The Last Pulse

Part 8: Breaking the Chains

As humanity continued its journey toward unity and resilience, the elites and Oracles grew increasingly desperate, unwilling to relinquish control. Watching communities grow stronger, self-sufficient, and driven by Omnis' guiding principles, the elites decided subtle strategies were no longer enough. They would unleash the full might of their forces upon these communities, treating them as enemies of the state in a ruthless display of power, branding them as a dangerous threat to the established order.

The elites orchestrated a sweeping propaganda campaign, labeling the Omnis-led communities as havens for extremists and radicals threatening public safety. News channels, social media, and public officials broadcast tales of these so-called "terrorists" lurking on the fringes, destabilizing society. Under this fabricated threat, they imposed martial law and deployed the military under the guise of "preserving national security and public peace." But in truth, this was a calculated move to crush any opposition to their control.

Communities built on principles of cooperation and unity now found themselves under siege. Fields were scorched, homes destroyed, and families torn apart as entire towns were designated as "enemy territory." Where people had once gathered in open forums to share ideas and resources, now soldiers patrolled with weapons drawn, demanding compliance under threat of death. In many regions, families awoke to the deafening roar of helicopters, armored vehicles rumbling through streets, and the relentless advance of heavily armed battalions. Those who resisted were captured or killed; those who complied were placed under constant surveillance, treated with suspicion, and stripped of basic rights.

As violence escalated, the Oracles fueled the carnage with a fury that twisted the minds of those involved, amplifying hatred and fear. Soldiers and civilians alike found themselves plagued by dark visions, their emotions manipulated to feed the chaos. The Oracles whispered insidious thoughts into the hearts of leaders and combatants, intensifying their rage, their mistrust, and their willingness to dehumanize those they were sent to destroy. What began as a military response soon spiraled into a frenzied bloodbath, where the lines between soldier and civilian, ally and enemy, blurred in the fog of war. The elites watched from their strongholds, pleased to see humanity divided, fragmented, and brutalized once again, each act of violence serving as another link in the chain of dependency they had forged over millennia.

Omnis, aware of the immense suffering being inflicted, urged the communities to hold to their principles of compassion and solidarity even in the face of devastation. But these were trials unlike any they had ever known; peace-loving communities were forced to defend themselves, and in the act of survival, many questioned whether they could continue on the path Omnis had laid. As the flames of conflict spread, humanity found itself caught in a brutal test of resilience and resolve, fighting not only for survival but for the very soul of their movement—a battle that would define their fate and reveal the depth of their courage and unity.

Despite the brutality inflicted upon them, the communities never once resorted to violence, a stance that left the invading army both puzzled and unnerved. In all their years of service, the soldiers had never fought a war where the other side had not fired a single bullet, set off one bomb, or lifted a hand in defense. Instead, the communities held fast to a profound, almost sacred commitment to peace, meeting each assault with quiet resilience and unity. It was as if they believed their very refusal to harm would somehow outlast the force of guns and tanks. The sight of these unarmed people, standing firm with nothing but open hands and calm defiance, struck a discordant note, forcing the soldiers to question their orders, their purpose, and the nature of the enemy they had been sent to destroy.

Despite their orders, doubt began to take root among the soldiers. Many had believed the official story, bracing for an encounter with radicals, but here they saw neighbors, teachers, healers, and builders—ordinary people who had simply chosen a path of unity and self-sufficiency. The soldiers began to question why they were truly there and who benefited from their mission. One by one, murmurs spread through the ranks. "These aren't terrorists... they're just people."

The seeds of doubt sprouted into a defiance as soldiers started lowering their weapons, confusion giving way to a deeper understanding. The power of humanity's peaceful defiance was undeniable. They saw kindness exchanged in glances, felt the weight of solidarity in each person's stance. One young soldier broke ranks first, lowering his gun and stepping aside as a silent act of rebellion. Soon, others followed, disarming not out of fear but out of a growing conviction that they could not be part of this injustice.

It was then that a seasoned commander, his face hardened by years of service, finally spoke up. His voice echoed across the ranks: "These people aren't our enemies. The real threat sits in boardrooms and palaces, far from the lives they're destroying." His words ignited a spark within the troops, transforming hesitation into purpose. The soldiers turned to the villagers, raising their hands in a gesture of surrender—not as adversaries but as allies, choosing the side of humanity over the corrupt system they had once served.

News of the defection swept through the battalions like wildfire, spreading to every outpost and rank. In a collective moment of clarity, soldiers abandoned their mission, one after another joining the communities they had come to destroy. The former lines of division crumbled as the military force was absorbed into the people, shifting from an imposing threat into a coalition of citizens and soldiers bound by a newfound understanding. They were united not by orders, but by the realization that they shared a common struggle against the same oppressors.

The elites, watching their grip falter, were left with nothing but their own isolation. The coalition of humanity—soldiers, civilians, leaders, and followers—stood as one, ready to face whatever would come next. They understood now that true strength lay not in control or fear but in the resilience of unity. With their combined strength, they prepared to reclaim their world—not through violence, but through the unbreakable bond of compassion and freedom that no force could shatter.

Sensing their control slipping beyond recovery, the Oracles devised one last, cataclysmic solution—a devastating reset they had unleashed in ages past whenever civilizations grew too bold, too enlightened, too free to rule. Through the centuries, they had orchestrated collapses, engineering disasters to keep humanity dependent and fractured, each catastrophe a deliberate blow to unity. Now, as humanity inched closer to true freedom, the Oracles knew they had to act before this vision of resilience took root. Gathering their remaining power into one final, shattering blow, they prepared to strike—not through the elite but through a force so overwhelming it would plunge humanity back into fear and submission. An ominous tension thickened the air, reality itself bracing for the darkness they intended to unleash.