As the group continued their tense journey, the desolate North Pole became a stark reminder of the apocalyptic reality they faced. The frozen landscape, usually silent and untouched, was now a scene of chaos and horror. The ground beneath the ice began to tremble violently, and a low rumbling echoed across the barren expanse. The quakes grew stronger, and soon the once-solid ice started to melt, the ground boiling with an intense heat that was both unnatural and terrifying.

  Suddenly, the earth split wide open with a deafening crack, releasing a torrent of dark energy into the atmosphere. The sky above the North Pole turned black as the powerful shockwave rippled through the air, reaching miles away. Lava spewed forth from the gaping chasm, devouring everything in its path. From the depths of the underworld, monstrous figures emerged—towering, blazing entities with bodies of both fire and ice. Their grotesque forms were a horrifying testament to the opening of the second layer of Hell, unleashing its horrors upon the Earth.

  Meanwhile, miles away, the resistance group traveled with the archangels, seeking refuge and a place to strategize their next move. As they moved with caution, ever alert to the dangers around them, they suddenly felt a tremendous quake beneath their feet, followed by the distant shockwave. The supernaturals among them, sensitive to the shift in the earth's energy, grew fearful.

  Eleleth, sensing their unease, spoke up to calm them, though her words carried a heavy weight. "What you felt is the unlocking of the second layer of Hell," she began, her voice steady but grave. "As we journey onward, you must understand the gravity of what is happening. Each layer of Hell holds a purpose, originally meant for the final Armageddon. But with the breaking of the rules that kept the realms in check, these layers are being unleashed prematurely."

  She paused, allowing the tension to settle before continuing her explanation. "There are six layers of Hell. The first war in Heaven, led by Lucifer against God, resulted in Lucifer and his followers being cast into Hell, a prison created by God as eternal punishment for their rebellion. Despite this, God had a change of heart, willing to offer Lucifer redemption if he repented. But Lucifer, proud and arrogant, refused. His desire to be God, to rule creation as he saw fit, ultimately consumed him."

  Eleleth glanced at the group, ensuring they were following her words. "But there was another who played a significant role in this—Azriel. She saw Lucifer's vision as weak and proposed something far more sinister: the complete erasure of all existence, including God, to recreate the universe in their image. Lucifer, captivated by her manipulations, pursued this path, which led to the downfall of many."

  "As for the layers of Hell," she continued, "each represents a different horror unleashed upon the Earth. The first layer brings unprecedented conflict, where hellish creatures feast on their victims without mercy. The second layer, which has just been unlocked, brings forth natural disasters—extreme cold and heat beyond what mortals have ever known. The third layer represents famine, the fourth, sickness that transcends death itself. The fifth layer will bring cataclysmic destruction upon the world, with celestial bodies causing devastation. But it is the sixth layer that is the most terrifying. In this final stage, Hell and Earth will become one, leading to an endless war, with no escape for any living soul."

  Her explanation left the group in a somber silence, the reality of their situation sinking in. Some of the supernaturals among them looked visibly shaken, the fear in their eyes betraying their attempts at bravery.

  "But remember," Eleleth added, her tone more resolute, "though God is gone, the battle is not lost. The Sword of the Spirit remains the key. It is the only thing that can restore order, and it is what everyone seeks now. If we are to survive, we must find it before the layers of Hell consume everything."

  As they resumed their journey, Becca Wise approached Eleleth for a private discussion, her face a mixture of determination and concern. Meanwhile, Raphael engaged in conversation with Malachi and Liliana, discussing the unfolding events and the dire choices that lay ahead. The path was uncertain, and with each step, they knew they were moving closer to a confrontation that would determine the fate of all creation.

  ***

  As the surviving humans continued their perilous journey in search of shelter, their hope of reaching safety was abruptly cut short. Their vehicles, which had been their lifeline through the desolate wasteland, broke down halfway. With the urgency of their situation weighing heavily on them, they scrambled to fix the vehicles, but their efforts were futile. In the midst of their struggle, a far greater danger loomed. Malevolent supernaturals, drawn to the vulnerable group, spotted them and began to close in.

  Without firearms or any substantial means of defense, the humans were left with only their cutlasses, pocket knives, and daggers—tools that were woefully inadequate against the nightmarish creatures that now threatened their lives. The supernaturals attacked with brutal efficiency, easily tossing the disabled vehicles aside as if they were toys. Some of the humans were seized, lifted into the air, and met horrific ends at the hands of their attackers. Among the fallen were Sonya, Alisa, Joanne, Tabitha, Benedicta, Bernard, Toby, Jackson, Andrew, Peterson, and Anya—each life snuffed out in a matter of moments.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Panic and despair swept through the group as the survivors fled for their lives, knowing that escape was their only option. Melody, one of the few who remained, was nearly killed in the chaos. Just as the creature lunged for her, a fellow crew member sacrificed himself, pushing her out of harm's way and into safety, before he was gruesomely devoured.

  James, determined to fight until his last breath, took on one of the monstrous beings with a fierce resolve. He managed to stab the creature in the eye with his dagger, and as it bit into his neck, he found the strength to slit its throat with all the force he could muster. The creature writhed in agony, its life force ebbing away as it died alongside James, who was devoured halfway in the brutal struggle.

  Melody, along with Justin, Justine, Justina, Abigail, Benjamin, and Bryan, ran for their lives, their hearts pounding with fear and desperation. But as they raced through the barren landscape, they soon found themselves cornered, with no escape in sight. The malevolent supernaturals closed in, ready to feast on the last of the survivors.

  Just when all hope seemed lost, a blinding light illuminated the sky, and with a speed that defied human comprehension, two angelic beings appeared, cutting down the creatures with effortless precision. The battle was over before the humans could even process what had happened. The towering creatures that had moments before threatened to end their lives now lay in lifeless heaps on the ground.

  The humans stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief. Before them stood two majestic figures, their presence commanding and awe-inspiring. Gabriel, the Messenger of God, and Uriel, the Flame of God, had come to their aid. The archangels, radiant and powerful, looked upon the survivors with compassion.

  Gabriel spoke first, his voice resonating with a calm authority. "Fear not, for you are under our protection. The dangers of this world are great, but you have not been forsaken."

  Uriel nodded in agreement, his gaze piercing but kind. "We have been sent to guide you. Your journey is far from over, but you are not alone. Trust in us, and we will see you through these dark times."

  The surviving humans, still trembling from the ordeal, felt a glimmer of hope rekindle within them. The presence of the archangels was a sign that they were not abandoned in this hellish world. Though they had lost many of their friends, the arrival of Gabriel and Uriel gave them a reason to keep fighting, to keep surviving.

  As they gathered themselves, Gabriel and Uriel led the way, guiding the group to the next phase of their journey—a journey that would test their resolve, but also reveal the strength they never knew they had. With the archangels by their side, they pressed on, determined to find shelter and a plan to face the challenges ahead.

  As the group journeyed onward with Gabriel and Uriel, the surviving humans marveled at their seemingly miraculous turn of fortune. Justine, still shaken but grateful, shared with the archangels the tale of their first encounter with divine intervention. She revealed that this was not their first time being saved by archangels; previously, Raphael and Eleleth had intervened to rescue them from certain death, just after the tragic loss of a female angel who was consumed by malevolent supernaturals. The memory of that harrowing experience lingered with them, but it was also a source of hope, a reminder that they had not been abandoned.

  Melody, with a mix of fear and curiosity, turned to Gabriel and asked the question that had been gnawing at her mind: "Is the world coming to an end?"

  Gabriel’s response was as surprising as it was unsettling. He revealed to the group that God, the Creator Himself, was dead—a truth that sent shockwaves through the survivors. The revelation was heavy, almost too much to bear, and the air around them seemed to grow colder as the weight of this knowledge settled in. The death of God, the being they had always believed to be eternal and unchanging, left them feeling lost and adrift in a world spiraling into chaos.

  But Uriel, seeing the despair beginning to take root, spoke up with a voice that carried both strength and compassion. "Do not lose hope," he urged them. "Though the world is darkened by this loss, the light has not been extinguished. If we stand together, if we unite with our angelic brethren and those who still fight for good, we can still vanquish the evil that threatens to consume this world. Earth can be saved, but we must not falter in our resolve."

  His words, though not a promise of an easy path, ignited a spark of hope within the group. They knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but with the archangels at their side, they believed they might just have a chance to survive—and perhaps even to reclaim their world from the brink of destruction.

  ***

  Meanwhile, in the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert, the ground began to tremble ominously. The once-still sands quivered and then cracked open with a deafening roar, as the earth beneath it was consumed by a massive abyss. The sand was swallowed up, disappearing into the dark depths below, and from the heart of the abyss, a flood of water surged upwards, washing over the desert and transforming it into a temporary, eerie sea.

  But the strange, unnatural flood was only the beginning. As the water began to recede, an intense heat rose from the depths, drying the ground with unnatural speed. Then, with a violent eruption, magma and lava burst forth, consuming the landscape in a hellish inferno. The flames spread rapidly, transforming the desert into a charred, desolate wasteland, and leaving nothing in its wake but destruction.

  This cataclysmic event was more than just a natural disaster—it was a sign, a manifestation of a deeper evil. The third layer of hell had been unlocked, releasing its horrors upon the earth. As the inferno continued to spread, it became clear that the very fabric of the world was unraveling, and the forces of darkness were gaining ground with terrifying speed.

  The survivors, far from this latest catastrophe, could feel the tremors even from a distance. Though they did not yet know the specifics of what had occurred, they could sense that another piece of the apocalypse had fallen into place. The clock was ticking, and the full fury of hell was drawing ever closer.