1 Chapter 1: A World of Curtains
End of the world.
People thought that it would happen in an instant. People said it would be beautiful; a flash of light in the sky and a single boom, and everything we ever know would just be…
...Gone.
They were wrong. The end of the world did not happen in an instant.
There were no flashes of light, there wasn't even a boom. It was, however, truly and incredibly beautiful. Instead of flashes of light in the skies, what we got were Curtains.
Curtains of light, all of different colors, dazzling in the sky. The people of the world were mesmerized by their unquantifiable beauty, like the aurora, but covering the entire world with its undying magnificence.
'Undying'-- perhaps that was thoughtless; as what came after beauty…
...was death.
People all around the world flocked when some of the Curtains started falling from the sky, like moths drawn towards a fire they could finally reach. Nothing happened yet, of course… It wasn't until one of them decided to get too close and open the pandora's box.
And as soon as one of the Curtains was opened… Death was unveiled in the form of men. History no longer knew who the first victim was, but everyone surmised what had happened to him… or her.
The first victim entered the Curtain, only to kill, to devour the first human it saw as it came back.
'It'-- perhaps that was the proper term for it now, as what came out of the Curtain was no longer human, but a monster; bringing along with them creatures that one could only find in literature.
Of course, as humans do, everyone panicked. And with Curtains all around them, they disappeared one by one… by one, only to return as a horde that swept through the lands.
This continued on like a ripple across the world; destroying entire cities in waves in less than a day. The world responded, of course, but facing an unknown enemy was something that they were not trained to do.
But it was due to them fighting back that the world began to learn about the Curtains.
There were those that were able to come out of the Curtain still human. No, they came out as something more.
The humans that were able to survive the challenges within the Curtain were granted power. Different kinds of power depending on the Curtain they entered; Enhanced strength, reflexes, the ability to control the elements to their will...
...There were all sorts of random abilities; they all, however, had one thing in common-- The System.
The System came to them in the form of a hologram; a floating set of words that created an interface for them to do all sorts of things. Permanently increase their physical abilities with just a tap, magically buy all sorts of weapons that materialize out of nothing by using the so-called Points they receive from killing the creatures inside Curtains and successfully clearing the objectives given to them.
The end of the world did not happen in an instant.
Instead, it turned the whole planet into a game-- and Zac Baker was one of the players that were lucky enough to reach its conclusion.
"...How long has it been?"
"169 years."
"61,727 days to be exact."
"I don't know, man. 169 years sounds longer to my ears."
"...We're that old? But why does it look like only Chandra grew older?"
"Fuck you."
"That long, huh? I didn't even notice," Zac's long red hair flowed from his shoulders as he took off the robe covering his head, revealing his bright red eyes that seemed to draw everyone it lays its eyes upon, "Well, I for one, do not want to add any more days to that…
...Let's fucking end this," he then said as he grabbed the staff resting on the boulder beside him-- a magic staff that was taller than even him, adorned with a bright purple jewel floating on its end.
"Really? What's the rush?" A man clad in golden armor then placed his hand on Zac's shoulder. His chuckles, whispering into Zac's ears, "It's not like our most powerful Mage has a date to go to after the apocalypse."
"That's because they are all dead, Chris," Zac then let out a small scoff as he removed Chris's hand from his shoulder.
"Well, you didn't have to go that dark, but okay."
Zac Baker-- the one they call the Supreme Mage; a title given to him for having the highest level amongst the Mages, capable of destroying moons with a flick of his hand.
But he was not alone in holding such a grandiose title.
Chris Williams-- known as the Heavenly Shield, the Vanguard with the highest level, capable of blocking even meteors the size of an island.
Diana Williams-- The Mage of Ice, second only to Zac in terms of sheer raw magical ability.
Tyler Curry-- A Healer capable of restoring any and all injury as long as one's heart still beats.
Ai Tanaka-- The Twilight Swordsman, rumored to be able to split atoms with her blades.
Chandra Singh-- A poison master, capable of clearing a Curtain without even entering it by poisoning everything within it.
And lastly… Isabel Reyes-- Has the unique ability to amplify the power of the System.
The 7 of them were known as the Saviors of the world-- the one to close all Curtains. And close all the Curtains they did, until finally…
...There was only one.
All sorts of color reflected on Zac's eyes as he stared at the Final Curtain. More than a hundred years of suffering, finally coming to an end as he faced the last challenge of his life. Facing beasts, the undead, giants, and even dragons.
He had lost his family, his loved ones, and in a way, even his humanity.
Even if they cleared this last Curtain and finally saved the world, there was nothing for him out there-- He was alone.
But that didn't matter, the lives of hundreds of millions of people rest in their hands. They weren't Saviors… but soldiers; soldiers ready to die so that the people of the world could finally sleep, not thinking if they will still be alive tomorrow.
"Let's do this," Zac repeated his words as he took a step towards the flickering Curtain of light in front of him, "Whatever awaits us here, I will make sure that all of you will return safely."
But alas, they failed.
What awaited them at the other side of the Curtain was a threat they were never really prepared to face — they already expected it would be the most improbable mission they would ever take, but none of them expected to die without even being able to do anything.
Isabel died first, being the one physically weakest. Next was Chandra, who drowned in his own poisons. And then Diana, followed by her brother, Chris.
And then… Ai Tanaka, who stood in front of Zac and shielded him from the unexpected attack.
"W… why?" Zac could really only stare at Ai's face as the light in her eyes slowly fades.
"Even after all this time… you still don't get it?" And with those words, Ai took her last breath.
"No… no. This…"
Zac then stared at the bright light that very slowly blanketed everything it touches — swallowing his friends, their hope… and their future.
"...What the fuck is this game?"
And soon, it swallowed him too.
***
Zac could feel his lungs crashing down as a searing pain entered his nose. The last thing he saw was Chris's shield dropping to his face; Does that mean… this is what death feels like?
Pressure in the back of his head, a cold rush in his face, his lungs collapsing, and the flickering bursts of laughter that drummed in his whistling ear.
...Laughter? Were his comrades alive!?
Zac opened his eyes, only for him to feel a sting as a pool of what seemed to be water completely drowned his head.
"!!!"
"Oh shit!"
Zac then let out a huge gasp as a cup of yellow, somewhat brown-ish water fell from his mouth.
"..." Zac stared at the mess he made on the floor, thinking that the liquid that came out of his mouth was definitely not blood. Also…
...it had a weird taste.
"Bro, fuck. That's disgusting!"
"I think you hit him too hard on the head!"
Zac then quickly turned his moist eyes towards the mocking voice, only to see a boy wearing… a school uniform. A uniform that Zac also wore before everything went to shit...
...before the existence of the Curtains brought ruin to the world.
"...Oh," Zac then wiped the yellow liquid from his face as he looked at each of the faces of the students surrounding him; faces that have long been buried deep in his memories,
"...Cool."
