The cave is dimly lit. Stalactites cover the ceiling and leak water. The rest of the cove consists of jagged edges and steep falls. Zane claps his hands. A round table appears in the cave. It has 14 seats, befitting the fourteen people currently in the room. On the roundtable appears a white book that looks exactly like Apocalypse. Zane puts on his most demented smile as he jumps on the table. Zane looks over to the people as he starts his speech.

  [Zane: Hello! My fellow aspects! How have you guys been? This is the first time all of us have convened, hasn't it?] Zane skips around the table in glee. Another man slowly walks up.

  『Sadness of the Apocalypse- Tragedy, Dolor』

  Dolor is a gloomy individual with sad, almost haunted eyes. He possesses a thin, gaunt build and pale, almost translucent skin. His black hair is long and perpetually messy and falls over his face in a tousled manner. He wears dark, ripped clothing that seems to have seen better days. Dolor looks at Zane.

  [Dolor: Do we have to be here… I would really like to go…] Dolor says while yawning. Dolor just sits down in his seat and starts to drift off. To this end, another man steps up.

  『Start of the Apocalypse- Chaos, Eugene』

  Eugene is an ordinary-looking man. He has a slim build with pale skin. Eugene has short white hair accompanied by his golden yellow eyes. Eugene wears noble clothes and has round earrings. Eugene looks over at Zane.

  [Eugene: Do you know who I am? I am a very important person who has a lot of things I could be doing. Why did you rip me from my residence so suddenly? At the very least, you could have provided a prior notice. Choose your words carefully and make sure I don’t misunderstand.]

  Zane looks over at him and smiles.

  [Zane: Oh, some big things are going down in the world! I'm pretty sure Utopia is going to open up soon! I want us all to be a part of it, considering it's our job! Plus, I just want to talk with my friends!] Zane tells Eugene in an excited tone. Without warning, Eugene moves his hand and Zane is blown up from the waist up. Eugene just looks on.

  [Eugene: Zane, you dare commit such an egregious affront to my being, tearing me away from where I rightfully belong and forcing me into this pathetic, dimly lit hole with—what is this?—thirteen other people? Do you have any idea who I am? To infringe upon my rights, my personal space, my existence in such a barbaric manner! And for what? To surround me with these insignificant, unworthy individuals? It’s an insult of the highest order! I refuse to acknowledge this situation as anything other than a disgusting violation of the sanctity of my autonomy! I can personally educate you on the true meaning of justice—my justice, which is the only justice that matters! I-] Only mumbles are heard as Eugene turns around to see Zane, perfectly fine, standing and smiling. Eugene puts his hand up to his mouth. It’s gone. [Enough out of you!] Zane says excitedly and teleports Eugene into his chair. Strapping him into the chair as well.

  [I agree with Dolor. We should probably get this over with.] An older feminine voice rings out.

  『Death of the Apocalypse- End, Nyx』

  Nyx is a stunningly beautiful yet terrifying figure. Her long, flowing purple hair seems to merge with the night, and her skin is a deep, midnight blue. Her eyes are a striking, luminous silver, like stars in the night sky. She wears a flowing, dark gown adorned with sparkling constellations, and her presence is awe-inspiring and chilling. She moves with an elegant and otherworldly grace. She puffs on her pipe and walks to her seat.

  [Nyx: Isn’t that right, Echo?] Nyx states while looking at another female in the room.

  『Lonliness of the Apocalypse- Solitude, Echo』

  Echo is a dignified woman with a slim build. She wears a military uniform and has various knives stationed on her utility belt. She has long, icy blue hair and icy blue eyes. Her expression is that of annoyance and hatred, but it is also somewhat devoid of emotion. Echo quickly glares at Nyx.

  [Echo: Die.] She says coldly as she sits in her seat. In this way, another man steps up to Zane.

  『Strategy of the Apocalypse- Dystopia, Cawdore』

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Cawdore is a large man, 6'5" with a muscular build. He has short salt-and-pepper hair and glasses on his face. His stern expression and calculated eyes are testaments to the dozens of battles he has fought. He wears a black robe trimmed with gold and covered in medals and insignias, and his eyes burn piercing red, telling tales of wisdom and brutality.

  [Cawdore: You seem to think Utopia will open up soon? Might I ask why?] Cawdore asks Zane. Zane eagerly responds.

  [Zane: Well, Apocalypse opened up already! That means Utopia should open up if we sit down.] Zane tells Cawdore, who just accepts the reasoning and sits down. Two more men sit down as well.

  『Salesmen of the Apocalypse- Bargaining, Jake』

  Jake is an average-looking man with a friendly, approachable demeanor. He has short brown hair and warm brown eyes. He wears a neat, professional outfit - a red polo shirt and khaki pants, complete with a name tag that reads "Jake." His smile is disarmingly charming, and he carries himself with the confidence of a seasoned salesman.

  『King of the Apocalypse- Antichrist, Archibald』

  Archibald is a short, pompous man with a commanding presence. He has a square jaw, sharp features, and perfectly styled, jet-black hair in a pageboy cut. He wears a regal, red, and gold outfit complete with a crown and a flowing cape. His eyes are a cold, calculating blue, and his expression is one of smug arrogance. Despite his small stature, he exudes an air of authority and malevolence.

  [Jake: I was in the middle of some pretty important discussions. Let’s see what Utopia has to say.]

  [Archibald: While I dislike a royal like myself being teleported so suddenly. I won’t be the last to sit!]

  A man starts walking to his seat.

  [Fine! I guess I’ll sit down as well!]

  Another man walks into the frame. He has black hair and pitch-black irises. He has a slim, slightly muscular build and is wearing a kimono around him. A small blood protrusion comes out of his left shoulder, and his shadow seems unnaturally dark. He has gnarly scars covering his body, and his nails are painted black and extremely sharp. He has a wide smile as he walks in.

  『Suddenness of the Apocalypse- Catastrophe, Raze』

  Raze bounces into his seat. There are now only five people left who haven't sat down. A bulky man walks to his seat.

  『Executioner of the Apocalypse- Armageddon, Ryomen』

  Ryomen has a fearsome, intimidating presence. He has a tall, muscular build and is covered in intricate, black tattoos that mark him. His hair is short and spiky, a dark black hair that contrasts with his dark eyes, which glow with a red light. He wears robes that are stained with the blood of his enemies, and his expression is one of cruel amusement. He is of the demon race.

  [Ryomen: I hope Utopia gives us someone strong to fight. Or this is a waste of time.]

  Three more people give into their seats.

  『End of the Apocalypse- Rebirth, Charon』

  Charon is an ethereal, almost ghostly figure. He is tall and slender, with pale skin that seems to glow faintly in the dark. His eyes are a deep, endless black. He wears a long, tattered cloak that seems to be made of shadows, constantly shifting and moving. His hair is long and white, flowing around him like mist. Charon's cloak covers his whole body.

  [Charon: Let’s continue with this…]

  『Doctor of the Apocalypse- Famine, Orion』

  Orion is a slim, skeletal figure with a haunting presence. His sunken eyes are hollow, ghostly white, and his skin is pale and almost translucent. His hair is thin and wispy, a sickly gray color. He wears a tattered, old doctor's coat stained with blood and dirt. His fingers are long and bony, and he carries an old, worn medical bag filled with ominous-looking instruments.

  [Orion: ...]

  『Judge of the Apocalypse- Judgement day, Solomon』

  Solomon is a tall and wise figure. He is kingly in stature, with a long, flowing beard and white hair that is spotless. His eyes are deep blue, piercing, and filled with knowledge and power. He wears elaborate, ancient robes adorned with mystical glyphs and carries a staff radiating a powerful, divine aura.

  [Solomon: I hope we get a good artifact from these quests.]

  After all three are seated, only one is left. Zane looks over at him and smiles.

  『Destruction of the Apocalypse- Annihilation, Sol』

  Sol is an imposing figure with a godlike presence. They are incredibly tall and muscular, with a powerful aura that seems to radiate destruction. Their skin is a dark, black hue, so black that no light can escape. Sol's skin can only be described as looking like a living black hole. Their eyes glow with an intense, otherworldly light. Sol has a mouth that is a singular white line that goes across their face. Sol also holds what seems to be a glowing pitch black katana in their right hand.

  [Zane: Come on, Sol. You know you wanted something to do. Life is boring for people like us!]

  Sol looks up at Zane.

  [Sol: ?????●?●? ?? ???? ????●??? ??□? ????●?●? ????□???●?????] Sol speaks in some otherworldly language, no one in the room can understand what they are hearing. Everyone except Zane.

  [Zane: Whoever you’d like. How about this if we get a quest that involves it? We will give it to you.] Sol ponders for a second.

  [Sol:???????●????] Sol sits down in the chair.

  With everyone seated, Utopia opens its eyes and shows them the quests for this month.

  [Utopia: Quest one, Kill the current leader of Aurorium, participants three.]

  Sol suddenly gets up.

  [Sol: ?? ????●?●? ???????? ??????? ?? ????■? ??□? ???? ????????●??????]

  The page rips out of Utopia and is given to Sol, who leaves the room. Sol took the quest so fast that despite being a three-person quest, Sol was the only one assigned it.

  [Raze: Wow, he was quick to take the quest… I guess we have to be quicker from now on!]

  [Utopia: Quest two, Defeat and capture the dungeon of terror and starvation, participants three.]

  No one raises their hands or voices to take this quest. It isn’t that the quest seems particularly hard, it's just most of them don’t care or just don’t want to do a quest so simple. Utopia randomly assigns the quest to three people in the room because no one has answered it. Utopia moves on to the third and final quest.

  [Utopia: Quest three, Capture Pax Stone, participants one.]

  Zane leans in and looks for a second.

  [Zane: Oh? A capture quest? Perfect! I didn’t want to get my hands too dirty anyway!]

  With that, Zane takes the quest and smiles.