Introduction: The Fragility of Civilization
In the years leading up to the collapse, humanity seemed to be at
the peak of its progress. Scientific and technological advancements
had radically transformed life on Earth, projecting a bright future
full of possibilities. The great powers were competing to dominate
the fields of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and space
exploration, while diseases that once plagued humanity were left
behind thanks to advanced genetic therapies. Science offered
solutions to almost everything, and the limits of human life were
being redefined.
However, beneath this apparent strength lay a deep fragility.
Despite the impressive achievements, the world was more divided than
ever. Extreme inequalities separated the technologically advanced
nations from those barely able to survive, creating an
insurmountable chasm. While the more developed countries advanced in
biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and clean energy, much of
the planet suffered the impact of wars, economic crises, and natural
disasters. Entire regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America were
devastated by armed conflicts fueled by proxy wars between world
powers, leaving millions of people trapped in areas of permanent
conflict. Extreme poverty and lack of resources were the norm in
these areas, where survival was a daily struggle and the hope for a
better future faded away.
Technological advancements, instead of narrowing this gap, only
widened it further. Corporations from developed nations concentrated
their resources on an endless pursuit of profit and power, while
less fortunate countries continued without access to basic
technologies that could improve their living conditions. This global
disparity was not only ignored but, in many cases, was seen as a
necessary evil for the advancement of civilization. While the global
north enjoyed its technological luxuries, the south sank into a
humanitarian crisis, struggling with hunger, poverty, and war.
The most unsettling thing was the indifference of the citizens in
developed countries. Despite access to information and the growing
global awareness, the population of the more advanced nations had
become psychologically anesthetized. They lived in a state of moral
apathy, accepting the ethical degradation of their societies as long
as their privileges and comfortable lifestyles remained intact. This
collective inaction not only faded protests for social justice and
ethics but also allowed the unchecked rise of corporations, which
took advantage of the vacuum of resistance to consolidate their
power. As the citizenry sank into a silent acceptance of collective
selfishness, tech and biotech companies expanded uncontrollably,
redefining the rules of the modern world. The values that once
upheld these societies crumbled, but for the majority, personal
well-being remained more important than the suffering of others.
Biotech corporations led a frantic race for control over life
itself. Advances in genetic therapies had already significantly
improved the quality of life and extended human longevity, but the
ultimate goal, the holy grail of eternal life, remained out of
reach. What should have been an effort for well-being turned into an
obsession, where the drive to stop aging and break biological
barriers became increasingly dark, blurring the lines of ethics and
responsibility. The big biotech companies competed fiercely, driven
by greed and arrogance, ignoring warnings about the risks lurking in
their quest for immortality.
Meanwhile, the world was moving toward what seemed like an
uncontrollable future. Although humanity celebrated its
technological advances, the reality was that climate change
continued its course, unleashing increasingly destructive effects.
Melting ice, storms, and natural disasters were disrupting the
planet’s balance, but these phenomena were seen as minor obstacles
compared to scientific progress. In this context, governments
weakened by internal crises and the growing influence of
corporations were unable to manage global challenges.
And it was precisely climate change that led to an unexpected
discovery. In the frozen lands of the Arctic, the melting ice
revealed something that had been hidden for millennia: an ancient
virus, unknown to modern humanity. What initially seemed like an
opportunity to unravel new biological secrets quickly captured the
attention of scientists. This discovery was seen as the possible
catalyst for the long-awaited extension of human life. Fascinated by
the virus' potential, many researchers began experimenting with it,
blinded by the promise of revolutionary breakthroughs.
However, as some of the pathogen's mysteries were uncovered,
warnings began to accumulate. But, in their eagerness to be the
first to unlock the secrets of the virus, these signs were ignored.
No one seemed to understand the true scope of what they had
discovered. The virus, initially named HVA-17 Borealis, possessed
properties that would change everything humanity believed it knew
about life and death. Over time, this scientific name would be
replaced by another, one much darker and feared.
What happened next would be etched in history. The collapse did not
come immediately, but the seeds of the apocalypse had already been
planted, waiting for the right moment to bloom.
The World Before the Apocalypse: Accelerated Progress, Inevitable
Fall
A Journey to the Heart of the Arctic
In 2065, the powerful biotechnology corporation Geneteq, a leader in
genetic manipulation and a pioneer in cell regeneration therapies,
launched an expedition to the Arctic. At first glance, the mission
aimed to study the effects of thawing in the permafrost, but behind
this facade, there was a much greater ambition. Under the direction
of its charismatic and controversial CEO, Zachary Albright, Geneteq
sought to find ancient organisms or pathogens that could
revolutionize the field of biotechnology.
Zachary Albright was not an ordinary executive. He was a
biotechnology guru, a visionary whose ideas had changed the course
of modern science. Acclaimed for his ability to break ethical and
legal barriers in the pursuit of progress, Albright firmly believed
that the future of humanity should be in the hands of those willing
to do "whatever it takes" to achieve scientific advancements. His
influence extended beyond corporate boards; his presence on social
media had turned him into an iconic figure, with a legion of
followers who worshipped him as the savior of humanity. Through his
speeches and manifestos, Albright preached that humanity was on the
brink of overcoming its biological limitations, and that Geneteq was
the vehicle to achieve that future.
Dr. Elias Vandermeer, the head of research for the expedition, was a
renowned scientist in paleovirology, personally recruited by
Albright to lead the corporation's studies in the Arctic. Vandermeer
shared Albright's passion for science, but where Albright saw a
glorious destiny for humanity, Vandermeer saw risks and warnings.
Throughout his career, Vandermeer had championed an ethical
approach, aware of the dangers inherent in unrestricted genetic
manipulation. However, Albright's influence was so vast that any
internal opposition was met with silence or, in some cases, outright
disdain.
For weeks, Vandermeer's expedition discovered nothing more than
common microorganisms. However, in one of the final drilling
attempts in an ice cave, the team unearthed something extraordinary:
a perfectly preserved biological sample, frozen for millennia.
Excited by the discovery, the team extracted the samples and
immediately sent them to Geneteq's central laboratory for analysis.
The Discovery of the HVA-17 Borealis Virus
In Geneteq's laboratories, the magnitude of the discovery was
revealed. Initial tests indicated that the sample contained a
completely unknown virus, one that resembled nothing registered in
modern biology. Albright, aware of the discovery, immediately saw a
unique opportunity. The virus, provisionally named HVA-17, possessed
extraordinary genetic properties: it appeared capable of interacting
with human cells in previously unimaginable ways, regenerating
tissues at an unprecedented speed.
For Albright, this virus was the key to achieving his obsession:
immortality. While others saw the HVA-17 Virus as a potential
threat, he saw it as the culmination of his vision for humanity.
Under his leadership, the experiments were accelerated, and
scientists were allowed to manipulate the virus in search of its
potential to stop aging. Albright couldn't wait to see how this
discovery would catapult him not only to the status of guru but to
that of a technological messiah, the man who would save humanity
from its mortality.
However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm. Dr. Elias Vandermeer
began to grow increasingly concerned about the dangers of the virus.
As the experiments progressed, he noticed unusual behaviors in the
pathogen, which seemed to have a disturbing ability to mutate and
adapt. Vandermeer's warnings came quickly. He insisted that the
virus should be contained and that testing on humans should not
proceed. However, Albright completely ignored him, claiming that
progress could not wait and that the HVA-17 Virus had to be
exploited before any other corporation could discover its existence.
The Conflict Between Vandermeer and Albright
The confrontation intensified. Vandermeer, horrified by Albright's
indifference to the risks, began to devise a plan to alert the
international scientific community about the imminent danger posed
by the HVA-17 Virus. However, before he could make his warning
public, Vandermeer disappeared under mysterious circumstances. His
disappearance was quickly covered up by Geneteq, which claimed that
he had left the company for personal reasons. However, among the few
colleagues who knew of his conflict with Albright, rumors spread
that Vandermeer had been eliminated to prevent his opposition from
sabotaging the CEO's plans.
With Vandermeer out of the way, Albright accelerated human
experiments, fully confident that the HVA-17 Virus would make him
immortal. The first human trial was approved, and a volunteer with a
terminal illness was selected to become Patient Zero. The man, with
nothing to lose, underwent exposure to the virus under the strict
supervision of the Geneteq team.
The Awakening of Patient Zero
During the first few days, Patient Zero showed miraculous results.
His health improved rapidly, his cells regenerated at a speed that
defied all expectations. The scars from his terminal illness
disappeared, and the researchers, along with Albright, began to
believe they had finally found the holy grail: absolute control over
life.
However, at the same time, a sector of the Geneteq board, which had
been looking for an opportunity to remove Albright for years, saw
their chance. They knew that if the project succeeded, Albright
would cement himself as the most powerful figure within the company.
Under the pretext that more urgent matters required his attention,
they managed to sideline him from the project just before the
crucial tests.
They classified the project as ultra-secret, keeping the CEO himself
away from critical information, and took the opportunity to
strengthen their internal control. However, paradoxically, this plan
ended up favoring Albright in a way no one could have predicted.
When Patient Zero started showing signs of relapse, Albright was not
present to witness the disaster. At first, the patient simply
started complaining of pain, but it quickly worsened: his skin
turned pale, and he began to bleed profusely from all his orifices.
Amid violent convulsions and desperate but futile attempts to
escape, Patient Zero seemed to understand that his end was near.
The scientific team, horrified, tried to resuscitate him
unsuccessfully. Despite all their efforts, Patient Zero suddenly
died, leaving the researchers in shock.
While the Geneteq leadership received the first reports about the
incident and began taking measures to contain the disaster, the
members of the medical team began noticing strange symptoms after
Patient Zero's death. What in any other context would have been seen
as a miracle, in this case, was interpreted as a dark omen. One of
the scientists, who had worn glasses all his life, discovered that
he no longer needed them, while another, who had suffered from a
limp for decades, realized he had completely regained his mobility.
Although their bodies seemed to regenerate remarkably, they knew
that this recovery was not a cause for relief but the first step
toward a fatal destiny. Based on what they had just witnessed in
Patient Zero, they understood that their end would almost certainly
be the same as his.
Later, they deduced that they had probably been infected during the
final moments of Patient Zero's life. While they tried to control
him amidst his violent convulsions and spasms, they were in close
contact with the blood droplets he uncontrollably expelled. Unaware
at the time, that exposure had sealed their fate, starting an
irreversible process.
Even worse, the team members had already been in contact with other
people within the laboratory, making it impossible to know how far
the infection had already spread. The virus could be moving through
the facilities without anyone knowing.
What the team didn’t know yet was that the real horror was far from
over. Just hours after his death, Patient Zero resurrected abruptly
and violently. While his return to life was already disturbing, what
happened immediately after was terrifying. His body began to contort
in impossible ways for a human, adopting grotesque postures while
emitting inhuman and disturbing screams that echoed throughout the
laboratory. The team members, frozen and paralyzed by terror, could
only watch in horror as Patient Zero lunged at them with monstrous
aggression, tearing apart the containment suits of some of them and
splattering the room with his blood. Chaos overtook the place as the
researchers, still in shock, tried to react to the new threat.
In the days that followed these terrifying events, the virus,
initially known as HVA-17 Borealis, was given a much darker name:
Virus NT. The new name, NecroTorquere, emerged upon discovering the true
and macabre nature of the infection. This virus not only killed
brutally but seemed to keep its victims trapped in endless torture
even after death. The reanimated bodies, like that of Patient Zero,
writhed in grotesque spasms, trapped in a cycle of constant
suffering. This discovery would not only change the history of
science but also mark the beginning of a new era of terror for
humanity.
The Outbreak at Geneteq: The Elimination of Patient Zero
The Spread
Although infections began to spread, Geneteq had something in its
favor: its central laboratory, where the virus was being studied,
was in a remote and isolated area. The staff usually spent long
periods confined within the facilities, with limited communication
to avoid espionage by other corporations and prevent leaks of
information. This allowed them to keep the virus contained and
prevent its initial spread. In secret, Geneteq tried to contain the
situation without alerting the public or authorities, hoping that
they could still maintain control, at least for a few days.
The Appearance of Mr. Shadow
With the situation escalating quickly and the
Virus NT
silently spreading through the facilities, the Geneteq board made a
drastic decision. Unable to contain the outbreak, they turned to
their last resort: Mr. Shadow. This mysterious individual, a legend
in the most powerful circles, was known for resolving impossible
situations without leaving a trace. He did not wear a mask or hide
his identity, but those who had seen him rarely remembered his face
clearly.
The board contacted him at the most critical moment. Without the
need for long negotiations, Mr. Shadow accepted the mission:
eliminate the outbreak, clean the facilities, and erase all
evidence. He knew that the Virus NT was not just a failed
experiment, but a threat that had to be eliminated without room for
error. The operation had to be quick, precise, and definitive.
The Laboratory Lockdown
The operation was executed with precision as night fell. Mr.
Shadow's helicopter landed silently on the Geneteq helipad, marking
the beginning of the mission. Momentarily, the security lockdown
protocol was deactivated to allow Mr. Shadow and his team to enter
the facilities. Once inside, the system was immediately reactivated,
sealing every exit and blocking access to the outside. The
laboratory was completely isolated, trapping employees and
scientists with no way to escape. No one could enter or leave
without Shadow's direct authorization.
The guards, bewildered by the sudden intervention, barely had time
to react before Shadow's tactical team, composed of highly trained
specialists, infiltrated the premises. Equipped with advanced
containment suits and armed to the teeth, they moved with relentless
efficiency, eliminating employees one by one with silent shots.
Every action was calculated with cold precision. The absolute
control of the building was in the hands of Shadow and his team. The
doors remained sealed, blocking any possibility of escape and
ensuring that no one would interrupt the final objective of the
operation.
The Lab Cleanup
Chaos erupted within minutes. The employees, aware there was no way
out, ran desperately through the hallways. Some tried to hide,
others begged for their lives, but there was no mercy. Mr. Shadow's
team, trained to act without compassion, eliminated every witness
and potential infected. The shots were precise and calculated. In
the lobby, in the laboratories, in the offices... every corner of
the complex was cleaned.
Meanwhile, Mr. Shadow observed with inhuman calm, ensuring that the
operation went smoothly. His team, moving with the efficiency of a
well-oiled machine, cleared each area, following his instructions to
the letter. The cleanup had to be total, and it would be.
The Elimination of Patient Zero
The final point of the operation was in the lower levels, in the
containment room. There, Patient Zero, the first victim of the
NT Virus, was still strapped to a gurney, violently convulsing as the virus
destroyed his body and transformed him into something beyond human.
The scientists surrounding him, now infected and desperate, pounded
on the walls and the glass, begging for help. Their suits were torn,
and some showed the early advanced signs of the virus on their own
bodies. They knew their fate was sealed.
Mr. Shadow watched the scene from the control room, his face
impassive in front of the chaos unfolding before his eyes. The
scientists pleaded for their lives, banging on the glass, hoping to
be heard. But Shadow showed not a flicker of emotion. He knew
everyone in that room was doomed. Without hesitation, he pressed the
emergency incineration system button.
Within seconds, flames filled the room. The scientists' screams were
drowned out by the roar of the fire, as everything that remained of
Patient Zero and his caretakers was reduced to ashes. There would be
no trace of them, nor of the experiments. The mission was nearly
complete.
The Theft of the Vial
As the flames consumed the containment room, reducing all traces of
the disaster to ashes, Mr. Shadow calmly moved on to the final phase
of his operation, a move that Geneteq was completely unaware of.
Without the board's knowledge, Shadow had his own mission: to seize
the original sample of the NT Virus.
With the cleanup of the containment room completed, Mr. Shadow left
and made his way to the lower sections of the laboratories. There,
his tactical team, meticulous in every step, was already preparing
the final phase of the plan: the total destruction of the
facilities. No trace would be left that could link Geneteq to what
had happened. The demolition charges were strategically placed,
ensuring that every vestige of the research would be reduced to
dust.
While his men worked on the demolition, Mr. Shadow, with his
characteristic calm, slipped unseen into a private containment room
in the most protected levels of the laboratory. In that room, stored
in security boxes, were the key samples from the research. There,
protected by a high-security chamber, was the vial containing the
original strain of the virus, the source of the entire catastrophe.
With calculated movements, he opened a refrigerated safe and took
out the vial.
He held the vial for a few seconds, silently observing it. He knew
that what he had in his hands was not just the origin of the
disaster, but a key to a much darker and more dangerous power.
Without haste, he carefully placed the vial in his pressurized
briefcase, designed to keep the sample intact. This vial not only
contained the origins of the past; it was the key to a future filled
with darkness: an incalculable weapon.
No one, not even the board that had authorized the operation, knew
that Mr. Shadow had his own interests in that virus. He operated
under unknown orders, or perhaps driven by his own dark purposes.
The fate of the NT Virus was no longer in the hands of the
corporation that had discovered it, but under the control of a man
who operated from the shadows.
With the vial secured and the demolition underway, Mr. Shadow met
with his team. They left the facilities with the same precision and
serenity with which they had arrived. In the distance, already
outside, controlled detonations were heard. The explosions destroyed
Geneteq's laboratories, reducing them to rubble. In a matter of
minutes, what had once been one of the most advanced facilities in
the world was transformed into ruins, covered under the narrative of
a terrorist attack fabricated by the board.
For Geneteq, the problem seemed to have been eliminated along with
the remains of the laboratory. They believed everything was over,
that the disaster was under control. But in the shadows, far from
their reach, something much more dangerous was beginning to take
shape. Mr. Shadow was not just an executor; he was now the guardian
of a secret that could change the fate of the world. And with that
power in his hands, only he would decide when and how to use it. The
real threat had not been eliminated; it had only changed hands.
The Cover-Up and the Consequences
The media, manipulated by the official version, spread the Geneteq
incident as a tragedy attributed to an anti-biotechnology extremist
group. The cover-up was perfect. The narrative was accepted without
question, and Geneteq was cleared of suspicion. The board achieved
its goal: the company appeared clean, and the darkest secrets,
including Patient Zero and the NT Virus, seemed to have been
incinerated along with the facilities and the truth.
In the following weeks, Zachary Albright appeared in television
interviews with a serious demeanor, condemning the violence and
lamenting the loss of lives, describing the incident as an attack on
human progress. Geneteq promised to rebuild its facilities and
continue its biotechnology mission. The world, ignorant of the
truth, hailed Albright as a hero, a symbol of resilience.
However, in private, Albright began to notice the disappearance of
several key members of his team, which fueled his distrust of the
board of directors. The silence they maintained was suspicious,
especially after they had sidelined him from the project related to
Patient Zero and classified it as ultra-secret. Although he had no
concrete evidence, Albright began to suspect that it all had to do
with the NT Virus, a fear that grew as his investigations revealed
irregular financial movements and a lack of transparency in internal
operations. Over time, his paranoia increased as his closest circle
became more opaque and evasive. What he had initially considered a
simple diversion of his attention to other matters now seemed to be
part of a more sinister plan. What was at stake was far darker than
he had imagined, and everything seemed to revolve around the virus.
After months of digging, Albright's findings began to bear fruit.
Hidden documents and secret accounts came to light, revealing that
the experiments with the NT Virus and the manipulation of the facts
were part of a much larger plan. Upon discovering the existence of
Mr. Shadow, Albright realized the magnitude of the threat. What had
occurred in the laboratories not only posed a danger to his own
survival, but also endangered all of humanity. His obsession with
immortality had blinded him, not realizing that he had been an
unwitting accomplice in a covert operation. The NT Virus no longer
belonged to Geneteq; it was now under the control of someone, and
its fate was in the hands of a man of whom little was known.
The Collapse of Civilization: The Virus Unleashed Beyond Control
As he followed Mr. Shadow’s trail, Albright realized he was always
one step behind. Shadow moved through the world of espionage and
crime, leaving almost no trace, but Albright managed to track his
movements to areas in the Global South. What he discovered filled
him with horror.
During the first few days, local media reported miraculous healings:
sick people inexplicably regaining their health. There were reports
of mass recoveries, which led impoverished communities to celebrate
what they believed was a miracle. News broadcasts showed entire
villages celebrating their recovery.
But Albright, now aware of the true nature of the Z Virus, knew that
this was only the first phase of the infection. Just like with
Patient Zero, the infected experienced a temporary improvement in
their health. Chronic or terminal illnesses disappeared, and
vitality returned. However, this improvement was short-lived. Over
time, the virus began to unleash its true power: mental confusion,
extreme aggression, and finally, death.
But death was not the end. Albright knew that the virus had the
power to reanimate the dead, turning them into hordes of the undead.
These creatures, fearless and driven by uncontrollable rage, were
more lethal than any conventional army. Mr. Shadow had planned
everything meticulously: the overcrowded regions of the Global
South, with inadequate defense structures, quickly became hotspots
for unstoppable hordes.
The armies and police forces, poorly equipped and unprepared for
such a massive threat, quickly collapsed. The infected, upon dying
and reanimating, became an unstoppable force of destruction.
Albright, watching from a distance, understood that Mr. Shadow had
released the virus in these regions with a clear objective: to cause
a quick and total collapse. He knew that, had it been unleashed in
developed countries, the most advanced military forces and the
defenses built over decades to control immigration could have
contained the plague in its early stages. However, Mr. Shadow chose
the most vulnerable countries, where poverty, overpopulation, and
lack of resources created the perfect environment for the infection
to spread uncontrollably, triggering colossal hordes capable of
sweeping everything in their path.
In just a few weeks, the densely populated cities of the Global
South began to fall. Rio de Janeiro, New Delhi, Kinshasa, and Mexico
City were the first to succumb to the virus. The hordes of violent
infected spread uncontrollably, devouring everything in their path.
Local governments, completely overwhelmed, collapsed, and the great
cities turned into graveyards in ruins. The images of hordes of the
undead, once human, roaming the streets of these megacities filled
the news broadcasts.
The world governments, seeing the magnitude of the disaster,
attempted to organize an international response, but by then, it was
too late. The UN, weakened over decades by the influence of large
corporations, lacked the structure and power necessary to coordinate
an effective response. Governments, subjected to the interests of
these corporations, had lost much of their global response
capability. Meanwhile, the NT Virus continued its unstoppable
advance.
In less than two months, the developed world began to feel the
weight of the plague. Although the wealthy countries tried to build
barriers and seal their borders, the hordes of infected were
approaching rapidly. The first breaches in the defenses appeared in
Southern Europe and North America. The military forces, which had
contained the infection in the early weeks, began to succumb to the
overwhelming number of infected who launched themselves against the
defenses. The hordes continued to grow, and the defenses that once
seemed invulnerable began to fall.
In a last-ditch effort to save what remained of humanity, the
world’s governments made a heartbreaking decision: the launch of the
first nuclear attacks.
A Desperate Response
After the first nuclear weapons were launched in an attempt to
contain the hordes of infected, the entire world was plunged into
even greater chaos. The detonations, aimed at the most affected
areas by the spread of the NT Virus, managed to annihilate millions
of infected in a matter of minutes. The massive atomic explosions
incinerated entire cities and reduced to rubble what once were
centers of power and civilization. However, although the initial
nuclear bombings temporarily stopped the hordes, it was only a
fleeting victory.
Behind those hordes that had been destroyed, more were coming. The
areas most affected by the virus, especially in the Global South,
continued generating new waves of infected that, far from stopping,
kept advancing. Rural areas, overcrowded settlements, and more
isolated regions began sending what seemed like an endless number of
infected to the cities. Governments that had managed to resist the
first blow began to collapse under the constant attack.
At the same time, the consequences of nuclear radiation spread far
beyond the bombed areas. The nations that were still standing,
mainly in the Global North, began to suffer the side effects of
radioactive contamination. The nuclear dust clouds, carried by the
winds, contaminated large areas of the planet, affecting both the
infected and the few uninfected humans still trying to survive.
Crops withered, water sources were poisoned, and the cities that had
avoided the infection were ravaged by hunger and disease.
In a last-ditch attempt to save what little was left of their
territories, some nations initiated armed conflicts with each other,
competing for the last available resources. What had initially been
a struggle to contain the virus turned into a series of global wars
that plunged the planet into a spiral of violence and devastation.
Faced not only with the hordes of infected but also with each other,
the world’s governments began airstrikes and military campaigns that
accelerated the total collapse of civilization. The military fronts,
originally organized to stop the virus, disintegrated, turning the
conflict into uncontrollable chaos.
The great powers, desperate to halt the advance of the hordes,
continued to resort to mass bombings and weapons of mass
destruction. But each attack caused more collateral damage. The
countries that had not been directly infected began suffering
internal collapses due to radiation, food shortages, and the
destruction of infrastructure. The roads, factories, and energy
systems that kept modern civilization functioning were destroyed,
and by then, what little remained of the global order quickly came
crashing down.
A World in Ruins
By the time the hordes finally breached the last defenses of the
great powers, there was little left to save. The cities that were
not destroyed by the virus or nuclear weapons fell one by one,
consumed by radiation, hunger, and disease. The nations that had
managed to resist in the early months of the outbreak collapsed
within weeks, and the great metropolises, once symbols of human
progress, were left abandoned, inhabited only by the infected and
corpses.
The global infrastructure that had supported civilization for
centuries crumbled completely. Power lines were down, communications
between survivors were almost nonexistent, and air and sea transport
had disappeared. Energy systems and supply centers were destroyed,
leaving humanity unable to restore what was lost. The entire planet
became an endless battleground between the infected and the
scattered remnants of what was once society.
Only a few groups managed to survive, taking refuge in underground
bunkers where they were safe from radiation and the infected hordes,
or in remote and inaccessible areas. In space, orbital stations and
settlements on the Moon became the last bastions of human
civilization. From there, those who still had resources watched
helplessly as Earth, their home, sank irretrievably into chaos.
The ruined cities, poisoned rivers, and irradiated lands were a
reflection of the apocalypse that humanity had unleashed. The few
remaining survivors wondered if there was still a future for them,
if they could ever reclaim their world, or if they were doomed to
disappear while Earth ultimately fell under the domination of the
infected.
