January 2025 magazine contestInsurmountable odds, an immovable wall, an unending tide that would not abate, that swept away all held dear, The Ungrath laid claim to all creation. Destruction comes for the world of Ae'almira, the Ungrath rise after centuries dormant and lay waste to the world at large, destroying nations and entire civilizations alike. Few survive, and even fewer adapt, yet still a single hope was left to the peoples of the world.The Lightbringer, prophesized Hero meant to destroy the darkness. Yet as the days passed, turned into weeks, and weeks into months... no such Hero came.Doing all they can to survive, many run, many hide, yet with no strength to fight, many fall. And in an unlucky encounter, one lone man is no different from the rest.And so it comes as a shock to that man, that he himself is standing there warning him of the future. What to expect!Inspired by traditional RPGs and various time loop stories!Short form story, likely not breaching more than 50k words total.Less about the advancement of strength, more character based.Somewhat meta take (kind of? Not fourth wall breaking anyways.)