yellowbook

The apocalypse is not the end — it is a game. And only the elect can play along.

Every week, a few chosen ones are placed in a twisted mirror of reality — a world on the brink of annihilation. Here, players must survive a new cataclysmic disaster, armed with only one randomly selected ability.

Ethan Cross never asked to be a player. But when he is drawn into the Apocalypse Game, his first draw changes everything:

"the Eye of Death" - an SSS-ranked ability that shows him visions of his own death.

While others fight blindly, Ethan outwits fate itself and replays his own demise until he finds the perfect path to victory.

"Congratulations! You have overcome the disaster of [Puppet Kingdom] and obtained the [Severing Seven]: [The Severing Seven]!"

"Congratulations! You've eliminated the threat of [Abyssal Horror] and received [S-Rank Ability: [Abyssal Horror]: [S-Rank Skill: Scales of Judgment]!"

"Congratulations! You have shattered the paradox of [Time Reversal] and unlocked the [SSS Rank Skill: Sword of Destruction]: [SSS Rank Skill: Sword of Annihilation]!"

Other players: "Bro, we’re still learning the rules, how can you clear dungeons already?"

Apocalypse Control Bureau: "Mr. Cross, your survival is crucial to the future of humanity! STOP THROWING YOURSELF INTO DANGER!"

Reality Hacker: Apocalypse Loop

<| STEEL FORTRESS COMMAND CENTER |>

Tension crackled like live wires.

Wang Zi Chen shifted under Old John's glare. "But Ethan insisted we find you first, then storm the Mayor's stronghold."

Old John's prosthetic hand crushed the edge of the console. "Prophetic-type player?" He sounded skeptical. "Those are myths. Legends. And yours strolls in, predicts the apocalypse, then disappears? Convenient." His organic eye narrowed.

Only Wan'er's quiet nod gave the story some weight. "He saved us, John. Multiple times."

"Hmph." Old John stabbed commands into the comms panel. "Serenity Squad, report. Did Blade secure the lake weapon?" Static hissed. He slammed his fist against the panel, the sound echoing through the steel walls. "That viper Blade's gone dark. Thinks he can take on the Final Boss with our dagger."

"They cracked the scenario?" Wang Zi Chen asked, breathless.

"Doubt it." John rubbed his temples, tiredness etched on his face. "True Final Bosses don't roll out red carpets." He regarded them seriously. "Our gamble is your 'prophet.' Worst case: burn a respawn coin. Best case..." His gaze sharpened. "...we loot skills that break the game."

Wan'er nodded, calm. Exactly, she thought. Make them bleed for it.

<| CITY CENTER | ABANDONED BOUTIQUE |>

Ethan moved like a shadow through the empty streets. It was a blessing bought by his northern decoy. The stench of decay lingered despite scrubbing in a shattered wear store's sink. Now, clean clothes rubbed against raw skin as he crouched in the gloom of a stockroom.

The 「Sorrow Frown」 box felt cold in his hands. Grinning Skull held the Soulrend Dagger. What horror does this hide? He wrenched the latch.

Damn it! He scanned the seams and pressed the corners—nothing. Desperation coiled tightly—

"**SPECIAL SCENARIO ITEM DETECTED**

Pandora? Hope and doom in one box.

CURSE: OPENING FORFEITS ALL RESPAWN COIN PRIVILEGES.

CONDITION: ITEM SOUL-BOUND TO OPENER. NON-TRANSFERABLE.

A grim smile appeared on Ethan's lips. Curse? I have no coins to lose. His thumb flicked the latch.

Inside was a tiny white dagger. It looked like a toy. It was fragile and completely absurd in the face of the apocalypse.

**ITEM IDENTIFIED: TERMINUS SHARD (A-RANK)**

EFFECT: UNCONDITIONALLY TERMINATES ONE (1) BIOLOGICAL ENTITY WITHIN THE CURRENT SCENARIO. SINGLE USE. DISINTEGRATES UPON ACTIVATION.

One shot. One kill. Wan'er. He placed the red cord around his neck. The shard pressed cold against his sternum.

**JIANGCHENG DISASTER-CLASS SCENARIO**

**KEY ITEM 'TERMINUS SHARD' ACQUIRED!**

***PHASE TWO: 'UPHEAVAL' COMMENCING IN T-120s***

The voice echoed three times, shaking dust from the rafters.

Ethan froze. This thing triggered a phase shift?

The shriek tore through the walls. Ethan lunged at the grimy window.

Down the street, a "homeless man" convulsed. Skin rippled, darkening to mold-green. Bones cracked audibly as his spine arched unnaturally. Beside a burnt-out car, a woman's jaw distended, needle-teeth erupting as emerald fur sprouted across her swelling limbs.

「UPHEAVAL」 had come. The masquerade was ending—in slow, agonizing transformation.

He scanned the street—debris, corpses, a stalled ambulance... There! An electric scooter, keys glinting in its ignition.

He burst from the store. Half-transformed things turned groaning heads. He vaulted over a toppled newsstand, slammed onto the scooter, twisted the throttle—

The scooter rocketed down the avenue. Behind him, the street erupted into a chorus of wet snaps and guttural howls as flesh surrendered to fur and fang. The city center's skyscrapers loomed—a concrete jungle now waking hungry.

Pandora’s Curse: Only Death or Victory