The wind howled across the desolate plains of Dracks, carrying with it the scent of rust and decay. Beneath the pale glow of the twin moons, Alex Theodorix, the Red Knight, stood at the edge of the ruins. His crimson medieval plate armor, battle-worn yet gleaming, caught the dim light, casting eerie reflections across the shattered landscape. The armor, forged with intricate engravings and reinforced with enchanted alloys, was a relic from an age when knights were more than mere warriors—they were legends.
Before him loomed the remains of a forgotten era, a skyscraper cleaved in half, its upper floors reduced to rubble, its lower chambers swallowed by the earth. Jagged steel beams jutted toward the sky like broken swords, a grim reminder of a civilization that had once thrived. Now, only silence and ruin remained.
Adjusting his grip on his greatsword—a massive, rune-inscribed blade resting against his shoulder—Alex exhaled. He wasn't here for battle, not today. Today, he was drawn by curiosity, by the whispers of history that echoed through the bones of the dead city. The ruins called to him, and he intended to answer.
The entrance to the underground levels was a gaping maw of darkness, partially veiled by fallen debris. Without hesitation, Alex stepped forward, his heavy boots crunching against shattered glass and twisted metal. His armor's built-in luminescence activated, casting a faint red glow around him as he descended into the unknown.
The temperature dropped with each step. The air was stale, thick with the scent of dust and time. Water dripped somewhere in the distance, the sound eerily magnified in the silence. The underground corridors were surprisingly intact, a labyrinth of forgotten hallways and chambers, their walls etched with cryptic symbols glowing faintly, pulsing as if alive.
Moving with practiced ease, Alex navigated through the wreckage. He shoved aside collapsed beams, vaulted over gaping chasms, and even shattered a rusted, reinforced door with a single punch. Strength like his made obstacles little more than minor inconveniences.
At last, he arrived at a vast, circular chamber. The walls were lined with glowing glyphs, their patterns shifting subtly, responding to his presence. At the room's heart sat a pedestal, and upon it rested a cube no larger than his fist. It was a smooth, jet-black artifact, its only distinguishing feature a single, faint seam running along its edges.
Cautiously, Alex reached out, his gauntleted fingers brushing against the cube's cold surface. The moment he made contact, the seam split open. A burst of golden light erupted from within, swirling into a shimmering, ethereal form that hovered before him. The presence pulsed once, then twice, before a voice echoed through the chamber, deep and resonant, laced with amusement and curiosity.
[Finally… after a looooong time, I'm activated.]
Alex's grip tightened on his greatsword. "Who—or what—are you?"
The light flickered, shifting like a sentient mist. [A warrior, clad in crimson steel. Strong, unwavering, and… oh, now this is interesting.]
"I asked you a question," Alex said, his voice firm.
The presence circled him, its tone playful yet ancient. [I am many things, Red Knight. A guide. A weapon. A remnant of the past. But above all… I am your new companion.]
Before Alex could react, the light surged forward, sinking into his armor. A rush of energy flooded his body, his very bones vibrating with a strange resonance. He staggered slightly as the voice resounded within his mind.
[Let's see what you're made of, Alex Theodorix. The adventure is just beginning.]
The chamber fell silent. The cube had vanished, its glow extinguished. But something had changed. The air felt heavier, charged with unseen forces. Then, without warning, the voice spoke again—this time mechanical, precise.
[System Initializing…]
A pulse ran through Alex's body.
[Analyzing host… Host identified: Alex Theodorix, the Red Knight. Strength: Maximum. Potential: Unlimited. Compatibility: Optimal.]
Alex frowned. "What are you doing?"
[Initiating Temporal Reversion Protocol.]
"Temporal Reversion? What does that—"
The world around him twisted. The ruins, the chamber, the very air itself distorted as reality folded in on itself. Alex felt weightless, as though he was plummeting through existence itself.
Darkness surrounded him, an abyss without form or end. He felt like he was floating, yet sinking at the same time. He tried to move, but his limbs wouldn't respond. A wave of unease settled in his chest.
"What… is happening?" he murmured to himself. His voice sounded distant, muffled, as if trapped in a void.
Had he been tricked? Had he unleashed something beyond his understanding? His mind raced with possibilities. If this was death, it was unlike anything he had imagined. No pain, no finality—only an endless, suffocating silence.
"Is this my end? After everything… is this how it concludes?" he whispered. But deep down, he knew. This wasn't an end.
It was a beginning.
The voice echoed one last time, tinged with amusement.
[Let's see how you fare when you start from the beginning, Red Knight. Good luck.]
Then, everything went dark.
When Alex opened his eyes, he was no longer in the ruins. He was… small. Very small. His hands—tiny, pudgy, and utterly helpless—trembled in the moonlight. He was in a crib. He was an infant. A one-year-old child. But his mind… his mind was still his own.
His memories, his strength, his skills—everything remained intact. Yet his body was frail, undeveloped. He could hear voices in the distance, warm and familiar. His parents. Parents he had lost decades ago.
A deep wave of emotion crashed over him. He had been given a second chance—a chance to grow stronger, to protect those he loved, to change the course of history itself.
The voice, now softer, more contemplative, whispered in his mind. [Welcome to your new beginning, Alex Theodorix. You have all your knowledge, all your memories. But this time, you'll grow up with the power of the system by your side. Let's see how far you can go when you start from scratch.]
Alex tried to speak, but only a gurgle escaped his lips. He clenched his tiny fists, determination burning in his heart. This was no curse—it was an opportunity. A trial. A test.
The voice chuckled gently. [Don't worry, Alex. I'll be with you every step of the way. Let's make this life one for the ages.]
And so, the legend of the Red Knight began anew—not as a battle-hardened warrior, but as a child who carried the wisdom of a lifetime… and the power to reshape destiny itself.
[To be continued…]