The bell rang, marking the end of one more ordinary day at Zenith Academy. Students in neat uniforms came out of the big glass-and-steel building, talking about combat training, mana theory, and the gate simulation for tomorrow. In that group of students, one particular boy was unnoticed by everybody: he was thin with messy black hair and tired eyes under hunched posture.
Kenji Saito was the student that everybody felt sorry for at the academy. In a school full of talented awakeners, he was nothing special, unable even to create a simple mana core. His classmates called him "Null," and the name really was mean, but true.
Tonight, Kenji would change his life forever.
Kenji sneaked homeward, fearing his mother's silent disappointment and his father's few harsh comments. But halfway down the alley to his house, everything changed. His sight became unclear, and he felt a painful heat all over.
When he opened his eyes again, he was not in the alley anymore.
Instead, he stood in a spinning emptiness, with stars and disorder all around him. In front of him was a giant figure wearing shining armor, with a crown of fire on its head.
"You," the figure boomed, its voice sounding like a loud rumble, "are not fit to hold my memories. But there is little time, and danger is coming. You will carry on my legacy and complete what I could not."
"What are you talking about?" Kenji stammered, fear lacing his voice.
"You are me," the figure declared, slamming a massive spear into the void. Memories surged into Kenji's mind—battles against gods, calamities sealed within gates, betrayals, and, finally, death at the hands of the last god.
Then it all stopped.
"You are my reincarnation, Saito Kenji. Take my strength. Take my system. Slay the gods and end the calamities."
Before Kenji could respond, the void shattered, and he awoke on his bedroom floor, drenched in sweat.
Kenji sat bolt upright, his breathing ragged. He felt. different. Stronger. As though something primal had awakened within him.
Then it appeared.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
Welcome, Host.
Solo Godslayer System activated.
Mission: Eliminate all divine entities.
A glowing interface appeared before his eyes, displaying stats he never thought possible.
Name: Kenji Saito
Level: 1
Class: Godslayer
Abilities:
[Soul Rebirth] (Passive): You hold the strength and knowledge from your past life.
[Void Spear] (Active): Call forth a weapon that can cut divine energy.
[System Upgrade]: Gain new abilities by defeating gods or finishing tasks.
Kenji looked in shock, feeling both disbelief and wonder. The lost boy now had a system. And it was not just any system—it was made to defeat gods.
But before he could ponder more over it, the academy's emergency sirens went off, bringing him back to reality.
A gate opened near the edge of the city; Zenith Academy was mobilizing its students in an attempt to thwart the coming danger. Gates were openings between their world and other worlds—opening up to monstrosities, treasures, and scary things. However, this particular gate was unusual; it emitted a red, glowing color associated with bad energies—energies that were beyond what a first-year could handle.
Knowing of his new life, Kenji hesitantly joined the students. He had never fought before, and the memories of his past life felt more like dreams than real events.
The monsters emerged from the gate as students and teachers lined up for defense. They were creepy creatures with sharp limbs and shining eyes. There were screams all around as the academy's strongest tried to hold back the attack.
Kenji froze, panic taking over. His past life's memories told him he could fight, but his current body didn't respond.
Then, a notification appeared.
[MISSION ALERT]
Calamity Emanation detected. Eliminate the Divine Fragment within the gate. Reward: System Upgrade, +500 EXP.
Kenji swallowed hard. The divine fragment—an essence of a god—was causing the gate's corruption. If he didn't act, the whole city could fall.
Summoning every ounce of courage, he raised his hand.
"Void Spear," he said softly.
A spear made of black energy appeared in his hand, feeling both strange and comforting. Memories from his past life flooded back, helping him move.
Kenji ran ahead, the boy who once felt hopeless now holding the power of a godslayer. His spear sliced through the monsters easily, each hit sharper than the one before. His classmates looked on in shock, unable to understand the change.
As Kenji got to the gate, he saw the divine fragment—a huge, glowing being that shone with great power. It roared, making the ground shake under him.
For a moment, he felt unsure. Could he really do this?
Then, he heard the voice of his past self in his mind.
"You are a godslayer. Act like it."
Kenji held the Void Spear tighter, with a new determination shining in his eyes.
And so, the battle of the Solo Godslayer began.