"Welcome to the Underworld, Leon Blade."
An eerie voice pulled Leon from the depths of his consciousness. As his eyes fluttered open, an immense pain surged through his body. He slowly rose from the cold ground, blinking against the shadows that enveloped him. Misty black walls loomed around him, and a black-cloaked figure stood nearby, obscuring its features.
Leon inhaled the chilling air deeply, exhaling with a sense of resignation. "So, I'm dead. Finally. My life felt pointless without them… Which way to Purgatory or Hell?"
Instead of sorrow or disappointment, relief washed over him; he believed he could finally rest or face whatever trials awaited him for the sins of his earthly existence. Though he had committed no crime, he felt he didn't belong in paradise either.
"You aren't dead," the cloaked figure replied, surprising Leon. "Before your death, I stopped time and brought you to the Underworld. You were born with humanity's peak potential, Leon Blade. You are eligible for a second life in another world."
Leon's brows knitted together. "Do I look like someone who wants a second life?"
The figure clicked its tongue, annoyance evident in its voice. "Ah, another one of your kind. I despise this job."
The cloaked spirit had seen two types of souls in his work: those grateful for a second chance and those who resisted it. Leon belonged to the latter, making the spirit's task even more burdensome.
Leon held the figure's gaze, feeling an unsettling stirring within him as the spirit drew closer. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw piercing blue eyes that seemed to read his soul — an uncomfortable sensation.
"Did you read my memories?" Leon asked, displeasure seeping into his tone.
"Yes," the spirit admitted without hesitation. "I'm not interested in wasting time with someone who can't recognize their fortune. So let's begin. Leon Blade, twenty-two years old, a human. You lost your parents and fiancée a year ago. Before that, you were a pro player — the best in your field. Five consecutive world championship victories and numerous trophies. All of it ended when you lost your loved ones."
Leon clenched his fists, his face contorting with anger and sorrow. Tears streamed down his left cheek, while his right eye remained fixed on the spirit, ready to explode at any moment.
The spirit continued, intrigued by Leon's reaction. "Eons ago, those with your potential would unite nations, rule through might, and live lives most could only dream of. Now, that potential is wasted on games for fame and money. Why does Earth still produce such extraordinary beings in this pacifist era?"
"I don't give a damn about that," Leon shot back, barely restraining himself from lunging at the spirit.
"You should care," the spirit insisted, its tone now frustrated. "You should care about your body and the destiny it carries. I'm not asking you to conquer another world; just live, and you will see how fortunate you are. But be warned, this new world is nothing like your peaceful existence."
Leon dismissed the warning, his anger boiling over. "For a year, I've lived like trash. I lay in bed, eating junk food, staring at the ceiling or the TV. I had no goals, no desires, because I lost everything! I once had dreams, a future to look forward to, and then it all vanished in a single night! So what's the point?! If I go to another world, I'll just go through the same torment, won't I?! Because having this so-called peak humanity's body is a curse, right?!"
The black spirit floated in silence, allowing Leon's rage and sorrow to ebb away.
"You will regret it if you refuse this second chance, Leon Blade. Trust me, the pain will only intensify. It will be far worse than what you've endured this past year." The spirit spoke with a calmness that resonated with Leon.
The young man pondered the implications of a pain greater than his current suffering. Would he replay his life upon death, feeling its weight tenfold? That thought terrified him, yet the idea of continuing to exist in despair felt equally unbearable.
"Turn around," the spirit instructed, pulling Leon from his turmoil. When he faced two grand doors emerging from the mist, the spirit added, "The left door leads to death. The right door takes you to another world, but you must face trials to complete your system before you transmigrate."
Leon stared at the doors, feeling dwarfed by their presence. Yet he held the power to choose — to free himself from pain or to embrace a new existence.
His thoughts reached a crescendo, and he whispered, "Look after me."
With resolve, Leon took his first step toward the right door.