A New Beginning

[Welcome to the resistance.]

[Paradox System Activated!]

***

A steady, thick wind carried Leon's hair along. It directed a scent of decay to his nose. Leon creased his brows for a moment.

Strange as it may seem, he realised his heart was actually beating beneath his cloth.

Then, he opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw made him hold his stare, non-blinking.

It was a red rectangular screen, showing nothing more than...

[Paradox System Activated!]

Leon imagined out loud, "Paradox System? What the hell is that..."

Almost as soon as he was about to complete the statement, he noticed a sand-covered metal object on the ground. His eyes shifted from the screen, and he glanced at his surroundings.

His jaw dropped even more.

"... Where is THIS!?"

Leon saw the sky in a neon form. Either wrecked cars, apartments around which ivy plants had climbed, or other structures he didn't want to even think about surrounded him.

Then it slapped him. He was supposed to be dead!

His fingers quickened to his forehead, only to realise it was as plain as it always had been.

"The bullet injury..."

Leon turned his glance backwards. There was a building like a funhouse. He rushed closer to the pale window and rubbed his palm on the surface to clean off some dust.

Staring back at him was his original appearance. Short green hair with a plain appearance and a face marked by slight scars. But there was no injury on his forehead; despite the dull neon light, he knew he wasn't mistaken.

"The paradox system... did it bring me back to life?" he pondered. He looked at his unfamiliar surroundings, which looked nothing more than an apocalyptic dystopian world. "Revived me into another world, huh?"

It was hard for him to comprehend.

Or at worst, was it the Agents of Fate that had brought everyone to this world? Maybe not only he was back to life, but other eliminated humans too?

Leon swallowed down. He frowned as he recalled the massacre those monsters had caused. He never believed in anything more supernatural than Ascendants awakening abilities. And beasts emerging from portals.

Now, celestial beings existed, and he had risen from the dead.

'Might as well be that there are countless timelines!'

With the puzzle in mind, Leon dashed back to the screen. He asked, "Can you give me any information about the Agents of Fate?" He clenched his fist, tightening his jaw. "Because I know that was too real to be a dream!"

A longer message appeared on the screen.

[You have gained an initial reward.]

[Timeline 2003th Memory will be revealed shortly...]

Leon's jaw dropped in amazement. Because he didn't actually believe this thing would be able to answer his request.

***

From the beginning of time, no particular life remains forever. Three gods keep the balance and ensure new beginnings. They are the Three Gods of Fate.

After many years, their messengers would erase life on Earth at their command. These messengers are the Agents of Fate.

Humans at different times in history couldn't have the same strength potential. One will be stronger than the other. Yet, the Agents of Fate are always one step ahead.

From the beginning of one period, the gods would have already predetermined their fate. Those who will commit more atrocities, have more potential, or have less would already be known.

A period of humans who commit many atrocities often gets wiped out sooner than others.

Once the Agents of Fate return to the Galaxy, home of the gods and their messengers, the gods will reset the world.

A new generation develops in a new, empty world. Humans see the time it takes for new offspring to grow, create their own generation, and then die as orderly. But in the eyes of the gods, the occurrences were in a short, planned span of time.

***

Leon clenched his fist as soon as he regained his senses. He shot his tear-streaked eyes at the screen.

"So... life has been like that in their eyes!? A game?! They only care about balance. But what about our own feelings?" he yelled. His furious voice echoed through the ruins.

Leon shot his head downward, sobbing,

"Screw it! Life still owed me so many that I haven't got back. I ought to have been the one giving my dad things, not him. I should... I should have told Clara I loved her as well!"

At that moment, it hit him.

Paradox!

His eyes shot to the screen in amazement. 'A paradox system…'

Leon knew exactly what that could mean. It would be a system that operates outside conventional rules of logic, time, and causality. With it, he could use it to manipulate and defy contradictions in reality.

A satisfied, slight smile curled on his face.

"You're a paradox system, aren't you?" He raised his clenched fists, unable to hold the excitement bubbling inside him. "Then I want to return to my world! Recreate the Dragon City, go against the three fucking gods of whatsoever, and make me an S-rank Ascendant! I want my world back, and I'm tired of being a close to non-existent potter! Make me that, system!"

[Searching for related ability...]

[???]

[Error! You haven't unlocked such a high-tier ability yet.]

Leon leaned forward, standing with his arms spread wide.

"Then tell me! What do I have to do to get it?" he asked in a clear, steady voice.

Thud!

Out of nowhere, the ground shook with such intensity that Leon fell to his butt. The wind rushed fast past him; he blocked it with his arm. He gritted his teeth as he rose back to his feet - the ground continued to tremble.

Right at that moment, a shadow loomed over him. He glanced upwards...

"Huh?" he muttered in a shaky, low voice.

His wholeness trembled in sync with the ground.

Leon gritted his teeth. His corneas turned red, and his chest tightened.

"Screw it! How's a monster around here?!"

He screamed out. As soon as he attempted to run left, long bony claws slashed the side of his leg. Leon fell to the ground. He gasped in pain, only to realise that the shadow was closing in on him.

It belonged to a two-and-a-half metre tall skeletal wolf. It had glowing red eyes, a wide maw and sharp claws. Leon would never fuel himself with such motivation as fighting off a monster.

No matter the rank, a potter was nothing but unwanted human trash. He knew more than anything that it would be easy for an F-rank beast to devour him.

'I gotta run!'

Leon rolled off the ground immediately. With all his strength, he rushed towards the distant, open entrance of an abandoned convenience store.

"If I could get there on time..."

He hoped so.

The monster turned on its fours and raced after him. Leon glanced over his shoulder to realise that. But reaching the convenience store on time hollered in his mind.

At that moment, the familiar red screen popped up right before him. It moved back as he ran forward. Leon stressed his eyes to read it...

[First Mission: Kill the F-rank Chrono Wolf.]

[Failure: Death.]

Leon's jaw dropped. In a way, this sudden information slowed his movement so much he didn't realise the Chrono Wolf had closed in on him entirely...

His eyes widened. "NO!!!"

Bham!

The wolf's sharp claws glinted under the dull neon light.

A cloud of dust rose as it punched Leon to the ground. This was just a few metres from the convenience store's entrance. He could have made it there if not for the sudden notification...

The wolf's eyes brimmed with murderous intent.