Alex Cruz was a junior in college. Smart, cold, and with a bright future, he was admired and envied by many. His parents, both government workers, often praised him, and his younger sister was in high school. Despite this, Alex always felt disconnected, trapped in a monotonous life. He worked hard to make his parents proud, hoping one day to earn his freedom—but it always felt just out of reach.
One day, on his way home from school, he decided to take a shortcut to avoid the rain. But fate had other plans. Lightning struck, and just like that, Alex's life ended.
Or so he thought.
To his surprise, Alex found himself still conscious, able to think and perceive his surroundings—though everything around him was completely dark and empty. He was alone in what seemed like an infinite void. Time felt endless.
Then, as if being pulled by an invisible force, he felt himself drifting toward something. His vision shifted, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a foreign room—an elegant, royal setting, far from anything he knew.
As he took in the sight, marveling at the lavish surroundings, a soothing, ethereal voice called his name.
"Alex."
Startled, Alex turned and froze. There, before him, was a woman sitting on a throne. She radiated an otherworldly beauty, one that Alex had only ever seen in the novels he'd read—tall, with striking features, and an aura that screamed power. Her smile was gentle, but it held the weight of something immense.
"Seen enough?" she asked with a knowing look.
Alex, embarrassed to have been caught staring, quickly averted his gaze.
The woman introduced herself as the core of a world called Ethermal, explaining that Alex had died and that she had brought his soul here.
Alex, a little stunned, wasn't exactly shocked—he'd read enough novels to know about reincarnation. He quickly guessed that this woman was likely some kind of overpowered being, one with immense power.
The woman told him that Ethermal was a world ruled by ten powerful families, each with their own domains. She explained that Alex was going to merge with the consciousness of a patriarch from one of these families—the Lee family. This patriarch, also named Alex, was on the brink of death due to a soul injury that no one, not even his own family, knew about.
Alex's new life would begin with him inheriting the memories and experiences of the patriarch. He would become the new head of the Lee family, a family strong in both martial arts and military power.
The moment Alex's soul merged with the patriarch's consciousness, his body was immediately flooded with memories, experiences, and a new identity. He was no longer just Alex Cruz. He was now the patriarch of the Lee family.
When he awoke, he found himself in the middle of the Lee family's headquarters. The Lee family, known for being one of the ten strongest families in Ethermal, was both a martial arts and military powerhouse. As the new patriarch, Alex held the power of command, overseeing the family's massive military might. His new life was one of influence, wealth, and strength.
But power, as Alex would soon realize, came with its own burdens.
"Father," a voice called, breaking Alex from his thoughts.
Josh, Alex's son, entered the room with a somber expression. He didn't need to say much. The urgency in his eyes spoke volumes. Bowing low, he spoke with quiet resolve. "Father, there's a problem with the Song family." He paused, his voice tight with frustration. "They're refusing to supply food for our soldiers. They're cutting us off completely."
Alex, still coming to grips with the overwhelming flood of memories that came with his new role, didn't respond immediately. His mind was a whirlwind, each thought muddled by the identity he had inherited—the weight of leadership pressing down on him in ways he had never anticipated. The memories of the previous patriarch clashed with his own, shaping him into someone he barely recognized.
Josh waited, patiently but anxiously. The silence stretched on, and for a moment, the air in the room felt thick with tension. Alex's expression remained unreadable, his cold eyes distant as he processed the information, as if hearing it through a fog. His transformation was more than just physical—it was a shift in his very being. He wasn't just Alex Cruz anymore. He was the patriarch of the Lee family, one of the most powerful families in Ethermal, and the responsibility weighed heavily on him.
When Alex finally looked up, his gaze was sharp, focused, and colder than ever. It was as though the man who had once been a young, carefree student had disappeared, replaced by the ruthless leader of a powerful dynasty. His voice, when he spoke, was calm and unwavering. "Gather everyone. Bring them to the family hall."
Josh bowed and quickly left to fulfill his father's order. Alex remained still for a moment, letting the silence settle. There was no time to waste. His mind was still sorting through the memories of the previous patriarch, but the urgency of the situation snapped him out of his reverie.
With the determination of a man who had embraced his fate, Alex walked toward the family hall. The path felt instinctual now, as if his body had memorized the layout of this life long ago. The power of the patriarch's memories flowed through him, guiding each step, every movement. It was a strange feeling, like he was both an outsider and someone who had always belonged here.
As he approached the hall's doors, two battle-hardened guards stood at attention. They stiffened when they saw him, their faces betraying the flicker of fear that crossed their usually stoic expressions. In an instant, they snapped into a sharp salute.
They knew who he was—the God of War, a title that had followed him through decades of bloodshed and conquest. The name alone had made even the fiercest soldiers tremble.
The guards exchanged a brief, anxious look. Their bodies were tense, their muscles coiled with the unspoken knowledge of the atrocities Alex had committed on the battlefield. Even though he was well past a century of age, his name still evoked terror. They knew better than to cross him, and in that moment, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as they opened the doors for him.
Unaware of the effect his presence had on the guards, Alex walked into the hall, his steps sure and measured. The weight of their gazes followed him as he moved with the quiet authority that now came naturally to him. His aura, even without him intending it, demanded attention.
The moment he entered, the chatter in the room ceased. Everyone, from the eldest elders to the newest recruits, bowed in unison. Alex didn't acknowledge them immediately, his gaze scanning the room as he absorbed the sight of his family. The faces were all familiar, yet alien, his new memories filling in the gaps of relationships he barely understood.
At the far end of the hall, on a raised platform, sat a grandiose throne. It was meant for the patriarch, for him. Beside it, a smaller but no less impressive throne sat, occupied by his wife—the matriarch of the Lee family, the "Goddess of Slaughter." Her presence was calming, yet fierce, and Alex felt a flicker of warmth when his eyes met hers.
She smiled softly, the weight of her own power tempered by the quiet affection in her gaze. Her hand reached out to him, a silent gesture of support.
"Let the meeting begin," Alex said, his voice steady.
The room settled into a tense silence, and the first to speak was Nathan, the man in charge of the family's trade resources. He stepped forward, clearly nervous under the intense gaze of the patriarch and matriarch.
"Patriarch," Nathan began, his voice trembling slightly, "the Song family is growing arrogant. They've stopped supplying us with the resources we need. They refuse to sell us food, claiming they don't have enough to spare." He paused, looking around at the others. "But we all know that's a lie."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, the air thick with frustration.
One of the elders, a man seated closer to the lower platform, bowed his head and spoke. "Patriarch, the Song family must believe we are pushovers because of the last family ranking. We lost to them, and now they think they can walk all over us."
The mention of the family ranking brought a coldness to the room. It was a memory no one wanted to revisit—the bitter defeat still hung over them like a cloud, a stain on their pride.
Alex's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his mind calculating.
Finally, he spoke, his voice like ice. "What do they want in exchange for the food?"
Nathan's face faltered for a moment, then he replied, "They want us to merge with them, or they'll let us perish."
Alex's eyes darkened. A surge of anger, primal and intense, flooded through him. Without thinking, he released a small fraction of his killing intent—just enough to make a statement.
The room fell into an immediate stillness as the air grew heavy with a crushing pressure. Those present could hardly breathe, their bodies coated in cold sweat, feeling as though they were drowning in the sheer force of his aura.
His wife, the matriarch, squeezed his hand gently. The touch, so small and simple, grounded him. It was a reminder that he wasn't alone, that together they could face anything. Alex relaxed his aura, though the cold, bone-chilling smile remained on his face.
"Since it's war they want... then war they shall get," he said, his voice low and filled with deadly resolve.
Turning to his family, he spoke with finality. "Let's pay the Song family a visit."
Two hours later, the Lee family stood before the Song family's stronghold.
Alex's voice rang out across the courtyard, fierce and unwavering. "Daniel, you coward! Come outside and show me who gave you the audacity to think you could merge our families!"
Inside the Song family's halls, Daniel, the patriarch of the Song family, was with two other powerful family heads—the Long family, a group of sword experts, and the Heng family, known for their bloodthirsty fighters.
When they heard Alex's voice, a twisted satisfaction spread across their faces. They were ready. Finally, they thought, they could crush the Lee family once and for all.
But Alex, standing outside their gates, had a strange feeling creeping up his spine. Something wasn't right.
Before he could react, three powerful auras, each near the peak of the 5th realm, materialized in front of him. The ground shook violently as their presence tore through the air like a storm. Trees were uprooted, the earth itself trembling in the wake of their release.
The Lee family soldiers, protected by the matriarch's own aura, were safe—but they could feel the intensity of the moment. It was as if the very world was holding its breath, waiting for the first strike.
With no words exchanged, the four leaders faced off, their auras clashing in a silent promise of violence. And then, the sky itself seemed to crack as a strange, unnatural sound echoed across the battlefield.
Everyone looked up.