The City Beneath the Red Sky

Chapter 1 — The City Beneath the Red Sky · The world had already ended three times before the brothers were born. · First came the Collapse Wars, where nations turned the oceans into fire. · Then came the Era of Titans, when beings larger than mountains walked the earth and shattered continents with their footsteps. · Finally came the Age of Sovereigns — the age of warriors so powerful that a single heartbeat could split storms apart. · And at the center of that age stood two names that would someday eclipse all others: · Rajan McGuire · and · Ronnie McGuire · Brothers. · Born under the Blood Moon of Neo-Eden City. · One shorter. One taller. · One calm as deep water. · One fierce as wildfire. · Both Black men with eyes that carried something ancient inside them. · The day they were born, every power grid on the planet exploded simultaneously. · The sky cracked with lightning. · And every Sovereign alive felt fear for the first time. · Rajan was the younger brother by six minutes. · He had dark brown skin, sharp eyes, and tightly braided hair that hung to his shoulders. Though shorter than Ronnie, his presence was heavy. People felt pressure just standing near him. · Ronnie, taller and broader, looked like a warrior carved from obsidian stone. His voice rumbled like thunder, and his silver-lined dreadlocks reached down his back like a king’s mantle. · Their mother called them “the Twin Suns.” · Their father called them “the End.” · At age five, Ronnie accidentally destroyed a mountain while sneezing. · At age six, Rajan stopped an earthquake by placing his hand on the ground. · At age eight, they fought for the first time. · The result changed the planet forever. · The brothers stood in the wasteland outside Neo-Eden while storms circled overhead. · “You cheated,” Ronnie growled. · Rajan folded his arms. “You’re just slow.” · Ronnie grinned. · Then vanished. · BOOM. · The sound barrier exploded. · Rajan blocked Ronnie’s punch with one hand. · The earth beneath them collapsed for miles. · Entire rivers changed direction. · Military satellites lost signal. · And deep inside the hidden Sovereign Council chambers, ancient warriors watched in horror. · “Impossible…” · “They’re only children…” · “No,” whispered the council leader. · “They’re monsters.” · Their father, Marcus McGuire, was once considered the strongest man alive. · He had defeated celestial invaders. · He had survived black holes. · He had even battled gods from dimensions beyond time. · But one evening, while watching the brothers spar in silence, he realized something terrifying. · Neither boy was using even one percent of their power. · That night, Marcus took the brothers deep underground beneath Neo-Eden. · Miles below the city was a vault made from celestial metal. · A prison. · Inside rested a black blade floating in chains. · The weapon screamed without sound. · Ronnie stared at it. “What is that?” · Marcus answered carefully. · “The God Killer.” · Rajan’s eyes narrowed. · “You brought us here for a sword?” · “No,” Marcus said. · “I brought you here because the sword is afraid of you.” · Silence filled the vault. · Then suddenly— · CRACK. · One of the chains around the blade snapped by itself. · Far above them, across distant galaxies, ancient entities awakened. · On the dead world of Vharos… · A creature with six glowing eyes opened them slowly. · “The McGuire bloodline has matured…” · On the frozen moon of Silex… · An armored emperor rose from his throne. · “So the brothers finally arrive.” · And beyond reality itself… · Something smiled in the darkness. · Back in Neo-Eden, Ronnie stepped toward the blade. · The air bent around him. · The weapon trembled violently. · Rajan spoke quietly. · “Don’t touch it.” · Ronnie smirked. “Why?” · “Because if you pull it out…” · Rajan looked directly at his brother. · “…the universe might not survive.” · Ronnie laughed. · Then grabbed the handle. · The world went white.