A groan echoed through the decaying halls of the abandoned factory, a haunting sound that reverberated against the rusted walls and shattered windows. The air was thick with a stale mustiness, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Five hours had passed since Amanda and her entourage had left, leaving behind a stillness that was abruptly shattered by the sudden awakening of the seemingly lifeless body on the ground.
The man's eyes, disoriented and confused, slowly opened, revealing a gaze that searched for answers in the dimly lit surroundings. His eyes wandered aimlessly for a couple of seconds, struggling to piece together the fragments of memory that eluded his consciousness.
The effort to articulate words seemed herculean, and with difficulty, he managed to part his lips.
"W-W-where...is...this?"
His voice trembled with confusion, a frail whisper that hung in the air, lost and uncertain. His words lingered, unanswered, as he grappled with the surreal realization of his own existence.
"Didn't I die in the attack?"
The shock in his eyes deepened, pupils dilating in an attempt to comprehend the inconceivable. He should have been a casualty, yet here he was, seated on the cold, unforgiving floor of an abandoned factory.
As the man struggled to make sense of his surreal predicament, the rhythmic resonance of hurried footsteps reverberated through the hollow chambers, heralding the impending arrival of three figures.
A young girl's voice cut through the uncertainty.
"Elder brother," she called out, her voice carrying both relief and fear.
"Jun..." an old woman's voice, aged with worry, followed suit, creating a dissonant symphony of distress.
"Caleb," a girl not older than 16 shouted, her tone filled with urgency.
The trio rushed into the factory, faces etched with concern and care, their eyes locking onto the man who had defied the clutches of death.
Their collective worry seemed to materialize in the charged atmosphere, amplifying the confusion that hung thick in the air.
The man, now the center of their attention, stared at them with a mixture of recognition and bewilderment. Something clicked in his mind as he looked at their faces, triggering a surge of memories that clawed their way to the surface.
His hand instinctively reached for his head as if trying to contain the flood of emotions.
A sudden, anguished scream tore through the stillness of the factory, a sound that mirrored the chaos within the man's mind. His body convulsed with the weight of unbearable emotions before succumbing to the overwhelming darkness, collapsing once more into the abyss of unconsciousness.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself on an ordinary bed with the young girl dozing off beside him. He didn't disturb her as he tried to arrange his thoughts. 'I'm in another world, far different from Earth,' he realized.
Previously, the massive inflow of new memories had caused him immense pain, leading to his fainting spell. But now, his brain had assimilated and processed the new information.
On Earth, his name was Caleb, known as Killshot to his fellow US Marines. A member of a special forces unit, he was a sniper with a reputation for never missing his mark. He could never have anticipated his own team betraying him on their last mission, scapegoating him for their greed.
Thinking of all this, his breathing quickened, and his chest rose and fell. He clenched his fist, grinding his teeth in hatred and annoyance.
"Big brother!" the girl called out, her voice echoing with relief and panic.
He looked at her, and the memory of the girl rushed to his mind; instinctively, he knew her name.
"Lihua," he called slowly, his voice a mere whisper.
"Ha... Big brother." She stood and hugged him lovingly. "I-I-We thought something bad had happened to you." She sobbed.
Looking at her crying on his chest, Caleb raised his hand to pat her, but his hand froze for a couple of seconds before he slowly lowered it and patted her head.
He understood what had happened to the real Caleb and didn't know how to feel about his pathetic death. His own death had been equally pathetic, but he decided not to dwell on it anymore.
Since he had been given a second chance in a new world with a loving family, he would try to cherish it. Previously an orphan, he had never experienced the love of a family. Perhaps, this time, he would have it.
He hadn't yet fully assimilated into this foreign family, but to conceal his identity as a transmigrator, he needed to blend in quickly.
Creak. The old wooden door to his room opened, and an old woman entered.
"Grandma..." he called.
"It's good you're okay," she said in relief.
The next morning, Caleb, known as Caleb Li to his neighbors, sat with his grandmother at their simple table.
He stared intently at her, a serious expression on his face.
"Grandma," he began, "I know I shouldn't chase after that girl. She means no good for me."
Grandma Shu sighed, a hint of anger in her voice. "I've told you several times, Jun. If not for your best friend overhearing those boys..." she trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.
Caleb nodded, meeting her gaze. "I understand, Grandma. I promise I won't chase after her again."
Grandma Shu studied him for a few seconds, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You seem different, Jun," she said softly.
Caleb was surprised by her sharp observation. Before he could answer, she continued, "This change... I like it."
He smiled back. "Of course you do. I've decided to focus on my training and won't waste my time on girls for now."
"Good," she said, her voice filled with pride. "That's my son."
"Grandma," Caleb began, his voice softer now, "I need your help. I want to enter the ancient realm one last time, and I need the soul-enhancing pill."
Grandma Shu looked at him, a flicker of concern crossing her face. She remained silent for a few seconds, weighing his request.
Caleb knew the danger of his request. The previous Caleb Li had failed the ancient world trials twice, each one more difficult than the last.
Undertaking the trial a third time was a monumental task, one no ordinary human could hope to accomplish.
The soul-enhancing pill was a powerful but risky solution. It could strengthen one's soul to withstand the pressure of the trial, but failure could lead to a painful, agonizing death.
The previous Caleb had decided not to take the last trial and to depend on the Jade Pendant
to pass the College Entrance Examination and find a bodybuilding technique to develop his physique.
Unfortunately, he chased after skirts and died for skirts.
Taking a deep breath, Grandma Shu finally spoke. "Are you serious, Jun?"
"Absolutely," he replied without hesitation. He was an elite soldier in his past life, and fear was not in his vocabulary.
"Do you understand the risks involved? You could lose your life."
"I do, Grandma."
"And there's no turning back once you begin."
"I understand."
A few tense moments passed before Grandma Shu finally spoke again. "Give me three days," she said, her voice firm. "I will get you the soul-enhancing pill."
With that, she stood up and left the room, her expression unreadable.
Caleb watched her go, a deep sigh escaping his lips. He may have been reborn in this new world, but the soldier within him still burned bright. He couldn't settle for an ordinary life.
He had a mission to complete, one that required power.
"Amanda," he whispered, his eyes hardening with renewed determination. He wouldn't rest until he achieved his goal.
******
[AN: Please vote for this book with your power stones. Thanks]