1 New World

Year 2042

Two years ago, there was still a smile on the faces of billions people who lived on Earth. Humans would never had guessed what would happen to their civilization that had been existed since thousands of years ago.

Two years ago, all buildings were built with sophisticated technology, rivaled one nation with another. The currency and the number of workers were very important for the economy. All nations could still compete to be the greatest among all.

Two years ago, before it all happened, the Earth was still standing strong among the inhabitants of the galaxy. The color was bright blue and clear, water filled most of the surface. All creatures on Earth seemed not afraid of the lack of water and food. Everything was abundantly available at that time. Yes, that time... The time before the Earth was destroyed.

Two years ago, all the abundance and joy immediately disappeared after the arrival of several major disasters that hit the Earth mercilessly. Humans didn't know who was angry, God or nature. All they had were destroyed, leaving only a trace of the old Earth legacy.

Still vividly remembered in the brains of the survivors, the position of the Sun that was getting closer to Earth and seemed to burn anything that was close, icebergs in the Pole that melt rapidly, mega-sized meteor fragments that destroyed some parts of the Earth's surface, the most powerful earthquake that followed, and hundreds of meters tsunami waves swept away anything in its path. The horrors were very clearly seen and heard in all corners of the Earth.

Billions of people lost their life, leaving behind the sobs of those who were left behind. Not many remained, only a few survived. Everything happened so fast. There was no time and no place to hide and be safe. Survivors didn't know exactly what they must feel, lucky or unlucky.

There was no standard of what made them able to survive all those horrors. Not because of their strength, nor because of their intelligence. Only fate... There were about only 10% of Earth's population remained. But this fate made them even feel sadder. They had nothing left. No family, no place to live, nothing. Everything restarted from zero. Many chose to fight their fate and end their lives.

In 2042... the Earth looked dry and arid. Ruins of buildings were everywhere. The sun's rays were still burning the skin even though the sun has distanced away from the Earth. Not many plants were left and the ocean seemed to be smaller. This was a really difficult test for anyone who survived.

Those who were still alive do whatever it took to survive. Many new countries had been built on top of the old ones, emerging with their own natural laws. There was no longer a formal government like before. Everything was like a jungle, and only the law of the jungle appliesr. Who is stronger, he will win and rule.

The view on the entire Earth surface was almost the same. The soil looked brown, dry, arid, and lacked of water. Water splash could only be heard from small rivers that were very far away and the great ocean which was getting less and less water, leaving dry land in the form of a trench. Finding water and food would be another struggle.

On a side of the Earth, stood on the former landmass of the United States of America, a new country had been built. It was one of the most powerful new nations built by the remaining human civilization. Just like in the jungle, the strongest king or queen would lead the government. In that country, King Nata ruled wisely over the country he loved. The country was named after its meaning, namely rebirth. The country was called... Samsara.

***

"Aarrghhh!" There was a scream of pain from a man in armor who had just fallen on the floor.

A long knife had just slashed his neck, covered in blood. A man in black-colored armor with long disheveled hair seemed to smile with satisfaction when he saw his opponent fall lifeless.

"Kill all the Royal Guards! We're getting closer to our target!" shouted a young girl with long wavy red hair at the soldiers in black armor around her.

Not like the soldiers in general when the Earth was still healthy, the troops which consisted of men and women, only wore black colored clothes with simple armor to protect their bodies. Their heads were not covered with helmets or anything, they were free to show their hair which was styled variously according to their own characteristics. Rather than soldiers, they looked more like a bunch of bandits. They were soldiers from Gora District.

"Alright, Leader!" replied one of the soldiers.

Without further command, the troops began to disperse and take the lives of any man who was called the Royal Guard. All that could be seen was an army in black armor exterminating all the men in silver armor. Despite trying to fight back, the ruthlessness of the Gora Army was still able to defeat the resistance of the Royal Guards.

With the vile scene unfolding behind her, the red-haired girl was still able to walk with confidence and a smile of satisfaction seen on her red-tipped lips. She brought a long sword in her hand. But her body was completely unprotected by armor, as if she had no fear of what would happen to her in the midst of that dangerous battle.

The girl was slender and not too tall. She was about 18 years old. She wore all-black clothes made of leather, giving a strong impression radiate from her. Many would have wondered why such a young girl with a figure that was smaller than any men around her was able to give orders and make the armed forces obey her orders. The mysterious girl was named Kiora, the supreme Leader of Gora District.

Kiora walked confidently towards a large wooden door not far in front of her. The wooden door was the only way into the most important room in the remaining ruins of the former White House, now known as the House of Power. Kiora raised one of her hands and her fingers firmly pushed the wooden door open.

Brakkk!!!

The wooden door opened wide and quite loudly, revealing the sight Kiora had been waiting for all this time in front of her. There was a middle-aged man with shoulder-length white hair, white mustache and beard, kneeling on a short platform at the very front of the former conference room.

He knelt down right in front of a magnificent red chair, the throne on which he usually sat. The crown was still perched on his head. A man with burly build and neat black hair in full black armor was standing while gripping the shoulders of the kneeling man, preventing him from escaping whatever was coming against him. From the armor that looked the best of them all, the man standing up must have belonged to the highest caste in the army.

Kiora walked with a crooked smile closer to the kneeling man.

"King Nata," said Kiora. She then chuckled at the King of the Land of Samsara who looked helpless in front of her. Some of the troops in the large room also laughed with her.

King Nata showed a straight face, not at all afraid of what would happen to him. He didn't fight at all.

"Interesting. A King of the Land of Samsara is kneeling down before me. Are you begging for forgiveness from me?" Kiora laughed again, satisfied because she thought she had made King Nata's pride fallen apart.

"I'm kneeling down because your troops forced me to. I will never beg for anything from you forever," replied King Nata confidently.

Kiora looked quite surprised by King Nata's answer, but a lopsided smile was still plastered on her face. She bent down and brought her face closer to King Nata, looking at the king's eyes quite sharply. Red-colored light suddenly flashed in Kiora's eyes.

"Even if I were to take your life?" asked Kiora in a half whisper.

"Just take my life. I'm not afraid. You are indeed a bad person and everyone knows it," replied King Nata, still with no fear on his face.

Kiora straightened her body again while looking at King Nata in disbelief. Then she laughed again. Her troops also laughed without knowing what was really happening. What they knew was they should be happy when Kiora was happy. Otherwise, they might die.

"You don't seem afraid about what will happen to you. Soon no one will call you King anymore because you will only be in name. And all of them, your people, will soon call me Queen!" Kiora smiled sarcastically. Her great ambition and evil heart seemed to have no mercy for anything that got in the way of her goals.

"General Zhor! Don't wait any longer. I must become Queen and Gora must rule Samsara immediately!" shouted Kiora to the Gora District General who was standing while clutching King Nata's shoulders.

With a polite gesture, General Zhor nodded his head in approval of the Leader's order. His great reputation as a U.S. Army General in the past made him able to do all his work professionally.

Along with Kiora turning around to leave King Nata, General Zhor raised his sword and was ready to swing it to the king's neck. But his movement suddenly stopped when King Nata opened his mouth, as if he wanted to shout something.

"You may kill me today! But my people will take my revenge on you! They will reject an evil Queen like you!" King Nata shouted with all his might because he knew it could be his last sentence.

Kiora stopped walking. The smile suddenly disappeared from her face. She stared intently ahead and a the red light glowed in her eyes again. But this time, the red light didn't disappear immediately, still remained in her eyes.

The troops even General Zhor looked frightened by the sight. They knew very well, if that red light appeared in Kiora's eyes, something terrible would happen. They could only step back while gulping. They knew they had to stay away from Kiora under such circumstances.

Kiora immediately turned around and walked furiously towards King Nata. General Zhor immediately distanced himself from her captive, knowing something dangerous was going to happen.

Grabbb!!!

One of Kiora's hands immediately strangled King Nata's neck while looking at him with anger and glowing-red eyes. A beam of red light appeared from all over her body, looked like radiation power emanating directly from within her body. King Nata looked in pain and trembled from Kiora's power that was torturing his body, as if it was going to burn him. But he didn't want to show the slightest fear in front of the person he didn't want to give his respect at all.

"Apologize and I will forgive you! At least you don't have to die with pain in my hands!" threatened Kiora with her eyes still flashing red light and her body still emitting power.

King Nata was silent for a moment, not because he didn't know what to answer. He knew very well what answer he would give. He started to smile as he endured the pain.

"No," replied King Nata with a crooked smile.