Apocalypse Cheater

[: 3rd POV :]

For the time being, Daniel resolved to hold onto the rest of the rewards, there was no urgency in using them.

With his current abilities, there was little left that posed a significant threat.

Even foes stronger than him hardly felt like a challenge, unless he faced foes with a stark difference in power.

As he mulled over the monumental rewards, his thoughts shifted.

His main concern now was to explain the current situation to his mother, Leila, and his beloved Cecilia.

They needed to understand the gravity of the current situation and the decisions that lay ahead.

Without wasting another moment, he summoned his powers and teleported to the cozy living space where they awaited him.

The sight that greeted him was unexpectedly peaceful.

Leila and Cecilia were seated at the small table, having a cup of tea, their laughter mingling in the air.

"You're finally back, son!" Leila exclaimed warmly, her voice bright and filled with familiar affection, devoid of any hints of worry.

Daniel felt a wave of relief wash over him.

It seemed that his mother already sensed he was safe, her innate confidence in him shining through.

She had likely come to trust him not just as her son, but as the formidable force he had become.

The System announcement had shown her the results but rather than fear, it sparked a sense of pride within her.

Her son, the one capable of navigating the chaos, had returned unscathed.

In the other hand, Cecilia met his gaze with a knowing look, her expression calm and understanding.

She too appeared unsurprised.

After all, at some point Daniel had revealed the truth to her.

It was no wonder Cecilia felt that strange, deep connection whenever she looked at Daniel.

There was something in those piercing eyes, something that tugged at the corners of her heart.

It was as if she were engaging with a piece of her soul from a life long past.

But it wasn't a past life she was sensing; it was the possibility of a future.

A future where Daniel had rewritten their fates with his strength.

Each tales of how they'd first met flooded her mind, a vivid cascade of feelings that only deepened her love for him.

Understanding the intricacies of their journey made it clear that Daniel was not just a passing figure in her life—he was someone she deeply loved and trusted with her very being.

That realization filled her with a wave of gratitude.

She felt fortunate to have someone like him standing strongly by her side.

This mutual understanding was, in many ways, what allowed Leila and Cecilia to forge their own bond, despite the conflicts of the past.

Their connection to Daniel had created a bridge, one that united them through their shared admiration and love for him.

They both recognized the immense struggles he faced every day, trying to navigate a path that had transformed in ways they could hardly comprehend.

Daniel was not just fighting for himself; he was battling for a future where those he cared for could exist without fear.

He bore a heavy burden that weighed on him, one that they couldn't fathom fully.

To know the shadows of the future yet remain uncertain about what could change—it was a torment he endured in silence.

Yes, the present had shifted in remarkable ways, yet Daniel wouldn't dare assert that everything would smooth out from here.

With every decisive action he took, he realized he had hastened the arrival of the Apocalypse.

The world had, and with it came a host of unknown challenges.

While Leila could see the strength in him, she also felt the undercurrents of worry that surrounded him.

She knew he wasn't the type to retreat or abandon his path toward strength.

But despite his determination, he needed to lay out a strategy.

There were countless variables to factor in, and the stakes were higher than ever.

With this heavy sense of responsibility, she could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes, the quiet contemplation of what lay ahead.

"Yeah, I'm back," Daniel replied, a hint of weariness lacing his voice as he took a seat at the table.

He reached for the cup of tea they had set aside for him, feeling the warmth seep through the delicate porcelain into his fingers.

"So, how was it?" Leila asked, a meaningful smile gracing her face—one that carried both curiosity and concern.

"It wasn't… as bad as I thought it would be," Daniel said after taking a sip, savoring the familiar taste that warmed him inside.

"I see. I'm glad you feel that way, son," Leila responded, her heartfelt smile shifting to something deeper, a flash of pride mixed with an underlying worry.

"I know you've felt the pressure of the Apocalypse, especially since you haven't stopped your pursuit for strength. That's precisely why I didn't want to disturb you," she continued, her gaze steady and compassionate.

But as she spoke, Daniel could see the flicker of concern in her eyes.

"But even as a mother, I worry sometimes about your health. People who chase strength can end up… differently."

A wave of guilt washed over Daniel at her words.

He could sense the sadness that tinged Leila's hopeful demeanor, a reminder that their lives had transitioned in ways he hadn't completely addressed.

With each step he took away from them, the gap in strength between them felt increasingly insurmountable, creating an emotional distance he never intended.

It wasn't just him who felt the shift; he could see it reflected in Cecilia's eyes as well.

"I didn't mean for it to be this way... I just wanted to pave a path where both of you could live without any worries," he admitted, a weight settling on his chest.

The realization stung; he hadn't paid enough attention to the emotional toll this had taken on them.

"No, I'm not saying what you did is wrong, but we just wish that you could sometimes rely on us," Leila replied, her tone gentle yet resolute.

"Daniel, you've changed our lives, but that doesn't mean we're going to let you shoulder everything alone," she added, her voice thick with emotion.

"Even the strongest man sometimes needs a break," she insisted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "So, please, at least rely on us."

Her words resonated deeply within him, cracking open the walls he had built around his responsibilities.

For a moment, he sat in silence, absorbing her emotional plea, understanding the weight of her desire to be involved in his life.

"…" Daniel felt a wave of emotions wash over him, as moments from his past life surged like a torrent in his mind.

Flashbacks danced at the edges of his consciousness, reminding him of the seemingly endless suffering he had endured.

From the moment modern Fantasia arrived, shaking the very foundations of his reality, to the day he met his end—it was a neverending unfortunate events, each more harrowing than the last.

There was never a time when he could dare to claim that happiness had graced his life.

Instead, it had been replaced by sorrow—a bitter, never-ending cycle of sadness that enveloped him like a thick fog.

Thoughts of despair clouded over him, an echo of shadows that reminded him of the grief he had carried for so long.

'Perhaps the problem lies in the fact that I'm still being controlled by my past life,' he reflected, a chill creeping into his heart.

A flicker of doubt surfaced, filling him with trepidation. 'Maybe I'm scared that if I rely on them, it could alter their fate for the worse; that's what I truly fear.'

The haunting remnants of fear and trauma still lived deep within him, roots that had grown stubbornly, anchoring him in the belief that he must shoulder the weight of the world alone.

What if trusting someone led to more despair?

It was a question that lingered heavily, chaining him to a cycle of isolation.

But perhaps—just maybe—this time would be different.

'I don't plan to change that way,' Daniel thought, determination flickering to life within him.

'But maybe, just this time, I could rely on someone'

Taking a deep breath, he looked up at Leila and Cecilia, feeling a subtle shift within him as he gathered his resolve.

"I don't plan to have both of you involved in what I wish to do, but that doesn't mean I won't rely on you when the time comes," he stated firmly, yet with a vulnerability that came from the heart.

Their faces lit up at his words, and Daniel felt a warmth spread through him as he saw the resolve in their eyes.

"I see, that's fine with us," Leila replied, her voice soothing as a gentle breeze.

Cecilia nodded, her smile tender and radiant, radiating an emotional support that made Daniel feel lighter than he had in ages.

In those brief moments, he could feel the burden of isolation begin to lift, replaced with a sense of connection it had grew apart previously.