Short Story: The End Draws Near

(A quick summary of the setting: humanity is in dire straits and needs help.)

More than a thousand years ago, this planet was lush and green, a flourishing world fit for life.

But things did not stay that way for long. The star began to expand, and temperatures on the planet rose sharply until ordinary life could no longer survive.

With no other choice, living creatures began migrating underground.

They lived in peace for five hundred years, but peaceful days cannot last forever. Then, one day four hundred years ago, the “gods” descended.

Each “god” chose a different species and bestowed power upon it, granting that species supernatural strength. Even tiny rodents grew to more than two meters long.

Almost every species that had taken refuge underground gained power. But one was left out: humanity, still living in a primitive society, received no power from the “gods.”

Against creatures with such overwhelming strength, humanity, not yet having reached the modern age, had no chance of winning. Before long, their living space was reduced until they were nearly extinct.

In the end, they could only hide in a region with scarce resources. Even there, other species continued to hunt them down.

Under such oppression, humanity began to pray to the gods. Though they could barely feed themselves, they began making offerings and sacrifices. Just when they had fallen into utter despair...

Humanity, a people without gods, received the blessing of their “god”: the God of Destruction.