Gotham City, 6:47 p.m.
The setting sun painted this city, perpetually shrouded in gloom, with a rare warm golden hue.
Gotham's residents had long grown used to gray skies, so when the rare evening glow spread across the horizon, many stopped to admire the unusual sight.
On the sidewalks of the financial district, white-collar workers in suits had finished their day and walked toward the subway station in small groups.
A short line stood before a hot dog stand by the street. The vendor skillfully turned the sausages on the grill as dripping fat sizzled.
"Boss, two hot dogs. Extra pickles." A middle-aged man in a gray trench coat took out his wallet.
"Sure, just a moment." The vendor replied, swiftly placing sausages into buns.
Everything looked so peaceful, so normal.
Yet at that very moment, the beautiful sunset in the sky suddenly split open with a pitch-black crack.
At first, the crack was only as wide as a finger, like a tiny tear gently ripped into a sheet of paper.
But in just two seconds, it expanded to several meters wide. Black Abyssal energy poured from it like thick ink.
"W-What is that?" Someone pointed at the sky, their voice trembling uncertainly.
People stopped and looked up at the strange rift.
At first, they thought it was some kind of new light show. After all, Gotham occasionally held city celebrations.
But the next second, a deafening roar emerged from the rift, shattering all their illusions.
"Roar!!"
A gigantic monster the size of a bus stepped out of the rift and resumed destroying a nearby commercial building.
Chunks of concrete and steel reinforcement rained down, smashing into the streets, vehicles, and crowd.
"Aaaahhh!!"
Screams instantly replaced the city's bustle.
People finally realized what was happening. An Abyssal Rift had erupted.