The endless expanse stretched out beneath Leon's feet, an ethereal sea of hardened cloud shimmering like glass under a faint glow.
Around him, countless individuals stood, their faces twisted with confusion, fear, and anger.
Some were undeniably human, while others bore peculiar features: shimmering scales, elongated limbs, glowing eyes.
The crowd, a chaotic mix of beings from disparate realms, buzzed with restless energy.
From the center of the gathering, a voice resonated, pure and commanding, silencing the murmurs.
"Welcome, all you beings from different realms!"
Leon turned his attention toward the source. Standing before them was a towering figure, an angelic being of unearthly beauty.
Its luminous wings stretched wide, feathers rippling with threads of light.
The being's face was serene yet inscrutable, its presence radiating authority.
Leon's mind swirled in disorientation as he tried to piece together his last memories. Then it hit him.
"Oh, I remember now," he muttered, his voice low.
The fragmented memory of an explosion came flooding back.
He could almost feel the searing heat of the nuclear blast that had consumed him.
"To think they'd go that far to get rid of one man." A bitter chuckle escaped his lips as he ran a hand through his jet-black curly hair.
"A nuclear weapon? Really? Maybe I shouldn't have killed the president after all."
Leon Kaiser, 21 years old, held the title of the world's most dangerous assassin.
It was a reputation he had earned through blood and chaos, but it also came with a steep price.
Around him, voices rose in panicked waves.
People demanded answers, screamed obscenities, and broke into sobs. The air grew taut with anxiety.
Some clung to the familiar, others stared blankly ahead, clearly in denial.
"You have all been chosen as heroes to save our world from apocalyptic disaster," the angelic figure declared, its voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
"You will be granted special skills and techniques to help you survive and eradicate the threat."
Leon raised an eyebrow. 'Chosen as heroes? Now this is sounding like one of those novels,' he thought.
Yet, despite the absurdity, he found himself intrigued.
Anything was better than being obliterated by a nuclear blast.
A clear, feminine voice broke through the crowd.
"What are we fighting against? And how did we even get here?"
Heads turned toward the speaker, a striking woman with sharp features and piercing eyes.
She stood with a confidence that set her apart from the panicked masses.
The angel's serene gaze fell upon her.
"You all died in your respective worlds. You have been gathered here to prevent the destruction of ours." As the figure made mention of this several photos came to life around them.
"You will be sent to an apocalyptic world overrun with monsters. Your mission is to eradicate them and bring balance. More details will be revealed as you progress. To begin, simply say 'status,' and your talent will be revealed."
Leon's lips curled into a faint smirk.
'An apocalyptic world?' he mused. 'Sounds like a vacation compared to the life I've lived.'
Still, the notion of fighting for survival in another realm wasn't exactly comforting.
The angel continued, "If you do not wish to accept this offer, you may decline and be erased from existence."
Leon snorted.
"Not much of a choice, is it?" he muttered under his breath.
The murmurs around him grew louder as the reality of their situation sank in. One by one, people began testing the command.
"Status!"
"Status!"
"Status!"
A ripple of light surrounded each person as they spoke the word, revealing glowing panels that hovered before their eyes.
Their reactions ranged from ecstatic cheers to groans of despair.
Leon took a deep breath and said calmly, "Status."
A translucent screen materialized before him:
[Name]: Leon Kaiser
[Age]: 21
[Class]: Heroic
[Strength]: 30
[Stamina]: 20
[Agility]: 50
[Perception]: 80
[Talent]: Hero's Eye
[Class]: Heroic
Host has unlocked an F-rank talent!
~Hero's Eye offers the host the ability to see through objects. None shall hide before these eyes.
Leon stared at the screen, his expression darkening.
"F-class?" he muttered.
His gaze darted to a burly man nearby who had just shouted in triumph.
"I got an S-rank talent!" the man bellowed, flexing his muscles for effect.
"Hell yeah!"
Leon's jaw tightened as a vein throbbed on his forehead.
"Hero's Eye? Seeing through objects? That's it?" He let out a bitter laugh.
"What kind of sick joke is this?"
The angel's voice rang out again.
"Your talents determine your potential for survival. Talents are ranked from SSS to F. Those with F-rank talents will find survival... difficult. However, as you progress, your class will evolve—Heroic, Advanced, King, Legendary, Mystic. Each class upgrade strengthens your talent."
Leon's thoughts churned.
'Great. I've been saddled with the worst talent and the lowest class. Is this karma for all the lives I've taken?'
The angel continued, "Before your transfer, a single door will appear. The first person to reach it will be granted a chance to reset their talent. Good luck, otherworlders."
The moment the words left its lips, a golden door materialized at the far end of the expanse.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Then, chaos erupted.
Leon's instincts kicked in. Without a second thought, he sprinted toward the door.
His high agility stat gave him a significant advantage, and he quickly took the lead.
"Hey! Stop him!" someone shouted.
A hulking figure charged after Leon, his heavy footfalls shaking the ground.
"I need that reset more than you do!" the man roared.
Leon didn't bother looking back.
"Can't you all just sit still and let me have this one break?" he growled, pushing himself harder.
The door loomed closer, glowing with an almost divine radiance.
But just as he thought he was in the clear, a massive hand clamped around his leg, yanking him backward.
"Not so fast," the bulky man sneered.
"Let go, you idiot!" Leon shouted, twisting and kicking with all his might.
His heel connected with the man's face, eliciting a satisfying crunch.
The grip loosened just enough for Leon to break free.
Blood pounding in his ears, Leon surged forward.
The door was within reach now, mere meters away. He extended his hand, his fingers brushing the golden surface—
A blinding light engulfed him.
"Shit!" Leon screamed, clawing at the air as an invisible force dragged him away from the door.
The light swallowed him whole, and his vision blurred.
His last words echoed into the void.
"Damn it!"
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[A/N: That's it for the first chapter, if you like this, do sure to add to collections and vote as well... Thank you]