The Awakening Of The Last Knight.

Chapter 2, The White Armored Knight.

When the Ghouls descended upon Askalan like a tide of darkness, the city stood on the brink of annihilation. Against them rose a band of warriors too few in number, yet boundless in valor, the Knights of Askalan. They didn't even have The most advanced armors or drones yet they were the only hope for their home.

The Ghouls came in waves, howling, ravenous, their eyes burning with malice. They smashed through barricades, scaled walls, and flooded the streets, certain of their victory. But the Knights held. They fought not as soldiers, but as men possessed, each strike fueled by the memory of fallen comrades.

For many days and nights, the battle raged. When their advanced swords broke, they fought with guns. When their guns ran out of bullets they used knives. When knives were lost, they fought with bare hands and teeth. And somehow, through sheer, unbreakable will, they turned the tide. The Ghouls, unused to defiance, faltered. Then, they fled.

The Knights of Askalan had done what entire armies could not: they had driven the Ghouls back. Their victory brought humanity precious time, time for the scientists to perfect their greatest creation, the Barrier.

One by one, the great cities of the world shimmered to life beneath these domes of light, and for the first time in a thousand years, humanity knew safety. But none forgot who had kept the flame of hope alive in the darkest hour.

To this day, the name Askalan is spoken with reverence. And the Knights? They are remembered not as legends. But as the men who refused to fall.

Ali's eyes snapped open.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over his familiar bedroom. The walls were lined with programming books and posters, his desk cluttered with notes from last night’s study session. For a moment, he just lay there, heart pounding, trying to process where he was. Was it all a nightmare? Then, the shouting started. "Ali! Wake up, lazybones!"

"You’re gonna miss your own graduation, idiot!"

His twin brothers, Sami and Sameer burst into his room, still in their pajamas, wrestling each other before launching themselves onto his bed.

"Ugh—get off me!" Ali groaned, shoving them away. "Get out! I’m up!"

Grinning, they tumbled out, still shoving each other as they left. "Mom says hurry up or no breakfast!" Sami called before the door slammed shut.

Ali sat up, running a hand through his hair. Everything felt… normal. Too normal. Maybe it was just a dream he thought, but then...

[Mission No. 1: Save everyone at the graduation and defeat the Ghouls to level up.]

The screen materialized in front of him, glowing faintly. Ali’s breath caught. It wasn’t a dream.

Memories flooded back, Fadi and Karim being torn apart, the Ghouls swarming the university, his father and Younger brothers missing and his mother and sister hiding in terror. His chest tightened, his hands trembling. His friends died, he died. And it’s going to happen again!

A soft knock interrupted his panic.

"Ali? Breakfast is ready."His mother’s voice was warm, but when she opened the door and saw him sitting on the edge of his bed, eyes red, her smile faded. "Habibi… what’s wrong?"

Ali quickly wiped his face. "Nothing. Just… nerves, I guess."

She studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright. But hurry up, okay? It's your big day today." Once she left, Ali took a deep breath.

"I have to do something!" he thought.

Grabbing his phone, he dialed the police.

"Emergency services, how can I help you?" a woman’s voice answered.

Ali hesitated. How could he explain this without sounding insane?

"I need to report a possible attack. Today. At the university by the shore."

"An attack?" The woman’s tone sharpened. "What kind of attack? Do you have details?"

"From the sea. The Ghouls are coming. You have to warn people, get security ready, tell the knights to come!"

"Sir, do you have evidence? A source?"

Ali clenched his fists. "Just trust me. If you don’t act, people will die."

A pause. Then, reluctantly: "I’ll report it to my superiors. Thank you for the call." The line went dead. Ali knew they wouldn't believe him. "Then I’ll have to do this alone" he said to himself.

After forcing down breakfast with his family, laughing weakly at his brothers’ jokes, pretending everything was fine, then he locked himself in his room.

"Armor," he muttered. "If this is real… show me."

A shimmering light enveloped him, and suddenly, his clothes were replaced by sleek, White armor, lightweight yet radiating power. A sword materialized at his hip. Ali exhaled. Looking himself in the mirror he couldn't believe it was him, he looked like a real knight. He gained confidence and suddenly he wasn't scared of the Ghouls anymore, he was determined to save his friends and family. No more running, this time, he’d be ready.

A few hours later, Ali found himself standing once again on the university grounds, surrounded by the joyful chaos of graduation day. The sun shone brightly, the air filled with laughter and excited chatter,everything was just as it had been before. Then he saw them.

Karim and Fadi, alive and unharmed, walking toward him with wide grins, waving enthusiastically. The sight hit Ali like a punch to the gut. His throat tightened, and for a moment, he could barely breathe. They’re here. They’re okay.

"Ali! There you are!" Fadi called, slinging an arm around his shoulder. "Ready to officially become unemployed?"

Karim smirked. "Too bad that we all know we're going to search for jobs for months while working in fast food restaurants or we'll be stuck at home doing nothing"

Ali forced a laugh, but his hands trembled. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from them, their faces, their voices, they were alive.

"Hey, what’s wrong?" Karim frowned, nudging him. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Ali swallowed hard. "Just… tired. Didn’t sleep well."

His friends exchanged glances but shrugged it off as the ceremony began. The announcer’s voice boomed over the crowd, calling graduates one by one. Ali barely heard them. His mind was locked onto one thing, the explosion.

When his name was called, his family cheered, his brothers whooping loudly. Fadi and Karim clapped him on the back, teasing him just like before. But Ali wasn’t listening.

Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

BOOM.

The ground shook. Screams erupted.

This time, Ali didn’t hesitate.

"Armor, NOW!"

A flash of light enveloped him, the sleek white plates materializing in an instant. His sword gleamed in his grip as the first Ghoul lunged at Karim.

"GET BACK!" Ali roared, swinging the blade in a wide arc.

The Ghoul’s head flew from its shoulders, black blood splattering across the grass. Fadi and Karim stumbled back, eyes wide with shock.

"What the?!"

"Stay close to me!" Ali barked, already moving.

Ghoul after Ghoul fell to his blade, their screeches cut short. He fought with desperate precision, every strike fueled by the memory of what had happened last time. He wouldn’t lose them again.

Cutting through the chaos, he reached his family quicker than last time, he saw a Ghoul chasing his twin brothers, just as a Ghoul lunged for Sameer Ali jumped.

"ALI!" Sameer shrieked.

He brought his sword down, cleaving the creature in half. His brothers stared at him, awestruck.

"That was SO COOL!" They said at the same time.

No time to celebrate. His father was fending off another Ghoul with an umbrella, his mother shielding his sister behind him. Ali charged forward, decapitating the monster before it could strike.

"Ali, what is happening?!" his father demanded, breathing hard.

"No time!" Ali grabbed his sister’s hand. "We have to move.NOW!"

He carved a path through the swarming Ghouls, his family and friends close behind. They reached the parking lot, panting but unharmed.

"Get in the car!" Ali ordered, shoving his friends toward the vehicle.

"But our families!" Karim protested.

"I’ll get them!" Ali snapped. "GO!"

His father gripped the wheel, face grim. "I’m not leaving you."

"You have to!" Ali slammed the door shut. "Get them to safety. I’ll hold them off!"

With a final, reluctant nod, his father said "I'll come back to get you" then he sped away.

Ali turned back toward the university, his sword glowing faintly in the sunlight. This time, he wouldn’t just survive. He would end this.