Blood and Ashes

He who fights monsters should be careful not to become one himself.

 

Friedrich Nietzsche

 

Greatness is not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall.

 

Confucius

 

________________________

What's.. what's going on? I tried to get up, but nothing helped, it was like my feet were stuck to the floor...or what was it? A bed? Why is everything around me colored red? The hands... they're reaching for me! They're black, they're talking! What kind of language is that!?   

Moraš razumjeti

What the fuck is this? What the fuck? I was in the shelter, I remember, I was running for my life. The castle went up, Andrias left Amphibious with the army. Marcy was killed, Anne.. they left Amphibia too. I don't understand, I don't understand anything! Bitch, shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!   

Cebcurpl bs gur Oynpx Yvtugf

  What kind of randomness is this... oh my god!!! My vision was out of focus, everything was as blurry as possible. Where am I again?! What.. hands free, what's going on?!? My feet were running nowhere, just into the bloody darkness! I heard screaming and killing and shooting. “Weapons, to arms!” - Core soldiers everywhere, limbs flying apart, and my weapons breaking in my hands. No... am I going crazy, huh!? Somewhere nearby some strange people in robes are screaming, they're all black, but... their eyes are white! “Phil, they're coming through!” Where the fuck are they going? What is this place?! Oh my god, the hands... have eyes! AAH! No, don't touch me, let me go! Where are they taking me? I'm shackled in a room, some kind of prison or something? “We can't let.. Marcy, you have to understand, it's not possible!” WHAT? MARCY!? WHAT THE HELL, HEY, LET ME OUT, YOU HEAR ME?! LET ME OUT!  

Trebalo bi pomoći

  Aaah! I'm..I'm here again, I'm..this.. Amphibian? My hands, they're covered in blood. I'm standing on some mountain, I see the whole planet going up in flames, lots of robots being overthrown, and next to me... who's that? A weird hat, some guy standing there.. “Sasha, we did everything we could. Stanford was able to freeze Bill's actions for a while, but the Core is in cahoots with him, and there's nothing we can do about it. The resistance is dead. I'm sorry.” W-what? Stanford, Bill, who the hell is that?! And...what do you mean, the resistance is dead!? My hands are shaking, my breathing is ragged, tears are coming out of my eyes, will someone please tell me what's going on?!?!  

Neće vam spasiti živote

Just stop it already! I can't, I can't handle it! I know, I know I should have helped Marcy. I know I could have fucking killed the King, but goddamn it, I didn't have the strength, okay?! I didn't have the goddamn strength to calculate the attack, and that's why she's dead, okay?!? I've always loved her, and if that's how you want to kill me, why don't you just cut my whole body off, huh?! Why do you keep moving me around and showing me things?! Fist into the wall, for nothing. Why did I do that, damn it, it hurts like hell, what did I expect? I...I can't help anyone, if not even myself...I couldn't help it. I looked around, finally my vision was normal. Apparently I was in some kind of room where there was a mirror. As I approached it, I didn't recognize myself: different hairstyle, different hair color, metal arm, lots of scars, and a blank stare, lots of tattoos... what was happening to me? “Hey Jiz, we're getting out in five minutes. You in?” Out? Out where? Where's that voice coming from? It's..what's that. Wait.. Marcy? Marcy, is that you? No.. it's falling apart, stop, stop, stop, STOP!   

Ali to će vam pomoći spasiti svijet

  Please... please, why does this keep happening? If this is a dream...then god, hurry up and come to the end. I've seen so much that my brain can't even process. Why? Why me?  “Your place is here, only you can lead this nation to the right path” Again voices from nowhere... and again me... me... in my home? My hands are fine, my body isn't shaking, I'm not falling apart, the dust isn't around, there's no blood, everything is... okay? I looked around my room - all the things were in their rightful places, but... the photo. There was no photo of me here, no family photo. I knew it. I knew something was wrong. That's it.. I'm not here, so it's all so native, but it's also foreign. Stop it, whoever you are, stop it!  

Saša, znam da ovo čuješ

No, I can't hear you anymore, okay?! I can't hear you, I can't hear you, I don't want to hear you anymore! Oh no, no, no, no, no, no! Aaah!!! mm-hmm... my back, oh, I think I broke a couple dozen ribs. What is this.. I'm in the middle of nowhere again? Some kind of crater, and I fell into it? My arm.. it's metal again, stop.. what? Is that.. is that Ann's voice? “Sasha, Sasha, damn you! Droz, get after her now!” Droz..? What's he.. doing here..?  

Spasi svijet

Faces, lots of faces... I can't even make them out. “Hurry, our leader is in danger! 2342! 23.. 42!” Doctors.. no, it was.. who were they? Robots!? What, what?! Am I a prisoner of war? Why are there so many Core robots?!? “Stand back, stand back, you idiots! Oh.. I thought you'd decided to leave us, Winnie. Win..nie? What? Who..who is that? I don't even know what that name..is or what it means. It's bright.. too bright. I realized.. it's a dream..    

jg zpv tubsf joup uif bcztt gps b mpoh ujnf, uif bcztt tubsft joup zpv upp

AAAH!!! THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT, THAT'S ENOUGH! LET ME OUT, LET ME GET OUT OF THIS MIND, I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! Stop.. am I.. in control of myself? Why is everything around me dark... there's a light in the distance, something shining through, and there's someone standing there as if waiting for me. My footsteps can't be heard in this dimension, but I can see... multiple events, I can see the outcomes of fights, and... taking over the universe. I don't know how much time has passed, and I guess it doesn't matter.. because it's like time doesn't go on here at all. I get to the body, and it's Marcy, a distorted Marcy.  

Zhzoh, fvb jhu kv pa.

  What? Marcy, I don't understand you. What are you talking about? I've been in this place for so long, haven't I?! Is this you, is this your doing? Where are you, how are you? Have you seen Anne? Talk to me, please..  

Mpuk Ghtbyvc!

  Marcy..? Marcy! She.. just turned to dust and went nowhere, and I.. heard screaming, someone running here at breakneck speed. No.. Oh, my God, I..   I hit my head on the ceiling, screamed at the top of my lungs, and fell to the cold, stone floor. My whole body staggered, my ears buzzed, my eyes blurred, but.. Grime, he's here.. He's alive..  

***

  As later reported, Sasha was in a coma after Marcy was destroyed and the world began to end. She has no memory of the Amphibian's violent defeat, or the captures, raids, and more, and how everything faded into oblivion. The survivors didn't believe she'd come to her senses anymore, but she's back, and looks ready to fight. She just needs to recover first. A deep recovery.   Thousands of years, a huge planet, and all gone to waste due to the over-ambition of the ruler. Mountains of corpses, seas of blood - just like Earth. Everyone united: Frogs, Toads, Amphibians, and others against the common threat - the King and the superintelligence. Sasha remembers how Marcy was killed, how Anne stepped into the open portal, and how she had to escape, leaving her friend’s body to the twisted fantasies of the Core and the King.   The resistance didn’t fall immediately. Thirty-eight days they held the line, fought, gave their lives for their native world. Most were slaughtered under the endless wave of robots. Those lucky enough to hide in makeshift bunkers had to eat their own to stay alive.   Those were the worst days - the ones that broke everyone. Only a handful of shelters retained some shred of sanity, trading supplies, food, "medicine" (if you could even call it that), weapons, handmade arrows through ancient catacombs. But what good are arrows when the enemy is armored in unbreakable steel?   Now, sitting underground in one of these places, Shelter 13, she hates herself. For losing. For running. She could’ve taken Marcy’s body with her. But then the question pops up by itself: “How would I even help her? That kind of wound? Not something you patch up with rags and hope. Especially without proper tools. I’m just a goddamn teenager! What can I even do? Yeah, sure, I can fight. But I’m no medic. Especially, when this King, is choking on his fucking power!”   On the surface, posters hang - put up by robots. On them: the Core. Slogan: “The path to truth is a bloody one. Join the side of justice. Join us.”Corpses dumped into mass graves dug by enslaved Frogs and Toads, anyone who could still lift a shovel. That mushroom bastard allied with the Core, and proved his loyalty by forcing them to bury their own families. Even Grim was there. Admiral Yunna. And plenty more - anyone who refused to keep fighting. (Except Grim. He fought to the end. Lost both arms, a leg, one eye. The robots gave him prosthetics, solid, makeshift, durable. Then forced him to work for them.)   Sasha pushed away her thoughts and climbed onto the makeshift, hastily assembled stage. She exhaled, muttered to herself "Alright, here we go...", and began her speech, gathering those who were still standing after the catastrophic defeat.   — Please, just listen to me! Everyone, gather around… You think we’ve lost everything - but this isn’t the end! We can still fight! We just need to reach the labs - the ones producing these damn robots. You saw those hills while coming into Newtopia? That’s where they come from. That’s where we strike. If we can shut them down there - we might just save your… our world.   She hesitated - Amphibia was never her world, not even in her wildest teenage dreams. But did it matter now? She had to keep her soldiers focused. Better to give a real motivational speech than say something that would push them away forever.   — We haven’t seen daylight in 32 days, and we’ve been starving for eight! At this rate, we’ll end up eating each other, like the survivors in sectors 2 and 7! And what about our children? What will they witness, huh? Us tearing each other apart while the world they knew collapses around them!   — My wife’s right, this is your fault! If that girl never showed up, none of this would’ve happened! - shouted a toad from the crowd.   — And now you’ve declared yourself “leader”? What kind of leader are you? You’re just a kid! - muttered a frog at the makeshift bar, sipping some kind of green sludge.   — Have you all forgotten how we even got here? It was her! Because of her damn raids, we ended up here - in this shelter, away from our own homes!   — Quiet! Please, silence! - Sasha shouted, but her voice was nearly drowned in the rising arguments, fights, and panic. — Shut the hell up for just one minute! - Silence. Instant. And even Sasha didn’t expect it. — Yeah, I’m young. I’m just a teenager. So what? Does that undo what I’ve done? Does it erase the people I’ve saved? Think for a second - who pulled you out when annihilation was breathing down your neck? — You know what? I need you - every single one of you! Age doesn’t mean shit right now. It didn’t matter on my planet either… back when it was still home. We walked through hell for six weeks. They broke us. But we’re still standing! I know you’re scared. You should be. But do you even realize what could be happening on my home world right now? There are eight billion people like me - and they could all be wiped out in seconds by this same damn threat. And if we don’t act now… we’ll be next.   — I’m just asking you to hear me out! I need strong warriors, fast scouts… and mages, if there are any left. Every one of you could be useful. Our shelter won’t hold for long, so here’s my plan: we split into several strategic teams. One goes toward shelters 12, 3, 8, 2, and 7. Check if anyone still sane is left there. If they attack - don’t hesitate. Kill them on sight. There’s no such thing as a break in war - hesitate for a second and the ones behind you will eat you alive. You’ll be gone, just like that.  The second team goes the opposite way - to the remaining shelters: 11, 10, 9, 4, 5, 14, and 6. Same strategy: look for survivors with their minds intact. If you suspect something — strike first. No questions asked.   And the third group, led by me, will head straight to the labs where these robots are being made. And don’t forget - that new disease is still a threat. Wear your gas masks. Don’t leave your battle partners for even a second. You slip up - you die, - Sasha finally went silent, staring at them all - their empty eyes, the fear and horror etched into their faces. But then, one by one, a few stepped forward… and then more. A couple of minutes later, she had fifteen brave and fast fighters - ready to die for the resistance.   — Good. If everyone’s clear on the plan - we move now. No delays! - Cheers erupted from the group. The rest of the crowd mumbled, scattered, went back to their tasks. But it was now clear to all — Sasha was the only true leader left worth trusting. If not her - then who?   The teams made their way to the forked tunnels. There they found rooms for weapons, gear, and prep. Sasha went first, ordering the fighters to wait outside. Everyone would go through the standard check. She stepped into what they jokingly called the “Admiral’s office” - just a name, and immediately saw the makeshift armory stall, "Bagila's Shop." And right behind it the owner himself, cleaning a bow and handing it to her.   — Hey Sasha. What’s it like out there? - Bagila asked while polishing another weapon.   — It’s bad, Bag. Real bad. The robots are turning everything into dust. Stripping the planet for resources through these factories they built. Digging into the Core itself… and you know what’s been happening lately.   Sasha’s mind drifted - 38 days ago, she was on the surface. Same mission: reconnaissance. But that trip… it went worse than any before. That mission ended in tragedy.  

Recollection

  The fighters moved slowly and stealthily under the cover of night, for moving during the day meant jumping straight into the jaws of a shark. Five fighters, led by Sasha, headed south. Yesterday, they had covered an immense distance - 18 miles, and today they planned to push for 20, reaching the nearest settlement. But the silence… it unnerved Sasha, unsettling the entire small group. Usually, there were gunshots, rocket blasts, the audible clank of footsteps. She stopped, pressing a finger to her lips, and the squad halted too, ducking into the surviving bushes. A moment later, a rocket slammed into the spot where they’d been standing, followed by a swarm of robots hauling something massive in an unknown direction.   — What is that? What are they dragging? - asked one of the fighters, Vila, squinting to make out the strange object the robots were towing on a massive cart, resembling a platform for some kind of performance.   — Don’t poke your head out, Vila, - warned a comrade, yanking him back into the bushes. They just needed to catch their breath and move on. Fighting now wasn’t necessary; they had to find survivors in this nightmare and return to the shelter. To supply the fighter ranks, to provide food and light for the ordinary, peaceful residents.   — Let’s go, but stay quiet, - Sasha whispered, and the group resumed their trek deeper along the road they’d been following. After this encounter with the robots, nothing else happened - only distant, sudden gunshots echoed, likely the robots finding other survivors… or maybe animals. The squad pressed forward and soon stumbled upon the ruined, obliterated village of "ViytsVil" - its sign lay shattered on the ground. Sasha bent down, picked it up, wiped off the dirt and dust with her hand, and read the village’s name.   — There could be all sorts of creatures here - God knows what the Core and these robots did to the villagers. If anything happens, kill immediately, no shouting. Shouting is forbidden here. If you’re wounded, don’t scream - try not to. The robots will be here in seconds and wipe us all off this planet, - she ordered, signaling with her hand for them to stop and hide behind the nearest house. And for good reason - two scouting robots hovered in the village center, scanning the area. Did they have thermal vision? That was impossible to tell without testing. A coordinated attack was needed, one that the youngest member of the group, Droz, could pull off. The frog stealthily moved to a tree and, with a precise spit, distracted a drone, which flew off to scan the source of the sound. So, they had echolocation and could see - that was very, very bad news for the squad.   Sasha and Vila, beside her, didn’t idle. They moved slowly but steadily toward a surviving house. On the other side, a middle-aged toad named Loza led Zord - another toad, younger, who’d been near Vila. They moved like ninjas, their silence giving them a chance to bypass the two robots. Then, Sasha devised a quick plan.   — Vila, Droz, head to that far house, - she said, pointing to a half-ruined but, among the others, relatively intact building. — If there are no issues, you should meet up with Loza and Zord there.   — What about you? - Droz asked, confused, but then… he suddenly realized someone had to distract the robots. And that someone would be Sasha. As the leader, she had to do it.   — Go, go! Quick! - she whispered, grabbing a stone and stepping into the open. Her plan was as simple as it gets - throw the stone at the robots, and while they were disoriented, she’d dash across the road to the house. She did it. The stone hit a drone’s camera, sending it spinning and knocking it off balance, crashing into the other drone, giving her the edge to slip away.   Meanwhile, Droz and Vila reached Loza and Zord, meeting them behind the house. Pulling the door, it creaked open slowly with an infernal groan - luckily, the drones either didn’t hear it due to their momentary malfunction or… there was no other explanation.   — Keep it as quiet as possible. Sasha said she’d catch up later. Let’s search this house. Zord, you take the second floor. Loza, check the pantry and hall. I’ll handle the basement, and Vila, you help Zord upstairs. Hope everyone’s clear? If so, move fast but silent.   Everyone took their orders and split to their assigned tasks. Vila and Zord approached the staircase, which was little more than a name by now. Thankfully, it wasn’t wooden, just solid stone.   — Zord, give me a boost! - Vila said, and Zord immediately took a stance, lifting Vila up, as climbing the stairs normally was impossible. Once Vila reached the second floor, he extended a hand to Zord, who climbed up with ease. It was damp up there, with flies, locusts, and other critters typical of Amphibia buzzing around. Ahead were two rooms and a left turn. The hallway’s interior felt… alien, Vila might say, almost carelessly thrown together. A few pictures hung on the walls, others lay shattered on the floor, debris scattered, a pile of shards.   And a framed photo. Vila stepped forward, with Zord behind him. Stepping over the rubble, Vila reached the frame, picked it up, and began examining it. An old photo - a family: two newts and a girl, maybe ten years old? A whole family. On the back, it read, “The best family in the town’s history. Signed: Brekquins.” The Brekquins… a good family, Vila remembered them and always would. Wiping dust off the frame, he set it on the edge of a nightstand. That’s where it belonged. He turned, quickly joining Zord, who was assessing the situation.   — If memory serves me right… these houses are all the same layout. Straight ahead should be something like a bathroom, and to the right, a bedroom, - Vila guessed, staring at the doors, lost in thought.   — How do you know that? - Zord asked, giving Vila a curious sideways glance. Vila frowned, seeming to retreat into himself, then replied.   — We lived in a house like this with my family. Back then, before the fall, before this Core, they gave homes to those who helped Newtopia fixing walls, designing and building bridges, that sort of thing. Workers got houses. But when the invasion started… I couldn’t save my son, and they took my wife prisoner. Don’t even know if she’s alive… - He suddenly fell silent, clenching his fists and staring ahead - as if burning a hole in the air, trying to recall her face, her habits, and most importantly… her voice.   — I get you. Mine’s gone too - God knows if she’s even alive. Debris from the castle hit our house when it literally vanished from Amphibia. As you can see, I got hurt—no eye, some leg issues - but I’m alive, and that’s what counts. No family to speak of, just married maybe two months ago? We were planning a wedding, inviting relatives… damn this invasion. Anyway, let’s go - we don’t have time for these empty chats.   — Agreed. You go straight, I’ll go right. Let’s search this place, maybe find some supplies?   — Oh, I hope so, Vila… I hope. Wait, what about left? What could be there?   — Hm… honestly, no idea. We’ll check it out later. If you find anything, call me - we’ll assess it on the spot, got it?   — Roger that, Vila. And… my condolences for your loss.   — We’ve been through that, Zord. Right now, the priority is finding what we came for and getting out of here alive and unharmed. Damn… where’s Sasha? Need to ask Droz about her later.   Meanwhile, Loza searched wooden cabinets, locked rooms, and even two pantries - not in vain. She found several shovels, a crowbar, and a whole crate of food - some cans. Where they came from or who made them, did it even matter? They needed it, so anything edible would do. Feeding over 400… what to call them… Toads, Frogs, and Newts wasn’t easy. Especially when Newts were hated, many having become even bigger puppets of the Core. Those idiots even lured fighters with mushrooms.   — So, what’s the haul… - Loza muttered, scanning the items she’d found in the hall, pantries, and even the kitchen. Among the useful stuff were tea, a pristine notebook, and a book titled “Of All and Everything,” chronicling life on Amphibia. Naturally, in the ancient Amphibian tongue. She cracked it open, flipped through a few pages, and stopped on one. It described the tragic fate of a squad, its defeat visible from afar.  

Dust

 

We moved slowly, cautiously, desperate not to alert the enemy. In mere moments, that overwhelming fear and tension gripped us all, and not without reason. The enemy struck from behind, but we were prepared. Mofinus parried the assault of one of the colossal machines with his cane, while I, alongside Leonardo, grappled with tentacles of monstrous size. They were so massive that they couldn’t even be fully seen from here - from Earth. This creature, it seemed, was the very threat our Teacher had warned us about.   With a swift lunge, I sliced off one of the beast’s tentacles with my steel katana, while Leonardo, using his grappling hook, scaled a mountain and leapt straight into the monster’s gaping maw.   — Leonardo, no! What have you done!? — I screamed, but another tentacle lashed out, hurling me into the Tree of Gods with a dull thud. I didn’t black out. I watched as Mofinus single-handedly dispatched three robots and rushed over to haul me to my feet.   — Where’s Leonardo? - he demanded, and I cast a sidelong glance at the monstrosity looming before us, its grotesque tentacles writhing. It was exactly as the Teacher, and that lunatic had foretold: Gods would descend from the heavens not as angels, but as demons from the 28th Bible. Page 63, section B: "The world will end when metal-clad angels and monsters with tentacles taller than clouds descend upon the crimson earth, their size rivaling the old city that perished in our wondrous world hundreds of years ago."   — We need to leave, now! - I shouted, trying to stand on my own, but the pain was excruciating. I dropped to one knee, gritted my teeth, groaned, and clenched my gills with all my strength.   — We can’t abandon Leonardo! What will we tell the Teacher!? - Mofinus snapped, pointing at the beast creeping ever closer. He had a point: we couldn’t just leave Leonardo to be devoured by these demons, but if we didn’t escape, we’d share his fate!   — He’d have done the same! The Teacher is wise; he’ll understand we had no choice! We’re leaving, we’re retreating! - I bellowed to the others, leaning on my katana as I limped toward the road we’d come from. But Mofinus… he didn’t follow.   — Mofinus, what the hell are you doing!? - I yelled as he charged at the tentacles, slashing them one by one with the sharpened edge of his cane. Two of my fighters bolted after him to drag him back, but then the unthinkable happened, the alien creature froze, then began to collapse. I’d braced for anything but this: the beast suddenly dying and crashing to the ground. The two fighters, paralyzed with fear, dropped to the earth and scrambled back to me. Then I heard it a roar from inside the creature. Not just a roar, but a scream, faint yet unmistakable. And then, something I couldn’t have foreseen: a katana tore through the bio-mechanical wreckage. It was Leonardo.   — The beast… is defeated.  

End of page

  Night would soon give way to morning, a signal it was time to abandon the house. Loza closed the book, musing to herself: "Interesting book. I should show it to Sasha. By the way, where is she?" That question would remain unanswered, for Sasha was in peril. Grave peril.   Outside, the rustling leaves grew louder, the wind intensified, and a light rain shrouded the house and nearby ruins. Droz rummaged through crates and barrels, but it was futile - everything was empty. Carefully shutting another crate, he turned toward the stairs when an odd sound caught his ear.   — Please, not robots… - he muttered under his breath, circling the room again with a lantern in one hand and a weapon in the other. The air down here, in the basement, was thick and… pungent, for lack of a better word. Breathing was a struggle; the lantern barely cast light, and water seeped through the ceiling. It must have started raining. Drops slid down the wooden beams, striking the floor with an unnerving rhythm. A step to the left, a step to the right. Droz paused by the wall, searching for anything that might aid them, and it seemed he’d found it. Running his hand along the surface, he brushed away dust to reveal a hole, resembling a scroll slot or something akin to it.   — What the hell is this? And what fits in here? I should tell the others about.. - Silence. An eerie stillness descended, abrupt and suffocating. Only breathing cut through it, and then… music, out of nowhere. Fragmented phrases, a faint ambient hum, and a voice from the void began to speak. In broken snippets.  

Long live the new flame… Long live the new…ew…ew… ruler-r-r-r.

    — What!? Hey, who’s there? I’m armed, I’ve got something to bash you with!  

May your name be upon our blood…

    — What? What are you talking about? What are you? Where are you?  

He shall descend from the heavens to the earth…

    — Who’s descending? What the hell is this about blood on a name? Whose name!?  

THE PROPHECY… SHALL INEVITABLY COME TO PASS

    — What damn prophecy!? What are you blabbering about? Where are you speaking from?

 

WE… ARE THE HEIRS OF THE MOST POWERFUL CIVILIZATION ON THIS PLANET

 

And we shall not retreat. Not one step.

— You? Then show yourselves, mighty warriors! - Droz spat, his voice taut with tension as he scanned the shadows, hunting for the source of the sound. And he found it. Stepping closer, he spotted a strange device of unknown origin possibly Core technology, perhaps a transmitter. If Sasha had mentioned this, about her home planet… could this be a signal from there? But whose signal? She’d spoken of her friends, and in times like these, who hasn’t heard of them… but what if it’s one of them? Then again - what other powerful civilization? And what prophecy is this thing rambling about? It wouldn’t stop repeating the same words, the same static, as if stuck on a loop. Wait… hold on… THIS IS A TRAP! The house shuddered violently. Droz dropped the object he’d picked up, seizing his weapon in a panic and swinging it wildly, searching the empty, darkened corners for answers. It was terrifying, the tension suffocating - this was a trap. How obvious it was now: the robots wouldn’t fall for those pathetic rocks. That’s why Sasha wasn’t here, isn’t it? How did they know everything in advance!?   — Damn it all… - he hissed, feeling a wave of horror roll down his spine.   The rumble grew louder. The walls began to tremble, dust and debris raining from above as if something enormous was moving directly overhead. His breathing turned ragged; he tried to stumble backward, to warn the others, but something yanked him down. He tumbled down the stairs, and the hatch—the only way out—slammed shut with a deafening crash. It seemed something had pinned it down. Then the voice from the device shifted—static faded, replaced by a clear, almost decipherable, yet incomprehensible, quiet tone.   — You… can you hear? You’re one of those who managed to make contact. Long live the new body. Long live the new host! Finally… after thousands of years, we are… free. - His body began to constrict, as if an immense force was pinning him to the ground. Droz tried to fight it, but how the hell do you control this? How could this be called control when his body was trembling, wracked with convulsions? No screams escaped his throat—just a faint, muffled hiss. And then, tentacles… thousands of tiny, damnable tentacles slithered from the shadows. Voices… they were everywhere, absolutely everywhere. Come on… snap out of it, Droz! Now! God… oh God, oh God, oh God!

Host

  Shut up, shut up, damn you! I can’t, I can’t, stop… stop! Please!  

Host

  No, no, no… I’m not a host, I won’t die like this, this isn’t my end. Please… please…  

Host

  I’m not a host! Do you hear me? Not a host! I’ve done nothing wrong, I’ve helped so many, and damn it… I saved a family when everything fell apart, someone else’s—so what? I saved them! Yes, I lost my own, but is this the price for that choice?  

Host

  Stop it, right now! Let me go, you monsters! I can’t even… I can’t move, only think… think, think… I can’t speak… only think. And it’s getting… harder every second.  

We are now one

  Never, not… WE ARE ONE… under no circumstances, never, hear… YOU ARE NOW OURS… I’ll never betray my people, my homeland… THIS IS NO LONGER YOUR PLANET.  

THE PROPHECY HAS BEEN FULFILLED

  He could no longer breathe, could no longer think, his throat was choked by the tentacles. They crawled everywhere… into every available crevice on his body, god, it was excruciating, horrific. Ears, eyes, mouth, nose, and other places. Every opening, every gap… these bastards gnawed their way to his organs, to his damn insides. With his last shred of strength… he could do nothing but try to scream, but they wouldn’t even grant him that final word. All the tentacles surged into him at once, vanishing somewhere inside his body, into his organs - everywhere! You… I see you… help, please… HELP! His body no longer obeyed him, his mind was clouded by the weight of a new, terrifying threat - unknown tentacles that had appeared from nowhere. His body rose and, with a languid gait, approached an ordinary wall. It raised a hand, clenched it into a fist, and struck the wall with all its might - this was what broke everything. The wall shattered in an instant, and the panic above surged. A massive tunnel, filled with a black substance of unknown origin. Tentacles sprouted from it, and they were anything but friendly toward the creatures of this world. — My brothers… we enter a new era of evolution. Our faithful servant has cleared the path, providing us with vast reserves of hosts in this mysterious civilization. So let us do this, in the name of our servant, in the name of… - the body began to strike the wall, calmly, methodically.

 

-... .. .-.. .-.. .- ... .- .--- ..-. . .-. .-

 

***

  Red sirens blazed, everything was on fire, everything burned, and darkness began to close in. They attacked—they were already here, at many of the surviving shelters. — Leakage, leakage! All subgroups of the fifth category - assemble at the shelter door. We can’t handle the assaul, this is something else - they have black tentacles, try fire! - A Toad shouted, clutching a hastily assembled flamethrower, scorching the tentacles as they reached for them, infecting ordinary civilians.   — Where the hell is our leader!? Where’s Sasha!? We can’t manage this alone - what the hell is this thing? - A Frog, clad in armor, hacked at the tentacles one by one with a sword, slowly retreating. Five more fighters had fallen… they had little time left.   — Have the civilians been evacuated? - Another Toad asked, his deep voice reminiscent of someone they were about to lose… very soon.   — Captain Grime, your order was carried out! All civilians have been moved to Shelter 13; rumors say it’s much safer there than here in Shelter 9. - Barely a second passed before the black filth infected a fighter… his eyes turned black in an instant, leaving no choice but to act.   — We’re retreating! Fall back, now - all survivors, head to the third tunnel, you know the forks, move! - Captain Grime rallied everyone who remained and wasn’t infected by the strange, unknown disease. He wore a mask given to him by Sasha before she left with a small reconnaissance group. What was this…? A preplanned counterattack by the Core!? Those creatures knew, and damn them, they’d crawled out!   — I’ll lead you to the tunnel. Whoever survives - tell the others that the resistance took a massive hit, and something worse is coming… to hell with it all, hear me, soldier!? Tell the leader in Shelter 13 that Shelters 9 and those before it were attacked by a black substance with tentacles. And that it’s like a virus. Give him this mask—it seems to resist these beasts from the depths of our planet. Tell him everything could end at any moment. Let him seal the exits, the entrances, everything possible and impossible. If I don’t return, my order stands: don’t surrender, don’t die, and above all—stay vigilant. - Grime added, raising his sword and charging toward the tentacles, one against all. Closing the steel door behind him, he faced the enemy alone. It was undoubtedly foolish, but he could hold them off for a few minutes - enough for the last remnants to escape.   — Well then, invaders… you’ll all be executed right now! - Grime fiercely began cutting down his former comrades, fighters, the best damn Toads on this cursed planet! But he stopped, confused—why wasn’t the enemy fighting back?  

Wait. Stop. He doesn’t understand.

 

Doesn’t he understand? We hoped some rational species remained here.

  — Rational species? Open your damn eyes, you shithead: you attacked my planet, enslaved my fighters, and now you’re planning to kill us all? The Core… you’re the Core, aren’t you!?  

Core? We know no Core.

 

We operate for our own purposes, Captain.

  — What captain, you little punk!? - The slaughter resumed. The first blood had already spilled. Grime’s attack pushed forward with all his might toward other tunnels, to other shelters, but what he encountered was beyond words - dozens of civilian corpses who hadn’t escaped, some still alive, some infected with this virus from nowhere… damn it, where was Sasha!? One civilian… twitched. Half his skull was gone, yet he twitched and stood. Voices… Grime began to hear them. Impossible… no, no, no… could it be…? How does this damn thing work? Is it intelligent!? How can it be intelligent?  

You cannot avoid infection.

  — Of course not, sure, I’ll just jump right in! I’m the ruler of the Toads, and I’ve learned a hell of a lot here! With this information, I won’t surrender alive to the enemy!  

How do you know we’re the enemy?

  — Where are these voices coming from? What are you!?  

The truth is known only to those who’ve ruled for decades. Andrias knew it all, knows it still, and took that secret to his grave. He fulfilled the terms of our deal, but you did not.

  — Terms? You’re going to set terms for me, you filth!?  

Your father wouldn’t have liked your tone, knowing who we truly are.

  — Well, tell me then - I’m asking! Why are you in my head, echoing like this? I’m walking this damn endless tunnel, and I see no end or edge.  

Twenty-three years ago, your late father made a deal with our people: we don’t touch you, you don’t touch us. Simple terms, but you failed your part. Andrias meddled with us, gaining new power—but not for long. The Core lived for millennia and knew of us…

  — Wait… what does that mean: the Core knew of you!? So why did you say just minutes ago you had no idea what the Core is!?  

Indeed, you’ve asked a good question, but I doubt you’re destined to get an answer. You’ve already learned too much that you shouldn’t have.

  — And… what will you do with me? I won’t become like you, even on the brink of death—I’d choose death first.  

You will. Long live the new host, long live…

 

The new era of evolution!

 

He just needs time… a little time,

 

before your world turns to dust.

 

***

  Sasha ran aimlessly, somewhere into the forest, hiding among the massive trees not yet destroyed by the robot army. She abandoned them… left them to their fate. Of course, damn it, that rock idea was the dumbest move of her life. Yes, the robots were distracted, but only briefly. They started scanning everything - sounds, thermal signatures, they already knew someone was here and relayed that information to the others.   She had to flee without warning the fighters. Did she regret it? Deeply, damn it, she regretted it, but there was no time for that now. Somehow, she had to reach the shelter and convince its inhabitants of the story she’d tell. Yes… a traitor, the truest kind of traitor! She collapsed by a tree, unable to run further through the forest and its already-cleared, desolate patches. Thoughts swirled, but one stood firm: she had betrayed her squad.  

She’d have to convince them.

 

Tell a lie woven through her entire life,

 

about an unexpected attack,

 

about robots,

 

about materials she’d pass off as… scraps of information.

 

Would they believe her?

 

Unlikely.

 

The fighters weren’t fools; they’d figure out what really happened.

 

So what’s left? Lie and hope they buy it, or flee like a coward with tail between legs, but survive as a hero - the sole survivor of a small battlefield.

 

The second option, no question, no discussion.

 

Shelter 13, a place she could go.

 

They’d believe her, and then 38 days would pass, leading to the current events.

 

The disease, by the way, had receded, but not forever.

 

Now they always wore masks, never leaving the shelter without them, no matter the circumstances.

 

Inside reigned panic, horror, despair, and hope… hope to survive the night and see the dawn.

 

End of recollection

 

Transition to the present

    — Sasha, it’s time, - One of the fighters snapped her out of fleeting memories flashing through her mind like torn photographs.   — Yes, it’s time. Time to take this land back. Dave should’ve prepared new weapons by now - they’ll come in handy. Bagila, I need masks against the black plague and armor. - The fighter beside her moved deeper into the crafting room (Bagila’s Shop), followed by several others.   — It’s all done, Sasha. Your squad just needs to gather it. You’ve got a plan, right? - Bagila shoved aside an old grate, cracked her knuckles, and rummaged through a box by the wall first aid kits were there, but pitifully few.   — The plan’s ready; we just need to go over it again, clarify some points, and move out. Today or never we’ll turn the tide of this war, reclaim what was stolen from us by force. The coin will flip once and for all, here and now. Let’s go, we need to head to headquarters. - Sasha led the way, the fighters trailing behind. The headquarters wasn’t far, Grime would’ve called it “plain stupid to put it too far away,” so they’d built it nearby. The tunnels awaited, but they needed one last briefing to ensure everyone remembered their roles. The air in the room was tense, the lighting flickering, but it was enough to explain everything one final time.   — Alright, first aid kits are scarce, supplies are running low, so use them sparingly. One per fighter - there are fifteen of you, so some will have to share. Watch each other’s backs; the robots have gotten stronger, the Core’s clearly on alert after our last move. Our goal now is to seize the shelters, the labs, and finally reprogram all the robots in Amphibia to our side. As I said, we split into three groups of five each.   The first group will scout and capture the shelters, freeing any survivors or wiping everything out completely. The second group heads the opposite way, using the same tactic. The third group, led by me, advances toward one of the thousands of labs on this planet. Toppling the Core is one thing, destroying all these robots is another. With this device… - Sasha pulled a small portable gadget from a special holster on her belt, resembling a speaker with two plugs.   — We’ll try to finish our research. If… if it works, the robots will be ours! Not all, but certain models in specific labs will fall under our control. We’ll need a powerful pulse, transmitted across the entire surface.   — But what if the pulse fails? The robots will figure it out, throw everything they’ve got at us. They’ll call in reinforcements, overrun us faster than a fly can buzz by.   — Not today. Not while I’m here. I won’t run again, won’t abandon anyone. We’ll fight to the last, even if it costs a sea of blood. We’ll move the civilians to other surviving shelters; as for the fighters… we’ll face a threat unlike any other. These robots are stronger, faster, smarter than their old models. So, look at the map.   Sasha spread a map across the table, marked with red crosses and circles, noting paths, approximate enemy weapons, and their possible locations.   — First group, led by Dave - you head to the northern tunnel, straight to Shelters 12, 3, 8, 2, and 7. Check if any sanity remains there, or anything at all. If they attack, kill immediately, no hesitation. You can’t tell friend from foe anymore; if someone resists orders or acts out, you know what to do. Beware the black creature, it can mimic the voices of your loved ones. Your new guns should handle these maggots. The purple energy Dave’s invention paralyzes the tentacles for a while and should ensure swift death for both the black plague and the robots.   Second group, led by Yelu - you take the southern tunnel, straight to the remaining shelters. Same tactic, same weapons. Thanks to stolen tech, we’ve got comms, so if anything goes wrong, report immediately.   And the third group, the remainder, goes with me straight to the labs. Move quietly, stealthily, like ninjas. We can’t give ourselves away. Grab as much enemy tech as you can we’ll grow stronger. Any questions?  

Silence.

 

No questions.

  — Then we move out, right now. - A short phrase, a wild response, and the groups split. Speed and silence were everything. The first group naturally moved fastest, encountering various creatures, small scout robots to hordes of traps from long-rotted, stench-ridden corpses enslaved by the dark disease, their time here unknown.   And there they were the gates to Shelter 12. Sealed, covered in dust and traps, but they’d made it. Nothing to see: the doors were completely blocked, no power to open them. This shelter had fallen faster than the others, failing to send a message. An informant lay there, masked, reaching for the steel door but never opening it a half-decayed, lifeless lump, nothing frog-like left.   — Dave, over here, the first airlock isn’t sealed. There… dozens of civilians, clearly long gone from this world. - The once-named Toad moved toward the one who’d called her, the others following. Darkness, the deepest kind, filled the room something was off, but what?   — Be careful, check your masks, filters, weapons. Even a whiff of this air in your system… and you’ll be walking corpses. I don’t like this, it’s too quiet.   — Dave, we’ve got a big problem, - one fighter rasped, touching barrels of unknown gas—apparently empty. He wiped off dust and saw it was R9 gas - deadlier than thought possible. Dave froze, then turned to the soldier.   — What?   — Gas, poisonous, R9. These things didn’t just enslave or kill them, they poisoned them! Burned them out like… flies. - He nodded toward the wall, where four corpses lay in twisted poses. One victim’s mouth gaped, tongue blackened, cheeks swollen and burst. Another’s body was covered in unknown blisters; the third was gone entirely. The fourth died trying to shut a valve.   — Change filters, now, - Dave ordered, snapping his respirator shut. — We’re leaving. Nothing to gain here but a dose of this filth. - The fighters exchanged glances; two were already coughing was it too late? Psychosomatic? Time to go, urgently.   — Check your weapons, - Dave added quietly. — The black ones could be anywhere, and the robots too. - A faint screech sounded, then a red bulb blood-red shattered. The fighters raised their weapons. A battle was near.  

While the first group advanced slowly but steadily, wary of danger, the second group fought fiercely. Guns, swords, anything to destroy the black creature and robots.

  — COVER ME! - One soldier shouted, reloading while another shielded him.     — The robots must’ve called for backup—notify HQ, get the civilians out of Shelter 9!     — The line’s breached; just four shelters left to clear, and the path’s open. Mikey, move! - A shot rang out, and tentacles reaching for a fighter ignited in purple flame—the creature shrieked and retreated.     — Yelu, we’re done here. Shep reports the civilians are being moved to a new shelter. We did it.     — That means nothing. Hell’s ahead, hell’s behind, no way back. If the robots called reinforcements, we’ll face them soon. Hear that? Footsteps on the surface—they’re scanning… bastards.     — They’re underwater! Electricity, now—into the water, fry them!     And the third group—whose mission was going horribly wrong. First, they were spotted almost immediately after leaving the shelter. Second, they lost two fighters, killed by robots in seconds. Third—they were trapped.     — Damn it… what the hell is this!? Our gear was supposed to hold them off! - A fighter yelled, fending off drones firing at him. Another projectile—his weapon fell, but he didn’t give up, growing angrier. He leapt onto a rock, bounced off, landed on a robot, and started smashing it, searching for a control panel.     — Sasha, where are we? This doesn’t look like a lab! - Someone shouted, then fell silent with a loud thud from a robot. Sasha fought alongside Lydia, holding off another wave of advancing robots.     — They moved the labs—I don’t know where! These labs on the map… damn it! - She was wounded, struck back with all her might, slicing three robots with one swing, darted, leapt from a tree, and took down two more scouts likely relaying info to the Core.     — I won’t let you take me alive! - Another fighter’s cry, followed by an explosion. The fighter was dead, taking several robots with him. The situation couldn’t get worse. Stabbing another robot, Sasha was suddenly grabbed by black tentacles—the same ones—flinging her from the robots with brutal force. A hard crash to the ground, several rolls, her head spun, vision blurred.   Ustaj, Saša, još nije vrijeme.   The robots advanced; her head throbbed louder, her hand reached for the radio—no chance, broken. Call for help… no one left. Just three… only three fighters remained. A robot seemingly a new model lifted her, and a scanner activated. Quick, cold, irritating.     — DATA ACQUIRED. SASHA WAYBRIGHT, AGE SUITABLE. MODELS B-300 AND B-500, BURN EVERYTHING HERE. I WILL DELIVER HER TO THE MASTER. - "Master? What master…? The Core? Or Andrias? Damn it, they’ll burn it all—I can’t let this happen again!"     — Goli? The Master isn’t here, and I think he… - The robot cut off an unknown voice, ignoring prior words.     — MASTER, YOUR ORDER IS FULFILLED. WE FOUND WHAT YOU REQUIRED. REQUESTING ACCESS TO THE SO-CALLED PLANET "EARTH."     — Wait, what!? You… you found the girl? Damn, that changes everything. Access? Right… listen to my order: you can’t get to Earth yet—our portal’s inactive, key components are lost. Guard the girl with your robotic head on the line, got it!? If you… God, I don’t want this to happen, but if you lose her… the Master will have my head. UNDERSTAND!?     — ATT…ATT…ATT… ATTACK! - For Sasha, it all blurred. In seconds, the robot holding her was torn apart and flung at two others rushing to help. Explosions boomed, bullets and rockets flew—every weapon they had—robots dwindled, each drone, every pixel reduced to useless metal. Sasha lay by a rock; someone—or something—had dragged her… tentacles? What…? Maybe she imagined it?     Her fighters? No, they were surely dead. Dust, wind, and the hum of engines mixed with a strange black-red glow. The last robot fell before Sasha. All other drones were wiped out in an instant—except one. A Toad, no doubt… but not normal, with black tentacles. It grabbed the drone, pulling it close.     — Tell your command: the Zamurs are no longer allied with the King of Newtopia. We’re breaking the contract. All the blood spilled here is his doing, his burden, not ours. He failed his part of the deal, so we won’t fulfill ours.     The drone was released and sped off, vanishing into the dust and smoke of the burning forest. Now it was clear—definitely black tentacles. But… they seemed different—almost speaking like any survivor on Amphibia. From the smoke emerged four fighters, all with long, elastic limbs, but here’s the catch: each carried weapons—real ones.     Swords, katanas, axes, sledgehammers—all charged with black-red energy. One stepped forward with a katana, driving it into the ground with force. It ignited, and a red beam shot into the sky, finally revealing the sun—unseen for ages.     The same fighter, joined by the others, formed a circle, their tentacles sinking deep underground. It seemed to last forever, but a hoarse voice jolted Sasha back to awareness—a voice she couldn’t mistake, rougher, angrier, but… it was him. Droz, he was back, with her entire squad. Alive… as mutants?     — Dear shelter dwellers, we… I speak to you on behalf of the hidden Zamur race, or as you call us, the black tentacles. The prophecy was meant to come true. We are no longer your enemies, my command realizes the current rule displeases them, and too many resources are wasted. It’s time we became allies, officially. Thirty-eight days of hell are over - we are not your foes. The black tentacles are not your enemies!  

No more hiding.

 

All invaders will be executed. 

***

 

— WHAT DO YOU MEAN “LOST CONNECTION”!? ARE YOU IDIOTS, COMPLETELY BRAIN-DEAD? THE MASTER WILL TWIST MY HEAD OFF, DEVOUR ME ALIVE, YOU FOOLS! QUICK, LINK UP WITH THE NEAREST DRONE! What do you mean there’s none…? HOW CAN THERE BE NONE!? YOU IMBECILES, THERE WERE OVER 300 FIGHTERS, AND YOU COULDN’T TAKE OUT A SMALL SQUAD!? What? Zamurs!? Broke the contract… on the enemy’s side, huh? Fine, I’ll report to the Master, and we’ll figure out what to do. Yes, keep patrolling, maintain covert surveillance on everyone! Secure all objectives, every single one! Over and out.  

"Well then, Celestia, how’s our plan in Amphibia? Did we manage to crush that pitiful resistance trying to defy us, the mighty civilization!"

  — Uh… there’s a problem, a huge one, massive…  

"Nicely, don’t drag it out, speak - I’m listening."

  — Well, how to put this… the resistance, they… we found one of the three girls you mentioned.  

"You found Sasha Waybright? Excellent, the plan’s on track."

  — But there’s another little issue… the Zamurs betrayed us.  

"Zamurs? Hmph… does the blood pact mean nothing to them?"

    — They sent a message via drone, saying… ahem, quoting: The Zamurs are no longer allied with the King of Newtopia. We’re breaking the contract. All the blood spilled here is his doing, his burden, not ours. He failed his part of the deal, so we won’t fulfill ours.  

"Oh yes… they think my son is still alive, still commanding this takeover. My expectations were misplaced, I didn’t expect this from those vile mutants. But no matter, we’ll create our own mutants here, using those reactors built by human hands."

    — A-and… what’s your next order, Master?    

"Celestia, the order is this: full force to exterminate all life. If they’ve chosen to rebel on my planet, that’s what they’ll get.

Maximum stealth - don’t let anyone stick their necks out.

Bill Cipher might exploit this for his… purposes."

   

Rain began to fall, the first in hours. Clouds swallowed even the faint light struggling to pierce through dust and horror, blood and screams.

   

And he watches… he knows what to do.

 

***

Earth. Things had grown far worse. Hours passed, the rain intensified, washing away blood and bodies strewn everywhere. A grim silence fell, and while one part of the planet slowly died, another turned into black mutants. Japan. The first country to be contaminated. At this point, it has officially been 38 hours since the planet was captured. The armed forces didn’t give up, but was there any point? These robots were made of something impervious to conventional weapons. If nuclear warheads couldn’t take them, regular shells and bullets stood no chance.     A church, night. A few people prayed when a robot burst through the door, blocking the entrance. Through dust and ash, nothing was discernible, but the Pope knew it was a threat.     — We are under God’s dominion; dare not tread on land guarded by His angels. Begone, filth! [我々は神の支配下にある。神の天使が守る土地に、あえて入ってはならない。失せろ、クズども！] - Did the robot listen? No. It seized the nearest person, crushing them in its grip until little remained but a head, legs, and a soul-shattering scream.     — First experiment. Master, conducting trials. End transmission. - The robot pulled an unknown black-green liquid from its belt and, grabbing another person, poured it over them.     — LORD, NO! WHAT… NO… WHAT IS HAPPEN—E-E-E-E… AAAAH!! [なんてことだ！何？やめて... どうなってるんだ.... どうなってるんだ...！] - The person screamed with all their might. Their body… it began to change, darkening, and within twenty seconds, it was no longer human, black matter with white, cloud-like eyes.     — Master, I report: the experiment succeeded. These so called ‘humans’ can be turned into a new, perfect species. I’ve tested them, they should be stronger than the Zamurs - your new enemies.     — Okay, return to the lab, develop more ‘genemutes.’ We’ll transform all humans into what you described. And then…  

 

The planet Earth will be enslaved forever and serve our cause.

 

 

For the glory of our civilization!

 

 

But not everywhere was the same.

 

 

Oregon, sealed under a dome.

 

 

A small town - Gravity Falls.

 

 

The external threat hadn’t touched this settlement, meaning…

 

 

Gravity Falls was the only place fully intact on the planet.

 

 

***

 

Blood and Ashes Project. 

 

Author of the idea: Klira

 

The original story is taken from Disney's animated project, Amphibia. 

 

Voiceover (in the future)

 

Animation (comic book, in the future)

 

Patreon (in development)

 

Telegram Channel (It's working)

 

I do this work because I like this style.

 

I look forward to your feedback. 

 

It's up to you to make this work go beyond the usual fanfic.