Chapter 1 Apocalypse...!

Ethan's point of view...

Earth was facing an unimaginable catastrophe as it became the target of a merciless Alien invasion. After several minor attacks, they had chosen our planet as a mark of destruction.

The once vibrant and bustling cities now lay in ruins, reduced to smoldering rubble and remnants of a civilization that had crumbled under the weight of extraterrestrial aggression.

Exactly when I thought it was my end too, a miracle happened that changed my life completely.

In the year 2045, mid-May, Lassogo city.

I found myself amidst this nightmarish landscape, an unwitting participant in the cataclysmic events unfolding around me. My name is Ethan Conner, a twenty-year-old with dreams of a future filled with hopes and possibilities.

I work as a delivery boy yet my dreams were bigger. I wanted to join the Army. I wanted to become a warrior but my life took an unexpected turn a few years back and after a crippling accident during a cycling race I found myself laying on a bed, fracturing my leg which turned my world upside down, leaving me crippled and feeling like a waste on this planet.

I cursed myself for being below normal, useless trash thrown into this world. I was the fastest biker in the whole Lassogo city no one ever was able to beat my speed but that one accident had ruined me. It took me three years to gather my strength to get back on my legs and I practiced the hardest to train myself back on wheels. Though I couldn't make it up to my speed back then.

My friends and those who could never even imagine reaching me humiliated me and mocked me to be a cripple.

I just dreamt about a miracle that my life should be changed and it happened but in a different way which I never dreamt of.

However, on that fateful morning, as I hurriedly set out to deliver parcels on my bicycle, little did I know that my life was about to change forever.

In my rush, I pedaled with the speed of a jet, relying on my cycling skills as my sole talent because I was already late for my work. Though not as good as how I was before I tried my best to not give up hope.

As I rode, unusual darkness engulfed the day suddenly, as if the black cloud had deceived the sun into darkness. At first, I thought it was going to rain but all my guesses blurted out of my mind when the darkness had beaten even the darkest night.

It was so unexpected and sudden that fear crept into my soul, and I sought refuge in a secluded cave, trembling at the horrifying noises that accompanied this drastic change in a few more seconds.

"What the heck...!"

My mind keep on thinking about the hell that was happening here.

I stood closing my ears but soon my curiosity win over my endurance when the light was back, and to my astonishment, I stepped out of the cave only to witness the existence of gigantic fictitious creatures.

What the hell are they...!

My eyes popped out as I tried to look deeper into the things before me.

Some were huge black with unusual shapes many heads many tales, and irregular sizes and some were wearing metallic armor as if covered themselves under a layer of metals. No matter what I try, I couldn't imagine that it was true.

One eating another, and some throwing their explosives at each other.

I swear I never saw such things in my whole life not even in that science and fiction movies.

I don't know what was going on there as all the humans were disappearing one after the other.

It was still so confusing, were they feeding on us or were they abducting humans?

If it goes on, the whole Earth will definitely be wiped out.

It looked as if these gigantic creatures were playing a game in which they had targeted us and the only aim they had was to destroy humans and the planet Earth.

They had been mercilessly throwing explosions at us, and the complete city was filled with smoke and fire, blood and dead.

What the hell was going on?

Is this the end of humanity?

Those were like the alien forces that I had only seen or heard in movies or read about in books but that too didn't define them completely.

I confirmed it...! So it was true that the Aliens do exist...!

Curiosity turned into my biggest mistake as I soon found myself caught in the crossfire of the alien attackers. Two huge moist creatures were involved in a fight but their attention shifted to me suddenly.

One of them turned his tentacled head towards me jerking my soul out of my mouth and my heart almost forgot to beat as it threw a massive fireball in my direction. For a moment I swear I was paralyzed, all that could strike into my head was, it's all over now.

My existence...! My life...! My world, My dreams...!

Everything was going to be ruined by those shabby-crappie things.

As I got back to my senses, I ran for my life but stood on a cliff surprised as the attack that was supposed to hit me was halted in the middle of the air.

I turned around to see what exactly happened and found that creature was engaged in a fight with some other kind of surprising thing, it was like a device or something. A huge drone or a spaceship looks like it.

As I was a witness to the destruction unfolding before me, I noticed the logo on those devices and it was then that I grasped that these were nothing but the legendary starships of the Space Army.

Thankfully, some more starships came to defend us.

Still confused and curious I hiked further.

Buildings crumbled, consumed by flames and billowing smoke, while the thunderous sounds of explosions and alien weaponry reverberated through the air. It was a harsh war that left the whole earth in just dust and smoke. Panic and fear gripped the hearts of those unfortunate enough to witness the invasion, and I was no exception.

Amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope emerged in the form of those starships. As they flew near, I noticed they were taking in the survivors.

I felt a tinge of hope in my heart.

These are the Stellar Vanguard, an intergalactic organization that had monitored Earth's plight and finally intervened. I heard about them in my classes about space studies. They were known for their best guarding tools and advanced technology. Though it was the first time they were here on Earth, I heard that they protect us from Alien attacks staying in space itself.

No one knows how they look or who they actually are, some say they are Aliens themselves, some say they are deities, and I even heard that some called them the God's Army and so the Space Army.

But what so ever, in a chaos like this even I will think that they are Godsend guards for us.

With their advanced technology and military prowess, they were here to offer a chance of salvation to the surviving humans and swiftly orchestrated rescue operations, gathering the battered remnants of humanity and leading them aboard their colossal fleet of starships.

As I gazed at the nearest Vanguard's starships, I felt compelled to join them in their fight against the aliens but being a crippled one, I don't know if I still qualify to be selected by them but at least I can be saved by their help.

I had heard stories about these heroic forces and their efforts to save the Earth, but now I witnessed their might with my own eyes.

I positioned myself beneath one of the starships, hoping to be noticed and taken aboard.

In just a second a strong light flashed and I was taken in.

Fortune favored me as I found myself among the few survivors granted refuge within the protective confines of the Vanguard's starships.

Everything else was destroyed and except for those little survivors everyone either disappeared or died.

Inside the starship, we were assembled in the main hall, I can't imagine how big this starship is because I found myself like a dust particle in the middle of the grand hall. At one of the corners, screens were giving us a view of the land beneath.

Embarking on this uncertain journey, I witnessed the true extent of the devastation that had befallen our world.

From the vantage point of the starship, I looked down upon Earth, a scarred and broken planet forever changed.

The weight of defeat settled upon my shoulders, and my eyes pooled up, threatening to crush my spammed midst of despair, but still a glimmer of determination burned within me.

Right now, I may be a shattered cripple, but I vowed to fight back against the alien invaders, to seek justice for those who had suffered, and to reclaim the world that had been stolen from us.

But whenever reality hits me, my soul shatters again, what can a crippled one like me do to those powerful, dangerous Aliens?

As I surveyed the desolation surrounding me, all those survivors that were brought up with me were devastated, and looking at their swollen eyes and wounded bodies, memories of the alien attack haunted my soul, and the loss of loved everything weighed heavily upon my heart.

Though I don't have a family, the people around me were more like a family to me, the place I live, the Earth we breathed in, and everything was destroyed by those creatures.

I made up my mind, I don't know how but I am not going to sit idle, I will avenge them...!

Despite being a cripple, I felt a surge of energy, born from anger and hatred. Darkness engulfed my heart, but within it, a glimmer of determination remained. I just hoped for a miracle, that can help me, no matter what price I have to pay for it. I won't mind giving up on my entire life either.

It's true that, for those with a strong desire the entire universe stands in support.

{Welcome, to all the survivors of the Earth,} a mechanical voice echoed in the hall. Everyone present here was startled, it was the first ever announcement that we heard from them, and even I was astonished listening to that voice.

Stern and dominating.

Following that a beam of strong light flashed at an instant and I found everyone around me stunned like a statue.

I thought it was me alone who can still move but there were twelve more.

"What is going on?" we all panicked and the voice we heard before continued.

{Congratulations}

Wait...!

What was that for?

We were not in a position to be congratulated of course, then why?

{You all are selected as warriors and have been chosen by the Zodiac System}, that mechanical voice announced as the last beacon of hope in these trying times.

Warriors...!

My heart paced and my eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Is that true?

Is this my chance to make a difference?

It isn't a prank, is it?

Can I become a part of this marvelous team?

But what was this 'Zodiac...System'?

"The Zodiac System?" I mumbled, my voice trembling with a glimmer of hope.

I reckon my dream coming true as I added,

"What is that?"

The voice responded, its tone imbued with a gentle yet resolute conviction.

{The Zodiac System is a celestial network that empowers individuals like yourself with extraordinary abilities. It will unlock your potential and grant you the strength to rise against evil. You are not alone, Ethan. The Zodiac System is here to guide and support you}

My whole body quivered in excitement.

"How will it help us?" I couldn't control myself and blurted out my puzzled mind.

I felt as if I just got a trillion thousand dollars in my account or even more valuable than that

{This system consists of three things, Eligibility test, Training period, and Secret mission. It will provide you powers and perfect systematic training to build you all into a powerful team of warriors and will provide hidden missions based on your talents, and when you are ready you all will be granted a secret grand mission}

My soul ignited with excitement, a spark of newfound hope coursing through my veins.

"We will be trained...!"

"Wow, we will be powerful...!" I heard those other survivors exclaim.

I couldn't believe that amidst the ruins of our shattered world, a lifeline had been extended to us.

A strong light flashed again and I found the others being stilled like a statue as well.

I was alone to move right now. It surprised me, how could this happen?

What magic was this?

I panicked as that seems so strange.

{Don't worry young man, it's the highest frequency Flash, only those with the strongest inclination power can bear it, others will lose their consciousness for a while, it's a common thing to judge one's capacity of bearing, and you are the selected one}

"So...! That means....!" I stuttered in shock rather than surprise.

A crippled man like me, I mean good for nothing can be special too...!

A current passed through my body, proving that the thing I just heard was not a dream.

[Being the most reliable person, the system chooses you, Ethan Conner to be the Team leader of this Zodiac Warriors team} the system voice announced,

{Do you agree with this Mr. Ethan Conner}

I was perplexed, being a crippled nobody all my life, I couldn't imagine even being a part of that great team but now I was offered to be their Team Leader. It was rather unbelievable for me.

"I... I don't know what to say," I stammered, my voice filled with gratitude. "I mean...! Thank you. Thank you for believing in me and giving me this chance to fight back. I won't let you down."

The voice resonated with pride and encouragement.

{Believe in yourself, Ethan. Don't forget that you are the selected one. Embrace the power within you. Together, you all will forge a path toward redemption and reclaim what has been lost. Your true journey begins now}

As I absorbed the significance of these words, a renewed sense of purpose surged through my being.

With my soul alight and a heart brimming with newfound courage, I stepped forward into the unknown, ready to embrace the challenges that lay ahead.

At this moment, I knew that although the world had been shattered, my spirit remained unbroken.

The Zodiac System welcomed me with open arms, igniting a flicker of hope that would fuel my every step.

"Who are you, can I see you?" I was curious about the power behind this unbelievable help.

{You can meet me once you are fully trained but until then you have to keep patience}

I knew that I couldn't single-handedly take on the powerful Aliens, but I clung to the newfound hope offered by the Zodiac System and appreciate the team I just got.

As I ventured into this uncertain future, it was clear that the road ahead would be arduous, and sacrifices would be made. But I am determined to rise above my doubts and fears, to become a beacon of hope for humanity.

The Zodiac System had entrusted me with a role greater than myself, and I would honor that trust with unwavering resolve.

As time passed, I saw all the others getting their consciousness back. I was a little nervous about how they will react when they will know that this crippled boy is their captain.

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