《Dylan of the Azure Haze》
Chapter 1: Once Again
It had been thirty years since the world entered the Final Judgment. The apocalypse sent billions of humans to their bane, and only a handful of the proud species remained. An earth-detaching quake ripped apart continents, machineries stopped running, and infernal hazes enveloped cities. It was a nightmare. It was pandemonium.
After three decades of surviving the apocalypse, Dylan had finally confronted one of the seven rulers of hell. He had long surpassed human limits, and he had slain innumerable demons. That time, he was the sole human existing that was capable of inflicting fear to the demons. He was the strongest human, but at the same time the loneliest. Everyone he knew was long dead, and only the will to eradicate all of the demons on earth was what pushed him forward.
He went on a life-and-death duel with Emperor Nereus, eventually slaying the fifth Emperor of Hell in the process. Unfortunately, his wounds were fatal, and even with his absurd regeneration, he was unable to escape death. He closed his eyes as he awaited the soothing embrace of death, only to find out that he had travelled back in time: thirty years prior. He had travelled back to the day the apocalypse took place.
Author¡¯s note: Hello? First of all, I would like to apologize for being unable to continue Yuan of the Black Lightning. Something happened, and I can¡¯t find the motivation to continue the story. I¡¯ve reflected for weeks, and I¡¯ve come to the conclusion that I am unable to continue with the said story. Believe me, I¡¯ve tried writing... but you can¡¯t really write something without the ¡®legendary motivation,¡¯ right?
This is the rewrite of a certain apocalypse story that I did not upload in RRL. I¡¯ve added some ¡°plots,¡± and I¡¯ve changed the perspective to third person. Basically, I¡¯ve changed everything save for some key concepts.
Enough of my useless chatter, here¡¯s the story.
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Chapter 1: Once Again
¡°I guess this is it?¡± Dylan said as he mustered his strength to stand up. His legs wobbled as he walked towards the corpse before him. His entire left arm was missing, and a large chunk of flesh was bitten off his torso. Large speckles of blood splattered on the floor as he continued walking, gait unsteady. His deep hazel eyes looked at the bestial figure before him.
¡°Decades... and all I was able to attain is this?¡± His eyes flickered of sorrow as he reminisced. The Day of Judgment was abrupt, and he was unable to protect even one of his love ones. That time, he was too aghast and stunned that he hid himself, uncaring of the cries of agony and pleas that filled the air. That time, all he thought of was himself; all he wanted was to survive. It was the most regretful day of his life. If only he had the courage back then, maybe everything would have been different?
¡°Decades of life and I was unable to slay all of the seven rulers of hell... pathetic.¡± Dylan slumped on the ground, and he sat cross-legged as he gazed at the creature before him. Three out of its four arms were missing, and half of its head was sliced off, openly revealing the innards. Its canines hanged past its chin, and its neck was covered in furs. Its torso was muscular, and a silver chain twined around its waist. It was Emperor Nereus: one of the seven rulers of hell.
Dylan¡¯s eyes flickered like a candle in its last blaze. His skin was aged, and the numerous scars that ran across it failed to hide the wrinkle marks that bespoke of the turmoil he had experienced. Twin lines of blood flowed down his splintered lips.
You have Levelled Up!
A notification suddenly sprouted in front of him, and he smirked as he immediately dismissed the apparition. He had long attained the status of the strongest human. Still, what value did the title hold? None. All of the people he had known in life were long dead, and he had failed to count the number of years he had spent inside hell itself. After slaying the weaker demons on the surface, he delved right into the entrance of hell. For years, he struggled against innumerable foes that blocked his path. He killed and he slaughtered. He was the epitome of carnage itself. He wanted nothing but kill the instigators of the apocalypse: the seven rulers of hell.
Dylan activated the interspatial ring on his finger, and he took out a photograph. The colors were faded with age, but the beauty of the woman in the picture remained divine. She was beautiful beyond words, and her smile would make any man stutter in their speech. She was the epitome of the word goddess.
¡°Nestine... I¡¯m sorry... I failed... I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯m sorry,¡± Dylan said as he tried to suppress a wallow. After her death, he vowed to eliminate all of the demons that resided in hell itself. It was an absurd vow, but he did not think that the feat was an impossible one. It was the only thing that pushed him forward.
He felt the warm rays of the sun as he continued to longingly gaze at the photograph. Everywhere around him was in utter chaos. A mountain from a distance was cleanly split in half, and the lake on his left was now devoid of water. Large craters were everywhere, shaming the moon above the surface. To his surprise, Hell itself was not simply eternal infernos. It resembled the human world, but instead of humans, demons resided.
Dylan heard footsteps, and he tilted his neck as he glanced at its source. A demon with ivory white skin, silver robe, and twin horns that circled to the back was approaching him. Its hair was night black, and its eyes were deep crimson. A grin was plastered on its face as it slowly approached the dying human.
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¡°Interesting. I have lived for millenniums, but this is the first time I¡¯ve seen such human. A human capable of vanquishing one of the Emperors of Hell.¡± The figure stopped right in front of Dylan. Its eyes glimmered of interest. It slightly leaned closer. ¡°It will be a shame if this ends like this. A shame... indeed.¡±
Dylan knew that he was dying. Only the absurd regeneration of his body was what enabled him to continue living. Still, everything would be over in a few more minutes, or seconds¡ªhe was not sure. He mustered his strength and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±
The white demon tilted its head to the left. It then broadly grinned, showing its sharp set of teeth. ¡°Who am I? That¡¯s for you to find out. Come and seek for me¡ªand all of your desires shall be granted.¡±
After those words, the white apparition sunk its hands into Dylan¡¯s chest. Large blots of blood splattered on the floor, and Dylan regurgitated as the light in his eyes vanished. His lips formed into a curl as the thought that everything was finally over crossed his mind. His journey was an arduous one. He was tired. He wanted everything to be over. He welcomed death with open arms.
***
Dylan¡¯s eyes bolted open, and he sprung up on his bed when a loud clanking sound was heard. He was naked, and his thick brows knitted together as his eyes swivelled left and right. The place he was currently in was nostalgic. It was familiar. Another clanking sound was heard, and it was quickly followed by series of shouts.
¡°You womanizer! You damn excuse of a husband!¡± a female voice said. Another clanking sound reverberated, and was followed by the sound of porcelain breaking. ¡°Get out! Get out!¡± Scurrying sounds were heard after the remark and was quickly followed by the loud banging sound of a door being shut. The sound came from the room next door.
Dylan¡¯s eyes darted towards a wooden table on his left, and it widened when he read the words printed on the alarm clock that stood on top of it. The date and time on the digital clock¡¯s screen filled him with disbelief. Wanting to confirm his suspicions, he immediately dived for the remote next to his bed. With anticipation, he pressed the ¡®on¡¯ button, and the flat screen television on his right flashed open with a ~shwiz sound. The image of a female reporter immediately greeted him.
¡°...surprisingly, the meteor made no explosion upon impact. According to reports, it landed on the ground around five o¡¯clock this morning. A small crater was created, but aside from that, the overall damage was nil. The government ordered the YUNL to move the piece of rock that spanned thirty meters in size to the HGTD. Scientists were as....¡±
The female reporter continued to speak, but Dylan was unable to process her words. His mind was clouded by his thoughts. He did not wish to believe it, but it seemed that he had travelled back to the day when the apocalypse took place. He violently squeezed his cheeks, and blood began dripping down his face. It was painful. It was not a dream. It was reality.
Immediately, he went towards the restroom and stood before a mirror. Young: his face held the same youth back before the apocalypse took place. A thought flashed in his mind, and he hurriedly putted on his school uniform. Currently, he was in his third year in the university. He was supposed to be in class around noon: the same time when the apocalypse happened.
¡°Nestine... I need to take her out of the university. That place¡¯s going to crumble from the quake.¡± Dylan glanced towards the wall, and his lips turned into a smirk as he saw the scimitar that hanged on top. Two years prior, he spent a large amount of money buying the weapon, and he was greatly reprimanded by his friends from doing so. His parents died when he was young, and he was left to fend for himself at the age of fifteen. Thankfully, he was gifted with great intellect and was able to land himself a scholarship in the university. From there, he juggled between university and being a part-time cook at a small restaurant. The payments were barely enough for him to live through every day. Still, he brought the scimitar despite the declining budget. For some reason, he felt attached to the weapon the moment he saw it. After all, he was a big fan of pirates ever since he was a child.
¡°Who would have thought that this would come handy?¡± Dylan said as he took the scimitar from the wall. It was still tucked inside the scabbard. Ever since he had bought it, he made sure to maintain its former glory. It was his only collection; it was his pride and joy.
After obtaining the scimitar, he scavenged his refrigerator for any food available. Unfortunately, all he found were three cans of tuna, and a bottle of beer. Without hesitation, he tucked everything inside his bag. He knew that once the apocalypse kicked in, food would become a luxury.
¡°I¡¯ll buy more along the way. The apocalypse should happen at around noon. I still have time,¡± Dylan mumbled as he checked his wallet for available money. He would use all of his ¡®fortune¡¯ to buy as much goods as possible.
His mind was filled with thoughts on why he was suddenly transported back in time, but the idea that he might be able to save his love ones from bane overpowered such thoughts. He would not make the same mistake again. He would not let himself be the coward he used to be. He had attained the title of legendary before his death, and he was sure that he would be able to attain it again. With fiery eyes filled with conviction, he went out of his deteriorating apartment. His destination was the university.
Chapter 2: Desperate Measures
Chapter 2: Desperate Measures
Dylan walked through the paved ground of Arthur Avenue. It was an hour before noon, and the street was bustling. The sun was partly shrouded by the clouds, and the wind was calm and serene. The scent of freshly baked bread filled the air as he continued to traverse through the path towards the university. He was wearing a crimson suit on top a white polo shirt. A black tie was twined around his neck, and his crimson pants complemented the black leather sneakers he wore.
The shoes he wore were depressing to look at; it was unbefitting of his exquisite attire. Still, he did not care. Mobility was one of the things he would rather not lose once the apocalypse kicked in. On his back was a large backpack, and on his right hand was the scimitar wrapped in a purple cloth. At the corner of his eyes, he saw a convenient store, and his legs immediately halted to a stop. He entered.
¡° Good morning!¡± the man at the counter automatically greeted. Dylan flashed a smile and grabbed a basket. Afterwards he immediately went towards the ¡®preserved goods¡¯ section. He did not know when he would again have the chance to acquire such ¡®luxuries.¡¯ He deemed that he should take full use of the opportunity.
His hands kept moving about, and by the time he was done, the blue basket he held in his hand was filled to the brim. It was filled mostly with canned goods and loaves of bread. A large bottle of water was included. After getting all of the items, he placed the basket before the counter and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take all of these.¡±
¡°With pleasure,¡± the man at the counter said. He was humming a tune, and his lips were curled into a smile. Would the man before him still be merry if he was to find out that the world would end today? Probably not. Dylan¡¯s face distorted into a grim expression as he watched the radiant smile of the man before him. He felt his heart squeezed at the thought that such a person would soon be dead the moment the quake rips apart the area. Even if he managed to survive, the demons would eventually kill him the moment they saw him.
¡°Mister... love...,¡± Dylan said. He found it hard to continue the awkward words he was about to utter.
¡°Pardon?¡± the man before him stopped smiling. Its lips was partly opened at it stared at Dylan.
¡°Tell your love ones that you love them. After this purchase... do that... please.¡±
The man tilted its head and stared at Dylan with wary eyes. With cautious movements, it took the paper bills from its customer, and with an awkward smile, it replied, ¡°Thank you for the purchase... sir. Here¡¯s your change.¡± He handed Dylan his change.
Dylan sighed and grabbed the bag filled with goods. He then placed it inside the backpack. He cannot blame the man if it felt eerie after he made such remarks. He turned around, and before exiting the establishment, he mumbled, ¡°I did my part. I can¡¯t prevent it from happening anyway.¡±
After exiting the store, he turned left after coming to an intersection, and after walking for a minute, he came across the large campus¡¯ gates. The university he went to was vast, and one needed a few minutes of walk to go from a department to another. Dylan showed the guard at the entrance his student I.D.
¡°What...,¡± the guard¡¯s voice trailed off when he inspected the content of Dylan¡¯s bag. It was filled to the brim with canned goods; it was an eerie sight. ¡°You going... on a camp or something?¡± He glanced towards the material bundled in cloth that Dylan carried on his left hand. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°Electrode probe for the machine in the laboratory. I broke one a few days ago. This is the replacement.¡± Dan¡¯s voice was calm and unhurried. After the remark, he immediately went inside without waiting for the guard to personally check his scimitar. Thankfully, he passed through the laid-back inspection.
Dylan took out his phone and called a friend. He asked him to meet him right in front of the Science Building.
He walked through Serenity Park. It was a park encircled by exactly seventy-five coniferous trees, and at the center was a gargantuan fountain that resembled a geyser with its erratic eruptions. Numerous students flocked the area, and most of them sat on the boulders that ornamented the park like chained beads. The ground seemed peaty: dried crushed leaves blanketed it black-olive.
On his right, a towering structure with glass walls was seen. Its entrance was bronze-gold, and it inwardly opened, revealing a bright interior. It was the ¡°Innovation Building,¡± the building for engineers and architects.
After walking a few more minutes, he had finally arrived at his destination. It was a brown structure that had an arched roof covering the fifth floor. A silver plate with the black engravings, ¡°Science Building,¡± was seen. Dylan entered inside. Surprisingly, he was calm and composed. He had brushed with death numerous times before, and the soon to come spark of the Apocalypse was nothing but the tip of the iceberg for such veteran.
Dylan traversed the well-kept hall of the first floor and upon arrival at the room with the ¡°104¡± sign, he stopped. He heard the muffled voice of the professor inside. ¡°Aside from Van Handel and Zilversmith Method, another method of determining the triglyceride concentration is through the Hantzsch Condensation. It¡¯s fluorometric. Basically, the triglyceride is converted into glycerol and fatty acid after the addition of alcoholic potassium hydroxide....¡±
Dylan breathed in a large gulp of air, and his chest rose in response. After an exhale, he opened the door with a loud bang sound. Everyone in class stared at him in shock, and the professor glared at him with menacing eyes. Its gaze clearly stated, ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±
Dylan¡¯s eyes swivelled left and right as he searched for ¡®that¡¯ person. Upon seeing her, his lips formed into a curl. The bliss that accompanied the sight made him want to cry. Still, he held back the tears as he shouted, ¡°Nestine! I love you! Become my girlfriend!¡±
His voice was loud enough to echo inside the entire first floor of the Science Building. Everyone in class stared agape at his bold declaration. Eventually, the silent atmosphere turned into one filled with buzzing sounds. Excitement filled the air, and everyone glanced towards the girl with ash blond hair at the back most portion of the room. She had a surprised expression on her face, and her partly opened mouth made her left dimple sink in response. Her skin resembled the snowflakes in winter, and her eyes reminded one of sapphire. Her crimson dress cut till the knees added more to her radiance.
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¡°Woah! How bold!¡±
¡°An unknown guy confessed his love during class!¡±
¡°Gotta post this on the site after the lessons!¡±
Murmurs and buzzes filled the air as Dylan stood next to the door. His face was filled with resolve from the outside, but inside, he was ashamed to death. He had met Nestine after the initial part of the apocalypse took place, and their time together was brief. Still, it was the most prized memories of his life. It was memories he would not part with even in death.
Nestine was left unable to reply, and she just sat on her chair as she looked at the unknown man before her. She had never met him before, that much, she was sure. She had received numerous proposals before, but it was the first time she had received such bold declaration. Her heart was filled with conflicting emotions: mainly shame and guilt. She did not want to reject the young man before everyone¡¯s eyes.
¡°Please! I need to speak with you!¡± Dylan added. It was the only way he had thought of to make Nestine come out of class. Soon, the violent quake would decimate the university, and he would only be able to protect her if he was with her. He needed her to come out of the place of peril.
¡°Which class are you from?¡± the professor remarked. Its eyes were squinted as it glared at Dylan. ¡°Get out of my class¡ªNow!¡±
¡°Shut it. I need to speak with her!¡± Dylan spat. He did not care of what would happen next after the ruckus. After all, the world as they knew it would soon be gone. All he cared about was to ensure the safety of the girl he loved the most.
Nestine frowned after Dylan¡¯s incessant remark. With a reluctant tone, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know you. Please, don¡¯t bother me again.¡± The whole class made ~ooh sounds after those words. They attentively glanced at Dylan as they awaited his response.
Dylan took a step forward, and he placed a hand on his chest. As if making a formal statement, he said in a loud voice, ¡°Please! Even if it¡¯s just a few seconds... please speak with me outside! I promise that I would not bother you again after that!¡± His last words were a lie. Even if it was against her will, Dylan resolved himself to be by her side. He would not let anything happen to his seraph.
The entire class turned towards Nestine, looks of anticipation were upon their faces. Nestine bit her lips, and she casted her eyes downwards. After a long pause, she heaved a sigh and turned towards the professor. Her eyes clearly depicted the words, ¡°can I speak to him for a second?¡±
The professor gave consent with a nod, and Nestine replied, ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s talk¡ªMr.Stranger.¡± The last part was said with a hint of mockery. She disliked the way Dylan made rude remarks to her professor.
Murmurs sounds filled the air as she walked towards Dylan. After they stood before each other, she saw the peculiar smile the man was wearing. His lips turned into an impossible crescent, and his eyes were dancing. She resisted the urge to take a step backward as she uttered her words. ¡°What do you want?¡±
Dylan fondly gazed into her sapphire eyes. It was the most beautiful gemstone he had seen in his life. ¡°Let¡¯s go outside. Somewhere private.¡± It was his excuse to make her go out of the building.
Nestine was reluctant, but after some thoughts, she eventually agreed. She followed Dylan as they traversed through the first floor. ¡°Isn¡¯t this private enough? Speak.¡±
¡°No. We¡¯ll go outside.¡± Dylan fumbled inside his pocket, took out his phone, and read a message from it. After that, he smiled and mumbled inaudible words. Nestine followed him all throughout the entire ordeal.
¡°This should be good enough,¡± Dylan said as he they exited the Science Building. The sun now directly hovered above, and its rays were scorching. It sapped the strength in their body the moment it touched their skin. Dylan felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to its source.
¡°Hey! Good to see you!¡± Dylan said as he hugged the male student next to him. The student was taken by surprise and immediately pushed Dan away.
¡°What the hell man! Gross! What¡¯s been into you?¡± the male student said as he dusted off his garb.
¡°Sorry ¡®bout that. Just glad to see you, Marc.¡±
Marc was Dylan¡¯s best friend. He was someone he had known before he entered university. He was like a brother to him. Unfortunately, after the apocalypse took place, machineries stopped working, and Dylan lost contact of him. He had never heard of him again after that.
¡°This is a waste of time.¡± Nestine¡¯s voice rang out, making the two male students stare at her. Even Marc was agape when he saw the goddess before them. He glanced at Dylan and stuttered, ¡°Y-You called me o-out here to... introduce your g-girlfriend?¡±
¡°Yeah. She¡¯s my girlfriend¡ªsoon,¡± Dylan said in utter bliss. He had an eerie look in his eyes as he savoured the euphoria. Just the fact that he was able to see her again sent him to cloud nine.
¡°Who¡¯s your girlfriend?!¡± Nestine¡¯s face turned into disgust. She felt that the man before her was a pervert. She was about to turn around and go back to class when suddenly, Dylan¡¯s hands grabbed her hand. She froze as she felt the warmth of his skin crawl to hers.
¡°What are you doing?!¡± She wanted to scream for help, but she did not want to create a commotion. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! You¡¯re disgusting!¡± She had never seen the guy before, and now, he boldly declared that she was his girlfriend. He even went out as far as to call his friend to introduce her. He had no shame!
¡°Listen. In a few minutes, something extraordinary will happen. You need to be with me so that I could protect you!¡± Dylan said. He turned to Marc. ¡°You too! Don¡¯t leave my side, okay?!¡±
Marc raised a brow as he watched the peculiar scene before him. He was about to utter his reply when suddenly, a notification popped up in front of him. He stared at it in shock.
Surprise bitches! The Day of Judgment is finally here! God exists, but unfortunately, he does not care. You are all destined for hell!