Chapter One: The Museum of Shadows.
The frigid December air hung heavy over Neo New York, blanketing the city in a quiet, ominous stillness. It was a city that never truly slept, yet on that night, the streets surrounding the Quantum Physics Museum were eerily deserted. Neon signs flickered, casting dim, inconsistent light over the abandoned roads, while the building itself loomed in the darkness like a forgotten relic. Jarvien and Lilith stood at the entrance, their breath misting in the cold.
The authorities had called them in, not because of their youth, but because of their unique abilities. Missing people, strange sounds, and the unexplainable were exactly the kind of mystery Lilith and Jarvien specialised in solving. Neo New York’s police had long given up on entering the museum after the last team had vanished without a trace.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Jarvien muttered, his eyes scanning the towering structure.
Lilith nodded, her senses tingling. There was something wrong in the building. She adjusted the hood of her coat, her eyes glowing faintly with heightened awareness. The Quantum Physics Museum had been sealed off for weeks, after the disappearances started, and yet, from within its halls, something was stirring.
"We’re going in," Lilith said firmly.
Inside, the silence was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of old machinery and the echo of their footsteps. Dust covered the displays, once brimming with scientific marvels, now left to decay like a forgotten dream of human progress.
As they wandered deeper into the heart of the museum, Lilith’s eyes caught something out of place. A small leather-bound book, half-hidden under an old desk. She knelt down, picking it up carefully.
“This seems two centuries old. It’s from the 20th century,” Lilith mused.
Jarvien leaned in closer as she opened the diary. The pages were yellowed, brittle, but still legible. Inside, only one passage was written:
Escaping THEM:
They say that evil has a face, and that one man cannot heavily judge another. When I looked into his eyes I saw a human being. However, deep beneath that pale skin was something more distorted. Something evil buried beneath that handsome face. Something genetic. I knew he wouldn't be my soul mate. His humanity was often overlapped by something else buried deep within him. Perhaps not all humans are human.
All those World Wars. The evilest people in history. All those inexplicable occurrences. It was all THEM.
Lilith shivered slightly as she finished reading. “Whoever wrote this, they knew something.”
Jarvien frowned, his gaze shifting around the room. “Lilith, I don’t like this. Let’s keep moving, see if we can find more clues.”
They continued deeper into the museum, the air becoming thicker with every step. Then, without warning, the ground gave way beneath them. A loud crack echoed as the floor crumbled, and both Jarvien and Lilith plummeted into darkness.
They landed in a cavern below, the air suddenly warmer, mustier. Groaning, Lilith pulled herself up, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. Around them, the walls of the chamber were covered in ancient carvings. Depictions of dragons, serpents, and human-like reptiles.
“This is unbelievable,” Jarvien whispered, his eyes wide.
They moved closer to the final tapestry, illuminated by a strange glow. Above it, the word ‘Eden’ was written in an ancient script. Adam and Eve stood in the Garden, their faces serene, but hidden in the bushes, behind them, were the glowing reptilian eyes.
At the bottom of the tapestry, a chilling passage was etched. "The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy – John 10:10."
Lilith’s pulse quickened. “This can’t be a coincidence. These creatures, whatever they are, they’ve been watching humanity since the beginning.”
Jarvien took a step back, his mind racing. Then he felt it. A disturbance in the fabric of reality itself. His Quantum Leaping abilities allowed him to sense shifts in the quantum realm, and at that moment, it was vibrating with a terrifying intensity.
“Lilith,” Jarvien said urgently. “I think we better get out of here. We’ve just awakened something extremely ancient and evil.”
Before Lilith could respond, a deafening roar erupted from the chamber below. The ground shook violently, as if the very earth beneath Neo New York was awakening.
“We need to leave. Now!” Jarvien grabbed her hand, focusing his energy. In an instant, they Quantum Leaped out of the temple, reappearing outside the crumbling museum.
But they were not alone.
Emerging from the wreckage was something massive, its dark, greasy scales gleaming under the city’s lights. First, the jagged spikes along its spine pierced the air, then its full form emerged. A primordial demogorgon, rising from the depths of the ancient temple, roaring with fury.
The city stood still, as if holding its breath. The creature’s roar shook the buildings, sending shockwaves of fear through the hearts of everyone in Neo New York.
Lilith stared at the beast, horror creeping into her voice. “It was sealed away under the museum under the temple.”
“And now it’s free,” Jarvien said grimly. “We have to stop it.”
But as they stood there, in the heart of the city, they knew this was only the beginning. The enemy was awake, and it was unlike anything humanity had ever faced.
Chapter Two: The Fall of the City
As the monstrous demogorgon roared, its sheer size cast a dark shadow over the skyline of Neo New York. People screamed and scattered, their lives thrown into chaos as the primordial beast unleashed its wrath. The Earth’s military forces mobilized swiftly, rolling in with tanks, missile launchers, and armored vehicles. From the sky, fighter jets and helicopters zoomed in, circling the creature like vultures preparing for the kill.
"All units, fire at will!" the commanding officer barked into his headset.
The first wave of attacks hit the demogorgon with everything they had. Explosions lit up the sky as rockets slammed into its leathery, scaled hide, while bullets and heavy artillery rained down like a deadly storm. The air was thick with the sound of battle, the heavy thuds of ground artillery shaking the city streets.
But the creature barely flinched.
With one sweep of its massive tail, the demogorgon sent a dozen tanks tumbling through the air like toys. Jets dove in, launching missile after missile, only for them to bounce off its tough hide or explode harmlessly around it. The demogorgon’s roar sent shockwaves that caused buildings to tremble and glass to shatter for blocks around.
"Lilith, they don’t stand a chance," Jarvien said as they watched from a distance, his voice grim. "They’re outmatched."
"I know," Lilith whispered, feeling a cold dread wash over her. Her instincts screamed that this was far beyond anything Earth had prepared for. "But the military has to try. It’s all they know."
The demogorgon swung one clawed arm, smashing into a fleet of military helicopters. Fire and debris rained down as the creature advanced, utterly unstoppable. It ripped through skyscrapers as if they were paper, leveling city blocks in mere moments. The Earth’s forces fought valiantly, but it was clear—nothing was working.
Just as the situation seemed beyond salvation, a new sound filled the air. A low hum, growing louder with each second. Lilith and Jarvien turned their eyes to the sky, where dark shapes began to descend through the clouds. The Intergalactic Military had arrived.
Sleek, alien-looking ships cut through the atmosphere, glowing with advanced technology that dwarfed anything Earth had ever seen. Their engines hummed with quiet power as they surrounded the rampaging demogorgon, positioning themselves for battle.
In the center of the fleet, the largest ship hovered above the chaos, its presence radiating authority. Inside, Commander Divus leaned against the railing of the control deck, watching the demogorgon tear through Neo New York with a relaxed, almost amused expression on his face. His jet-black hair, cut in a sharp undercut, gleamed under the ship’s lighting. Muscular and poised, he was everything an intergalactic commander should be, despite being barely older than the soldiers he commanded.
"Well, well, well," he said with a smirk, adjusting the cuffs of his uniform. "Look what we have here, huh? Looks like Walmart Godzilla. This ought to be fun."
His subordinates stood behind him, tense but waiting for orders. One of them, a young lieutenant, stepped forward hesitantly. "Sir, with all due respect… you can’t just jump into battle. Look at the size of that thing."
Commander Divus turned, locking eyes with the young man. His smile widened. "This? This is light work, Lieutenant. I’ve dealt with worse."
He took a step toward the edge of the command deck, the ship’s outer hull beginning to open. Wind rushed in, whipping at his uniform as the platform extended out into the open sky. The demogorgon, still rampaging below, didn’t seem to notice the incoming fleet just yet.
"Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine," Divus said casually, cracking his knuckles. "You and the others just follow the commands I’ve already given. Stay sharp."
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant replied, still uncertain but not daring to question his commander any further.
Chapter Three. King's Rising.
The chaos in Neo New York was reaching a fever pitch. Fires burned across the city, and the Earth’s military forces were in retreat, overwhelmed by the demorgogon’s relentless onslaught. Commander Divus stood on the deck of his flagship, his plasma sword still glowing as he watched the monster writhe below, even his most advanced weaponry struggling to bring it down.
“Prepare the particle disintegrator,” Divus commanded. But before his order could be executed, a sudden and overwhelming presence blanketed the sky.
From the distant horizon, another fleet appeared. Sleek, white battleships gliding effortlessly into view. Their surfaces gleamed under the city’s broken lights, shining like celestial beings descending from the heavens. At the center of the formation was the largest of them all, a massive warship bearing an emblem as old as time. A Leviathan, the legendary sea creature of myth.
Divus’s eyes widened. “No way…”
A hush fell over the battlefield as the white fleet approached. The demorgogon, sensing something far greater than the forces it had been battling, hesitated in its rampage. For the first time, a flicker of fear crossed its monstrous, reptilian eyes.
From the central battleship, a radiant spear of light shot out. A celestial weapon of unfathomable power. It cut through the sky with precision and force, striking the demorgogon directly in the chest. A blinding flash illuminated the entire city, and the air hummed with energy.
The creature froze mid-roar, paralyzed by the spear. Its eyes, filled with primal rage moments before, were now wide with terror. The entire beast seemed to petrify in place, trapped in a suspended moment of fear and vulnerability.
Every soldier on the ground, from Earth’s military to the Intergalactic troops, fell silent. There was no mistaking who had arrived.
One by one, soldiers began to kneel, bowing low to the ground. They brought their fists to their chests, a unified gesture of loyalty and reverence.
“Long live the King! Long live the King!” they chanted, their voices rising in a chorus that echoed through the ruined streets of Neo New York.
Lilith and Jarvien, still watching from the ground, immediately recognized the scene. Jarvien's breath caught in his throat.
“It’s King Norman,” Jarvien whispered, awe and reverence filling his voice. Without hesitation, both he and Lilith fell to their knees, mirroring the soldiers, their fists pressed to their chests in respect.
From the deck of the central battleship, a floating royal saucer descended gracefully. Standing atop it was a man who seemed more God than king. King Norman, his long blonde hair flowing like spun gold in the wind, stood tall in an immaculate white suit, the very embodiment of regality. His piercing blue eyes scanned the battlefield with calm authority, the Leviathan emblem embroidered on his royal garb shimmering in the pale light.
Commander Divus, still aboard his flagship, watched the king’s descent in silence. His usual cocky demeanour was replaced with something close to awe. Even he bowed his head slightly, acknowledging the undeniable presence that was King Norman.
The king’s presence radiated control and confidence, every movement precise, every gesture powerful. As he hovered there, the demorgogon seemed to shrink in his shadow. The whole city, soldiers, civilians, and even the remaining ships in the Intergalactic Military, watched in stunned silence, their heads bowed.
As the royal saucer glided through the air, King Norman’s gaze shifted to the demorgogon. The once-unstoppable monster, now frozen and paralyzed by the celestial spear, seemed to tremble under his gaze. Its once-ferocious eyes now glistened with primal terror, as if it knew that its end was near.
King Norman hovered effortlessly just in front of the creature, his presence commanding absolute stillness from all around him. He raised one hand, and the celestial spear embedded in the demorgogon glowed even brighter, pulsating with raw, otherworldly energy.
Jarvien and Lilith exchanged glances, both of them in awe as they bowed to King Norman.
King Norman floated above the demorgogon and looked deep into its reptilian eyes. For a moment, King Norman’s eyes changed to a bright green color.
“Now.” He commanded. “Go to sleep and never wake up again.”
Chapter Four: The End of the Battle.
The colossal demogorgon, once a creature of unspeakable terror, now hung limp and defeated. Massive chains of light wrapped around its body, binding it as a fleet of ships descended from the skies to retrieve it. The largest ship, a gleaming, white leviathan of a spacecraft, lowered its bay doors, and with calculated precision, the demogorgon was hoisted up, disappearing into the belly of the massive vessel. The chains shimmered as they lifted the creature, ensuring it would never again terrorize another city.
Lilith and Jarvien watched, their expressions filled with awe, as the ship ascended into the sky, its engines humming with quiet power. The monster, now little more than a defeated relic of an ancient world, was carried away, as if it were no more than a trophy of war.
As the final remnants of the battle faded, something incredible began to unfold. The destruction left behind by the demogorgon’s rampage was already being reversed. Nanotechnology swarmed the wreckage, tiny robotic particles moving like a shimmering mist across the broken streets and shattered buildings. Walls rebuilt themselves, windows reformed, and streets paved themselves anew. In mere moments, Neo New York, which had teetered on the brink of annihilation, was being restored to its former glory.
King Norman hovered above it all, his white royal suit untouched by the grime and chaos of the battle. His eyes, icy blue and all-seeing, surveyed the scene with quiet satisfaction. The city was being made whole again, and with it, order was restored.
From where they stood, Lilith and Jarvien couldn’t help but stare. There was something both terrifying and mesmerizing about the way the king carried himself. His presence seemed to transcend even the impossible technology at his command, as if he were more than human, something far greater.
Lilith couldn’t tear her gaze away from him. There was an ethereal quality to King Norman that pulled her in, something beyond the power, beyond the title. Her heartbeat quickened, and for a moment, she found herself lost in the sheer magnitude of his existence.
King Norman, without even turning, sensed her gaze. Slowly, he looked over his shoulder, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. The intensity of his stare hit her like a wave, and Lilith felt her knees buckle. Her vision blurred, and in that moment, her body gave in.
"Lilith!" Jarvien shouted, catching her just as she began to fall.
He shook her lightly. "Girl, get up. This is no time to be fangirling. Get it together," he said with a mixture of concern and amusement.
Lilith blinked, her head spinning, but she managed to stand on her own two feet again. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she tried to regain her composure. She glanced up at Jarvien, who was smirking at her, then back at King Norman.
The king, now fully facing them, stood in the air with an effortless grace, his royal aura impossible to ignore. He raised a single brow as he looked at the two teenagers, his expression unreadable but not unkind.
"Thank you for solving the case," King Norman said, his voice calm, resonant, and undeniably commanding. "Now, return to the Intergalactic Kaizen School. Your work is done here."
His words left no room for argument, but there was no harshness in his tone. It was as if he already knew that they had more to do elsewhere, their journey far from over. His gaze lingered for a moment longer, then he turned, gliding effortlessly back toward his battleship. The portal above the city swirled open, its otherworldly light beckoning his fleet.
Lilith and Jarvien watched in silence as King Norman’s fleet began to ascend. The massive white battleships, pristine and perfect, moved as one, vanishing into the portal that shimmered like the surface of an endless ocean. With a flash of light, they were gone, the skies above Neo New York returning to their natural state, as if the battle had never happened.
Lilith, still shaken but standing tall, turned to Jarvien. "I can’t believe that just happened."
Jarvien grinned, his usual carefree attitude slipping back into place. "Believe it. But next time, try not to faint in front of royalty, yeah?"
Lilith smirked, shaking her head. "Next time, I’ll let you faint."
They stood there for a moment longer, watching as the last traces of the advanced fleet disappeared through the portal. The city below was already bustling with life again, completely unaware of how close it had come to ruin.
Their mission was complete, but both of them knew this was just the beginning.
“Lilith.” Jarvien said. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
As he spoke, Lilith’s phone alarm went off.
“I’ve got to go. I have an exam at the Intergalactic Kaizen School right now.” Lilith sais as she signalled for her spaceship to fly to her. The spaceship flew down and she entered it.
“See you later, Jarvien.” Lilith said as she buckled her seat belt. “Let's have more adventures together.”
“Yeah. Let's have more adventures together.” Jarvien replied.
Lilith’s spaceship shot into the sky. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.
Jarvien looked up at the twinkling sky. “I didn’t get to tell her what Frost told me.” He said. “But on the other hand, its best that she find out by herself. After all, it's her own life journey.” He smiled.
Jarvien’s phone rang. He answered it. “Hey Santino.”
“Hey. I’m sending a spaceship your way.” Santino said on the other side of the phone.
“Thank you.” Jarvien replied.
A spaceship appeared in mid-air and lowered itself to Jarvien. Jarvien stepped inside and started the engine.
“Where to, Jarvien?” The AI voice asked.
“Home. Vaporwave City.” Jarvien replied.
Chapter Five: A Glimpse Beyond the Stars
The sky above Neo New York shimmered with the light of stars, a serene contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just hours before. The city below was still, its towering buildings bathed in the glow of distant lights, flickering like embers from the aftermath of the battle.
Jarvien sat in the cockpit of his sleek hovercraft, flying high above the city. He guided the controls with a calm hand, though his mind was racing with everything he’d witnessed. The demorgogon, the arrival of King Norman, and the celestial power that had paralyzed a creature even the most advanced military forces couldn’t touch.
As his hovercraft glided effortlessly through the night sky, Jarvien looked out at the stars, twinkling like diamonds scattered across a velvet canvas. The vastness of the universe stretched out before him, mysterious and infinite. He had seen many strange things in his life, but tonight was different. Tonight felt like the beginning of something far bigger.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a shimmering light in the distance. He turned his head to see it. King Norman’s fleet, flying high above him. The white battleships, sleek and glowing like celestial vessels, cut through the sky with an otherworldly grace. They moved in perfect harmony, the Leviathan emblem on the central ship reflecting the starlight.
Jarvien’s breath caught as he watched them soar above. The fleet, with its ethereal presence, felt like something beyond this world. King Norman, with his calm power and commanding presence, had changed everything. Earth, as Jarvien knew it, was no longer the same.
He leaned back in his seat, his eyes still fixed on the magical sight of the fleet drifting through the heavens. For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped, the stars above and the city below merging into a tapestry of wonder and mystery.
"Things are about to get real weird on Earth, that's for sure," Jarvien muttered to himself.
The twinkling lights of Neo New York stretched out below him, still glowing like a city caught between worlds. One foot in the past, and one reaching toward a future filled with the unknown. Jarvien let out a quiet breath, his mind turning toward Vaporwave City, where he would return for now. But he knew, deep down, that nothing would ever be quite the same again.
As his hovercraft ascended higher, leaving Neo New York behind, the stars seemed to shine just a little brighter. The night sky was alive with possibility, and somewhere out there, the strange and magical forces that had been awakened were already beginning to stir.
Up next: Rise of the Angels. Part 2. Kenny.
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