The End Before the Beginning
The world was ending.
Crimson flames engulfed the heavens, casting an eerie glow over the shattered ruins of what was once the last bastion of hope. The air was thick with smoke and the stench of blood. The ground trembled beneath Ado Shin's feet as he staggered forward, his once-pristine armor now cracked and soaked in his own blood.
Before him stood the being responsible for it all.
The God of All floated above the ruins, bathed in an ethereal golden light. His eyes, void of emotion, gazed down upon Ado as if he were nothing more than a fleeting moment in an endless eternity. Power radiated from the deity's very existence, distorting space itself.
"You mortals never learn," the god mused, his voice reverberating through the broken world. "You struggle. You defy. But in the end, it always ends the same way."
Ado gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his shattered sword. Every muscle in his body screamed in agony, but he forced himself to stand tall. He could barely hold his weapon, the once-magnificent blade now chipped and broken beyond recognition.
But he had no choice.
"I refuse…" he rasped, his throat raw from battle. "I refuse to accept this ending!"
The god tilted his head, as if amused. "Oh? Even now, when all your allies have fallen? When your so-called resistance has been reduced to dust? Even as your body crumbles, you still cling to hope?"
Ado's hands trembled. Images of his fallen comrades flashed through his mind—their screams, their last moments, their unfulfilled dreams. He had promised them victory. He had promised to protect them.
And yet, here he was. The last one standing. Alone.
He let out a ragged breath. "I don't care if I'm alone. As long as I'm breathing, I will fight!"
The god sighed. "How tiring."
With a flick of his wrist, a golden light erupted from his palm, spiraling into a spear of divine energy. It crackled with raw power—absolute, undeniable destruction. Ado had seen this attack before. The one that had wiped out entire cities in an instant.
And now, it was coming for him.
There was no escape.
Ado clenched his teeth. His body refused to move, exhaustion weighing him down like chains. His magic was depleted. His strength was gone.
But even so—
I won't close my eyes.
If this was the end, then he would face it head-on.
The divine spear shot forward, cutting through the very fabric of reality. The air itself vibrated under its force. Time seemed to slow as the golden light engulfed Ado's vision.
This was it.
This was—
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Darkness.
---
Ado's eyes snapped open.
He gasped, his chest rising and falling in rapid succession. His hands clutched at his body, expecting to feel torn flesh, broken bones—pain. But there was nothing. His wounds were gone. His exhaustion, his fatigue, all of it had vanished.
What…?
He blinked rapidly, his vision adjusting to the dimly lit room around him. A familiar wooden ceiling stretched above him, the faint scent of old books and dust filling his nose.
His heart pounded in his chest. Slowly, he sat up, his hands gripping the soft sheets beneath him. He recognized this bed. He recognized the small, cluttered desk in the corner, the stacks of textbooks, the worn-out uniform hanging by the door.
This was his room.
His room from before.
Stumbling out of bed, he rushed to the window, his breath caught in his throat. The city stretched before him, bathed in the soft glow of sunrise. The streets were peaceful, untouched by war. There were no burning skies, no crumbling buildings, no divine beings hovering in the heavens.
It was as if none of it had ever happened.
Ado's trembling fingers touched his chest. No wounds. No scars. No trace of the battle he had just fought moments ago.
The war was gone.
No… he was back.
Back to the beginning.
His mind raced, struggling to comprehend what had happened. He had died. He had faced the God of All. He had seen the world end with his own eyes. There was no mistaking it.
And yet… he was here. Seventeen years old again. Weak. Powerless.
The realization hit him like a thunderbolt.
"The world… reset?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
His breath quickened as countless possibilities ran through his mind. Was this an illusion? A cruel trick? Or—
Was this a second chance?
Ado clenched his fists. His body was trembling—not from fear, but from something else. Something deeper.
Determination.
This time, he knew the future.
This time, he wouldn't let them die.
This time, he wouldn't let the gods win.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself. There was much to do, and he had no time to waste.
The war had not yet begun.
But now, he would be ready for it.
And this time—he would change everything.
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