"January 1st, 2000, Blue Star."
"According to expert observations, a black bird suddenly appeared, spat out a colossal stomach sack that devoured the entire sun, then swallowed the sack back down and vanished without a trace."
"The sun was gone, and Blue Star was plunged into eternal night."
"Yet life on Blue Star did not perish entirely—humans clung to survival by a thread, and countless researchers scrambled to uncover the reason."
"On the same day, gods descended upon Blue Star in droves, most harboring intense hostility toward humanity and slaughtering without mercy."
"Also on that fateful day the apocalypse began, humans established a United Government under the leadership of countless unsung heroes, constructing several massive safe zones. From that point on, humanity resided solely within these zones. For reasons yet unknown, the gods could not enter to kill, a mystery that also consumed researchers."
"This is the story of Blue Star's apocalypse. There are three key exam points here. First, the date—New Year's Day a decade ago, which I'm sure all of you have memorized thoroughly. Second..."
Qin Siyang, seated in the corner of the classroom, shook his head softly.
"Studying history won't save humanity. Especially not history this riddled with flaws."
"In this apocalypse, only knowledge related to Sequence Abilities matters."
He turned to glance out the window.
Through the reinforced glass, he could faintly make out one or two grotesque gods drifting across the night sky above.
With Blue Star trapped in eternal night, the scene beyond the safe zone never changed, no matter the hour—faintly twinkling stars, and the so-called "gods" wandering beneath them.
"Students, next we'll discuss the gods. There will be exam questions here too, so pay close attention. This is our first round of review, perfect for filling in gaps."
"After eternal night fell, bizarre creatures emerged on Blue Star, each with wildly different appearances."
"But they share one common trait: aggression, and immortality."
"Humans deemed these creatures divine punishment for humanity's past sins, hence the name 'gods'..."
Immortal bizarre beings, hailed as "gods." Qin Siyang scratched his head in exasperation.
It was always like this. The end of science was theology—people attributed everything inexplicable to gods.
"Remember, the gods and apocalypse sections will be on the college entrance exam for both arts and science students..."
The class lacked enthusiasm. Everyone knew that in this apocalypse, only awakening a Sequence Ability guaranteed a foothold.
As for the college entrance exam, reserved for ordinary people—only those ranking in the top 0.1% of the safe zone could get into advanced academies, with a shot at a decent job in the United Government.
But scoring in the top 0.1% of such a massive safe zone was nearly impossible. Not even the top five students in the school could guarantee it.
Qin Siyang hadn't made it in his previous life, and he certainly wouldn't in this one, even after being reborn.
Once an orphan, Qin Siyang had fared poorly in the college entrance exam in his past life. He later got into graduate school and landed a somewhat respectable job after graduation, only to be laid off in middle age. When he went to claim compensation, he was accidentally killed by a security guard—only to wake up as his 17-year-old self.
After rebirth, most of the people around him were the same as before. But the once-normal world had transformed into this bizarre version—a parallel universe ruled by gods and Sequence Ability users.
Having yet to awaken a Sequence Ability, Qin Siyang sighed in frustration. "God, why haven't I awakened a Sequence Ability yet? Did you bring me back just to be cannon fodder?"
After the apocalypse, all creatures mutated. Countless species went extinct, and countless new ones emerged. Humans, too, began to evolve—giving rise to Sequence Ability users.
On January 1st, 2005, exactly five years after the apocalypse, humanity's first Sequence Ability user was born.
He possessed an incredible power: transforming one hand into a revolver. The revolver could fire six shots a day.
Many dismissed this mutation as useless. Humanity's enemies were immortal gods—nuclear bombs couldn't kill them, so what use was a revolver?
To everyone's shock, what nuclear bombs failed to do, the revolver accomplished. He killed two "small gods" scuttling across the ground—grotesque creatures resembling giant cockroaches, yet still classified as immortal gods.
Sequence Ability users could kill gods. This shattered the myth of divine immortality.
Humanity rejoiced, clinging to hope of fighting back against the gods. His awakening ushered in a new era; soon, more and more people awakened Sequence Abilities. Tales of humans slaying gods became less rare—most Ability users even hunted gods for generous rewards.
Yet this small spark of Sequence Awakening did not alter humanity's fate of being confined to safe zones. For five years after abilities emerged, no one had managed to kill the most dangerous giant gods.
But Sequence Abilities reshaped human society. Outside the safe zones, gods reigned. Inside, Sequence Ability users held sway—they became the "gods" of the safe zones.
This was humanity's apocalypse, and a paradise for Sequence Ability users. Stories abounded of beggars who awakened abilities in the afternoon and rose to power overnight.
Compared to studying diligently, awakening a Sequence Ability was the true path to changing one's fate.
Even after rebirth, Qin Siyang hadn't awakened an ability. He'd thought being a chosen one—having been reborn—would grant him some luck.
But three days had passed, and he remained an ordinary student living on the edge of the safe zone. He longed to learn more about Sequence Awakening, but no one around him could offer clear answers.
It made sense. Anyone with relatives or friends who were Sequence Ability users—or who knew anything about abilities—would never live in the remote outskirts of the safe zone.
"Students, Sequence Ability users are humanity's hope, but we must stay grounded and study hard..."
Sequence Awakening?
Qin Siyang shot his hand up, turning to the history teacher—who was also their homeroom teacher.
"Qin Siyang, do you have a question?"
"Teacher, why hasn't anyone in our class awakened a Sequence Ability? How can we awaken one?"
"Haven't we gone over this already?" The teacher's brows knit tightly. "No one's figured out what triggers Sequence Awakening. If I knew, I'd have woken one up myself ages ago."
A classmate cut in right away: "But I heard Zhou Yang's uncle from the next class got an ability! Why can't I?"
"That's Director Zhou! Officials in the United Government have a way higher shot at awakening abilities!"
"But..."
"Cut the 'buts'! Instead of daydreaming about impossible stuff, focus on prepping for the college entrance exam!" The teacher's voice rose sharply. "You've only got six months left. Slack off now and you'll be stuck working right after high school!"
"Can't you give me a break?! Open your homework—I'm checking it now!"
The teacher's anger spiked, his fist slamming down on the desk repeatedly. But having lived two lifetimes, Qin Siyang saw right through him—it wasn't disappointment in his students, but raw frustration.
Only the top five students in the school stood a chance of getting into an academy. Even their class's top student ranked around 30th school-wide. In other words, everyone in the class would be forced to work after graduation.
The teacher knew this well. His anger stemmed not from concern for their futures, but from his own resentment and jealousy—resentment at being ordinary, jealousy of those who'd awakened abilities.
When he reached Qin Siyang, he noticed his uncompleted homework.
"You run your mouth so much in class, yet you couldn't even finish your homework?" The teacher scoffed. "Wasting time on pipe dreams instead of studying."
"Get out in the hallway! Come back when you've snapped out of it!"
"Okay."
Qin Siyang wasn't the only one who'd skipped homework, yet he was the only one punished. Clearly, his question had hit a nerve with the teacher.
Someone once said: Anger is rooted in powerlessness. That summed it up perfectly.
Qin Siyang walked out of the classroom. Standing in the hallway was trivial to him. He'd only stayed in school because the cafeteria provided free meals—essential for an orphan with no income. Otherwise, he would have skipped class entirely to obsess over Sequence Abilities.
Besides, the hallway was quiet—perfect for thinking about how to awaken an ability. Even if it was just guesswork, it was better than doing nothing.
From what he knew, the wealthy and powerful in this world had a much higher chance of awakening Sequence Abilities. For poor students like him, living on the edge of the safe zone, maybe one in a thousand would awaken.
"Sequence Awakening isn't random—it seems to favor the rich." He sighed.
"If it's tied to quality of life, I'll never awaken one."
He looked up at the window again, catching a glimpse of gods drifting across the stars.
"Gods, huh?"
"If you're considered gods, then doesn't my rebirth make me somewhat supernatural too?"
"By that logic, I'm practically a god myself." Qin Siyang chuckled softly.
Suddenly, in the dark starry sky, an eye slowly opened, fixing its gaze on him. Its pitch-black pupil was inhuman—resembling that of a bird. If it truly belonged to a bird, the creature could probably swallow Blue Star in one bite.
Qin Siyang frowned, glancing at other students standing in the hallway from neighboring classes. Some stared out the window idly, but none seemed to notice the eye. Only he could see it?
As he locked eyes with it, dizziness washed over him, as if the eye was interfering with his mind. Moments later, a message appeared in his head...
[Sequence "God-Eater" Awakened]
[Digesting gods will enhance strength]
[Current Sequence Level: 1, Glutton]
[Skill: Blood Feast. Description: Consuming gods boosts power.]
When he came to his senses, the eye in the sky was gone. He'd awakened a Sequence Ability?!
Qin Siyang could barely believe it. His knowledge of Sequence Abilities was limited, but he'd heard that users could see their Sequence information in their minds.
"I... I actually awakened a Sequence Ability?!"
As the shock sank in, a surge of power rushed through his body, invigorating his spirit. Even his emaciated arms gained faint muscle definition.
"They say awakening an ability enhances your body—it's true!"
But that bird's eye left him confused. Did everyone wake up their abilities in such a weird way? Why'd he never hear anyone talk about this before?
"The God-Eater Sequence... straightforward name. I should check it out on God slayer Camp."
God slayer Camp was an online forum for Sequence Ability users to discuss and exchange information—something Qin Siyang had overheard classmates talking about.
Accessing the forum required a phone or computer. But his home had no electricity, let alone electronic devices.
That night, the homeroom teacher, still furious, had scolded the class for a long time and assigned two practice exams. Class didn't end until after 10 PM.
"With the late dismissal, I'll have to go to the internet café tomorrow morning." Power was scarce in the apocalypse, so internet cafés didn't stay open 24 hours—they were already closed.
"Ding—"
The evening self-study bell rang.
"My awakening and Sequence name both feel weird. I should find out more before telling anyone."
"Besides, being a Sequence Ability user isn't something that'll disappear overnight."
Qin Siyang returned home and let out a deep breath.
"Sleep first. Internet café tomorrow morning!"