The Church Ultimate Edition

Verse 4 : Descent into Chaos

Daniel walked out of the building but turned around, wanting to ask one more question. As he looked back, the building was empty, and all the candles were out.

“Damn it, I hate this place," he muttered, gripping his gun tightly as he stepped into the street.

But only a few steps away, something attacked him, knocking him to the ground. Daniel immediately rolled over, gripped the rifle, and swung it like a bat at his attacker. Without hesitation, he fired a shot straight into its head and then took a proper look.

A twelve-foot-tall humanoid creature stood before him, with spiral horns, long claws, and a body entirely made of darkness.

"I hope Holly’s okay. This place isn’t safe," Daniel said as he reloaded his gun.

---

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Holly was holed up on the top of a building. Creatures were slamming against the door, trying to get to her.

"I'm running low on ammo," she muttered. "Hmm, a standard pistol magazine holds about 18 to 21 rounds. This one only had 14... and I’ve already used six. Only eight left. And these things don’t seem to die..."

Holly glanced around for a way to escape. The door was on its last hinges.

"I’ll be overrun if I stay here," she said, steeling herself. Holly started to run.

"Okay, gymnastics class, don't fail me now!" she yelled, sprinting and leaping off the building onto the next one.

"Woooh! I made it! Pretty cool, if I do say so myself," she laughed, sprinting across the rooftop to a nearby hotel.

Behind her, the creatures burst through the door and began jumping across the rooftops, chasing after her. Holly yanked open the roof access door and bolted down the stairs. The monsters crashed through windows, flooding the halls in pursuit.

Reaching the third floor, she ducked into a kitchen.

She paused, something catching her eye.

"Well... I've had worse ideas," she muttered, cutting the gas pipes on the stoves.

Holly then ran back into the corridor to give herself more ground. The creatures spotted her and gave chase. Sprinting at full speed, she barreled through the kitchen again and threw herself out the window, aiming for the next building.

As she sailed through the air, she turned mid-flight and fired a shot at a metal cabinet inside the kitchen.

"Bye, bitches!" she shouted.

The spark ignited the gas, and a massive explosion ripped through the building, the shockwave propelling Holly straight into the next building’s window.

"Wow... that worked," she mumbled before blacking out.

---

Meanwhile, at the police station, Daniel had barricaded the door while creatures slammed against it.

—sisisisisisi—

"Okay, now, let me find the armory," Daniel grumbled. "And that sound they make is so damn annoying..."

Suddenly, a distant explosion rocked the town.

BOOM!

"What the hell was that?" Daniel said, eyes widening. "I better hurry up."

He found the armory locked up and decided to shoot off the locks. Moments later, he realized the keys were hanging right there on the wall.

"Meh, either way, it opened," he shrugged, starting to load up.

He grabbed three grenades and an assault rifle.
I’d like to carry more, but it would weigh me down, he thought.

As he stuffed the gear into a duffel, he realized something chilling: it had become too quiet.

Daniel froze, alert.

"Why is it so quiet? Did they leave?"

He moved cautiously back to the front desk — just as the door exploded inward, missing him by inches.

The creatures flooded into the station, their red eyes gleaming with a hunger for blood.

Daniel ducked behind the desk, heart pounding, and opened fire. Burst after burst ripped from his assault rifle, cutting down several of them — but they kept coming.

He stumbled back as they closed in, claws reaching for him.

Just when he thought it was over, a commanding voice boomed through the station:

"HALT!"

The creatures froze instantly, parting like a dark sea.

From the shadows emerged a figure. His presence was electric, exuding power. As he stepped forward, a wicked smile played on his lips.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the figure taunted. "Another insignificant human trying to play hero in this wretched town."

Daniel struggled to steady himself.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

The figure chuckled, pushing up his glasses with one finger.

"Names are irrelevant," he said. "But you may call me Zephyrus."

"And you, my dear Daniel, are just a pawn in my game."

"What game? What are you talking about?"

Zephyrus laughed — a cruel, echoing sound — and grabbed Daniel by the shirt, lifting him effortlessly off the ground with one hand.

"Oh, Daniel, you are so naive. These creatures... they aren't mindless. They were once fragile humans. Where do you think the townsfolk went? They're either dead... or should I say undead. My loyal experiments."

Daniel thrashed against him.

"What the hell do you want?!" he shouted.

Zephyrus grinned.

"I want to reclaim what is rightfully mine. This town. This realm. This world was once the dominion of my kind. And now, it's time for our triumphant return. These creatures are but the first step toward salvation. I'm one step closer to perfecting the cure."

Daniel narrowed his eyes.

"You're not human... are you?"

Zephyrus leaned in, smirking.

"We are the forgotten ones — Primordials. Ancient beings your feeble minds can barely comprehend. We were here long before your kind... and we'll still be here long after you're gone."

"You're insane. Just another lunatic spewing crap," Daniel growled, yanking out a pistol and firing at Zephyrus' head.

In a blur, Zephyrus caught the gun and crushed it like a tin can.

He laughed again.

"You? A human? Stop me? What a joke."

He threw Daniel across the room like he weighed nothing. Daniel crashed into a pile of debris, gasping for air.

Zephyrus stood over him, sneering.

"But don't worry," he said. "You're too valuable to kill... for now."

Daniel struggled to rise, the sinking feeling of hopelessness gnawing at his chest.