I always wondered what comes after death.

Is there a new place where I begin a new life?

Would I be judged? Or would I just experience nothingness?

I had so many questions.

But there was no way to get answers—at least not until I experienced it myself.

It was almost as if some god had heard my thoughts and decided to give me an answer.

At 18, I died in a truck accident.

And I finally got my answer.

A world of darkness.

Nothingness. That was all I could see.

I couldn't even see myself—just an endless abyss stretching in all directions.

So, I guess this is what comes after death. No gods to judge me. No heaven. No hell. Just... this.

Ray drifted in the infinite void, lost in thought.

He didn't understand why he was still conscious, but one thing was clear—he was stuck here.

Loneliness. Silence. Darkness.

How long had he been here? He couldn't tell.

At some point, the darkness became his only companion.

Then, out of nowhere, a dark sphere radiating a strange light appeared in the distance.

It wasn't blinding, nor was it warm—it was eerie, yet mesmerizing.

Ray stared at it, his mind racing.

Maybe a god really is here to judge me.

Judging by the dark glow, it had to be Hades, here to collect my soul.

Curious, I floated toward the mysterious sphere.

Was this the final answer I was looking for?

If I touched it, would I know if gods truly judged souls?

I reached out—

Only to realize I had no body.

I was nothing but a consciousness, floating in the void.

But strangely, I could still move.

So, I'm just a soul now?

A thought crossed Ray's mind.

Since I'm already dead... what's the worst that could happen?

After a brief hesitation, he continued drifting toward the dark sphere, ready to find out.

After contemplating for a moment, Ray hesitantly floated toward the dark sphere radiating light.

Up close, the sphere was massive—far larger than him.

Its dark, mysterious glow pulsed gently, illuminating the surrounding void.

Ray stared at it, lost in thought.

What is this thing?

After a brief moment of hesitation, he reached out.

Just as his fingers—or whatever form his consciousness had taken—were about to make contact, a wave of faint whispers echoed through the darkness.

Prayers.

Countless voices layered over one another, forming a singular, haunting voice.

Ray's breath—or rather, the memory of breath—hitched. He turned his attention toward the sound, realizing it was coming from the sphere.

The prayers ebbed and flowed in rhythmic intervals. He couldn't understand the words, but the sorrow woven into them was unmistakable.

An indescribable sadness. A plea for something long lost.

Ray felt a strange pull toward the sphere.

His curiosity overpowered his hesitation.

He reached forward—

And the moment his fingers touched the surface, everything changed.

A surge of overwhelming energy burst forth.

His mind reeled as a flood of foreign memories, visions, and emotions crashed into him all at once.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

Then—

A vast land stretched endlessly before him.

Towering structures stood proudly across the landscape.

In the heart of a grand hall, a massive statue loomed over kneeling figures.

Their skin was dark, their features elegant yet sharp.

"Elves…?" Ray murmured, his mind flashing to the fantasy stories of his past life.

But before he could process it, the dark sphere emitted an immense gravitational pull, dragging him inside.

[Loading…]

[A proper soul has been captured.]

[A condition has been met. Initiating the awakening ceremony of the Dark Elf Ancestor.]

A voice—deep and emotionless—echoed through the void.

Ray's mind buzzed in confusion. The language was foreign, yet he understood it perfectly.

Before he could question it, the voice continued:

[Beginning soul integration. Conducting the ceremony of inheritance.]

Particles of dark energy swirled around him, merging into his very essence.

Ray gasped as waves of power poured into him—ancient knowledge, forgotten abilities, and a connection to something far greater than himself.

The prayers that once seemed distant now rang clear.

They called for him.

The darkness around him pulsed, growing heavier, denser—until finally…

[The fusion is complete.]

[The Era of Awakening has begun.]

[The return of the Ancient Superpowers has commenced.]

[Welcome back, Dark Elf Ancestor—Ray Moriquendi.]

Ray's consciousness resurfaced.

The first thing he noticed was the weight of his own body.

He had limbs again—but they felt unbearably heavy.

Blood rushed through his veins, his senses returning one by one. As circulation stabilized, the weight eased, and he slowly flexed his fingers, then his arms, until he regained full control of his body.

I… I can move.

His surroundings were dim, but strangely, he could see clearly.

Above him, a faint sliver of light peeked through a gap.

He reached out, pressing his hand against the surface. It felt solid yet strangely weak beneath his touch.

With a steady push, the obstruction gave way.

A gust of fresh air rushed in.

He took his first deep breath.

Ray lifted himself out of the enclosed space, blinking as his vision adjusted.

He was no longer in that strange void.

Instead, he stood in a dimly lit chamber, surrounded by towering statues.

Each statue depicted a single figure—posed differently, yet unmistakably the same person.

Ray's gaze swept across them, a strange realization settling in.

Is this… a tomb?

He turned, his eyes widening as he saw where he had emerged from.

A stone coffin.

Did I just crawl out of a grave?

A chill ran down his spine.

Am I undead?!

Panic crept into his thoughts.

His hands instinctively went to his body, checking for decay, but everything felt… normal. Except—

His arms.

Black tattoos ran along his skin, intricate patterns glowing faintly in the dim light.

"I need a mirror," he muttered, unsettled.

Then, movement caught his eye.

A pair of dark eyes stared at him from the shadows.

Ray froze.

A cold shiver ran down his spine.

The figure stepped into the light.

It was an elf.

He was tall, his dark skin a stark contrast to his long silver hair. His form was clad in sleek black and white armor, a sword strapped to his waist.

The elf's sharp gaze locked onto Ray, filled with caution.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "And what are you doing in the ancestor's tomb?"

Ray stared at him.

A dark elf.

Not the kind from anime or fantasy games—this was real.

Wait.

Ancestor's tomb?

A terrifying thought struck him.

Am I… his ancestor?

Before he could spiral further, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

[Affirmative. The host is the ancestor of the Dark Elf race.]

Ray screamed.

Like a frightened cat, spinning in circles as he searched for the source of the voice.

The elf frowned.

Is he insane?

"Who's talking?!" Ray shouted.

Is this tomb haunted?!

Though bewildered, he didn't lower his guard. His grip on the hilt tightened.

Ray, still frantically looking around, suddenly turned back toward the elf.

The moment he took a step forward—

Shing!

The elf unsheathed his sword and pointed it straight at Ray's.

"Stop right there."

Ray saw the elf's serious expression and immediately stopped in his tracks.

"Did you hear a voice just now?" he asked hesitantly.

The dark elf's expression didn't change. "No. But you'll be coming with me for trespassing."

He took a cautious step forward, his sword still at the ready.

Ray's heart sank.

So I'm the only one who heard it…

A terrifying thought struck him.

Am I… bipolar?

"I finally get to live, and now I have multiple personalities?" he muttered in despair.

[Incorrect. I am the Dark Elf Ancestor System. Host is not bipolar.]

The same voice echoed in his mind.

Ray opened his mouth to scream—then paused.

Wait… system?

"You mean like in those novels? Like My Vampire System?" he blurted out excitedly.

[Correct. And host does not need to shout to communicate.]

Ray ignored the last part, grinning.

This is just like those novels! I have a system!

"If I'm the Dark Elf Ancestor, then why does that guy want to kill me?" he asked.

[Because you look like a tomb raider.]

Ray blinked. "Tomb raider?"

[Yes. You emerged from a coffin, shrouded in darkness, with only your eyes visible. What do you expect him to think?]

Ray scowled. "You talk a lot for a system. Aren't you supposed to be robotic?"

[…]

The system fell silent.

Ray shrugged. "Whatever."

Shoving his confusion aside, he focused on the dark elf in front of him.

He probably thinks I'm a thief. 

I sighed. "Okay… how do I convince this guy I'm not a grave robber?"

[Stepping into the light would be a good start.]

The elf, who had been approaching cautiously, suddenly froze.

Ray was… talking to himself.

Did a lunatic just break into the ancestor's tomb?

The elf's grip on his sword tightened.

I need to call for backup.

He took a step toward the exit but stopped when Ray suddenly pointed at him.

Why is he pointing at me?

Then, Ray started walking toward him.

The dark elf tensed, raising his sword.

"Stop right there, intruder!" he commanded. "Surrender now, or I will be forced to use violence!"