Yamino had found himself in a world of wonders. The world he now inhabited was called the OLD WORLD. Although Yami had forgotten about the Grimoire of Fate, he still remembered the lives he had lived again and again. He was living the same life here too—but with one key difference.
No! A big one, actually.
The Old World, originally called Planet Sukopia, was once a high-tech civilization—a world of machines and intelligence. But only 25% of the land was habitable, as nature had been nearly destroyed. Then, a century ago, the First Apocalypse of Seven Days occurred. More than twenty-five dimensions collided, creating new universes and obliterating old ones. People lost their families, their loved ones. But they also gained something: a new place to live, a revitalized natural environment, and a mysterious, resource-rich planet.
But that's not the big news, guys. Let me tell you a story. Right now, we are living in the Age of the Adventure Emperor. After the apocalypse, a man set out to explore this reborn Earth. By the end of his journey, he had become the most powerful king in the world—the ruler of the Nine Sailing Alliance. Inspired by his legend, people sought to follow in his footsteps, desiring the strength and status he had attained. However, upon his death, the secret of how he became so powerful was erased from history. Though the world remembered his legendary adventures, no one knew exactly what had made him so formidable. Even so, people took to the seas and lands in pursuit of their own destinies. Over time, they discovered that the continent they lived on was surrounded by massive walls.
Now, Yami—known as Yusko in this world—was left to ponder his path. He was just a simple boy from a simple family. His mother had passed away when he was young, and his father, an adventurer, had abandoned them before he was even born. He had been raised by his grandmother, who had died a week before he arrived in this world. Now, he had inherited the family business—hunting beasts in the forest.
A week after settling into this new life, Yusko had grown accustomed to hunting small rabbits and deer, living a quiet but steady existence. Each day, he ventured into the forest, selling his catches to markets and high-end restaurants. But today, fate had something different in store for him.
That morning, Yusko set out as usual, armed with a bow and arrows, some rope, and a small knife. However, as he trekked through the forest, he noticed something unusual—there were no animals in sight. A deep unease settled in his chest. Then, he spotted a trail of blood leading deeper into the woods.
He thought that perhaps an injured animal had passed through, so he decided to follow the trail.
After nearly an hour of tracking, he found himself standing before the entrance of a dark cave. The blood led inside. He felt no fear and stepped forward. But as he walked deeper into the cave, the oppressive darkness swallowed him whole.
For the first time, fear gripped him.
A creeping sensation crawled up his spine—a feeling he knew all too well. This was the same fear he felt whenever he encountered ghosts or anything connected to the supernatural. Even so, he pressed on.
Then, suddenly—nothing beneath his feet.
He was falling.
"AHHHHHHHH!"
He screamed as loud as he could, but no one came to his aid. He crashed into the ground below, his body wracked with pain as something hard struck his head. Blood seeped from the wound, yet he still clung to life. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to stand. His broken bones protested, but somehow, he managed to get to his feet.
His throat burned with thirst.
That's when he saw it—a pure white, transparent lake. The water shimmered like liquid ice. But why was it here, deep inside this cave?
The question flickered through his mind, but he had no time to dwell on it. His thirst overpowered his curiosity. He staggered toward the lake, but before he could reach it, his weakened body betrayed him. He tripped and fell forward, plunging into the icy depths.
His broken limbs rendered him helpless. The water rushed into his lungs. He flailed weakly, but it was no use. Slowly, he sank beneath the surface.
Darkness swallowed him whole as consciousness slipped away.
Then, something changed.
A sudden surge of warmth coursed through his body, replacing the numbing cold. The pain in his limbs dulled, his broken bones mending themselves with an unnatural speed. His vision blurred, and a strange energy wrapped around him like an invisible cocoon.
Through the haze, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Wake up."
The words rang with authority, vibrating through his very soul. His eyes snapped open, and for a moment, he could see nothing but light—blinding, radiant light. His body felt as if it were dissolving, as though he was being remade from the inside out.
When the brilliance faded, he found himself standing—not in the cave, but in a vast, endless space. Stars swirled above him, constellations forming and dissolving like waves upon the shore. He looked down at his hands. They were whole, his wounds gone, his strength returned.
A figure emerged from the celestial glow—a towering silhouette, clad in robes that shimmered like the cosmos. The being's eyes burned like twin suns, their gaze piercing through Yusko's very essence.
"You were not meant for this world," the figure said, its voice resonating across the void. "And yet, here you are. Fate has taken an interest in you, child. The cycle must be broken."
Yusko swallowed hard. "Who... are you?"
The figure did not answer. Instead, it raised a hand, and suddenly, memories surged through Yusko's mind—visions of the past, the future, the lives he had lived and the ones yet to come. He saw battles waged across time and space, empires rising and falling, the birth and death of gods.
And then, he saw himself—standing at the center of it all.
The voice spoke once more, softer this time. "Are you ready to awaken?"
As the question hung in the air, Yusko felt the weight of countless destinies pressing upon his soul.
This was only the beginning.