Coal Archer

In the year 2045, rain began to fall across the entire world simultaneously. At first, no one paid much attention, assuming it was just a peculiar coincidence. But as the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, the rain showed no sign of stopping, putting the world on edge.

People waited, hoping it would end, but the rain persisted for over a year. Finally, in the 14th month, the downpour ceased. However, before anyone could celebrate, the earth was shaken by a relentless earthquake that lasted for 27 hours. The non-stop rain had submerged entire countries, causing massive destruction, the collapse of nations, and the deaths of millions.

When the survivors finally awoke, they found themselves in a world submerged in water, surrounded by ruin and desolation. But before they could process the devastation, a new horror emerged:

Zombies.

These were no ordinary zombies. They were monsters with terrifying abilities. Some could wield elements like fire, water, earth, and wind, while others controlled darkness, light, time, and space. They could summon objects out of thin air, cast illusions, alter their size at will, and twist their bodies into grotesque killing machines.

As humanity struggled to fight back, some survivors made a remarkable discovery. Killing these zombies sometimes yielded mysterious crystals within their bodies. By consuming or cultivating these crystals, survivors could gain incredible powers and grow stronger. This revelation ignited a desperate fight for survival as humanity sought to harness these abilities to push back against the undead.

Years passed, and while humans adapted to their new reality, no one could explain how the zombies had come into existence.

***

Current Location: The Last Sanctuary of Humanity

The Last Sanctuary was a bastion for the remaining survivors, protected by towering, indestructible walls. A massive barrier enveloped the sanctuary, said to be strong enough to withstand even a nuclear explosion. Within these walls, humanity lived in peace—until that peace was shattered.

In the heart of the sanctuary, zombies gathered in numbers too vast to count, drawn by the scent of humanity. Even the strongest defenses could not hold back their relentless assault. Buildings lay in ruins, streets were drenched in blood, and the cries of the dying filled the air.

Amid the chaos, the last human stood alone. Surrounded by a sea of corpses and the endless horde of monsters, he fought with every ounce of strength he had left.

"Blood (Blast)! Hahaha!"

He screamed as he unleashed his power, his voice echoing through the shattered city.

His lips were cracked and dry, his body gaunt and battered. Starving and exhausted, his bloodstained figure stood defiant against the horde. Rain began to fall, washing away the grime and blood from his skin.

"Finally, it's raining again," he whispered, his voice filled with hollow relief. "It's been so long since I've had a drink."

He tilted his head back, letting the raindrops touch his parched lips.

"How long have I been fighting? I lost count after the second year. Absorb, control, throw, repeat… again and again. Every second, every minute, every day… I'm tired. What am I even fighting for? Everyone else is dead. I'm the last human in this apocalyptic world."

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice a former companion sneaking up behind him. A zombie with the ability to manipulate roots pierced his chest.

His eyes widened in shock as he turned to face his attacker. She had blue hair and wore a familiar cat hoodie.

"Oh… it's you," he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Even you couldn't fight against it… the (????). I thought you'd be strong enough to resist. I'm sorry… I have to kill you. It's not because I hate you… And I'm sorry for never accepting your feelings. I hope you'll find peace in your next life. And… if you meet him… tell him I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being there for him back then."

Summoning his ability, Blood (Purify), he cleansed her body of the blood and filth of other zombies. Carefully, he placed her lifeless form in a box, setting her apart from the countless other corpses he had slain.

Memories of his companions—now lost to the horde—flooded his mind. His face remained emotionless, except for her and one other.

"Forget them already," he muttered to himself. "Just fight. Don't stop, no matter what. I'll survive this. I have to survive this."

***

Time continued to move without stopping: seven months later.

As the last zombie dropped at his feet, he could finally rest, knowing not a single threat remained to harm him. He had survived all these years, all alone, relying solely on his own strength. Tired and starving after years of fighting.

He looked around at the place where everyone had lived and spent their days without worry. He stopped for a second before walking to the nearest wall to rest his back after everything. Looking at the corpses of everyone he had known and spent years with, he used the last of his strength to speak to them one final time.

"Look at you all, turned into something you hated, feared, and avoided all these years. If only you guys had put at least ten percent of the effort I did all these years, maybe—maybe you'd still be alive today. To think I've done so much, and all of that was just for you guys to end up like this. Haaaaa, I'm losing my vision already. Makes sense. Without zombies to absorb energy from, I can't live much longer… Raindrops?"

"Hahaha, so this is how I meet my end in this world. No, this is how this world ends. To think this is how everything started. I can still remember the day when this world turned into this piece of shit! Back then, everyone thought it was just another normal rain. To think it would cause all of this."

"What am I even doing now? I'm going crazy. I should just rest after all of this—not like anyone is hearing me at all. Goodbye, you cruel apocalyptic world. And sorry if I let you two die just like that."

Closing his eyes, which he hadn't closed in years, he heard a dim voice in front of him.

ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET.

THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN AWAKENED.

SEARCHING FOR THE SURVIVORS OF THE RAIN…

NUMBER OF SURVIVORS: ???

AN UPDATE IS REQUIRED.

UPDATING THE SYSTEM…

THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPDATED!

WARNING!

CURRENT NUMBER OF SURVIVORS: 1

"Wait… one? How? How did the system just arrive in this world? Wait, how long has this world been abandoned?"

"Janna!!! Come here now!"

"Yes, my goddess… What can I do for you?"

"Come here, my little angel…"

"Yes, goddess… What is it that you need me for?"

"Nothing much, but [Authority] Chain of Fate. Now that you can't run away from me, let me ask you this question: when did I ask you to put a system in this world? Hmm? When?"

"System? World? Wasn't it yesterday, my goddess?"

"That's right—yesterday! And let me ask you this again: what's the time difference between here and that world?"

"... Wait, goddess, I can explain!"

"Explain? Explain WHAT? Look at this mess (world)! There's only one survivor left. Not only that—he's already on his deathbed! Did I not teach you that if there's an abandoned world, you put a system on it as fast as you can to help the remaining survivors?"

"..."

"Huhhh! Making him into a regressor won't even compensate for his suffering all these years, not like I have enough authority to do it. There's only one thing I can do for him, and that is to make him reborn in one of my worlds… But before that, let's see his status first."

STATUS

Name: Raven S. Senangelo

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Nationality: Filipino

Ability: Blood Manipulation (Absorption) (Blast) (Harden) (Explosion) (Purity)

(Some abilities can only exist by meeting their requirements.)

Rank: 12

Title: Blood Emperor

"Quite an amazing status... Also, Rank 12? In this world, for every 1,000 crystals you consume, it's equivalent to 1 rank. So this one has consumed and defeated thousands of them… That's just the ones he cultivated. These last nine years of fighting, after everyone else turned to zombies, he managed to kill all 2.4 million zombies without stopping at all."

"Sixteen years—that's how long this world has been in this state, and for over a decade, he was the last human."

"Wow, he did all of that without giving up, my goddess? And without the help of a system at all?"

"Shut up, Janna. I'm not allowing you to talk at all. But still, it's sad that he did all of that just to die like this… If only a specific angel had done her job..."

"..."

"Well, not much we can do. Since the system only got to this world now, I can't change much. Well then, should I do this now?"

THE GODDESS OF MERCY HAS DESCENDED TO THE MORTAL WORLD.

"What's that noise? Why does it sound like one of those system notifications I used to read so much back then? Also… A bit late, don't you think? Everyone is already dead."

A GODDESS IS STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU.

"A goddess? That's so… I'm sorry, goddess, if I cannot give you a proper greeting. As you can see, I'm currently dying..."

WORRY NOT, CHILD. I'M NOT HERE TO MAKE YOU A BELIEVER BUT TO GIVE YOU A CHOICE…

"Choice? What kind of choice are we talking about then?"

WILL YOU GIVE ME THIS WORLD AS MY OWN IN EXCHANGE FOR MAKING YOU REBORN IN ONE OF MY WORLDS? BY TAKING THIS WORLD AS MINE, I CAN CLAIM THIS UNIVERSE AND GIVE THOSE WHO DIED A CHANCE TO BE REBORN.

"What part of that is a choice… But there's nothing much I can do right now. So YES, my goddess, I shall give you this world in exchange for giving everyone a chance to be reborn under your care. So please make sure that those I truly cared for are reborn as humans under your care, especially those two."

OF COURSE. I'LL MAKE SURE OF IT. NOW, I SHALL REBIRTH YOU…

"... What's wrong now… Goddess?"

CHILD, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT?

"Nothing at all."

ALL RIGHT THEN. PLEASE ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE IN THIS WORLD OF MINE.

I shall then, thank you goddess

***

"With that, I now have the power to control everything in this universe. Janna, make sure you do your job right this time."

"Yes, my goddess."

SYSTEM NOTICE!

THE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE TO THE LATEST VERSION.

"The system? What's wrong with this thing?"

As the goddess watched the system update, her curiosity was piqued. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find Janna standing behind her.

"What is it, Janna?"

"Goddess, can I ask you a question?"

"Aren't you already asking one?"

"… Come on, please just answer my question."

"Alright, what is it? And hurry up—ask before the system finishes updating."

"Then here's my question, goddess: why did you descend to this world and make that exchange with him? Couldn't you just reincarnate him and claim this world as your own?"

"Hahaha! So you really can't tell, even after seeing him."

"Wait, what do you mean? There's nothing special about him. We've reincarnated countless people who have done far more incredible things, like the Dragon Slayer who killed over a thousand dragons in his lifetime or the Cursed Child who destroyed over a thousand gods…"

As Janna continued listing examples of greater feats, the system have updated completely.

THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPDATED TO THE LATEST VERSION.

STATUS

Name: Raven S. Senangelo

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Nationality: Filipino

Age: 34

Mental Age: ???

Ability: Blood (Manipulation) (Absorption) (Blast) (Harden) (Explosion) (Purity) (Fusion) (Mark) (Vampirism)

(Some abilities can only exist by meeting their requirements.)

Rank: 12

Title: Blood Emperor, Enemy of Hell and Heaven, Cannibal, Gluttony, Demon Hunter, God Killer, Divine Killer.

Total Zombies killed :

Emperor ( ??? )

Rank 16 : 1

Rank 13: 1

Rank 11: 1

Saint (Lord)

Rank 9: 58

Rank 8: 84

Rank 5: 71

King (Ruler)

Rank 7: 182

Rank 6: 249

Rank 4: 525

Rank 3: 914

Prince (Control)

Rank 7: 19,249

Rank 5: 24,014

Rank 2: 42,045

Knight (Modified)

Rank 4: 26,134

Rank 2: 12,249

Soldier (Mutated)

Rank 2: 57,293

Rank 1: 113,145

Normal Zombies: 4,792,391

Additional killed being's :

Monsters Killed: 1,294,014

Demons Killed: 140,824

Angels Killed: 27,000

Devils Killed: 43,104

Celestials Killed: 1,024

Gods Killed: 1,914

---

Janna's eyes widened as she read the status. "What's this?! How can a single person accomplish all of this? Angels, devils, gods—he killed them too? How?"

The goddess smirked. "So, what do you think? Do you understand now why I descended to this world? If you still don't get it, the reason I made that exchange is that he met all the requirements to become a (???). Come now, let's leave this place. I've already gathered all the souls from this world."

As the two left the ruined battlefield, Janna glanced back. "Could it really be true? That man… he was already a god." Leaving the goddess behind in Earth

"What is this? If he had accepted that he was a god, he could have overthrown me. No… he would have already become the being with the most divinity in the multiverse. The amount of divinity he accumulated by killing all those angels and gods could overwhelm the Divine Realm on its own.

Even if all the gods in the Divine Realm combined their power, it wouldn't be a tenth of his. Hahaha… I know I made the deal, but… was sending him to that world really the right choice? If he did all this without a system, how powerful will he become now that he has one?"

Janna looking back to goddess back in the divine realm and not seeing her, she returned back to Earth to find her loss in her thoughs.

Janna interrupted her thoughts. "Goddess, what took you so long to return?"

"Nothing at all, just had to check something first. Now, let's create a new universe to reincarnate all the souls we collected from that world."

---

After some time, Janna noticed the goddess's expression change.

"Goddess, what's wrong? What's with that look?"

The goddess frowned. "Weird. A crowd of these souls refuses to reincarnate no matter what I do. But these two souls in the crowd seem to accept it. Everyone else… they won't budge for some reason."

Janna sighed. "It's probably nothing. Just wait—they'll accept it eventually. After all, time is insignificant to beings like us."

The goddess hesitated, then nodded. "You're right. Let's go back and rest. And Janna, make sure you do the job I assign you this time without fail."

"I won't make the same mistake again, my goddess."

"Enjoy your new life now…"