Dark Eclipse Apocalypse: Reborn As The God Of Light

2

He knew every blueprinted duct, stairwell and load-bearing column in this skyscraper. 

With his architect knowledge, millions in liquidity and a divine system at his disposal, he wouldn't just survive.

He would turn the top of this city into an impenetrable fortress.

Gideon stood up from his chair, his eyes flashing with a dangerous golden light.

"Masterson... Jessica..." Gideon muttered, looking out the sunny window at the bustling city below. "Enjoy the sun while it lasts."

Gideon stood still by the floor-to-ceiling glass window, his breathing calm and steady.

Down below, Metro City buzzed with blinding morning light. People walked in light summer shirts, drinking iced coffee and hailing cabs under a bright, cloudless sky.

None of them knew that in seven short days, the sky would turn pitch-black, the temperature would plummet to forty below zero and flesh-eating shadow smoke beasts would turn those clean streets into a butcher shop.

Gideon looked down at his unblemished hands. The deep, agonizing gouges from shadow claws were gone. His skin was smooth, warm and intact.

He turned back to his desk and pulled open his private banking app.

He swiped his thumb across the screen, authenticating his fingerprint. 

The digital balance loaded instantly.

[Current Available Balance: $1,245,800.00]

It's his entire net worth—his life savings, company equity shares and architectural project bonuses. 

In his past life, he had kept this money locked in savings accounts, planning to use it as a down payment for a luxury apartment where he and Jessica could live after marriage.

A cold, sarcastic laugh escaped his throat.

In the end, that money didn't saved him. Instead, Jessica and Masterson stole his rations, locked him outside and watched him freeze while they lived off his hard work.

'Money in a bank account is useless paper when the world freezes,' Gideon thought, his eyes turning cold. 

'Every single dollar needs to be converted into titanium, thermal insulation, solar arrays and thousands of tons of food.'

Before he could exit the app, his phone vibrated violently against the wooden tabletop.

The screen lit up, displaying a contact photo of Jessica smiling beside a lavish beach resort—a vacation Gideon had paid for entirely out of his own pocket.

Gideon didn't pick up immediately. He watched the phone ring, the harsh vibrations echoing in the quiet room.

On the fourth ring, he swiped to answer and placed the phone to his ear. 

He didn't say a word.

"Gideon! Why did it take you so long to pick up?" Jessica’s voice blasted through the speaker, sharp, demanding and full of irritation. 

"I’ve been standing outside the designer boutique on Fifth Avenue for twenty minutes!"

Gideon leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms. "What do you want, Jessica?"

His voice was entirely flat. There was no affection, no warmth and no eagerness to please.

Jessica paused for a second... surprised by his tone but her arrogance quickly took over.

"What do I want? Did you forget what day it is?" she huffed loudly into the mic. 

"Masterson is hosting his grand property development gala at the Grand Hyatt tonight! Every wealthy developer and investor in Metro City is going to be there, and Masterson invited me as his special guest!"

Gideon smirked softly, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. "Is that so?"

"Yes! And I can't just show up wearing last season's clothes!" Jessica continued, her tone growing increasingly demanding. 

"I'm looking at a limited-edition Hermes crocodile handbag right now. It costs fifty thousand dollars. Send the money to my account right now. Masterson’s rich friends are already inside, and I refuse to look cheap next to them!"

In his past life, Gideon would have panicked at her angry tone. 

He would have apologized, made excuses about his budget and ultimately drained his credit cards just to keep her happy and smiling.

He had starved himself, eaten cheap instant noodles and worked ninety-hour workweeks just so she could walk around in designer clothes.

And she had repaid him by holding the box of his food while he was eaten alive in the dark.

"Fifty thousand dollars," Gideon said slowly, testing the words on his tongue.

"Yes! Fifty thousand! Hurry up and transfer it!" Jessica snapped impatiently. 

"Masterson said if I look good tonight, he might even introduce me to his high-society contacts. This is important for my future Gideon. Don't be selfish!"

Gideon straightened his posture, looking out at the sunlit city.

"Jessica," he said, his voice dropping an octave, razor-sharp and steady.

"What?!"

"Take that fifty thousand dollars, go to an outdoor store and buy yourself a thick winter coat instead," Gideon said calmly. 

"Buy thermal underwear, thick gloves and insulated boots. You're going to need them in seven days."

Silence filled the line.

For three seconds, Jessica didn't speak. 

Then, her screech echoed loudly through the phone speaker.

"Are you insane?! What the hell are you talking about, winter coats?! It's eighty degrees outside!" she screamed, her voice cracking with fury. 

"Are you making fun of me, Gideon Vance?! Transfer the money right now or I swear to God I'll never speak to you again!"

Gideon listened to her shrill rage, feeling nothing but a profound, icy detachment.

"You won't have to worry about speaking to me again, Jessica," Gideon said quietly. "Because we are done."

"What... what did you just say?" Jessica gasped, taken aback.

"I said we're breaking up," Gideon replied, his voice completely devoid of emotion. 

"Keep Masterson company tonight. Enjoy his luxury car, enjoy his champagne and enjoy his money. Because very soon, none of it will be worth a single grain of rice."

"Gideon, don't you dare play games with me!" Jessica yelled, her tone turning venomous. 

"You think you can dump me?! You're just a pathetic, low-level architect! Without me, you're nothing! You'll come crawling back to me on your knees in two days begging for my forgiveness!"

"Don't hold your breath," Gideon said.

He pulled the phone away from his ear, tapped the red end-call button and immediately brought up her contact settings.

With three swift taps, he blocked her phone number, blocked her social media accounts and deleted her contact from his phone permanently.

[PING!]