Chapter 1 - The Beginning
In the middle of a rainy night, a young man was crying alone on a rooftop. The rain poured heavily, and the wind howled around him.
"Why? Why did this happen to me, even when I tried my best?"
"I did my best to be a good son, but my parents didn't notice my efforts."
"I tried to be a loyal partner, but my girlfriend still cheated on me."
"I feel like destiny is just playing games with me."
"I'm not a bad person, yet all I feel is pain and suffering."
"I try to keep smiling around everyone, but it hurts so much now."
"Why did this happen to me?" He shouted, his whole body soaked by the rain.
He was all alone on the rooftop, pouring out the pain and problems he faced every day.
His name was Dave Strongheart, an 18-year-old young man with a resilient spirit, which his surname hinted at.
He had always tried to hold back his sadness and anxiety, especially the issues he faced with his family.
Imagine being 18 and trying to survive in a world that feels toxic, trying hard to make his parents proud, even though they barely seemed to care about him.
He came from a simple family with four siblings. Since childhood, his parents favored his brothers and sisters, always looking out for them while he felt invisible.
He didn't understand why they treated him this way, but he still respected and loved them, even if they ignored his need for love.
Then he met his girlfriend and thought he'd finally found someone he could rely on. They met by chance in a shop when she asked him for help, and soon they became close and fell in love.
He was happiest when he was with her, caring for her deeply because she was the only one who seemed to care for him in return.
Their relationship only lasted three months before he saw her with another guy—a man who had a car and looked wealthy.
He couldn't believe his eyes, feeling his heart shatter. Full of anger, he confronted her and fought the rich man.
Overcome by his rage and disappointment, he didn't care about the consequences, even though he knew a complaint might be filed against him and his parents would be disappointed.
So, he didn't go home; instead, he found himself on the rooftop of a tall building.
Despite his strong spirit, he was still a teenager trying to figure out life, with no one he could trust.
Even the strongest have limits, and he was reaching his.
He might look like a loser for being cheated by a woman, but the intense emotions he felt made his mind unstable, and he couldn't think clearly.
"Haha, at least I got to punch that bastard in the face."
Dave didn't regret hitting the man, and he even wanted to hurt his girlfriend—no, ex-girlfriend—but his respect for women held him back.
Before he left, he broke up with her face-to-face to get some closure.
Rain and wind whipped around him as his tears mixed with the raindrops.
He felt like nothing good would ever happen in his life, so he thought about ending it all.
He thought that maybe if he disappeared, his parents and his ex-girlfriend might be happier without him.
He looked up at the sky and made a vow.
"If I get a second chance, I'll live my life to the fullest, without any regrets."
"Haha, screw destiny!" he laughed bitterly.
Then, he jumped from the building, his body falling through the air until…he was gone.
.................
"Hey, Dave, wake up!"
Dave couldn't understand it, but he suddenly heard someone calling his name.
"Dave, wake up, or you'll be late for the first day of school!"
As he heard the voice, his eyes shot open. He saw a tall, handsome middle-aged man staring at him with a hint of annoyance.
The man looked so elegant that Dave thought even models would feel inferior next to him.
'Who is this man?'
Dave was confused. He remembered jumping off the rooftop; he remembered the darkness that followed. How was he here now?
As he stared at the man in confusion, a flood of memories and information filled his mind.
Dave was stunned—he realized he had been reincarnated.
The original owner of this body was also named Dave, but his last name was Alexander.
He was the only son of Lucas Alexander, the empire's greatest warrior, known as the "Executioner."
This world wasn't like Earth. It was full of magic and mysteries. His father held a high status, equal to that of the emperor, who showed him respect.
Lucas Alexander was the top expert in the Dragon Empire, the most powerful of the four empires in this world, called the Spirit World.
This Spirit World had four empires, each with its own guardian who maintained peace and order.
Lucas Alexander had become the Dragon Empire's guardian at just 30 years old, the youngest in history.
The other empires were the Phoenix Empire, Black Turtle Empire, and White Tiger Empire.
Despite his power, Lucas Alexander led a humble life, dedicating himself to his family.
Since his wife's passing, he'd shown extra care for his only son, and though the young Dave was spoiled, he wasn't arrogant or wasteful.
Instead, he was known as the "Number One Rising Champion" because of his strength and determination. He could defeat anyone at his level.
From a young age, Dave constantly honed his skills, defeating even those older than him.
He remained unbeatable among his peers and even wanted to challenge experienced warriors.
However, they were too afraid to accept, fearing his father's wrath
In this world, strength was divided into levels: Body Refiner, Master, Grand Master, King, Emperor, Sage, and Heavenly Sage.
Each level had four stages: Low, Middle, Top, and Peak. His father had reached the Peak of the Heavenly Sage level, making him feared by everyone, so no one dared to harm Dave.
Inspired by his father, Dave had trained hard, reaching Top-tier Grand Master by the age of 15.
Only a few had reached such a level at such age, and Dave could go even higher if he wanted.
But his father stopped him, advising him to strengthen his foundation before advancing further
He had another title, too: "The Handsome Playboy."
With his strength and influence, many called him a playboy because he often dated a new girl every few days or weeks.
But he never forced anyone—they came to him willingly.