"Um…" Aldric frowned, slowly waking from his coma.
He saw a familiar sight—an abandoned building, vines crawling everywhere, the stench so foul it made him uncomfortable.
"Ack!" Aldric groaned as searing pain tore through his heart.
Fortunately, the agony didn't last long. Just a few seconds later, he felt a little more at ease.
Panting heavily, Aldric's mind was flooded with chaotic fragments, leaving him unsure if everything that had happened was just a nightmare.
"You're awake?" The old man, seeing Aldric open his eyes, hurriedly said, "You've been unconscious for a day. Here, eat some porridge. I had to squeeze in with those bastards just to get a little rice."
Aldric turned to him. The smell of porridge filled his nose, and his stomach growled with hunger.
The old man smirked and handed him a bowl. Aldric peered inside—it was mostly cloudy water with just a pinch of salt.
Without hesitation, he drank it slowly, trying to fill his empty belly.
The old man smiled faintly and downed his own bowl.
Though a single bowl was far from enough, at least it helped Aldric calm down.
He looked at the old man and asked softly, "What's your name?"
The old man chuckled. "Me?"
Glancing around and seeing no one else nearby, he lowered his voice. "I'm Thomas."
"Thomas…" Aldric suddenly realized something. The man's face struck a chord of familiarity. Thinking quickly, he blurted, "Wait! You're… the mayor, aren't you?"
"Shh!" Thomas immediately motioned for silence, glancing around again before saying, "I'm no mayor anymore. Just an old man close to death."
Aldric collapsed inside.
He clenched his teeth, images of his parents being shot flooding his mind, his fists tightening so hard they turned white as tears streamed endlessly.
Seeing Aldric's expression, Thomas seemed to realize something and asked, "You are… Aldric, aren't you?"
Aldric drew a deep breath, forcing himself to steady. "Yes…"
"Aldric, you've returned…" Thomas exhaled, as though relieved of a crushing burden.
"Uncle Thomas, what exactly happened? Why has the world become so cruel? And my parents… they…"
Thomas sighed, glanced at Aldric, then asked, "Where have you been these past five years?"
"That…" Faced with Thomas's question, Aldric didn't know if he should tell the truth.
Seeing his hesitation, Thomas frowned. "You really don't know what's happened?"
Aldric shook his head.
Thomas studied him for a long moment, then said, "The Apocalypse…"
"The Apocalypse?" Aldric asked, puzzled.
"Yes." Thomas nodded, pulling a carefully wrapped plastic bag from his pocket.
Slowly opening it, he revealed a pack of cigarettes. He took one out, lit it on the burning wood nearby, inhaled deeply, and exhaled a plume of white smoke.
He tucked the cigarettes back into the plastic, then said, "Five years ago, the world was struck by a sudden rainstorm. That rain changed everything overnight."
"Plants and animals mutated, becoming strange and violent. Humans caught in the black rain transformed into zombies or bloodthirsty monsters."
"What?!" Aldric's face was filled with disbelief—but everything he had seen so far proved Thomas's words true.
'Five years ago… the exact time I was pulled into that other world.' Aldric thought.
He felt he was closing in on the truth but still pressed on. "Then… what about those Awakened you mentioned? And why were my parents killed?"
Thomas took another drag, releasing a puff of smoke before speaking slowly. "Those struck by the black rain became zombies—but many others were lucky. They awakened special powers, abilities like superheroes. We call them Awakened."
"Ah!" Aldric listened, feeling it resembled the world of magic somewhat. But he said nothing, continuing to listen.
"With countless powered individuals and hordes of zombies and monsters roaming everywhere, the police and government collapsed under the chaos."
Aldric frowned. "What about the military? With their weapons, surely they could've wiped out those creatures, right?"
Thomas shook his head. "They never appeared. From beginning to end, the military never showed."
"And my parents?" Aldric pressed urgently.
Thomas inhaled deeply, his eyes locking on Aldric. "Your father was fortunate—he awakened a high-level talent. Using that power, he began suppressing the rebels, exploiting the apocalypse to establish dominance."
"Your father formed a provisional government here in the city, hoping to rebuild a human empire, to hold back the monsters outside."
"But at the same time, a young man named Ratuan also rose up, leading another group of youths with the goal of overthrowing the government your father had built."
"The war dragged on for years, and finally… it ended just a week ago. Of course, Ratuan was the victor."
"But… why? Why did he kill my parents?" Aldric asked.
Thomas shrugged. "Because he wanted to display his power and authority. And he wanted to declare to everyone… that he is the new era."
"That bastard…" Aldric clenched his teeth, the grinding sound sharp enough to show just how furious and hateful he was toward Ratuan.
"Calm yourself. If he could defeat your father, it proves he's no weakling," Thomas said, patting Aldric's shoulder. "His subordinates are many, bloodthirsty and warlike. You… cannot take revenge."
Hearing this, Aldric burned with rage, yet he also felt powerless.
In that other world, he had been the Cataclysmic Magus—yet now, with his parents slaughtered before his very eyes, he couldn't avenge them.
Thomas suddenly continued, "At first, a group from the government appeared, intending to take Atony, his wife, and your younger sister to the safe zone they had established, but…"
"My sister…" Aldric immediately asked, "Where is she now?"
Thomas shook his head. "I don't know!"
Aldric sighed and pressed on. "Then… why didn't they leave this accursed place?"
Thomas exhaled, drawing on his cigarette before tossing the butt into the fire, speaking softly: "Atony said… he wanted to stay in this city… to wait for you."
BAM!
Hearing this was like being struck by lightning. Aldric's eyes widened, his lips trembled for a long time, yet he couldn't utter a word.
Tears poured down once more, streaming like twin rivers. Though his face showed little expression, his eyes revealed everything.
Thomas patted his shoulder gently. "Restrain your grief. The fact that you're still alive… is already something."
Seeing Aldric cry in such despair, Thomas sighed, walking out to give him some space.
"It's all my fault…" Aldric murmured. "I'm sorry… sorry… Father… Mother…"
If he hadn't disappeared, his family would still be safe. If he hadn't vanished, his father would now hold immense status with the awakened power he possessed.
But all of it was only 'if'…
The cruel reality suffocated Aldric with despair. His hands clenched so tightly that his nails pierced into his palms, drawing fresh blood.
After a while, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the raging emotions in his chest.
"Father, Mother… don't worry. I will take revenge." Aldric's voice was calm, yet it carried killing intent so heavy it was almost tangible.
He sat still, trying to steady his mind, then closed his eyes, beginning to sense the magical energy in the air.
Even though he had lost his Gate of Truth, the five hundred years of knowledge he had gained in that other world remained.
As long as this world contained magical energy or natural energy, he was confident he could quickly regain his strength, once more manifesting the might of the Cataclysmic Magus here.
Aldric sensed that natural energy truly did exist around him, however…
'Strange…' Aldric thought to himself. 'Why is the natural energy on Earth entirely black? Could it really have been polluted to this extent?'
At that moment, the circular seal pierced by twelve swords suddenly glowed upon his heart, and then…
"Pfff!" Aldric coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face pale like a man drained of life.
Gritting his teeth, he endured the agony, muttering, "Those bastards… they even branded this cursed thing onto my soul."
"The Doombrand Sigil…"