The day began with an eerie stillness, the kind that creeps under the skin and gnaws at the edges of comfort. By sunrise, that stillness was shattered, replaced by a symphony of destruction orchestrated by the Tori no Ichizoku clan. New York, a city that never slept, was plunged into an unrelenting nightmare. Streets that once pulsed with life were now rivers of blood and chaos, choked with smoke and screams.
At the center of it all was the Machinist, his figure a haunting amalgamation of man and machine. Standing atop a towering mechanized exoskeleton, his presence was both awe-inspiring and horrifying. His voice, amplified by speakers embedded into his metallic frame, boomed across the city.
"Today marks the beginning of a new era!" he declared, his tone devoid of humanity. "An era where power reigns supreme, and weakness is eradicated. Look upon your city, your so-called civilization, and see its fragility. This is the end of complacency."
The Machinist's words were a harbinger of the destruction to come. His army of over a thousand red-clad soldiers fanned out across the boroughs, their crimson uniforms stark against the gray pallor of smoke-filled skies. Each soldier moved with precision, a testament to the discipline drilled into them by the clan. They wielded advanced weaponry—devices that seemed almost otherworldly, crafted in secret laboratories far from the prying eyes of the outside world.
As the first wave of attacks commenced, chaos rippled through the city like a stone dropped into still water. Bombs detonated in rapid succession, their shockwaves tearing through steel and concrete as if they were paper. The blasts consumed entire blocks, leaving nothing but smoldering ruins in their wake. Flames licked hungrily at the remains of skyscrapers, their once-proud silhouettes now reduced to skeletal frames.
Central Park, a sanctuary of green in the midst of the urban jungle, became a battlefield. Families seeking refuge beneath its trees found themselves cornered and slaughtered without mercy. The park’s serene beauty was desecrated, its grassy expanse stained with blood and littered with the bodies of the fallen.
The clan’s soldiers were merciless, their actions precise and calculated. They spared no one. Elderly couples, mothers shielding their children, and even infants were not exempt from their brutality. The gunfire was unrelenting, a mechanical rhythm of death that echoed off the shattered walls of the city.
The New York Police Department and National Guard scrambled to mount a defense, but they were woefully unprepared for the onslaught. Their barricades were torn apart by explosive charges, their ranks decimated by the clan’s superior firepower. Desperate calls for reinforcements were met with silence as communication lines were cut and the city’s infrastructure was systematically dismantled.
The Machinist watched the carnage unfold from a command center mounted on his exoskeleton. His eyes, cold and unfeeling, scanned the destruction with a sense of grim satisfaction. He had spent decades perfecting his craft, building an army and weapons capable of bringing even the mightiest nation to its knees. And now, his masterpiece was on full display.
For the Machinist, this was not merely an act of terror—it was a demonstration of his philosophy. To him, humanity was weak, shackled by its emotions and moral codes. He believed in a world where only the strong survived, where emotions were discarded in favor of logic and efficiency. His army, trained to obey without question, was the embodiment of this belief.
By midday, the city’s skyline was unrecognizable. Smoke billowed into the heavens, blotting out the sun and casting New York into a perpetual twilight. The Hudson River ran red with blood as bodies were unceremoniously dumped into its waters. Landmarks that once stood as symbols of hope and resilience were reduced to rubble. The Statue of Liberty, a beacon for generations of immigrants seeking freedom, lay broken in the harbor, her torch extinguished.
Survivors huddled together in subway stations and basements, their faces etched with terror and despair. Whispers of hope were drowned out by the sounds of gunfire and explosions above. Parents clutched their children tightly, trying to shield them from the horrors they could not escape.
Amid the chaos, resistance began to stir. Small groups of civilians and off-duty first responders banded together, using whatever weapons they could find to fight back. Their efforts, though brave, were often short-lived. The Tori no Ichizoku soldiers were relentless, their training and equipment far superior to anything the civilians could muster. Yet, their defiance served as a beacon for others, sparking pockets of resistance across the city.
As night fell, the once-bustling city was silent save for the occasional crack of gunfire or the distant wail of a siren. The Machinist stood atop his exoskeleton, surveying the smoldering ruins below. To him, this was the ultimate proof of humanity’s weakness. He had taken the city that never sleeps and brought it to its knees within a single day.
"Let this be a lesson," he announced, his voice echoing across the desolate streets. "This is the price of complacency. This is the fate of those who cling to outdated ideals of morality and weakness. Remember this day, for it is the dawn of a new order."
The city, once a symbol of resilience and hope, now stood as a testament to the Machinist’s cruelty and ambition. New York had fallen, its spirit broken beneath the iron grip of the Tori no Ichizoku clan. But in the shadows, amidst the ashes, the seeds of resistance were taking root. And though the Machinist had won the battle, the war for humanity’s soul had only just begun
As the chaos unfolded, the Machinist emerged from the shadows like a harbinger of doom. His arrival was marked by an eerie silence that swept over the battlefield—a momentary pause, as if the city itself was holding its breath. Clad in his signature amalgamation of metal and flesh, the Machinist cut an imposing figure. His exoskeleton, a grotesque blend of human ingenuity and mechanical monstrosity, glimmered faintly in the sparse moonlight. Tubes and wires pulsed with an ominous blue glow, each movement accompanied by the hiss of hydraulics and the hum of machinery.
He strode forward with the confidence of a man who knew he had already won. His gaze, cold and calculating, swept over the chaos before him. In his hand, he held a weapon unlike any the world had seen—a massive, multi-barreled cannon fused with advanced technology. It hummed with energy, sparking menacingly as he raised it, its barrel aimed at the remnants of resistance that still clung to hope.
The SAAHO operatives and police, though battered and outnumbered, refused to back down. They knew who they were up against, and they understood the stakes. The Machinist was no ordinary adversary; he was a living nightmare, a man who had transcended humanity to become something far more terrifying. Yet, even in the face of such overwhelming odds, they stood their ground, firing round after round at the advancing monster.
Bullets ricocheted off the Machinist’s armored frame, sparking uselessly against his metallic exterior. He moved through the hail of gunfire with a grim sense of purpose, his steps steady and unyielding. When he reached the front line, he spoke, his voice amplified by the speakers embedded in his armor.
"Is this the best you can do?" he asked, his tone dripping with contempt. "This is the might of humanity? Pathetic."
With a casual flick of his arm, he activated his weapon. A blinding surge of energy erupted from the cannon, ripping through the resistance like a scythe through wheat. The screams of the fallen echoed through the streets, mingling with the sound of collapsing buildings and the crackle of flames. Those who weren’t instantly obliterated were thrown back by the sheer force of the blast, their bodies broken and lifeless.
Despite the carnage, a few brave souls continued to fight. A young SAAHO operative, armed with nothing more than a rifle and his courage, managed to get within striking distance of the Machinist. With a battle cry that cut through the chaos, he aimed for the exposed section of the Machinist’s armor and fired. The bullet struck true, piercing the thin layer of metal and embedding itself in the flesh beneath.
The Machinist staggered, momentarily stunned by the attack. He turned his gaze to the operative, his expression a mixture of surprise and fury. With a swift motion, he reached out and grabbed the man by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease.
"Bold," the Machinist said, his voice cold and emotionless. "But ultimately futile."
With a sickening crunch, he crushed the operative’s throat and tossed his lifeless body aside. The display of brutality sent a wave of fear through the remaining defenders. Their resolve, already stretched thin, began to crumble under the weight of the Machinist’s overwhelming power.
As the last pockets of resistance fell, the Machinist turned his attention to the city’s skyline. New York, once a symbol of resilience and hope, now lay in ruins. Flames consumed the remnants of its iconic buildings, casting an eerie orange glow over the devastation. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning flesh, a grim reminder of the lives that had been lost.
The Machinist raised his arms, addressing the city—or what was left of it. His voice, amplified to reach every corner of the battlefield, was filled with a chilling sense of triumph.
"Let this serve as a lesson to the world," he declared. "Your so-called strength, your unity, your hope—it’s all an illusion. You are nothing more than fragile creatures, clinging to your delusions of power. But no more. I am the future. I am progress. And I will not stop until the old world is nothing but ash."
The Tori no Ichizoku soldiers cheered in unison, their voices rising above the din of destruction. The Machinist, basking in his victory, turned and began to walk away, leaving the smoldering ruins of New York in his wake. For him, this was only the beginning. His sights were set on a far greater prize—a world that would bow to his will, or be annihilated in the process.
But even as the flames consumed the city and the Machinist’s shadow loomed large, whispers of defiance stirred in the darkness. Survivors, scattered and broken, began to regroup. In the hearts of the oppressed, a flicker of hope remained—a fragile yet unyielding spark that refused to be extinguished.
The Machinist had won the battle, but the war for humanity’s survival was far from over.
The Machinist was more than just a man with a warped body and a twisted mind—he was a symbol of terror, a walking nightmare. Every movement of his mechanized limbs carried a deliberate precision, and every step echoed with the ominous weight of his intentions. His presence in New York wasn’t just an assault on the city’s infrastructure or its people; it was a calculated psychological warfare aimed at breaking the spirit of humanity itself.
His mechanical arsenal was a grotesque masterpiece. Blades, sharp as obsidian and slick with the blood of his victims, extended and retracted with mechanical efficiency, making him a whirlwind of death. Guns embedded in his arms unleashed a relentless barrage of bullets, cutting down resistance in waves. But his most terrifying weapon was his mastery of electricity. Tendrils of crackling energy snaked around his body, arcing through the air before grounding themselves in his enemies. A single touch from the Machinist’s electrified grasp was enough to seize muscles, stop hearts, and fry neural pathways.
In his wake, he left not just death, but an indelible mark of despair. Streets were littered with the remains of cars, buildings, and lives—twisted metal mingled with shattered glass and scorched concrete. The air was heavy with the acrid stench of burnt flesh and electrical discharge. The soundscape of the city, once filled with the vibrant hum of life, was now reduced to the crackling of fires, the distant cries of survivors, and the mechanical growl of the Machinist’s movements.
As Team Beta and the remaining police forces regrouped, they mounted a desperate counterattack at the heart of the chaos—a site that would come to be known as Ground Zero. It was here that the Machinist had made his stand, his towering frame illuminated by the flickering glow of fires and the occasional spark from his electric arsenal.
The team moved with caution, their breaths shallow and their hearts pounding. They had seen the devastation he had wrought, the countless bodies left in his wake, and the hopelessness etched into the faces of the survivors. Still, they pushed forward, determined to at least slow him down, even if it cost them their lives.
The first wave of SAAHO operatives moved in with coordinated precision, aiming to disable the Machinist’s weaponry. Grenades were lobbed, their explosions lighting up the darkness, but the Machinist emerged unscathed, his armor absorbing the shockwaves like they were nothing more than gusts of wind. He retaliated with a sweeping arc of his electrified blade, cutting down three operatives in a single strike.
The second wave brought heavier artillery—rocket launchers and EMP devices designed to disable his mechanical components. A missile struck him squarely in the chest, creating a deafening explosion that temporarily obscured him in a cloud of smoke and debris. For a moment, the team dared to hope that they had succeeded.
But as the smoke cleared, the Machinist stood tall, his armor scorched but intact. His voice, amplified and distorted by the speakers embedded in his chest, echoed across the battlefield.
"Fools," he growled, his tone devoid of emotion. "You fight with the weapons of yesterday against the future incarnate. You cannot stop progress."
With a swift motion, he unleashed a surge of electricity that spread out in all directions, knocking the operatives off their feet. The screams of the injured filled the air as their bodies convulsed, their weapons falling uselessly to the ground.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in an even deeper darkness, the Machinist had claimed victory. Over 2,000 people lay dead, their lives extinguished in a single day of unparalleled carnage. Entire districts were reduced to rubble, their once-thriving communities now silent graveyards. The city’s iconic skyline, a testament to human ambition, was now a jagged silhouette against the smoky sky, with several landmarks reduced to hollow shells.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Survivors wandered through the wreckage in a daze, their faces streaked with ash and tears. Families huddled together in the ruins of their homes, whispering prayers to gods they weren’t sure were listening. The emergency services, stretched thin and overwhelmed, worked tirelessly to pull the injured from the rubble, their efforts hampered by the lingering presence of unexploded ordinances left behind by the Tori no Ichizoku.
The psychological toll was just as devastating. New York, a city that had faced countless trials in its storied history, was now gripped by a paralyzing fear. The Machinist’s message had been clear: no one was safe. He had demonstrated that even the greatest metropolis in the world could be brought to its knees, and the world was watching.
The Machinist stood atop the ruins of what had once been a skyscraper, his silhouette framed by the flickering flames that engulfed the city. His mechanical eyes scanned the devastation below, his expression unreadable. To him, this wasn’t just a victory—it was a declaration. He had shown the world that the Tori no Ichizoku was unstoppable, that his vision of the future was inevitable.
As his soldiers regrouped, their crimson uniforms stained with blood and ash, the Machinist raised his hand. The clan fell silent, their attention fixed on their leader.
"Today, we have shown them the price of ignorance," he declared, his voice resonating with an almost religious fervor. "They cling to their outdated ways, their fragile systems, their fleeting lives. But we are the future. We are evolution. And we will not stop until the old world is erased."
The soldiers erupted into cheers, their voices rising in unison as the Machinist turned and began to descend into the shadows. His work in New York was done, but his mission was far from over. The city was merely the first step in a grander plan—a plan that would see the entire world brought under his control.
In the depths of the ruins, amid the ash and despair, a small group of survivors gathered. Among them were a handful of SAAHO operatives, their bodies battered but their spirits unbroken. They had seen the full extent of the Machinist’s power, and they understood the magnitude of the threat he posed. But they also knew that surrender was not an option.
"We can’t let this end here," one of them said, his voice firm despite the exhaustion that weighed on him. "He thinks he’s untouchable, but he’s wrong. We’ll regroup. We’ll find a way to fight back."
The others nodded, their expressions grim but resolute. The Machinist had delivered a devastating blow, but the fight was far from over. In the shadows of New York’s darkest day, a flicker of hope remained—a fragile yet unyielding spark that refused to be extinguished.
Months after the devastation of New York, the Tori no Ichizoku launched another assault—this time targeting the southern city of Atlanta. Unlike the sudden onslaught in New York, this operation was a slow, calculated dismantling of the city’s stability. The Machinist, now infamous across the globe, orchestrated the attack with an even more sinister precision, ensuring the terror was as psychological as it was physical.
Atlanta, a city of culture and commerce, with its bustling neighborhoods and historic landmarks, became the next victim of the Machinist’s vision of domination. The attack began in the dead of night, an hour when most were asleep, believing themselves safe in their homes. The first sign of trouble was a series of coordinated cyberattacks that crippled the city’s infrastructure. Traffic lights flickered erratically, emergency service networks were hijacked, and every screen in the city displayed a singular message:
"The future is inevitable. The Tori no Ichizoku comes for you."
At precisely 2:00 AM, the Tori no Ichizoku struck. Hundreds of drones, sleek and silent, descended upon the city. Armed with cameras, explosives, and incendiary devices, they spread out across Atlanta, targeting critical infrastructure. Bridges collapsed in fiery explosions, rail lines were sabotaged, and water treatment facilities were destroyed. The drones buzzed overhead like mechanical wasps, their precision striking terror into the hearts of Atlanta’s residents.
Simultaneously, ground forces infiltrated the city. These operatives, dressed in the clan’s crimson uniforms, moved with the same ruthless efficiency as in New York. They poured into residential areas, their footsteps echoing down quiet suburban streets as they kicked in doors and dragged families from their homes. Unlike in New York, where the attack had been a chaotic blitz, the assault on Atlanta was methodical. The Tori no Ichizoku didn’t just kill—they captured. Entire neighborhoods were emptied, their inhabitants loaded onto armored trucks bound for unknown destinations.
The Machinist himself arrived shortly after dawn, his towering, mechanized form casting a long shadow over the city. He stood atop a commandeered skyscraper, broadcasting his image to every screen and device still operational in the region. His distorted voice echoed across the airwaves.
"Atlanta, your resistance is futile. Your leaders have failed you. Your defenses are meaningless. This is the price of clinging to the old ways. Embrace the future—or be destroyed by it."
As he spoke, his forces continued their systematic destruction of the city. The Georgia State Capitol was razed to the ground, its iconic gold dome collapsing in a thunderous explosion. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a global hub of travel, was bombed and rendered inoperable, cutting off all escape routes. The city's iconic landmarks were reduced to rubble, one after another, as if to erase any trace of its cultural identity.
SAAHO's Team Alpha was deployed to Atlanta in a desperate attempt to prevent another massacre. Armed with cutting-edge technology and bolstered by the lessons learned in New York, they confronted the Tori no Ichizoku in the heart of the city. The battle was fierce, with firefights erupting on every corner. Drones were shot down, explosives were defused, and for a brief moment, it seemed the tide might turn.
But then the Machinist entered the fray. His mechanical body, now further enhanced with experimental technology, was an unstoppable juggernaut. He tore through SAAHO operatives like paper, his electrified tendrils snatching weapons from their hands and frying them where they stood. Team Alpha’s leader, a seasoned veteran named Lieutenant Harada, faced him directly, armed with an experimental EMP rifle. She managed to land a direct hit, briefly disabling his systems. But the reprieve was short-lived; within moments, the Machinist’s self-repair mechanisms kicked in, and he retaliated with devastating force. Harada and her team fell, their final stand a testament to their courage but ultimately futile.
By the time the sun set over Atlanta, the city was a shadow of its former self. Over 3,000 people were dead, including civilians, first responders, and SAAHO operatives. Thousands more were unaccounted for, presumed captured or killed. Entire districts were left uninhabitable, their streets choked with rubble and the charred remains of buildings. The air was thick with smoke, carrying the acrid smell of burning wood, metal, and flesh.
The psychological impact of the attack was immense. The people of Atlanta, like those in New York, were left broken and terrified. Survivors huddled in makeshift shelters, their eyes hollow with despair. The rest of the nation watched in horror as footage of the massacre circulated online, a stark reminder of the Machinist’s growing power.
In the wake of the Atlanta Cataclysm, the United Nations convened an emergency meeting. Leaders from around the world condemned the Tori no Ichizoku, but words alone could not stop the rising tide of terror. Nations scrambled to bolster their defenses, pouring resources into anti-terrorism initiatives and advanced technology. Yet the shadow of the Machinist loomed large, his ability to outmaneuver and overpower even the most prepared forces proving that he was a threat unlike any other.
In the ruins of Atlanta, amidst the despair and destruction, whispers of rebellion began to stir. Survivors, SAAHO remnants, and underground resistance groups vowed to fight back. They knew the road ahead would be long and filled with suffering, but they also knew that surrender was not an option. The Machinist had shown them the cost of complacency—and they were determined to ensure that his reign of terror would not go unchallenged.
As the Tori no Ichizoku retreated, their mission complete, the Machinist left one final message for the world. Projected onto the ruins of Atlanta was a simple phrase:
"This is only the beginning."
It had only been a few weeks since the Atlanta Cataclysm, but the Tori no Ichizoku was far from finished. Their thirst for domination was unquenchable, and their next target was one of the most influential cities in the United States: Los Angeles. A city known for its sprawling urban landscape, towering skyscrapers, and entertainment industry that shaped the world’s cultural landscape. However, beneath its sunny exterior, Los Angeles was vulnerable to the kind of destruction the Machinist and his clan were ready to bring.
Los Angeles was a city of extremes—glistening wealth, endless opportunity, but also a fragile network of infrastructure and systems that could easily be crippled with the right precision. The Machinist and his clan understood this better than anyone, and they saw an opportunity to show just how easily they could break even the mightiest of empires. Their assault would not be just a simple takeover; it would be a complete breakdown of the city, a systematic collapse that would shake the foundations of everything.
The attack on Los Angeles began without warning, but this time, the Machinist had learned from his previous campaigns. He knew that brute force alone wouldn’t work—he needed to break the spirit of the city before reducing it to ashes. The Tori no Ichizoku was cunning, and their plan unfolded like a horrific symphony.
In the dead of night, a wave of cyber-attacks rippled through the city’s infrastructure. The first blow came in the form of a devastating assault on the city’s communication systems. By 5:00 AM, Los Angeles’ tech hubs and government systems were hijacked. Everything from the local police stations to banks, hospitals, and emergency services was cut off from the rest of the world. The cyber invasion went undetected long enough for the city’s power grid to be disabled remotely, leaving the city vulnerable and blind.
As the first rays of morning light shone through the cracks of towering skyscrapers, Los Angeles awoke to an unfamiliar silence. The streets, which were normally alive with the hum of technology, had gone eerily still. No internet, no phone signals, no means of communication. For a brief moment, residents mistook it for a technical glitch, but the growing unease in the air quickly made it clear that something far more sinister was unfolding.
By the time the city was fully awake, chaos was already starting to spread. Panic-buying surged through grocery stores, fuel stations, and hospitals. People tried to contact their loved ones but couldn’t get through. The lack of information led to hysteria, and within hours, the streets were packed with frantic residents, each wondering if this was a temporary glitch or the beginning of something far worse.
The Machinist, an architect of devastation, had already made his move. His forces infiltrated the city in the dead of night, their unmarked vans filled with explosives, drones, and advanced weapons. These were no ordinary foot soldiers; they were a terrifying force of precision and technology, each one capable of mass destruction. The drones, equipped with cloaking technology, took to the skies undetected, heading straight for the heart of the city’s power grid.
By the time the residents realized the magnitude of the attack, it was too late. With a single command, the Machinist’s forces disabled the city’s entire power system. In a blink, Los Angeles was plunged into darkness. The once-beautiful skyline, known worldwide for its twinkling lights, was now a void, swallowed by the absence of electricity. There were no more neon lights, no more billboards flashing ads, and no more communication to guide the people. The city of stars had become the city of shadows.
As the city descended into darkness, the Machinist’s forces moved in with ruthless efficiency. The Tori no Ichizoku’s elite operatives—highly trained killers, all outfitted with advanced weaponry and combat tech—poured into the city with a clear objective: complete annihilation.
By now, the first wave of shock had passed, but Los Angeles had already begun to disintegrate under their attack. The once-bustling downtown district quickly turned into a warzone as Tori no Ichizoku operatives stormed through the streets. Within minutes, businesses were emptied, shops looted, and buildings set ablaze. The infamous Hollywood sign, a symbol of global ambition, was obliterated in a stunning display of violence, a clear declaration of intent.
The city’s police, caught off guard and outgunned, struggled to mount a defense. Officers, who were once proud protectors of the city, found themselves helpless as they faced an enemy unlike any they had encountered before. Gunfire echoed through the streets, but it was no use. The Machinist’s operatives were well-coordinated, outmatching the local forces at every turn. Emergency services, unable to communicate, were virtually nonexistent.
Amidst the flames and explosions, the streets that once pulsed with the energy of millions of people now lay eerily silent, save for the gunshots and the sound of destruction. Civilians ran for their lives, while desperate few tried to mount an organized resistance. But it was clear: Los Angeles was under siege, and there was no help coming.
By midday, the chaos that had consumed the city was but a prelude to the true terror. As his forces rampaged through the streets, the Machinist himself arrived on the scene, his presence signaling the culmination of the attack. Towering over the destruction, the Machinist was a grotesque vision of man and machine, his body a terrifying amalgamation of cybernetic limbs and human flesh. His mechanical eyes flickered ominously in the shadows, glowing a deep, unsettling red. Every inch of his body was a weapon—guns, blades, electrical conduits—all built into his form for maximum carnage.
The Machinist made his way through the devastated city with an eerie calm, his every movement deliberate and filled with purpose. He didn’t chase down the survivors—they ran to him. Desperate people trying to escape the destruction were met with a swift end. He unleashed waves of deadly energy, frying circuits, and electrocuting those who were too slow to flee. His mechanical limbs slashed through walls like paper, tearing apart anything in his path.
As the Machinist reached the center of the city, he paused, taking in the view of the chaos he had orchestrated. Then, with a simple flick of his wrist, he triggered a broadcast across every remaining screen—phones, TVs, computers. His voice echoed through the city, distorted but unmistakable.
“Los Angeles… you are nothing but a stepping stone. The future of this world is not yours to decide. I have already reshaped your fate. You will bend or break.”
The words rang out over the city, chilling the blood of those who heard them. This was not just an attack. This was a message. The Machinist was not just after power; he was waging a war to break the very will of those who stood against him.
In the wake of the Machinist’s speech, the resistance that had briefly flared up in the city began to fade. Small guerilla groups, formed by survivors, attempted to sabotage the Tori no Ichizoku’s forces. But their efforts were disorganized and ineffective. Makeshift traps and improvised weapons did little to slow the advance of the clan’s forces. The Machinist’s tactical genius and the overwhelming might of his army crushed every resistance effort before it could gain any real traction.
By the time night fell, Los Angeles had been reduced to a battlefield. The city’s iconic landmarks were obliterated, the streets turned into rivers of blood, debris, and flames. The survivors—those lucky enough to escape the initial onslaught—were now holed up in underground bunkers, abandoned buildings, or hiding in the shadows. They could only watch as the world they once knew slipped away.
When the chaos finally subsided, and the city fell silent, the full scale of the destruction became painfully clear. Over 5,000 people were dead, and tens of thousands more were missing or captured. The once-thriving metropolis lay in ruins, its streets littered with wrecked cars, shattered glass, and the remains of buildings that once defined the American dream. Los Angeles, a city that had been a symbol of power and ambition, was now a shattered husk.
The Tori no Ichizoku, having achieved their goal, retreated into the shadows. But before they disappeared, they left behind a chilling message that reverberated across the nation.
"We are not done. This is the price of defiance. You will all kneel before the new world order."
As the country scrambled to comprehend what had happened, one thing was clear: The Machinist and his clan had proven that no city, no matter how powerful, was safe from their wrath. The government’s response was swift, but deep down, they knew the truth: They were fighting an enemy that had already thought ten steps ahead.
In Los Angeles, the survivors began to rebuild, but the fear and trauma of that day would never leave them. The world watched as America’s greatest cities fell one by one, the Machinist’s message growing louder with each victory.
Los Angeles, like the other cities before it, had been broken. And the war for survival had only just begun.