The world has been isekai'd. Initially of course nobody knew what was going on, because people were taken after death. At least most of them were. Then someone came back in modern times. Over time it was realized many had come back before, but just weren't believed. The Pevensie children, Mrs. Liddell, and many others who's stories had even made it into main stream media. The world changed.

It just wasn't overnight. Magic didn't rush back. No system was installed. We didn't get access to the multiverse. Most hadn't even brought back a trinket let alone their full power. But, enough was leaked through to allow the smallest bit of proof and wiggle room. Magic only changed the world in tiny ways at first. Magical healing, rudimentary divination, and minor augmentation. Really it was all many needed as a hope, or a wish, for a better life. Multitudes committed suicide for a chance they'd be swept away. Others sold everything, even their souls for just an ounce of power. It was when the world fully gave over to magic that it really changed. This time it was overnight.

Millions disappeared. Some deity or another had apparently decided to take advantage of the unclaimed recently awakened planet for their own. Sadly for us they were not alone. Gods walked among us again. New powers were granted to many, and taken from just as many others. The already devastated nations crumbled. Despotic roving bands arose ruled by Divinely backed warlords who converted or killed any who crossed their paths. More often than not the second option was chosen for the those unfortunate enough to have no power. In the end I found myself and what was left of my friends and family holed up in an abandoned mall. We had run as we knew without power we weren't even worth a glance as we were mowed down. Now though we were watching as the place was surrounded. Apparently all those with power had been dealt with, and the cleanup crew had come for us.

Time seemed to slow as we watched them move in. As time crawled on and we looked between ourselves it dawned on us time really had slowed. Could one of them be some kind of time manipulator? No they were moving just as slow and were even slowing down. Eventually everything stopped and as It did the world rippled as if the stopping of time had rebounded off of some barrier. Everything went black and I awoke almost immediately. At least the impression was of a nearly imperceptible gap. One with seemingly no temporal depth, but spoke of an infinite expanse of nonexistence. I couldn't focus too long on it though. Even as I blinked the grogginess from my eyes an announcement seeped into my consciousness. I couldn't really tell you exactly how it came. It was as If I heard, felt the intent, and even saw the words before me all at once. Welcome challengers to the arena.