NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 300.1
Chapter 300.1. The Perished World
In that world, there were no humans. The once-prosperous rulers of the planet had been erased, and the planet, which had been driven to ruin by humanity’s tyranny, had now become a world where monsters roamed as the dominant beings, much like how dinosaurs had ruled in the distant past.
Skyscrapers that once reached the heavens, amusement parks, movie theaters, and stadiums—all the crystallizations of civilization were gone without a trace. Only plains and forests stretched out, inhabited by mindless flora and fauna. With humanity gone, the monsters simply roamed according to their programming, neither attacking the animals nor being perceived as a threat by them.
The planet Earth, now brimming with nature. No acid rain fell, and no polluted lands remained. In a world without humans, time would surely pass peacefully until a new intelligent species emerged.
Unless someone sought to revive humanity.
Far beyond Earth, near Neptune, stood what was once humanity’s last stronghold—the space fortress Avalon. A crystallization of human wisdom stretching over 100 kilometers, it was the fortress where the last remnants of humanity had lived.
Parks overflowing with greenery, bio-factories producing various crops, shops illuminated by neon lights selling countless goods, a spaceport housing ships to retrieve minerals from nearby resource satellites, and rows of houses resembling vacation villas.
The colony, once essential for survival, now stood desolate and cold. In the middle of the fortress’s stadium, a girl lay sleeping on a chair, a monument to humanity’s extinction.
The girl, as still as a statue, twitched her eyebrows slightly before slowly opening her eyes. Her glossy hair brushed against her face, and as if annoyed, she swept it aside with a small hand and parted her cherry-colored lips.
“It seems they’ve arrived. Though not exactly as expected. They came much faster than anticipated. It appears I still underestimated them.”
With sleepy eyes, the girl gazed forward, a faint smile playing on her lips. Despite the unexpected turn of events, the petite, adorable girl showed no surprise. Instead, she seemed delighted.
Impressed by the enemy’s skill, which far exceeded her expectations, she felt her heart race in anticipation of the coming battle.
After all, Shizen, the ruler of this world, sought to become the strongest.
Purple lightning crackled in the air, and flashes of light flickered. With a sound like scorching air, space split open, forming a circular hole.
As Shizen watched, two figures emerged from the rift with faint footsteps.
One was clad in a black coat, hooded and masked, with only eyes that gleamed with a dark, ominous light visible. A testament to his complete control over his power, not a trace of the immense mana he should possess could be sensed.
He was humanity’s savior and, perhaps, the world’s first and last enemy. His name was Amano Sakimori.
The other was a petite girl with shimmering, semi-long black hair, gentle eyes, a small, well-shaped nose, and cherry-colored lips. She, too, showed no trace of the mana she contained.
She was Amano Shizuku, an artificial lifeform and fairy machine created in this world by Shizen. A specialist in combat.
Together, the two had overcome formidable foes and finally reached this point. Rationally, the odds had been low. They might have lost to Tia.
But Shizen had been almost certain they would come, so the only surprise was the timing.
“Should I say welcome? You’ve stepped into a place of death, so I’m not sure if a warm welcome is appropriate.”
The plan had succeeded. They had overcome every trial and now possessed the power Shizen sought. They were worthy opponents for her quest to become the strongest.
As Shizen smiled softly, anticipating the battle with these powerful foes, Sakimori and Shizuku approached.
“Since we both have incomplete power—yours and mine—let’s bet it all and settle this.”
Sakimori said with a nihilistic laugh.
“There seems to be a difference in the stakes, but very well. To obtain the complete power of this world, we must combine our strengths.”
Shizen replied, slowly rising to accept the challenge.
The power Shizen had reclaimed from this world was incomplete. The primordial power of the dragon, once defeated by the last hope of humanity, had transferred to Sakimori.
The primordial power—the divine force governing creation and destruction. Why such a power had perished in the past was unknown. But now, Shizen held most of it, and Sakimori possessed a fragment as well.
Sakimori’s power was minimal, less than a tenth of the whole, insignificant in creation or destruction. Yet, as long as he held it, Shizen could not fully control the world’s primordial power. She needed to take it from him.
Moreover, his power had changed, growing through the acquisition of other forces. It was both terrifying and intriguing to Shizen.
Its name was [Equivalent Exchange Store]. A transformed fragment of the primordial power, it had absorbed the will of people from the original world, becoming an aberrant force beyond even the primordial power’s reach.
Why it had changed was unclear. But it was the only force capable of opposing the primordial power. And Shizen desired this power—the power to “grow.” Not a fixed, limited power, but one with the potential to break through its shell.
“My stakes are higher. This is unfair.”
“Perhaps. But behind me lies the soul of humanity. The last hope awaits. I consider it fair.”
Shizen replied honestly. If forced to choose, she would undoubtedly pick Sakimori’s power. Even if it was a fragile, flickering light, the potential for growth made it far more appealing than a fixed, world-moving force.
“You claim you can revive them?”
Shizuku asked, holding Durandal in one hand, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke in a stern tone.
“Whatever my answer, you will walk your chosen path, won’t you? Or do you need me to hold your hand and light the way with a flashlight to keep moving?”
The question was meaningless. Shizuku was determined, resolved to fulfill her mission. Shizen understood that no matter the answer, even if met with denial, Shizuku would not stop.