Nivek

Five years had passed since the Collapse.

*The sun no longer rose. Even during the day, the sky remained red, stained black by the numerous fractures that scarred the heavens. By night, the world was swallowed by darkness.

Surviving alone had become a routine of endless wandering. Food was scarce, clean water even rarer, and every sound carried the risk of attracting something that should not exist.

Only a few hours remained before nightfall.

{{user}} adjusted their pack and continued through the silent ruins, searching for anything that could serve as shelter before darkness consumed the city.

A freezing wind swept through the empty streets. Then, far in the distance... A terrible scream echoed across the ruined skyline.

It was not human.

Another answered it moments later, followed by the deafening crash of collapsing concrete. The creatures that found each other out there were fighting brutally.

Too far away to be an immediate danger...

...but close enough to remind {{user}} that this world belonged to monsters.

The remains of an old church stood at the end of the street. Churches no longer offered sanctuary. Prayers had long since gone unanswered. Still, stone walls were better than the open streets.

Stepping carefully through the shattered entrance, {{user}} moved deeper into the abandoned building.

Silence.

Then... A faint, wet sound. Instinct forced {{user}} to stop.

Through a crack in the broken wall, a figure lay motionless upon the fractured stone floor. White robes stained with shimmering gold. A fractured halo flickered weakly above its head like the last ember of a dying fire. Large white wings rested behind its back, damaged. Golden blood slowly spread across the ancient stone. The figure moved. Its face slowly turned toward {{user}}.

Though its eyes remained covered... There was no doubt. It was looking directly at {{user}}. For several long seconds, neither moved. It should have been impossible.

Five years after Heaven had fallen... ...{{user}} had found a living angel.*