Invasion – Chapter 4 – Withdraw

Verdana burned for weeks as the beasts razed the city to the very bedrock it was built upon. The horror that had been left in the wake of Serene sent several into madness as the reports spread into the very heart of humanity. In an instant the beasts had shattered the glass of peace in one swift blow, sending jagged fragments across the landscape in a mockery of what had been previously built. Within weeks humanity found itself surrounded on all fronts. The tangling mass of ever-growing monsters continued to swell to impossible proportions.

There wasn’t time to think, there wasn’t time to negotiate, there was only time to run, and so humanity did. Calls echoed across every form of communication, “Withdraw! Withdraw! We cannot hold!”. If one were to listen to logs of that time, your preceding thoughts would have you believe you were about to endure something ripe with fear and sorrow, you would possibly even be guarding yourself mentally from what was to come. In surprise, you would find voices harboring sternness yet patience and calm gracing your ears.

Nobody had to say it, frankly humanity knew in the very soul of its species how dire the situation appeared to be. Almost instantly cities, towns, outposts had all been utterly annihlated in a clamor of violence not seen since, the events of “The Night”. Even this era’s World War One, as heinous and savage as it became barely left the shadow of brutality cast by these moments in time. The monsters seemingly never stopped, whether in combat or in transit, the mobs became unpausing hordes carving across landscape. The swirling mass only stopped to ensure they had claimed all possible victims. Once they had gorged themselves on violence enough to satiate their appetites, they stormed onwards.

Any of the few attempts at negotiating, if you could call them that, were not successful in the slightest. The bodies of those attempting to discuss their differences were trampled under unyielding boot heel. At first it was thought the monsters were mindless, unable to communicate and seemingly charging haphazardly into anything that drifted into their sights. After a short time, tactics could be seen; not many mind you, but there was something there.

The beasts strength was their numbers. Crashing into any locale so forcefully and overwhelmingly the defenders had no chance to stop them. At first we believed this was all they were capable of, straightforward fighting. Then we began to see something different. As those who either chose or were chosen to stay held the line, a second horde would attack those fleeing before them. Trapped between their burning homes and inevitable death, the losses would be catastrophic.

Cities emptied once the calls began, armies retreated from the fronts, humanity would gather every last resource and stand as united as their enemy, even it was one last time. Tendrils of people burst forth from every remaining location, caravans beginning to swell in size as more survivors and soldiers rallied towards safety. It was not long before they drew the hordes attentions. Millions exposed on the roadways, it took unparalleled bravery as warriors kissed their loved ones goodbye, shoulder to shoulder they stood in defiance. Shoulder to shoulder, they stood united.