The sky warped, revealing a dark void.
Nine ethereal figures, draped in a blank white robe, came out from the hole.
The Nine Apostles.
The apostles swept their gazes below, seeing a ruined and desolate world.
At a glance, it would seem like the inhabitants in this world had long been extinct, but…
At that moment, nine swords silently appeared behind their backs.
Astonishingly, each of these swords could cause a world to explode!
The swords pointed towards each apostle's neck respectively!
One of the apostles raised their hands.
Woosh!
Before the swords could touch them, they were reduced to dust.
On an old, broken rooftop, fifteen humans gathered.
Leaning against the wall, Zold opened his eyes, glancing at the sky with a silent expression.
Seeing the swords, he shifted his gaze to the handsome young man in the corner.
"Emperor Ye, it's not going to work. Why even try?"
Shadow King Velsefar spoke softly, looking at the man beside him as he shook his head.
"No matter. It's the final calamity anyway."
Immortal Emperor Ye Feng smiled slightly, his expression cold.
"That's true."
Shadow King Velsefar chuckled.
"It's been so long, yet so short… In the blink of an eye, it's already the Ninety-Ninth Era Ending Calamity."
Sword Saintess Maria murmured, feeling nostalgic.
"So many have been sacrificed, and now we stand at the final hurdle."
Hearing her words, everyone couldn't help but fall silent.
That's right.
From the First Era Ending Calamity to the Ninety-Ninth Era Ending Calamity, 75 long painful years have passed, many comrades have fallen, and many memories have been forgotten.
And now, the time for the final calamity finally came.
Maria felt an unexplainable sorrow.
During these years, she created the New Era Guild, assembling other awakeners to help defend Blue Star.
All of its members, except her, had long since fallen… and she couldn't even preserve their graves.
"Look at the bright side, maybe we'll be joining them soon."
Celestial Priest Grail commented cynically, causing the faces of others to darken.
Maria smiled sadly, "That's right."
Maybe, in the end, all of their sacrifices would be for nothing.
This damned accursed world.
"It's not for certain."
Zold suddenly spoke, gathering everyone's attention.
"Oh?" Celestial Priest Grail shifted his gaze to Zold, smiling subtly, "Your resolve is as amazing as ever, it even inspires this humble poor priest."
"That's right. How inspiring!" Ancient Heir Lofas perked her head, "According to my calculations, the chances we survive this calamity is 0%! Despite this, everyone's resolve is so strong, as though…"
Before she could speak further, she felt a sudden pain in her head.
"Ow!"
Giant God Grisher lightly chopped Lofas' head. He shook his head and scolded her, "Nobody wants to hear that, Lofas."
Celestial Priest Grail was about to laugh, but his expression suddenly changed.
"You too."
Silver Witch Anaya coldly spoke, snapping her fingers.
At that moment, a small ball of snow exploded in Celestial Priest Grail's face, causing his face to whiten.
Feeling the snow permeate his face, Celestial Priest Grail muttered as he tried to wipe it out.
"Tsk, no mercy…"
Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but chuckle despite the situation they were in.
This tradition of gathering together had started during the Ninety Fourth Era Ending Calamity, and they had grown closer since then.
Although not everybody met eye to eye, for the sake of the bigger picture, everyone opened up to one another.
"It's time."
Zold said, shifting his gaze to the apostles in the sky.
Hearing his words, everyone fell silent again as they stared at the sky.
At that moment, time seemed to have paused, and the whole universe suddenly turned gray.
Only the Nine Apostles, with their blank white robes, stood out.
Simultaneously, they spoke:
"It is through the Undistinguishable that we live forward…"
"It is through the Unknown that we fear what is beyond…"
"It is through the Ultimate that we seek transcendence..."
They paused, staring at the group below.
"God has spoken."
"The Ninety-Ninth Ending Calamity…"
Zold held his breath, his hand clenching tightly,
"... is [Regression]."
At that moment, all fifteen of them widened their eyes in disbelief.
Before they could react, the Nine Apostles widened their arms.
"Ninety-Ninth Ending Calamity."
A voice, ethereal and ancient, resounded in the universe.
"Commence."
'Wha—'
Zold felt the world around him distort, and then a large, overwhelming pressure descended on his mind.
Before his consciousness disappeared, he saw something unclear.
One of the apostles had removed their hood…
And on the apostle's face, a smile appeared.