In this world, no one is truly selfless. Everyone uses others for their own gain. The rich exploit the poor to become even richer. Among those wealthy individuals, there was one man who was a little different.
[Carter Household]
Ethan Carter, a renowned businessman known for his honesty, was also the brother of the country's prime minister, Lucas Carter. His wealth and power were evident, but so was his humility, making him a rare figure in a world driven by greed.
It was late at night when Ethan returned home from work. His brother's family was visiting to celebrate the birthday of his son, Ryan Carter, who had just turned 17. The soft glow of the chandelier bathed the room in a warm light as the family gathered in the grand dining hall. Ryan was a bright and promising young man, always coming first in his class. He had a natural curiosity about the world, a trait he inherited from his father. The Carter family preferred small gatherings, so only Ethan's and Lucas's families were present, creating an intimate atmosphere filled with laughter and light-hearted conversation.
Ryan wasn't Ethan's only child. He also had a daughter, Shophia Carter, who was a couple of years older. Despite being the prime minister, Lucas had no children of his own, yet he loved Ryan and Shophia as if they were his own. The bond between the families was strong, or so it seemed.
After the cake was cut and the evening's festivities began to wind down, Ethan pulled Ryan aside, his usual warm expression replaced by one of deep seriousness. "Ryan," he began, his voice low but firm, "always protect your family, no matter what happens." There was an intensity in his eyes that Ryan had never seen before, and it left him uneasy.
The party ended late into the night, and Lucas and his family left, their departure marked by the quiet hum of their car pulling away. The house, once filled with celebration, now felt eerily silent.
Ryan and Shophia soon retired to their rooms, while Ethan and his wife, Sara, stayed behind, sitting at the dining table, talking in hushed tones. The clock ticked away, its steady rhythm filling the stillness.
But then, the silence was shattered by a sound—faint at first, like the creak of a floorboard. Ryan stirred in his sleep, his senses alert. Something wasn't right. He got up and, with a growing sense of dread, walked towards the source of the noise.
As he stepped into the hallway, a cold chill ran down his spine. The air smelled metallic, like iron. Panic gripped him as he hurried toward the dining room. What he saw next would haunt him forever.
His parents lay on the ground, lifeless, their bodies soaked in blood. The once vibrant room was now a scene of horror, the dark crimson of the blood stark against the white marble floor. The walls, adorned with family portraits, seemed to close in on him.
For a moment, Ryan was paralyzed with shock. His world had just been shattered. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement—a man in a mask, his eyes cold and merciless. Instinct took over, and without thinking, Ryan turned and bolted towards Shophia's room.
He burst through the door, his heart pounding in his chest. "Get up! We have to go!" he whispered urgently, shaking her awake. His voice was trembling, a mix of fear and desperation.
Confused, Shophia blinked at him, trying to make sense of the situation. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.
Ryan, not wasting a second, snapped, "Just shut up and come with me!" He could see the confusion in her eyes, but there was no time to explain.
Though Shophia was older, she had always respected Ryan's intelligence and quick thinking. She followed him without question, her mind racing as she tried to piece together what was happening.
They rushed towards the secret exit—a route their father had shown them years ago, "just in case." But as they approached, their worst fears were realized. The killers were already there, waiting, their shadows long and menacing under the dim light. Ryan's heart sank, but he couldn't afford to panic. Thinking quickly, he led Shophia to a nearby window, their only chance of escape.
With trembling hands, he helped Shophia climb out first, then followed her, his mind racing with thoughts of what he had just witnessed. Once they were outside, the cool night air hit them, bringing with it the reality of their situation.
Shophia, now fully awake and shaken, demanded an explanation. "Ryan, what the hell is happening?"
Ryan, breathing heavily, his mind still reeling from the horror inside, forced himself to stay calm. "Stay here. Call Uncle Lucas. Tell him that some people have broken into our house, and they're armed."
Shophia, still in shock, stammered, "What... what are you saying? Where are Mom and Dad?"
But Ryan couldn't bring himself to answer. The words stuck in his throat like shards of glass. Ignoring her, he turned back towards the house, but as he did, a deafening explosion rocked the night. The force of it knocked them both to the ground, and when Ryan looked up, all he could see was a raging inferno where his home once stood.
Flames roared into the sky, consuming everything he had ever known. The heat was unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the searing pain in his heart. "I couldn't do anything," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. Sorry..."
[Two Years Later]
Ryan and Shophia now lived in a small, rundown apartment, a far cry from the luxury they once knew. After their father's death, the company he had built suffered massive losses, and they lost all their wealth. To make matters worse, their uncle Lucas, once their guardian and protector, had changed. The man who once treated them like his own children now acted as if they didn't exist.
Ryan had come to understand the harsh reality of the world. The naive boy who once believed in the goodness of people was gone, replaced by someone colder, harder. His only goal now was to protect his sister. That single, burning purpose drove him forward, day after day.
Ryan worked two part-time jobs while continuing his studies. It was his birthday again—the darkest day of his life. As he had done for the past two years, he visited his parents' grave, the weight of his failures pressing down on him like a physical burden.
Shophia was with him, her presence a silent comfort. As he stood before his father's grave, the past two years flashed before his eyes—how his uncle had turned his back on them, how he had decided to get stronger to protect Shophia, and how he had thrown himself into learning every form of martial arts he could find. He had pushed his body to its limits, honing his skills to the point where he was feared by the gangs that once terrorized the city.
But despite all his efforts, the pain of loss never dulled. He had sworn to avenge his family, but without money or power, his investigations hit a dead end. The one thing he knew for certain was that the traitor had to be someone close—someone who knew about the secret escape route. But the trail had gone cold.
Yet he didn't give up. He took to the streets at night, confronting the city's underworld, hoping for a clue, anything that could lead him to the killers. He became a shadow, a figure in a black hoodie who moved through the dark, striking fear into the hearts of criminals. But no one knew it was him—not even Shophia.
Ryan had no friends at school. After his father's death, he had to transfer, and the trauma left him unable to trust anyone—except for one girl, his childhood friend, Sara. Her kindness and empathy reminded him of his mother, and in her presence, he found a rare sense of peace.
That evening, Ryan came home late from work, his body exhausted but his mind still sharp. Shophia greeted him as usual, but something was different. As he stepped inside, he saw his uncle Lucas sitting in the living room, waiting for him.
Ryan's expression hardened, all warmth drained from his voice. "What are you doing here?" he asked bluntly, not even bothering to mask his disdain.
Lucas gave a slight smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. Before Ryan could react, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. Darkness swallowed him as he collapsed to the floor.
When he regained consciousness, he was tied to a chair. The room was dim, lit only by the pale glow of a single bulb. His sister, Shophia, was bound and gagged in the corner, her eyes wide with terror.
Lucas sat nearby, his face a mask of indifference. "I was the one who killed your parents," he said casually, as if discussing the weather. "And now, I'm going to kill you too. I thought you were just kids, no threat to me, but when I learned you were the one in the black hoodie, I regretted letting you live."
Rage boiled inside Ryan, but the ropes held him tight. "Why? Why did you do it?" he demanded, his voice raw with fury and pain.
Lucas smirked, enjoying the torment in Ryan's eyes. "I didn't think it was important for you to know. But since it's your last wish, I'll tell you. I hated your father. Everyone compared me to him. They said I couldn't do anything without Ethan's help. So, I got rid of him."
As he finished speaking, Lucas pulled out a knife, his eyes gleaming with a cold, sadistic pleasure. Ryan's heart raced as he watched in horror, his body straining against the ropes with all his might. But he was helpless. He could do nothing as Lucas slowly walked over to Shophia, who was whimpering in fear.
With a cruel grin, Lucas plunged the knife into Shophia's chest, her body jerking violently before going still. Ryan's world shattered at that moment. The scream that tore from his throat was primal, filled with all the pain, anger, and despair that had been building inside him for the past two years.
But no one came to help.
Lucas sneered as he wiped the blood off the knife, looking down at Ryan with a twisted sense of satisfaction. "You'll die like your father," he said coldly. Then, without another word, he and his men left the room, leaving Ryan to his fate.
The silence that followed was deafening. Ryan, bound and helpless, managed to crawl over to Shophia's lifeless body, tears streaming down his face as he whispered, "I'm sorry. I couldn't save anyone. I'm the worst son and brother. Please, forgive me."
He held her hand, his chest heaving with sobs, the weight of his failure crushing him. The room, once filled with the light of life, now felt like a tomb, cold and unforgiving.
And then, just as the darkness threatened to consume him, the entire building exploded.
Ryan felt himself being pulled into a place where the sky was breathtakingly beautiful, a place that seemed untouched by the horrors he had just witnessed. He saw his mom, dad, and sister standing before him, their faces serene, free from pain and suffering. They were whole, untouched by the tragedy that had befallen them.
He rushed to them, wrapping his arms around them in a desperate embrace, his sobs choking his words. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save any of you."
His mother smiled gently, her touch warm and comforting, just as he remembered. "It's okay," she whispered, her voice soothing the raw edges of his heart. "You still have a chance."
Ryan looked up, confused, his tears blurring his vision. "What do you mean?" he asked, searching their faces for answers.
But before they could answer, they began to fade, disappearing in a burst of red flame. The beautiful sky turned crimson, and the warmth of their presence was replaced by a cold, howling wind.
A mysterious voice echoed in his ears, reverberating through the emptiness. "Ryan, your duty isn't over yet."
The world around him began to spin, the colors blending into a chaotic whirlpool of light and shadow. He tried to hold on to the memory of his family, but it was slipping away, faster and faster.
The next thing he knew, he was lying in a bed, a child once again. The room was familiar, but the details were off—simpler, more rustic. His mother, father, and a little girl were there, trying to play with him. As he looked closely, he realized it was Shophia, alive and well, her laughter filling the room with joy.
The only thought that came to his mind was, "What the hell is happening?"
It took him some time, but he finally realized the truth—he had been reincarnated. This was a new universe, one that mirrored his old life but with critical differences. His parents and sister were the same people he had lost, but this time, his father was a nobleman, and the world was steeped in magic, something that had never existed in his previous life.
Magic—a force he knew nothing about, yet it pulsed in the air around him, a constant hum of energy that made his skin tingle. The realization struck him like lightning: this was his second chance. A chance to protect his family, to correct the mistakes of his past life.
And this time, he wouldn't fail.
Ryan—or rather, Samuel Carter, as he was known in this new world—vowed that he would do whatever it took to keep his loved ones safe. He would learn the ways of this world, master its magic, and ensure that the tragedy of his previous life would never repeat.
"The Round 2 STARTS," he thought, his resolve hardening into steel.