In the middle of a dirty street, after sunset, a child was sleeping on discarded garbage bags. However, if you look closely, you will notice complete silence. It doesn't even refer to breathing.
Suddenly, without warning, this child began coughing violently without stopping.
The child sat on the gloomy ground, looking surprised, and muttered with a puzzled expression: "What on earth? Where am I?"
"Argh!" The child started screaming while holding his head tightly.
After an indefinite period of time, the boy gradually regained his composure, looking somewhat normal despite the disheveled hair, torn clothes, and bruises adorning his body.
Have you been reincarnated into this boy's body?" he wondered to himself as he struggled to comprehend the unfolding events. Many memories flooded his mind - memories of two different people. One, called John, existed on a planet called Earth, and the other, the last John, was in this unfamiliar world, the legal owner of the current ship or vessel he found himself in.
John began to review the memories contained within this vessel, and the discoveries were truly painful. And the 15-year-old didn't show it in his appearance. Malnutrition, bruises, and the like were taking their toll on his young face.
What's even sadder is that his mother and younger sister . She was five years old at the time. The family was happy and prosperous, living a wonderful life. However, tragedy struck when his mother and sister were killed while shopping, victims of an attack by an outlaw group. The Fishermen's Association and its members were unable to arrive in time, resulting in many casualties.
He managed to survive the attack, but his father never forgave him. He was subjected to torture, beating, and forced him to beg for food every day. The young man's life was full of tremendous hardships.
It was not as if the child, who was 10 years old at the time, was to blame for the attack. But his father, overcome by grief over the loss of his wife and daughter, succumbed to his anger and directed it at his only surviving son.
For the past five years, the boy has known nothing but suffering in stark contrast to the previously happy life he lived.
It is worth noting that this boy died due to hunger, and his father withheld food from him.
"I can't change your past, but I can change the future," John lamented over the former body's owner. But accept the situation that this is his body now.
John started moving towards his house as he seemed to contemplate this strange world.
It wasn't like Earth, not even close to it. According to the little information he knows from his memories. This world was a natural world like Earth.
Two centuries ago, strange creatures resembling game demons and the like appeared. These entities appeared seemingly out of nowhere, spreading corruption wherever they were and mercilessly slaughtering countless people for unknown reasons.
Humanity tried to resist them, but failed. These creatures had tremendous power. One day, a strange energy and a mysterious system appeared in this world.
A few people were chosen by this mysterious energy, unlocking a system that empowered them. Over time, they were able to mitigate the destruction caused by the demons. As the war continued for a full fifty years, massive demons emerged, revealing themselves as the generals of the Demon Army, a revelation that struck terror into the hearts of humanity.
The war ended with humanity's victory on Earth, albeit at a huge cost. All of the formidable individuals had sacrificed themselves in the battle against these demons.
However, the saga did not end there. Besides those who harnessed their strength to fight, there were others who had awakened distinct abilities. Among them was the Lady of Prophecy.
She foretold the imminent arrival of the Demon King and predicted unprecedented destruction, asserting that his power surpassed all of his generals by a wide margin.
Fear and shock gripped all of humanity upon receiving this unsettling news. However, life continues on its usual course to this day. The danger of demons still exists, and is far from being extinguished.
Their forces and army remain shrouded in mystery, yet periodic invasion attempts continue. It is undeniable, as time goes by, they become stronger and more magnificent.
...
It left John in complete shock as he examined his memories. The perilous nature of this world completely caught him by surprise. Having consumed countless novels where heroes are reincarnated or transferred into someone else's body to save the world, he never expected the harsh reality he now found himself in.
"Unfortunately, I wasn't reincarnated into a novel I know. It would have been better." John sighed in disappointment
John never considered himself a hero, nor did he aspire to become one. The idea of being a hero seemed ridiculous to him. Humanity, in his view, was not as pure as many believed. With this conviction, John made a firm decision.
He will live solely for himself and no one else. He won't put himself at risk or make sacrifices for others.
While John was lost in his thoughts, he realized that he had reached the front of a dilapidated two-story building. It was the house where he lived with his father.
Their financial situation had indeed been prosperous, but following the tragic events in the family, his father ceased to work and succumbed to alcohol addiction, spending whatever money remained on his habit.
John ignored all these thoughts and entered his house.