SWNOVELXO CHAPTER 268: APOCALYPSE DESCENT
[Congratulations world! The time has come for apocalypse descent!]
[The descent of apocalypse comes with blessing and a curse...]
[Great power, after all, comes with greater responsibility...]
The hour had finally arrived.
The descent of the apocalypse.
Everyone—regardless of status, occupation, or nation—heard the announcement echoing in their ears, a voice neither male nor female, both omniscient and terrifying.
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[The benefits of the descent...]
[Anyone with an apocalypse-playable character will have the full abilities of their characters relocated.]
[Your world is now eligible to compete in the World League. Winning improves the will of your world and unlocks other advantages.]
[You no longer need gaming hardware to log in. Merely thinking about Apocalypse transports you there—your body and in-game character are now one.]
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[The curse...]
[ Death in either the Apocalypse world or the real world will result in true death. There will be no resurrection, no respawn. Only finality.]
[After a short newbie grace period, all must join the World League—a brutal competition where the weak are devoured to strengthen dominant worlds.]
[Natives from the Apocalypse world may now invade your reality—if your world's administrators open the rift.]
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[The descent begins now...]
With those final, chilling words, the system's voice faded.
Then came the pain.
Those who had once been players dropped to their knees, screaming or gritting their teeth in agony. Some collapsed entirely as their bodies twisted, their nerves restructured, and their souls merged with data. The transformation lasted almost an hour—an hour that felt like eternity.
When the pain finally subsided, they were no longer mere humans.
A man staggered to his feet and approached the wall of his house, still groggy. He clenched his fist and threw a punch.
BOOM!
To his shock, the wall crumbled under his fist. His hand was now embedded deep in the concrete.
"…Holy shit!!! It works!!! I'm a supernatural now! Mushahahaha!" he roared with wild laughter.
He wasn't alone. Across the world, former players celebrated their newfound strength—leaping over buildings, shattering stone, conjuring fire or wind with a thought. The world was drunk on power.
At first, it was joy. A euphoric high. Power with no cost.
Then came realization.
For many, it began with a simple thought—a temptation.
What could they do with this power? What should they do?
Those with darker hearts were the first to fall.
The idea came slowly at first, a thrill that sent their pulses racing. Then denial.
But temptation persisted, whispering promises.
And finally—acceptance.
It didn't take long for chaos to erupt.
Pillaging, assault, extortion, robbery—society's rules shattered like glass.
A heartbroken boy who had lost his girlfriend hunted the man who took her.
An oppressed worker tracked down the employer who tormented him for years.
A petty thief set his sights on the mansions of the rich.
Only a small portion of the population hadn't played Apocalypse—whether due to doubt, age, illness, or lack of interest. And they were defenseless. Even the weakest supernatural could overpower a trained soldier. Unless they had a gun—and luck—there was little hope of survival.
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******
"Wow, this is so addicting! My eyes… they're golden! Is this how it feels to have power?" Odin exclaimed, staring at his reflection in awe.
"Yes," Greg replied flatly. "But now isn't the time for petty talk. The world has fallen into chaos. If we don't act, we'll end up destroying ourselves."
"They?"
"Pardon?"
"Your wording," Greg clarified. "You said they would destroy the world. Not we."
Jessica blinked, then gave a faint, teasing smile. "Oh."
Greg didn't smile back. "We need to restore balance quickly—before they show themselves."
"Annabelle," he turned, "the store… did you buy a floating island?"
His second island was still underwhelming. Credit to the stingy Drakonix.
"Yes," his sister replied. "I thought it might be useful. Just one, though."
"That's enough. Good thinking. So… shall we create a new world order under us?"
"Sounds fun," George said with a cheeky grin.
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******
"The time has come," the head of the Rothschild family announced, his voice smooth but commanding. "Apocalypse has descended. There is no more need for us to remain in hiding. Now, we rise. Not from the shadows—but from the forefront."
He swept his gaze over the room of gathered family members.
"This is a competition. Among us. The family that dominates the most territory gains the most control."
But the Rothschilds weren't the only ones. Other hidden families—who had lurked in secrecy for generations—were making similar moves. The age of veiled manipulation was over.
The time to rule had arrived.
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******
"Kate, your growth has been remarkable," Sabbah said, brushing dust from his robes after another sparring session. "But starting two days ago, there's been a sharp curve. A leap in strength beyond your usual pace."
"I… I don't know why," Kate admitted, breathing hard. "I just felt… alive. Like a part of me resurfaced. A piece I'd forgotten… now calling to me."
Sabbah narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Interesting. Prepare yourself. The apocalypse is here, and war waits like a patient beast, crouched in the shadows."
Kate hesitated. "What about Greg?"
"He continues his conquest in the other world, but even here… he shakes the balance. The hidden families are watching. Each one wants him. Each one sees him as a key to their future."
"He'll never serve anyone," she said immediately.
"Indeed," Sabbah nodded. "Which may be his greatest strength—and greatest danger. If they cannot have him, they will try to destroy him. That is how the hidden world operates. If they cannot control a talent… they eliminate it."
Sabbah turned to go. "That's enough for today. Rest well. Soon, you'll return to his side. He'll need you. More than ever."
With that, he sank into his own shadow and vanished.
Kate stood alone, catching her breath. Her thoughts drifted—not to the battlefield, but to Greg.
He was cold. Complicated. Often unbearable. Yet something about that unpredictability drew her in—like a child fascinated with a broken toy.
Her mind wandered to Thomas.
Thomas…?
Suddenly, something clicked. A memory buried deep, half-forgotten.
She'd seen him before. Long before Greg introduced them.
Her eyes widened.
"He's part of the Hidden Family of Sword," she whispered.
Heart pounding, she raced from the training hall in search of her father.
Greg needed to know.
Thomas had ties to the hidden families. And that could change everything.