1 Is this the End?

As the sky darkened, shrouded in ominous clouds, the once bustling metropolis stood in ruins, a haunting echo of its former glory.

The E.N.D., an ancient entity summoned by the World System, had razed everything in its path. Buildings lay in shattered heaps, and the streets were littered with debris and remnants of the brave souls who had fought but ultimately succumbed to the calamity.

Amidst the devastation, the lone figure of a man, Ethan Yang, stood resolute, the last survivor.

[World Event: Help Earth overcome Deletion by slaying E.N.D.]

[Status: Ongoing]

[Active participants: 1]

[Incapacitated: 42387]

[Constellations viewing: 28]

Bloodied and bruised, but fuelled by determination and the memory of all those who had fallen, Ethan knew that the fate of humanity rested on his shoulders. The monster loomed over him, its malevolent red eyes gleaming with a thirst for destruction.

Ethan's heart pounded, the weight of the world bearing down on his weary shoulders. He clutched tightly to a necklace - a reminder of the people he had lost but especially of her. He closed his eyes and for a brief moment, in his mind, he saw a graceful figure, dressed in white, emerged. The figure looked at him and smiled. Ethan looked at her and his eyes turned wet.

It was Eleonora, or Ella as he liked to call her. She was his childhood friend and a Rift Explorer. Both of them were unawakened but despite that Ella would go into Rifts for better research results. He remembered how they would constantly argue about safety. Five years ago, she died inside a D-Rank Rift that turned out the be C-Rank. Strangely enough, he awakened an SSS-Rank Skill after that and took the loss to fuel himself to become stronger. Never let anything like that happen ever again. Currently, he was ranked 3rd worldwide, but still couldn't do anything.

'How naive … how stupid!' He thought and began to laugh.

'All of this was for naught. Why did I train so much only for them to throw this guy at us?'

Summoning the last vestiges of courage, Ethan raised his sword and faced E.N.D. head-on. Undeterred, Ethan pressed on, employing every skill he had honed through countless battles. He danced around the colossal being, evading its sweeping claws and retaliating with precise sword strikes. Each strike echoes with a fierce determination, each movement unwavering.

[Warning: User has less than 2% of HP left. Employing Skill: Last Stand]

His armor as been chipped away, bruises adorned his limbs, and sweat dripped from his brows, yet he refused to yield.

The creature roared again, this time unleashing a torrent of energy blasts that sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. Ethan leaped back, narrowly avoiding the onslaught, but the force of the attack sent him crashing into a nearby building, the impact cracking the concrete beneath him.

Climbing back to his feet, he gasped for air. His weapon felt heavier with each swing, his movements growing slower, but his resolve remained unyielding.

As the monster lunged forward with a crushing blow, Ethan sidestepped and unleashed a powerful counter-attack, channeling all his remaining strength into one final strike. The blade pierced the creature's side, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. E.N.D. let out a pained cry, its dark form quivering with the injury.

[Registering remaining HP of E.N.D. to be around 10% … SSS-Rank Skill Divine Execution activated]

With a battle cry that echoed through the ruins, he summoned the power within him, his weapon glowed with an ethereal light, and with a mighty swing, he delivered the decisive blow.

The blade pieced through the creature's heart, and the world seemed to hold its breath. E.N.D. let out a final, defeated roar before collapsing, its massive form crashing to the ground. A blinding flash of light enveloped the battlefield as it dissipated, leaving behind nothing but silence and stillness.

The last survivor stood amidst the ruins, his breath ragged and body weary, yet still victorious.

[World Event: Help Earth overcome Deletion by slaying E.N.D.]

[Status: Completed]

[Active participants: 1]

[Incapacitated: 42387]

[Constellations viewing: 31]

[Congratulations, you have saved the planet from an ongoing calamity!]

[Gained Title "The Last Survivor of the Apocalypse"]

[Gained "Heart of E.N.D."]

[Calculating EXP …]

…

"System show me my status!"

[Name: Ethan Yang]

[Level: 256]

[Title: The Last Survivor of the Apocalypse]

[Class: Sword Saint]

[Status: Exhausted]

[Exp: 825,000/1,000,000]

[HP: 120/12,567]

[MP: 0/15,000]

[SP: 45/18,000]

[Warning: HP is below 1%. Healing is advised]

…

These are Constellations or gods as some may call them. About 50 years ago, Rifts started to appear and Gods descended along with them. Most are just watching Earth to entertain themselves, like watching TV. If lucky enough, some Constellations may find one interesting and start sponsoring them with skills and items. But they are ultimately seeking entertainment and don't care about what will happen to this world. It is, after all, one of many that they can switch their attention to.

"You shitty gods! Yes, I'm talking to you! Fuck you all! I don't fucking care anymore! I ain't getting paid enough for this entertainment shit! Go entertain yourselves!"

…

'… the fuck is wrong with them!'

Ethan ignored them and opened his inventory to check the loot.

[Heart of E.N.D.]

[Durability: ∞]

[Legends say it belonged to the ancient ——- ——-. Possessing it grants control over ——— but comes with the risk of corruption. Many seek its power, but only a few can withstand its malefic influence. Its true purpose remains a mystery, and its existence is a threat to the world's balance]

[Do you wish to accept?]

This prompt snapped Ethan back to reality.

"What do you want? I don't have anything I wish for. Everything is gone …"

[Great Sage Equal to Heaven offers you a chance of regression. Become his disciple and spread his name]

[Do you wish to accept?]

…

<The Great Sage Equal to Heaven brags that only the Enlightened One can stop him but he is on vacation so no one will!>"This looks shady, to be honest. What do you gain from all this?" Ethan asked unsure if he should proceed since it looked too good to be true.

[M̸͍̜̤̺͈̼̂́̃̎̔͂̄̏̚̚ͅǫ̶̨̹̜͈̟̳̭̖̓̓̓̉n̸̙̝̪̏͜k̴̼͖̥̲̦̳͕̲͑͗̃͂̏̚e̵̲̠̽͊͌͗͝]

'The hell!? Whatever … I have nothing left to lose, why not go along? Maybe I can see her again?'

[Do you wish to accept?]

[Yes]

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