Without another word, he stepped out. The bunker corridors swallowed his footsteps, lit by pale lamps that spilled over his face—now cold, focused, and determined.
The night sky stretched wide and dark, scattered with frozen stars that shimmered faintly above the Darial Pass. Mountain winds howled sharply, sweeping around the military helicopters flying in perfect V formation. Five black, unmarked aircraft cut through the ice storm, their rotors roaring like war drums.
Inside one of them, Kaivan sat in silence. A protective vest wrapped around his slender frame, a gleaming kujang resting in his grip. Across from him, Fabrizio studied an electronic map on his military tablet.
"Relax," he said, his voice calm yet slightly forced. "Nothing has happened here for years. We're just checking the stability of the Wall. It'll be quick."
Kaivan did not reply. His eyes remained fixed on the map, on the small red dot marking their position. Something felt wrong in his chest. The Darial Gate, he thought, was a seal meant to keep something forbidden asleep.
Suddenly, a violent jolt shook the cabin.
An explosion tore through the sky. One helicopter ahead of them burst into flames, a ball of fire licking the frozen air. The shockwave slammed into their metal walls.
"What's happening?!" Kaivan shouted, gripping his safety belt.
Fabrizio turned sharply, his eyes searching wildly through the window.
"Don't panic!" he snapped. "It's probably just a rockslide—"
Before he could finish, a thunderous roar shattered the night.
It was not the sound of machines. Not the cry of any animal.
It rose from deep within the earth, surged through the air, and struck directly into their chests. Every instinct screamed the same warning: run, hide, or die.
"That roar!" one of the pilots shouted over the comms. His eyes were wide, his pupils shrinking as he stared downward, toward a massive shadow moving behind the storm. "That's not normal! It's… a creature!"
The quiet sky turned into an open hell.
The second helicopter was struck by a huge boulder—like a meteor hurled by ancient rage. The explosion ripped through the darkness, painting the heavens in orange fire and scattering burning metal into the snow.
"Prepare for an emergency landing!" Kaivan's pilot screamed. His fingers danced frantically over the controls, fighting to stabilize the spinning aircraft.
The shaking grew worse. Their bodies were thrown left and right. Safety belts tightened. Weapons fell loose. One soldier was slammed hard against the wall, blood bursting from his temple.
"Hold on!" Fabrizio grabbed Kaivan, pulling them both against a metal beam.
Kaivan tried to nod, his breath breaking under the brutal vibrations.
Then, the world flipped.
The helicopter plunged and crashed into the snow with a thunderous metallic roar that echoed through the valley. The ground trembled. Snow exploded upward. Metal shattered. Glass rained through the night.
And then—silence.
Only the dying groan of engines and the whisper of wind remained, swallowing the last flames. The cabin lay crushed and twisted, cold air slicing through like blades.
Kaivan slowly opened his eyes.
Pain filled his body, but his mind stayed clear. He crawled through debris, pushing aside wreckage, searching for one name.
"Fabrizio…?"
The night wind swept over broken metal and drifting snow, reflecting red light from the burning wreck. Black smoke climbed into the star-filled sky, covering the valley of Darial Pass with the scent of iron and blood.
Kaivan stood unsteadily. The safety belt pressed painfully against his chest. His breath turned white in the air.
He scanned his surroundings—and found him.
Fabrizio lay near the pilot's seat, his combat vest torn, frozen blood clinging to his temple.
But his chest was still rising.
He was alive.
Kaivan dropped to his knees, crawling across the cold, twisted metal, ignoring the burning pain in his elbows and legs. His trembling hand reached for his friend's shoulder.
"Hey! Fabrizio! Wake up!" he shouted in panic. He lightly slapped Fabrizio's cheek, gentle yet desperate. His heart pounded wildly—not only from fear, but also from the distant roar echoing again through the mountains, sending chills down his spine.
Fabrizio's eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. His eyes were unfocused, filled with confusion. "K-Kaivan… where… where are we? Am I… still alive?"
"Yes," Kaivan answered firmly. His voice was steady, even as his body trembled. "The helicopter crashed. We were attacked. Huge rocks and spears… came from below."
Fabrizio tried to sit up, groaning as pain shot through his back. His breathing was uneven. His ears were still ringing, yet Kaivan's voice cut through the fog in his mind.
Before they could speak further, bursts of gunfire shattered the silence outside. Muzzle flashes reflected off ice and broken metal. Shouts and frantic commands mixed with the roar of weapons.
"They're fast! And they're huge!" a soldier screamed from outside, his voice nearly swallowed by wind and gunfire. Automatic rifles flashed behind the wreckage, followed by screams and cries.
Then, the roar came again.
It was not the cry of any animal. It was a primal scream, as if something that should never awaken had risen once more. It shook the air. Snow fell from frozen branches. It trembled deep inside their souls.
Suddenly—
"SHRRRK!"
A massive spear pierced through the helicopter's metal wall, stopping only inches from Kaivan's head. It was long, heavy, and jagged at the tip—clearly not made by modern hands. It vibrated violently, proof of the terrifying strength behind it.
Kaivan and Fabrizio froze. Then they looked at each other, eyes filled with terror.
Still shaking, Fabrizio forced himself up, staring at the trembling spear. "Th-they're… Yajuj and Majuj? Did they… break through the wall?!"
Kaivan did not answer. His gaze hardened. He reached into his bag, unfastened the double lock, and pulled out the Tome of Omnicent—a древний book wrapped in carved wooden covers.
The moment he opened it, glowing letters appeared on the blank pages, as if alive.
"The wall is cracked. A gap has opened. Diameter: one meter. Location: two hundred seventy-four meters from here, west-northwest," Kaivan whispered as he read.
He turned the book toward Fabrizio. "Only you can close it. You know this is your responsibility."
Fabrizio swallowed hard. His face turned pale. His left hand clenched, trying to stop the shaking. He looked at Kaivan, breathing fast, then slowly nodded. "O-Okay… I'll go. I'll… try."
Without waiting, they climbed out of the frozen wreckage. Snow began to fall harder, turning the battlefield into something unreal. Orange flames cast long shadows of struggling soldiers in the distance, their voices fading as unseen enemies closed in.
Kaivan and Fabrizio ran through the snow. Each step was heavy, leaving deep footprints that were quickly buried by fresh white flakes. Behind them, gunfire and roars followed like a curse, as if time itself was urging them forward.
Kaivan glanced back from time to time, watching their surroundings while gripping the Tome of Omnicent tightly in his hands. Behind him, Fabrizio followed, his breath forming thick white clouds in the freezing air, yet a quiet fire was beginning to burn in his eyes.
On the other side of the world, inside a grand hall lit by crystal chandeliers, a lavish party was in full swing. Wine glasses clinked softly, and classical music flowed through the air. A young blond man stood in one corner, observing everything with a faint, knowing smile.