NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 1: RAYS OF HOPE
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With dull eyes, Greg could only watch the destruction of Earth, regret etched on his face. He watched as those with exceptional talents—those who were called the hope of humanity—bowed to the enemies with sadness. If only he had started playing Apocalypse earlier, this wouldn't have happened. If only he hadn't awakened the trashy F-rank talent, Death, which had no use to him, perhaps the narrative would have been different.
Rising to his feet without any care for his wounds, Greg sought to take his last stand, catching the eyes of countless foes.
"Alas, the last adversary," a voice laced with mockery spoke. "To come this far without talent and in such a short time is worthy of praise, Greg, but you lack one thing. And I've always lacked it, too—luck. Now it's time to die in my hands, just like your sister did," the voice said.
Boom! Greg felt the world spiraling. His sister—the only one he had left after the unfortunate demise of their parents—had mysteriously died, and he had never been able to find the killer. In search of revenge, Greg had joined the game, although late, but never found the murderer. And yet, there he was, standing right in front of him with a mocking smile.
"I'll kill youuuu!" Greg shouted, brandishing his sword toward the voice belonging to Kyle—his supposed best friend, the one he had trusted more than anyone.
Smiling, Kyle threw a spear toward Greg. Enhanced by Kyle's A-rank talent, Sharpshooter, the spear pierced through Greg's chest.
"This is where we say goodbye, Greg," Kyle said proudly, slowly walking away, leaving Greg to die with regret.
[Condition reached. F-rank talent Death has been activated and evolved to EX-rank talent, Regression. Host will regress to the past.]
Greg could hardly hear the words of the system as his consciousness gradually slipped away, finally embracing death.
"Brother, wake up! Stop sleeping like a moron!"
Greg could faintly hear a feminine voice in his subconscious, forcing him to open his eyes. He stared at the young girl—barely sixteen—and couldn't help but tear up, finally seeing his sister again after so long. The guilt of failing to avenge her gnawed at him.
"What's wrong with you, weirdo? Go wash up before you're late for work," the young girl, Annabelle, said.
Work? Greg thought. So humans still work in the afterlife?
"What are you thinking, stupid brother? Hurry up, or else you'll be sorry when you get chewed out by your employer!"
Afraid of getting on his sister's bad side, he slowly stood up, washed himself, and got dressed. But when he saw his reflection in the mirror, he was utterly shocked—he looked like his younger self.
He rushed to check a calendar and nearly screamed.
Good heavens! He had gone back in time by ten years—exactly one day before the emergence of the VR game Apocalypse that changed the world.
Without thinking twice, he ran out of the house to a gaming store nearby and bought a gaming helmet before the price skyrocketed and made it impossible for him to afford. He used his last savings to purchase it. As for work? Who cares about work when your future is on the line?
After purchasing the helmet, he ran home like someone who had found gold and was scared of being robbed.
His actions did not go unnoticed by Annabelle, but she chose to remain silent. Which young man doesn't enjoy games? Besides, her brother had been working his butt off after their parents' death. Maybe this was the break he needed.
Greg waited anxiously for the game to launch and logged in the moment it was available, fearing he might waste precious gaming time.
[Welcome, host, to Apocalypse... Please input username.]
Greg stared at the prompt for some time before resolutely making his decision and typing: Nemesis.
[Congratulations, player... Choosing host talent...
Congratulations on awakening EX-rank talent: 100% Absolute Dodge Rate.]
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