In the end times, when monsters walked and the world trembled, mortals whispered of forces far beyond their comprehension. They were not merely divine—they were gods, beings who had shaped the cosmos, overseen the birth and death of worlds, and played with the fates of mortals like chess pieces.
Some were distant and inscrutable, like the God of the Void, whose throne lay beyond space, beyond time, beyond comprehension. Others ruled from higher planes, their names carved into the foundations of reality: Nexus, Ragnis, Luthar, beings whose existence could unravel cities with a thought. Still others, lesser yet still formidable, watched over mortal affairs: Ada, Golden Rage, Heathar, granting boons, spreading plague, or sanctioning wars for reasons no human could fathom.
And in the apocalypse, these gods moved silently, carefully, waiting for the right moments to intervene.
Kairis Ash did not know all their names. He did not need to. But tonight, the universe had chosen to reveal one.
He had barely caught his breath from the slaughter of the horde. His cloak hung torn, blood caked on his arms, yet his stance was unwavering. From above, the sky itself darkened, and the ground seemed to shiver beneath the weight of a presence far older than any being on Earth.
A void opened above him—a black expanse that swallowed the city lights—and a voice, low and resonant, echoed through his mind.
"Kairis Ash."
He froze, the words vibrating inside his skull, bypassing hearing, speaking directly to the marrow of his bones.
"Who…?" he muttered, glancing at the black sky.
"I am Lucien Dreamveil, the God of the Void. I have watched your line for centuries, waiting for the day one of your blood would rise."
Kairis' eyes narrowed, instincts bristling. Even standing on the ruined street, he felt the oppressive weight of the being above, yet he did not bow. Fear had died the day his parents fell.
"What do you want?" he asked flatly, voice steady, tone arrogant as ever.
Lucien's smirk vibrated in the very air. "I have a task for you. The horde you have battled is not the end. It is merely a fragment, a test of your resolve. One among them has taken form beyond death, a beast I call the Wraith of Endless Hunger. It commands the others, bends them to its will, and grows stronger with every soul it consumes. It must be destroyed."
The void pulsed as if emphasizing the magnitude of the statement. Kairis' jaw clenched.
"And the reward?" he asked, eyes scanning the black expanse.
"Power," Lucien said simply. "A gift in accordance with your Dark Matter affinity, your Graviton Edge, and the bloodline that carries the potential to survive the apocalypse. Succeed, and you may claim the title of Apostle of the Void, with abilities tied directly to gravitation, space, and the collapse of matter itself. Fail…"
The silence that followed was heavy.
"…death is absolute."
Kairis smirked faintly, tilting his head. "Death's been trying to catch me since I was a child. I don't mind the company."
Lucien's voice was calm, almost amused. "You will need more than arrogance to survive this. Monsters will come from all sides, and even other awakened will attempt to seize your power. You will be tested in mind, body, and spirit. But the path is yours. Choose carefully."
The void above shivered. A singular point of light glimmered faintly. "Begin at the ruins of Old Harbor. The Wraith awaits. You have one week to claim it, or it will escape into the world, and your line—your family—will be forfeit."
Before Kairis could respond, the void closed, leaving only the broken streets, the lingering stench of decay, and the blood on his hands.
He clenched his fist, feeling the system pulse stronger than ever, as if anticipating his next moves.
[Quest Activated: Hunt the Wraith of Endless Hunger]
[Reward: Apostle of the Void – Dark Matter Mastery | Gravitation Command | Title Exclusive Abilities]
[Failure: Death (Absolute) | Lineage at Risk]
He exhaled, brushing blood and sweat from his face. His eyes flickered with faint purple edges—the first spark of battle glow since the last fight.
Kairis Ash had survived the horde. He had tasted the abyss and lived. But this… this was something else entirely.
"Figures," he muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips. "If I wasn't already tired, this would've been boring."
He looked to the sky one last time, remembering his grandfather's words:
> "When the world burns, the God will come to judge us. But the Ash bloodline will endure. Only the strong survive, and only the cunning will rise."
Kairis' grin widened. "Then let's see how strong I really am."