"A warrior fears the blade of his enemy. A fool forgets the dagger of his closest ally."
The Imperial Palace of China was alive with celebration. The grand banquet hall, adorned with golden chandeliers and flowing silk banners, was filled with the most powerful figures in the empire. Noble hunters, military generals, high-ranking officials, and world-renowned adventurers had all gathered for a singular reason—to honor the man who had brought stability to the throne.
Joshua Lim.
A 7-star hunter. A war hero. The strongest Aura Blade user of his time.
Seated at the center of the grand hall, Joshua observed everything with calm indifference. He had never been one for celebrations, yet this night was meant to be in his honor. His 45th birthday, a testament to a lifetime of battle and survival.
Wine glasses clinked, laughter echoed, and conversations filled the air. It was a scene of peace.
Yet, a warrior's instincts never faded.
Something was… off.
A strange tension had settled deep in his chest, a warning that whispered at the edge of his mind.
His sharp gaze flickered across the room. No visible threats. No hostile intent.
Still, the unease wouldn't leave him.
He took a slow sip of wine, allowing the warmth of the alcohol to dull his thoughts.
Beside him, Xin En, his wife of many years, smiled as she placed a gentle hand over his.
"You should relax, Joshua," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth. "This night is for you."
Joshua turned to her, his hardened features softening slightly.
She was breathtaking, as always. Dressed in an elegant crimson gown, her long dark hair flowing over her shoulders, Xin En was the image of a perfect noblewoman—refined, graceful, and effortlessly captivating.
She was the woman he had loved since their academy days.
The woman he had fought for.
The woman he had given his everything to.
Yet, for some reason, the warmth he once felt in her presence… was absent tonight.
His instincts whispered again.
Something wasn't right.
But he ignored it.
After all, who else could he trust, if not his wife?
Hours Later – A Private Chamber in the Imperial Palace
The celebration had ended. The guests had departed.
And Joshua was led to a private chamber deep within the palace for an important meeting.
The room was vast yet intimate, illuminated by golden lanterns. The walls were adorned with ancient carvings of dragons and phoenixes, symbols of imperial power.
Only three people were in the chamber.
Joshua.
Xin En.
And Emperor Tian Long—the man Joshua had helped place on the throne.
Joshua stood by a polished wooden table, his arms crossed, his eyes sharp as he waited for the reason behind this meeting.
The emperor sat at the head of the chamber, dressed in elegant golden robes, a calm yet unreadable expression on his face.
Xin En, ever the perfect noblewoman, moved with practiced grace as she poured three cups of jade-colored wine.
Joshua's fingers twitched.
His instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
"…What is this about?" Joshua finally asked, his tone even.
Xin En turned, smiling, as she handed him a cup of wine.
"To celebrate you, of course," she said softly. "One last drink before the night ends."
Joshua didn't move.
Instead, he studied her eyes.
Something had changed.
It was subtle, but it was there. The warmth he had once seen was gone, replaced by something… cold.
His grip tightened around the cup.
The emperor finally spoke.
"You've been by my side for decades, Joshua," Tian Long said, his voice smooth. "There's no one I've trusted more."
A lie.
Joshua knew that tone all too well.
Carefully, he placed the cup back onto the table without drinking.
"Enough," Joshua said, his voice hardening. "Just tell me what this is about."
Xin En let out a small sigh, placing her own cup down.
"…You never were the naive type," she murmured.
The emperor exhaled slowly. Then, he lifted his hand—and snapped his fingers.
At that moment—
Joshua's entire body went cold.
A burning sensation exploded in his stomach, spreading through his veins like wildfire.
His Aura flickered violently, his vision swaying.
What…?
His breath grew labored. His limbs felt heavy.
Then, it clicked.
Poison.
His heart pounded. He had been poisoned countless times before, but this… this was different.
It wasn't just any poison.
It was made specifically for him.
His Aura—his very lifeline—was crumbling from the inside.
Joshua staggered, gripping the edge of the table as his knees threatened to buckle.
Through blurred vision, he saw Xin En smiling.
Not the loving, gentle smile he had cherished.
No.
This one was cold, cruel… victorious.
His heart clenched.
"…Xin En…" His voice was hoarse. "Why?"
Her laughter was soft, almost pitying.
"Oh, Joshua." She stepped closer, her fingers trailing along his jawline. "Did you really think I ever loved you?"
Something inside Joshua shattered.
He stared at her. At the woman he had trusted more than anyone.
She had been his everything.
But to her—he had only been a tool.
Behind her, the emperor rose from his seat, his golden robes rustling.
"You were too strong, Joshua." His tone was almost regretful. "And men like you… are dangerous to kings."
Joshua gritted his teeth.
He forced his body to move, to summon his Aura, to fight back—
But then—
Golden inscriptions flared on the walls.
Ten imperial mages stood beyond the chamber, their hands raised in unison.
A sealing formation activated.
The room trembled.
Joshua's Aura—his final hope—was crushed under the weight of the spell.
His breath hitched. His body collapsed.
His vision darkened.
This was it.
After decades of battle, after carving his name into history, after giving everything to the empire…
He had lost.
Then—
[DING!]
A blue screen flickered in the void.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
You have been chosen for regression.
Do you wish to return to the past?
[YES] / [NO]
Joshua's mind clung to the words.
A second chance?
Xin En's cruel smile.
The emperor's cold betrayal.
The years of loyalty wasted.
Never again.
With his last breath, he willed himself to answer.
"…Yes."
And then—
Darkness consumed him.
End of Chapter 1