Theron lay on the cold, broken ground of a world that wasn't his. The sky was cracked glass, the air dry as ash, and his breath came short and shallow. The taste of metal and smoke filled his throat. He couldn't move—not from injury, but grief.
His mind clawed for stability. His mother's voice. His father's quiet smile. His sister's laughter. Arya's final look.
Gone.
A sound escaped his lips. A dry cough. Then another. And finally, a retch. He vomited bile into the black soil.
That was when the figure appeared.
Floating. Robed in glistening platinum and shadowed gold. A staff of light in one hand, and a mask too beautiful to be human. The figure spoke, and the air bent to his voice.
"I am Lavrick. Servant of the Gods. Architect of your world's demise."
Gasps.
Screams.
A group of survivors charged forward, fury blazing in their eyes.
Lavrick raised a hand.
They died.
No flame. No blade. Just vanished. Their blood soaked the air for a heartbeat before fading.
Theron couldn't breathe. His lungs clenched like fists. This... this isn't human.
Lavrick turned to them, indifferent. "You now face the first trial. You will migrate through the Ebonwild Forest to the Common Area—a sanctuary. But the forest is riddled with beasts. Your system windows remain locked until the trial is complete. Those who survive will hear the truth."
A massive, translucent screen appeared in the sky, projecting a map—the route to the Common Area.
Then came the number:
[Remaining Humans: 150,321]
Theron's heart shuddered. So many already gone?
They began walking.
Then came the swarm.
Beasts. Eyes like fire. Claws like swords. Death racing toward them.
And then—a blur of light.
A single strike.
A wave of red light shattered the swarm to ash.
Arya.
She floated down, her presence cloaked in silence. Lavrick paused mid-sentence, glancing into the sky.
"I thought I sensed... one of the Creators?" He frowned. "Gone now. An illusion."
The humans panicked. "Was that a monster?!" "Are we saved?!"
Theron stepped forward. "Calm down! That's Arya! She's... she's with us!"
Arya landed beside him. They hugged. A quiet moment in the bloodied wind.
With her guidance, they reached the Common Area.
But others were already there.
"Arya?" Theron whispered.
She answered, "Too many people. Too many risks. I separated them."
Lavrick arrived, expecting death. Instead, silence.
He scowled.
"System Authority: Implosion Protocol—Activate on One Thousand Targets."
[SYSTEM: Activating Implosion Protocol...]
Arya raised a finger.
A wave of null light. The aura collapsed into nothing. No one died.
Lavrick flinched. But this time—he felt nothing. No presence. No anomaly.
"System override...?"
He raised his staff.
But another system message bloomed across the sky:
[SYSTEM NOTICE: The God of the Earth is disappointed in the Admin's conduct.]
[By Divine Request, Lavrick has been removed.]
Arya whispered to herself. The first change.
A new figure descended—humble robes, golden eyes, no mask.
"I am Edife. I will conduct Trial One."
Gasps again.
"You are not alone. Other worlds undergo this same trial. You must fight. Win, or perish. If both worlds refuse, both die. No one escapes this trial until all from the opposing world are dead."
People screamed. Fell to their knees.
"Each of you will receive one weapon. No system windows until the trial ends."
Weapons fell from the sky, chosen by fate.
---
Theron turned to Arya.
"You'll fight, right? You'll help them?"
Arya shook her head. "I'm not your hero."
"How did you get this power?"
"You'll know soon."
He stepped forward. "Please."
Arya pointed at a girl. Slender frame. 18 maybe. Jet-black hair tied neatly, face unreadable.
"Her name is Shinua Shinra. She's from Japan. Languages don't matter here. Protect her for one hour. Then I'll help."
Theron gulped. "Just one hour?"
Arya nodded.
He approached Shinua, introduced himself. She looked wary. He smiled despite the fear.
The battle began.
Both sides summoned. Masses from different worlds.
Theron grabbed Shinua's hand. "We run."
They ran.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Unauthorized Retreat Detected – Executing Termination.]
A red light surged—but Arya's barrier covered them.
The light converted to pain. Theron screamed.
The others saw them running. Tried to follow.
They died. Screams. Blood. Heads rolled. Bodies torn.
Theron didn't look back.
One hour passed.
Time stopped.
Arya stepped forward.
Her voice cut through the silence. "You did well."
She activated her title.
[TITLE ACTIVATED: Blood Demon Who Hunted the Gods]
A red mist consumed the battlefield.
In less than a millisecond, all enemies were dead.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Trial One Complete. Error Detected. Event Sequence Under Investigation by the Bureau.]
---
Later.
Theron sat with Arya and Shinua. The girl looked at him.
"You're a hero."
Arya frowned. "No. He ran. Because he ran, six thousand people followed... and died."
"I—" Theron's voice cracked. "I didn't want that. I didn't ask them to follow."
"but...." Shinua wanted to speak but was cut by Arya's sharp tone.
"A hero looks for a way no one dies."
"They were sacrifices... for the world."
Arya's voice softened. "A hero sacrifices himself. You don't want to die."
Tears welled. "I don't..."
She wrapped him in a tight hug. "You don't have to be a hero. You already saved me."
She began to fade—dust in the wind.
Theron gripped her tighter. "Don't go! I love you!"
She smiled. "The Admins are watching. I can't waste everything."
She vanished.
Theron collapsed. Slept for three hours.
---
He awoke to Shinua's voice.
"Wake up. It's over."
His vision flickered.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
[Name: Theron Ashford]
[Rank: E-Class]
[Title: None]
Then the screen glitched—flickered.
[ACTIVATING WHISPERS OF SALVATION...]
Arya's voice echoed.
"Theron... Take Shinua. Survive."
His eyes narrowed. His breathing slowed.
My name is Theron Ashford. I'm no hero. I'm no god. But I will survive this apocalypse... whatever it takes.
[CURRENT QUEST: TRANSFER MEMORIES TO THERON ASHFORD]
[CONDITION FOR COMPLETION: DEATH]
[PENALTY FOR FAILURE: DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD]
[STATUS: COMPLETED]