"GET HI-"
The shouting was drowned out by the sound of the rain.
Huff Huff
The wheezing of Luck's rough breathing was erratic, his legs becoming numb. The adrenaline that had carried him this far was quickly wearing off, and the pain that had been held at bay for so long was now catching up to him.
Each step now sent jolts of pain through his legs to his head. The rain poured relentlessly masking the sound of his footsteps but doing little to shield him from his pursuers.
"Don't let him get away!" a voice barked from somewhere behind him, urgency cutting through the roar of rain.
Luck's heart pounded. He dared not look back. Instead, he focused on the faint outlines of the alley, relying on the dim light of a distant lamppost to guide him.
'Almost there,' he thought, his resolve hardening. However fate had other plans.
"GAHHH"
A desperate scream escaped his mouth as his foot met the slick moss on the ground- his body betrayed him. The world tilted violently, and he crashed onto the cold, unforgiving concrete. The moment he hit the cold surface, the world around him seemed to blur, the red haze from his bloodied head obscuring his vision.
'Is this how I'm going to die?'
The thought flashed through his mind, as he could no longer enjoy his last moments. The blood that poured from his wounds made it impossible to even take comfort in the idea of a peaceful end.
The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth. He tried to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. The heavy footsteps of his pursuers grew louder, and with each passing second, despair sank its claws deeper into his heart.
"We finally caught up to the rat."
A short, middle-aged man hissed from behind him, the harshness in his voice cutting through the chaos.
'What a waste of a life.'
At just 14, Luck's life had been short. Too short, he thought, and too incomplete. So many things on his bucket list would go unfulfilled, and it hurt to think about it in his final moments. It ended how he thought it would end but a little more undignified.
He cried hot tears, and bit his lip.
'...I wonder how the sky looks during this crazy weather.'
The thought ignited a flicker of defiance in Luck's fading consciousness. His body screamed in protest, every nerve ablaze with pain, but he refused to let it end like this—collapsed on the cold, wet ground like discarded trash. Gritting his teeth, he summoned the last reserves of his strength.
With trembling arms, he pressed his palms against the moss-covered concrete, the slick surface threatening to betray him again. His muscles burned, each movement slow and agonizing, but he managed to push his chest off the ground. His head swam, and blood dripped steadily from his temple, staining the floor beneath him.
"You're still trying to move? Pathetic," the middle-aged man sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
Luck ignored him, the words nothing more than noise compared to the roar of determination in his mind. Using his knees for leverage, he twisted his torso, shifting his weight until he was on his side. The cold rain cascaded over his battered body, washing away some of the blood but not the pain.
With a grunt, he managed to turn onto his back. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, his vision blurred but still locked onto the vague shape of his pursuer.
Even in his weakened state, Luck stared at the man with an intensity that belied his condition. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms. If he couldn't escape, he could at least face his fate head-on, refusing to let death claim him while lying down like a beaten dog.
A bitter smile crept onto his bloodied lips as he whispered, "If I'm going down, I'll go down looking at the sky… not the ground."
***
Luck opened his eyes and was greeted by a brilliant light. Well maybe it wasn't that there was light just the complete absence of dark, besides the clothes on Luck of course.
"You have lived a pitiful life. Stealing and damaging property."
The voice that spoke seemed to resonate from everywhere at once, coming from the brilliant light surrounding him.
"These crimes are taken into offense, and you will be reincarnated into a new life with a harsh survival difficulty."
'Another chance huh. But harsh survival difficulty...' A soft, bitter laugh escaped Luck's lips. He couldn't help it. He was doomed, wasn't he?
"Fear not, for we have taken into account all the unfortunate events in your life, from the moment your parents died to the moment you were killed."
The voice seemed to pause, allowing the words to sink in.
"You will be given the following benefits, and your 'class' will be defined by what you did in your last life. Your name and race in your next life will be revealed. Your stats will be shown when you obtain a similar scroll."
Out of nowhere, a scroll appeared in the air before him. It was white, pristine, and sealed with a red ribbon. The scroll floated before him, its presence both calming and mysterious.
With hesitation, Luck untied the ribbon and unrolled the scroll to read its contents.
====
–Info–
Name: Luck
Age: ???
Race: Human
Affinity: ??
Class: ??
–Status–
-Benefits-
Strong Memory: B
[Description- Near photographic memory. Retains memories of past life upon reincarnation.]
{A/N: He can remember thing in great detail but only after studying it for a while, he can't just look at it then recall ever detail. He has to stop and get a really good look at it.}
Last Moments: C
[Description- Activates adrenaline again when adrenaline starts to fade for 20 seconds in cases of near death. You will not be knocked out in these seconds.]
{A/N: This is a C rank because all it does is prolong adrenaline and force him to live for just 20 more seconds. If I decide he should die it will just make sure that the fight in which he is dying will last just 20 more seconds. Oh and it also activates in cases where adrenaline shouldn't activate like if his heart gets pierced he will still be moving. So I guess its not really adrenaline? I mean can adrenaline even keep you alive if your heart gets pierced? Idk just keeping it like that for plot.}
Enhanced Sense: D
[Description- All senses are improved.]
Overflowing Dam: B
[Description- In exchange for the ability of magic, the body has been boosted to help understand techniques easier. Passive boost to strength, agility, charm, willpower, and intelligence.]
High Risk, High Reward: ???
[Description- Dangerous encounters are rewarded, with rank depending on danger level.]
-Defects-
Blinded: SS
[Description- Surrounded by darkness.]
Cursed: SSS
[Description- More likely to encounter death than most.]
Crippled: SSS
[Description- Born without the ability to utilize magic, your presence is rejected.]
-Blinded Starter Pack-
x1 Blindfold
[Description- Shows people that you are blind.]
x1 Wisp
[Description- Helps with mundane tasks.]
====
"..."
Luck stared at the scroll, overwhelmed and flabbergasted.
'Why am I so unlucky?'
Without warning, the voice spoke again.
"Now begone."
The moment the words were uttered, the bright light engulfed him, and the world around him vanished.
***
The blinding light subsided, replaced by the sound of multiple footsteps. The stench of decay and waste assaulted Luck's senses, and he gagged instinctively.
'Where the hell am I?'
The wisp—a faint, glowing orb—floated beside him, its light illuminating the immediate surroundings. For the first time, he fully understood his blindness. The world was an eternal abyss, punctuated only by the glow of his wisp.
"Hey, brat!" a gruff voice snapped, pulling him out of his thoughts. "You can't just sit there, you're chasing people away from our shop. Get moving!"
Luck turned his head toward the voice, relying on the faint echoes to gauge its source. He nodded mutely and stumbled to his feet, clutching the tattered cloth that served as his only clothing.