Book 1 - Venture into Eternity, Reclaim the Star's Embrace
CHAPTER 2 - A Stranger in His Own Life
Ken stepped through the gates of Holy Light Academy, his uniform crisp, his posture relaxed—yet his mind was anything but.
The school grounds stretched before him, exactly as he remembered—from the other Ken. Students moved in small groups, chatting about mundane things, unaware of how insignificant their concerns felt compared to the storm brewing inside him.
A trio of girls whispered as he walked past, their giggles a faint buzz at the edge of his awareness.
A group of boys shouted near the basketball court, throwing taunts and laughter at each other.
Everything was normal. Everything was wrong.
Ken's gaze swept across the campus, analyzing, processing, comparing—a habit from his past life. The future Ken's memories told him which of these students would later rise to prominence, which would become obstacles, which would become allies… and which would become nothing at all.
10 days before Eden Prime's launch.
The game will change everything. But before that, I need to establish my footing.
But before he could think further, a voice called out to him.
"Ken! Oi, Ken!"
Ken turned toward the familiar voice just as a tall, lanky boy jogged up to him, grinning.
The boy clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning widely. Ken took a moment to process him—Lean, his childhood friend and longtime classmate.
The same Lean from his memories.
The same Lean he lost after his grandmother died.
Ken never saw him again after he dropped out.
He don't even know what happened to him in the future.
Ken hadn't thought about Lean in years—not in his past life, nor when he was clawing his way to the top in Eden Prime. But now, the sight of his friend stirred something old, something distant—nostalgia, maybe. Or regret.
"You look like a zombie," Lean chuckled, waving a hand in front of Ken's face. "You sleep at all?"
Ken forced a smirk. "Dreamed I got sent back in time. Real trippy stuff."
"Ha! You and your weird-ass dreams." Lean slung an arm around Ken's shoulders, steering him toward the school entrance. "Listen, man, big news. Eden Prime's early access launch is in 10 days!"
Ken knew this, of course. He had been waiting for it, planning for it. But he kept his expression neutral. "Yeah? And?"
"And we gotta get in, obviously!" Lean said, eyes shining. "We already talked about this before, remember? We need a sponsor. No way we can afford the hardware upgrades otherwise."
Ken's mind clicked into place. Right. The other Ken's plan.
He let Lean talk as he processed the flood of memories.
Neural Implants & Gaming in This WorldNeural chips are implanted at birth. These serve as interfaces for various network services—communication, data access, security, even entertainment.Gaming has evolved to full neural immersion. Players no longer need controllers or external VR gear. They simply access games via their implants.Eden Prime is on another level. It demands twice the power of a standard neural implant. Ordinary implants won't cut it.Players need specialized headgear or, for hardcore gaming, full-dive capsules that provide prolonged immersion.Sponsors fund skilled players. Gaming clubs, corporations, and even private investors recruit talented individuals, providing them top-tier gear and financial backing.
That was the plan of the old Ken and Lean.
Find a sponsor, get the equipment, and make a name for themselves in Eden Prime.
Ken remembered now.
In Ken's old life, he never made it past this point.
He never got a sponsor. He never even played Eden Prime properly until years later.
And yet, in his past life, he still became one of the strongest players in the world, starting from nothing.
Now, with his knowledge of the future?
He wasn't just going to play. He was going to dominate.
But first, he needed to figure out his next move.
Ken glanced at Lean, who was still rambling about which sponsors they should approach. In his past life, Lean was his friend—until everything fell apart. But now, with a second chance, maybe it didn't have to end that way.
Then, an idea struck him. A bold, reckless, insane idea.
He smirked. "Lean, let's go a bit more crazy."
Lean raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Ken clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning. "Forget about sponsors. Let's build our own club."
For a second, Lean just stared at him. Then, his face twisted in complete disbelief.
"…Are you high?"
Ken chuckled. He had expected that reaction.
"Ken, forget the money for a full-dive capsule—where the hell would we get the cash to register a club, rent a space, and pay for the players we recruit? The logistics alone would drown us!"
"Details, details," Ken said, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't sweat the small stuff."
"Small stuff?!" Lean nearly choked. "Dude, are you hearing yourself? This isn't some fairy tale where—"
Ken stopped in his tracks and turned to face him.
"Lean." His voice was calm, but there was a quiet confidence in it that made Lean shut up. Ken met his gaze, unwavering.
"I will create miracles. You just need to follow me."
For the first time, Lean didn't have a comeback. He just stared, mouth slightly open, searching for words that wouldn't come.
A silence stretched between them.
Then, after a long pause, Lean groaned and rubbed his face.
"Shit," he muttered. "I can't believe I'm actually considering this."
Ken grinned. "That's the spirit."
"You're insane."
"And you're still here, which means you're in."
Lean groaned again but finally sighed in defeat. "...Fine. But if this fails, I'm gonna rub it in your face forever."
Ken chuckled. "It won't fail."
Because this time, he had the future on his side.
Lean let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I might as well go crazy together with you…" He shot Ken a sidelong glance before shaking his head.
Ken smirked, amused. He had barely begun changing things, and already, the ripple effects were starting.
"Oh, by the way," Lean continued, "today's our annual testing."
Ken raised an eyebrow.
Lean frowned. "You don't look too good. Are you sure you're gonna be alright for the test?"
At those words, memories from his other self surged forth.
Annual Testing.
A tradition in Holy Light Academy—an individual assessment of talent and potential. The school's major sponsors, corporations, and influential families all watched these results closely, using them to scout students who showed promise. It was a silent battleground, one that determined whose futures would be set in stone and who would be left to struggle.
Ken's past self had ranked at the bottom.
Lean sighed. "I just hope there's less of an audience this time. Last year was humiliating."
Ken chuckled. "It is what it is."
Lean shot him a look. "Why do you sound like you don't care anymore?"
Ken just smiled, letting the mystery hang between them.
They walked through the campus gates, making their way toward their classroom.
The moment Ken and Lean stepped inside, the air shifted.
The classroom was a clear divide between the elites and the commoners.
The elites sat comfortably at the front, most of them holding officer positions in class. They were well-dressed, confident, and carried an air of superiority.The commoners took the back rows, acting as grunt workers. They were often the ones forced to run errands and perform menial tasks for the elites.
At the very center, sitting atop the teacher's desk, was Darius Wellington—the class president.
Son of the president of Wellington Brewery. Intelligent. Arrogant. And a complete tyrant to commoners.
Darius lounged casually, flanked by his cronies. The moment he spotted Ken and Lean, his lips curled into a smirk.
"Well, well. If it isn't my favorite errand boys," he drawled. He gestured toward them. "Come here."
Lean stiffened and, out of pure habit, immediately stepped forward. Ken, however, kept walking—straight to his seat.
A heavy silence filled the classroom.
Ken didn't even notice it at first. But when he finally looked up, he realized everyone was staring at him.
Some in shock. Others in amusement.
Even Darius looked stunned.
Ken frowned. What's with this reaction?
Then it clicked.
In his past life, he—and every other commoner—would never dare ignore Darius. Normally, they would shrink back, sidestep, and bow their heads in submission.
Ken had just walked right past him like he was nothing.
Shit. He forgot to act like his past self.
He glanced at Lean, whose face was pale as a sheet. His friend was practically screaming at him with his eyes.
"Bro, are you insane?!"
Too late now. Ken needed an excuse.
Before he could come up with one, Darius stood up.
The atmosphere in the room tensed.
The elites watched in amusement. The commoners held their breath.
Darius walked toward Ken, slow and deliberate. His expression was unreadable. Then—without warning—he swung his fist straight for Ken's face.
Ken's body reacted before his mind even processed the attack.
He tilted his head to the side, effortlessly dodging the punch.
The class collectively gasped.
Darius' eyes widened in disbelief. "You—"
He swung again. Ken dodged.
Another punch. Another dodge.
The sound of fists cutting through the air filled the classroom as Darius kept throwing attacks—each one missing its mark. Ken, still sitting, effortlessly moved just enough to avoid every single one.
The disbelief in Darius' expression deepened with each failed attempt.
The class was stunned.
"Is this really Ken?"
"How the hell is he dodging all of those?"
"Wasn't he at the bottom of the rankings last year?"
Lean, meanwhile, looked like he was about to pass out. "What the hell is happening with Ken?!"
Darius finally staggered back, breathing heavily. His face twisted in frustration. He had thrown at least ten punches, and not a single one had landed.
He opened his mouth to say something—
The door slid open.
A strict voice cut through the tension.
"What is going on here?"
The teacher had arrived.
At once, the students scrambled back to their seats.
Darius clenched his jaw, his fists still trembling, but even he wasn't stupid enough to openly break school rules.
Holy Light Academy was strict—even the elites weren't exempt from punishment.
With one last glare at Ken, Darius gritted his teeth and returned to his seat.
Ken, unfazed, simply leaned back in his chair.
Lean, still processing what just happened, leaned over and whispered, "Dude, what the hell did you just do?!"
Ken smirked. "Just dodging."
Lean leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "First, you hit me with that insane plan about starting our own club—fine, I'll bite. But now you're picking a fight with Darius? Are you trying to get us both crushed?"
Ken just smiled, completely unfazed, and casually pointed his finger toward the front of the classroom, signaling for Lean to pay attention to the teacher.
Lean groaned in frustration but slumped back into his seat, rubbing his temples like he already regretted every life decision that led him here.
At the front of the class, the teacher adjusted his glasses, looking around at the students. "Alright, enough distractions. As you all know, today is your annual test—a full assessment of your combat ability, intelligence, and psionic potential."
The classroom murmured in anticipation. Some students looked excited, others nervous. Lean visibly paled.
Ken exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair as he tapped his fingers on the desk.
"Now… how should I go about this?"
TO BE CONTINUED…