No one knew who was behind it, but the consequences were devastating. The world's peace collapsed in an instant, and humanity entered what became known as the "Apocalyptic War." This war was more destructive than anyone could have imagined, throwing the world into chaos.

The war destroyed every aspect of life. Cities were reduced to rubble, smoke covered the skies, and the cries of the wounded echoed everywhere. Chemical weapons poisoned the land, killing crops and turning the oceans red with blood. Diseases spread quickly, wiping out what was left of struggling communities. Desperate governments became dictatorships, ruling through fear and violence. In just a few decades, everything humanity had built over centuries was lost.

In the United States, once a symbol of freedom, fear and greed took over. Leaders reinstated the draft, forcing even children as young as ten to join the military under the excuse of "national survival." I was one of those children. I was torn from my family and sent to brutal military schools. There, they broke us down, stripping away our innocence and training us to be tools of war. We were taught to feel nothing, to see enemies as obstacles to eliminate.

At fifteen, I was given the name "Kira," meant to mock me as a bringer of death. But soon, it became a title I fully embraced. By twenty, I was leading squads into battle. By twenty-five, I had risen to the rank of Marshal. My name became a symbol of death, whispered in fear by both allies and enemies.

My rise to power wasn't just because of my skills. The government had bigger plans for soldiers like me. They launched "Project Aegis," a program to create the perfect warrior. My body was broken down and rebuilt with advanced technology and chemicals. A special serum made me immune to disease and nearly impossible to kill, extending my life indefinitely. But these "enhancements" came with a price: constant pain and the curse of immortality.

Centuries passed, and I became a weapon of endless destruction. I killed millions, and the weight of their lives crushed me with guilt. I watched my comrades die, saw civilizations fall, and witnessed humanity's endless descent into war. The conflict, now called the "Eternal Conflict," seemed to have no end. Bound by my duty, I followed orders without question, even as the government I served grew more corrupt and power-hungry. My missions became more dangerous, designed to test the limits of my abilities. I was an unkillable asset, expendable but unstoppable.

Two of my closest comrades were Hyper-Monkey and Viper. Hyper-Monkey was a brilliant strategist who hid his pain with humor, while Viper was a cold and ruthless fighter. Together, we accomplished missions that no one else could. But even the strongest friendships are tested by war.

One day, during a quiet moment on the battlefield, Hyper-Monkey asked me a question that stuck with me: "Kira, do you ever think about what we're doing?"

I looked out at the destruction around us. "What's there to think about? We follow orders."

"Orders from people who've lost their humanity," Viper said sharply. "Do you ever wonder if we're the real monsters?"

I shrugged. "Monsters don't think about right or wrong. We're tools. Our job is to obey, not to question."

Later that day, I received my next mission: a high-risk raid on a heavily guarded Korean outpost. My team and I planned carefully, advancing under the cover of darkness. The tension was thick as we moved silently toward our target.

When we broke through the outpost's defenses, chaos erupted. Gunfire filled the air, and bullets whizzed past us. Despite our planning, unexpected challenges threw everything into disarray. In the middle of the battle, I was betrayed. Hyper-Monkey and Viper turned their weapons on me, their attacks piercing my enhanced body. For the first time in centuries, I felt real pain. Whatever weapons they used had overcome my supposed immortality. I was dying.

When I woke up, I wasn't on a battlefield. I stood on a floating marble platform, surrounded by an otherworldly scene. Ahead of me were three thrones, each occupied by a being that shifted between human and something far more powerful. Their glowing forms radiated both divine energy and an ominous presence. They had halos and horns, their appearances blending beauty and terror.

The being on the left was a woman cloaked in purple flames. Her horns arched gracefully above her head, and her split halo resembled an all-seeing eye. She exuded a sense of regal power and danger.

In the center sat a figure wrapped in deep blue light, like the night sky. His gaze was piercing and wise but carried an undercurrent of menace. His horns curled like a ram's, and his shattered halo floated around him like Saturn's rings.

To the right was a shadowy figure, exuding raw power mixed with calculated intelligence. His form shifted between human and something tentacled, his movements hypnotic. His horns swept backward before rising sharply, and his spiked halo encircled his neck like a dark crown.

As I stepped forward, fear gripped me. My heart pounded, each beat echoing in the silence. Before I could fully process what was happening, a loud roar broke through the stillness. From the void, a massive golden dragon emerged, its scales shimmering with celestial light. As it descended, it transformed into a woman of breathtaking beauty. Her golden skin glowed, her four spiraling horns and crown-like halo marking her as someone far beyond mortal comprehension.

"Welcome, Kira, to the Celestial Realm," she said, her voice a perfect blend of authority and grace. "I am Ravanna, the Mother of Creation. These are my children: Chaos, Order, and Abyss—the watchers and guardians of my domain."