Writing What is the apocalypse lore in your fiction?

Eldoria

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 14, 2025
Messages
1,802
Points
113
Apocalypse Lore in Fiction

I just read a review of Warhammer 40K yesterday... and yeah, it's truly dark. The world is truly dystopian in the literal sense.

What made me uncomfortable (even just reading its review) was the scale of the apocalypse, the destruction, the darkness, and the despair that reached galactic levels.

I know... a lot of fiction depicts apocalypses on a galactic scale, but what makes Warhammer uncomfortable is how the author describes in detail what causes the apocalypse, how the apocalypse occurs, and its implications for intelligent life. The apocalypse is not described as a cold report but more like a process of moral and physical decay of intelligent life itself (including humans).

The apocalypse is a moral decay spreading through the veins of life causing cosmic destruction.

It's truly terrifying. I dislike it. But on the other hand, the author does succeed in making the reader uncomfortable, he really succeeds in depicting the apocalypse as a cosmic horror that the reader can feel.

If previously I said the rumbling (AoT) was a terrifying depiction of the apocalypse; now after knowing Warhammer 40K, I feel the horror of the rumbling is just a speck of dust compared to the physical and moral destruction of the universe.

Well, as a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy writer, I've also written about apocalypses in a fantasy world. I see similarities between the Warhammer apocalypse and mine, particularly in how moral decay leads to the accumulation of negative emotions that precipitate throughout the universe... and create a god of destruction.

The apocalypse isn't just the end; it's the consequence of the accumulated collective sins of intelligent beings.

The difference is that the scale of destruction in my fiction is smaller than that in the Warhammer 40K universe.

My question is, how do you depict the apocalypse in your fiction?

Note:
If you don't mind, please share your thoughts or published chapters in this thread. Please put your chapter in a spoiler tag to make the thread neater. For an example:

That Night in Rose Valley…

The valley wind carried mist and rose petals toward a wooden house standing atop a green hill. White curtains swayed gently, bringing with them a cold, fragrant breeze as a woman in white pajamas stood before the window.

Her blue eyes blinked as mist descended on the rose field. Her vision blurred and grew blurrier.

A woman clad in a black-and-white kimono stood firmly. Her black hair danced in the misty wind. Crimson eyes pierced into her blue eyes as she clenched her fist.

“Marry… you know this world rot the moment a father killed a mother and discarded his daughter as if she had never existed.”

Her blue eyes widened. Her hands rubbed her eyes. “Hallucinations—” Her lower lip was bit.

"Black Mist..." Marry shook her head. “No! I don’t want to become an executioner again…”

She stood in silence for a moment, letting the stillness soothe her wounds.



“Lock!” The sound of the window clicking shut echoed through the pink-walled room.

Marry stepped forward and stopped at the edge of the bed. A faint smile touched her lips as her eyes fell upon her daughter’s small face, wrapped in a soft white fur blanket.

She lifted the blanket and lay down beside her. Her face moved closer to her daughter’s cheek. The warm breath from her daughter’s lips brushed against her palm. Warmth spread through her heart.

"Honey…” She kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Mommy will endure for you.”

Marry held her daughter tightly on the soft bed. Her eyelids slowly closed as her consciousness drifted into the past.



“Drip… drip…” Blood dripped from the tip of the crimson sword blade, wetting the cracked marble floor.

A woman in a red cloak stood tall, sheathing her sword at her waist. Her blue eyes stared at her blood-stained palm. Her fingers trembled briefly before curling into a fist.

Marry walked down a dark corridor. The sound of splashes echoed each time her steps struck the blood-stained floor. The metallic, foul scent pierced her nose.

She stopped before a collapsed altar. One hand pressed against her slightly swollen abdomen—

Marry lowered her head. “Hueekkss…” Bitter fluid splattered onto the marble floor.

“Hah… hah…” Her breath was short as her hand wiped her lips.

“Memorial Ruins… the Memory artifact—” Her teeth clenched. “That damned tyrants!”

Marry straightened herself, patting her chest. Her head tilted upward toward the broken sky above the ruins.

Her eyes widened. “What… is this?!”

Ancient reliefs were carved into the gray marble walls. Mysterious engravings stretched as far as the eye could see.

Marry turned toward the far end of the wall, her gaze tracing the line of carvings.

On the eastern side, reliefs of mages holding wooden staffs were etched into cracked stone. In the second column, armored knights stood in formation, swords in hand, carved into red walls adorned with rose patterns. The final column depicted priests in prayer. At the front, a bishop stood holding a wooden staff.

They were all arranged in a horizontal semicircle formation.

Marry lowered her gaze beneath the formation. More reliefs were carved neatly, depicting people from every walk of life: slaves carrying sacks, farmers holding hoes, merchants gripping pieces of paper, and nobles with lace collars.

Among them were unique figures: an old woman leaning on a cane, a mother carrying her daughter, a man gripping a hoe, a teenage girl covering her mouth, and a little girl crying.

Yet they all shared one thing in common, their faces were turned upward, as if waiting for a miracle.

Marry lifted her head, looking above the formation of soldiers. On the dull gray stone, a mysterious woman was carved, standing with a limp.

She wore tattered clothing. Her messy black hair fell down her back. Her lips curved downward. In both hands, she held a massive scythe.

Above her head, thousands of moths filled the gray wall, as if depicting a sky consumed by insects.

Marry drew in a breath. She stepped closer, her palm touching the marble surface.

Her blue eyes narrowed as she read the ancient text. “This… Latin—” She swallowed. “The Rose Kingdom?!”

Her eyes focused on the worn carvings. The letters were faded and blurred with age.

“In the year ***, the continent of Eldora faced the greatest crisis in its history. After endless conflict, the world entered its darkest era, the Continental War.”

“For years, darkness engulfed the world, seeping into the veins of life. The land was soaked in blood. Corpses rotted. Starving children cried, clutching their stomachs. Girls sold ***. The red earth dried and cracked. The air grew suffocating.”

“We believed the Continental War was the greatest disaster in human history. But we were wrong. It was only the beginning of the true disaster.”

“On the date ***, armies from various allied kingdoms gathered in the central lands of the continent. Millions of knights, archers, spearmen, assassins, mages, and countless warriors stood in formation across the plains. We faced one another, holding our breath, ready for a great war. But then, the sun dimmed. We all turned toward the western horizon—”

“The orange light faded, swallowed by darkness, followed by the sound of fluttering wings. Tiny shadows filled the western sky. Countless moths covered the dusk.”

“The sun slowly set as a mysterious woman stepped from beyond the hill. Her tattered gray dress swayed gently with each step. Her pale skin glowed under the fading light.”

“The mystical figure walked slowly, dragging her left leg, holding a massive scythe as tall as herself. She stopped right before us. She stood still for a moment…"

“Her eyes opened, revealing gray pupils, like the gaze of a corpse. She raised her scythe… and swung it forward—”

“Our vision suddenly went dark. When it returned, our eyes widened in horror.”

“Hundreds of thousands of armored knights collapsed onto the green field. No blood. No wounds. Only wide, unblinking eyes. They died without resistance, like rotting wood falling apart.”

“Our shoulders trembled. We turned toward the western horizon in unison. The figure walked slowly. Wherever she stepped, the green grass withered instantly. As she passed trees, they decayed and crumbled.”

“And her moths swept across sky and land. Trees fell, grass dried, corpses piled, blood scattered, they devoured everything, leaving nothing behind, as if the land had never known life.”

“We wounded ourselves, trying to suppress our fear. We raised our swords. We fired arrows and cast magic. We cast aside our differences, our conflicts, our grudges… for one purpose, to survive against the living disaster. We united and deployed millions of troops, but—”

“WE FAILED.”

“The figure slaughtered millions of our troops as if they were nothing more than rotting wood. And that mystical being? Unharmed, unblinking… her gaze was empty. She limped forward, sweeping across the land.”

“We could only run… and run. Yet that figure continued to scour the continent, slowly, but inevitably. Every breath she took carried the aura of death.”

“We called her the ‘Death Princess.’ She was a Disaster Princess, the harbinger of death to all living things.”

“On the date ***, in the southeastern region of the continent—the final refuge—hundreds of thousands gathered upon a fog-covered plain. People of every race and the last remaining kingdoms assembled for one purpose: to survive for at least one day.”

“We gathered what little strength we had left, raising our hands to the sky. We prayed, hoping to breathe the air of tomorrow. Under the leadership of Archbishop ***, we began the ritual of eternal sealing.”

“That afternoon, from the northern horizon, the Death Princess appeared, we held our breath each time she stepped closer. She stepped upon a gravestone. The Archbishop struck his staff—made from the World Tree—into the ground. The earth trembled… it shook, then—”

Marry touched the final line of ancient text on the cracked marble surface. The next lines were too faded to read.

Her hand pressed against her chest, clutching the collar of her dress. Her heartbeat pounded violently.

“The Death Princess…” Her shoulders trembled.

Marry stood still, her palms pressed against the relief on the cracked wall. Her head was lowered, allowing the silence to soothe her heart.

Her eyes slowly closed as darkness swallowed her consciousness.



Her eyes shot open. Marry jolted awake. She sat up, hugging her knees.

“It was just a dream… hah… hah…” Her breath came in ragged gasps. “My old memories?!” Cold sweat trickled down her temple.

She turned to the right, gazing at her daughter’s face resting upon a white pillow. Marry lay back down.

“I’m sorry, honey…” Her hand stroked her daughter's silver hair.

Marry lay in silence. But her mind was in turmoil. Her heart churned.

Death Princess… Black Mist… we are Disaster Princesses—what am I supposed to do?

After a while, her breathing gradually steadied. Her blue eyes stared at the dim ceiling.

She whispered, “Mother Earth… please help me…”

Her eyes slowly closed. The world faded into darkness as her consciousness drifted away.



Marry opened her eyes once more. Her pupils shrank as light poured into them.

Before her, moss-covered ground shimmered beneath a gentle glow. The wind blew softly, carrying the scent of forest flowers.

Marry parted her lips. “This… a spiritual realm?!”

“Marry…” A gentle, loving voice echoed in her ears. Marry turned, rubbing her eyes.

A breathtakingly beautiful woman stood before her. Her green hair flowed down her back, and her eyes were as deep and untouched as a primordial forest.

Her dress resembled woven leaves and roots, swaying gently like a living symphony of nature.

Behind her stood the colossal silhouette of the World Tree, towering high beyond the clouds.

The woman’s lips parted. “It has been a long time… my Little Rose.”

Her voice was soft, like the first breeze after a long, scorching drought.

Tears welled in Marry’s eyes. “Earth Mother…” Her voice trembled.

Mother Earth extended her arms and embraced her. “Your heart is weary, my child. You don’t need to hide anything from your mother.”

Marry stood still for a moment, resting her chin on her mother’s shoulder. Tears fell, soaking into the green silk.

“I don’t know what to do, Mother. The mist… it’s getting closer. I can feel it… Black Mist… she’s returning.”

Marry clung to her waist. “I don’t know… whether I should face her, reject her, or accept her.”

“She is the sister reborn of your wounds, Marry.” Earth Mother gently stroked her back, as if she were her own child. “Like you… she was reborn not by choice, but from the deepest wounds of the world. Wounds that have yet to heal.”

Marry tightened her embrace. “But if she brings disaster upon the world, like the Death Princess… how can I just let her?”

Earth Mother stroked Marry’s silver hair. “You don’t have to let her. But you also cannot kill her.”

“All of us… are incarnations of the world’s will. You and Black Mist are wounded sisters.”

Earth Mother slowly pulled away. Green eyes like a forest met blue eyes like the sky. “Marry… do you know why we are called Disaster Princesses?”

Marry wiped her tears and nodded faintly.

Earth Mother smiled softly. “We are reborn from the world’s lament.”

“When justice is silenced; when kindness is destroyed; when wounds are mocked… the world weeps.”

“And from its tears, we are reborn. You, me, Black Mist Princess, Death Princess, and three others. We are the answers to the world’s cries.”

Marry gave a faint smile. “So… we are not curses?” Her voice was hoarse.

Earth Mother shook her head. “No. You are a reaction. You are the blade for the voiceless.”

“You are the Blood Rose Princess, the final judge of the dead law. Black Mist Princess is the shadow of oppressed women. The Death Princess is the final answer to a world that has suffered for far too long.”

Marry looked down at her palm. “Can we live normaly?”

Earth Mother fell silent for a moment before speaking again. “Marry… you possess something no other Disaster Princess has ever had.”

Marry’s eyes widened. “What?!”

Earth Mother smiled. “A daughter.”

Marry stepped back, her shoulders tensing.

Earth Mother nodded gently. “Don't worry, Marry. I will protect your daughter.”

“Your daughter is an anomaly of fate. Her existence has changed your lineage. She binds you to the world with love, not anger. She makes you want to protect, not destroy.”

Her green eyes dimmed slightly. “Disaster Princesses are not meant to give birth. We are not ordinary beings. We are half-spirit.”

She pointed at Marry’s chest. “But you can, Marry. You are different. The world has entrusted you with a new possibility.”

Marry trembled. “Why did the world choose me? Is my daughter… Caelan—”

Earth Mother gently placed a finger on Marry’s lips. “That question will be answered in time.”

“For now, protect your daughter. If Black Mist truly comes, do not face her with hatred.”

Marry bit her lip. “Then how should I face her?”

Earth Mother smiled softly. “When your wounds have healed, you will know what to say to her when the time comes.” Her hand rested over her heart. “Marry… if you ever doubt yourself, you can always return to this dream.”

Marry looked at Mother Earth, her eyes shimmering with tears, her lips parting—

“Whoosh…” A gentle wind carried her body away as her consciousness slowly faded.

“Don't forget who you are, my Little Rose,” the soft voice echoed within her heart. “You are not only a disaster, you are also hope that blooms from bloodstained soil.”



Marry jolted awake. Her hand gripped the blanket as she turned her head to the right.

Caelan was still asleep in her arms. Her heartbeat gradually steadied, syncing with her daughter.

Marry kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Caelan… Mommy will endure for you—”

Regards.
 
Last edited:

c37

Well-known member
Joined
May 13, 2025
Messages
300
Points
63
Apocalypse Lore in Fiction

I just read a review of Warhammer 40K yesterday... and yeah, it's truly dark. The world is truly dystopian in the literal sense.

What made me uncomfortable (even just reading its review) was the scale of the apocalypse, the destruction, the darkness, and the despair that reached galactic levels.

I know... a lot of fiction depicts apocalypses on a galactic scale, but what makes Warhammer uncomfortable is how the author describes in detail what causes the apocalypse, how the apocalypse occurs, and its implications for intelligent life. The apocalypse is not described as a cold report but more like a process of moral and physical decay of intelligent life itself (including humans).

It's truly terrifying. I dislike it. But on the other hand, the author does succeed in making the reader uncomfortable, he really succeeds in depicting the apocalypse as a cosmic horror that the reader can feel.

If previously I said the rumbling (AoT) was a terrifying depiction of the apocalypse; now after knowing Warhammer 40K, I feel the horror of the rumbling is just a speck of dust compared to the physical and moral destruction of the universe.

Well, as a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy writer, I've also written about apocalypses in a fantasy world. I see similarities between the Warhammer apocalypse and mine, particularly in how moral decay leads to the accumulation of negative emotions that precipitate throughout the universe... and create a god of destruction.

The apocalypse isn't just the end; it's the consequence of the accumulated collective sins of intelligent beings.

The difference is that the scale of destruction in my fiction is smaller than that in the Warhammer 40K universe.

My question is, how do you depict the apocalypse in your fiction?

Note:
If you don't mind, please share your thoughts or published chapters in this thread. Please put your chapter in a spoiler tag to make the thread neater.

Regards.
If you think more broadly, the apocalypse is, in a way, the collateral damage between authoritative bodies. In WH40k, it's always the result of conflict between Chaos gods and the god-emperor's will, or a bio-mechanical hive mind vs humanity. Usually, this is the most common triggering point. If you look at WW1 and WW2, you see the conflict of axis vs allied powers. The depression and shitty living quality were also a post-apocalyptic kind of environment. So, I mostly also prefer it to be a butterfly effect of conflict between cosmic beings. This is the easiest and most believable way to show that the tiny lives of common people don't matter to those beings. Nuances and everything else will be built upon this fundamental way.
 

SouthernMaiden

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2025
Messages
269
Points
93
Pretty good question!

In my fiction Stranded on the Southern Continent, putting it simply:

Part 1 - Human Supremacist Empire:
There once was a human supremacist empire that ruled all the known world, for thousands of years. Under an all powerful Imperial family. For humans, this was a utopia of magic, abundance and relentless progress. For everyone else (Elves, Dwarves, Dragonborn, Halflings, Gnomes ect), it was a nightmare. At best they lived under the yolk of human oppression, at worst they were treated as chattel slaves.

Part 2 - The Usurper Wyrm Arrives:
Then the Usurper Wyrm and its armies arrived. The Usurper Wyrm was a being of untold power. It traversed and conquered different worlds and dimensions. "The Wyrm arrived to usurp the world order, our hopes, our dreams, our land, our thoughts, our feelings, our love and hate. Everything."

The Usurper Wyrm and the Imperials fought one another in a war of untold scale. The Wyrm and its armies had untold power (especially magical artifacts) gathered from past conquest, while the humans had creations from thousands of years of complete dominion.

Part 3 - The War and the Cataclysm:
Their battles changed and destroyed the natural world. Carved rivers, raised mountains. Untold millions were killed. Finally, through an unknown chain reaction during battle, reality itself was shattered. Most of the world was left uninhabitable, except for the Southern Continent. The Usurper Wyrm was injured, the Imperials were annihilated. Humans are now an endangered species.

The Imperials were destroyed so completely that even the memory of their empire was partly destroyed in the minds of the survivors.

On the Southern Continent, the non-human survivors are now free to build something new.
 

ArcadiaBlade

I'm a Lazy Writer, So What?
Joined
Dec 23, 2018
Messages
968
Points
133
Humans. Enough said.

The only explanation I could think off that everything scary happens, humans are involved. Humans are always complicated creatures that can created the most disturbing things and still one up that factor subconsciously. Whether the outer gods(it wouldn't exist if someone didn't write about it and shared it), fear of the unknown(either trying to explore or ignored it, humans tend to amplified that fear by creating stories about it) or even nature itself(nature trying to survive while humans exploit nature itself to their own benefit, mutating it to horrible consequences or experimenting that leads to terrible decisions).

In simple terms, Humans vs Humans. The Orks of the real world.
 

CharlesEBrown

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2024
Messages
4,798
Points
158
Unless they changed it greatly, the story is both more and less complicated than you state.

Ignore the Tyranids and the Necrons, as they fall outside of the core conflict (and are older; the Tyranids are the original virus at the core of creation that will eventually consume it all; the Necrons were Terminator rip-offs Cybermen a humanoid race that found a way to fight the virus was to remove all organic components and become living machines). Oh, and the Orks who've had their background changed more times than models change clothes during a runway show...

The first apocalypse happened before humans made it out into space, when some of the Eldar became corrupted by the forces of Chaos (mostly Slaanesh, the source of decadence, pleasure and S&M) and became the Dark Eldar.
When humans made it out into space, they encountered aliens who kept beating the tar out of them due to millennia of war (mostly against the Eldar and Dark Eldar ... the good guys aren't THAT good, but the bad guys are awful), until a powerful telepath declared himself the Emperor of Man and forced the human race to work together against the Xenos.
Unfortunately, using psychic energy opens the gates that keep the Chaos forces at bay, letting not just Slaanesh, but Tzeentch (the Changer of Ways - essentially a god of magic), Nurgle (the source of corruption, rot and decay) and Khorne (got of battle) gain a stronger hold on the universe.
A golden throne was constructed to shield the Emperor and his faithful from these monsters, and the Emperor began a breeding program to create superhuman space marines (modifying himself in the process). The throne and his hand-chosen "psykers" kept Chaos at bay, until one of the Space Marines, Horus, fell prey to Chaos and rebelled.
Now the Emperor is a "brain in a jar," still protecting mankind.
The Space Marines are xenophobic super-killers.
Aliens want to kill everyone.
And Chaos is stronger than ever.

Its a great setting for gaming in, but not a very upbeat place to live, I'll grant that!

As for my world... it already had a few.
The first Apocalypse was in the days before, when the constant struggles between the gods opened cracks in reality and let the Outsider Gods in. The First Gods united against them, and were fought to a standstill, until one of the Outsider Gods did something so vile even its brethren turned against it. That creature, Ygaruth the Abomination, was defeated and left dormant after much chaos and destruction on a galactic scale, and the other Outsiders were forced back to their original spaces, from which they still try to slip back into reality. As he was seen as a corruption of the elements, a prison was made of pure elements, the Elemental Band, and he was bound inside of it. Then a world was formed around it, a world called Pyrroth.
The next apocalypse came when the Original People, the Aelfor, discovered the Young Races, humans, Aashigar (Earth-born - kind of a gnome/dwarf hybrid), and a few others. They were torn between wanting to remain isolated, wanting to rule these new beings, or wanting to just get to know them. The isolationists left for remote sections of the planet, while the other two factions began a war that almost devastated the entire planet and left both sides badly scarred, with one side forced to retreat into the world to survive.
The next apocalypse happened when a mage named Kronas found a way to travel into the past - a power forbidden even to the gods. This made the gods abandon the world en masse, leading to a lot of strife, a return of some of the strongest of the Outsider Gods, and a time of great upheaval, ended only when the Assassin King arose and created the Treaty States of Sadrahanal, with the aid of one of the Last True Speakers of the Gods.
A long, long time later (2001 in Earth reckoning), a group of people calling themselves the Technocracy allied with the "Dark Aelfor" and found a way to release the imprisoned Ygaruth, destroying the world utterly, opening doors that other Outsider Gods came through, and triggering an all-out war between the various deities, including ones from other pantheons. Though the world was destroyed, portions of it were kept to produce a different world, Aldrazar.
 
Joined
Jun 30, 2025
Messages
30
Points
18
I do like examining the moral decay that apocalypses bring.

In fact, that's probably the main reason I'm writing my current fiction.

However, one question that I do occasionally bring up within my story is whether the apocalypse caused the moral collapse, or if cruelty was already built into the nature of civilization.

In my series, humanity had been waging a civil war for fifty years by the time that the apocalypse event actually happens. But the thing that I wanted to emphasize within the narrative was that the event itself didn't even occur because of the war, but because a Father was trying to save his son.

Everyone else doesn't see it that way, though. "The Rusting" goes on to destroy the lives and homes of thousands upon thousands of people by corroding the processed metals that they built those very lives on. Half of the universe grows to hate the Emperor for unleashing it, and the other half grows to worship him for winning the war. And although that weighs on him, he still admits that, given the choice, he would have done it all over again if it meant saving his son.

I love trying to dig into if that can be considered a moral action or not. When someone is confronted with a choice like that, it can, understandably, be extremely difficult to say that they wouldn't put the life of their loved one over the lives of thousands of people, and yet, shouldn't a leader be willing to make that sacrifice?

The fact that the apocalypse event is caused by a morally complicated action like that leans into the moral and philosophical questions that I want to raise within my story, which brings me back to what I said about the question of if cruelty is built into civilization or not.

Can an act of love that incidentally leads to suffering be considered cruel? Is that an extent of decay? Does our own need to belong to something incidentally lead to conflicts in ideology? Is that an extent of decay as well? Is all life still sacred if it can be taken away and abused so easily?
Haven't things been that way since the dawn of civilization? Decay is something that has to set in over time, so are we only just now beginning to notice it?

Above all else, the primary question that I ask in my story is: "Can kindness exist in an inherently cruel existence, or will it just crack under the weight of it?"

The answer that I'm trying to write towards is: "Yes, it can exist, but it will have to carry that weight."

Decay is probably the main theme of my entire story, and I love peeling back all the layers of it.
 

Rolanov

Kin-Slayer
Joined
Jan 22, 2026
Messages
202
Points
43
Apocalypse Lore in Fiction

I just read a review of Warhammer 40K yesterday... and yeah, it's truly dark. The world is truly dystopian in the literal sense.

What made me uncomfortable (even just reading its review) was the scale of the apocalypse, the destruction, the darkness, and the despair that reached galactic levels.

I know... a lot of fiction depicts apocalypses on a galactic scale, but what makes Warhammer uncomfortable is how the author describes in detail what causes the apocalypse, how the apocalypse occurs, and its implications for intelligent life. The apocalypse is not described as a cold report but more like a process of moral and physical decay of intelligent life itself (including humans).

The apocalypse is a moral decay spreading through the veins of life causing cosmic destruction.

It's truly terrifying. I dislike it. But on the other hand, the author does succeed in making the reader uncomfortable, he really succeeds in depicting the apocalypse as a cosmic horror that the reader can feel.

If previously I said the rumbling (AoT) was a terrifying depiction of the apocalypse; now after knowing Warhammer 40K, I feel the horror of the rumbling is just a speck of dust compared to the physical and moral destruction of the universe.

Well, as a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy writer, I've also written about apocalypses in a fantasy world. I see similarities between the Warhammer apocalypse and mine, particularly in how moral decay leads to the accumulation of negative emotions that precipitate throughout the universe... and create a god of destruction.

The apocalypse isn't just the end; it's the consequence of the accumulated collective sins of intelligent beings.

The difference is that the scale of destruction in my fiction is smaller than that in the Warhammer 40K universe.

My question is, how do you depict the apocalypse in your fiction?

Note:
If you don't mind, please share your thoughts or published chapters in this thread. Please put your chapter in a spoiler tag to make the thread neater. For an example:

That Night in Rose Valley…

The valley wind carried mist and rose petals toward a wooden house standing atop a green hill. White curtains swayed gently, bringing with them a cold, fragrant breeze as a woman in white pajamas stood before the window.

Her blue eyes blinked as mist descended on the rose field. Her vision blurred and grew blurrier.

A woman clad in a black-and-white kimono stood firmly. Her black hair danced in the misty wind. Crimson eyes pierced into her blue eyes as she clenched her fist.

“Marry… you know this world rot the moment a father killed a mother and discarded his daughter as if she had never existed.”

Her blue eyes widened. Her hands rubbed her eyes. “Hallucinations—” Her lower lip was bit.

"Black Mist..." Marry shook her head. “No! I don’t want to become an executioner again…”

She stood in silence for a moment, letting the stillness soothe her wounds.



“Lock!” The sound of the window clicking shut echoed through the pink-walled room.

Marry stepped forward and stopped at the edge of the bed. A faint smile touched her lips as her eyes fell upon her daughter’s small face, wrapped in a soft white fur blanket.

She lifted the blanket and lay down beside her. Her face moved closer to her daughter’s cheek. The warm breath from her daughter’s lips brushed against her palm. Warmth spread through her heart.

"Honey…” She kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Mommy will endure for you.”

Marry held her daughter tightly on the soft bed. Her eyelids slowly closed as her consciousness drifted into the past.



“Drip… drip…” Blood dripped from the tip of the crimson sword blade, wetting the cracked marble floor.

A woman in a red cloak stood tall, sheathing her sword at her waist. Her blue eyes stared at her blood-stained palm. Her fingers trembled briefly before curling into a fist.

Marry walked down a dark corridor. The sound of splashes echoed each time her steps struck the blood-stained floor. The metallic, foul scent pierced her nose.

She stopped before a collapsed altar. One hand pressed against her slightly swollen abdomen—

Marry lowered her head. “Hueekkss…” Bitter fluid splattered onto the marble floor.

“Hah… hah…” Her breath was short as her hand wiped her lips.

“Memorial Ruins… the Memory artifact—” Her teeth clenched. “That damned tyrants!”

Marry straightened herself, patting her chest. Her head tilted upward toward the broken sky above the ruins.

Her eyes widened. “What… is this?!”

Ancient reliefs were carved into the gray marble walls. Mysterious engravings stretched as far as the eye could see.

Marry turned toward the far end of the wall, her gaze tracing the line of carvings.

On the eastern side, reliefs of mages holding wooden staffs were etched into cracked stone. In the second column, armored knights stood in formation, swords in hand, carved into red walls adorned with rose patterns. The final column depicted priests in prayer. At the front, a bishop stood holding a wooden staff.

They were all arranged in a horizontal semicircle formation.

Marry lowered her gaze beneath the formation. More reliefs were carved neatly, depicting people from every walk of life: slaves carrying sacks, farmers holding hoes, merchants gripping pieces of paper, and nobles with lace collars.

Among them were unique figures: an old woman leaning on a cane, a mother carrying her daughter, a man gripping a hoe, a teenage girl covering her mouth, and a little girl crying.

Yet they all shared one thing in common, their faces were turned upward, as if waiting for a miracle.

Marry lifted her head, looking above the formation of soldiers. On the dull gray stone, a mysterious woman was carved, standing with a limp.

She wore tattered clothing. Her messy black hair fell down her back. Her lips curved downward. In both hands, she held a massive scythe.

Above her head, thousands of moths filled the gray wall, as if depicting a sky consumed by insects.

Marry drew in a breath. She stepped closer, her palm touching the marble surface.

Her blue eyes narrowed as she read the ancient text. “This… Latin—” She swallowed. “The Rose Kingdom?!”

Her eyes focused on the worn carvings. The letters were faded and blurred with age.

“In the year ***, the continent of Eldora faced the greatest crisis in its history. After endless conflict, the world entered its darkest era, the Continental War.”

“For years, darkness engulfed the world, seeping into the veins of life. The land was soaked in blood. Corpses rotted. Starving children cried, clutching their stomachs. Girls sold ***. The red earth dried and cracked. The air grew suffocating.”

“We believed the Continental War was the greatest disaster in human history. But we were wrong. It was only the beginning of the true disaster.”

“On the date ***, armies from various allied kingdoms gathered in the central lands of the continent. Millions of knights, archers, spearmen, assassins, mages, and countless warriors stood in formation across the plains. We faced one another, holding our breath, ready for a great war. But then, the sun dimmed. We all turned toward the western horizon—”

“The orange light faded, swallowed by darkness, followed by the sound of fluttering wings. Tiny shadows filled the western sky. Countless moths covered the dusk.”

“The sun slowly set as a mysterious woman stepped from beyond the hill. Her tattered gray dress swayed gently with each step. Her pale skin glowed under the fading light.”

“The mystical figure walked slowly, dragging her left leg, holding a massive scythe as tall as herself. She stopped right before us. She stood still for a moment…"

“Her eyes opened, revealing gray pupils, like the gaze of a corpse. She raised her scythe… and swung it forward—”

“Our vision suddenly went dark. When it returned, our eyes widened in horror.”

“Hundreds of thousands of armored knights collapsed onto the green field. No blood. No wounds. Only wide, unblinking eyes. They died without resistance, like rotting wood falling apart.”

“Our shoulders trembled. We turned toward the western horizon in unison. The figure walked slowly. Wherever she stepped, the green grass withered instantly. As she passed trees, they decayed and crumbled.”

“And her moths swept across sky and land. Trees fell, grass dried, corpses piled, blood scattered, they devoured everything, leaving nothing behind, as if the land had never known life.”

“We wounded ourselves, trying to suppress our fear. We raised our swords. We fired arrows and cast magic. We cast aside our differences, our conflicts, our grudges… for one purpose, to survive against the living disaster. We united and deployed millions of troops, but—”

“WE FAILED.”

“The figure slaughtered millions of our troops as if they were nothing more than rotting wood. And that mystical being? Unharmed, unblinking… her gaze was empty. She limped forward, sweeping across the land.”

“We could only run… and run. Yet that figure continued to scour the continent, slowly, but inevitably. Every breath she took carried the aura of death.”

“We called her the ‘Death Princess.’ She was a Disaster Princess, the harbinger of death to all living things.”

“On the date ***, in the southeastern region of the continent—the final refuge—hundreds of thousands gathered upon a fog-covered plain. People of every race and the last remaining kingdoms assembled for one purpose: to survive for at least one day.”

“We gathered what little strength we had left, raising our hands to the sky. We prayed, hoping to breathe the air of tomorrow. Under the leadership of Archbishop ***, we began the ritual of eternal sealing.”

“That afternoon, from the northern horizon, the Death Princess appeared, we held our breath each time she stepped closer. She stepped upon a gravestone. The Archbishop struck his staff—made from the World Tree—into the ground. The earth trembled… it shook, then—”

Marry touched the final line of ancient text on the cracked marble surface. The next lines were too faded to read.

Her hand pressed against her chest, clutching the collar of her dress. Her heartbeat pounded violently.

“The Death Princess…” Her shoulders trembled.

Marry stood still, her palms pressed against the relief on the cracked wall. Her head was lowered, allowing the silence to soothe her heart.

Her eyes slowly closed as darkness swallowed her consciousness.



Her eyes shot open. Marry jolted awake. She sat up, hugging her knees.

“It was just a dream… hah… hah…” Her breath came in ragged gasps. “My old memories?!” Cold sweat trickled down her temple.

She turned to the right, gazing at her daughter’s face resting upon a white pillow. Marry lay back down.

“I’m sorry, honey…” Her hand stroked her daughter's silver hair.

Marry lay in silence. But her mind was in turmoil. Her heart churned.

Death Princess… Black Mist… we are Disaster Princesses—what am I supposed to do?

After a while, her breathing gradually steadied. Her blue eyes stared at the dim ceiling.

She whispered, “Mother Earth… please help me…”

Her eyes slowly closed. The world faded into darkness as her consciousness drifted away.



Marry opened her eyes once more. Her pupils shrank as light poured into them.

Before her, moss-covered ground shimmered beneath a gentle glow. The wind blew softly, carrying the scent of forest flowers.

Marry parted her lips. “This… a spiritual realm?!”

“Marry…” A gentle, loving voice echoed in her ears. Marry turned, rubbing her eyes.

A breathtakingly beautiful woman stood before her. Her green hair flowed down her back, and her eyes were as deep and untouched as a primordial forest.

Her dress resembled woven leaves and roots, swaying gently like a living symphony of nature.

Behind her stood the colossal silhouette of the World Tree, towering high beyond the clouds.

The woman’s lips parted. “It has been a long time… my Little Rose.”

Her voice was soft, like the first breeze after a long, scorching drought.

Tears welled in Marry’s eyes. “Earth Mother…” Her voice trembled.

Mother Earth extended her arms and embraced her. “Your heart is weary, my child. You don’t need to hide anything from your mother.”

Marry stood still for a moment, resting her chin on her mother’s shoulder. Tears fell, soaking into the green silk.

“I don’t know what to do, Mother. The mist… it’s getting closer. I can feel it… Black Mist… she’s returning.”

Marry clung to her waist. “I don’t know… whether I should face her, reject her, or accept her.”

“She is the sister reborn of your wounds, Marry.” Earth Mother gently stroked her back, as if she were her own child. “Like you… she was reborn not by choice, but from the deepest wounds of the world. Wounds that have yet to heal.”

Marry tightened her embrace. “But if she brings disaster upon the world, like the Death Princess… how can I just let her?”

Earth Mother stroked Marry’s silver hair. “You don’t have to let her. But you also cannot kill her.”

“All of us… are incarnations of the world’s will. You and Black Mist are wounded sisters.”

Earth Mother slowly pulled away. Green eyes like a forest met blue eyes like the sky. “Marry… do you know why we are called Disaster Princesses?”

Marry wiped her tears and nodded faintly.

Earth Mother smiled softly. “We are reborn from the world’s lament.”

“When justice is silenced; when kindness is destroyed; when wounds are mocked… the world weeps.”

“And from its tears, we are reborn. You, me, Black Mist Princess, Death Princess, and three others. We are the answers to the world’s cries.”

Marry gave a faint smile. “So… we are not curses?” Her voice was hoarse.

Earth Mother shook her head. “No. You are a reaction. You are the blade for the voiceless.”

“You are the Blood Rose Princess, the final judge of the dead law. Black Mist Princess is the shadow of oppressed women. The Death Princess is the final answer to a world that has suffered for far too long.”

Marry looked down at her palm. “Can we live normaly?”

Earth Mother fell silent for a moment before speaking again. “Marry… you possess something no other Disaster Princess has ever had.”

Marry’s eyes widened. “What?!”

Earth Mother smiled. “A daughter.”

Marry stepped back, her shoulders tensing.

Earth Mother nodded gently. “Don't worry, Marry. I will protect your daughter.”

“Your daughter is an anomaly of fate. Her existence has changed your lineage. She binds you to the world with love, not anger. She makes you want to protect, not destroy.”

Her green eyes dimmed slightly. “Disaster Princesses are not meant to give birth. We are not ordinary beings. We are half-spirit.”

She pointed at Marry’s chest. “But you can, Marry. You are different. The world has entrusted you with a new possibility.”

Marry trembled. “Why did the world choose me? Is my daughter… Caelan—”

Earth Mother gently placed a finger on Marry’s lips. “That question will be answered in time.”

“For now, protect your daughter. If Black Mist truly comes, do not face her with hatred.”

Marry bit her lip. “Then how should I face her?”

Earth Mother smiled softly. “When your wounds have healed, you will know what to say to her when the time comes.” Her hand rested over her heart. “Marry… if you ever doubt yourself, you can always return to this dream.”

Marry looked at Mother Earth, her eyes shimmering with tears, her lips parting—

“Whoosh…” A gentle wind carried her body away as her consciousness slowly faded.

“Don't forget who you are, my Little Rose,” the soft voice echoed within her heart. “You are not only a disaster, you are also hope that blooms from bloodstained soil.”



Marry jolted awake. Her hand gripped the blanket as she turned her head to the right.

Caelan was still asleep in her arms. Her heartbeat gradually steadied, syncing with her daughter.

Marry kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Caelan… Mommy will endure for you—”

Regards.
I've plotted at chapters 35-40 for Mentor as the start of Ending Arc (I plotted MENTOR for 50 chapters only), when the War between Voidorant againts 2 Kingdoms (Loresia Kingdom+Elvendom Alliance) broke as the MC successfully exterminate Dragonkin with the help of "Black Witch" and his sister.

The continent's power balance collapse as the Dragonkin exterminated, The Loresia initiating expansion of their territory to attack Voidorant. The peaceful life interrupted, the whole civilians life's shifted, and mercenary life became much more common.

This ending will initiate the second story i had been planned, MERCILESS. The story of MENTOR MC's disciple as a Kin-Slayer (Mercenary Assassin). So the plot of MERCILESS set on "Apocalypse World".

That's why the 'prequel' story titled "MENTOR" since it was story about MERCILESS MC's Mentor.
 

MFontana

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2025
Messages
413
Points
93
Apocalypse Lore in Fiction

I just read a review of Warhammer 40K yesterday... and yeah, it's truly dark. The world is truly dystopian in the literal sense.

What made me uncomfortable (even just reading its review) was the scale of the apocalypse, the destruction, the darkness, and the despair that reached galactic levels.

I know... a lot of fiction depicts apocalypses on a galactic scale, but what makes Warhammer uncomfortable is how the author describes in detail what causes the apocalypse, how the apocalypse occurs, and its implications for intelligent life. The apocalypse is not described as a cold report but more like a process of moral and physical decay of intelligent life itself (including humans).

The apocalypse is a moral decay spreading through the veins of life causing cosmic destruction.

It's truly terrifying. I dislike it. But on the other hand, the author does succeed in making the reader uncomfortable, he really succeeds in depicting the apocalypse as a cosmic horror that the reader can feel.

If previously I said the rumbling (AoT) was a terrifying depiction of the apocalypse; now after knowing Warhammer 40K, I feel the horror of the rumbling is just a speck of dust compared to the physical and moral destruction of the universe.

Well, as a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy writer, I've also written about apocalypses in a fantasy world. I see similarities between the Warhammer apocalypse and mine, particularly in how moral decay leads to the accumulation of negative emotions that precipitate throughout the universe... and create a god of destruction.

The apocalypse isn't just the end; it's the consequence of the accumulated collective sins of intelligent beings.

The difference is that the scale of destruction in my fiction is smaller than that in the Warhammer 40K universe.

My question is, how do you depict the apocalypse in your fiction?

Note:
If you don't mind, please share your thoughts or published chapters in this thread. Please put your chapter in a spoiler tag to make the thread neater. For an example:

That Night in Rose Valley…

The valley wind carried mist and rose petals toward a wooden house standing atop a green hill. White curtains swayed gently, bringing with them a cold, fragrant breeze as a woman in white pajamas stood before the window.

Her blue eyes blinked as mist descended on the rose field. Her vision blurred and grew blurrier.

A woman clad in a black-and-white kimono stood firmly. Her black hair danced in the misty wind. Crimson eyes pierced into her blue eyes as she clenched her fist.

“Marry… you know this world rot the moment a father killed a mother and discarded his daughter as if she had never existed.”

Her blue eyes widened. Her hands rubbed her eyes. “Hallucinations—” Her lower lip was bit.

"Black Mist..." Marry shook her head. “No! I don’t want to become an executioner again…”

She stood in silence for a moment, letting the stillness soothe her wounds.



“Lock!” The sound of the window clicking shut echoed through the pink-walled room.

Marry stepped forward and stopped at the edge of the bed. A faint smile touched her lips as her eyes fell upon her daughter’s small face, wrapped in a soft white fur blanket.

She lifted the blanket and lay down beside her. Her face moved closer to her daughter’s cheek. The warm breath from her daughter’s lips brushed against her palm. Warmth spread through her heart.

"Honey…” She kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Mommy will endure for you.”

Marry held her daughter tightly on the soft bed. Her eyelids slowly closed as her consciousness drifted into the past.



“Drip… drip…” Blood dripped from the tip of the crimson sword blade, wetting the cracked marble floor.

A woman in a red cloak stood tall, sheathing her sword at her waist. Her blue eyes stared at her blood-stained palm. Her fingers trembled briefly before curling into a fist.

Marry walked down a dark corridor. The sound of splashes echoed each time her steps struck the blood-stained floor. The metallic, foul scent pierced her nose.

She stopped before a collapsed altar. One hand pressed against her slightly swollen abdomen—

Marry lowered her head. “Hueekkss…” Bitter fluid splattered onto the marble floor.

“Hah… hah…” Her breath was short as her hand wiped her lips.

“Memorial Ruins… the Memory artifact—” Her teeth clenched. “That damned tyrants!”

Marry straightened herself, patting her chest. Her head tilted upward toward the broken sky above the ruins.

Her eyes widened. “What… is this?!”

Ancient reliefs were carved into the gray marble walls. Mysterious engravings stretched as far as the eye could see.

Marry turned toward the far end of the wall, her gaze tracing the line of carvings.

On the eastern side, reliefs of mages holding wooden staffs were etched into cracked stone. In the second column, armored knights stood in formation, swords in hand, carved into red walls adorned with rose patterns. The final column depicted priests in prayer. At the front, a bishop stood holding a wooden staff.

They were all arranged in a horizontal semicircle formation.

Marry lowered her gaze beneath the formation. More reliefs were carved neatly, depicting people from every walk of life: slaves carrying sacks, farmers holding hoes, merchants gripping pieces of paper, and nobles with lace collars.

Among them were unique figures: an old woman leaning on a cane, a mother carrying her daughter, a man gripping a hoe, a teenage girl covering her mouth, and a little girl crying.

Yet they all shared one thing in common, their faces were turned upward, as if waiting for a miracle.

Marry lifted her head, looking above the formation of soldiers. On the dull gray stone, a mysterious woman was carved, standing with a limp.

She wore tattered clothing. Her messy black hair fell down her back. Her lips curved downward. In both hands, she held a massive scythe.

Above her head, thousands of moths filled the gray wall, as if depicting a sky consumed by insects.

Marry drew in a breath. She stepped closer, her palm touching the marble surface.

Her blue eyes narrowed as she read the ancient text. “This… Latin—” She swallowed. “The Rose Kingdom?!”

Her eyes focused on the worn carvings. The letters were faded and blurred with age.

“In the year ***, the continent of Eldora faced the greatest crisis in its history. After endless conflict, the world entered its darkest era, the Continental War.”

“For years, darkness engulfed the world, seeping into the veins of life. The land was soaked in blood. Corpses rotted. Starving children cried, clutching their stomachs. Girls sold ***. The red earth dried and cracked. The air grew suffocating.”

“We believed the Continental War was the greatest disaster in human history. But we were wrong. It was only the beginning of the true disaster.”

“On the date ***, armies from various allied kingdoms gathered in the central lands of the continent. Millions of knights, archers, spearmen, assassins, mages, and countless warriors stood in formation across the plains. We faced one another, holding our breath, ready for a great war. But then, the sun dimmed. We all turned toward the western horizon—”

“The orange light faded, swallowed by darkness, followed by the sound of fluttering wings. Tiny shadows filled the western sky. Countless moths covered the dusk.”

“The sun slowly set as a mysterious woman stepped from beyond the hill. Her tattered gray dress swayed gently with each step. Her pale skin glowed under the fading light.”

“The mystical figure walked slowly, dragging her left leg, holding a massive scythe as tall as herself. She stopped right before us. She stood still for a moment…"

“Her eyes opened, revealing gray pupils, like the gaze of a corpse. She raised her scythe… and swung it forward—”

“Our vision suddenly went dark. When it returned, our eyes widened in horror.”

“Hundreds of thousands of armored knights collapsed onto the green field. No blood. No wounds. Only wide, unblinking eyes. They died without resistance, like rotting wood falling apart.”

“Our shoulders trembled. We turned toward the western horizon in unison. The figure walked slowly. Wherever she stepped, the green grass withered instantly. As she passed trees, they decayed and crumbled.”

“And her moths swept across sky and land. Trees fell, grass dried, corpses piled, blood scattered, they devoured everything, leaving nothing behind, as if the land had never known life.”

“We wounded ourselves, trying to suppress our fear. We raised our swords. We fired arrows and cast magic. We cast aside our differences, our conflicts, our grudges… for one purpose, to survive against the living disaster. We united and deployed millions of troops, but—”

“WE FAILED.”

“The figure slaughtered millions of our troops as if they were nothing more than rotting wood. And that mystical being? Unharmed, unblinking… her gaze was empty. She limped forward, sweeping across the land.”

“We could only run… and run. Yet that figure continued to scour the continent, slowly, but inevitably. Every breath she took carried the aura of death.”

“We called her the ‘Death Princess.’ She was a Disaster Princess, the harbinger of death to all living things.”

“On the date ***, in the southeastern region of the continent—the final refuge—hundreds of thousands gathered upon a fog-covered plain. People of every race and the last remaining kingdoms assembled for one purpose: to survive for at least one day.”

“We gathered what little strength we had left, raising our hands to the sky. We prayed, hoping to breathe the air of tomorrow. Under the leadership of Archbishop ***, we began the ritual of eternal sealing.”

“That afternoon, from the northern horizon, the Death Princess appeared, we held our breath each time she stepped closer. She stepped upon a gravestone. The Archbishop struck his staff—made from the World Tree—into the ground. The earth trembled… it shook, then—”

Marry touched the final line of ancient text on the cracked marble surface. The next lines were too faded to read.

Her hand pressed against her chest, clutching the collar of her dress. Her heartbeat pounded violently.

“The Death Princess…” Her shoulders trembled.

Marry stood still, her palms pressed against the relief on the cracked wall. Her head was lowered, allowing the silence to soothe her heart.

Her eyes slowly closed as darkness swallowed her consciousness.



Her eyes shot open. Marry jolted awake. She sat up, hugging her knees.

“It was just a dream… hah… hah…” Her breath came in ragged gasps. “My old memories?!” Cold sweat trickled down her temple.

She turned to the right, gazing at her daughter’s face resting upon a white pillow. Marry lay back down.

“I’m sorry, honey…” Her hand stroked her daughter's silver hair.

Marry lay in silence. But her mind was in turmoil. Her heart churned.

Death Princess… Black Mist… we are Disaster Princesses—what am I supposed to do?

After a while, her breathing gradually steadied. Her blue eyes stared at the dim ceiling.

She whispered, “Mother Earth… please help me…”

Her eyes slowly closed. The world faded into darkness as her consciousness drifted away.



Marry opened her eyes once more. Her pupils shrank as light poured into them.

Before her, moss-covered ground shimmered beneath a gentle glow. The wind blew softly, carrying the scent of forest flowers.

Marry parted her lips. “This… a spiritual realm?!”

“Marry…” A gentle, loving voice echoed in her ears. Marry turned, rubbing her eyes.

A breathtakingly beautiful woman stood before her. Her green hair flowed down her back, and her eyes were as deep and untouched as a primordial forest.

Her dress resembled woven leaves and roots, swaying gently like a living symphony of nature.

Behind her stood the colossal silhouette of the World Tree, towering high beyond the clouds.

The woman’s lips parted. “It has been a long time… my Little Rose.”

Her voice was soft, like the first breeze after a long, scorching drought.

Tears welled in Marry’s eyes. “Earth Mother…” Her voice trembled.

Mother Earth extended her arms and embraced her. “Your heart is weary, my child. You don’t need to hide anything from your mother.”

Marry stood still for a moment, resting her chin on her mother’s shoulder. Tears fell, soaking into the green silk.

“I don’t know what to do, Mother. The mist… it’s getting closer. I can feel it… Black Mist… she’s returning.”

Marry clung to her waist. “I don’t know… whether I should face her, reject her, or accept her.”

“She is the sister reborn of your wounds, Marry.” Earth Mother gently stroked her back, as if she were her own child. “Like you… she was reborn not by choice, but from the deepest wounds of the world. Wounds that have yet to heal.”

Marry tightened her embrace. “But if she brings disaster upon the world, like the Death Princess… how can I just let her?”

Earth Mother stroked Marry’s silver hair. “You don’t have to let her. But you also cannot kill her.”

“All of us… are incarnations of the world’s will. You and Black Mist are wounded sisters.”

Earth Mother slowly pulled away. Green eyes like a forest met blue eyes like the sky. “Marry… do you know why we are called Disaster Princesses?”

Marry wiped her tears and nodded faintly.

Earth Mother smiled softly. “We are reborn from the world’s lament.”

“When justice is silenced; when kindness is destroyed; when wounds are mocked… the world weeps.”

“And from its tears, we are reborn. You, me, Black Mist Princess, Death Princess, and three others. We are the answers to the world’s cries.”

Marry gave a faint smile. “So… we are not curses?” Her voice was hoarse.

Earth Mother shook her head. “No. You are a reaction. You are the blade for the voiceless.”

“You are the Blood Rose Princess, the final judge of the dead law. Black Mist Princess is the shadow of oppressed women. The Death Princess is the final answer to a world that has suffered for far too long.”

Marry looked down at her palm. “Can we live normaly?”

Earth Mother fell silent for a moment before speaking again. “Marry… you possess something no other Disaster Princess has ever had.”

Marry’s eyes widened. “What?!”

Earth Mother smiled. “A daughter.”

Marry stepped back, her shoulders tensing.

Earth Mother nodded gently. “Don't worry, Marry. I will protect your daughter.”

“Your daughter is an anomaly of fate. Her existence has changed your lineage. She binds you to the world with love, not anger. She makes you want to protect, not destroy.”

Her green eyes dimmed slightly. “Disaster Princesses are not meant to give birth. We are not ordinary beings. We are half-spirit.”

She pointed at Marry’s chest. “But you can, Marry. You are different. The world has entrusted you with a new possibility.”

Marry trembled. “Why did the world choose me? Is my daughter… Caelan—”

Earth Mother gently placed a finger on Marry’s lips. “That question will be answered in time.”

“For now, protect your daughter. If Black Mist truly comes, do not face her with hatred.”

Marry bit her lip. “Then how should I face her?”

Earth Mother smiled softly. “When your wounds have healed, you will know what to say to her when the time comes.” Her hand rested over her heart. “Marry… if you ever doubt yourself, you can always return to this dream.”

Marry looked at Mother Earth, her eyes shimmering with tears, her lips parting—

“Whoosh…” A gentle wind carried her body away as her consciousness slowly faded.

“Don't forget who you are, my Little Rose,” the soft voice echoed within her heart. “You are not only a disaster, you are also hope that blooms from bloodstained soil.”



Marry jolted awake. Her hand gripped the blanket as she turned her head to the right.

Caelan was still asleep in her arms. Her heartbeat gradually steadied, syncing with her daughter.

Marry kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Caelan… Mommy will endure for you—”

Regards.
The Apocalypse - Lore
For this, I'll need to start with the definition of apocalypse.
From the ancient Greek; "uncovering, disclosure, revelation" it has come to be accepted as "a great disaster" or "something viewed as a prophetic revelation".
In the setting of The Elarian Chronicles, specifically the Duskfall series, the players who were pulled into the world of Elaria, have come to view that incident as "The Apocalypse" following the latter definition, as the society that relied upon them collapsed around them, primarily as a result of their inaction.
An inaction brought about by a mixture of fear, and the trauma of being pulled into this completely different world, one that resembled their game, however, even in the bodies of their supposed game characters, these people realized that they lacked the courage to face the life-or-death battles they once regularly underwent now that they had to face those battles without the protection of their living rooms and computer screens.
Combined with a lack of necessity and motivation, the stagnation of their city, Saphria, followed, and within that first month, life ground to a halt.
The Guilds that once dominated Saphria's economy and stability no longer focused outward, and instead, focused on preserving their own stability as the last remnants of order within this new world.
This, is the state of the world at large, reflected through the microcosm lens of a single city.
Players, Adventurers, struggling to hold onto their sanity, amidst the ever-dwindling flames of Hope that once burned in their hearts.
A contagious epidemic of hopelessness that spread throughout the city, beyond simply the player population, as the native (npc) population also struggled to survive now that the Adventurers had primarily stopped adventuring.
The collapse of civilization was a quiet thing.
No great battles fought.
No great ruin or disasters.
Only the loss of hope, and the will to go on.
Without that, society has reached the brink of total collapse, and is now holding on by a thread, as that ember of hope still burns in the hearts of a few, including the female protagonist of the series; Morrigan.

For those who want the rest, from the viewpoint of one who has lived through this Apocalypse, you're encouraged to read The Elarian Chronicles; Duskfall, specifically the Prelude of Volume 1; available here
 

Yubel

Active member
Joined
Jan 14, 2020
Messages
17
Points
43
My question is, how do you depict the apocalypse in your fiction?
In my novel, It depends on the viewpoint of the race of the narrator.

In my verse, humanity or the original human, created many bio-engineered creatures and sub-human races to colonizes planets then to commercialized then to used in war.

For the few remaining original human, the Anomalies War is an apocalysptic event since it degraded their quality of life greatly and spark the end of their race as their numbers were reduced to a few thounsands and were isolated in seperate and distant bunkers. But for the descendants of the sub-human and bio-engineered races, this war is the starting point of their civilizations.
 

CinnaSloth

𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕟💢🌶️🅃🄷🄾🅃
Joined
Nov 20, 2024
Messages
548
Points
108
how do you depict the apocalypse in your fiction?

I glance over this question within the story of My Little Sister because it's the personal view point of the MC.
In the grand scale, the apocalypse was undeniably world ending, and then some, although, to an extent that can never truly be realized by a single character, unless they personally travel throughout the ends of time. (Which, they eventually will.)
It's a story of obscure, obscene obsession, and extreme emotional, mental, and sexual repression filled with.. niche.. storytelling. lol

3 girls become fresh new deities. A Lord. A champion. And a God; All immortal beings meant to reign in the world to a new more interesting age reflecting their own image.
Unbeknownst, to the New Lord, Their champion had made a deal with The Old God -for The Old God to be reincarnated, the mother of the new god, but the new god was impatient. She wanted the old god to be reborn, now, immediately. She harassed the Champion -Inevitably becoming hostile, killing the champion. -Effectively, setting off the bell the would hurl the world into the apocalypse.
In retaliation of her champions death, the Lord, who'd been madly in love with her, attacked god.
Two, unimaginably powerful beings at war, and not fully understanding their own strength, abilities, or the forces being expelled by their new forms, it was as if the world were set aflame, and bombs, unlike any nuclear device known to humanity, were being thrown without discrimination, or care as to where they went, or where they landed.
God, without limitation, without a bead of sweat, was able to push back, and even defeat the Lord countless times, but to her misfortune, god could have never had seen just how much the Lord had obsessed over her champion.
With every defeat, the Lord grew furious, grew angry, grew in hatred.
But god didn’t care, she was stronger, better, faster, more powerful. She’d assault the champion, wreaking havoc however she pleased as long as it annoyed the lord to no end.
The angry lord wanted to defeat god so badly, she had become blinded to the world around her, every punch destroyed landscapes, every kick flooded valleys, every spell, and flame, and curse destroyed cities, and states, and countries. Oceans of water swayed becoming tidal waves that cleared shorelines for miles. The land shifted, splitting continents into islands beneath their feet. Mountains knelt, falling on their faces. Canyons filled like carefully constructed moats along the beach while cities toppled as if they were the sandcastles they surrounded The world was over. The west had become nothing more than flat, barren deserts burying decades of history under ash, and sand; Meanwhile, what remained of the East was drowning under the dark, murky depths of the ocean.
The modern world was a hazy, trance-like dream where those who were left were waking up to a never-ending nightmare.
Worse off, those dead, and dying, would find the afterlife, a place where eternal love, rest, and comfort were supposed to thrive in groves, was far from safe from the growing battle.
With powerful deities fighting amongst each other, it was only with time that angels, fallen angels, demons, and ancient beings stirred, reawakening out of necessity, and selfish reasons, but god -god was adamant that no one should interfere; Casting a spell they had no real knowledge about: A barrier to keep everything away, instead, locking not only the golden gates of heaven, and the iron gates of hell, but every gate of every realm.
After hours, days, weeks of fighting, god had had enough. She no longer wanted to fight. She’d grown bored, and full of regret; Unable to return to her cosmic position above Heaven, and Earth because of the locked gates she herself had closed, and without knowing where she’d placed the keys, she tried to run into space, but no matter where she went, the mad Lord followed. She killed her, hundreds, thousands more times. She trapped her, caged her, cast her into the sun, but the lord continued to return. Her rage fueled only by her hate, and frustrations. She’d destroy god for taking away the only thing that mattered.
By the time the immortal champion healed, and was able to reawaken, the world had fallen into disarray, a shambling corpse of what it had once been. There was no hope, yet it was not entirely hopeless as the champion would soon understand, but the question would still deeply linger, “What did you both do?” It wasn’t the underlying tone of: “how are we going to fix this?”, but “can this be fixed at all?”.

Idk if this entirely makes sense, but the description went on long enough, so here's hoping.
 
Top