Chapter 10: The Gathering Storm

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The world was teetering on the brink of collapse. From the bustling cities of the West to the ancient villages of the East, the signs of an impending catastrophe were unmistakable. Natural disasters, once rare and isolated, had become frequent and devastating. Earthquakes shattered cities, hurricanes ravaged coastlines, and wildfires scorched vast tracts of land. The very fabric of society seemed to be unraveling as chaos reigned supreme.

In the heart of Kashi, Ahriman watched with cold satisfaction as his plans unfolded. His fortress of technology and darkness stood as a beacon of malevolence, casting a long shadow over the city. His followers, now numbering in the thousands, were spread across the globe, executing his orders with ruthless efficiency. They orchestrated disasters, sowed discord, and spread fear, all in service of their master’s vision of a world consumed by chaos.

The rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, once the lifeblood of the Indian subcontinent, had dried up. These sacred rivers, revered for millennia, were now reduced to cracked and parched riverbeds. The once-fertile plains they nourished were now barren wastelands, and the communities that depended on their waters were in dire straits. Farmers despaired as their crops withered and died, and cities struggled to find enough water for their populations.

In the United States, the bustling metropolis of New York City was a shell of its former self. The skyline, once a symbol of human achievement, was marred by the scars of recent earthquakes. Skyscrapers lay in ruins, and the streets were filled with the detritus of a society in freefall. The government, overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster, struggled to maintain order. Martial law had been declared, but the streets were ruled by looters and gangs, their violence unchecked.

Across the Atlantic, Europe fared no better. The ancient city of Rome, a repository of millennia of history, had been ravaged by unprecedented storms. The Tiber River, swollen by relentless rains, had burst its banks, flooding the streets and causing untold damage. The Vatican, a bastion of spiritual guidance, had become a refuge for the desperate and displaced. In Paris, the Seine overflowed, transforming the City of Lights into a labyrinth of water and despair.

In Asia, the story was the same. Tokyo, a hub of technological innovation, was paralyzed by a series of catastrophic earthquakes. Buildings crumbled, and the city’s infrastructure lay in ruins. The government’s attempts to manage the crisis were hampered by the sheer scale of the destruction. Meanwhile, in the Indian subcontinent, the drying of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati Rivers had exacerbated the already dire situation. The mighty rivers, once symbols of life and sustenance, had turned into barren landscapes, their disappearance a testament to the world’s unraveling.

Amidst this global chaos, reports began to surface of strange occurrences. People spoke of dark figures orchestrating the disasters, their actions shrouded in mystery. Whispers of Ahriman and his followers spread like wildfire, fueling a growing sense of dread. The world was on edge, and it seemed as though no place was safe from the encroaching darkness.

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