Monsters And Explosions!

"Open the hatch!"

As the commanding orders resonated inside the control room, a flurry of activity commenced. The Control Room of the base, despite its grandiose name and vital role, was staffed with individuals clad in crisp white lab coats. They responded with a stoic "Yes, sir" through the communicator and continued their tasks with a machine-like efficiency.

"Opening the hatch."

With practiced precision, the head of the control room entered a sequence of codes on multiple keyboards before firmly pulling a lever. The lever clanked loudly, signaling the ascent of the metal ceiling panel, revealing a hidden passage above. No rays of sunlight or moonlight filtered in; only a gust of cold wind and an unforgiving terrain lay in wait.

Back inside the control room, Seron Drobe, the man in charge, sipped his tea while observing the soldiers embarking on their mission above the hatch.

'I made the right choice to secure this position of power and barricade myself in this room. I have no desire to venture outside, especially not to experience that nightmare again. I hope this base remains unscathed, allowing me to dwell in this sanctuary indefinitely.'

Seron was content with his sanctuary. The room, like the rest of the base, was a stark white, and the red emergency lighting created an eerie atmosphere. Yet, the workers in their lab coats remained unfazed, focused on their duties.

The color of the walls was the least of their concerns, for on their screens, they saw a horde of nightmarish creatures converging on their base. These monstrosities were among the many that had appeared following the Day of Doom on Earth.

The horror played out on the large screens in front of them. These bases were of unknown origin, discovered by those seeking refuge from the apocalypse. Once the military took control, politics unraveled, and the world's attention shifted to survival.

Seventy-two similar facilities existed worldwide, and though no one knew their creators, those who found them turned them into sanctuaries. The military's iron-fisted rule became the new order.

As the control panel displayed images from around the base, the initial panic began to subside. "We still have time before those things reach us," someone reassured.

It was their duty to assess external threats. The unexpected happened when the satellite detected anomalous heat readings, seemingly materializing out of thin air. This anomaly triggered a cascade of chaos.

Further analysis revealed that these heat sources were inhuman. The only plausible explanation: it was another trial.

"I heard that Bases 34 and 37 are secure. Our misfortune is due to the awakened individuals in our base."

"Yes, these so-called 'Chosen by the gods.' They bring us nothing but trouble. The others exiled them long ago, and we're the only ones protecting them."

Opinions were divided. The Trial of the Gods focused on those who had seemingly "awakened with the power of gods" — the very beings responsible for Earth's devastation. This dichotomy fueled debates on what was right and wrong.

"Perhaps that's why the director has sent them to the front."

"What? He's putting them in the line of fire against those creatures?"

"... Yeah."

"Hmm.. It could mean he's either starting to trust them or using them as a suicide squad."

The conversation was cut short by an explosion echoing through the corridor, rattling the thick walls but leaving those inside the room unharmed.

"What in the world was that?"

"Where did that sound come from? It was outside the door."

Only Seron noticed the shift in the atmosphere. He switched the monitor display to a camera in the corridor, eager to see what transpired outside.

"...!"

Inside, they were safe, but the same could not be said for the two guards outside. Lifeless, with clean holes through their foreheads and scorched bodies, they lay by the door.

"Who...?"

Before the shock could subside, a figure appeared on the camera feed. Wearing a patient's green robe, the man had jet-black hair, and bandages wrapped around various parts of his body. He had fallen from a ventilation shaft above the fallen guards.

"Hello, there! I know you can see me through the camera. Can you please open the door? I'd like to come inside."

"..."

Seron, usually composed, found himself at a loss for words. The room fell silent, every occupant shrinking in demeanor before the display of this enigmatic figure.

"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Kai. And Could you please let me in? We have a lot to talk about."

***