According to history books, the day the world changed was when the sun exploded. It was just one day. One day like any other day, except something extraordinary happened. Something that no one thought they would ever see. At least, not for a few billion years. The sun had exploded.
The once bright-yellow sun, shining high in the sky, given the planet warmth and light had exploded. As the sun exploded, it shook the very Earth. People were scared and panicking. They feared for their lives, but once they calmed down, and looked up, they saw it. They saw a new red sun. Everyone was stunned and amazed. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Their eyes were glued to the sun. Scientists all over the world immediately started to study it. They took thousands of notes and recordings, detailing everything. The scientists wanted to know everything they could and moved with haste. Even the people were interested in their new sun. For a while, it seemed magnificent. Then, it started to happen. People started to realize what their new red sun was doing to the environment.
It seemed the radiation from the new red sun was different from the previous yellow sun. As time went on, radiation from the red sun started to mutate the plant lives. It started small at first. The grasses and weeds sprouted uncontrollably. Leaves would take over whole trees, covering them entirely. No one could understand what was going on. In only a few months, vines became as hard as steel. Seaweeds started snapping at any passing swimmers and fishes. Tree barks could regenerate at unbelievable speeds. The new plants grabbed the attention of all scientists. They studied the plants in an attempt to understand what was going on. However, since the scientists became too busy studying the plants, they didn't notice what was about to happen next.
The radiation had gotten into the food cycle, and the animals and bugs that ate the mutated plants began to mutate themselves. Mice and rats reproduced at accelerated rates with hundreds in only a few minutes. Ants and cockroaches could now work together to form solid shapes such as limbs strong enough to break through brick walls. Even the simple flies had mutated. Now, flies could hold electric charges. They would use these charges to burn through fly swatters. What few of the mice, ants, and flies that were slow to mutate were quickly eaten by other animals, and it wasn't long before the whole animal became mutated.
The mutated animals became stronger. They became smarter too. They became aggressive and before anyone could do anything, the animals started attacking people, and then, whole cities. They lay waste to anyone and anything they see. No armies could defeat or even defend against them, and very soon, the animals had taken over the world. They forced what was left of the human race into hiding.
The survivors at the time hid wherever they could. They hid in destroyed buildings and abandoned cars. They hid underground in caves and sewers. They hid wherever there were as little animals or insects as possible. At this time, it seemed like the end of everything. It seemed like the end of the human race. The animals were too strong and there was nothing the people could do. After 30 years of hiding, and on the verge of extinction, one man finally learned how to turn the table.
From the few stories in the history books, a lone survivor, known only as "Monty", was living in a small cave hidden high in the mountain. Every day, Monty would go outside and look up at the sun. He would think of the once-yellow sun and curse the new red sun. It was because of this that he discovered something important. While walking around the mountain, hiding for food, Monty was attacked by the animals. He tried to outrun them but couldn't. They had tracked him down and forced him onto a cliff. Trapped between a ledge and the animals, it was there that Monty discovered his newfound "gifts". He discovered that the red sun had not only mutated the plants and animals but also mutated him. Monty's gifts allowed him to see things like never before. He could see things all around him without having to turn his head. Harnessing his gift, he tricked the animals as they attacked him. Whether from the sides or from behind, Monty dodged their attacks and pushed them off the ledge, killing them. Upon his victory, Monty realized what he had to do now. He ran back to his cave, packed what few supplies he had left, and started his journey all across the world.
Monty walked and walked for months. He traveled around the ruins of the world fearlessly, looking for people and gathering any allies he could. In his travels, Monty told others what had happened to him. He told them about his gift and how he planned to use it to defeat the animals, but first, that he would need help from others. During this, Monty learned that not everyone had mutated. On average, only one out of roughly 50 people had mutated and received gifts. Nevertheless, Monty managed to build himself an army, an army of people with gifts. He leads that army in a fight to reclaim the world from the animals. The animals didn't back down, however, and for over 10 years, there was a non-stop war between man and animals. Finally, though, mankind had won, and a new era of peace and prosperity began.
With the red sun shining brightly and the discoveries of gifts, it didn't take long for mankind to rebuild everything. Slowly but steadily, cities were built again. As new cities were built, it led to a massive advancement in technology. Very soon, whole cities became entirely solar-powered. Buildings became stronger and bigger than ever before. Such things as flying cars and even flying trains were no longer fictional. Everything had solar panels on them. The need for gas and coals vanish without a trace. The air became much cleaner, and even the people seemed healthier. They stopped eating meat and would go outside more often to bake in the red sun's light. It seems like everything was better and mankind was at its peak. However, despite all of this, there were still attacks from vicious animals.
The mutated animals still hadn't given up. They would attack cities, trying their hardest to break down the walls and destroy countless buildings in the hope of reclaiming the land. People with gifts would hold them off but every now and then, another city would fall. Monty, who was an old man by now but still the hero of this new world, knew that he couldn't leave the world like this and so he spent the remainder of his life building a special academy.
In this academy, he, along with his dearest and most trusted friends, taught people not only how to use their gifts better but also how to combat the animals. Monty developed classes and courses in the hope that he could train what he called fighters, people with gifts, to protect and defend the world from the mutated animals. He made sure that they were all properly taught and trained before being given special jobs and missions that would force his fighters to journey into the Wild. As Monty started his academy, many cities and countries followed in his footsteps and started their own academies, but none were ever as recognized as Monty's academy. With his last breath, Monty named his fighter academy after the old sun. He named his academy, Yellow Sun Academy, and for over 100 years, Yellow Sun Academy stood strong, training the best fighters in the world.
Hothead: "Watch out," Jump yells. Turning and looking behind me, I see a black and brown boreback charging toward me. As it charges, it leaps into the air and starts to spin. Spinning faster and faster, it turns into a blur before shooting toward me. "Oh crud," I say, lowering my sword and holding the blade with my hand. The boreback hits my sword and pushes me back. Despite my best efforts, the boreback knocks me to the ground. Screaming as my back hits the dirt, I look up to see the boreback snarling as it lands back on the ground. It splits before charging at me. Jumping and about to hit me with its sharpened tusk, a pair of metal hands shoot out from the side and grab them. "Thanks," I say, shooting Shocker a nod as he pushes the boreback away from me. Shocker nods back at me before raising his hand and slamming it down on the boreback's head. The beast snarls one last time before it dies. Hearing something coming from above me, I look up and see Jump falling down from the lea
Jump: "Come on," I scream, running as fast as I can. I sprint down the sidewalk, jump over the street, and skid against the sidewalk as I turn around the corner. I only stop when I realize I'm alone. "Uh? Where are you guys?" I run back to see Hothead and Shocker slowly following me. Shocker doesn't look so bad but Hothead looks like he's about to faint. "Come on," I scream again, running back and grabbing Hothead's arm. "Move faster. We're already 20 minutes late to class. Come on!" Hothead pushes me away and bends over. "Give me a second," he pants, "Give me a second to catch my breath." "Now?" "I used a lot of fire during the fight with borebacks. Okay. Fire uses a lot of oxygen." I roll my eyes and shake my head. "Come on," I say, dragging Hothead through the busy city street. I drag and drag him all the way until we reach the front of the local fighter academy. Once there, I let go and peek around the corner, through the gate. "Okay," I whisper, looking back at Hothead
Hothead: "Attention all passengers," the announcer says through the speakers above. "The hover traincraft to Yellow Sun Academy will be arriving shortly. Please remember to stand behind the barrier until the traincraft had come to a complete stop." Looking at the blue barrier as it keeps everyone away from the tracks, I shake off the weariness in my arms. It's early in the morning and the hover traincraft station is crowded with a bunch of other students. Unlike me, they look happy and awake. Surprisingly, even Jump and Shocker look awake. "Ahh," I cry out, "I hope the traincraft gets here soon. My bags are getting heavy." Besides the two large bags I'm already carrying, I also have to shake the weariness off my back. "I don't get it. Jump and I are both at least carrying a few months' worths of clothing. How come you only have a small bag on your back?" Shocker replies with a shrug of his shoulders. He shows me the strap across his jacket and the small black bag on his back. It
Shocker:"Hey," Alice says, tapping my shoulder as I get up and leave the hover train. I turn toward her. "I really hope to see you again."Alice smiles as she nods her head. I nod my head as well before we both leave. As I get off the hover traincraft, I look for either Hothead or Jump. The platform is very crowded so I can't see them right away. It takes a while but finally, I see Jump rolling her luggage around. I wave at Jump and she waves back at me."Hey Shocker," Jump says with a smile. "How was your trip?"I shrug my shoulders before pointing at Jump."My trip was fine," Jump says while shaking her head. "The student I was traveling with was very quiet. I mean, not as quiet as you, but still. A lot of awkward silences.""I forget what silence is," Hothead says, sneaking up from behind me. He drops onto my back and lay there. "The person I traveled with wouldn't stop talking about how smart and intelligent she is. Let me tell you this. It was the longest trip I ever had to take
Hothead: "Uhhh," I start, looking out the window of the room. As far as I can see, there is nothing but sand, sand, and sand dunes, all under a light-blue full moon and stars-filled night. "Should we be concerned that it's nighttime now?" "What," Alodia says with crossed arms and legs. "Are you afraid of the dark?" "It's not the dark I'm afraid of," I reply. "It's the Wild desert and every animal in it that concern me. Concern me! Not scared me! The only thing that scared me is when people cry." "What!" "I'm scared of crying people but only because they make me very uncomfortable! I'm not actually scared of them. Also, I'm not big on being freezing cold." "Could've fooled me," Alodia says. I look at Alodia but she's not even looking at me. Instead, she's checking something on her wrist. I roll my eyes and shake my head. Jump: "Do you have any experience with desert survival," I ask. I look out the window and see the academy's private desert. It's a literal sea of sand and a lot
Hothead:As my pod falls faster and faster, the window ejects, and the floor tilts. Sliding out of the pod, I fall through the cold night sky toward a sand-covered ground. With my arms and legs spread out, I reach for my sword as I spin around in the air.Waiting for the right moment, until it looks like the sand is about to punch me in the face, I swing with all my might and unleash a massive flame. Screaming as I swing my sword, the force of it and the hot air from my fire push me back. Together, they soften my landing as I fall right onto a sand dune. Rolling down it, I hit the bottom and stop."Ahh," I cry out. Having to split out some sand and dust myself off, I then look around. As far as my eyes can see, there's nothing around me but sand, sand, and sand dunes."Hmm," I say, looking back up as rockets beneath my pod carry it back toward the hovertrain craft."Shoot," I yell, slapping myself on the forehead. "Did the Headmaster say east or west? Or North? Also, which way is east
Hothead: "You must stay six feet back," Alodia orders, putting up a third finger. "That is rule number 3. Rule number 4. You must address me as Ms. Darreth. Do you understand?" "Yup," I say with a nod of my head. "Rule 5. Do not say yup. We are not friends. I am not your 'bro' or whatever. It is either a yes or a no. Do you understand?" "Yup," I say with a nod of my head. "Are you even listening to me?" "Yup," I say with a nod of my head. "You're going to fall if you don't stop." "Yup," I say with a nod of my head. "Wait, what did you say?" Before Ms. Darreth can answer, my foot lands on nothing and I fall over a cliff. "Hothead," Ms. Darreth shouts, running and peeking over the ledge. Looking down, she sees me hanging to the side of the cliff. As I was falling, I pulled out my sword and stabbed the cliff with it. "Are you okay," Ms. Darreth asks. "Here. Give me your hand." Ms. Darreth reaches down and offers me her hand. Having to swing around for a bit, I finally grab her
Renee Eamon: "What is this place?" I stop walking when I see something in the sand. Running right up to it, I see what looks like ancient stone ruins. The ruins include some pillars and a pathway, both are made from crumbling stone. "Ancient ruins," I think. "Is this the place? Finally! Yes! I can grab one of those game pieces the Headmaster mentioned!" I follow the crumbling pathway until I see a large entrance. The entrance is made from stacks and stacks of crumbling stone. It looks like it was built right into a sand dune. About to run in, I stop when I realize something. Looking at the entrance again, I see that it's pitch-black. It makes sense since the entrance is facing away from the moon. I narrow my eyes to try and see better but it's no use. "I can barely see inside. Maybe I should turn back. No! Come on, Renee! You have to be smart about this! This is Yellow Sun Academy. You ca