Chapter 4: No title
The past few days had been surreal for everyone. It started with a mysterious phenomenon: a massive, swirling, shimmering portal in the heart of the city. It towered over buildings, its ominous presence impossible to ignore. The Philippine government wasted no time cordoning off the area, deploying military personnel to secure the site and prevent anyone from getting too close. The media exploded with coverage, and the world's eyes turned to Manila.
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The sudden appearance of the gate left the global population in shock. Social media erupted with theories: some called it an alien invasion, others a divine event, and some likened it to something out of a fantasy novel or game. Governments sent teams of scientists to investigate, with every major nation dispatching researchers, engineers, and military advisors to Manila.
Crowds gathered near the site, kept back by military barricades. People came out of curiosity, disbelief, or sheer fascination. Reporters swarmed the area, live-streaming every update, while news anchors speculated endlessly.
"Is this the dawn of a new era?" one anchor questioned on live TV. "Or are we facing an unknown threat?"
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Days passed, and progress was nonexistent. Scientists had no explanation for the gate's origin or purpose. Theories ranged from a naturally occurring anomaly to a man-made experiment gone wrong. Every attempt to probe the gate failed.
Drones sent through the portal lost all contact, vanishing without a trace. Teams of researchers brave enough to enter didn't return. Recordings and devices taken into the gate were rendered useless—no data, no transmissions, no footage.
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The sun was high in the sky when it happened. A scientist was giving an interview just outside the barricaded zone, surrounded by reporters.
"We've installed high-tech sensors, thermal imaging, and even quantum field detectors," the scientist explained. "But we've found no explanation for—"
A deafening roar pierced the air, cutting the scientist off mid-sentence.
"What's that?!" someone shouted.
The camera whipped around, focusing on the gate. A massive creature began emerging from the portal, its enormous red body gleaming in the sunlight. Its wings spread wide, casting an ominous shadow over the city.
A dragon.
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The dragon roared again, a sound so deep and powerful that it shook the ground. People screamed and scattered in every direction. The reporters' cameras captured the chaos as they ran for their lives.
Within seconds, the dragon took flight, its massive wings creating gusts of wind that overturned vehicles and shattered windows. Flames erupted from its mouth, engulfing buildings and streets.
Moments later, more creatures emerged from the gate: smaller dragons, wyverns, and other monstrous beings. They spread out, wreaking havoc. Military forces opened fire, their weapons thundering as they tried to take down the beasts.
"It's not working!" a soldier shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos. Bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the dragon's scales. Tanks fired shells, only to see them explode ineffectively against the creatures.
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Inside the Philippine government's emergency headquarters, chaos reigned. The President and his advisors watched live footage of the destruction, their faces pale with disbelief.
"This… This can't be real," one advisor stammered.
"Those are dragons!" another shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "How are we supposed to fight them?!"
The President, trying to remain composed, gave his orders. "Deploy all available military forces. Call for international assistance. We need air support immediately."
Despite their best efforts, it became clear that conventional weapons were useless. As the hours dragged on, the city descended into chaos, and the government's control slipped further and further away.
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Meanwhile, in a modest house not far from the gate, Drix's family watched the events unfold on TV. His parents were pale, their faces frozen in a mix of fear and disbelief.
"This… this isn't real," his mother whispered, clutching the edge of the couch. "It can't be real."
His father stood rigid, his jaw tight. "Monsters. Actual monsters…"
The screen flickered, and the broadcast cut off, replaced by a stark "No Signal" message. His mother gasped. "The reporters… Are they—?"
"They're gone," Drix said flatly. He knew. He had sensed it. The reporter had been caught by the dragon.
Despite their fear, his parents took some comfort in the last images they had seen: the military fighting back. "They'll handle it," his father said, trying to reassure his wife. "The military will stop them."
But Drix could see through his father's attempt to stay strong. He could sense the deep fear hidden beneath the surface.
His father turned to him. "Drix, listen. If anything happens, protect your sisters."
"I will," Drix promised, his tone calm.
"Good. Watch over them. Go to their room. Now."
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Drix entered his sisters' room quietly. Mari and Lila were sound asleep, their faces peaceful, blissfully unaware of the chaos outside. He knelt by their beds, pinching their cheeks lightly.
"Stay safe," he murmured softly.
Straightening up, his voice turned cold. "Arise."
The shadows beneath him expanded, stretching unnaturally across the room. Two figures emerged silently: Bellion and Igris, their towering forms emanating power.
"Protect them," Drix commanded, his voice firm. "No harm will come to them."
Both knights knelt, their heads bowed. Without a word, they slipped into the shadows, disappearing entirely.
Next, Drix called forth Beru and Tusk, assigning them to guard his parents. The two bowed and vanished into the shadows.
Finally, the room fell silent. Drix stood still, his eyes closed. The darkness under his feet rippled and expanded, engulfing his body like a living entity. It crept up his legs, covering him inch by inch. The cool embrace of the shadows felt familiar, comforting even, as they melded into intricate armor. The jagged plates materialized as if forged from the void itself, glowing purple veins spreading like lifelines across the dark surface.
The transformation was seamless, and in moments, Drix stood fully armored, his presence a towering figure of overwhelming power. The faint glow of the runes on his chest pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, a reminder of the immense strength now encased within. He flexed his fingers, the sharp, claw-like gauntlets moving with precision, as though they were extensions of his own flesh.
Turning, he walked over to his sisters' bedside. His eyes, glowing faintly purple, softened as he looked at them. He crouched slightly, brushing a strand of hair away from his younger sister's face. She shifted in her sleep, murmuring something unintelligible but still smiling.
Drix straightened, his shadowed form towering in the dim light of the room. For a moment, he simply stood there, taking it all in—the peace, the stillness. It was a fragile thing, this sense of calm, and he knew it wouldn't last. The world outside was changing, and soon, he might have to change with it.
As he turned away from the sleeping figures, the shadows around him began to stir once more. They crawled up his neck, coiling like snakes before fully wrapping around his face. The last hint of humanity—the faint glow of his eyes—disappeared behind the dark veil. With his transformation complete, he looked at the floor, which had turned into a swirling pool of darkness. Without hesitation, he stepped into it, sinking into the shadows.