---
Damian Derulo "What the hell is going on?"
Panic clawed at his throat. He quickly shut the window and yanked the curtains closed, retreating from the sight.
His chest heaved. Deep breaths. In. Out. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't calm himself.
And then—
---
[ Ding ]
---
Something had appeared.
---
Location: Earth – South Africa – Johannesburg.
Year: 2026
Date: February 15th
Time: 8:04 AM
POV: Third Person
---
..
He panted as he sat on the edge of his bed as he held his head with both hands, he was trying to calm down but the deep breaths were not working, and then suddenly he heard something.
..
[ Ding ]
..
Damian Derulo ' What was that? ' Damian Derulo jolted upright, his breath hitching as an unfamiliar sound echoed through his dimly lit room. His heart pounded against his ribs like a war drum, his eyes darting around, searching for the source.
Nothing.
The silence that followed was suffocating, stretching thin like the calm before a storm. Swallowing hard, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand and tapped the screen. No notifications. No messages. Just the dull glow of the lock screen staring back at him.
A shiver crept down his spine. Had he imagined it?
Just as he was about to set the phone down, a soft chime resonated through the room—gentle yet impossibly clear. Then, without warning, a translucent screen flickered to life before his eyes, its sky-blue glow casting eerie shadows on the walls.
Damian's breath caught in his throat.
This wasn't normal. This wasn't possible.
Yet, here it was.
//
____________________________________
[ Neutral Origin System Activation ]
____________________________________
[ Welcome, Chosen Host ]
---
You have been granted access to the Neutral Origin System.
This system exist beyound the constraints of fate, free from the influence of gods and destiny.
____________________________________
[ Identity Established ]
---
* Name : Damian Derulo
* Race : Human
* Title : The End Of Days
* Unique Role : ???
____________________________________
[ Power Awaits ]
The Neutral Origin System is neither benevolent nor malevolent.
It grants power impartially, demanding only one price: Growth.
Adapt. Evolve. Ascend.
Your choices will shape the cosmos itself.
____________________________________
[ Access Granted ]
Your Journey Begins Now.
____________________________________
//
Damian Derulo blinked, his mind scrambling to process the words floating before him.
Damian Derulo "..... What in the actual fuck?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His fingers twitched as he read through the glowing system message, his eyes darting across the text. The moment he finished, the screen vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.
His mind raced. ' Alright, let's think. The message had said access granted, not system owned or system master. That meant this wasn't some personal system—but was a global system. Something everyone has access to '
A cold weight settled in his gut.
That meant the world itself had changed — Obviously.
Damian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "So how do I open it? System?" he called out experimentally.
Nothing.
His lips pressed into a thin line. "Status?"
Silence.
His fingers tapped restlessly against his knee as he wracked his brain. What was its name again?
"Origin?"
The air around him remained still.
Then, his eyes widened slightly as a thought clicked into place.
"Origin Status."
The moment the words left his lips, the screen flashed back into existence, illuminating his face in an otherworldly blue glow.
//
____________________________________
[ Origin System Interface ]
---
* [Name] : Damian Derulo
* [Race] : Human
* [Title(s)] : [The End Of Days (Absolute Grade)]
* [Power Tier] : Echo (Awakening Stage)
* [Identity] : The One That Will Bring The End.
____________________________________
[ Facets ]
---
1.[Devour] - Absorbs an ability from those you kill by consuming their remains.
2.[Decay Touch] - Causes rapid decomposition upon physical contact.
____________________________________
[ Resonances ]
---
1.[Undying] - Prevents Permanent death.
2.[Survivor Instincts] - Heightened reflexes and danger perception.
____________________________________
[ Relics ]
---
None
____________________________________
//
Damian Derulo stared at the glowing screen, his pulse hammering in his ears.
Damian Derulo ' What the hell? ' His mind spun, grasping at explanations that simply didn't exist. Is this some kind of apocalypse? A game? A hallucination? What the hell is going on?
He forced himself to focus, scanning through the information displayed before him. Then he saw them—his Facets —Whatever Facets meant.
And they were broken.
Absurdly broken.
But as his eyes traced the descriptions, unease slithered down his spine.
First, there was [Devour]—an ability that allowed him to obtain powers from fallen creatures or beings. But the wording sent a chill through him. Consume their remains? Did that mean… eating them?
His stomach twisted.
Then there was [Undying]—a Resonance that, in any other situation, would be a dream come true. But for him? Someone who had long stopped caring about his own survival? It felt like a sick joke.
'This is insane, the identity as... well…' His breath came shallow and uneven. 'I feel… weird.'
A strange sensation washed over him—like his body was too light, too unsteady. His vision blurred, the edges of the screen distorting and fading.
He tried to stand, but the moment he pushed himself up, his legs buckled.
The last thing he felt was the cold kiss of the floor before everything faded to black.
...
..
.
Damian Derulo ' Where am I? ' Damian asked as he looked around, he found himself in a dark void like space, with vast cosmic depts, swirling nebulas, and distant stars casting an eerie glow,the infinite void was filled with shadowy mist and drifting energy, it had a surreal yet ominous atmosphere.
Damian felt strangely at home in the dark void. " wow " Damian thought out loud as he took in the chaotic beauty he saw.
??? " Damian " A voice called out to Damian from behind him, Damian was startled by the sudden voice that sounded a little hoarse yet bold and attracting.
He gradually turned around and at the center of this vast, surreal realm, a colossal black throne looms over everything, carved from pure obsidian and seemingly fused with the very fabric of space. Sitting upon it is a being unlike anything Damian has ever seen—a monstrous entity of shadows, its form shifting like a living abyss. Its eyes, if they can even be called that, glow with an otherworldly light, staring directly at Damian as if peering into his very soul.
A deep, cold voice rumbles through the void, vibrating in Damian's bones.
??? "At last… you are here."
Damian, despite his usually calm demeanor, feels his instincts screaming at him. His body is tense, on edge, his breath uneven.
Damian Derulo "What the hell is this…?" he mutters, scanning the surroundings. "Where am I? And who—no, what the hell are you?"
The entity shifts slightly on its throne, its form still formless yet undeniably powerful. It doesn't rush to answer. Instead, it observes him with a patient, almost predatory amusement.
Alter "You may call me Alter." The voice is smooth but carries an eerie weight, as if spoken by something that has seen the end of time itself.
"You are within your own mind. Or rather, the space that exists beyond your conscious self. A place where we finally meet face to face."
Damian narrows his eyes. "My own mind?" He clenches his fists. "That's crazy"
Alter chuckles—a deep, reverberating sound that makes the very fabric of the void tremble.
"Your doubt is expected. But tell me, Damian… do you truly believe what is happening outside is a mere dream? That the power now coursing through you is natural?"
Alter slowly raises a shadowy hand, and suddenly, faint images begin to appear around them—flashes of Earth, the chaos left in the wake of the Rapture, people awakening with supernatural Facets, the transformation of humans into monsters.
Alter "The world you once knew is gone. It will be rewritten, reshaped into something new. The Rapture was merely the beginning. You are no longer a normal human, Damian. None of you are."
The images flicker, and for a moment, Damian sees himself—or rather, his reflection in the chaos. The Title [The End of Days] hovers above his head in those visions, glowing ominously.
Damian's expression darkens as he quakes internally. "And what does that have to do with you?"
Alter rises from his throne. As he does, his form begins to shift—the monstrous abyss condenses, reshaping into something far more humanoid. Revealing something that makes Damian's breath hitch.
The man standing before him, looks just like him.
No—not exactly. His features are sharper, more refined, more perfected—too perfect. His hair, the same deep black as Damian's, shimmers faintly under the cosmic glow. His cold, piercing eyes are filled with unfathomable depth. His very existence radiates an aura of dominance and inevitable destruction, yet his posture is unnervingly relaxed. Like a king watching his kingdom burn.
Damian's body tenses, his senses screaming at him to be careful. His eyes scan the throne, the void, and finally land on Alter—who watches him with an unreadable expression.
Damian Derulo "Alright," Damian finally says, his voice steady, "what the hell is going on?"
The man standing before him tilts his head slightly, as if amused.
Alter "That depends on what you mean," he says smoothly, his tone eerily familiar. "Are you asking about where you are? Or about me?"
Damian narrows his eyes. "Both."
Alter nods slightly, with both of his hands in his pockets.
Alter "As I said before you are inside your own mind. Or rather, a part of it that you were never meant to see, at least not yet."
He gestures vaguely to the swirling void around them.
Alter "And as for who I am..." His lips curl into a faint smirk. "I am you, Damian. A version of you from a future that may—or may not—exist."
Damian Derulo "Bullshit," Damian says immediately, voice sharp. "You expect me to believe that?"
Alter exhales lightly, almost as if he expected the reaction. He lifts a hand, and suddenly, a mirror of shadowed energy forms between them.
Damian's own reflection stares back at him—only, it isn't quite him. It's Alter.
The realization hits like a gut punch.
Alter "Accept it or don't," Alter says, voice calm. "It won't change the truth."
Damian doesn't respond immediately. He clenches his fists, a storm of thoughts racing through his mind.
Damian Derulo "If you really are me," he finally mutters, "then you should know I don't trust anyone. Not even myself."
A flicker of amusement crosses Alter's eyes.
Alter "Good."
Alter took a step foward, away from his dark throne, stepping down onto the obsidian platform. His movements are fluid, controlled, effortlessly regal. Even as he approaches, his presence remains overwhelming, like a force of nature bound in human form.
Alter "There isn't much time, so I'll keep this simple," Alter says, his tone shifting slightly, becoming colder. "Damian, You are standing at the edge of something far greater than you understand."
Damian stays quiet, listening.
Alter "Right now, you bear the title [The End of Days], you may think you chose it, but no, it chose you. That title is not a gift. It is a beacon. One that will attract things you are not ready to face."
Alter lifts a hand again, and suddenly, the void around them shifts. Damian sees visions—glimpses of the future.
Alter "You have been marked by an absolute force—[The End of Days]. A title that ensures nothing can truly end you. But do you understand the weight of what that means?"
He steps forward, his gloomy, yet entrancing presence suffocating, like a black hole dragging Damian in.
Alter "The moment that title was activated, you were no longer just another survivor in this changed world. You became a fundamental truth—an anomaly that should not exist."
Damian's stomach twists slightly. There's something unsettling about the way Alter speaks.
Alter "And what happens when something unnatural appears in the world?" Alter smirks darkly. "It draws attention."
Images flicker again, this time showing indescribable beings, entities hidden in the fabric of reality, turning their gaze towards Earth. Some watch with curiosity, others with hunger, and some with outright hostility.
Alter "You are a ripple in the cosmic order. If you keep this title, your beacon will burn bright — too bright, and to morts you are a target."
Alter "This title will destroy you," Alter states. "And not just you—everything around you."
Damian Derulo "Then what the hell am I supposed to do?" Damian snaps, tension bleeding into his voice.
Alter's gaze sharpens.
Alter "Change it."
Damian crosses his arms. "So you're saying I should just change it because you say so?"
Alter tilts his head. "No, I'm saying you should change it if you want even a sliver of control over your future."
Damian's mind races. The images, the weight of the title, the sense of something watching him—all of it feels too real to ignore. But at the same time, he doesn't trust this entity.
Damian Derulo "And what happens if I refuse?"
Alter's smirk fades, replaced by an expression of quiet certainty.
Alter "Then you will walk forward blind, waiting for the inevitable. You will live… for now. But when 'They' come for you - And 'They' will. You will not be ready."
Damian exhales sharply. There's a long silence before he speaks.
Damian Derulo "Fine let's say I believe you, how do I change it?" He asked as his gaze turned neutral.
For the first time, Alter's expression turns unreadable. Then, he lifts a hand, and from the shadows, something begins to emerge.
A small, crystalline shard floats in his palm, pulsing with an unnatural, almost malevolent light. The energy radiating from it is so alien, so impossibly vast, that Damian instinctively takes a step back.
Alter's voice is quiet, yet absolute.
Alter "With this—[The Shard of Origin]."
A chill runs down Damian's spine. Even without knowing its full capabilities, he can feel it—this Relic is beyond comprehension.
Alter "This is the only Relic in existence capable of rewriting a Title," Alter continues. "It was forged by Nomos, one of the strongest Outer Gods. It does not care for fate, for balance, or for consequence."
Damian exhales slowly. "And what's the catch?"
Alter's gaze darkens slightly.
Alter "Titles are fundamental to existence. Changing one is unpredictable. There will be consequences."
Something about the way he says it makes Damian pause.
For a moment, there is silence. Then—
Damian Derulo "Fine. Do it."
There's no hesitation in Damian's voice, and that's exactly why Alter stops. He stares at Damian for a few seconds, his eyes unreadable.
Alter "...I see."
He doesn't elaborate, but Damian knows exactly what he sees.
Damian isn't agreeing because he trusts Alter.
Damian isn't agreeing because he believes it's the best choice.
He's agreeing because, deep down, a part of him doesn't care about the consequences.
Maybe he's even hoping the consequences, whatever it may be will kill him.
The weight of the silence lingers—but Alter says nothing. Instead, he raises the Shard of Origin.
Alter "Then let it be done."
As Alter lifts the Shard, reality itself trembles.
A pulse of pure, alien energy erupts from the Relic, sending shockwaves through the void. The nebulas distort, the cosmic depths crackle with unstable power, and Damian feels something deep inside him shift.
Something is being rewritten.
[Title Changing…]
[Title Changed: [The Ender]]
Damian breathes heavily, staring at his hands, feeling the difference immediately.
Damian Derulo "And what now?"
Alter steps back, once again sitting on his throne. His form, now fully humanoid, rests against the dark seat like a king waiting for his next move.
Alter "Now? You survive. And when the time comes… you rise."
A blinding light engulfs everything.
And then—
Everything goes dark.
---
*Gasp—!*
Damian bolted upright, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he sucked in deep, desperate breaths. His skin was clammy, his head pounding like a war drum.
His wide eyes darted around, scanning his dimly lit room. The familiar walls. His desk. The same unmade bed.
He was back.
Back in his room.
Back where he had been before he met Alter.
His trembling hands moved over his body, patting down his arms, his chest—his heartbeat thundered beneath his palm, a frantic rhythm that made him feel too alive.
Damian Derulo 'Was that… real?'
Damian swallowed, forcing air into his lungs, then exhaled slowly. Another breath. And another.
Minutes passed before his pulse finally steadied.
With a deep sigh, he pushed himself up from the cold floor and staggered toward his bed, grabbing his phone. The screen lit up as he checked the time.
---
Time: 9:24 PM
---
Damian Derulo "!! It's been twelve hours?!"
His voice cracked in shock. His fingers tightened around the phone before he shoved it into his pocket and hurried to the window.
The night sky stretched out before him—vast, endless, and unsettlingly bright.
The moon glowed with unnatural intensity, casting a near-daylight radiance over the world below. The city, the streets, the distant rooftops—everything was too clear for this time of night, like the sun had only just dipped beyond the horizon.
And then—
His gaze looked at it.
The skies.
The skies were no longer red.
His breath hitched.
But wasn't it too bright?
Damian Derulo 'So… I survived, huh? So much for consequences'
The thought came unbidden, soaked in a strange mix of relief and… disappointment.
"Origin Status."
The words left his lips before he could second-guess them.
And once again, the glowing screen answered.
//
____________________________________
[ Origin System Interface ]
---
* [Name] : Damian Derulo
* [Race] : ??? Unknown ( No Longer Fully Human )
* [Title(s)] : [The Ender (Peak Absolute Grade)]
* [Power Tier] : Echo (Awakening Stage)
* [Identity] : A Survivor of the Rapture, Transformation and Title change.
____________________________________
[ Facets ]
---
1.[Etenal Consumption] - Absorption of even more complex powers, including conceptual ones of those you kill by consuming their remains.
2.[Entropy Surge] - Causes rapid decomposition upon physical contact with anyone or thing.
3.[Oblivion Chains] - Conjures chains that latches onto targets, draining them of their vitality and strength.
____________________________________
[ Resonances ]
---
1.[Undying] - Prevents Permanent death.
2.[Survivor Instinct] - Heightened reflexes and danger perception.
3.[Absolute Termination] - Anything you completely destroys cannot be restored.
____________________________________
[ Relics ]
---
None
____________________________________
//
Damian Derulo 'I see some changes… so I'm no longer human.'
His eyes flickered over the status screen, absorbing the new information. A slow, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at his lips.
'That's good news, to be honest…'
Yet, despite the revelation, something felt off. Something was missing.
No. A few things were. It was like a puzzle missing several important pieces. He couldn't quite place it, but an eerie sense of absence gnawed at him, like a piece of himself that was supposed to be there wasn't.
*Thud*
Damian froze.
His head snapped toward the window as his body tensed instinctively. The sound came from outside.
Slowly, silently, he rose from his bed, his steps measured as he crept toward the glass. With careful precision, he peeked out into the strangely illuminated night.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
To Be Continued...