Apocalypse: Eternal-Class Necromancer

[ December 30, 2024 ]

Just when the whole planet was closer than ever to World War 3 that would utterly and nonsensically decimate billions of lives, every major city around the world suddenly saw multiple space-bending rifts crackling with lustrous and violent bolts of lightning, streaking themselves as they suspended midair.

Wonders of the phenomenon that was similar to mirror breaking spread like wildfire through social media, questioning the mysteries surrounding it. However, in less than a few minutes since these rifts had manifested...

— "Wh-what's that?!"

— "Oh my god!"

— "M-monsters... R-run! Everybody run!"

Unimaginable and grotesque entities that could only be found in mythologies or even something that a human mind couldn't and had never imagined began to pour out from these cracks, painting both the skies and the ground blood red.

They rampaged relentlessly without any ounce of mercy, killing and destroying everything in their sight whether they were elderly or innocent children. In less than an hour, some of the major cities around the world had already fallen into complete ruination, leaving body after body in their wake.

— "A-ah! S-save me!"

— "No! M-my son!"

— "G-grandma...?"

Everywhere was then filled with cries, and humanity's hope became a distant dream as the society crumbled in an instant.

The might of the military was rendered worthless as bullets couldn't penetrate the monsters' skin; even tanks, bombs, and ultimately, nuclear arsenals couldn't leave a single scratch to the monsters, leading to the dawn of humanity's downfall.

It was then...

In the midst of chaos and cruel darkness, the light shone to illuminate the world.

[ Ding! ]

[ World Announcement ]

[ This world, OOD-Earth 1, now falls under the Heaven System ]

[ As the benefits of the Heaven System divine integration into this world, several people will awaken. ]

Possessing more firepower than the military had, after an unfamiliar, subtle, serene, close yet so far voice that echoed to everyone's soul, a few chosen people all around the world suddenly awakened and gained extraordinary powers that distorted everything the science had ever known and recorded.

With their mere fists, goblins' skulls were cracked to oblivion.

With the swinging of their swords, the visions of the ogres flipped upside down.

And with the showering blessings of those marked with holiness, those who were wounded regained not only their strength but their will to live in this now-transformed world.

Led by soon-to-be known as the Twelve Great Families, starting from the Holy Saintess to the Legionnaire Empress, the voids that appeared all over the world were cleared and now closed, and the crumbled society began to gradually regain its order under their excellent leadership.

Unfortunately, the lands that were lost couldn't be retrieved as they had been engulfed by a mysterious shadow that blocked the sun, swallowing more than half of the world.

The remnants of the apocalypse were irreversible.

And the end of everything was unknown.

Yet to be known.

***

[ May 07, 2034 — New Seoul, South Korea ]

Almost a decade after the world opened its new history known as the Era of Heaven.

In his disorganized yet luxurious room, seated at the table was a man in his early twenties, who then put down the book in his grasp about the early history of the integration of the Heaven System in this world just beside the PC he was currently and seriously observing as if he was waiting for something to be notified of.

Looking at his expression, as he couldn't help but bite his thumb, only utter nervousness was painted.

"Come on! Why are there so many applicants?!" The young man grumbled, scratching his head in frustration as his back leaned against the gaming chair.

The application for the Divine Sky Academy (DSA), the elite and prestigious academy solely focused on nurturing either experienced or newbie awakeners, was in heavy traffic due to countless applicants.

However, this time around, he was not applying to become its student but rather to attempt to awaken through the training center. After all, it had been five years since reaching his threshold to be eligible to become an Awakener.

That being said, under normal circumstances, a person could awaken starting at the age of sixteen (16). Though some others were also late in blooming, for him, it seemed too late that it was laughable.

Moreover, under the mysterious Heaven System that seemed to be overseeing the world, becoming its infallible guide, anyone past sixteen could awaken anytime and anywhere under any circumstances, favorable or unfavorable.

Be it when someone was taking a shit, having sex, or doing drugs; take your pick.

After a while, as he waited patiently, the young man filled up the application form.

[ DSA Awakener Holistic Training Program ]

Applicant Name: Lucian Morgath

Age: 21

Gender: M

Clan/Guild: N/A

Specific Program: —

After filling up everything in the application form, Lucian let out a sigh of relief; he waited three hours just for this.

"Will I be able to awaken?"

He muttered, recalling some stories about some people who awakened during near-death experiences or when they embraced their intense desire to protect their loved ones.

It was evident... that under extreme conditions, awakening might be triggered.

That's why Lucian applied to this training program with the desire to at least have his body battered through harsh and legal methods instead of staying as a shut-in gamer to the point of becoming a worthless man in this society.

"I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. Sigh."

As his fingers intermittently tapped the table, doing so unconsciously, with his head resting on the chair while his dull black eyes gazed at the neat ceiling, Lucian remembered his eighteen-year-old younger sister, who gained a Heroic-Grade Class and was already respected in the current world.

"I won't expect anything; just let me have a decent class."

Lucian chuckled.

It was then that something from his PC notified him.

"Whoa! That was quick!"

His body jerked; he then checked the email from the academy training center's admission.

[ Application Status: Failed ]

[ Reason for Decline: Slots Full ]

Upon seeing this, Lucian frowned.

"What kind of bullshit is this?! Damn it!"

Bang!

Smashing the table, he stood up and reached for his black jacket.

Leaving the spacious and resourceful apartment bought by his younger sister, he couldn't help but mutter,

"I need a drink."

***

In the lively city of Seoul, as though nothing was wrong with the world, as everyone had already adapted to this era, Lucian Morgath exited the apartment complex.

Walking down the stairs from the second floor, various thoughts filled his head.

Why is it hard to change?

Lucian recalled his hardworking younger sister, who, by the Awakener Association's standards, was an overpowered S-rank.

He was not like this. In fact, he previously didn't care at all about the matters of the awakeners after his hope to become one after a long time had passed.

Although he was not alone in this matter, some people even preferred not to have a high-grade class or to not awaken at all; they wanted to live normally far from dangerous jobs.

However, just recently, lost in purpose and seeing the sacrifices of his younger sister for the nation, Lucian began to feel like an absolute crap.

What can I even do for her? I am damn useless!

Drowned with these depressing thoughts, something snapped him out of his own world.

"Hey! L-look out!"

Finding himself across the pedestrian lane, in which the other side was the small pub where he wanted to drink himself to death, one of the passersby beside him shouted.

Hearing this, Lucian's gaze followed this man's eyes, only to see a girl in a tattered white dress diagonally walking down the lane from him while the traffic light was still on the go for vehicles.

It was then...

Bang!

A large truck accidentally struck the girl before it turned sideways to stop, causing screams to spread everywhere.

Meanwhile, frozen in place, with his dull eyes in horror, Lucian's body trembled.

Brain matter, warm blood, and other disfigured body parts of the now-dead girl spread all over his body.

The foul stench of death and gruesome sight were enough for anyone to throw up in utter repulsion. However, Lucian's mind seemed to shut down, and memories of the past uncontrollably flooded his mind.

— "T-Take your sister out of here! Now!"

— "M-mom!? N-no! Please!"

— "You have to survive! Take care of your sister, no matter what! Go, Lucian! I-I love you!"

During the day zero of the Era of Heaven, the monsters ravaged everything. Lucian, along with her young sister, who was eight years old at that time, saw their mother under the rubble of their home.

Helpless.

Utterly helpless.

But then, their eyes unknowingly lit up when a majestic figure landed from the sky, decimating any monsters in the area.

The world had no idea about the awakeners during these tumultuous times, and the effects of having superpowers under the instantly lawless world.

Just then, as Lucian was about to scream for help...

— M-Mom-?

This figure swung her sword without any regard to the surroundings.

Only luck and fate were at their side, as the woman's striking range couldn't reach them.

However...

From a distance, Lucian heard a playful voice amidst the blazing inferno.

"Oh my. I didn't know someone was in here.

"What a pity."