A vague sense of sadness from deep within. A bitter aftertaste of… death? Eh?

As I opened my eyes, I saw... nothing. Dark. Everything was shrouded in eternal darkness.

Where am I? A question—a question that seemed to continuously echo inside my mind. I tried to move, but somehow, I couldn't feel my body. Uneasiness crept over me. Then I remembered... I died?

"Greetings."

A voice resounded in my mind—a calm, serene voice, as still as a sea without waves. I wanted to find the source of the sound, however…

Swish! A blinding light engulfed everything.

For a few moments, my eyes shut tight, and once they opened, a silhouette of a young man appeared before me.

"Hmmm… not bad. Not bad at all," the young man said.

I cautiously watched him as he slowly treaded towards me. Once he was directly in front of me, he smiled and said, "You and I, both of us shared the same cruel fate. We died at a time when we hadn't even reached any of our goals, and it really isn't something that I could accept wholeheartedly. On the path I once tread, there lies a goal that needs to be done. With my death, I won't ever achieve it."

He turned around as a flicker of light suddenly burst from his body. He lifted his hands and said, "And so I wished for another chance from the heavens. Even at the cost of my soul, even at the cost of my very existence, I willed it. And because of that wish, you…" He looked back at me and continued, "You are here."

A number of thoughts appeared in my mind. I was speechless at his words, and then it came to me… I died! I really died!

Memories I seemed to have forgotten flooded my mind. I remember that day when I decided to go to the mall and watch some movies. On my way home, a certain event led to, perhaps, my death.

While I was walking home, I saw some thieves robbing a neighborhood store. At that moment, I instinctively hid out of fear. I felt that I should've run away, but somehow, a vague feeling prevented me from leaving. I felt like I had to watch the events unfold.

Then it happened… While the criminals were about to escape, a little girl blocked their path and said, "What you guys are doing is bad! God will get angry at you!"

Of course, the criminals didn't mind her as they immediately pushed her aside. After all, what can such a small girl do against grown-ups?

But what the young girl did next truly astounded me and the criminals. She bit the arm of one of the robbers, causing him to wince. The robber grabbed the little girl's hair before throwing her away. She flew a few meters, and then… one of the robbers pointed his gun at her.

In that moment of fight-or-flight, I lost all reason and acted on instinct. When the robber was about to pull the trigger, my legs suddenly moved, and what followed was the most vivid memory that exists in my mind—the sight of a bullet passing through my chest as I shielded the young girl.

Just now, it occurred to me, was I a hero or a fool?

I held my chest before smiling wryly. That vivid memory stuck to me like a song on continuous replay. What if I had just run away? What if I hadn't tried to protect her? Just why did I do that?

I asked myself again and again as a deep feeling of regret overwhelmed all my senses. What could've been… was now nothing but a curious thought.

"Perhaps, I really was a fool," I unconsciously muttered. At that moment, my gaze suddenly fell on the young man in front of me. His calm demeanor seemed casual yet domineering. It was then that I recalled the words he had just said.

"And so I wished for another chance from the heavens. Even at the cost of my soul, even at the cost of my very existence, I willed it. And because of that wish, you… you are here."

Questions surged in my mind. Knowing that I couldn't get any answers just by thinking about it, I mustered all my courage and asked, "Where am I? Didn't I... or we die?"

After mustering all that courage, these were the only questions I could speak. Maybe I'm in the place where all souls go after death? Who knows? All I know is that I have already died, and yet, I'm still here. I never believed in the afterlife. I wanted to, but during my life, all my research only gave me a vague understanding of god or the heavens. If I really died, then perhaps this is it?

The young man suddenly reached his hand toward my face, snapping me out of my reverie. I instinctively jumped back at the thought of his hand touching my face. The young man let out a boisterous laugh, clearly amused by my actions.

After a few seconds of laughing, he smiled at me and said, "Do not be afraid. We, the both of us, shall become one. However, because it was my wish that led you to this place, soon, I'll be gone from this world. All my memories will be given to you. Everything that I am, will also become you. My emotions and my dreams, as well as every single part of my mind, will fuse with your soul."

His words were spoken as if it was something trivial, but in truth, the words I heard brought nothing but more questions. It took me a few minutes to process his words, but in the end, I still didn't understand much.

Moments of silence passed by, and I was finally unable to hold back my questions. "What do you mean? I honestly don't really understand anything you're saying."

With a nod, the young man waved his hand, and a blinding light once again covered my sight. I closed my eyes for a moment before slowly opening them again. What I saw utterly shocked me. In front of us was a large white screen similar to a theater.

A young man suddenly appeared on the white screen. That young man was... him? Then it occurred to me, is this his memory?

On the screen, the young man stood at the peak of a large mountain—endless forests and wildlife stretched below him. Beside him, a large and muscular man held a huge axe in his right hand. Clad in golden armor that radiated a blinding light, he looked like a knight in shining armor, except his face was a bit…

"You, haha, I didn't expect you to die so early. You got tricked by those stupid Empyrean kids to fight against an Overlord. Haha! How naive of you to believe that they needed your help when all they wanted was for you to die!!" A thunderous voice resounded. It was the muscular man speaking in a mocking tone while laughing.

Hearing the muscular man's words, the young man's expression turned unsightly. After a moment of contemplation, he heaved a deep sigh and said, "I—I really don't know what to say. I still have so many things to do. She's still... Master, you know what I mean, right?"

The muscular man, whom the young man called Master, turned stiff. His face filled with mockery suddenly turned sour as he gazed at the young man before him. "You do know I can't do anything about it. Since you've already lost your mortal body, you can only enter the cycle of reincarnation. Perhaps one day, you'll be able to reach the sky once again."

The young man kneeled before his master and said, "Is there really no other way? If I enter the cycle of reincarnation, I won't know what kind of world I will find myself in. There might be a chance to recover my memories, but with my current cultivation capability, it's almost impossible even if I find you again. At that time, Master, will I still be the same? Will I still be able to reach her?"

The master could only heave a sigh. "There is, indeed, a way."

The young man's face brightened a little, but after seeing his master's face, he immediately realized something. A wry smile appeared on his face as he asked, "But at what cost?"

"You choose, your soul or your memories?" the master said with a serious face.

"I..." Shock appeared in the young man's countenance. Finally, he let out a laugh and said, "Hahahaha. I understand, Master. I understand. Since I've already been defeated, then I choose the latter."

The master looked at his disciple in the eye. "Are you sure?"

The young man's gloomy expression turned serious. His eyes, filled with determination, stared right back at his master as he said, "Yes."

The master looked up to the sky and closed his eyes. He turned around and said, "Suit yourself."

Suddenly, the young man spoke, "Master, wait."

"Have you changed your mind?" The master stopped in his tracks but didn't look back.

"I have a request, Master. I would like to meet the person who will inherit my memories," the young man spoke fervently.

Finally, the master turned around. His eyes remained closed as he walked back to the young man. He gave the young man a bear hug and said in a gloomy tone, "Must you really do this?"

The young man couldn't help but become shocked. A twinkling light fell from one of his eyes as he said, "Yes, Master."

"Do you understand now?" the young man before me suddenly asked, awakening me from my deep contemplation.

Although I still have many questions, I have at least understood what happened. Since he chose to save his memories, that means I will be the one to inherit them. This feels a bit peculiar.

I looked at the young man, wanting to ask more, but he waved his hand and said, "You'll understand when the time comes. My remaining time is drawing to an end. In this world, your soul will be born anew. But because I have fused my memories within your soul, it is now fortified. Every memory from your past life and every memory from mine will remain even if you become a newborn child. Everything depends on fate. Well, since I did this much just to talk to you, I only have a few wishes from you."

I suddenly noticed how the place where I am was slowly crumbling. In front of me, the young man's body slowly became lighter and lighter, as if he would soon vanish into thin air. Without hesitation, I spoke, "What is it?"

"Avenge me, fulfill my dreams, and deep inside my memory, there is one more. When you reach the peak of the martial path, you'll know. I want you to protect… Lia."

Before everything crumbled to nothingness, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "I promise you! Whatever you want me to do, I'll fulfill it! Thank you for giving me another chance to live! Thank you!"

Everything turned to smoke, and I was overwhelmed by a desire to sleep. Ah, I forgot to ask his name. But if his memories will fuse with mine, perhaps I can know more about the young man who gave me another chance to live.