Chapter 1: Enter the Jester
"You're probably wondering how I ended up here."
No, seriously, you are. Admit it.
I mean, take a look at me right now. A 16-year-old guy in a crumpled school uniform, crouching on top of a vending machine, armed with…a banana. Not exactly peak intimidation, right?
But hold on, let me rewind.
---
My name's Akira Tanaka, and this is my third life.
My first life ended in tragedy. I died young, taken too soon by my own stupidity. A chicken nugget lodged in my throat—one fateful snack away from immortality.
My second life? Oh, baby, that was wild. I reincarnated as an evil dragon god with godlike power and a taste for destruction. I ruled entire dimensions, struck fear into the hearts of mortals, and lived my best villainous life. Then some pesky "heroes" showed up, and—well, let's just say they gave me an early retirement plan.
Which brings us to now.
---
This world is like Earth, but with a magical twist. Magic is everywhere: people fly to work on enchanted broomsticks, cast spells to heat their coffee, and summon fireballs during arguments. And me? I was reincarnated as your average high school student.
Well, average if you ignore the fact that I could obliterate this entire city with a yawn.
But power like mine comes with baggage, so I've decided to keep it on the down-low. To blend in, I've adopted the perfect disguise: a perverted, clumsy, idiotic clown.
Why? Because nobody suspects the pervert.
---
"AKIRA!"
Ah, yes. Reina Shirogane. My childhood friend. The most responsible person I know and my self-appointed babysitter. She's running toward me, waving a piece of paper like it's a deadly weapon.
"Do you care to explain THIS?!" she yells, shoving it in my face.
It's my math test. A solid 7 out of 100. Honestly, I think it's my personal best.
"Looks like I passed," I say with a grin. "If you ignore the 100 part."
"You failed spectacularly!" she snaps. "How do you even breathe with this level of stupidity?"
"I breathe just fine. You should see me in PE."
"I see you in PE, and all you do is trip over hurdles!"
See? Perfect clown cover.
---
Just as Reina's lecture reaches its peak, I feel it.
That little ping in the back of my mind. The same one I had as a dragon god when some idiot tried to challenge me.
Something—or someone—is watching us.
---
"Reina," I say, cutting her off mid-rant.
"What?" she asks, still glaring at me.
"Duck."
"Duck? What are you—"
Before she can finish, I grab her shoulders and pull her down just as a shadow streaks overhead, slicing through the air where her head had been moments ago.
---
Narration Mode Activated
Okay, let's talk about what the hell that was.
The thing that just tried to decapitate my friend wasn't human. It wasn't even magical. It was something worse.
A Void Stalker. Basically, the magical world's equivalent of a ninja assassin, except less honor and more "kill first, kill second, kill some more, and never ask questions."
---
The Void Stalker lands a few feet away, its obsidian-black body shimmering in the sunlight. It's humanoid but clearly not human, with glowing violet eyes and claws that could cut through steel.
"Target located," it hisses, staring straight at me.
Reina blinks in confusion. "What…what is that thing?"
"Probably a debt collector," I say casually, standing up.
The Void Stalker lunges, its claws aimed straight for my chest.
Time to drop the act.
---
With a flick of my wrist, I catch its claw mid-swing. The force of its attack sends shockwaves through the ground, but I don't even flinch.
"Nice try," I say, grinning.
The Void Stalker freezes, its glowing eyes narrowing in confusion.
"Surprised? Don't be. I've been holding back."
With a casual flick of my arm, I send it flying into the nearest tree. The impact splinters the trunk, and the creature collapses in a heap.
---
Reina stares at me, her mouth hanging open. "Akira…what was that?!"
"Uh…" Think, Akira, think. "Adrenaline?"
She doesn't buy it. Obviously.
Before she can interrogate me further, the Void Stalker rises, its wounds already healing.
"Persistent little bugger, aren't you?" I mutter.
---
The Void Stalker growls, summoning a dark orb of energy in its clawed hand.
I sigh. "You're really gonna make me try, huh?"
I raise my own hand, and for a brief moment, the air around us crackles with raw power. The energy orb in the Void Stalker's hand fizzles out like a cheap sparkler.
"Now," I say, stepping closer, "tell me who sent you."
It hisses something in a language Reina can't understand, but I catch every word.
"Your enemies are gathering. The Council of Shadows knows what you are."
Oh, great. A council. It's always a council.
---
Before I can get more information, the Void Stalker self-destructs, disintegrating into black smoke.
I wave it away, coughing. "Rude."
Reina grabs my arm, her eyes wide with panic. "Akira, what the hell is going on? What are you?"
End of Chapter 1