"Great expressions!" Gaia praised, a wide grin spreading across her childish face. "That's the mentality a Savior should have! Fear is no reason to give up before even trying."
She nodded in satisfaction, seeing that all nine Saviors had quickly regained their composure and determination. Their initial fear had transformed into a desire to survive.
"Since there are only two Quests, how will the groups be divided? We're an odd number—nine people. That means the split won't be even. One Quest will have five people, and the other will have four."
From Seat VIII, Oscar Leung raised the issue they faced.
"Ah, about that, you don't need to worry." Gaia interjected before the discussion could deepen.
"Since this is your first time facing Planar Worlds that have reached the point of apocalypse, your practical experience is zero. So, we'll determine your groupings to maximize your chances of success."
This time, Alaya, who usually remained silent, spoke up with her flat, authoritative tone.
"It's the most logical decision. With our knowledge and perspective, we can create the optimal combinations."
"That makes sense." Said Elena Petrova from Seat X, her voice soft but clear. "With the knowledge you both have, it's indeed the most logical choice."
Gaia cleared her throat lightly, her bright eyes sweeping over each Savior's face one by one.
"Ahem. Alright, I'll announce the Saviors for Quest 1."
"Charlie Avalon, Wang Jian, Elena Petrova. The three of you are assigned to undertake Quest 1."
"The remaining Saviors—Frank Günther, Thomas Taylor, Valentina Claire, Miguel Antonio, Fujita Kazuya, and Farah Nadia—the six of you will work together to complete Quest 2."
"Any questions?"
After Gaia announced the groupings, Elena politely raised her hand, her face showing surprise and slight concern.
"Huh? Just the three of us? Isn't that… unfair? Quest 2 has six participants, while we're only three to save an entire world? Isn't that too lopsided?"
Charlie and Wang Jian remained silent, but the same doubt flickered in their eyes.
Why such a stark difference in numbers?
"At first glance, the grouping may seem unbalanced." Gaia admitted with a nod. "But trust me, this combination offers the highest chance of success for each world. After all, neither I nor Alaya want to lose any of you."
However, her explanation didn't fully satisfy them.
"Don't ask too many questions. In short, the groupings are based on your compatibility with the Quests themselves. You'll understand and feel it for yourselves once you're there."
Alaya's tone was cold and efficient, like a corporate boss unconcerned with her employees' feelings, focused solely on results.
"Alaya's really good at making people dislike her, huh." Gaia muttered under her breath, almost to herself.
"Did you say something?" Alaya shot her a sharp glare.
"Nothing! Not a thing!" Gaia denied quickly, pretending to whistle and looking away.
"…"
Charlie and Wang Jian, seated side by side, inadvertently locked eyes.
An identical wry smile appeared on both men's faces almost simultaneously. They understood the awkward situation.
There was no other option.
They had to trust the judgment of the two entities.
"Alright, the time has come!"
Gaia's enthusiasm returned. She raised her hand, delivering words filled with passion and conviction.
"Brave Saviors! You will venture into shattered worlds where hope has faded and darkness reigns. But remember, where you are, there is light!"
"Bring that hope, fight for the stolen future, and show the Abyss that humanity will never surrender!"
"…"
On the other side, Alaya said nothing. She merely raised her hand with a simple gesture.
*BUZZ!*
A bright but non-blinding white light suddenly enveloped the nine Saviors seated around the round table.
Then, the light reached its peak, and the nine Saviors vanished from the Void Sanctuary.
They had set off for two different worlds, two new battlefields where their lives and the future of those ruined worlds were at stake.
The Void Sanctuary fell silent once more, leaving only Gaia, Alaya, and Apocalypse, still growling.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Apocalypse.
A word laden with meaning, etched into the myths and sacred texts of various cultures since ancient times.
It is the end of all ends, total destruction, annihilation.
Humanity has imagined it in many forms: cataclysmic natural disasters like tsunamis sweeping away civilizations, earthquakes splitting continents, volcanic eruptions burying the skies, or meteor strikes ending eras.
Or perhaps a slower destruction caused by their own hands—planetary devastation by greedy hands, global warming melting ice and submerging cities.
Throughout human history, prophecies of doomsday have emerged, delivered by charlatans claiming to be prophets or seers. Yet none have proven true.
Gradually, the terror of the apocalypse faded from humanity's collective consciousness, drowned out by the hustle of modern life and the pursuit of worldly desires.
They forgot that the end could come at any moment, in ways they least expected.
Who could have imagined that the apocalypse striking this world came not from internal planetary factors but from an external force?
Except for a few conflicts involving weapons in Africa and the Middle East, the world was as peaceful as ever. Major cities buzzed, technology advanced, and humanity was immersed in its routines.
But that peace shattered when thousands of strange portals suddenly appeared in human settlements, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
From within the portals emerged abominations, bloodthirsty creatures that slaughtered every human they encountered.
Creatures with cracked, charcoal-like skin, radiating a chilling aura of death. Their eyes were empty, like black holes hungering for souls.
Some walked on two legs like humans, but with twisted bodies and deadly claws.
Others crawled with multiple legs like giant insects or floated with tattered, leathery wings.
Their mouths were filled with jagged, irregular teeth, constantly emitting groans and howls that shattered the mind.
They were the embodiment of chaos and pure hatred.
Old or young, rich or poor, man or woman—as long as they were human, these monsters delivered equal justice: brutal death.
Streets once bustling with life turned into slaughterhouses within minutes. Screams of terror and pain filled the air, competing with the horrific sounds of the butchers.
Of course, the militaries of each nation fought back. They deployed every resource—tanks, fighter jets, advanced missiles. Unfortunately, modern weapons were ineffective, as if the monsters were immune to firearms.
Bullets and explosions left only shallow scratches on their thick, repulsive skin. Only cold weapons like swords and spears could harm them. It was as if they were impervious to the hot weapons humanity prided itself on.
A shocking discovery came too late: only cold weapons—swords, spears, axes—could significantly injure them.
But in the modern era, masters of weapon-based martial arts were nearly extinct. Only a handful of practitioners remained, far too few to combat the endless waves of monsters.
Humanity's defenses collapsed one by one. Cities turned into mass graves.
Within a single year, over 98% of the human population was wiped out. The civilization built over thousands of years crumbled to dust.
Now, only remnants remained. Small groups of humans hid in ruins, in basements, living in constant fear.
They survived on scraps of resources, always alert for suspicious sounds.
Hope had long faded, replaced by deep despair and acceptance of inevitable extinction.
The world had become a place without light, without a future, where every breath could be the last.
This was the world that had reached its apocalyptic point—a blank canvas waiting to be filled or, perhaps, saved.