Chapter 6: The Shattered Veil
After school, Divine walked silently with his two sisters, Sharon and Melody, and his childhood friend, Precious. The memory of the grotesque creature devouring the lady earlier haunted him like a fog clouding his mind. He wasn't really with them—physically yes, but mentally, he was adrift.Precious tapped Divine on the shoulder. "Hey, were you even listening to what your sister's been saying?"Divine blinked and looked up. "Was Sharon saying something?"Sharon scowled. Without warning, she kicked his leg. "Ow! What was that for?" Divine cried out, clutching his shin."For the past two hours, I've been talking about some weird stuff I've been experiencing, and you haven't heard a word!" Sharon snapped. "What kind of brother zones out like that?"Divine scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Sorry. I've just had a lot on my mind lately. I guess I'm not very focused right now." He gave a weak smile.Precious placed a comforting hand on Divine's shoulder. "Don't carry all your pain alone, Divine. You've got us."Divine paused and looked at the three of them. Melody took his hand gently and said, "Big bro, don't be sad. Mom's strong—she'll get through this. She always does."He smiled, eyes glistening with a glint of hope. "Yeah… Mom is strong. She'll be okay."But even as he spoke those words, something dark stirred within him. His heart pounded like a war drum. A dull ache began behind his eyes, spreading like wildfire. He gripped his temples. Images flooded his vision—figures writhing in the sky beneath a blood-red moon.He slapped his own face hard. The others turned in shock. He chuckled nervously. "Sorry… I just remembered I forgot my notebook at school. I'll be back in a sec!"Before they could react, Divine sprinted away.Sharon called after him. "Divine—!" But he didn't look back."Guess we keep walking," Precious muttered.Divine's ears rang violently. The visions grew clearer. Blood. Screams. Shadows devouring the school halls. "What the hell is happening to me?" he muttered.When he reached the school, a meeting was in progress. Teachers in a room, their voices muffled. Everything felt distorted. Wrong.A teacher noticed him wandering, looking almost possessed. "Divine? What are you still doing here?""My… sisters went home. I forgot my notebook."She nodded. "Be quick."As Divine turned to leave the gate, a shadow stepped out before him. Dressed in obsidian robes, the figure smirked."So… you felt my presence."Questions exploded in Divine's mind:— Who are you?— Why can I see you?— What was that vision?— Am I going insane?— What did my father hide from me?"You saw the vision, didn't you?" the figure said. "But you're not ready… not yet. The system has not chosen you."Before Divine could speak, the figure appeared behind him. "An attack is launching. Below your feet."Then he vanished.A monstrous claw burst from the earth, grabbing Divine's legs. He screamed. Another emerged—red eyes like molten lava. One creature had seven heads and two arms. Another, a wolf's head atop a humanoid frame. A third resembled a skeletal dinosaur.They yanked him down. The seven-headed one slammed him twice to the ground. Divine's ankle cracked. He cried out.The wolf tore into his leg. Blood sprayed.They chanted incantations—ancient, holy, and profane:"From the Covenant of Fire to the Tree of Judgment—he shall bleed as they bled…"No one could see him. Pedestrians walked by, unaware. Divine's reality was collapsing.His mind spiraled:—I don't want to die.—Not like this.—Where's Mom?—Why did Dad leave this burden for me?—Am I cursed?—Help me…The creature raised its arm to end him. Divine's vision dimmed. His last thoughts were of Sharon, Melody… and his mother.Then, a flash.A figure in black and white robes appeared, sword glowing like divine starlight. The warrior severed the creature's seven heads with impossible speed. Then the wolf—slain in a single stroke.He danced through the air, engaging the dinosaur-beast. Steel clashed with corrupted bone. A moment later—it fell.Divine faded to unconsciousness.——He awoke in pain. Covered in bandages. The scent of herbs and aged wood filled his nose. He was lying on a mat within a stone-walled temple—ancient, candlelit, etched with angelic symbols. A waterfall roared nearby, feeding a sacred spring.A figure entered.Joseph Rin."You're awake."Divine blinked. "You again. Guess I owe you one this time."Joseph smiled, sitting beside him. "Drink this."The tea was bitter but warming."I warned you to be careful. Sins don't give second chances."Divine stared at the flame in the lantern. "Since my dad died… my world's been insane. I see things. Hear things. I feel like I'm losing my mind."Joseph put a hand on his shoulder. "You're not. You're just waking up.""To what?" Divine asked, voice cracking."To the truth."There was a long silence.Divine finally asked, "What were those… things?"Joseph's eyes hardened. "Sins.""Sins?"Joseph nodded. "They were born the moment Eve bit the fruit. Not just guilt or error—actual spirits. Creatures. Manifestations of mankind's rebellion."Divine's lips trembled. "so these are sins from our forefathers"Joseph looked down. "yes... There more coming down to earth, these sins has no emotions, all they ever wanted is a soul to feed on."