2 - Final Choice

All of existence had frozen over.

And after a time of deafening silence...

...he slowly opened his eyes.

Scars of frozen red traced around him.

Shadows filled everything else.

A single light held above, familiar, yet dimmer than before. Almost as if it was fighting the end.

Then it spoke.

"You... Remained aware."

He couldn't respond.

It continued.

"Luck... Obligation... unintended consequence... you seem to have been selected."

A chill ran through his body with each word.

"If you proceed... and fail..."

The light flickered.

"...There will be no recurrence."

The words filled his head with understanding.

He had two choices.

Complete a solo mission to save the world, or give up to end it.

The problem is, it wasn't as simple as it sounds.

If he forfeits his life, everything that existed will vanish, but life will restart once more eons into the future.

Once sentient life forms, the trials would begin again, testing life every cycle until their three restored lives have extinguished.

But, if he takes the solo mission and fails... All life will permanently cease to exist.

Creation would have failed as a project.

A red tablet flickered into existence before him.

His heart sank.

Words formed clearly across its surface:

"Will you accept?"