Prologue:
Renji Kurozawa never thought much about his life. At twenty-one years old, he was just another face in the crowd, working a dead-end job that barely paid his rent. He had no family to rely on, no real friends to call, and no dreams worth chasing. Every day was the same—wake up, go to work, return to his tiny apartment, sleep, and repeat. Somewhere along the way, he had stopped asking if there was more to life.
He had accepted that he was just another cog in the machine, a nameless existence that the world would never notice. If he vanished, the city would move on without a second thought. His employer would replace him within the week, his landlord would find another tenant, and the handful of people who recognized his face wouldn't even bother to ask where he had gone. Maybe not everyone was meant to be special. Maybe some people were just meant to exist, passing through life unnoticed.
That night, however, something changed.
The rain poured heavily, soaking through his thin jacket as he walked home. His shift had ended later than usual, and the last train had already left. The streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional passing car. Neon signs flickered against the wet pavement, their reflections stretching across the puddles at his feet. His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it. It was probably just another overdue bill or some pointless notification about a sale he couldn't afford.
As he turned a corner, a faint sound cut through the rain. At first, he thought it was nothing, just the usual noise of the city. But as he stepped closer, he heard it more clearly—a struggle, muffled voices, and the unmistakable sound of someone gasping for breath.
He stopped. His rational mind told him to keep walking. It wasn't his business, and getting involved could only lead to trouble. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't strong. What could he possibly do?
Then he heard a woman's voice, sharp with panic.
"Please—stop!"
Renji turned before he could stop himself.
Down a narrow alleyway, a man in a dark hoodie had a woman pinned against the wall, one hand gripping her wrist and the other holding a knife. Her wide, terrified eyes locked onto his for a brief moment before flickering back to her attacker.
"Walk away," the man growled, his voice low and threatening.
Renji knew he should. It was the logical choice. He wasn't a fighter. He had never thrown a punch in his life. If he tried to help, he'd probably get himself killed.
But something inside him rebelled against the idea of walking away.
For years, he had let life push him around, accepting his own insignificance. He had convinced himself that he didn't matter, that he wasn't meant to be anything more than another nameless face in the crowd. But right now, in this moment, he had a choice. Maybe he was a nobody, but to the woman struggling against that knife, he could be someone.
His hesitation lasted only a second before he stepped forward.
"Let her go." His voice came out steadier than he expected.
The man scoffed. "You don't want to do this."
Renji had never wanted to do anything more in his life.
The attacker barely had time to react before Renji lunged, grabbing his wrist in an attempt to wrestle the knife away. For a moment, he thought it was working—the man staggered back, his grip loosening. But reality wasn't like the movies. Renji wasn't trained, and desperation alone wasn't enough to overpower someone who had likely done this before.
Pain exploded in his stomach as the knife plunged into his side. His breath hitched, but his body kept moving, refusing to let go. Another sharp sting followed as the blade was pulled free and driven into him a second time.
His strength left him all at once.
The alley blurred around him as he stumbled backward, his knees hitting the wet pavement. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the woman screaming. The attacker cursed under his breath before shoving past her and disappearing into the night. Renji barely registered the sound of footsteps fading into the rain.
He pressed a hand against his stomach. Warm blood seeped through his fingers, mixing with the cold rain that splashed against his skin. He knew, on some level, that he was dying.
His vision swam, the neon lights overhead flickering like distant stars. His body felt strangely light, as if he were already slipping away. It was a strange thing, facing death like this. He had always imagined it would be terrifying, that he would feel regret or fear. But all he felt was a quiet acceptance.
For the first time in his life, he had tried.
Even if it hadn't mattered, even if it hadn't changed anything, he had made a choice.
A small, tired smile crossed his lips as the darkness closed in.
[Reincarnation Process… Initiating.]
A voice echoed through the void, distant and mechanical.
Renji had expected oblivion, a complete end to his existence. Instead, he drifted in endless darkness, weightless and formless. He didn't understand what was happening. He should have been gone, but something was holding him here, keeping him from fading away.
[New World Identified.]
[Assessing Soul Compatibility…]
[Unique Skill Detected: "Death Claim"]
[Initializing Summoning Process…]
A bright light split through the void, and before he could process what was happening, Renji felt himself being pulled forward.
He wasn't just dying.
He was being reborn.