The world begins to fracture.
At first, it's subtle—birds flying in reverse, shadows moving ahead of bodies, rain falling up. But then the sky splits like cracked glass, and through the rift, other realities bleed in.
Cities that don't exist. Wars that haven't happened. A child crying Su Chen's name in a voice that doesn't belong in this world.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT: Timeline Integrity Compromised.]
[Your presence has ruptured Worldline 1.02A.]
[All future events are now in flux.]
[Commencing: The Annihilation Sequence.]
Su Chen stands at the apex of The Broken Spire, an obsidian tower formed from compressed timelines, its edges humming with paradox. Around him, the world flickers. Sometimes it's night. Sometimes it's midday. Sometimes he's dead—and still watching.
He closes his eyes and breathes it in.
Chaos.
Freedom.
Power.
[System Evolution: 84%]
[Skill Gained: "World Reversal" – For 10 seconds, reverse cause and effect. If you're killed, the killer dies instead. If you fail, success rewrites reality.]
[Note: Abuse of this skill will attract Time Predators.]
"Let them come," he mutters.
A tear opens to his left. A boy steps out—eleven years old, bright eyes, clutching a flower.
"Who are you?" Su Chen asks, voice colder than the void.
The boy tilts his head. "I'm the version of you that forgave everyone."
Su Chen's fingers twitch.
Another tear opens.
A version of Su Chen in golden robes, a sage of peace, appears.
Then another—an old man, living in a cottage by a lake.
Then a beggar, blind and broken.
Dozens of Su Chens appear.
All the might-have-beens.
All the could-haves.
They speak in unison.
"You don't have to burn the world."
He stares at them for a long time.
And smiles.
"I already did."
He opens his hand.
Inside his palm: the seed of a Paradox Bomb—an anomaly so powerful it doesn't destroy time. It rewrites its rules.
[Are you sure you want to use the Paradox Bomb? This cannot be undone.]
[YES] – [NO]
He doesn't hesitate.
[Command Accepted.]
LOCATION: Outer Vault, Neutral Timeline — Zero Point
Lina awakens in a silver bed, eyes wide, sweat on her brow. Sirens blare around her. Scientists scream.
"He did it! He detonated the Paradox!"
"What does that mean?!"
"It means there's no going back. No stable timeline. No safe haven."
She stumbles to her feet.
Looks through the glass.
And sees the sky turning inside out.
LOCATION: Multiversal Council Core
Twelve hooded figures rise from floating thrones, watching as Su Chen's influence begins to bleed across worlds.
"Contain him."
"We can't."
"Then summon the Architects."
"Too late."
"He's not just rewriting fate—he's becoming its author."
Back at the Spire, Su Chen floats now, unbound by gravity, flame and shadow swirling around him like a halo and a noose.
One final notification chimes:
[NEW TITLE UNLOCKED: The God Who Kills Love]
[Worldline 1.02A – Status: COLLAPSING]
He closes his eyes.
And opens them in a world where he never existed.
End of Chapter 59