Doomsday Ascending Novels & Stories

Hazel's POV The astrologer hesitated then rushed to the table, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns etched into his charts. "One of the layers I have deciphered speaks of a great destiny," he murmured, his voice barely audible above the crackle of the flames. "It speaks of a chosen one, fated to return the light of the goddess to her children and usher in a new era of prosperity and peace." My steps faltered, the weight of his words sinking in. "What do you mean by 'return the light of the goddess'?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.

Jane deliberately emphasized my identity as an orphan and a sly look flashed through her eyes. Then a panicky voice suddenly rang out. "Watch out!" I looked up and saw the chandelier above me was swaying dangerously. The next second, it came crashing down! In that instant, Andy grabbed Jane's wrist and pulled the panicked she-wolf tightly behind him. As for me? I had no time to dodge as it struck me hard in the forehead. Dizziness overwhelmed me as I fell to the floor, blood quickly trickled down from my forehead. I touched the blood and looked toward Andy, but he was only worried about whether Jane was hurt the whole time.

To her, I was nothing but an inconvenience. Savannah took Edmund with her to the hall where all ability wielders assembled. They strutted in arrogantly. Edmund slapped his ID down on the registration counter, a smug look spreading across his face. "I've awakened a special ability now—it's the strongest lightning-based ability there is. Register me now so I can go on missions." He was so drunk on his own ego that he didn't notice the skeptical looks people shot his way. "A lightning-based ability? If I remember correctly, you're an ordinary civilian. How did you suddenly awaken a special ability? You're not trying to pull a fast one, are you?" the clerk asked.

"Oh, right. The remodeling contractor is coming by today to sign the contract. Make sure you have the 150 thousand dollars ready. We can't put off remodeling our future home." 150 thousand dollars? The number blared in my head like an alarm. I turned toward the phone on the nightstand on autopilot. October 30th, 2064. 8:17 am. My stomach dropped. The date, the time, Leo's words, even the look on his face, were exactly the same as that day burned into my memory. October 30th, 2064, was the day before the zombie outbreak. It was also the day Leo used "remodeling our future home" as an excuse to bleed my savings dry.

Watching "The rules are simple," Father continued, his voice now booming slightly to carry over the anxious silence of the nobles. "The Blood Moon will soon be at its peak. When the light touches the Sanguine Circle below, you will enter it and begin your Rite of Ascension. Your consorts will follow, and the Hunt will commence. They cannot Mark you again until you awaken your power. Succeed, and the final bond is forged. Fail.

"You’re making history. The 'Ascension' is starting. In three hours, the Vance Global Initiative will move the 'Selected'—the top 1% of the True Real—into a new dimension. A world where there is no decay, no debt, and no death. And it’s all powered by your King." "He's not a battery!" I screamed, the energy in the room flickering as my rage surged through the root. "He's exactly what he was always meant to be," Vivian countered. "Your father thought he was building a heaven. I knew he was building an **Engine**. Now, be a good girl and stay stable. If your 'Emotional Calibration' drops, the reactor will go critical, and we’ll have to 'Format' you both." The speaker clicked off.

Silence filled the mansion. I leaned back slowly. A strange laugh escaped my lips. Not loud, Just satisfied. Trevor looked at me carefully. “You enjoyed that,” he stated. I turned to him. “Yes.” He nodded slowly. “Good.” I stood up and walked toward the large window, looking outside at the gates where Raymond’s car was disappearing. One month. Just one month. And I already felt something dangerous growing inside me. Control. Confidence. Dominance. I turned back toward Trevor.

She saw how broken I was, but she repurposed me, fashioned me into a strong individual, and showed me the infinity of possibilities before me. After sharing my story, Ms. Reina stood up and began talking, "I am both happy and sad to hear everyone's tale. It is not easy carrying those kinds of experiences yet it amazes me that you were able to keep it all together. Now I'd like to share with you everything I know. The information that I'm about to impart with you guys is a result of years of extensive research. I have explained to you what de-souling is. Let's talk about the imminent threat we have in hand. The creatures you fought, the corrupted darklings, have two stages. The first stage is