Darkness enveloped him. It was an endless void, silent and oppressive, yet oddly serene. He couldn't remember much about his past life except for fleeting emotions: a mixture of regret, yearning, and curiosity. He drifted in the emptiness until a voice, ancient and commanding, shattered the stillness.
"You've died," the voice boomed, reverberating through the void. "But your soul clings to purpose. You have been chosen."
The man found himself standing—or at least existing—in a space illuminated by ethereal light. Before him was a being whose presence was incomprehensible. Its form was constantly shifting, an amalgamation of light, shadow, and energy.
"Who… or what are you?" he asked, his voice shaky but filled with determination.
"I am beyond your comprehension, but you may call me the Arbiter," the being replied, its tone neither warm nor hostile. "You are to be given another chance at existence. A world of struggle and growth awaits you. To balance the scales, I shall grant you five wishes. However, know this: your wishes must remain within reason. You cannot request omnipotence or powers that render you unchallengeable."
The man's mind raced. He had read countless stories of reincarnation, systems, and overpowered protagonists. Was this his chance to live a life he could shape, free from the mundane constraints of his past existence?
"I understand," he said, his resolve firm. "Then for my first wish, I want the Skill: System. It will allow me to level up, access an inventory, and has a store which would allow me to buy materials from parallel worlds and skills of foes who i kill."
The Arbiter paused, as if considering his request. "Acceptable. Proceed."
"My second wish is to have the Eyes of Gojo from the world of Jujutsu Kaisen."
"Interesting. Approved."
"For my third wish, I desire the abilities of Sukuna, the King of Curses."
The Arbiter's form shimmered briefly. "Dangerous… but within reason. Granted."
"My fourth wish is for a skill called Reactive Copy. It will allow me to analyze and replicate the abilities of others through observation and practice,while also allowing me to have a more profound understanding of the world around me as a pasive trait."
"A clever choice. Granted."
"And for my final wish, I want to change my race from human to Phoenix."
The Arbiter paused longer this time, its shifting form stilling for a moment. "The Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and immortality. A fitting choice for one who craves a second chance. Granted. Now, prepare yourself. Your new life begins in the world of Solo Leveling."
The void began to collapse as light consumed everything around him. A sensation of falling gripped him, and then—
---
The smell of dampness and mildew filled the air. His body felt stiff, his mind foggy. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
He was lying on a lumpy mattress in a dimly lit, run-down motel room. The wallpaper was peeling, and the faint hum of a flickering neon light outside seeped through the cracked blinds. He sat up, his hands trembling slightly as he looked at them.
They were unfamiliar.
Walking over to a cracked mirror hanging on the wall, he gazed at his reflection. His appearance had completely changed. His sharp features, dark hair, and piercing eyes gave off an air of danger and mystery. Memories of his past life surfaced briefly, but they felt distant, like a dream.
Who am I now? he thought.
Suddenly, a familiar chime echoed in his mind, followed by a blue screen materializing before his eyes.
---
[Welcome, Host. The Skill: System has been activated.]
Name: Fang Yuan
Age:20
Race: Phoenix
Level: 1
Stats:
Hp:100%
Mana:100%
Fatigue:0
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 30
Defense:10
Vitality: 60
Luck: 10
Free status points:10
Titles:rencarnator, symbol of life,more poor than dirt[expand]
Traits: six eyes,semi-immortality,all Affinity
Skills:
Cursed Techniques (Sukuna's Abilities)(Level 1)
Reactive Copy(Level 1)
Regenaration flames(Level 1)
Asura flames(Level 1)
Primal Transformation[locked level 51 needed]
Inventory:gift
Store[locked level 20 needed]
]
---
A rush of exhilaration coursed through him. It was real. All of it. The System, his wishes—he had truly been reincarnated into the world of Solo Leveling.
Before he could fully process everything, a sharp knock came at the door. He instinctively activated the Eyes of Limitless, feeling a surge of power as his surroundings sharpened to an almost unbearable clarity. Whoever was outside the door wasn't friendly.
"Fang Yuan," a gruff voice called. "Open up. You've got debts to pay."
Debts? He frowned, his mind racing. It seemed this body's former owner hadn't been living an easy life.
The door rattled as the person on the other side attempted to force it open. Fang Yuan extended his hand, activating a portion of Sukuna's cursed technique using mana in the air. A black and red aura crackled to life around his fingers.
"Leave," he said, his voice cold and commanding.
There was a pause. "Tch. You'll regret this!" the man growled, retreating down the hallway.
Fang Yuan let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He sat back on the bed, his mind racing.
---
He spent the next few hours exploring the System. The inventory function worked flawlessly; with a thought, he could store or retrieve objects. His Reactive Copy skill activated as he analyzed the faint remnants of mana in the air, quickly gaining a rudimentary understanding of the thug's strength level.
The six Eyes provided him with unparalleled spatial awareness, making even the slightest movements in his surroundings detectable also giving him a more independent and detailed analysis of the mana around him. His Phoenix Physiology gave him a deep well of vitality and regenerative power, evident when a small cut on his hand healed in seconds a few seconds ago.
---
As night fell, he stepped out of the motel into the bustling streets of Seoul. The city was alive with lights and activity, but beneath its surface lurked danger. Hunters and gates were a constant presence in this world, and he would need to grow stronger to survive.
Leveling up, he thought. That's the key.
His eyes scanned the crowd, and he noticed a group of Hunters heading toward a nearby gate. A low-rank dungeon, from the looks of it.
Fang Yuan smirked. "Time to begin."
He followed them, anticipation building in his chest. The world of Solo Leveling was a place of endless opportunities—and dangers—but he had been given the tools to rise above it all.
But as he was about to enter the dungeon with the group he was haulted
End of Chapter 1