Chapter 1: The Day the Rift Opened

[Sunday, October 15, 202X.
A rift in the universe split open.
A massive crack formed in space-time, and another dimension collided with Earth’s axis.]

When humanity fell into crisis, a monstrous being appeared.

In an era where cosmic creatures ran rampant, superpowered individuals went wild, and slaughter filled the streets, one ability user rose as humanity’s savior—Han Jun.

To describe him.

A merciless demon to his enemies.

The unrivaled number one no one could defeat.

A figure of overwhelming skill worshiped by all.

Yet a lone wolf who turned his back on the cheering world and walked the righteous path alone.

How cool is that.

Ah, wait, don’t misunderstand.

Not me.

My friend.

I am the only friend of this overpowered bastard.

Originally, he was supposed to walk the lonely path without a single companion, but I stubbornly forced my way into his life.

I recognized his potential even before he had any powers and shamelessly acted close to him.

How could I possibly know.

Because I already knew before the fateful day arrived.

The guy who looked exactly like the protagonist from a novel that suddenly struck the top of my head at a bus stop would be the one to save the world.

However.

Even I, who knew everything that would happen and who would save the world, overlooked one thing.

I thought I could freeload off the overpowered protagonist as his friend and enjoy an easy life.

But what is this.

I have to ride along the brutal awakening route of the overpowered protagonist too.

At this rate, I might awaken as well.

That day was brutally hot.

Even standing still made sweat drip down my back, and a loud emergency alert announced a heatwave warning.

“Ah, it’s so late.”

I cursed while waiting for a bus that hadn’t arrived for ten minutes.

The bus stop display had been flashing “Arriving Soon” for the past ten minutes.

But it wasn’t coming.

Damn it.

I considered taking the subway, but it felt like a waste after waiting this long, so I endured the blazing sun.

Should I give up or keep waiting.

It felt like a matter of pride.

After twelve minutes, irritation built up so much that I felt ready to explode at the slightest touch.

That was when it happened.

Thud.

Something sharp struck the crown of my head with perfect accuracy.

“Ahhh! What the hell!”

A thick black book had fallen at my feet.

It hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes.

When I checked my head, thankfully there was no blood.

I looked up, but no one was there.

No open windows.

No sign of anyone nearby.

“Who the hell was that.”

Just as I fumed, the long-awaited bus arrived.

I picked up the book and boarded.

The cool air from the bus felt like salvation.

I finally checked the cover.

“The Scenario of Humanity’s Destruction and Salvation.”

I had no interest in whether humanity lived or died.

But soon my phone battery died.

With an hour left on the ride, boredom forced me to open the book.

[Sunday, October 15, 202X.
A rift in the universe split open.
A massive crack formed in space-time, connecting to another dimension.]

Unlike its dull cover, the first line caught my attention.

The book claimed there were 63,004 scenarios in which humanity perished.

And only one in which humanity survived.

The destruction scenarios were horrifying.

Earthquakes twisting the planet’s crust.

Nuclear meltdowns covering Earth in radiation.

Black holes swallowing the planet.

Alien invasions.

Fire consuming the world.

Every scenario ended in extinction.

“This author is insane.”

I skipped ahead to the final page.

[Salvation Scenario Chapter 1.

Han Jun.
He alone is the hope.

A mysterious energy called “Respia” flowed from the dimensional rift.

Most humans were crippled by it.

A rare few gained superpowers.

Han Jun was one of them.

After nuclear wars and alien invasions devastated Earth, superpowered humans rose to power.

They became tyrants.

Humanity fractured further.

Then Han Jun appeared.]

Han Jun defeated corrupt ability users.

He eradicated alien lifeforms.

He saved humanity.

Then he abandoned all power and praise, disappearing into the shadows.

Insane.
So cool.

I was completely captivated.

He was the ultimate overpowered protagonist.

Starting from the bottom, rising to the top, unmatched by anyone.

Cold to worldly desires.

Perfect.

I reread every detail about him.

His appearance.

His growth.

And how he saved humanity.