Maxim's mind was swirling with thoughts as he considered the incredible possibility of going back in time.
It seemed like something out of a fantasy, but it was also incredibly enticing. The weight of this revelation weighed heavily on his mind, causing him to furrow his brow in deep concentration.
He whispered under his breath, barely audible amidst the noise of the busy city street.
"What the—
"Can— Do I really have the chance to relive the past, my dear comrades?"
He couldn't tear his gaze away from the huge LED screen on a nearby café.
It was displaying a captivating familiar MMORPG game, <> Like it was planning to lure the people to enter the game, the game that was connected to the apocalypse that was about to happen.
Meanwhile, Maxim's heart longed for this extraordinary possibility to be true.
"Did I really break free from the constraints of time just by entering that Dark Matter?
"What my skin was feeling, my eyes were seeing and what my ears were hearing felt like I really did…"
Soon, doubts and skepticism started to creep in, threatening to extinguish the flickering flame of hope.
"Did I really?"
With utmost clarity, Maxim realized that if such a miraculous phenomenon were to occur, he would need tangible evidence, something concrete to prove that time travel was real.
Only through undeniable proof could he confirm the truth of this remarkable claim.
"Yes, yes, I need proof!
"This could be an illusion…"
He mumbled but soon his mind raced with thoughts of the countless implications and consequences that such an event would bring.
Regret, pain, joy, and liberation surged through his veins as he thought about the prospect of returning to a time before the apocalypse, before the invention of the gaming pod that allowed people to explore the <>
Maxim's thoughts drifted back to a time long ago, when his life wasn't filled with the horrifying nightmares that haunted him every day.
He remembered the days when his beloved aunt, the one person who brought him comfort during his turbulent childhood, was still alive.
Memories of his youth, a time when he didn't feel the crushing weight of loneliness when he was the only living human, flooded his mind, stirring a mix of both happiness and sadness in his heart.
He missed the days when he didn't have to bear the burden of being the last surviving human in the vast universe.
If Maxim was truly given the extraordinary opportunity to travel back in time, he promised that he would do everything in his power to save humanity from the impending collapse that loomed ahead.
From the enlightened Ones.
From the external forces and internal forces.
From the humanoid bloodsucking aliens called Bloodbornes that use humans as an outlet for blood.
His determination burned fiercely, surpassing all logical boundaries.
It's like he wanted to witness the human race thrive across the vast expanse of the stars.
He will lead them!
He will save them!
However, as soon as he thought of that, Maxim remembered what had happened to the dark matter.
What if he hadn't had a second chance and had truly died and become nothingness?
What if he had led humanity to its doom and hadn't had a second chance?
Should he really have been selfish once again?
Maxim was confused and felt curious about what path he should tread.
Maybe if it was his life, he could, but if he was really back in time and these people were truly alive, then he felt like he couldn't afford to lose them again.
After a very, very long time in this busy street, Maxim found a path.
A light at the top of the tunnel.
"What if I let humanity decide their own fate?
"What if I give them a chance?"
He said with enthusiasm.
Maxim almost jumped for joy, he clenched his fist hard!
"Right!
"I'll give them a chance.
"I will give them a clue using an announcement. If they don't believe it, then let them get slammed by the apocalypse, abusive enlightened ones, and their bloodsucking masters.
"And when the time comes, I am convinced that they will believe me. That's when I'll step up…"
He looked at the sky and continued.
"For now, I will relax myself as I hide in the shadows and treat this as a holiday.
"After all, I know the future. If I lead them, I am sure that I could lead them easily with a success rate of more than seventy percent. It would absolutely become boring at that point. But if I only give them an announcement, I'm not sure if they will believe me…
"After all, there are a lot of things I'm not sure about. They might get unlucky, get lucky, or be safe and be harmed by the information I would give them…
"For that, I'm not sure… I would only have a success rate of forty or below. And if I successfully made it with only forty or below, I'm sure I would feel good with that…"
Maxim paused, his hand and fingers were on his chin.
"Still, I'm not sure if everything was real… or If really gone back in time…"
However, as Maxim was trying to grasp what was happening, a person appeared before him, standing out in the crowd.
It was a woman, someone he recognized but couldn't quite place.
Maxim's heart skipped a beat as he saw the familiar person, a person that he had loved in a past life.
Her name escaped his lips, "Svetlana?"
"Maxim, where have you been?" she asked, sounding frustrated.
Her eyes were dreamy and had a captivating effect on him.
She smiled wistfully, emphasizing her attractive figure.
"He's here, he can carry our bags…"
Svetlana urgently motioned towards a group of women, her close friends, who were watching Maxim intently.
He knew them too; their faces were etched in his memory.
Curiosity and unease mixed within Maxim as he followed the mysterious woman's gesture, slowly.
Step by step, he approached the group, his mind filled with questions and a longing for answers.
"Hurry!"
Svetlana said urgently, her eyes widening with excitement and concern.
"The Domain of Miracles has been launched! You-know-who," she paused, speaking softly, "is prepared to play the game, helping Goddess Ecatarina with a rare SSS level quest. It's a remarkable accomplishment if they make it, Maxim. No one has ever achieved such a feat since the game began, so please hurry!"
Somehow, Maxim froze, stood still, overwhelmed by the flood of information.
The mention of the Domain of Miracles triggered a sense of recognition in him, snapping him out of his confusion.
The game, which was somehow connected to the impending apocalypse, held great importance. Its origins were mysterious, and it enticed players with its immersive virtual world and advanced technology.
In this virtual realm, reality and fantasy intertwined. People's real-life skills seamlessly translated into the game.
A master of martial arts would excel in combat, and a skilled sword master would be hard to beat.
The game's artificial intelligence was groundbreaking, drawing players into a world where their deepest desires could come true.
Despite the fantastical nature of these revelations, Maxim couldn't shake off his doubts.
The enormity of the situation overwhelmed him, and he struggled to believe that he had traveled through time.
Skepticism clouded his thoughts, refusing to let go of his rationality.
"Is this really happening, my comrades?"
He murmured, unsure of himself.
Shaking his head, he vehemently denied the possibility, dismissing it as a product of his imagination.
"No, it can't be true.
"Someone is manipulating me, my comrades!
"It goes against all logic.
"It's simply impossible!
"Who is responsible for this?
"Why am I back with Svetlana?
"Does someone want to make me relive mine again or for me to see the collapse of humanity again right before my eyes?
"Who wants to torture me using my own head?"
However, his certainty began to waver as he noticed a flicker of profound astonishment in Svetlana's eyes.
Her expression froze, as if something surprising had appeared behind him, making her feel uneasy.
"Huh?"
Maxim quickly looked over his shoulder, trying to find the cause of her sudden fear.
The atmosphere seemed charged with tension, indicating that there was more to this confusing situation than met the eye.
As Maxim tried to turn around, his attention was immediately captured by a luxurious and stylish car, a clear sign of its owner's wealth and influence.
In just a few moments, a crowd of people started gathering around him, curious about what was happening.
Maxim was left speechless, his mind still confused, struggling to understand what was unfolding before him.
Suddenly, someone bumped into him, causing him to stumble in the chaotic commotion
Bum!
Emerging from the crowd, a group of strong and muscular female bodyguards appeared, skillfully making their way through the onlookers, heading towards the car's entrance.
With skill and precision, they opened the door, revealing an incredibly captivating sight.
As if she had stepped out of a world of extraordinary beauty, the feet of a woman came into view, capturing the attention of the mesmerized crowd.
As her face was revealed, a wave of excitement swept through the spectators, who found themselves completely enchanted by her unmatched allure.
This woman was Polina, a captivating Slovakian lady whose uniqueness was widely recognized.
She was regarded as the epitome of beauty, representing the highest standard of human aesthetics.
Polina's name was famous far and wide, a worthy competitor to the renowned Ecatarina.
"Is Ecatarina, my mortal combat enemy, already playing?
"I hope she accepts my hand to hand combat invitation this time again…
"And I promise— I'll never lose…"
She thought worriedly but very determined.
Not only was Polina an embodiment of physical beauty, but she also possessed exceptional skills as a martial artist, excelling in wrestling, mixed martial arts, and even acting.
The MMORPG game had various modes to cater to the diverse interests of its players.
There were adventure games, where individuals could interact with others in the virtual world, as well as one-on-one battles that showcased their abilities.
Lastly, there was the Ultimate Fighting Arena (UFA), where combatants had identical stats and skills, rendering the power of abilities irrelevant.
Within the Ultimate Fighting Arena, Polina's achievements were legendary.
She had an impressive record of ninety-nine victories, with only one defeat against Ecatarina.
Her fame extended beyond the virtual world, captivating admirers around the globe.
What made her accomplishments even more remarkable was the fact that Polina was only eighteen years old, still at the beginning of her extraordinary journey.
However, amidst the crowd competing for Polina's attention, Maxim suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the packed space like a thunderclap.
"HAHAHAHAH!"
His laughter caught the attention of those who had been focused on Polina and her bodyguards.
Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, Maxim experienced a profound realization that shook him to his core.
His eyes were staring back and forth at his hands, feet and the sky.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
He became convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, that he had been reborn in a different time.
The weight of this understanding overwhelmed him, filling him with astonishment and joy, making his heart race like a wild horse galloping across an open field.
"This looks and sounds so real, my comrades?
"Is it really really really really real?"
Maxim exclaimed, his voice trembling with intense excitement.
"My! My! My!"
"My! My! My!"
"My! My! My!"
His words echoed through the air, resonating with the same intensity as the storm of emotions swirling within him.
Thoughts of Dark Matter, the mysterious matter who had been robbed of life, swirled in Maxim's mind.
His tragic fate in the dark matter might have triggered something.
Amidst the overwhelming emotions, Maxim felt an exhilarating surge of excitement, igniting a fire within his soul.
"I'm really back, my comrades!
"I'm really back!"
He shouted, his voice filled with fervor and determination.
His proclamation captured the attention of everyone nearby, drawing them in.
The onlookers, taken aback by Maxim's outburst, exchanged bewildered glances and whispered to each other.
"Is this person going crazy?
"His comrades?"
"Why does he sound like he is referring to us?"
The crowd tried to make sense of Maxim's declaration, creating a backdrop of confusion and speculation.
But before the whispers could fully take hold and the onlookers could piece together the puzzle, Maxim erupted in laughter.
"BWAHAHAHAHA!"
His wild laughter echoed through the air like thunder, declaring that he was back and ready to conquer the universe.
His words pierced through the uncertainty, leaving the onlookers stunned and captivated by this strange person.
However, in the midst of this transformative moment, there was a sudden explosion-like sound from a malfunctioning monitor.
Baaaam!
It startled the crowd, and they turned their heads in alarm.
Their eyes widened with surprise and trepidation as they saw the source of the disturbance—a colossal LED monitor.
In the midst of confusion and murmurs, a large screen suddenly lit up, grabbing everyone's attention with a captivating message.
UFA fighting special:
Ecatarina vs Midwalk!
The crowd was momentarily distracted from Maxim, who was lost in his own delusions.
"What, she is fighting?"
"Let's take a bet?"
"Nah… I'm not sure if she could win."
"Is she really fighting?"
People were amazed to hear that Ecatarina would be fighting.
They couldn't believe it because she rarely appeared in the arena.
Usually, the screen showcased unknown fighters that didn't interest the spectators. But this time, they had the chance to witness a true legend in action.