09/01/3122 YDB – September 1st, 3122

Ran Almer stood at the front gate of Trinity Crane Academy, the prestigious school for upcoming heroes to fight the forces of evil. His messy brown hair nearly covered his bright brown eyes that were brimming with excitement. He was here, he passed the tests, he made it.

Trinity Crane Academy was made to be the best school for aspiring heroes to learn. It was known for creating the most elite heroes and was infamous for its low pass rate for those who enrolled in the hero program. Ran hoped to be one of the special few that manages to achieve the rank of hero upon graduation. But he knew it wasn't going to be easy.

I wouldn't have been able to even try last year. He thought as he remembered hearing the news that for the first time, the school would be accepting all comers. Not just to those who could afford to pay the hefty tuition prices but for the first time scholarships for those who had the potential but lacked the funds to enroll were to be given out.

This was related to the fact that it was the fiftieth anniversary of the world peace treaty signed by humanity. The treaty was created to unionize the world during a period known as "The Time of Calamity," when monsters ruled the world of Gaia and nearly destroyed mankind before the heroes emerged and saved the world.

This year to commemorate that great event, students from all over the world were invited to join the Trinity Academy and become part of the next generation of heroes. More students than ever were joining the school this year, and more than any other year this one seemed special. Ran Almer couldn't wait to start this school year and experience everything it had to offer and the adventures that he would undertake.

***

07/27/3126 YDB – Lune 27th, 3126

The sun was setting and Ran Almer stood there barely upright, panting for breath. He was dizzy and he felt blood drip from his brow down to his chin. He was currently surrounded by the remnants of what was Trinity Academy.

He could hear cries of pain and fear around him, people were still alive, people were fighting for their lives, and people were dying. That was good at least. But clearly, they needed help, help that currently he could not give as he was staring down his own problem.

Before him was what was his best friend, Alex Murphy. Now a mutated monster that had bones and sinewy muscle for wings, Alex's body had swelled up to an unnatural level, making his body several times larger than before. Parts of his body had already been burnt and shredded apart. Yet he was still alive. Through a single tuft of what was left of his dark brown hair, a bloodshot eye stared at Ran.

"Ran… I'm going to kill you." Alex gurgled out.

"Why Alex? Why did you join them? Why did you sell your soul to them?" Ran asked desperately, absolutely heartbroken seeing the state of his friend.

"Because of you Ran. Everything is because of you!" Alex croaked out as he tried to limp his way over to Ran, legs barely able to keep his bloated body upright.

Before Alex could reach Ran however, another figure appeared. Ran recognized the shape to be Mercy Cowan, legendary swordswoman of the academy, she was still alive. With one slash from her sabre, she cut Alex into two. In an instant, he was slain.

She turned around, her usual pristine school uniform she was always seen wearing was currently torn and covered in who knows what. Her usual peak cap Ran always saw her wear was missing, and her head was wrapped with a bandage.

"Can you move Almer?" She asked quickly, not once regarding the body before her.

"Yeah." Ran said giving a shaky nod.

"Where are the others?"

"Luna is taking care of the injured. She's hidden in one of the bunkers. Did you see any of the teachers?" Ran said.

"A few, they're all busy dealing with other portals."

"Where's Lilith?" Ran asked suddenly.

"Didn't see her, why?" Mercy asked confused.

"She's the catalyst!" Ran cried out desperately.

"What?" Mercy exclaimed just as the sky turned blood red.

The sun disappeared, and instead in its place was a black portal with a strange glowing red hue emanating from it. In front of the portal stood her. Lilith Lilac, the current vessel for one of the demons of calamity. Her black leather wings spread and they were as glorious as they were horrifying.

"Arise my army! Come forth and retake these lands!" Lilith shouted out, her voice distorted, echoing, and unnatural.

Out from the portal came wave after wave of monsters of various types. All angry and hungry for blood. Hearing their master's commands they poured out by the thousands and descended upon the land. Those who could still fight did their best to prepare themselves against the new onslaught.

"We need to stop the portal. We need to get a team up to her." Ran said staring up in horror.

"Get who you can, I'll clear a path." Mercy said as she leapt up to a raised piece of rubble and ran towards the demons.

Ran immediately ran in the opposite direction in hopes of getting help in time. He needed to be quick, he wasn't sure how long Mercy would last without help. Hopefully he could at least find one of the teachers still standing. At least he knew where Luna was and now he needed to get there quickly.

***

"Well. We failed again." A human-looking man with dark clothing, piercings, eyeliner, and jet-black hair cut in a way that only covered one of his eyes sat back dejectedly watching the scene unfold before him through a glowing orb. He was Orolos, one of the gods that watched over Gaia. The current planet was getting invaded by the armies of evil. He along with his peers sat in what looked to be a round theatre watching everything.

 Here the theatre was surrounded by hundreds of deities of all various shapes and sizes. They all seemed to be watching the scene unfold before them with the same look of sorrow. Sadness from the sight of humanity being wiped out.

"Where did we go wrong this time?" Another god, Gadreel, an elegant blonde woman with a silk veil covering the bottom half of her face. Her fingers tapped her armchair impatiently as she knew that humanity had lost. Again.

"It was the boy. He just isn't enough. He lacks the hunger." Vol, a larger muscular god who was shirtless yet wore a full face-covering helmet stared into the large orb displaying the scene intently.

"Oh, and your choice would've been so much better?" Xylos, a smartly dressed god complained.

"Couldn't be any worse than when you tried." Yeijeh said, a goddess who was currently drinking and had heavy bags under her eyes and wore sweatpants and a hoodie.

"Why do you look like that?" Vol asked.

"I'm tired of watching them fail again. I'm running a bit low on hope." She snapped.

"Hope is not something that should be lost. Not if we want them to succeed." Gadreel said calmly.

"Is there any chance for them to succeed? They've failed every time." Xylos said sounding unsure as he leaned back in his seat.

"Which is why we should just send in our armies and take back the world from the dark gods." Konis, a man dressed in a blue blazer that was covered with a bleached white suit with a matching tie and fedora hat.

"Even if we win, doing that may cause irreparable damage to the world." Orolos warned.

"Who cares? We can still rebuild. Seriously you all value these bugs too much. Nine fails already. There is no point in trying again." Konis said scoffing.

"We still have one last try before the time key needs to be recharged." Gadreel reminded everyone.

"It's a waste of time. It'll take another hundred thousand years for that thing to be used again. Do you really want to waste it? Everything that we tried has failed already. We've given past memories, we've taken the souls of people from other worlds and brought them over here. We've directly advised our champions even. All of it meant nothing when the cataclysm starts. The humans can't handle it." Orolos argued.

"Maybe we haven't been creative enough." A voice called out.

Immediately everyone in the room turned to the source of the voice. There standing from her seat all the way in the back was a green-haired goddess with a pink dress and a large blue bow tied to her waist with transparent shimmering fairy wings with green highlights on them. She was a beautiful young woman with determination in her eyes.

She was Mariel, one of the newer goddesses and right next to her sat her nervous-looking twin sister, Sariel who had bright pink hair and a green dress in contrast to her sister.

"What are you saying?" Yeijah asked as she took another swig from her drink, this time straight from the bottle.

"Mariel…" Sariel whispered anxiously tugging at her sister's dress.

"Hey don't worry, you have a good idea." Mariel whispered back assuring her before addressing the others, "Maybe we need to try something different. Aside from picking someone from Trinity Academy."

"Pluck someone from somewhere else and send them to the academy? It could cause some unforeseen consequences." Gadreel said looking thoughtful.

"Great change is needed." Mariel said firmly.

"Still, it would need to be quite the capable person if they are to have any effect at all. Also the process to enter them in isn't simple." Xylos said.

"We believe that we have someone ready already." Mariel said.

"Really now?"

"Yes." Sariel said speaking up a little, "We simply need to replace a student with another."

"How will you do that?" Vol asked.

"The WDO always sends an agent there through all timelines. We just need to get the right one to be sent." Mariel said. An uncomfortable silence emerged from the group, which confused the twins.

"You may not know this… but the WDO is a bit of a sore spot for us deities." Gadreel said after a moment.

"Why?"

"We would rather not go into detail." Vol said gruffly, "I don't think it's a very good idea."

"But-" Sariel began before a hard look caused her to go silent again.

"Perhaps they have a valid point." Gadreel said.

"What?"

"Surely you don't mean to allow this."

A few people began to raise their complaints. Gadreel waited for them all to settle down before continuing, "Now, now. I know that we have had past issues with humans who are part of the WDO before. But they have always tried to do what was best for their planet. Besides, we are getting desperate are we not?"

"Still… to put everything on them? Who even knows if these two kids know what they're doing? We'll put the world's fate in their hands?" Yeijah complained.

"We are not kids. We have been around for centuries!" Mariel said.

"My point exactly."

"That is a fair argument. We can not simply allow our last chance to go to someone so inexperienced." Gadreel said nodding along much to the disappointment of the twins before adding, "But that is why I propose that we let the twins try what they want." She paused for a moment as she waited for the grumbling to cease, "At the same time we also try the other methods."

"What? All at the same time?" Another being asked.

"Yes. We've never tried to have multiple champions before have we now? We'll communicate directly with one, give back past timeline memories to another and use any other method that has proven to have promise in the past." Gadreel proposed.

More murmurs from the crowd emerged and Gadreel allowed the idea to simmer for a minute before asking the crowd, "What do you all think?"

"I agree with this proposition." Xylos said nodding as more voices of agreement emerged from the others.

"I suppose I won't be able to dissuade anyone then." Konis said with a disappointed shake of the head as everyone began to vote to allow this plan to go through.

"We have our chance Sariel." Mariel said tapping her sister's shoulder excitedly.

"I don't know if I'm right though." Her sister said nervously fiddling with her dress.

"You think it's the best chance we have of avoiding the calamity right?"

"Yes..." She replied with a reluctant nod.

"Then if you believe it then so do I." Mariel said with a reaffirming nod.

***

Some time later as the twins made their way through the halls after the meeting they were in discussions with one another.

"So it will reset to 08/28/3122 YDB this time correct?" Mariel asked.

"Yes. It would be better if it were a few extra weeks, but I think he'll be fine either way. At least in theory." Sariel said nodding her head, still not sounding very confident.

"I thought you said you were sure. Why are you still nervous? No one's here." Mariel asked.

"It's just… what if he says no?"

"Sariel."

"Yes Mariel?"

Mariel waved her hand and from the palm of her hand emerged a whirling cloud that cleared itself into the current battle occurring on Gaia. Time had passed and the battle had changed. While many innocents lay there dead, the demonic army was currently thrown into disarray.

There were new people fighting the army, Sariel recognized the uniforms and the faces, the WDO. Sariel and Mariel both didn't know why the other deities disliked them so much. They were a group of people that had originally fought against the forces of evil. This group had existed for less than a century but was likely the only reason why the modern human world hasn't gone into chaos.

"You see him?" Mariel asked.

"Yes." Sariel said watching the one they wanted to pick, Archer Griffin, jumping atop the largest monster and attacking it. His black, foreboding, expressionless helmet and large cowl flowed as he brought a sword down onto the beast.

At the same time, one of Archer's allies was struck midair by a blast and began to hurtle downwards before Archer abandoned his attack and caught the following person before they hit the ground. His large frame enveloped the other person as they landed as another man flew down next to them in concern.

"You've studied his reports correct?" Mariel asked.

"Yes."

"Has he ever not heeded the call for help before? Your predictions even estimate that even after the calamity he and the others would be able to survive and defeat the great evils. That's with the world ending, you think he won't do better when prepared?" Mariel said calmly.

"No… but he might be busy and look at him. He's scary." Sariel mumbled looking at the massive hulking-looking man dressed in black.

"We've never seen him without the costume. Who knows? He might be very handsome." Mariel said with a grin.

"That might be worse."

"Also, what if I'm wrong? I mean he only lived past the age of five in the last two timelines. What if it's a trap?" Sariel said voicing her other concern. He had only come under their radar on the eighth loop, in which he made a big first impression by destroying the leviathan of The Third Sea.

"Who knows? The others manipulated the timeline plenty of times. They might have accidentally created something great. Besides, we've only been able to see good things about him." Mariel reminded her.

"It could be an elaborate trap. We couldn't delve deep into his backstory due to the restrictions placed."

"Then why did you spend all this time picking him?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong."

"You aren't Sariel. You're the smartest goddess I know. If you believe in him then I do too." Mariel said giving her sister a reaffirming shoulder squeeze.

Attention to all gods and goddesses the reset will begin in ten minutes. Please prepare yourselves for the reset. An announcement called out.

 The twins looked at each other after hearing the announcement. With a silent look, they both understood that there would be no turning back with this.

"Ready?" Mariel asked.

"Yes. Let's go get our champion." Sariel nodded as they left. 

***

08/28/3122 YDB – August 28th, 3122 - Midnight

The blizzard was chaotic; massive clouds of snow washed over the mountaintops. The light from the moon could barely illuminate anything through the cloudy, snowy sky. Yet the man, Huntsman Strauss, still ran through the mountains.

 It was hard, the snow piled up so high that with each step he took his entire leg would sink in deep into the fresh snow. His nose was numb from the chilling torrents of wind hitting his face as he ran. Fingers were barely able to move as frostbite ate at them.

Yet still he ran. He had no other choice. Not if he wanted to escape. He was exhausted, he hadn't slept in days and hadn't eaten in nearly forty-eight hours. He wanted to give up. But his drive for freedom drove him forward. The hope of escape, but that was running as low as his energy levels at this point.

It was supposed to be a simple hunting trip. Tag a few birds and head back to his seaside villa and enjoy himself with a nice drink and the company of some beautiful women. He was too scared to drink right now, and women were one of the last things on his mind currently.

Exhausted, he craned his neck back to see if he was still being followed. Through the clouds of snow, he could barely see beyond an arm's length of him. He adjusted his high-tech-powered goggles, trying to get a better view.

No one was on the path following him. That didn't alleviate his worries at all. Whipping his head up to and scanning the mountain cliffs, an instinct he had to have developed the past few days he saw him.

The figure that had chased him all the way up into the mountains. He had destroyed Strauss's supplies and camp, hounded him through day and night, snow or no snow. The only things he had left on him were what he had when the figure began to stalk him. Strauss was unable to sleep, stopping to eat anything more than a few bites of his cold rations and munch on snow for sustenance. He was at his wits end.

With a mixture of fear and frostbite, the man struggled to unsling his rifle. Another gust of wind sent more snow flying into his face, blinding him momentarily. When he could see again, the rifle was in his arms, humming as its fuel cells were charging to life, but the figure had vanished from where he last stood.

Spinning around wildly he waved his rifle around wildly. Then he saw a flash of movement and fired. A single shot from this highly modified hunting rifle blew a small crater where it struck. But he hit nothing. Grunting in frustration he tried to adjust his goggles.

Then there he was. The monster that had been chasing him for the past five days. He stood there mere feet away.

Roaring in anger Strauss pointed his rifle at the figure and fired, a mist of snow consumed the area. A second later the figure walked straight out of the fog and smoke and marched towards him.

He tried to fire again, only for the distance to be closed unbelievably fast between him and his opponent. In an instant, he felt the rifle being pulled from his grip with no effort at all. Next thing he felt despite the numbing cold was a pain in his midsection as the figure struck him with a fist as he keeled over.

"Tired?" The figure asked through his covered face.

"S-stay back!" He cried out weakly trying to crawl away.

He didn't get far before he felt his leg get grabbed with what felt like an iron claw had clamped on to it.

"Now you run? Pathetic." The stranger said as he dragged him backwards, and Strauss screamed out in fear.