[1] The global warning

  The world had changed overnight.

  Across every country, televisions and radios buzzed with the same message. Presidents, prime ministers, and leaders spoke with solemn voices, some trembling, some fierce.

  "The world has turned upside down. Everything has changed. We no longer live in the world we once knew."

  "This is the beginning of the New World."

  "Someone above has granted us powers—magic itself. Manifest it. Train it. Become powerful… to survive."

  "From now on, it is survival of the fittest."

  The words shook households, markets, and streets alike. Some cheered, fists raised in delight. Others fell to their knees in fear. And some… simply refused to believe. But whether they liked it or not, the world had been rewritten.

  [2] The heavy burden

  Meanwhile, Daniel sat silently in the dorm lounge, head buried in his hands. The voice from the rift still echoed in his skull: “You are the chosen one.”

  The title weighed on him like a mountain. Leader? Me? He thought of his shaky spells, his clumsy steps. He felt meteors of expectation showering down on him.

  Tom and Jackson plopped down beside him.

  “Bro, you’re scaring me with that face,” Tom said, elbowing him. “You look like someone told you you’re the president of the world.”

  Jackson smirked. “Close enough. He’s ‘Chosen One,’ remember?”

  Daniel groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

  “Then don’t overthink it,” Jackson said firmly. “You don’t carry this alone. We’re here. Always.”

  Tom threw an arm around Daniel’s neck, pulling him into a half-headlock. “Exactly! You lead, we follow. Simple. Just don’t make us clean up your messes every time, alright?”

  Daniel couldn’t help but laugh a little, the weight on his chest loosening. Around them, the rest of the Eight nodded quietly. Sasha’s eyes lingered the longest, her fear still sharp—but beneath it, a spark of trust burned brighter.

  [3] Powers and Determination

  Later that morning, Noir had dragged Selena and Sasha outside.

  “Watch closely,” he said smugly, clapping his hands. A shimmer of spatial energy flickered, then a glowing circle snapped open. A rock floating nearby vanished into it—and reappeared right above his own head.

  “Uh—wait—” Noir yelped as the rock bonked him hard, making Sasha snort.

  Selena just raised a hand lazily, her eyes glowing. Suddenly Noir’s body froze mid-motion, jerking like a puppet on strings.

  “H-hey! What—hey!!” Noir flailed, his limbs jerking out of his control as Selena made him dance around ridiculously.

  “This is something new I discovered,” she said calmly, ignoring his complaints. “Mind-weaving. Not quite mind control, but close enough.”

  “Let me gooo!” Noir squeaked, doing what looked suspiciously like chicken flaps.

  Sasha chuckled at first, then her smile faded. The vision haunted her again: blood, smoke, Titans laughing over human corpses. She clenched her fists. Not again. This time, we’ll change it.

  “...If that vision is true,” she whispered, “then we already have a leader who can rewrite the future.” Her eyes slid toward Daniel in the distance.

  [4] The global announcement

  Far from the dorms, Victor stood before the college council. Rupert Stone, the head of council, adjusted his glasses nervously.

  Victor’s voice was calm, but every word struck like steel. “Humanity gained magic in a single night. Most cannot control it. Some lose their minds. Others… kill. We cannot leave this chaos unchecked.”

  He stood. “The orb was not a gift. It was a warning. And the creatures we saw—those things are not human. They will return. We must train. We must build defenses. Schools for magic. Protective barriers for nations. And we must accept our new fate before it destroys us.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Rupert hesitated, then nodded gravely. “Very well. We’ll announce it worldwide.”

  When Victor left the chamber, no one noticed his steps did not return to the dorms. Instead, he walked deeper into the wilderness. Toward a wasteland where another figure was waiting.

  [5] The mysteries of two

  Leo’s fists struck the ground like thunder. CRACK! The earth split, craters blooming as shockwaves rippled through the barren field. Each punch shattered the air itself, clearing clouds above. Sweat rolled down his jaw, his breath ragged.

  “If only I had been strong back then…” His fist slammed down again, shaking the earth.

  Victor’s voice cut through the silence. “You knew it the moment you saw the orb, didn’t you?”

  Leo paused, eyes narrowing. “…And you, Victor. What were you doing when the sky broke?”

  Victor’s lips curled faintly. “In the Holy Cave. Searching for something. But the orb disrupted it.”

  Leo’s eyes widened. “Did you… find it?”

  “…No.”

  The silence between them was heavy. Then Leo’s jaw tightened. “The war we thought ended that day—it wasn’t the end. It was only paused. And now…”

  Victor finished for him. “Now it begins again. But this time… it will end once and for all.”

  A smirk tugged at Leo’s mouth. “Been ages since we sparred. Care for a round?”

  Victor raised a brow. “If we fight here, half the continent will think monsters have arrived.”

  “Fine. No magic. And not even that.”

  Victor’s smile sharpened. “Deal.”

  The next instant—BOOM!—their fists collided, splitting the ground in half. Dust spiraled, rocks shattered. They moved like gods in human form, the earth trembling beneath every blow. And this was them holding back.

  [6] Titan's break out

  Back at the dorms, the rest of the Eight were enjoying evening coffee in the courtyard.

  “This is peaceful,” Jackson sighed, stretching.

  “Too peaceful,” Selena muttered, ever the realist.

  Her words proved true. The air suddenly warped. Not a glowing magic circle—but a jagged, pulsating teleportation rift. Everyone froze.

  From it stepped a figure twice the size of a man, skin like cracked stone, eyes burning like embers. Not a Lesser Titan. Not the kind they’d fought before. This was something greater—denser, darker. A "Greater Titan."

  “...Oh crap,” Noir whispered, spilling his coffee.

  The courtyard trembled as the Greater Titan’s massive foot crashed down, the ground splitting like shattered glass.

  Noir threw up a spatial gate in front of himself. The Titan’s fist plunged into the rift, reappearing behind him and obliterating a tree instead. “Gah! I almost died! Twice!!” he squealed, stumbling back.

  Selena’s eyes glowed crimson, strings of invisible force wrapping around the Titan’s arm. “Move, you monster!” she hissed, dragging it sideways like a puppet. The ground tore as the Titan resisted, snarling.

  Sasha stepped forward, calm eyes glowing blue. Time itself wavered—her fingers twitched, and suddenly the Titan froze mid-roar. The world around it slowed, colors dulling, dust hanging in the air like stars.

  Her voice was sharp, steady: “For ten seconds… MOVE!”

  Daniel surged forward, magic crackling around him. “Now or never!”

  Jackson struck first, lightning exploding from his fists as he screamed: “Lightning Barrage!” The Titan convulsed, electricity tearing through its body.

  Tom followed, fire bursting into a hound’s shape. “Flame Hound!” The flaming beast latched onto the

  Titan’s leg, biting with jaws of pure inferno.

  Daniel clenched his fists, sweat dripping down his brow. “Mind… bend!” His aura pulsed violently, pressing against the Titan’s will. The beast’s head jerked as if chains yanked at its very thoughts. Its roar twisted into a distorted scream as Daniel forced it down to one knee.

  But Sasha’s time hold shattered like glass. The Titan surged up, backhanding Jackson into the wall and crushing Tom’s flames under its heel. With a guttural roar, it grabbed Daniel and slammed him into the ground.

  “Daniel!!” Selena screamed, pulling with all her strings—but the Titan swatted her aside like a doll.

  Blood filled Daniel’s mouth. His vision blurred, but in the haze, he felt the weight of everyone’s trust—the words: Chosen One. His hands shook as he forced them upward.

  I won't... I can't... fall here

  His aura exploded, brighter than before, his voice raw as he roared:

  “BREAK!”

  A psychic shockwave erupted from him, hurling the Titan back across the courtyard. The ground cratered beneath him, cracks spider webbing outward. Daniel staggered to his feet, gasping, magic trembling around him like a storm barely contained.

  The Titan snarled, its ember eyes flaring. It lunged forward, faster this time, fists swinging. Daniel raised both arms—one hand pulsed with barrier magic, the other with raw psychic force. The Titan’s punch collided—BOOM!—the shockwave shattered windows, throwing debris everywhere.

  Daniel screamed as the barrier cracked. “Not… YET!” He pushed with his mind, forcing the Titan back step by step.

  Selena pulled herself up, strings lashing out to bind its leg again. Noir opened another portal under its arm, twisting its strike away. Jackson, bruised and bleeding, staggered forward with sparks still dancing around his fists. “Round two, ugly!”

  Together, they pressed forward—but the Titan was relentless. It clawed through portals, shredded strings, and batted away bolts of lightning. It slammed Daniel again, pinning him down with one massive hand. The ground beneath him groaned, stones splintering.

  Daniel’s vision dimmed. The Titan’s ember mouth opened wide, ready to devour him.

  And then—

  Two shadows landed between Daniel and the Titan, the air itself trembling at their arrival.

  The Titan froze, its ember-eyes narrowing. The weight of their presence crushed the courtyard like a second gravity.

  Leo cracked his knuckles, his eyes burning with strength.

  Victor adjusted his coat, his expression sharp as steel.

  “...Sorry we’re late,” Leo said, voice casual, though the ground cracked beneath his steps.

  Victor’s gaze locked on the Titan. “Let’s finish this.”

  The Titan roared, shaking the night sky—

  —End of chapter

  Next Episode Teaser ??

  “The courtyard lies in ruins, but the real fight is only beginning. Victor’s calm words clash with Leo’s explosive power. The Greater Titan doesn’t falter—it adapts. Daniel watches in awe… and terror. Selena refuses to stand by, even if her strings might snap. Sasha counts seconds, knowing each one could mean life or death. Noir jokes to hide his fear, but his portals may be the only way out. Lightning and flame clash against destruction itself. And when the Titan unleashes its true form, the night will burn.” Next time, on Son of Gods—Chapter 9: The Roar of Titans.”