Apocalypse Baby

Alex's brow furrowed, his gaze locking onto the small, suited figure standing before him. His instincts screamed at him, but not out of fear—just confusion.

What the hell is it doing here?

Oracle didn't move. Didn't blink. Just stared.

His sharp crimson eyes burned with something unreadable.

His pristine black coat billowed slightly in the wind, both paws clasped behind his back as if he were some wise old sage.

A moment stretched between them.

A man and a rabbit, locked in a silent standoff.

Oracle was the first to break the silence.

"We meet again, Alex Knight."

His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it, something heavy—something dangerous.

Alex's frown deepened.

Something felt off.

The timing was too precise. Too convenient.

Why now?

Why did Oracle suddenly appear the moment he was about to enter the cave?

The Overseer had been silent all this time, watching as he tore through obstacles, leveled up at an absurd rate, and even took down a Beast Lord like it was nothing.

Not a single word, not a single interference.

And yet now, when he stood before this strange cave, Oracle shows up and tells him to stop?

Weird.

Alex folded his arms.

"What do you want?" His tone was casual. His eyes narrowed

."Shouldn't you be in your fancy white room, monitoring the tutorial? Y'know, messing with my system like you always do?"

He watched closely, waiting for Oracle's reaction.

Oracle's mind raced.

He knows.

Of course, Alex would know—Oracle's interference in the system had been blatantly obvious. But this also meant something else.

Alex was wary of him.

That was a problem.

And an even bigger problem?

Alex was just one step away from entering the cave.

Even if Oracle used The Last Override, there was no guarantee he could stop him in time.

Damn it!

He cursed inwardly, his paws tightening behind his back.

How the hell was he supposed to convince Alex not to enter a cave that could potentially grant him the power to become a literal deity?

That was like trying to convince a starving wolf to ignore a fresh kill.

Alex tilted his head, watching the rabbit with sharp, calculating eyes.

"You still haven't answered my question."

His voice cut through Oracle's thoughts like a blade.

Oracle snapped out of his thoughts, forcing himself to focus.

Think. Think!

But no words came.

He really hadn't planned for this.

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"If I remember correctly, you just yelled at me to stop."

Oracle hesitated.

"...Yes. I did."

His own voice sounded shaky.

Why was he this nervous?

Maybe it was because Alex's aura was... different.

It wasn't just strong—it was monstrous.

The man standing before him now was nothing like the wimpy player who first entered his domain.

"And why is that?"

Alex asked, his piercing gaze daring Oracle to explain himself.

Oracle exhaled sharply, forcing himself to keep his composure.

"That place is dangerous," he said. "Unfortunately for you... you wouldn't be able to handle the danger it will bring."

Alex's brow twitched.

Discern was a passive skill—it worked automatically, without effort.

And right now, it told Alex something interesting.

Oracle wasn't lying.

But he wasn't telling the whole truth either.

Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Every place I've entered in this tutorial has been dangerous," he said. "When I stepped into the Beast Lord zones, why didn't you show up then?"

Oracle didn't even hesitate.

"Because you could handle it. And the Beast Lords are under my jurisdiction. Whatever's inside that cave is something else entirely—strange and foreign. Until I inspect it, every player should stay clear."

"Because it's dangerous?" Alex pressed.

"Yes."

A simple answer. A little too simple.

Alex hummed, his gaze flickering toward the cave entrance.

He seemed to be pondering something.

Alex took a second, then slowly raised a finger.

"And what if I don't mind the danger?"

Oracle blinked. "Pardon?"

Alex's voice remained calm—almost too calm.

"Listen, Oracle, you've said hello, warned me about the dangers, and given me your official 'stay away' speech. Good job." He clapped his hands once, slow and deliberate. "But here's the thing—I still want to explore whatever's inside this cave. Would that be a problem?"

Oracle's gaze hardened.

He studied Alex for a long moment, searching for hesitation.

There was none.

Then he exhaled, his voice firm. "Yeah. It would be."

Alex raised a brow, interest piqued. "Oh? And why's that?"

Oracle bit his lip slightly, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

He hated when denizens tried to act smart with him.

Know your place.

But this time, he couldn't say that.

He needed Alex to believe him.

He needed a solid reason—one that would actually make Alex reconsider.

And that made him panic.

Alex, impatient as ever, pressed him.

"I don't have time to waste, Oracle. Every second I stand here listening to you is a second I could be using to explore whatever's inside that cave."

Oracle grasped for something—anything.

"Well... hmm... it's dangerous and highly anomalous. Even I am not fully aware of the threats it holds."

Alex tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze locked onto Oracle.

"Nah... I don't buy that," he said smoothly. "I think you are aware. Aware of both the dangers and the rewards. Am I right?"

Oracle's grip tightened around the orb, his frustration mounting.

"There is no reward," he said flatly.

Alex immediately smirked. "Another lie."

He exhaled, shaking his head as if disappointed. "Okay, listen. I know something in there is reaching out to me for a reason. So, I'm going in. Simple as that. But hey, if I get out—since you mentioned it's dangerous, and I didn't forget that—I'll report back to you. How about that?"

Oracle's expression darkened.

"Don't play games with me, human."

Alex shrugged. "Games? The way I see it, you're the one playing. I just want to put myself in danger. What's it to you?"

Oracle ground his teeth, his fingers curling tightly around the Eclipse Core.

His patience was slipping.

He really wanted to use it now.

Alex turned away. "Alright, if we're done talking, I might as well—"

"Wait!"

Oracle's voice cracked like thunder, his aura exploding outward.

The sheer force of it made the ground tremble beneath them.

Alex halted.

"I said you cannot go," Oracle growled, eyes blazing. "You don't understand. Go fight a Beast Lord, challenge death itself if you want—but this..."

He jabbed a finger toward the cave. "No player is...