"Hero, tell me something—do you regret it?"
"Yes, I do. I regret saving them. I regret fighting for the human race," Jay muttered softly.
His gaze locked onto a monster-like creature in the form of a dragon with eight heads.
"They killed you. In this world, you have nothing."
Jay frowned. The colossal monster in front of him was right. He had nothing now. The people he once swore to protect had turned their backs on him.
"By the way, how are you still alive? Aren't you dead too?" Jay asked.
Everywhere he looked, there was only darkness. He and the monster were the only beings in this realm.
"I have a special ability that allows me to time travel and receive memories from my future self."
Jay was startled. Such an ability actually existed?
This monster in front of him was the final boss of the apocalypse. With the title King of Beasts, it ruled the apocalypse as its monarch and was worshipped by the beasts as a god.
"So... you're from the past?"
Jay stared at the creature strangely. Did that mean it could essentially live forever, as long as it informed its past self about future events?
And it could time travel?
"Yes, I am. I came here to speak with you, hero. I can send you back to the past with me."
Jay simply sat there and shook his head. "There's no point. The humans killed me. I have no home anymore."
"You've already guessed, haven't you? Why would a being as strong as me lose to someone like you? The death of the 'me' from your timeline acted as a gate—one that allowed me to pass through and find you."
"Why you? Why not your current self?" Jay asked, but the monster didn't reply.
"There's much at play in this apocalypse. Some things I can't share with you yet. But I'll give you one last chance, human—come with me to the past and restart."
"Nothing is free in this messed-up world. What do you get out of this? What do you want in exchange?" Jay asked.
"You'll become my vessel. With my power, you'll be able to control an army of beasts. You can grow stronger and do whatever you want. You just have to take my place—and become the final boss."
"Become the final boss?" Jay muttered. Wild thoughts began to swirl in his mind.
Becoming the final boss... That would be far more interesting than being a hero. The freedom it offered was intoxicating.
"Alright, then. I accept. I honestly don't care what happens to humans anymore." Jay stood and dusted off his pants.
He approached the monster calmly. The creature stared at him with a piercing gaze.
That look on its face... Was that fear?
No. It was something else.
"I didn't understand villains at first," Jay said. "But now I think I do. So please... lend me your power, Abaddon."
Jay smiled faintly. Deep inside his eyes, the monster saw hatred and madness.
No—it was something worse.
"Alright then. You called me by my name, hmm? Whatever. Let's begin," Abaddon growled softly, wrapping Jay in one of its massive wings.
Jay began to feel drowsy and collapsed.
"I give my deepest sympathy to those humans," Abaddon muttered. "This hero—no... this thing—will surely redefine the word 'monster.'"
Six Years Ago
A week before the apocalypse.
"Can anyone explain what Rin meant when he said these lines?"
At Shinzu University, an instructor stood calmly before a classroom full of barely awake students. A typical scene—his lectures were known for being painfully dull.
Knock knock.
The instructor looked toward the door, where a tall, handsome young man stood. He sighed. "Mr. Miller, you're late to my class again. Do you have something you'd like to say?"
"Not really. Besides, if I don't want to attend, who's going to stop me?"
The 'Miller' the instructor referred to was none other than Jay—now back a week before the apocalypse began.
His face now glowed with youthful light, the appearance of a handsome 20-year-old. He looked nothing like his future self.
"Mr. Miller, your grades have been slipping for a month. You should really think about your future," the instructor advised.
"Future? There's no future for this world. But I guess... I'll be the king of monsters," Jay muttered with a cold smirk.
It had been a month since his return, and all he'd done was enjoy his youth.
When you know the world is going to end, shouldn't you at least have some fun?
Besides, over the past month, he'd been speaking with the King of Monsters—the creature now residing inside him.
He had learned that once he awakened as a Fallen Monster, his human emotions would vanish. At the start of the apocalypse, every human would have 10 seconds to choose between humanity and beasts.
If they chose the beasts, they would become Fallen Monsters—beasts that were once human. Most had humanoid appearances and were even more terrifying than regular beasts.
Jay would become a Fallen Monster and bring chaos and despair to the world.
As for humans, they would gain a special energy called mana, enabling them to unleash devastating attacks.
Beasts, on the other hand, would evolve terrifying abilities and unique skills.
But Fallen Beasts? They were on another level.
Not only would they have mana, but they would also gain beast abilities. A terrifying fusion of human and monster.
Whether you choose the human side or the beast side...
It doesn't matter. All of you will be my playthings.
The instructor was about to advise Jay more about his future when the bell rang. Jay smiled and walked away.
The other students looked at themselves. They were also puzzled about Jay's personality change.
He used to be the teacher's pet. Always getting in class on time and doing everything that the other instructors tell him to do. His grades we're the best in school.
Now he comes late in class and doesn't care about the students.
"Hey Jay wait!" Jay turned around and saw his childhood sweetheart Camellya Mione.
She stopped infront of him to catch her breath.
" Let's go eat together" she said. Jay nodded with a smile and walked with her. I might keep her alive.