Darkness. Endless, smothering darkness surrounded Reader as if the world itself had ceased to exist. A suffocating silence pressed against his senses. He remembered pain—sharp, fleeting, then nothingness. Was this death?

He wanted to scream, but his voice betrayed him. Instead, there was only the faintest of whimpers, muffled as though he were submerged underwater.

Wait. What's happening?

Bright light suddenly pierced the void, and with it came a cacophony of sounds—indistinct murmurs, rhythmic beeping, and an echoing wail. He gasped—or tried to—but his lungs were too small to hold even a proper breath.

Am I... crying?

"Congratulations! It's a boy!"

The jubilant voice was distant yet distinct, cutting through his muddled thoughts. He could feel hands lifting him, his body limp, delicate. A warmth wrapped around him, soothing and foreign.

It hit him like a thunderbolt.

I've been reborn.

The revelation was overwhelming. Reader, a man who had spent his monotonous adult years chasing paychecks, was now a newborn in someone else's arms. A sense of absurdity swept through him. He had memories, thoughts, and emotions of his past life, yet here he was, wrapped in a soft blanket, unable to even lift his head.

He tried to take in his surroundings, but his infant eyes could only manage blurs of color and shapes. A faint, maternal voice cooed above him, words indistinguishable but soothing. His tiny body ached from the strain of simply existing.

Then, as if mocking his attempt to process his new reality, a sharp chime echoed in his mind.

[ Ding! ]

What now?!

[ Host Linked with the Undead Rebirth System ]

[ Abilities Activated: None ]

[ Lives Remaining: 144 ]

[ Life Reset Interval: 7 Days ]

[ Death Tokens: 0 ]

The voice was mechanical and impersonal, yet its message rattled him to his core. It wasn't just that he was reborn—he was given... something. A system.

The voice was mechanical, devoid of emotion, but its message rattled him to his core. This wasn't just a rebirth—he was connected to something... a system.

Is this Earth? he wondered, his thoughts swirling in confusion.

The chill of uncertainty crept over him like an unwelcome touch. Slowly, his hazy vision began to clear, and what he saw was enough to make his heart race.

As if answering his skepticism, a cold sensation crept over him. Slowly, his hazy vision adjusted, and he saw them—vague, shadowy forms lurking at the edges of the room. They hovered, their shapes shifting, barely visible against the dim lighting.

One moved closer, a ghastly, translucent figure with hollow eyes and an unnerving grin. Its mouth opened, emitting a soundless scream that sent shivers through his tiny body.

As if no one else could see what he saw.

Reader's breath caught in his tiny chest, and his heartbeat quickened, faster than it ever had before. The shadows moved closer, some swirling, others lingering. He couldn't look away.

[ System Alert: Proximity to Lesser Spirit Detected ]

[ Initiating Survival Protocol... ]

The ghost—the apparition—flinched. Its form flickered, as if repelled by some unseen force. It recoiled, retreating into the shadows where it belonged.

What the hell is happening?! Reader screamed internally, though all that escaped him was the faintest cry.

His new parents, none the wiser, began to fuss over him. They thought his reaction was due to hunger, or perhaps discomfort. But Reader knew better.

This world wasn't like anything he had known. The ghosts and shadows—these spirits—were real. And if his system was anything to go by, this was only the beginning.

Yup, I never saw any of those things on Earth, Reader thought bitterly.

He tried to calm himself, forcing his attention away from the shadows and the creeping terror that had taken root inside him. As he shifted his gaze, his eyes landed on the woman holding him—a vision of softness and warmth.

She was beautiful. Long brown hair cascaded around her face in gentle waves, and her features were refined, as though sculpted by the gods themselves. Her expression was tender, the kind of look that could make anyone feel safe.

So... pretty, Reader thought, momentarily distracted by her beauty.

No... focus, he chastised himself.

His eyes drifted to the man standing nearby, a tall figure with dark hair and sharp features. His gaze was intense, though softened by the protective air he carried.