I woke up gasping for breath, my chest rising and falling like I'd just broken the surface of deep water. The ceiling above me was familiar—too familiar. A fan slowly spun overhead, squeaking faintly, and the scent of warm bread wafted in from downstairs.
This was... my room.
But that didn't make sense. I had died. A car crash, fast and brutal. My last memories were of blood, pain, and regret. Regret for wasting everything.
But now I was here. Back.
A cold shiver ran through me as the realization hit like a thunderclap—I had **regressed**. This wasn't a dream or some second-rate illusion. This was real. The texture of the blanket beneath my fingers, the hum of power in the distance, the feeling of my body before the Awakening—it was all unmistakably real.
I swung my legs off the bed and looked at my hands. They were lean, familiar. The hands of a **sixteen-year-old Aiden Pandragon**.
*I'm back… Before everything went wrong.*
In my past life, I had squandered it all. Born with rare potential, blessed with loving parents and a future paved with opportunity... and I wasted it. Laziness. Arrogance. Shortcuts. And in the end, I died a nobody in a world that rewarded power and punished weakness.
But now, I had a second chance. A **real one**.
Today was the day of the **Awakening Ceremony**.
The day everything began.
The world outside was already alive with energy. The Awakening wasn't just a coming-of-age event—it was the first step into the realm of the powerful. A **system** would appear before every eligible youth, granting them an **elemental affinity**, and evaluating their **potential**, rated from **1-star to 5-star**.
It wasn't set in stone—but it gave a glimpse of what heights one could reach. Level 9 was the dream. The apex. The kind of power that could tear mountains apart with a gesture. Everyone, no matter their background, started at **Level 1**. But not everyone rose.
And then there were the **attribute boosts**—strength, speed, reflexes. Awakening elevated you from human to something... *more*.
I glanced in the mirror again. My jet-black hair was messy, my grey eyes calm but burning with something new. Purpose.
In the corner of the room, my **family's guild badge** sat gleaming—a mark of pride. **Elisa and Den Pandragon**, my parents, were both Level 4. Strong enough to shatter boulders with their bare fists. Despite their rank, they had never let the world corrupt them. They raised me and my sister with warmth and discipline.
And then there was **Ava**—my little sister. Seven years old, cute as a button, and still unawakened. In my past life, I barely noticed how much she looked up to me.
This time… I'd be the brother she deserved.
A soft knock came from the door.
"Aiden, you ready?" My mother's voice, kind and steady.
"Coming," I replied, pulling on my academy uniform.
As I stepped out, the scent of breakfast hit me again, but my mind wasn't on food.
Today, I would awaken alongside **Emilia**—my childhood friend. Fiery red hair, emerald eyes, and a soul that burned with ambition. She had always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.
In my last life, I left her behind.
*Not this time.*
We were heading to the **Awakening Chamber**, a sacred room powered by a massive Gate crystal. It would link us to the system, measure our essence, and mark the beginning of our path.
This world was dangerous. Gates spewed out monsters, dungeons appeared at random, and those without strength were prey.
But I had knowledge now.
I knew what was coming.
And I would not waste my 'second chance'
**End of Chapter 1**