Blue Planet, January 1st, 2000.
A black bird suddenly appeared, regurgitating a gigantic gastric sac that engulfed the entire sun. Subsequently, the black bird swallowed back its sac and vanished without a trace.
With the sun gone, Blue Planet plunged into eternal night.
For some inexplicable reason, Blue Planet's creatures did not perish entirely, and humanity managed to survive, albeit barely.
In the same year, deities emerged en masse on Blue Planet, beginning their hunt for humans. To protect themselves, humanity formed a unified government and constructed several large safe zones, where humans now lived exclusively.
This period in history marks the apocalypse of Blue Planet.
"Take note, everyone. The historical events I just read have three key points. The first is the date: New Year's Day, ten years ago. The second…"
Alex, sitting in the corner of the classroom, shook his head.
"Studying history won't save humanity."
"In this apocalyptic world, only knowledge related to Sequence Abilities matters."
He ceased paying attention to the lecture and turned his gaze out the window.
Through the protective glass, he could faintly discern numerous deities drifting in the night sky above.
Blue Planet was shrouded in eternal night, so the view was more or less the same whenever one looked up.
A faintly glimmering starry sky.
And deities wandering beneath the stars.
"Next, let's discuss the deities. There's also a test point here, so listen carefully."
"After the eternal night, Blue Planet witnessed the emergence of bizarre creatures with varied appearances."
"But they share one commonality: they prey on humans and possess immortality."
"Humans perceive these creatures as divine punishment for the sins committed before the apocalypse, hence the term 'deities'…"
Predatory, bizarre creatures actually revered as 'deities'.
Upon hearing this, Alex sighed again.
It's always like this.
The end of science leads to theology.
Humans attribute all inexplicable existences to deities.
"Pay attention, the topics of deities and the apocalypse are mandatory for both liberal arts and science sections in the college entrance exam…"
Alex ignored this useless lesson.
Everyone knows that in this apocalyptic world, only those who awaken Sequence Abilities can have a foothold.
As for the college entrance exam for ordinary people—one can only gain admission to prestigious academies by ranking within the top one in a thousand in the safe zone.
In such a vast safe zone, what does ranking within the top one in a thousand entail?
Not even the top five in the entire school can guarantee it.
Alex, in his past life, was an orphan who toiled through years of study. His college entrance exam results were far from impressive. Later, he passed the graduate entrance exam and secured a modestly respectable job after graduation. However, he was laid off in middle age and accidentally killed by a security guard while demanding compensation. He was reborn back to when he was seventeen.
Except in this new life, the people remain the same, but the once normal world has transformed into what it is now.
"I can't waste this second chance, can I?"
"I must find a way to awaken a Sequence Ability."
Alex already had a goal in mind, albeit without a clear path to achieve it.
After the apocalypse, various creatures mutated. Countless species perished, and countless new ones emerged. And humanity, too, began to mutate.
That mutation manifested in the emergence of Sequence Ability holders.
On January 1, 2005, of the Blue Star Era, precisely five years after the Apocalypse descended, the first Sequence Ability user was born among humanity.
He possessed abilities beyond those of mere mortals—the ability to transform one of his hands into a revolver.
His revolver could fire six bullets a day. Many saw his emergence as a beacon of hope for the future.
How could his revolver be of any use against gods that even nuclear bombs couldn't kill?
Yet,
His revolver proved useful indeed.
After awakening his Sequence, he successfully slew two small gods scurrying across the ground.
Dispelling the notion that gods were immortal.
Sequence Ability users could kill gods!
Humanity rejoiced.
Seeing a glimmer of hope in counterattacking the gods!
Subsequently, many others began awakening their Sequence Abilities.
Stories of humanity slaying gods gradually ceased to be rare.
However, no major gods had been killed. Thus, the tiny spark of Sequence Ability awakenings hadn't changed humanity's minute status.
But it did alter the dynamics within humanity.
Outside the Safe Zones, gods reigned supreme. Inside the Safe Zones, Sequence Ability users ruled.
Sequence Ability users became the gods within the Safe Zones.
This was humanity's Apocalypse. It was also a paradise for Sequence Ability users.
One who awakened their Sequence rose to prominence instantly.
Tales of someone transitioning from begging on the streets in the morning to indulging in luxury by afternoon were widespread within the Safe Zones.
Alex believed that reborn individuals should possess some degree of fortune.
Expecting to awaken his Sequence ability immediately upon rebirth.
Yet, three days passed.
He remained an ordinary person living in the fringes of the Safe Zone.
Just like all the students in this school, an ordinary person.
Yet, Alex was unwilling to settle for this.
"Classmates, the awakening of Sequence Ability is humanity's hope…"
Sequence Awakening?
Alex suddenly turned around.
This was precisely what he was most curious about.
He immediately raised his hand and looked at Ms. Clarke, who was teaching history.
"Alex, do you have a question?"
"Teacher, why hasn't anyone in our class awakened a Sequence Ability? How can one awaken a Sequence Ability?"
"The reason for Sequence Awakening is unknown. If I knew, I would've awakened my own Sequence first!"
A classmate interrupted, "But I heard Uncle Zhou Yang from the next class awakened a Sequence Ability! Why can't I?"
"That's Director Zhou! The proportion of government officials awakening Sequence Abilities is naturally high!"
"But…"
"No buts! Rather than talking about impractical dreams here, it's better to prepare for the college entrance exams!"
"You only have half a year left for the exams. If you don't study hard to get into a college, you'll have to find a job after graduating high school!"
"Will you let me have some peace!? Open your homework, and I'll check it!"
Ms. Clarke grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, eventually slapping the desk furiously.
Yet, having lived two lives, Alex could see that Ms. Clarke wasn't disappointed in them.
Only the top five in the school had a chance of getting into a college. The top student in his class was only around the 30th rank in the school.
In other words, everyone in the class would have to find a job after graduating high school.
Ms. Clarke couldn't be unaware of this.
Her excitement and anger didn't stem from worrying about her students' futures.
Alex saw traces of unwillingness and jealousy in her eyes.
Unwilling to settle for being an ordinary person.
Envious of others awakening their Sequence Abilities.
"But what hope is there in life if one doesn't awaken a Sequence?"
Alex muttered to himself.
This murmur was caught by Ms. Clarke, who was checking homework.
"Alex!!"
"You're sitting in the single desk at the back corner and still haven't learned your lesson. You insist on dwelling on such impractical matters and are now disrupting class order during a lecture!!"
"You're beyond hope! Go stand outside the door and think about it until you come to your senses before coming back!"
"Okay."
He hadn't said anything overly provocative, yet he had still provoked Ms. Clarke's anger.
Some say that human anger essentially stems from one's own incompetence.
Perhaps that was the case.
Alex left the classroom.
He didn't give standing outside the door much thought.
If it weren't for the school cafeteria providing meals, allowing this orphan without income to fill his stomach, he wouldn't even bother attending school. He would surely dedicate all his energy to figuring out the mysteries of the Sequence.
Fortunately, it was quiet outside the classroom.
He could ponder on the method to awaken his Sequence in peace.
As far as he knew, the wealthy and the high-ups in this world had a very high probability of awakening Sequence Abilities.
While poverty-stricken students like him, living in the fringes of the Safe Zone, rarely produced an awakener among thousands.
Sequence Awakening wasn't completely random; it seemed to favor the affluent and disdain the poor.
Alex chuckled helplessly at this thought.
"If the condition for Sequence Awakening is related to one's quality of life, I'm afraid I'll never awaken a Sequence in my lifetime."
He shook his head, sighed deeply, and stopped thinking about it.
Looking up at the window, he saw many gods still wandering amidst the stars.
"Gods, huh?"
"If you're gods, and I, who has been reborn, am equivalent to you?"
"Speaking of which, I'm also a god."
Alex chuckled softly.
Suddenly, he saw what appeared to be an eye slowly opening in the dark sky, gazing at him.
That dark pupil didn't resemble a human's; it was more like that of a bird.
This eye hanging in the night sky was bigger than the stars. If it truly belonged to a bird, it could probably swallow the entire Blue Star in one gulp.
Alex frowned and glanced around at his fellow classmates standing outside in the hallway. Some of them were also looking out the window idly, but none of them seemed to notice the eye.
Only he could see it?
He maintained eye contact with the eye for a moment, feeling as if it was exerting some form of interference on him, making him dizzy.
Immediately afterward, a piece of information flashed through his mind.
[Sequence "Gods-Eater" Awakening]
[Consuming gods will make you stronger]
[Current Sequence Level: 1, Glutton]
[Skill: Blood Drink. Skill Description: Capable of consuming gods or deity raw.]
As he regained consciousness, the eye in the starry sky had vanished.
A Sequence... Awakened?!
Alex couldn't believe what had just happened.
He didn't know much about Sequence Abilities.
The only thing he knew was that Sequence Ability holders could see their Sequence information in their minds.
"I... I've awakened a Sequence Ability?!"
Alex was still in disbelief when he suddenly felt a surge of power flowing into his body, greatly enhancing his mental state.
Even his previously scrawny arms had developed muscle lines.
"They say that after awakening a Sequence Ability, one's body becomes stronger. It's really true!"
But when he thought about that eye, he felt puzzled: Could everyone's Sequence awakening be such a strange experience?
Why had he never heard anyone talk about it?
"[Gods-Eater] Sequence... It sounds pretty awesome. I need to check it out on the [Camp of God-Slayers]."
The [Camp of God-Slayers] was a forum for Sequence Ability holders to discuss and exchange ideas.
Alex had stumbled upon this forum by chance while listening to his classmates chat.
To access the forum, one needed a mobile phone or a computer.
However, his home didn't even have a single electrical appliance, let alone a computer.
"The evening self-study session is being extended. I'll have to wait until tomorrow morning to go to the internet cafe."
Just then, the bell signaling the end of the evening self-study session rang.
Ms. Clarke walked out of the classroom, giving him a disgusted look:
"Go home and reflect on yourself. Stop indulging in these fanciful notions."
Instead of riding roughshod over Ms. Clarke, shouting that he had awakened a Sequence Ability, Alex nodded at her and quietly returned to his seat through the back door to pack his bag.
"I feel like my awakening method and my Sequence name are both kind of strange. I should find out more before telling anyone else."
"Besides, my identity as a Sequence Ability holder isn't going anywhere."
Ms. Clarke seemed particularly upset today, keeping everyone after class for a long lecture and making them complete two more sets of papers. It was already past ten when school finally ended.
Power resources were scarce in the post-apocalyptic world, and internet cafes weren't open 24/7. They were already closed now.
Alex returned home and sighed with relief:
"I'll sleep it off and go to the internet cafe tomorrow morning!"