Return before the end

Gasping for air, Vael Nyxborn shot upright in his bed, sweat soaking his brow. His chest heaved like he had just escaped death itself. His wide eyes scanned the walls of his room—familiar, too familiar.

Was this a dream? An illusion? Divine punishment?

He turned his head and locked eyes with the calendar on the door.

He froze. His heart skipped a beat.

He leapt out of bed, checked the time, turned on his tablet, watched the news, opened the window.

Everything matched.

He was back. One month before the Apocalypse… and five months before his death.

Silence filled the room, broken only by Vael’s slow breathing.

Then, a twisted grin formed on his lips.

> “If this is real… then this time, I won’t make the same mistakes. Never again will I trust. Never again will I kneel.”

---

He walked slowly into the bathroom. Pale morning light streamed through the window. Warm water ran down his skin, and he savored every drop like it was a rare treasure.

> “In the Apocalypse… water will be worth more than life.”

---

Once dressed in his usual black coat, he wandered the city streets. People laughed, children played, vendors shouted their deals. A careless, blissful society, unaware of the disaster looming ahead.

> “Laugh while you still can… soon, it’ll be screams instead of smiles.”

---

His steps led him to a forested mountain at the city’s edge. His eyes lifted to an abandoned house nestled among the trees. He remembered it—a forgotten refuge. A legendary hunter had survived the chaos alone there for years.

> “If I make it mine, I’ll survive too.”

---

But the house, its repairs, the supplies—it would all cost a fortune.

So what?

Vael took out multiple loans, calculated down to the last coin. He knew once the Apocalypse hit, the banks would never get their money back. And even if they tried, they wouldn’t find anyone left to pay.

For a whole month, he worked relentlessly. Steel walls. Generators. Solar panels. Rations. Surveillance systems. Every detail was fortified.

When he finally stood at the threshold of his bunker, a cold pride filled him.

> “Let them rot outside. I’ll survive.”

---

Just as he was enjoying the moment, his phone buzzed.

Incoming call: Elyna.

Vael froze.

Her.

The traitor.

The one who had betrayed him with his adoptive brother.

A dark rage twisted in his gut. But he still answered.

— Where are you?!, shouted the girl on the other end. Did you forget?! It’s MY birthday today! You should’ve been here already!

He narrowed his eyes.

Yes, now he remembered. That night, he had wasted time at her birthday party instead of going to train. When midnight struck, he missed his only chance to level up early.

That was the start of his fall.

But not this time.

— Happy birthday, Elyna. Next time we meet… it’ll be your last day.

And he hung up.

---

On the other end, Elyna stared at the phone, speechless.

That bootlicker she always controlled had just hung up on her. Worse—he’d threatened her.

Furious but confused, she shrugged it off and went to find Vaelion, Vael’s adoptive brother… to “have some fun.”

---

Meanwhile, Vael sat calmly on his couch, arms crossed.

The hour approached.

11:50 PM…

11:57 PM…

11:59 PM…

Midnight.

A deep rumble echoed across the sky. Outside, the stars blinked out one by one, swallowed by a crimson mist. A strange light blanketed the world. The air turned heavy—oppressive.

> The Apocalypse had begun.

---

Vael stood up and walked to the bunker door. Slowly, he opened it and looked up at the torn sky.

> “This time… I’ll be the one setting the rules. Welcome to the Apocalypse.”