Apocalypse Baby

But you…You weren't built to awaken yet. Your rank says you're not ready. Your system shouldn't have allowed it. And still, here you are—not only awakened but with pure, refined mana already flowing through you. No corruption. No backlash. No mutation.

That kind of internal refinement? That's not just rare. It's impossible—unless a deity personally intervenes...or something even greater than a deity is at work."

Or your stats is way more advanced than your rank.

Alex said inwardly.

The pieces were starting to come together.

That's why the System had suddenly kicked into overdrive and started upgrading itself.

It was trying to catch up to him.

The System hadn't been ready for it—because, at his current level, he shouldn't have been able to access Emi at all. That kind of energy? It was reserved strictly for S-Rank players and above. Players who had already been tested. Players whose bodies had been trained to survive it.

And yet… here he was.

Still technically B-Rank.

But his stats are already pushing S-Rank levels.

That was the only reason the Emi hadn't corrupted him.

His body, already stronger than most, could handle the pressure—even if the System hadn't caught up yet.

He turned toward Adam, his eyes sharp now, voice edged with curiosity.

"Alright… So how does this Emi relate to the deities?"

Adam's face lit up like he'd been waiting for that question.

A chance to pitch the Dragon Emperor? Perfect.

Adam's eyes gleamed as he stepped closer to Alex, his voice taking on a confident, almost eager edge.

"Well, that has everything to do with Aspects," he began, clearly excited to share.

"Each deity has their own Aspect—a sort of dominion over a theme, a force. Fire. Blood. War. Judgment. Death. You name it, there's a deity who rules over it."

Adam's hands moved as he spoke, gesturing for emphasis like he was painting a picture with his words.

"When you become a legacy candidate for one of them, your Emi aligns with that Aspect. It changes. It specializes." He smirked as if he already knew what was coming. "That alignment—is what unlocks real power."

He leaned in closer, almost as if he were sharing a secret.

"You see, specialization is key. Denizens—Players like you and me? We can't afford to spread ourselves thin. The deeper you go, the more important it becomes to focus. Otherwise, you'll hit a wall. Fast. That's why choosing a deity isn't just smart—it's necessary."

"A lot of solo Players try to go it alone... and end up realizing too late they're out of their depth. That's when they wish they had a deity behind them, pushing them forward. So when a deity extends an invitation to become a legacy candidate? You don't ignore it."

Adam's voice dropped, his tone turning serious, almost threatening.

"Because if you reject them?" He let the words hang in the air for a beat, letting the weight of what he was about to say sink in. "When you're finally desperate... they won't accommodate. Gods are petty like that."

Alex folded his arms, standing tall as he let the warning echo in his mind.

After a long pause, Alex finally spoke, his voice casual but with an edge of curiosity.

"But with this legacy trial... I can become a deity myself. Right?"

Adam blinked, taken off guard by the question. For a moment, it was like he didn't know how to respond. Then, he shook his head in disbelief.

"Seriously? That's what you're thinking about?" Adam let out a sigh, rubbing his temples like he was dealing with a headache. "Yes, technically, passing the legacy trial could make you a deity. But come on—only one person has ever succeeded. And that was millions of years ago. He vanished after that—completely disappeared."

Alex smirked, a playful glint in his eyes as he tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"One in a million, huh? That number might change soon."

"Alex, you're not—"

Before Adam could finish, a sudden ding! cut him off.

Both of them looked up as a notification flashed in front of Alex's eyes.

Ding!

[You will now be transported to the next selection of the trial][Brace Yourself]

The notification blinked out of existence.

Adam sighed, his shoulders slumping in resignation.

"We don't have enough time to talk more."

"Well… thank you for the information," Alex said, flashing Adam a quick smile.

"I'll tell you more when we meet again. But just so you know, all of this will be explained if you accept the Dragon Emperor as your deity."

Alex shrugged, as he casually waved off the idea.

"Eh... pass."

Then Adam vanished.

One by one, the others began disappearing too, each swallowed by the shimmering light that marked their transition to the next round.

Alex stood still, watching them go.

He knew why Adam had spent so much time talking to him. It wasn't just to be friendly—it was to pitch his deity. To sell the idea that choosing a god, his god, was the smart play.

But Alex had already made up his mind.

No meetings. No pacts.

Especially not now that he didn't fully understand what was going on.

Just as he was lost in thought, a voice called from behind.

"Good luck."

He turned.

Eve stood there with a faint smile—then, just like the others, she vanished in a burst of light.

Only two left now.

Alex slowly turned his head—and locked eyes with the last remaining player.

Mikel.

The blood dude?

He stood silently, staring at Alex with a strange, unreadable expression. Like there was something he wanted to say... but couldn't.

Then he, too, faded away.

Leaving Alex alone.

Alex raised an eyebrow, a bit confused by the way Mikel looked at him.

But he didn't dwell on it.

What bothered Alex more was the pattern he was starting to notice.

Why am I always the last one to be transported out of a place? It had happened after the nightmare trial ended as well.

He was also the last to leave.

Odd.

Real odd.