Relics of the Apocalypse

[You have acquired The Coin]

[Wielder Information

Name: Pierre Acre

Title: None

Wielder Skills: None

Relic: The Coin

Relic Mastery: None

Relic Skill: None]

Pierre stared at the curious thing that was on his palms. The relic, rather blandly called the "The Coin" was a silver coin that depicted a heptagram and strange characters. It was as real as the air he breathed, and the fear that sent his chest wildly beating and produced cold sweat on his forehead.

Demons? Blue screens? Divine Interface? Wielder? Relic? Even if it was a dream, it still would not explain it. He had stopped playing video games and reading mangas, several years ago. Why would they suddenly appear in his mind?

But the alternative would mean it was really happening. And that should even be less plausible.

He thought of another possibility. Maybe, these were only delusions, a product of a tired mind or a symptom of a mental illness. He did have an uncle who had schizophrenia.

He turned his eyes back to his students, half-expecting them to remain seated and stare at him with confusion, and ask why he was staring at nothing. That would have given relief.

But only a few had remained seated. Most of the students had crowded in front of the windows, looking as petrified as he was. Some of them look his way, their eyes asking for an explanation. But… this had not happened before, no, not even in the semi-fabled accounts of the ancient world.

Pierre was startled when the speakers came to life. "Students, please remain in your rooms. There is no need to panic. We are figuring things-"

Screams drowned the electronic voice. His students were running out of the lecture hall. He was about to stop them when he opted to return his attention to the windows. While he was frozen in a daze, things had progressed for the worse.

Smoke rose from the houses. The streets were filled with vehicles and pedestrians, scrambling to get away. He heard several distant gunshots and explosions. But most horrific of them all, was the shadow that submerged all of Greystone. A horde of winged creatures, fitting the description of demons had seized the sky, reserved only for birds, drones, and planes.

[Divine Revelation:

The demons had found your world. The world of men will crumble if the wielders of the relics stood idly by. You are the hope of mankind.]

The transparent screen appeared again, still spitting out nonsense. Him- the hope of mankind?

No, their military is the hope of mankind. The Republic of Thorns had ceased to be the world's foremost superpower since the toppling of their monarchy in the third great war. But they were still a force to be reckoned with, remaining a significant regional power.

The demons will face their match against their tanks and their fighter jets. In the meantime, he had to get somewhere safe.

The grounds below showed students streaming out of the university like a disturbed procession of ants. The overlooking streets mimicked the same chaos, as vehicles crowded the streets. Car horns and angry shouts joined the jarring cacophony.

Meanwhile, the lecture hall had gone completely silent. He was the only one remaining in the room. Pierre utterly confused and horrified, briskly walked towards the exit and shut the door behind him.

"Pierre, you saw that outside?" a female voice called out to him.

Clementine Martin's heels clacked in the silence of the emptied hallways. The part-time Thornish language instructor, who just joined the faculty last year, was also a childhood friend. He still could not believe that the snotty, pale girl, he always bullied was now an attractive woman.

The pretty face beneath a crown of long curly blonde hair, was twisted with worry.

"Yes… the world's gone crazy," he replied, relieved to finally have someone to talk to about the ridiculous thing outside the window.

"Don't you live near Beauregard Avenue? I think that's right below where the hole appeared?"

"Yeah, but thankfully I live alone, so I am not keen to go home now. We should wait for the police or the military, get somewhere safer, maybe out of the city."

Clementine stopped in front of him, her hazel eyes looking up intently, being a head shorter than the professor. "Then, I have a favor to ask. Dad had to drive me here this morning because my car broke down yesterday. He won't be fetching me till five and I am worried about them."

"You want me to give you a ride home?"

"Yes, please."

They took the nearest stairs, that led down to the entrance hall. It was empty as they expected. Not a single person in sight. It would have reminded him of the times he came to work very early in the morning, but instead of feeling the usual serenity and peace found in the quiet, it hammered home the gravity of the situation.

The sight of the large black hole, and things flying in the air, right outside the entrance, had them hastily make their way towards the parking lot. Trouble was nearer than they had anticipated, already hearing shouts and screams nearby.

His grey sedan was the only car left in the parking lot but not the only thing in the parking lot.

Both of them froze when they caught sight of it.

Pierre desperately called on his sufficient knowledge about the animals of the animal kingdom, praying something would match it, maybe a weird breed of a pug.

It was only as tall as his knees. Two goat-like horns occupied all of its forehead. It had the head and the body of a dog, the fangs of a tiger, and hooves for feet. It had no fur, only dry skin with cracks that let out black smoke.

He felt Clementine's tight grip on his arm, and smelled a whiff of the flowery scent of her hair, as she clung fearfully to him. "The Prince in the heavens! What in the world is that?"

As if it had heard the woman's distressed question, the floating screen answered.

[Divine Revelation:

You have encountered a spawn. It is the weakest in the horde but is quick and fearless and often comes in great numbers. Do not underestimate.]