Taylor lays back on his front porch armchair, smoking a cigarette, like a retired old man. He was very much enjoying his life. Things were relatively at peace, and Taylor was content to let it all unravel and eventually die with a smile on his face.

There was sort of a new order that existed in the world. A shit ton of people died over the last few years, and with everyone finding out what the playing field looked like, normal people naturally began to seek out opportunities. New vampires, new werewolves, and new cultivators. They slowly began to realize what they were looking for in life, considering what happened in the world, and, like any normal person, began to walk towards their dreams, hoping to claim what they could. And, with the door in their mind being open, the way forward was pointed out to them.

The various supernatural organizations, being in the state that they were, could only begin processing these people, and welcoming who they deemed worthy.

As for Taylor, he had no work, no desires, and he was ready to grow old and die. But life never seemed to work out that way for anyone… There was always something… Just a little further ahead… And after we attain it, then we can stop… But there was always something else…

For Taylor, this something occurred this day.

Taylor felt reality shift. Like some piecing piece clicked into place. Then, the earth began to shift. Rumbles and earthquakes began to ravage the world as the earth opened up, and massive ravines dug into the earth, revealing its hot, red blood.

“Holy shit!” Taylor exclaims before throwing his cigarette away and rushing inside. “Sylvie! Sylvie! Johnny!” He calls out. Inside he finds that Sylvie had Johnny on his shoulders.

“Come on. Let’s wait this out in the air.” She says before walking outside.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Fuck.” Taylor exclaims as he follows.

The couple begin to float in the air. Higher and higher, until they could see the destruction that was happening in the city.

“What the fuck is happening?” Taylor asks.

Sylvie holds out a hand to feel the air and she frowns. “This isn’t a natural occurrence. Someone had activated a spell of some sort. This… It seems oddly familiar…” She says with furrowed brows, trying to recall where she heard of this phenomenon.

Suddenly Sylvie’s eyes widen. “This is it. This is Heaven and Hell.” She exclaims with shock.

Taylor raises an eyebrow. “What? Heaven and Hell? What does that have to do with it?” He asks, confused.

Sylvie recalls a memory. Something the matriarch told her. “This isn’t really the time for explanation, but I might as well. If what I think is happening is going to happen, it’s not going to matter anyways.” She begins to say before letting out a sigh. “Long ago. From an age with a previous generation of eighth grade overlords, there was a witch. She, like others, had made the long journey to the eighth stage. Apparently, when she got there, the world halted her progress where she stood. I’m not sure if it’s true, but apparently, when you get to that stage, the world limits your advancement according to the situation. For you to advance, the world must advance, otherwise, you would have to separate from it.” She says, unsure of her words.

“What!? What are you talking about?” Taylor exclaims, still very much confused.

Sylvie lets out another sigh. “Apparently, it’s a dilemma everyone faces on that stage. They can’t advance, unless the world advances. And for the world to advance, it’s people must advance.” She explains.

“So? What does that have to do with this? It’s seems like the world is about to kick the bucket. I don’t see anyone advancing with the way things are.” Taylor says, expressing how he saw things.

“Well, that’s the thing. That eighth stage witch, at the time, had proposed a way for this advancement. He theorized a spell that would alter the structure of the world. For each and every person, a path would be designed for them, a path to heaven. If it worked like the witch thought it would, it would result in everyone essentially becoming gods. But it remained a theory because no one wanted to pay the price. For the spell to work, it had to remove freedom from humanity completely. There would only be the path forward, or destruction. No in-between, no biding your time, and there would be no peace.” Sylvie explains, some anxiety on her face.

“What!? Are you saying someone is trying to take away our freedom!?” Taylor exclaims, unwilling to believe it.

Sylvie nods. “If this is what I think it is… One of the eighth stage overlords snapped, and decided to uproot the world.” She says with a solemn voice.

“But why? Couldn’t they just separate from the world like you said?” Taylor asks. As he saw it, there was still no reason for any of this.

“They could. As for why this person is attempting this… I have no idea…” She says with a shake of her head.