Chapter 1 - 1

70 years ago, Earth was in peace. However, not until when the "Doom Era" started. Doom, as it is because it was the end of the world as experts were incapable to answer every phenomenon that happened.

Rifts started appearing in different places. Just when these phenomena were unknown to everyone, no one dared to enter the rifts. Alternatively, they examined the outer appearance of it and were just curious about where this rift would take humans to.

Humans were extremely cautious that inside the rift might be another environment that no human could survive. Therefore, they conducted years examining it.

But those studies were futile. Because just when the rift was left unexplored, beasts started appearing that came from inside of it.

The beasts went out of every rift, wrecking everything they could see.

Humans were powerless. They couldn't address the threats the beasts gave them. As atrocious as their appearance was, they tried to fight it with atrocious methods.

Nuclear bombing, biochemical attacks, and other methods they could think of. However, it was really futile as it didn't give humans many results.

And after a year of fear, the global human population dropped by 40%. In addition, the government was in turmoil after that massive beast rampage.

The Earth was searching for hope. But what hope could they ask for when the world was facing its end?

That hope... was answered when the Awakens appeared.

Awakens were humans who had mysterious powers within them. According to them, they just suddenly had powers when the first rift appeared. But because of the fear of the government and the scientists who might experiment on them, they all hide in the shadows.

Gradually, Awakens gained major prominence in the public. Since all governments all over the world were damaged and unable to function effectively, the Awakens took them into account.

The Awakens become heroes as well as the leaders of the world. And after 20 years of suffering and 50 years of struggling to rise again, the Earth achieved the end of the "Doom Era".

And here now, Roger is walking while recalling the brief history of the New Earth.

From the stories of his grandparents who lived before the Doom Era and survived it, Earth was at peace and all humans were living in harmony.

Although they knew it was just an illusion, they didn't mind it. That is why the Earth was unable to save 60% of its population.

Nevertheless, for Roger, he thought it was better to have the Old Earth. If not for those Awakens and beasts, he might have been living normally right now. Your position in society depends on whether you are an Awaken or not.

Awakens were categorized into three categories. The Warriors, Mages, and Priests. They are all prominent in the New Earth, but what will happen to those who are just powerless?

Powerless... They are mere fillers for the population of the world. They were tasked with doing the most menial and hard tasks since they don't "put their lives on the line" to protect the world.

"What a load of nonsense," Roger grunted as he browsed through his phone.

Looking at the glass with holographic images shown, he gritted his teeth when he read another news about powerless or non-Awaken humans being trampled.

"What a bunch of nonsense they are...To think that they still consider themselves heroes." That was what he was supposed to say, but before he could mumble those words, a sudden honk from a vehicle resounded, causing his spine to feel the chills.

Boom!

Oh right! That honk came from truck-kun that suddenly hit him when he was crossing the road.

The impact of the truck numbed his body with tremendous pain. His body flew...

Aimless...

Roger felt his body flying aimlessly, nothing to land on.

And just like that, he closed his eyes as he recollected something familiar with this scene.

'Was this the slo-mo scene when you are about to die? I thought it was the life that flashes back.'

Nevertheless, Aaron felt that the time went slower than usual. Being conscious of it, he slowly opened his eyes, but when he finally opened them, he was flabbergasted when he saw himself floating in a forest covered with tall bamboos.

"Waahh!"

Just as surprised as he was, he lost control of his body and eventually fell.

He felt the ground kissing his butt. And just when he tried to raise his body, he groaned.

"What the heck?"

He inspected his body as well as the ground. It was real...

He thought that he was just hallucinating, but when he held the ground once again, he felt its roughness.

And just when he couldn't believe it, tears slowly formed in his eyes. He was afraid of death, but earlier, when he accepted his fate, he was sorry for someone.

His family...

"I almost died," he gasped, then took his stand on the ground.

He tapped his butt as well as his body, which was now covered with dirt and dried leaves.

"That was... I was floating earlier, right?" he asked himself, then looked back to see where he really was.

But the entire area where he was standing was surrounded by tall bamboos.

"Where the heck am I?"

He contemplated for a short time, then, finally composed, he tried to leave the forest.

But just being cautious, he didn't rush. Since he knew that he was in the middle of nowhere, he cautiously searched for a path outside the forest of tall bamboo.

A beast might appear, and just to be sure that he would leave this place alive, even though he didn't know why he didn't die and just appeared there out of nowhere, he still held on to his life.

But no matter how much you try to be careful, you won't find true safety.

When Roger was about to see a wide plain, his fear was all over his body when a tall wolf beast appeared before him.

It had a domineering aura, and when he was frightened, his body couldn't move.

He couldn't run. His fear took over his system.

'What the hell....? I am still about to die!'