382: New Future

New Future

Several weeks had passed after the meeting and since then, the leaders on the various corners of the world began to mount their counterattack on the palpable threat of Abyss creatures. It was, after all, in human nature to adapt and evolve for the sake of survival.

With the increasing number of Abyss creatures gushing out of the Abyss pits, so was the circulation and availability of spirit stones.

This meant that the more one killed Abyss creatures and harvested spirit stones, the stronger they became. Hope for a bright future arose amongst mankind.

As time went on, the number of people who reached the elusive Sky realm grew more and more, and following that, nations commenced their advance and began to reclaim the cities they lost to the undead and the Abyss creatures.

Innovative strategy and efficient tactics emerged, while new technologies and weapons for combat the undead and Abyss creatures were invented one after another. Slowly but surely, mankind was taking back what was theirs before.

Three months after the tribulations, the Abyss creatures that encroached the landscape started to return to their pits, making the land much safer for mankind to live. Once again, people returned to the one answer to their problem – the Doomsday Pillars.

People, military and civilians alike, rushed and swarmed in the pillars once again, challenging higher levels and receiving the benefits given. Before long, common people no longer depend on the military to fight off the threat to their lives. Instead, new names started to surface – adventurers.

Those with power started to form factions of themselves. Taking the name of Guild, they shaped their own future in the chaotic post-Apocalypse world. Prominent figures rose and fell like shooting stars on their journey of kicking off the new era of the world.

***

D-Day #720

It had been two years since the advent of the Apocalypse, and the world had greatly changed from its pre-Apocalypse era appearance. 

The Doomsday Pillars soaring in the sky had become a common part of everyone's daily lives. The cities of the world had almost returned to a state as if the Apocalypse had never happened, as they could be seen bustling with people.

By this time, the center of the world's strongest power has shifted and changed hands. It was not America or China who reigned supreme in the pre-Apocalypse era, nor was it Indonesia who led the charge in the Apocalypse era. Instead, it was Rome who ultimately came out victorious.

The Vatican had managed to gather thousands of talents through the times of chaos and reformed the illustrious Templar Army. They were known to have their own academy that taught, guided, and created the next generation of warriors.

All of Europe from west to east, to Russia, was under the grasp of the Vatican. All under one leader, Pope Strauss.

Months passed, and with time people started to forget about the man who warned everyone about the Apocalypse, the one who said to come from the future, the so-called Reincarnator, Alex. 

The fact that the man had even missed the second Tribulation led most people to believe that the declared hero had passed away in his quest, and that they would have to face the final Tribulation with their own power.

Alex's name, who always talked about in the early days of Apocalypse, was slowly replaced by new pages of other heroic stories from all over the world. The so-called new heroes.

One of such examples was Alex's known former companion, Christina the FireBird, Aria the Ice Princess, Adam the Apocalypse Beast, Winter the Captain of Hope, and the recently famous Russian hero, Viktor the Metal Guardian.

***

D-Day #1085

Three years since the start of the Apocalypse, three months after the advent of the second Tribulation.

Deep below the ground, within the old ruins of Eridu City, Iraq.

Inside the Ziggurat next to the magical garden, a man was seen sitting in a lotus position with his eyes completely closed. Lying in front of his figure was the most valuable artifact ever to exist in the history of mankind, the Ark of Covenant.

It emitted radiant lights and they were constantly seen flickering as they were channeled to and throughout the man. Moments later, a wave of formless spirit energy suddenly burst forth from the man's body, reverberating throughout the area as the air rippled from it.

"I did it! Finally!"

At this moment, the wooden sword hanging on the man's back spoke to his mind.

[Congratulations, master. You have finally reached Saint realm]

Hearing the voice, the man quickly checked the information through the bracelet on his wrist.

[Alex]

[Saint realm level 1 - early stage]

[Light Element - first pillar formed]

As expected, the man was none other than the person the world thought was dead, Alex.

Although he was still gasping for air from the intense session he had just had, Alex spoke to the wooden sword. "Thank you, Stroke. I finally did it." With a smile, he continued, "It actually took less time than I thought. Still… I wonder how long it's been…"

[It's been 1 year, 3 months and 7 days since you started]

Alex's brain stopped for a moment. His eyes widened like a saucer when he finally comprehended how much time had passed. Disbelief was apparent in his face and voice.

"HA?! That long!??" Still in doubt, Alex tried to ask again. "Are you sure, Stroke? You didn't miscalculate the time right?"

[Yes sir. I am sure and did not miscalculate the time. Be thankful though, with your B talent, without the Ark it will take you at least five times longer for you to reach this stage]

Alex nodded hearing that, because he too understood that bitter fact very well. He might have spent more than a year in this underground ruin, but at least he managed to reach the Saint realm before the third Tribulation came.

Now, he just needed to break the barrier that trapped him here and get out into the world again.

Alan got to his feet and walked out of the Ziggurat, making his way towards the magical garden outside. There, he was surprised to find a beautiful young girl surrounded by a dozen animals and one huge bird.

Seemingly noticing his arrival, the girl turned her head towards Alex. When she saw him, she screamed loudly.

"Daddy! You're finally out!!"

Her figure swiftly shot and crashed into Alex's body. The latter didn't have a chance to do anything before a pair of small arms wrapped around his waist embracing him. Feeling the embrace tightening, Alex smiled softly and gently stroked the girl's hair.

The girl was none other than Tiffany. The reality that more than a year had passed finally struck Alex when he saw his little girl again. She had grown so big from the last time he saw her, and his brain needed a bit more time to comprehend that fact.

"My gosh! Look how much my 15 years old daughter has grown! I can't even lift you anymore now!"

Tiffany giggled before suddenly pouting. "What 15? I turn 16 in three months!" She cutely said, raising her hand in protest.

Raising his hands in surrender, Alex spoke in a playful tone. "Alright alright, 16 it is"

While the father and daughter were playing to vent their longing for not seeing each other for a long time, a figure walked towards them. It was Ardeth, the Egyptian member of the Medjai, who was trapped together with them.

"Are we going to get out of this place now?" asked Tiffany, looking excited at the prospect.

To her disappointment however, Alex shook his head. Seeing her downcast look, Alex smiled bitterly and said, "I'm still exhausted, so give me some time to rest. After that, we'll be right out. Okay?" to which the girl replied with a nod.

The three of them then had a pleasant lunch together. During his seclusion training, Alex had been in such a trance that he couldn't really have an opportunity nor time for food and company. Now that he could finally experience and enjoy them again, he was grateful.

As they chatted over the meal, Alex caught up with what had happened during his absence. This one year, it turned out that Ardeth had actually reached the Saint realm himself, which honestly something Alex expected.

The man was, after all, a spirit enhancer with A talent.

As for Tiffany, she surprisingly had reached the Sky realm, becoming a powerhouse of her own right. If Alex's memory didn't wrong him, she was probably one of the youngest Sky realm experts there was. On top of that, her skill that allowed her to communicate with animals also seemed to have improved a lot.

Throughout the past year, Ardeth had also been training Tiffany all of his skills, which would certainly be useful for her in order to face the Apocalypse outside when they finally managed to get out of this place.

Now that Alex had regained and increased his strength, he once again walked to the boundary of the Barrier. Drawing the wooden sword from his back, he readied his stance as his hands gripped the hilt of the sword tightly.

"Alright, Stroke. Here we go!"

[Hexagram Technique - stage 4]

[Blessing]

A hexagonal pattern appeared beneath Alex's feet while white brilliant light enveloped his entire body. Mustering everything he had, Alex transferred all his newfound power to the wooden sword and thrusted forward with all his might.2

Zaaaapppppp!!!

A loud hissing sound rang out in the air as the wooden sword was able to pierce the barrier and punch a small hole in it. Seeing him succeed, Alex was overjoyed and quickly pushed further. Slowly but surely, the hole got bigger, growing from 10 centimeters to 20, then to 30 in a matter of a few seconds.

"Yes! You can do it, Daddy!" Tiffany said in an excited tone.

It was at exactly this time that he felt a powerful force pushing him back. The Barrier finally began its counterattack, but there was no way Alex would just let it do that so easily.

"No! Bigger, I need it bigger!"

Reaching the 50 centimeter mark, Alex's entire body was covered with sweat. Realizing he couldn't go any further, Alex drew back his wooden sword, and the hole in the barrier slowly returned to normal following the absence of the sword. Apparently, 40 to 50 centimeters was the biggest he could make with his current strength.

Alex heaved a sigh at the realization and said, "How long until we can actually break this barrier?"

[Current estimation is 7 months, 2 days, and 5 hours]

"Dammit, Stroke! Are you serious?! Plus the one year I spent on training, that's almost 2 years!"

That night, Alex got into a lot of thinking. He had been stuck here for too long. He was sure that the fact he had disappeared without news must have worried many people. It also didn't help that there was still one task the mysterious man had given him; to find a man named Geoffrey in Britain before the third Tribulation arrived.

Turning his eyes to his daughter, Alex felt mixed feelings. He was happy to see her growing up well, but the fact that she grew up in the last year in a place like this made his heart ache. Noticing a gaze on her, Tiffany turned her head and saw him looking at her.

"What is it, Daddy?"

After a bit of hesitation, Alex finally told her the idea.

Thanks to her petite and slim body, Tiffany could actually escape from the Barrier through the opening Alex made. From that point, she then just needed to find the closest Doomsday Pillar or human settlement and tell people, preferably Alex's companions, about his whereabouts and circumstances.

The problem was, although she was already a Sky realm expert, Alex would never dare to risk her daughter's safety for his sake. It was, after all, his responsibility as a father to protect her from harm's way.

Tiffany, however, seemed to have a different opinion. In a nonchalant manner, she said, "What are you worried about, Daddy? With my power, no monster could hurt me."

Ardeth, who had been teaching Tiffany for the past one year, also agreed with her words, stating that the girl was already old enough to be able to take care of herself. Two against one; Alex reluctantly let the girl go, but not without saying many words of advice like any doting father would.

"Promise me when you step out of the cave and find that there is danger outside, you will immediately return back here."

"Yes, Daddy. Of course, I promise."

"Alright then."

With the fate of the whole world at stake, with a heavy heart, Alex agreed to let Tiffany go alone and send the news here. He gave Tiffany the dozens of scrolls he had in possession for safety, while Ardeth handed her his two dagger artifacts.

"If you ever found any Egyptian, you know what to do girl. The Medjai will help you if you show them these."

"I understand, Uncle Ardeth."

***

The next day, Alex stood before the Barrier again. Stroke in his hand, he took his stance and immediately launched the same thing he did yesterday. Immediately after, an opening appeared on the barrier.

Zaaaapppppp!!!

After hugging Alex, which he unfortunately couldn't return, Tiffany quickly slipped through the gap and found herself outside the Barrier. Turning his head, she saw her father giving her an encouraging smile.

"Be careful."

The two pairs of similar eyes met each from two different sides. Finding her resolve, Tiffany nodded her head firmly before turning around and heading for the cave entrance. Her figure shot across the tunnel.

However, just a minute after she left, the earth suddenly shook and Tiffany saw cracks appear rapidly in the cave wall. A bad feeling rose in her heart.

"No no no! NO!"

An earthquake suddenly occurred, and the tunnel behind her was blocked by the collapsed ceiling and walls. Unable to return, the girl could only continue her journey and return to the surface.

As the morning sky and warm sunlight swept across the vast desert, the girl realized that her adventure had just begun.

—--------------------

Author Special Note:

Dear Doomsday Pillars readers,

With this chapter, Doomsday Pillars is completed. However, this is not the end of the story.

Due to the increasing popularity of Earth's Greatest Magus, and the way Webnovel highly promotes new novels made me decide to expand the apocalyptic world and separate it into three books.

Spirit Magus universe, Apocalypse series

Book One: Doomsday Pillars

Main character Alex, a reincarnator, starts before the apocalypse began and the first tribulation.

Book Two: Young Master in the Apocalypse

Main character Viktor Romanov, the Russian Metal Guardian, a post-apocalypse story, a spin-off that starts two years after until the second tribulation.

Book Three: (Title to be announced.)

A new main character will be introduced with Tiffany as the female lead. The story starts right after the end of this chapter until the conclusion of the Earth Apocalypse; the endgame that gathers all the other main characters together,

The third book is planned to be published in January 2023 after the ending of the second book. I hope for your understanding and patience. While waiting, I suggest reading Young Master in the Apocalypse, a spin-off story that is currently at 200+ chapters, or Earth's Greatest Magus, whose main character is the mysterious man who helped Alex with 1,000+ chapters currently available.

Once again, thank you for your support. Come to our Discord for discussions!

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