"Hey, Grandpa!" a little kid shouted as he ran down the bustling street.
"I'm bored! Can you tell me a story?"
The old man smirked without looking up from his work.
"Child, can't you see I'm busy selling?"
The kid crossed his arms and pouted.
"Huh! But nobody's buying," he insisted, raising an eyebrow.
"Alright, alright, you win. I can't get anything done with you pestering me."
The grandpa smiled, his tone softening.
"You're lucky I love you."
The kid grinned triumphantly.
Narration begins...
"Legend has it," the grandpa's voice grew solemn,
"that an all-powerful being once walked this world, his power rivaling even the gods themselves.
He was known as Zeros.
He was neither good nor evil, yet his very existence posed a potential threat to all living beings.
He was someone who lived as he pleased, with no master to serve and no ruler to bow to."
The kid, looking intrigued, leaned in closer.
"It is said that Zeros once destroyed a fleet of battleships simply because they passed too close to his fishing boat while he was napping.
And not long after, he annihilated a merchant caravan because they accidentally hurt his favorite pet in the forest."
The kid interrupted, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
"Aww! I'd probably do the same if they hurt my puppy."
The grandpa shot him a sharp look.
"Child, would you still like me to tell the story?" he asked irritably.
"Yes, please, pretty please...!" the kid pleaded.
"Then listen closely," the grandpa replied, his voice returning to its storytelling cadence.
Narration continues...
"Of course, such behavior did not go unnoticed.
The gods, watching from their thrones, were uneasy.
Zeros' power was beyond their control, and his arrogance threatened the delicate order they had built.
The day of retribution was inevitable.
Meanwhile, the rulers of humanity, fearful of a force growing too uncontrollable, called for a large gathering.
Representatives from known kingdoms, empires, and villages were present — together forming the largest military alliance the world had ever known."
The kid's eyes widened in fascination.
"They prayed for guidance from the gods," the grandpa continued, his voice darkening,
"and the gods, pleased with the mortals' actions, agreed to intervene.
For Zeros' arrogance could not be allowed to continue.
With the gods' blessings, a plan was set in motion to defeat him and his guardian forces once and for all."
The grandpa's gaze hardened.
"The day came when the alliance marched to confront Zeros."
"For two days, the battle raged against Zeros' guardian forces.
The ground trembled beneath their might, and the bodies of the fallen littered the battlefield.
But the guardians were finally defeated.
The alliance had broken through, and only five individuals stood against Zeros."
"On the third and final day, after a fierce and desperate struggle, Zeros was defeated.
And from—"
Narration interrupted...
Suddenly, the voice of a young lad cut through the air.
"And from that day forward, those five came to be known as the Five Legendary Heroes," he said, clearly bored.
"Uh... heard that a thousand times, old man."
"You stupid brat! I wasn't telling you the story!" the grandpa snapped, shaking his head.
The lad, confused, glanced around before sticking his head out of the shop window.
He noticed a figure sitting on the street below — a kid, casually sitting on the ground. It was the old man's grandchild, Melkai.
"Hmm... Why didn't I notice you earlier?" the lad asked, scratching his head.
"Because you've been sleeping at work again, you lazy punk," the grandpa responded, rolling his eyes.
Before the lad could reply, a sudden sound shook the air — a low rumble, like the earth itself was cracking.
A sound like a massive building collapsing echoed through the streets.
The sound went on and on.
"Is there an earthquake?" Melkai asked, his voice filled with concern.
"No," the young lad replied, his tone tense.
"That's not an earthquake. It's too... systematic, like there's a pattern to it."
The grandpa, now alarmed, stood straight.
"Footsteps. Those are footsteps. And they're massive... like an elephant walking... no, something a hundred times bigger."
The sound grew louder, more ominous, until the entire downtown fell silent.
People stopped in their tracks, looking toward the forest in the distance, several kilometers away.
Then, through the dust and fog, something enormous appeared — a gigantic humanoid figure, towering over the treetops.
As the dust cleared, the true horror became visible.
It was a monstrous beast.
A walking nightmare.
"Good heavens..." the grandpa whispered, his face pale as realization hit him.
"Why... why is a disaster-level monster here?"