Blood painted the grand halls of Aldric's royal castle. Bodies lay strewn across the once-pristine marble floors—guards, nobles, even high-ranking knights—all cut down where they stood.
At the epicenter of the carnage stood Ezra Vael, the Assassin King. His crimson daggers dripped with fresh blood, the last remnants of life stolen from his victims. Before him, slumped against his grand throne, was King Aldric—beheaded.
The mission was complete.
Ezra exhaled, a slow, measured breath as he wiped his blades against the fabric of his cloak. Years of meticulous planning, infiltration, and relentless training had led to this moment. A reminder to the world—no man, not even a king, was untouchable.
But then—Ezra felt it.
His body tensed, his mind slipping into a sudden daze. Confusion clouded his senses. Who else could possibly be here? The castle was supposed to be empty—his enemies long dead.
Then he saw it.
A blade, gleaming under the flickering torchlight, was buried deep in his torso. He hadn't even noticed it, too consumed by the adrenaline of his mission. But now, as the realization dawned, so did the pain.
Before he could react, another dagger flew toward him. He barely had time to register it before it struck his shoulder—then another, and another. Each blade tore into his flesh, relentless and merciless.
The hands behind them? The same people who had created him. The same organization that had shaped him into the perfect killer.
Ezra staggered, his breath ragged. "I see… this was the plan all along, huh?" he muttered, his knees finally giving way.
A voice, cold and direct, echoed through the room. "You were a liability, Ezra. Enjoy the depths of hell."
He recognized the voice, but he didn't care. There was no point.
He had spent his life in the shadows, drenched in blood. If this was how it ended—so be it.
Darkness swallowed him.
Death was exactly as he had always imagined—silent, empty.
But beneath his lifeless body, hidden within the depths of Aldric Castle, an ancient artifact gleamed with an eerie glow. As Ezra's soul drifted into the void, the artifact brightened.
And then—light.
Blinding and overwhelming. His body burned, his mind boiled. Memories—thousands of kills, blood-soaked nights, brutal training—spun into chaos. Pain, so excruciating it ripped him apart.
And then—stillness.
A sharp gasp tore from his lips as he jolted up.
He wasn't in Aldric's royal castle.
The room around him was unfamiliar—unlike anything he had ever seen. The architecture, the layout, the intricate designs—this wasn't the land of Atticus.
This was somewhere else entirely.
Ezra Vael's POV
Where the hell am I?
I should be dead. I should be lying in a pool of my own blood after killing the Aldrics.
Instead, I'm in… a completely different castle?
The walls were made of polished wood, the doors resembled sliding screens, and the floors were covered in woven mats. Despite its simplicity, the room radiated power—honor, even.
Then I looked down at my hands.
Small. Frail.
A child's hands.
My body felt weak, unfamiliar. Every muscle I tried to move resisted me.
What the hell is this? Did I somehow survive? Is this what's left of me?
Before I could fully process my confusion, a voice echoed in my mind.
"Huh? W-what the hell? Who said that?" My voice came out hoarse, unsteady.
Kaito…? What kind of sick joke is this?
No. My name is Ezra Vael, I told the voice firmly.
Reborn?
I sat in stunned silence. This was insane.
And yet—somehow, it made sense.
I had died. My past life was over. And now, I was Kaito?
The voice was unsettling, yet oddly composed.
Why would I be reincarnated into such a weak body?
"…Treatment process?" I repeated.
A system that could actively heal me? This was beyond comprehension.
Wait—you know everything about this world?
I took a deep breath, trying to digest everything. This was… a lot.
Rebirth. A sentient entity living in my mind. A new name.
Before I could ask more questions, the door slid open with a soft click.
A woman entered, her robe-like attire draped elegantly over her frame. Her hair was tied into a formal bun, her expression carefully composed—until she saw me.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Prince Kaito, you're awake!" she gasped. "This is wonderful news! I must inform the Lord and Queen immediately!"
Before I could respond, she turned and hurried out, her excitement unmistakable.
…Prince?
I glanced around the room once more, my mind racing.
This wasn't just another castle. It was the home of nobility—perhaps royalty.
The decorations were nothing like anything I've seen before. Long, curved swords lined the walls, accompanied by finely crafted bows and arrows.
My eyes landed on a suit of armor standing on a wooden display.
Unlike the rigid, heavy armor of knights, this was different—crafted for speed, precision, and dominance.
Something told me I wasn't just reborn into another life.
I was reborn into a world far different from my own.
I need to know more about its dynamics.