A barrier was created between reality—only the dead could reach that place.
This barrier contained everything: trees, houses, vehicles, structures. But no life existed within it—only the dead. They roamed like wandering reapers, searching for release.
Streetlights flickered with electrical shorts, casting a weak glow on glowing bodies that faded in and out. Within the darkness-flooded barrier, only two people stood face to face. No one outside could see them, even though their afterimages flickered faintly in the real world.
Two shadowy figures darted across the silent road. The dead wore strange armor resembling medieval European knights. Each suit bore a blood-red, triangular "T" symbol, and a card activator attached to their hip symbolized the divine power granted to them.
Though they were considered dead, they were given a chance to return to life. There was only one way—by slaughtering one another. Like foolish sheep charging through a pack of wolves just to graze.
They were called the Knights of the New Apocalypse.
Trần Thanh Tùng was one of them—a dead man granted a chance to be reborn.
From the deep darkness, dim flickers from lampposts lit the deserted road. A pair of black eyes appeared, barely illuminated under his iron helmet. His glowing blue knight armor symbolized rare crystal.
Every knight chosen for the New Apocalypse harbored the desire to return to the real world. None would foolishly hide or take their own life—they couldn't even if they tried.
Tùng was the same. His bloodstained hands had killed too many times. Even seeking peace in death wasn't granted to him. His face was indifferent, yet his hand swung his sword to sever a lamppost and shouted:
"Come out, Huỳnh! I know you're still around here!"
Tùng inhaled the icy air, gripping his glowing blue crystal sword. For a moment, time seemed to slow. A sharp pain pierced his chest.
As he faced that judging gaze, a swoosh came from behind. Tùng spun backward and blocked with his sword. The crystal blade reflected off his cold armor. But inside the helmet, his expression was a mix of fear and fury.
"Stop playing the hero! You think babbling will annoy me?" Huỳnh shouted.
That voice made Tùng bite his lip until it bled. Huỳnh had pushed him into the road where a truck ran him over. Ironically, Huỳnh was struck by another truck shortly after. Poetic justice, perhaps.
Now both were dead inside the barrier, both desperate for a second chance at life. They had been chosen as New Apocalypse knights for a month.
A slashing motion lit the night with a ghostly streak of light.
Tùng remembered who he used to be—a second-year college student with a bright future ahead. Dying had been such a waste. Rage surfaced on his face—so fierce even death itself wouldn't dare approach.
His enemy wore gray armor symbolizing a wolf—unlike any knight Tùng had met. A layer of blue cloth wrapped around his body. What had Huỳnh become in death to be this transformed?
"I told you! Even if you kill me, you won't come back to life! There are plenty of others just like us, Tùng. We're all just spirits in this damn barrier!"
"Shut up! I don't care about the others!"
Huỳnh crazily swung his sword downward, aiming for Tùng's neck. A cold glint flashed in Tùng's eyes—he dropped low to dodge, then launched a kick straight to Huỳnh's chest, sending him flying.
Seeing his enemy falter, Tùng's eyes widened with rage. His muscles tightened, and he rained down blinding blue sword slashes.
"You ruined my life. You were going to die anyway—why drag me into it?!"
Huỳnh blocked the deadly blows with a basic short sword, the noise of clashing metal ringing louder and louder. His weapon was weakening against Tùng's Ice Crystal Sword.
The blade pressed hard against Huỳnh's shoulder, eyes blazing with murderous intent.
"Give me back my life!"
"Even if you kill me, you won't get it back!" Huỳnh shouted, raising his arm and forcing the sword away.
Suddenly, the knight emblem on his shoulder lit up blood red. A black claw card appeared in front of him. He immediately slotted it into his activator.
[Weapon Card: Rampaging Wolf Claws]
Tùng would never forget that dreadful sound. His eyes widened. He slashed downward, but Huỳnh deflected it with ease. His sword vanished, replaced by clawed gauntlets that locked Tùng's blade in place.
Once your blade is locked, the path to death opens. Tùng had faced this fear before.
Huỳnh counterattacked—a claw strike piercing Tùng's chest. Black blood splattered, dripping from the sharp talons. Tùng felt a cold pain deep within, so intense he couldn't describe it—even as a dead man.
"Bastard!"
Tùng mustered all his strength to punch Huỳnh in the face, then staggered backward. Blood began to seep from his armor.
Even without looking, Tùng could feel Huỳnh's contemptuous gaze.
"You've dodged death four times now, Tùng! I think it's finally your time to pass on!"
"Killed me and now want me to move on? How absurd!"
Tùng gave a bitter smile. His body could no longer bear the armor's weight. He couldn't even clutch his wounded chest. All he could think was—he had to escape the barrier.
A green whirlwind-shaped card emerged from his bloodied chest armor. He activated it without hesitation.
[Skill Card: Crystal Storm]
The activator roared. Huỳnh flinched. A storm of green crystal shards erupted, shielding Tùng. The shards surrounded Huỳnh, piercing into his armor. His claws ripped the storm apart—but by then, Tùng had vanished.
"He ran again. Fine. I'll let you owe me one more life!"
Huỳnh slashed the air with a furious roar. The moment to kill had slipped away. The heavy air and the pale moonlight above him loomed large.
…
Đại Tiến University—where Tùng had studied.
In a quiet classroom stacked with old desks, a purple barrier faded. Strong winds rustled everything nearby. From it stepped a weary figure, drained of energy.
Tùng collapsed to the floor, eyes blankly staring at the ticking clock.
"Five in the morning already, huh?"
He laid back on a bench, calmer than before. He had escaped the barrier, and his chest wound had vanished—like a miracle.
This battle hadn't cost him too much.
Most knights returned here just to heal. Tùng felt like he was working a part-time job in hell.
Time passed quietly. The sun began to rise. The school opened to welcome students.
Tùng resumed life as a student. Though dead, as long as he still existed in the real world, he had to keep living. His eyes no longer held any sorrow.
His family, his friends, his introverted girlfriend—all still existed. Since death had rejected him, he would keep living. The meaning of life had never faded from his mind.
"Being a ghost with a job isn't so bad. I bet the others think the same."
The gray sky gave way to morning light.
Tùng closed his eyes. He wanted a deep sleep. The early morning nap always passed the fastest. Soon enough, he was roused again.
A classmate—used to seeing Tùng napping early—entered.
"Yo! Up early today, huh?"
"Tiến Dũng? Why are you wearing a suit?"
Tùng jolted awake. His friend Trần Tiến Dũng, usually clad in courier gear, now looked sharp and mature. Must've been preparing for a big business meeting.
"Looks good, right? Heading to North City for a deal. Gotta dress the part!"
"North City? More camera sales, huh?" Tung replied coolly.
"You got it! I'll record the whole trip. Want to come? Meals on me!"
"I'll pass!"
Dũng clapped Tùng on the shoulder. He admired how hard his friend worked—dark circles and all.
"How can I compare to you, Tung? I keep telling you, don't overwork. What's money good for if you're a zombie?"
"Exactly. I'm lifeless, alright."
Things quieted down. Under the morning sun, Tùng thought: the New Apocalypse Knights must keep pretending to "live" to survive. And that bastard Huỳnh still wandered the real world.
If only he could kill him here. But they had both already died in this world. Tùng felt exhausted. If only he could just live again—just to sleep, that would be enough.
"I'm gonna nap. Cover for me if they call roll, okay?"
"Sure thing, buddy!"
Tiến Dũng didn't know Tùng had died in a traffic accident long ago. The figure before him still looked flesh and blood. No one suspected their classmate was already dead.