Believing we were alone in the vast emptiness of the universe was humanity's gravest mistake.
Especially the thought that there might be beings out there—stronger, smarter, and far more ruthless than us...
And that one day, we might fall into their hands and become their mere plaything.
We never saw it coming.
---------------------------
"ASTERFA!"
A young woman's voice echoed in the distance.
"ASTERFAAA!"
This time it was louder, sharper.
As the door creaked open, a young woman entered the room.
She wore a simple red dress, matching the sparkle in her eyes. Her wavy brown hair fell to her waist, swaying with every step. Her very presence radiated strength.
"Asterfa, I can't believe you're still asleep. You can't miss your first day at the Academy."
Asterfa, still motionless in bed, let out a groan.
"Mai... just a little longer..."
Mai smiled softly, a teasing warmth in her voice.
"As your one and only sister, I even made your favorite waffles..."
She emphasized that last part as she opened the door slightly, letting the smell of breakfast drift into the room.
The sweet, fresh scent of waffles filled Asterfa's nostrils, and his eyes slowly opened. He looked at his sister with sleepy but grateful eyes.
Seeing that look, Mai nodded proudly and called out over her shoulder as she headed to the kitchen:
"Come on, don't be late."
Asterfa sat up and looked around.
He felt... strange. As if he hadn't been in this room for a long time.
The small, plain room had pale white walls.
Beside his bed was a small nightstand, and a wardrobe stood a bit further away.
A tiny table sat in the center, cluttered with yesterday's card games.
He quietly left the room and headed to the sink.
With each step, his head spun more, his mind growing hazier.
He didn't understand what was happening.
He turned on the faucet, cupped some water in his hands, and splashed his face.
When he looked in the mirror, his face was covered in black dust.
Suddenly, the dizziness intensified. His consciousness was slipping away.
He closed his eyes and took deep breaths.
1... 2... 3...
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer at the sink.
---
The sky was cloaked in black clouds, and the Earth had turned into ruins.
Hundreds of spacecrafts—straight out of a sci-fi movie—blanketed the skies.
No life seemed to remain.
But this was not the end.
It was the beginning of annihilation.
The ships kept firing, destroying everything.
Humanity tried to fight back—with tanks, missiles...
But their efforts were a joke.
Asterfa thought it must be a dream.
It couldn't be real.
Could it?
From the ships, masked soldiers began to descend—hundreds of them.
Their footsteps were synchronized, their expressions void.
They moved forward in perfect formation.
Then, a much larger ship descended from the sky.
Its hatch opened, and a figure slowly emerged.
This battlefield was so dark that even sunlight couldn't pierce the clouds.
Yet the figure radiated light, cutting through the darkness like the sun itself.
Humanoid in form, clad in yellow-white armor,
His shimmering wings dazzled as they floated through the air.
He hovered a few meters above the ground.
As he removed his mask, his long, snow-white hair fluttered in the wind.
With golden-green eyes, he gazed down at humanity like a god.
His thunderous voice echoed across the world:
"HUMANITY!
YOUR GOD IS DEAD. YOUR PLANET LIES UNCLAIMED.
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, YOU ARE PROPERTY OF THE TYFERDEL STELLAR UNION.
ACCEPT THIS TRUTH WITHOUT RESISTANCE, AND NONE SHALL BE HARMED.
I, GRIEM, 9TH COMMANDER OF THE TYFERDEL STELLAR UNION.
WHOEVER YOUR LEADER IS—SEND THEM FORTH!"
Not a single soul failed to hear him.
Far away, a few soldiers had already started recording and posting him on social media.
Asterfa couldn't move.
He was frozen.
Forgotten how to breathe. His mouth hung open.
Griem's words struck too suddenly, too brutally.
A stranger had come, declared their gods dead, and announced they were now slaves.
Then, Griem's eyes locked onto Asterfa.
His green gaze pierced right through him.
A sly smile curled on his lips.
Moments later, blood began to seep from Asterfa's nose, ears, and eyes.
He didn't understand what was happening.
His body lost all control.
He slowly collapsed to the ground.
As his eyes closed, one thought echoed in his mind:
"This... isn't a dream."