"Die, cheaters!"
The once crowded, chaotic street of a marketplace had descended into mayhem—a madman had appeared and started firing at people.
But Kai Vincenzo didn't care about the chaos around him.
The brutal pain of half his stomach being blown apart by the shotgun had already made him aware of his final fate. He would die.
Tears filled his eyes as he gazed up at the clear, bright sky. The scene before him slowly blurred, darkened.
'Why?'
The sound around him seemed to have become distant.
'Why did something like this happen to me?'
He had just gotten his first job; he was ready and excited to move further in his life, but why was fate always so cruel to him?
Kai had worked so hard to get rid of his fear of the world, to get out of that dark room and become a better version of himself.
He finally had the hunger to do something extraordinary, to be great.
But that was all for naught.
'I—I had fought with my fears for so many years… those memories of my damned parents… I had improved, I wanted to improve further… but… but…'
He'd die.
At this point, the brutal pain had started to fade, slipping into the background like a distant memory. His fear, once overwhelming, morphed into frustration, a bitter resentment at the unfairness of it all. As his last breath slipped away, a deep, unending darkness swallowed everything.
But then…
[Hey!]
He heard a voice. A distorted, male voice.
[Do you want to have a new life?]
'What...?'
Who was speaking?
[I'll help you get one. I know that you don't want to be mediocre.]
In the bleak darkness, Kai couldn't feel any physical sensations, but the unknown male intentions were clear—his instincts told him so.
[Tell me, what do you want?]
He wanted…
Yes, he didn't want a mediocre life.
Kai wanted to be rich, sleep with the hottest women, see the most beautiful places, drink the finest of wines, and be on top of everything.
[Yes, that's what you should be aiming for. I'll help you achieve it; I'll give you a power that will help you grow fast.]
'What do you want in return?'
Nothing was free in this world.
The male voice became gentle.
[Long ago, my ancestors were cursed by a devil, and that curse has haunted every generation since. I've finally found a way to break it, but there's no one worthy left in my family.
Kai, I've been watching you for a while, and I believe you're the one who can carry on my legacy, my ancestors' legacy.
But I need you to know—it won't be easy. The world you're about to step into is brutal and unforgiving.
Will you accept this responsibility?]
Suspicion still lingered.
'You said you can give me the power to grow fast. So why not share it with your own people? If they're struggling, wouldn't it make sense to help them get better instead of stranger like me?'
He chuckled; though it sounded garbled but there was still a hint of satisfaction.
[The worthiness I'm talking about isn't about skill; it's about character and your innate power. As I said before, I chose you only after observing you.]
Kai became silent, and after a few moments, asked his final question.
'If I will reject you then?'
[You will still reincarnate into a random new world, and without your current memories.]
The voice seemed to distort further, as if the connection was about to end.
'I… I accept.'
[Good choice.]
The man sighed; a hint of relief evident in his tone.
[And when I remove the curse from this body you've reincarnated in, his soul, being directly tied to the curse, will also be extinguished. The memories will fade soon, but with my technique, they should linger for a while. I hope you can absorb everything and not forget his sacrifice.]
Kai was startled by this revelation.
'How may I address you?' he asked.
[I have no name; I only have a wish, a dream to have my bloodline rise again. Even if that meant…]
At the crucial moment, Kai seemed to not hear him properly.
[Remember…]
'I can't hear you. Hello?'
[Meet… Morgana.]
'What?'
[Reject… the voice… Reject…]
The connection abruptly cut off.
'…'
What now?
As if in response, a young woman's groan echoed in his ears.
"Don't stop now, don't be gentle... I have just started to enjoy it."
"…?"
Soon, sensations flooded back, and Kai felt his new body extremely warm, almost burning hot.
As his vision cleared, he saw…