2026-08-03 13:17:13Arjun stood in the middle of the warehouse, staring at the glowing countdown floating before his eyes.
71:57:21 Seventy-two hours. That single announcement had changed everything. In his previous life, the apocalypse had arrived exactly one hundred days after he graduated from college. Now... The timeline had shifted. Someone—or something—had accelerated the end of the world. He clenched his fists. "So my actions changed the future..." That wasn't supposed to happen. He had expected to follow the memories of his previous life, gathering resources and growing stronger before the first gate appeared. Now those memories could no longer be trusted. The future was no longer fixed. A mechanical chime interrupted his thoughts. Ding! Emergency Mission Updated Reason: Timeline Changed Objective: Leave the hidden warehouse alive. Reward: 1,000 Survival Points Bonus Reward: Random Skill Scroll Failure: Death Arjun frowned. "The System has never given me a mission like this before." Suddenly— A faint groan echoed behind him. One of the unconscious soldiers was waking up. Arjun immediately grabbed the rifle lying beside him and pointed it at the man's head. The soldier slowly raised both hands. "Don't shoot." His voice sounded weak. "I'm not your enemy." Arjun didn't lower the weapon. "People who arrive with guns usually aren't friends." The man gave a bitter smile. "Fair enough." Blood trickled down his forehead as he leaned against the wall. "You already took the crystal, didn't you?" Arjun remained silent. The soldier sighed. "So we were too late." For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then the soldier suddenly asked, "Have you ever heard of the organization called Eclipse?" The name hit Arjun like a bolt of lightning. Eclipse. In his previous life, it had become the strongest organization on Earth. No one knew who founded it. No one knew where it came from. By the time ordinary survivors heard its name... Half the world had already fallen under its control. Arjun narrowed his eyes. "So you work for Eclipse?" The soldier laughed. "I wish." "They're the ones hunting us." Arjun's grip tightened. "What do you mean?" "We were sent here to keep the Evolution Crystal away from them." "If Eclipse gets enough relics before the apocalypse..." He stopped, coughing violently. "...humanity won't even survive the first month." Arjun studied his face carefully. The fear in the man's eyes didn't look fake. Before he could ask another question— The warehouse lights suddenly flickered. Once. Twice. Then everything went dark. A deep vibration shook the underground tunnel. Dust rained from the ceiling. The soldier's expression instantly changed. "No..." "They found us." Boom! The steel entrance door bent inward as if struck by a truck. Another impact followed. Boom! The thick metal door twisted violently. Something outside... Was trying to break in. The soldier whispered in terror, "They're here." Arjun looked toward the entrance. A third impact exploded through the warehouse. The steel door flew across the room like a piece of paper. A cloud of dust filled the air. Heavy footsteps echoed from the darkness. One... Two... Three... A tall figure slowly walked into the warehouse. He wore a long black coat despite the summer heat. A silver mask covered the upper half of his face. In his right hand, he casually held a sword made of black metal. The masked man looked around the warehouse before his gaze stopped on Arjun. Then he smiled. "So..." "You are the one who awakened the SSS-Rank Talent." Arjun's heart skipped a beat. How could this stranger know about his talent? The masked man raised his sword. "Hand over the relic..." "Or I'll take your head instead." To Be Continued...
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 201: The Things We Cannot Decide
The rain had stopped, but water still dripped from the library roof.Nox arrived early the next morning. Mara was already inside, checking the repaired shelves and arranging a new stack of books near the entrance.“You're early,” she said.“I wanted to finish the labels before the children arrive.”“Then I have something else for you.”She placed a small cardboard box on the table.Nox opened it. Inside were several envelopes, a handful of photographs, and a folded sheet of paper covered in handwritten names.“Someone donated these yesterday,” Mara explained. “They belonged to an old community reading group. We don't know whether the people named here want their photographs displayed or their letters kept in the library.”Nox examined the box.“Should we return them?”“We don't know who donated them or how to contact the people involved. That's why we need to be careful.”He lifted one photograph. It showed a group of children sitting beneath a large tree. Their faces were bright with
Chapter 200: The Choice to Knock
Leena returned to the library three days later.This time, she carried a small photograph.Nox was arranging returned books when Mara called him over. Leena stood near the desk, holding the photograph by its edges.“I found this while looking through an old suitcase,” she said. “I thought you might want to see it.”Nox approached.The photograph showed two children standing beside a railway platform. The younger one held a blue cloth bag. The older child stood close, one hand resting on the younger one's shoulder.“Is that you?” Nox asked.Leena nodded.“And the boy?”“My brother Daniel.”Nox looked at the photograph again. The boy's face was slightly blurred, but the expression was unmistakably cheerful.“Do you remember when it was taken?”“Not the exact date. I think it was shortly before we were separated.”Mara brought a clean folder and placed the photograph inside a protective sleeve.“Would you like us to compare it with the photographs in our records?” she asked.Leena nodded
Chapter 199: The Visitor Who Remembered the Ending
The second copy of the traveler's book arrived on the library table the next morning.Nox was helping Mara compare the pages when a familiar voice came from the entrance.“You found another one?”The woman from the previous afternoon stood by the door. This time, she carried no bag. She looked at the two copies lying side by side.Mara welcomed her inside.“You said your brother used to read this story,” Nox said. “Do you remember his name?”The woman hesitated.“Daniel.”Nox looked at the book again.Mara noticed his expression. “Do you know someone named Daniel?”“Not exactly,” Nox answered. “We've heard the name while looking through some old records.”The woman pulled out a chair.“My brother's name was Daniel Vale. We lived in the northern district when we were children. After our mother died, things became difficult. I was sent to stay with relatives, and Daniel went somewhere else.”Nox remained quiet.“Was it an assistance center?” he asked.“I think so. I was too young to und
Chapter 198: The Day the Story Changed
The argument began over a missing page.Nox noticed it while arranging the books in Story Harbor. A thin picture book lay open on the table, its pages held together by an old piece of thread. The story followed a young traveler searching for a place where the stars could be seen clearly.But halfway through, the numbers jumped from twelve to fourteen.“Someone tore out page thirteen,” Nox said.Sami looked over his shoulder. “Maybe it was the best page.”“Why would someone remove the best page?”“Maybe they wanted to keep it.”The little girl who had been listening shook her head. “Maybe it got damaged.”Nox examined the binding. The thread around that section was loose, but there were no fresh tears. The missing page had been removed a long time ago.Mara joined them. “That book has been in the library for years. We don't know its original condition.”“Can we find another copy?” Nox asked.“We can check the catalogue.”They searched the records, but the title appeared only once. Ther
Chapter 197: A Place for the Unfinished
The library’s reading corner was busier than usual.Sami had returned with two friends, and the little girl who loved the first book was sitting beside them. They had gathered around the shelf marked **Story Harbor**, arguing quietly about which story Mara should read aloud.Nox stood nearby, holding a box of donated books.“Can we read one that doesn’t have an ending?” Sami asked.Mara raised an eyebrow. “Every story in this box has an ending.”“I mean one where the ending doesn’t explain everything.”“That’s a different request.”Nox set the box down. “Maybe we can find one.”They searched the shelves together. Some books ended with a journey completed. Others ended with a door opening, a letter arriving, or a character deciding to try again. The children rejected each one for a different reason.“Too sad,” said the little girl.“Too easy,” Sami said.“That one has a dragon,” his friend pointed out.“Dragons can have unfinished stories,” Nox replied.Eventually, Mara chose a short b
Chapter 196: The Book That Came Back
The book arrived at the library in a paper bag.Nox noticed it because Mara set it apart from the morning’s donations. The cover was worn, the spine had been repaired with clear tape, and a faded label on the inside read: **Story Harbor**.“Is it one of ours?” Nox asked.“I’m not sure,” Mara said. “Someone left it at the desk before opening. No note, no name.”Nox looked at the cover. It was a collection of short stories, the kind with small drawings at the start of each chapter. He opened it carefully.A folded sheet slipped from the pages and landed on the table.Mara reached for it, then paused. “You can read it if you want. It was left with the book.”Nox unfolded the paper.*I borrowed this when I was little. I never finished it. I don’t remember who gave it to me, only that someone read the first story aloud. I found it while clearing a box. I thought it belonged here.*There was no signature.Nox read the note twice. “Maybe someone used to come here.”“Maybe,” Mara said. “But w
You may also like
Apocalypse Domination: A Cold Rebirth
Writing Man448 viewsZombie Apocalypse System
Nathaniel1.9K viewsThe Apocalypse Reborn; No more Sacrifice
Martha346 viewsMY WIFE KILLED ME—THEN I REBORN AS A BILLIONAIRE
Ali4.1K viewsApocalypse: Survivor-in-Law
J.K. Hades7.4K viewsRE:ANAGENESIS — THE ZOMBIE TALES
Yukides231 viewsGRENUN: When The Air Killed Us
Bakari 38 viewsApocalypse Vending Machine System
CutebyYou877 views