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

<| ARMORED VEHICLE | AIRLOCK SEALED |>

Claws scraped the hull outside as the airlock hissed shut.

Wan'er was dead in the real world.

Yet here she breathed, alive inside Apocalypse Online.

Only the ghost fit from the mayor's family.

Ethan watched his future self. Why not strike?

The Terminus Shard lay cold and ready beneath his shirt. One touch. One end.

But Future-Ethan only studied the digital family photo, then turned to Ray Cheng.

"Find anything?" Ray peered through the dusty glass, his voice tight. "Hurry! They're closing—!"

Ethan stiffened. "Armored rig! Ten o'clock!"

Future-Ethan lunged to the viewport.

A massive war machine crushed debris beneath its treads, grinding into the courtyard.

Ethan's breath caught. They were here.

"WANG! JOHN! WAN'ER—OVER HERE!" Future-Ethan slammed his palm against the ballistic glass.

The rig swerved and rumbled toward them.

"ETHAN! MOVE YOUR ASS!" Wang Zi Chen's shout echoed as the hatch hissed open.

They scrambled downstairs, tumbling inside just as talons screeched across the reinforced steel.

One-armed John, eyes sharp as knives.

"John." Future-Ethan's voice interrupted the engine's roar. "Pull Mayor Lü's file. Six years ago."

John looked cautious. "You know my archives too well, kid."

Wang leaned in. "What did you see?"

Everyone stared at Ethan, except Wan'er. Her gaze sharpened, a warning in her eyes.

John's fingers raced over a holographic keypad. "Lü's eldest daughter, Lü Wan. She was kidnapped and killed when negotiations fell apart."

Wang gasped. "How did I never hear—?"

Ray shook his head, too new to Chengdu's politics.

John stalled. "Lü Wan wasn't Lin Yingge's child. That was from his first marriage." He fixed his gaze on Ethan. "Why?"

Future-Ethan turned slowly and deliberately.

"Who's more likely to be the Final Boss? A living man or a dead girl?"

John's hand drifted toward his hip holster. Wang's jaw dropped.

Wan'er's innocent facade vanished like smoke.

"My face changed completely since childhood." Her voice lost all warmth and turned icy. "How. Did. You. Know?"

"You never panicked." Future-Ethan didn't blink. "You played us from the first call. 'Going home'? 'Finding Wang'? Both paths led to moss-beasts tearing me apart."

"No." He pointed at Wang. "You summoned the moss-beast to his block."

Wan'er laughed, a sound like broken glass. "If I wanted you dead, why help kill it?"

"Because you knew Wang's skill." Future-Ethan's smile didn't reach his eyes. "[Firearms Mastery]. B-grade. He'd have shot its skull off if cornered. You just… looked heroic."

Wan'er's knuckles turned white. "I should've slit your throat that first night."

"You didn't…" Future-Ethan leaned closer, invading her space. "…because we fascinated you. We were puzzled. And I gave you the perfect cover—"

"—by inviting the wolf into the flock." Wan'er completed, her lips twisting into a predatory grin. "Clever boy. Too bad you won't live to figure me out."

Outside, the scraping claws went quiet.

Something much heavier THUMPED against the hull.

Dead Girl's Name