Plum blossoms wafted in the air, leaving a soft scent.
Winter had long passed, and Spring quietly arrived beside everyone.
Underneath a cherry blossom tree, two college students sat beside each other.
"My mother called me last night."
"..."
"It was about the matter from before…"
"..."
"Are you listening to me, Zold?"
Hearing his name, the young man snapped out of his daze.
He looked at the girl beside him, suddenly remembering everything.
'I came back…'
The young man thought, looking at his hands.
The girl saw the young man's eyes turn nostalgic, but when she blinked, all she saw was an indifferent gaze.
"Zold?"
The girl frowned, raising her voice.
Zold shifted his gaze to the girl. He answered calmly:
"I wasn't listening."
"You…"
The girl's eyes showed immense disappointment. She shook her head.
"... Zold, it's pointless. We can't be together. You don't like me enough."
Zold was silent for a moment before opening his mouth:
"You're right."
"List… huh?"
The girl was shocked, momentarily releasing his hands.
Zold gently moved her hand away and stood up. He looked at the drifting plum blossoms, at the endless blue sky, and finally, he glanced at the girl sitting on the bench.
"I don't really like you that much, Stelle. Let's break up."
"..."
Stelle had a momentary look of confusion.
No, wait, huh?
Although she wanted this result, she didn't expect it to be this easy.
She couldn't help but raise her eyes and stare at Zold, noticing his cold expression.
Just a day ago, this face was full of love and smiles, but now she couldn't see a trace of any of that on his face.
What changed?
Stelle was confused.
"Is that all?"
Zold glanced at her, asking bluntly.
Unnerved by his indifference, Stell hesitated for a moment before nodding, "... Yes. But I don't mind if we keep being friends."
Hearing that, Zold couldn't help but laugh.
"No, let's be strangers instead."
Not waiting for her reply, he walked out and looked at the sky with a cold smile.
'Regression…'
Even though it's been 75 years, he still remembers this moment.
Something as small as this, he should've already forgotten it.
However, it was impossible as this day was special.
This day was the exact date the Apostles descended.
It just so happens it was also the day when his ex-girlfriend broke up with him.
If he remembered clearly, she broke up with him because her mother introduced her to a rich young man.
Not wanting to ruin her reputation at university, she wanted him to be the one to break up.
The old Zold might not have agreed, full of pride and love, but…
"Ninety-nine disasters. Human life is ultimately fleeting. What is there left to love in this world?"
To him, who survived through era-ending disasters one after another, he could no longer love someone.
His experience could only be understood by his peers. Anyone else, they would feel he was unnatural.
'Since I came back at this time, there's not much time left…'
After returning to the university, Zold felt a presence quickly draw up on his back.
In a split second, his eyes sharpened.
Woosh!
He immediately turned around and grabbed the other person's hand, looking at them straight in the eye.
"Ow! Hey, man!"
The other person yelped, immediately pulling back their hand. But Zold's grip was astonishingly strong, making them helpless.
Zold furrowed his brows, slowly recognizing the other person.
'It's you...'
The other person was a young man with short black hair and an average build. He glared at Zold, slightly aggrieved.
"What gives?! You're so aggressive, damn…"
"Sorry."
Zold immediately apologized, letting go of the man's hand.
His instincts got the better of him.
"Jeez, you got dumped or something?"
The young man squinted his eyes.
Zold looked at the man with mixed feelings.
"Chongji."
"Yeah?"
Chongji tilted his head, feeling quite strange. Zold seemed different today… did he really get dumped by Stelle?
"Chongji…"
Zold repeated again, this time a slight smile appearing on his face.
In his previous life, he had very few allies he could trust his life with.
Chongji was one of them.
Unfortunately, this friend of his died in front of him during the Twenty-First Era Ending Calamity.
"Yeah, man? You're acting kinda strange today. Want to ditch class and get a drink?"
Chongji sighed, immediately piecing out the puzzle.
Zold got dumped!
No doubt about it.
"Maybe another time."
Zold shook his head. He needed some time to think, and the Apostles were arriving soon.
"Alright."
Chongji didn't push. His eyes lit up as he remembered something.
"Oh yeah, I just heard earlier that the princess suddenly ran out of Old Joules' lecture. But even then, the old man couldn't do anything but stuff up with it! I wish I were there."
"Princess?"
Zold furrowed his brows.
"Princess Maria," Chongji narrowed his eyes, smiling slightly, "The Auburn family's sole daughter. The most beautiful woman in the university! The academic star Maria Auburn! Don't tell me you don't know her?"
Hearing his words, Zold relaxed. But then his expression immediately became strange…
"Yeah right," Chongji laughed sarcastically, shaking his head. "I'm going to go on ahead. I have one last lecture to attend. Dial my phone up if you need to hang out, just don't keep all of it to yourself, capishe?"
He bumped his fist on Zold's shoulder, bidding farewell.
"Got it."
Zold's expression softened as he smiled.
"Gotta go!"
Once Chongji left, Zold didn't linger any longer and hurriedly went up to the university rooftop.
Thankfully, there was no one else at this time, so he could contemplate peacefully.
"Regression…"
Using the shed as a cover against the sun, he looked at the sky thoughtfully.
'The Ninety-Ninth Era Ending Calamity is [Regression]? Is it the same with other universes?'
'Why is [Regression] considered a calamity? And that Apostle… why did he smile?'
Zold frowned, feeling as if he was surrounded by a heavy fog.
Everything about the Ninety Nine Era Ending Calamities was confusing and mysterious, as if someone was intentionally hiding the truth.
'Could it be that Apostle?'
Zold thought, remembering the Apostle who had smiled at them.
In his previous life, humanity tried to investigate the truth about the Ninety Nine Era Ending Calamities, but every attempt ended up in disappointment.
It was as if an invisible wall stood before them, not allowing them to get past.
Most, including him, thought that by reaching the Ninety-Ninth Era Ending Calamity everything would be revealed once and for all, but…
Instead, the final calamity completely overturned everything they knew about the Ninety Nine Era Ending Calamities.
How could [Regression] be a calamity?
Zold focused on this point.
Undoubtedly, there has to be a secret that nobody else knew!
And this secret was the core of the Ninety Nine Era Ending Calamities!
If he finds that out, then maybe…
Maybe he could kill the Apostles and their God.
Zold stared at the sky coldly, his hand clenching instinctively.
'Not maybe. I will.'
If it took a secret to kill them, he would find that secret, even if he had to look for it in every corner of the universe.
After a while, he let out a deep breath.
He needed to plan for this. Simply desiring it won't make it happen.
Zold brushed aside such thoughts for the moment and thought about other, more important things.
Click!
At that moment, the rooftop door opened.
He shifted his gaze to his right and saw a familiar figure, only younger.
With long, silky brown hair and flawless skin, she looked like the girl of every young man's dreams.
Underneath her eyeglasses, her sharp yet unguarded amethyst eyes, resembling a streak of northern lights, lit up in surprise.
When their eyes met, a pleased expression appeared on her face.
Sword Saintess Maria Auburn.
"Zold!"
"Saintess."
Zold nodded back, remembering Chongji's words from earlier.
What a coincidence, he did know the princess.