Four hundred and seventy years ago, in a dark alley of the seventh walled city in the post-apocalyptic world, a portal slowly opened.
An elderly man, frail and stooped, supported by a mature woman, slowly emerged from the portal.
"Still the same familiar scenery, the same familiar scent..."
The old man took a deep breath, his cloudy eyes showing a hint of joy.
"Husband, didn't you say you were tired of this world? Why are we back?" the woman asked.
"I don't want to die in a void that doesn't even exist, even though I didn't belong to this world to begin with."
"But I've lived in this world for so long. It holds almost all my memories, and the story of how I met you."
"Since our beautiful story began here, I want it to end here as well, with a perfect full stop."
As the old man spoke, he unconsciously touched the pale yellow ring on his hand.
He was Zhang Chen, the first reincarnation, and beside him was Shila, the Spider Queen.
They had lived happily for decades in the world Zhang Chen had created.
Although the first generation Zhang Chen possessed the power of a supreme being, he could not alter the corrosion of time on life.
Ultimately, he could not escape the fate of death.
Before dying, he wanted to see the post-apocalyptic world one last time.
"No, you won't die. You said that if you found this crystal, you could escape the threat of death."
"We will never be separated by death, for all eternity!"
Hearing Zhang Chen say this, Shila's tears instantly began to flow.
Although almost a hundred years had passed since she awakened and met Zhang Chen, according to the flow of time, she had been a cherished princess in Zhang Chen's palm, showered with utmost care.
Zhang Chen was also the sole spiritual pillar in her inner world.
Therefore, when she heard his words, her emotions became uncontrollable.
"This crystal?"
Zhang Chen took out the seven-colored crystal from his ring. With a gentle pull of his hands, a thread materialized out of thin air.
The seven-colored crystal transformed into a necklace.
"Back then, I truly believed that finding it would solve the problem of death because it contained the power of laws and time."
"I thought that by changing the laws of life and the laws of time through it, I could achieve eternal life."
"But I overlooked one thing: the law of life is the most powerful law in this world. To break through this law requires immensely powerful energy."
As Zhang Chen spoke, he placed the necklace around Shila's neck. Before letting down her hair, he lingered, kissing her tenderly on her fair swan neck.
"Reversing time can bring the dead back to life, but it cannot alter the laws of life. It merely allows those who did not reach their natural end to start over, living until their natural death."
"Even if I die, even if you use its power, at most you can only reverse me to this state, and I will still not escape death."
"Furthermore, applying temporal abilities to the same target will exponentially increase the consumption."
"Ultimately, it will end because the price becomes too high to pay."
"Any ability can only provide a temporary reprieve for life, but it cannot change the ultimate destiny of all living things."
As Zhang Chen spoke, he reached out to wipe away the tear tracks on Shila's cheek.
"So... be good. I want to find a scenic spot, watch the sunset, and leave this world with it!" Zhang Chen said with a smile.
He could feel the decay of his body.
It was only through immense energy that he hadn't died immediately.
"There must be a way, there must be a way!" Shila murmured to herself.
Although she was unwilling, she could not defy Zhang Chen's will.
"Let's go, we'll take a look at the street! I wonder if the restaurant is still open. How has that Zhang Chen managed this world?"
Zhang Chen said, slowly walking to the alley entrance.
Immediately, the smell of burning mingled with the scent of blood assailed them.
The ground was covered in bloodstains, and there were many human corpses.
The buildings in the distance were spewing thick smoke. Suddenly, someone screamed and fell from a window several stories high, landing heavily on the ground.
"What's going on? Didn't the apocalypse end?"
"That man's words, it's impossible he wouldn't have the power to end the apocalypse!"
"What in the world is happening?"
Zhang Chen and Shila exchanged a glance, both completely bewildered.
On the wall by the street, someone had spray-painted the words "Holy War" in large letters.