Chapter 1: Rebirth in Chaos
Pain. That was the first thing Jang Young felt as his eyes opened. Not the pain from his training accident in his previous life, but a new pain: sharp and real all over his body.
He tried to move but could not. His new body felt weak and broken. All around him, he heard the sounds of people crying and groaning in pain.
"Where. where am I?" he whispered. His voice sounded different - younger and weaker than before.
The room was dark and filled with the smell of blood and medication. He saw other people lying on the floor-some soldiers, wounded, while others were little children who, from the look of their eyes, must have been hungry and hurt.
Memories started pouring in, but not his old memories of training with the sword, yet new ones: memories of a boy named Muriel.
"So this is my new life," he thought, "I am not a noble. I'm not a hero. I am just. Muriel."
The memories showed everything to him-Muriel was left alone as a baby, growing up in the streets of Arslan, a city ruled by warriors who fought for money. Everybody labeled him weak; nobody wanted him.
A woman in white clothes passed beside him, aiding the injured people.
"Please," cried Jang-who by now was Muriel-"water.
She looked at him then and shook her head. "We do not have enough supplies to take everyone through, and even without that you're too weakened to make it anyway."
She angered him with her words. He had been training every day in his past life until his body broke, learning the most difficult sword techniques. He wouldn't give up now.
"I will survive," he whispered when she was gone. "I will be strong."
He made his body move, and sat up-the pain was very bad indeed-but he did sit up, to the visible surprise of several of the other children.
"Look, the weak one is trying to move," said another.
"He's going to die soon anyway," another replied.
Muriel ignored them. He remembered all his training from his past life. The Drunken Sword Style. The Shadow Step technique. Everything he had learned would help him now.
"I will not die," he thought, "I'll show them all how tough I am."
He looked at his meager arms and legs. This body was weak, but he could make it stronger. Of course, he knew how. All the knowledge from his past life would help him survive in this cruel world. And in that moment, a memory attacked him: Muriel's last thought when their minds had merged-to become strong enough never again to be looked down upon.
"I'll make that wish come true," Muriel vowed to himself. "I'll become the strongest person in this world."
He made himself stand up. His legs were shaking; he was full of pain. Yet, he did not fall. The audience gasped in astonishment. No one had ever witnessed this frail boy act with so much resolve.
"This is only just the beginning," he thought. "I have all the knowledge I need. Now I just need to get stronger."
He took one step, then another. Each step hurt, but he kept walking. He had to leave this place of dying people. He had to start his journey to become powerful.
He walked to the door and made another promise to himself: he would not only survive but rise above them all.
He would use everything he had learned in his past life to become someone whom everyone respected and feared.
Outside, the sun had already set; before him lay the sprawl of the city, Arslan-ominous, yet so full of possibilities, and somewhere out there lay a key to gain power.
"Time to start," he whispered. The first steps of his new life, so as to growl from weak Muriel into a monster who was going to shake the whole world.
The pain in his body reminded him that the way would not be easy, but pain was an old friend from his previous life.
He knew how to use it, how to learn from it, how to become stronger because of it. He watched the darkening sky above.
He had dreamed, when alive previously, of being reincarnated into greatness, and now it seemed as if that wish was fulfilled-but great things come from small, sometimes miserable beginnings.
A new life was just beginning, and the first chapter was at hand. He would write this chapter with strength, determination, and an iron will to rise from the very bottom to the very top.