— Leveling Up In the Apocalypse (5)

7 months after the announcement by the system. 

A crystalline being appeared outside the dimensional rift outside the planet that was "earth". The being appeared like an angel. Armor and a helmet made of a material appearing to be silver. With shining white wings. Though, this was no angel, this was a great evil. The king of destruction of earth. His army appearing beside him. His general floating by his side.

"Sir, the mysterious mana signal has grown larger and larger while we have waited. It's only about time until we can enter the rift with no penalty."

"Very well. I wish to meet the being exerting such power. Such mana must be enough to rival my own!"

The king of destructions voice was like a booming strike of lightning. His own army shuddered the moment his voice entered their ears. The cracks in the dimensional rift started to deepen. And the king of destruction brought forth his heavenly spear.

"My soldiers. Charge!"

His spear broke through the cracks in the rift. As the rift split apart. The army flooded earth to find…nothing. It was odd. They all still felt that signature. And then the king felt something. A sharp object nicked his neck. He traced his finger across his chin. Seeing his blood trickling down. And then watching as his entire army crumbled in seconds. Tens of white flashes slashing through his army. A flash went to him. He grabbed the flash. Holding a dagger imbued with mana.

"I can feel your power. Little rat, come on out."

The dagger simply vanished out of his hand. And he felt it in his neck.

[Deactivated ability: 'Camoflauge']

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The king saw Jack, grinning from ear to ear.

[Activated ability 'Hand of the mage' (Lvl Max) ]

The daggers that were lost in the air flew up towards Jack as he brought them down in a rain of daggers. Hand of the mage. The ability to control an object from a distance without the use of your physical body. The use of the mind instead. The destroyer king looked at Jack and smiled. Swinging his spear across the sky. A bright burst of white flames erupted from the spear. Jack went into camouflage. And dashed forward. But the destroyer king dodged his attack.

"Your petty tricks won't work twice."

"Then I'll just try another one!"

The Hellhounds Fang was still lingering in the air.

[Activated skill: 'Hand of the Mage']

Before the destroyer could even realize what was happening. The hellhounds fang was stabbed into the back of his neck.

"Tch, just a petty dagger— agh!"

[Activated effect: 'Destabilize']

The destroyers body parts felt like they were disintegrating. Though still there, they caused him unimaginable pain. Even if it was a weak dagger. But of course, the power of the higher beings allowed him to shake it off easily.

"I see now, human, you are very interesting! I have seen you as worthy! Bring me glory! Transcend my power! Defeat me!"

The Destroyer dashed towards Jack in a flurry of slashes. The air erupted with white flames.

'Shit, I thought with my current strength this wouldn't be too hard. But, he can definitely beat me.'

[Activated skill: 'Kings Arsenal']

He drew a sword, the most powerful one he had found in those 7 months.

[Item Name: Sword of the Demon. Description: The great demon god once brought the gift of weather to the lands. Ravaging and destroying. While also bringing new life. Once this sword is swung, activate skill 'Wave of Lightning']

He swung the sword, releasing a giant storm of lightning. Overpowering the white flames.

"Hm, that sword is very similar to my own."

The king looked towards Jack and blitzed behind him. Catching Jack off guard. The king ripped Jacks body into two.

[You have died.]

'fuck…and I'm the one with cheap tricks…'

[You have fulfilled the requirements to unlock skill '???']

[You have unlocked skill 'Chronos' (lvl 1) Allows user to move backwards 3 seconds in time upon death.]

[Activated skill 'Chronos' (lvl 1).]

Jack was once again in the same position. And his body was torn apart again.

[You have died.]

[Skill 'Chronos' (lvl 1) has leveled up.] 

[Activated skill 'Chronos' (lvl 2).]

And then again. This time he was slightly further behind. About 6 seconds before death.

[You have died] 

[Skill 'Chronos' has leveled up]

[Activated skill 'Chronos' (lvl 3).]

9 seconds. Again. Dead.

[You have died]

All it was, an endless ringing in his ears. Over and over.

[You have died]

[You have died]

[You have died]

[You have died]

[You have died]

[You have died]

[Skill 'Chronos' has reached the maximum level. Description: Go back in time 5 minutes.]

[Activated skill 'Chronos' (lvl max).]

Jack managed to avoid his death. Instead ending up in another way of dying. But he closer, every single time he died. He came back with more knowledge, almost stronger. And in what would only be an hour for the king of destruction. Jack had gained almost 10 years of battle experience. He memorized the way the king swung. His senses were the sharpest they had ever been. Able to avoid every single slash. And then he finally got to retaliate. The storm of lightning from the sword of the demon overwhelming the king. Jack saw his opportunity.

He pulled out the hellhounds fang from the kings Arsenal and dashed forward.

[Activating skill 'Critical Hit' (lvl max.)]

The critical hit skill was a passive skill activating by chance, upon hit and activation. It would do 10 times more damage to the target than normal. At least at max level. And in that moment. The king of destruction felt the pain of a hundred deaths.

[Activated effect 'Destabilization']

The critical hit skill also affected destabilization. Causing the king of destructions body to start crumbling.

"Tch…impossible…where did you obtain the ability to reverse time…?"

"You fought well. But this is my planet."

The king started to laugh. The king thrusted his spear forward. Stabbing 

it into Jacob's chest.

"There is nobody left here! Foolish human! There is nothing to protect! But I respect you. We will meet in the next life. And we will have a grand duel!"

As the king disintegrated. Jacob fell onto the ground.

[Skill 'Chronos' has evolved into 'Split']

'What…what is that?'

[Skill name: Split. Description: Split yourself across time. Enter a different timeline, where your world will be different, to protect that world from the incursion. Oh dear hunter, your job has just begun.]

[Accept use of skill 'Split' Y/N?]

Jacob chuckled.

"Alright alright…fine. Let's see where this takes me. Yes. I accept."

A brilliant flash of light came over the horizon and consumed him. Jack woke up in an old apartment. One he knew all too well.

End of prologue.