The Dark Journey

Chapter 12: The Unruly

The earth trembles violently as the blast erupts, splintering the ground beneath with a force that reverberates to San Diego. The shockwave ripples outward, sending dust and debris soaring into the air, while the distant city feels the tremors pulse through its streets. The military quick to respond, make their way to the scene.
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"Keep it steady will you." Says one of the soldiers as the helicopter shakes once more.
"I'm trying! There seems to be some sort of shockwave!" One of the pilots calls out as the helicopter nears the site of interest. All while clouds begin to gather ominously over San Francisco, hinting at an impending storm. Smoke swirls upward, punctuated by ominous red lightning that crackles in anticipation, signaling that something ominous. "Down there! Look, there are survivors!" one of the pilots shouted, his voice cutting through the tense silence of the cockpit. Instantly, the eyes of the entire crew shifted downward, drawn to the chaotic scene below. Amid the wreckage, against the backdrop of swirling smoke and debris, a few figures were frantically waving their arms, desperately signaling for help. As the helicopter descends gracefully, its rotors whirring above, a thunderous explosion erupts in the distance, shattering the tranquility of the scene. In a dramatic display, a nearby building crumbles violently, debris cascading like confetti as clouds of dust and smoke billow into the air, as 'something' flies past the helicopter."Mayday, Mayday!" The urgent call echoed through the cabin, filled with a mixture of fear and desperation. The pilots shouted above the roar of the rotor blades as the helicopter spun wildly, spiraling downward toward the earth. "I suggest holding onto something tightly!" they warned, their voices strained with adrenaline. The landscape below rushed closer, a blur of colors and shapes as the chopper struggled against the forces now pulling it down. Passengers clutched their seats, bracing for impact as the helicopter crashed not far from the survivors.
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Anastasia Pov
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Quickly rising as I hear it coming closer. I guard myself on the right, as it comes crashing through the wall like paper. A loud shriek is heard from its open jaw as it tries to bite down, only for me to dodge as it then swipes at me. Blocking it barely with my arms, grabbing its head, only to feel my hand go numb with pain as it bursts into flames. 'Hm... IT can hurt me...' I keep that in mind as quickly rip its jaw off only for it to send me flying again with a roar. "This is getting annoying..." I mutter softly in my monstrous voice, as my body goes through another building. Landing close by IT's body begins to morph, the shadow-like form it once had, beginning to twist and turn in ways that shouldn't be possible as it settles in a form similar to mine, only bigger. A dark shadow glides gracefully up its leg, weaving like smoke as it ascends. As it reaches the hand, it begins to pulse and shift, transforming with an elegant fluidity into a sleek katana, its blade glinting with a subtle sheen while being made from the same material as IT. 'Now that feels like cheating...' I quickly guard myself as IT swings ITs katana at me. My arm feels a sharp pain as the katana sticks into my now-revealed flesh, using this advantage, I rip the katana out of IT's grip and grab its handle while slashing at IT's thigh. As the katana hits IT, only to do no damage, as it gets sucked into IT. The Katana then forms in ITs hand, and in the next moment, I feel a sharp pain across my chest. Everything crumbles around us as if delayed by how fast IT swung the blade. 'My hand feels numb... I can't keep holding back...' Making my resolve, my body crackles with red lightning as I feel my arms and chest heat up, the armor-like shell covering my body starts to crack. Closing my clawed hand into a fist, the red lightning converging into my fist as my fist makes contact with IT.
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As the soldiers begin to stir and regain their senses, a deafening explosion erupts in the distance, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground beneath them. The earth trembles violently as if protesting the chaos unfolding nearby. At that moment, a blinding flash of crimson lightning streaks through the sky, darting between the crumbling buildings with an otherworldly speed. Mere seconds later, a colossal shockwave crashes through the landscape, rattling structures and making the air feel heavy with the force of its passage. As the deafening shockwave reverberates across the globe, electricity around the world is put to a complete stop, as the remaining structures in the nearby radius, succumb to the overwhelming force. The earth trembles beneath the weight of the devastation, leaving a silence that hangs heavy in the aftermath. Just as things seem to cool down, everything in San Francisco seems to break apart. The already desolate and half-leveled city is torn completely apart as the ground collapses in on itself.
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The Aftermath
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"Anything on Alpha team or that massive energy?" Questions a commander. The soldier salutes before saying "Nothing yet... but sir all the vehicles..." "I know... just get all the manpower you can... we need eyes on the ground..." The soldier salutes and quickly steps out of the tent as the Commander looks at the devastated city on the horizon.

People groan softly as they lay on the ground, something approaches, making the only person able to move, sit upright as if their life depended on it, which it might as their surroundings and landscape seem to have changed to an eerily quiet forest. "Where am I?" He questions as a small figure approaches him. "Do you happen to know where Mama is?"