Eden returned home exhausted, torn between grief and rage after regaining his past memories and losing his friend. His mind was overwhelmed by relentless thoughts, as if fate was mocking him once again. He sat alone, drowning in a feeling of helplessness.
"Damn fate and this wretched life!" he screamed internally, his anger burning within him like an unquenchable flame. "I want to tear fate apart with my own hands!"
As his thoughts spiraled, his gaze fell on a mysterious book he'd found in front of his house upon returning from a night out with Zane. The book sat quietly on the table, as if it had been waiting for him all along.
The book had a dark cover, the color of midnight, adorned with faint golden engravings that seemed to glow in the darkness. The title was etched in bold letters: "The Rise in the Age of Chaos."
He hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching the table. "I almost forgot about this cursed book... It's because of it that I regained my memories."
With a trembling hand, he picked up the book. An inexplicable heaviness washed over him, as if the book held more than just pages. He opened it cautiously and began flipping through the pages with a shaky hand.
The sorrow on his face quickly gave way to shock. His eyes widened, his expression pale, as the words he read echoed in his mind like a forbidden incantation.
"This... This can't be real!"
Those were the only words he managed to utter. It was as if his very soul had been crushed.
He threw the book onto the table, his hands shaking from fear and disbelief. The truth staring back at him was unimaginable.
How could he believe that this book, just a written story, described his previous world? A world he hated and never wanted to remember, now returning to haunt him mercilessly. A world governed by one law: strength. Mere fiction... just words written by someone else.
Despite only reading three pages, Eden recognized his former world immediately. How could he not? It referenced its most iconic location: the Academy of Light.
A place where those who entered emerged from darkness into light, ready to live a bright future. It welcomed everyone, even commoners, though they rarely rose to high ranks. Nevertheless, entering the academy opened doors to noble families, the royal court, the military, or even major mercenary groups.
Eden couldn't accept it, didn't want to. Instinctively, he grabbed his lighter and set the book aflame.
The fire devoured the book before his eyes, and he watched as the flames consumed the words he wished never to read.
"Isn't my life miserable enough? Why? Why did this book appear before me? Who sent it?"
A cloud of dark questions filled his mind. Could someone know he was reincarnated? And who had reincarnated him into a world where the author of his own story existed?
Exhausted by these thoughts, he fell asleep on the couch without realizing it.
---
As Eden slept, darkness enveloped the room, and an eerie, ominous atmosphere filled the air. Despite the full moon that night, its light was dim and blood-red.
Amid this darkness, the ashes of the book Eden had burned ignited once more. They floated into the air, gathering to reform the book exactly as it was, with its dark cover and faint golden engravings, glowing subtly in the gloom. The book quietly settled back onto the table in front of the sleeping Eden, illuminated by the red moonlight that fell on his face and the book. It was as if a hidden force urged him to read it.
---
The night dragged on until the first rays of dawn banished the darkness. Sunlight crept through the window, warming Eden's face. Slowly, he stirred, trying to avoid the light and stay in the shadows. As he opened his eyes reluctantly, he heard a groan escape his lips.
He forced his eyes open, and what he saw froze him in place. The book was back.
He leaped backward in a somersault, his instincts, deeply ingrained in his soul, awakening despite his altered body. He stared at the book in shock and fear.
"How can this be real? I made sure this damned book burned!"
He ran to the door to check if it was locked. The tape he'd placed to detect any tampering was still intact. He checked the windows; the tape was undisturbed there too.
"No one broke in… So, did this thing come back from the ashes?"
Despite the impossibility of such a thought, he recalled his experiences and realized that anything was possible. He went to the trash bin to confirm the ashes were still there, but he found nothing.
His legs gave way under him, and he collapsed to the floor, overcome by repeated shocks.
"What's happening?! I just want to understand… Why is this happening to me?"
After calming himself, Eden gathered his resolve. He grabbed the book again, this time determined. He burned it once more with his lighter, watching it turn to ash before his eyes. He kept a vigilant eye on the ashes for an hour, but the book didn't return.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he wasn't fully reassured. He carefully collected the ashes into a sealed box and locked it with a key.
---
Later, Eden left to request medical leave from work, feeling the need for rest.
As soon as he closed the door behind him, the same phenomenon occurred. The box opened, and the ashes reassembled into the book, which sat back on the table as if nothing had happened.
When Eden returned, he found the book waiting for him on the table. At first, he didn't burn it. Instead, he threw it into a dumpster on the street, hearing the garbage truck carry it away. But the next day, it was back in his house. He threw it into the sea—no use. He shredded it and scattered the pieces, yet it returned. He buried it deep in the ground, but still, it came back. It was as if a curse had bound it to him.
Finally, he gave up. He placed it in a box and left it in a corner of the room. For a short while, he felt at peace, but it wasn't long before it began appearing in different spots around his house, turning his life into a nightmare.
Three months passed. In the end, Eden gave in and decided to read the book, hoping it would end the curse. He began reading, discovering it was a tale of his world, but from a different perspective. He finished the book in just two weeks, only to realize it wasn't complete—it was merely the first volume.
The story revolved around a protagonist from a fallen noble family who received a ring left behind by his father. The ring contained a sealed spirit that began training him. The protagonist joined the Academy of Light, made friends, defeated second-generation heirs and villains, gathered a group of followers, and ultimately formed a harem.
Eden seethed with anger. How could he not? The world revolved solely around the protagonist. What about the others? Didn't they have lives and dreams?
But the volume offered no useful information for Eden. It was merely an introduction to the characters who would dominate the continent. However, Eden recalled that the Academy of Light would eventually face a terrorist attack.
"It seems I'll need to gather the remaining volumes. I also need to find the author because we have much to discuss."
Eden's voice was icy, especially at the end, where a glint of murderous intent sparkled in his eyes. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and began searching for the novel and its author, only to discover the following:
1. The novel was immensely popular.
2. It had over 25 volumes.
3. It was still incomplete.
4. The author had vanished under mysterious circumstances.
Eden's eyes gleamed upon learning that the author had disappeared.
"It seems I'll be returning to my old line of work."
Eden left the search page and called his company to submit his resignation. Then, he dialed another number and requested a computer.
In Eden's house, the windows were tightly shut, and the lighting was dim. He sat in front of a computer, typing rapidly on the keyboard. At the same time, there was an uproar in the dark web and even within the federal police. The Black King had returned.
Yes, Eden, known as the Black King, was one of the most famous and dangerous hackers in the world. His entry into the dark side of the internet was initially motivated by searching for his family, but he soon discovered an extraordinary talent in the field, growing at an alarming rate. He established websites on the dark web, hacked international systems, and penetrated global corporations.
All of this was before he met Anya. After meeting her, he abandoned everything and started a new life with a stable job. But now, he was back to his former self.
Eden began searching for the author, even hacking surveillance cameras across the country to uncover who brought the box containing the book.
Years passed swiftly. Eden read the novel "Rise in the Age of Chaos" hundreds of times, searching in vain for any trace of the author.
Seven years later, much had changed. He had gathered all the volumes and learned what happened in the story from a different perspective. One could say Eden knew the world of "Arcania" better than its creator.
However, Eden discovered that he was suffering from brain cancer and part of his spinal cord. He refused treatment, wanting a swift death to end his suffering.
Time continued to pass, and ten years had gone by since Eden started his search for the truth. Finally, he discovered that the author had died on the dark web. It turned out the author had provoked a member of the second generation elite, leading to his abduction and torture in a live broadcast. Before his kidnapping, the author never completed the novel but left behind a notebook of his work, which eventually found its way to Eden.
"This notebook contains so much... cough... cough…"
Suddenly, Eden coughed up blood. His skin was pale, and his body frail.
"It seems I don't have much time left. Anya, Zane... it looks like we'll be meeting soon."
He lifted the pocket watch Zane had given him, a pearl that was a gift from Anya.
Eden felt his life fading away, so he burned the collection of books and used his computer to release all his darkest secrets and heinous deeds. He also donated all his wealth.
The world plunged into chaos because of the information Eden had unleashed before his death. Yes, Eden had died, ending his suffering... or perhaps beginning a new torment. The chains had been broken, and a new demon was about to unleash a storm of blood.