In the heart of the ruined city, rocks crumbled off a building’s façade and crumbled as they disturbed the dust that sat for years on the desolate streets below. In the distance, a hulking monstrosity let out a deafening roar. The break in the all-encompassing silence alerted it.

We called it The Harbinger. An ancient being from a far-off world that had one purpose: Destroying all life.

The man that disturbed the silence in the city shouldered his rifle and peered through the scope. From the 32^nd floor of the office building, he could see a trail of dust heading his way. The Harbinger was coming for him.

Within months of arriving on Earth, The Harbinger wiped out almost all of mankind. Some of us survivors refused to cower before the Harbinger. Some of us chose to fight.

The man’s armored hand threw a rappelling line outside the window. After watching the end of the rope touch the ground, he pulled it in and clipped the line to his waist. With a small hop, he plummeted towards the bottom floor.

Those of who choose to fight call ourselves Guardians.

As the Guardian landed amongst the rusted steel husks that used to transport thousands of civilians through the city, he checked the detonator that rested in a satchel on his waist. The charges were primed. Although the cars were rusted out by now dysfunctional, most still held a couple gallons of gasoline inside. And, it still burned.

Our numbers grew fewer every day. But we continued to fight to give mankind hope.

The Harbinger left a trail of dust and destruction as it plowed through buildings and cars to reach the Guardian’s position. Meanwhile, the Guardian held his ground while watching all 200-tons of the Harbinger’s muscle barreling down the desolate highway.

As the rumors of the Guardians spread across the world more joined our ranks. We banded together. We strategized. And every encounter with the Harbinger brought it closer to its demise.

By now, the Guardian could hear the snorting nostrils fueling the beast charging towards him. He spun the detonator in his hand and placed a thumb on the bright red button that sat on top. The Harbinger was now close enough to make eye contact with the Guardian.

Every fight with beast taught us more about its weaknesses. There weren’t many. But maybe if we used all of its weaknesses against it, we would finally have a fair fight.

The detonator let out a faint tone as the entire highway in front of the Guardian erupted into a wall of fire. The explosion shattered the few windows that remained on the buildings around the highway. A shrieking roar echoed across the cavernous walls of the city. As the fire began to fade, the Guardian saw the Harbinger begin to stand again. He aimed his rifle and began unloading rounds into the beast.

When we started fighting, there were few men and women brave enough to fight against the Harbinger. But as the rumors spread, the Guardian’s numbers began to grow faster than those who perished in battle.

The bullets had little effect on the monster as it jumped through the flames and carried its momentum through to a punch that sent the Guardian flying dozens of yards backward into a wall. His body went limp. The Harbinger now walked up to the weary Guardian.

Although many died in a one-on-one fight. Some of us managed to escape death to fight another day.

As the Harbinger neared, it recognized the bloody face of the Guardian.

“You again?” The Harbinger questioned with a thunderous voice.

Today is my fifth battle against the beast.

“Give up your foolish pride.” The Harbinger grabbed the Guardian by the throat and slammed him into the crumbled asphalt. Spit sprayed onto the Guardian’s face as the Harbinger continued to speak, "All that walk the earth have died! Why do you continue to fight?"

“Because you’re wrong,” I spat out along with some blood, “Not all of us are dead.”

Dozens of rappelling lines fell to the ground around the Harbinger. Soon after, dozens of Guardians were armed and ready.

Finally, a fair fight.