Chapter 1 - The Beginning
In the middle of a rainy night, a young man cried alone on a rooftop. The rain poured heavily, and the wind howled around him.
"Why? Why did this happen to me, even when I tried my best?"
"I did my best to be a good son, but my parents didn't notice my efforts."
"I tried to be a loyal partner, but my girlfriend still cheated on me."
"I feel like destiny is just playing games with me."
"I'm not a bad person, yet all I feel is pain and suffering."
"I try to keep smiling around everyone, but it hurts so much now."
"Why did this happen to me?" he shouted, his whole body soaked by the rain.
He stood all alone on the rooftop, pouring out the pain and problems he faced every day.
His name was Dave Strongheart, an 18-year-old young man with a resilient spirit—something his surname reflected.
He always tried to hide his sadness and anxiety, especially the issues with his family.
Imagine being just 18 and trying to survive in a world that felt cold and unfair. He tried so hard to make his parents proud, even though they barely seemed to care.
He came from a simple family with four siblings. Since childhood, his parents favored his brothers and sisters, always looking out for them while he felt invisible.
He never understood why they treated him that way, but he still respected and loved them, even though they ignored his need for love.
Then he met his girlfriend and thought he had finally found someone who truly cared. They met by chance in a shop when she asked him for help. Soon, they became close and fell in love.
He was happiest when he was with her. He cared for her deeply because she was the only one who made him feel noticed.
But their relationship only lasted three months before he saw her with another man—someone who had a car and looked rich.
He couldn't believe his eyes. His heart shattered.
Blinded by anger and heartbreak, he confronted them and ended up fighting the guy.
He didn't care about the consequences. He knew a complaint could be filed against him and that his parents would likely be ashamed of him.
So, he didn't go home. Instead, he wandered and found himself standing on the rooftop of a tall building.
Even with his strong spirit, he was still a teenager trying to figure out life—with no one to lean on.
Even the strongest have limits, and Dave was reaching his.
Some might see him as a fool for crying over a girl, but the emotional pain was too much. His mind was clouded and unstable.
"Haha, at least I got to punch that bastard in the face," he chuckled bitterly.
Dave didn't regret hitting the man. In truth, he even wanted to hurt his girlfriend—no, his ex-girlfriend—but his respect for women held him back.
Before leaving, he broke up with her face-to-face, hoping to end it properly.
Rain and wind whipped around him as his tears mixed with the falling droplets.
He felt like his life had no value anymore. Maybe the world would be better without him.
He looked up at the dark sky and made a vow.
"If I get a second chance, I'll live my life to the fullest, without regrets."
"Haha… screw destiny!" he laughed with bitterness.
Then, he jumped from the building, his body falling through the air…
Until he vanished into the darkness.
"Hey, Dave, wake up!"
Dave didn't understand what was happening, but he suddenly heard someone calling his name.
"Dave! Wake up, or you'll be late for your first day of school!"
As the voice reached him, his eyes flew open. A tall, handsome middle-aged man stood in front of him, looking slightly annoyed.
The man was so elegant that Dave thought even top models would pale in comparison.
'Who is this man?'
Dave was confused. He remembered jumping off the rooftop. He remembered the darkness. So how was he here now?
As he stared at the man, a flood of memories rushed into his mind.
He was stunned. He realized he had been reincarnated.
The original owner of this body was also named Dave, but his surname was Alexander.
He was the only son of Lucas Alexander, the empire's greatest warrior—known by the title "The Executioner."
This world wasn't Earth. It was a place full of magic and mystery.
His father held a position so high that even the emperor treated him with respect.
Lucas Alexander was the top expert in the Dragon Empire, the strongest of the four empires in this world, which was called the Spirit World.
The Spirit World had four empires: the Dragon Empire, Phoenix Empire, Black Turtle Empire, and White Tiger Empire—each ruled by a powerful guardian.
Lucas had become the Dragon Empire's guardian at just 30 years old—the youngest in its history.
Despite his power, he lived humbly and devoted himself to his family.
Since the death of his wife, he had focused all his care and love on his only son.
Although the young Dave had been spoiled, he wasn't arrogant or wasteful.
He was known as the "Number One Rising Champion" because of his strength and discipline. No one his age could defeat him.
Even as a child, Dave constantly trained, defeating older warriors and earning respect across the empire.
By age 10, he had already won the Youth Martial Combat Tournament, beating every opponent without taking a single hit.
At 13, he finished advanced academy classes meant for adults and passed the Imperial Scholar's Exam, something only geniuses could do.
He was unmatched among his peers and even wanted to challenge seasoned warriors—but most refused, afraid of angering his father.
In this world, strength was divided into levels:
Body Refiner
Master
Grand Master
King
Emperor
Sage
Heavenly Sage
Each level had four stages: Low, Middle, Top, and Peak.
Lucas Alexander had reached Peak Heavenly Sage, making him one of the most feared people in the entire Spirit World.
Inspired by his father, Dave trained hard every day. By the age of 15, he had already reached Top-tier Grand Master.
Only a few had ever reached that level at such a young age.
He had the potential to go even higher, but his father stopped him, telling him to build a stronger foundation first.
Even though Dave was young, he understood that rushing ahead would only make him weaker later.
He also had another title—the "Handsome Playboy."
Because of his looks, power, and influence, many called him a playboy. It was said that he dated a different girl every week.
But Dave never forced anyone. The girls came to him willingly, and he always treated them kindly.