Prologue - Valade

The world didn't end by zombie apocalypse or giant monsters. Not even global warming or being absorbed into the sun.

The world ended when a single desperate businessman let his greed consume him. He made a wish that not even unreality can grant.

And reality collapsed under an unfulfilled promise.

---<*>---

I stood in the nothingness I had wandered. My body did not show the years I had wandered the Interplane.

In front of me was a glowing white sword, double edged and hanging in the nothingness. In its blade, I saw a lush, green sphere. There was no hint of industry, nor intelligence.

There was room here, unlike the dozens of worlds I had visited.

I clenched my hand tighter around the hilt of a broken blade, which had once been a glorious weapon like the other. It was now dull, with countless spots of different colors drifting within.

"We did it." I whispered to the void, "We found a place to rebuild our lives."

I extended my broken weapon to the whole one, and the two joined inseparably.

"I wonder..."

I let the thought I did not speak hang as I touched the smooth glass. It tugged at my soul. I let it pull me in, now a citizen of a fresh new world.