It was past three in the morning when a young man can be seen riding his bike along a quiet moonlit highway.
The road seemed like an endless stretch with only the full moon above lighting his way.
The soft sound of his pedaling echoed in the stillness while his breathing stayed calm while Rin grumbled under his breath.
"Wew... So creepy."
He couldn't shake off the feeling that something - or someone - was watching him from the trees.
"Damn it. How do I always lose track of time whenever I'm gaming with the boys? I'm sure grandma's probably waiting by the door right now with that Belt of Destruction…"
He was a decent-looking guy, around nineteen. Still wearing his wrinkled school uniform that smelled a bit like smoke and leftover fried noodles from the café.
With thick glasses sliding down his nose, messy hair sticking out all over, and a skinny frame- he looked just like your typical nerd.
Anime, light novels, and online games made up the core pillars of his existence- especially Dota.
Hours had disappeared ony many nights inside those cramped internet cafés, that even now, his ears are still ringing from the shouting of friends and the clatter of keyboard.
Thinking about the hours wasted, Rin sighed.
"…What am I even doing with my life?"
The question slipped out quietly, but its weight lingered. For a brief second, regret flickered across his tired face.
He knew what awaited him at home wasn't just scolding- it would be a proper beating. Not the kind born of cruelty, but the kind wrapped in a stubborn love that hurt all the same.
Rin's grandmother had been the only one who stayed after both his parents abandoned him for their own new families. She was his anchor, his entire home, and the only person who bothered to keep him in line.
The image made him chuckle despite himself. "Nineteen years old and still about to get smacked around like a kid. Guess I just have to accept my fate, huh…"
Lost in thought, he didn't notice the shadow ahead until-
THUD.
The sudden jolt from his front wheel snapped him back to reality.
SHHH- "What the…?"
A huge reticulated python- easily over ten feet long- was lazily slithering across the road. Its thick body glistened under the moonlight, and its belly looked suspiciously bloated… like it just came from raiding a chicken coop or something.
"Oh, crap- !"
His tire struck its scaly midsection, throwing the bike off balance together with him. Before he could react, his vision has already flipped upside down.
CRASH!
He slammed into the asphalt, and pain shot through his whole body.
"Owww…"
Rin groaned, trying to push himself up, but his right leg gave out- sharp pain flared instantly. Probably broke something. Warm blood dripped from a cut on his forehead, stinging his eye.
Then came the hiss.
Not just an irritated warning- it sounded pissed.
The massive snake suddenly lunged at him, fast and furious.
"No, no, no… bad snake!"
Rin scrambled backward on his elbows but the python chased after him and quickly struck without hesitation. And before he knew it, its jaws has already clamped down on his thigh right before his eyes.
"Argh!" Pain exploded up his leg. Instinct made him claw and shove at the creature, but its muscular strength was overwhelming- far beyond what his average frame could resist.
Then came the coils.
The snake coiled around him like a living vice, squeezing his ribs tight- each breath getting harder and shorter, like his lungs were running out of room.
"HELP! Someone- ANYONE!"
His voice cracked in the empty highway.
Each time he struggled, the grip just got worse. The pressure crushed his chest, his lungs screamed for air, and everything was starting to blur.
The edges of his vision dimmed.
"You've got to be kidding me..." he choked out, still trying to force his shaking hands between him and the tightening coils. The python bit down harder, and its scales crushed even tighter around him.
"I- I can't die here. Not like this!"
Hours ago, he'd been a mage in-game, casting fiery spells, sometimes a warrior cleaving through armies. He had felt powerful, invincible even.
Now, reality mocked him. He was nothing more than a prey with glasses.
Helpless and weak.
"No… I don't want to die… not like this…"
In a panic, Rin couldn't help but wish he had some kind of power- anything to break free!
Maybe a skill? A secret power perhaps? Something to just shake this thing off and survive.
Something out of the manga and novels he devoured for thousands of hours, something that could turn the tide with a single strike.
But wishing changed nothing.
It was just fantasy after all. Just the frantic thoughts of someone cornered at the edge of death.
'So… is this really it for me?'
Faces flashed in his mind. Grandma's gentle and warm smile, the laughter of his troublesome friends, the shy glance of his first crush. It was truly the classic flash of his life which followed with a deep sense of regret.
'Sorry, everyone. Looks like… this is goodbye.'
With a fading strength, he whispered, "By a snake huh, pathetic. I wonder if this death could get any worse…"
As if mocking him, faint yellow light appeared in the distant road. At first it was weak, then growing, paired with the unmistakable roar of an engine.
BROOOOM.
Relief sparked in Rin's chest. Those revving engine and growing headlights means one thing: Salvation!
He squinted his blurry eyes against the light and he could see its form from afar.
"It's a jeepney!" Rin smiled with relief.
Its a Public Utility Vehicle to be exact - which means he is saved!
It was painted with colorful designs, neon lights flickering along its sides. Loud music blared from the speakers- pure karaoke chaos coming from inside.
The driver was belting out a song too, one hand on the wheel, the other holding a half-finished beer. A small Philippine flag waved proudly from the front of the vehicle.
Rin almost laughed. "Thank goodness! My savior's here! Haha!" He waved frantically, ignoring the python still latched to him.
"Help! I need help! Please stop! Hey!"
But the jeepney didn't slow.
BROOOOM!
Quickly, panic replaced hope. He forced his aching lungs to scream louder."HEY! DRIVER! STOOOP!"
No one heard him. The loud music drowned his pleas.
And unfortunately for him, the driver and the passengers inside were drunk, swaying and singing so loudly they might as well have been blind.
Each passing second pushed death closer.
"STOP! STOOOOOP!"
BROOOOM!
But the jeepney didn't slow. Its wheels roared as it charged ahead, almost as if it had been taken over by that infamous, unstoppable force people joked about—the so-called "Truck-kun."
The metal beast bore down on him without mercy.
Rin's last breath slipped out in a bitter, almost resigned whisper:"…Oh well. GG."
BLAAM!
There was a blinding flash in his eyes.
No pain. No time for a final montage. No more cinematic ending.
Just light.
When his vision cleared, Rin found himself… standing.
"A-am I… in heaven?
He found himself standing in a sea of endless white clouds, a strange calm settling over him. The air felt light, almost unreal. No matter where he looked, it was all the same- just a glowing, endless horizon stretching in every direction.
He tapped his own arms and chest. Solid. Real. But wasn't he dead?
"DOUBLE KILL!"
A sudden shout behind him made Rin flinch. He turned and saw a boy- maybe seven years old- sitting cross-legged on a marble floor that looked like it grew out of the clouds. The kid wore a loose white robe and was focused on a glowing handheld game console.
"How..." Rin began, but cut himself off.
"Wait. I'm almost done," the boy said, not even glancing up.
Rin's head buzzed with questions, but something told him this wasn't just a regular kid. Maybe a god? A divine messenger, maybe? He looked more like a spoiled gamer-kid than anything holy, but Rin wasn't exactly in a spot to argue.
Curious, Rin stepped a bit closer and peeked at the screen. It was a MOBA game- tiny characters charging in, casting flashy spells, dodging bursts of fire and ice. It looked almost exactly like the stuff he used to play back home.
Familiar. Almost comforting.
He watched silently. The boy didn't seem to mind, even smirking as he executed quick combos."Nice one! Let's see you dodge this!"
The kid's fingers moved with inhuman speed. Rin couldn't help but get drawn in. Minutes blurred. Then an hour.
Finally, Rin remembered where he was. He opened his mouth to speak—only for the boy to interrupt.
"First answer: no, I'm not God. Second: I'm not Saint Peter. "I'm just a messenger- call me an angel if that helps. Third thing, yeah, you're dead. Kinda obvious, right? You're standing at the Gateway of Realms FYI."
The boy finally glanced up, eyes sharp despite his childish face."And fourth: you're not going to heaven or hell. Not yet. You're… lucky. You've been chosen for something else entirely. You're going to get another life. In another world."
Rin froze. "Another… life?"
"Yep," the boy said with a smirk, tilting his head. "
And honestly, you should be glad."
Before Rin could reply, the boy suddenly asked, "Quick question."
Rin blinked. "Uh… sure?"
"Who do you think would win? Me or this guy?" He held up the console, showing a blue-armored warrior wielding a massive sword, facing the boy's fire-wielding mage.
It looked familiar. Almost like Sven versus Lina from Dota.
"Hm." Rin analyzed it quickly. "If you keep your distance and use your ranged skills properly, you'll win. Don't let him close the gap. Time your control abilities against his charge. The match is basically yours."
The boy nodded thoughtfully. "Right. But also wrong."
He lowered the console, gaze turning toward the endless horizon. "You're right if the classes play by the usual rules. If you know their archetypes, you can predict their abilities, their movements—even their futures. But…"
He looked straight at Rin, eyes glinting unnaturally."What if the classes don't matter at all?"
Something in Rin's gut twisted. "Then… everything changes. The outcome depends on—"
"You," the boy said flatly.
"Me?"
"Yes. You're the variable."
Rin frowned. "What do you mean? Are you… going to turn me into a game character?"
"Better." The boy tossed the console into the air. Rin caught it on instinct, staring at the pixelated battle still playing.
"Let's make a deal," the boy said casually. "If you manage to become an emperor in the world I send you to… I'll let you return to your old life. You'll wake up alive, maybe spend some time in a hospital, but you'll get to see your grandma, your friends—everything again.
"And if you manage to claim that throne before you hit thirty, I'll even throw in some magic as a bonus."
The boy clasped his hands behind his back like some tiny old man and casually walked over to a small pond that suddenly appeared beside them, shimmering in the white void.
Rin's mind spun. An emperor? In another world?
He'd read enough stories to know this setup- reincarnation, magic, and a shot at beating death itself.
'If it's like those stories… I'll probably get some sort of cheat skill. Or maybe a system. And if I bring my memories, I can use all the science, engineering, and random knowledge I've crammed over the years. Agriculture, basic mechanics, tactics from games- I've read enough to survive. Maybe even thrive.'
Confidence flickered in his chest.
The boy's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "So… what do you think?"
Rin knew this path wouldn't be easy. It might take years. But if it was his only shot at returning to his old life, then he'd take it- no matter what.
After a long silence, he asked quietly, "And what if I fail?"
The boy smirked. "Then you die. For good. And everyone you've ever known will forget you even existed. Your name, your family, your friends, anyone you ever loved- they'll all- "
"Deal."
The boy stared, a bit surprised by Rin's quick answer. "Wait—are you actually serious?"
"I know it's going to be tough," Rin said, his voice steady. "But if it's not hard, then what's the point?"
His eyes shifted to the pond beside them. Inside the still surface floated a tiny blue planet—not quite Earth, but close. Somehow, he could tell… that was where he'd be sent.
He glanced back at the boy and gave a small, determined smile.'Getting the chance to see my family and friends again... that's more than enough. I won't waste this shot. I'll do everything I can to become an emperor. And after that…'
He paused, his smile growing just a little.'…I'll come home.'
He leaned closer, a grin stretching across his face."…By the way just to make sure, you're going to give me an overpowered skill or a cheat system. Right?"
The boy's smile sharpened—too sharp. Dangerous. It wasn't the grin of a generous benefactor. It was the grin of someone who knew a joke Rin didn't.
Rin's own smile faltered. He stared at the child's unchanging expression, then said louder, as if trying to force the universe to agree,"YOU WILL GIVE ME A CHEAT SYSTEM OR SKILL. RIGHT, MR. LITTLE BOSS?"
That smile grew wider. Too wide.
Before Rin could even process what was happening, the boy grabbed him by the collar and shoved him straight into the pond.
There was no splash- just a sudden pull. The water dragged him in like a whirlpool, swallowing him whole.
"UWAAAA! WAAAH—!"
Rin's eyes snapped open on a new body.
And this time, he was no longer standing.
'What the?'
Small arms flailed while tiny legs kicked helplessly. Everything looked blurry- but the memory of that white void, and the deal he made with the messenger or angel, stayed crystal clear in his mind.
'Did I just reincarnated?'
Rin was now a newborn with fiery red hair, dark red eyes, and soft fair skin.
Warm cotton wrapped around him as he lay on a velvet cradle inside what looked like a royal birthing chamber. The air smelled different—cleaner, sharper.
No exhaust, no smog, none of the stale city stink from his old world. Instead, the air felt thick, like it was filled with something... mana, maybe? It pressed lightly against his skin, almost like he was underwater, but he could still breathe just fine.
Voices echoed around him—soft, melodic, and completely unfamiliar. He couldn't understand a word. Silhouettes in fancy robes and armor stood nearby, and even without knowing who they were, Rin could feel it—they were important.
'This has to be royalty,' Rin thought. 'Jackpot. Early game advantage unlocked.'
He let out a loud newborn cry: "UWAAH!"Which, in his head, meant: "I'm back!"
Then came another: "UWAA-UAAH!""It's showtime. Emperor's throne, here I come."
But not everyone seemed thrilled.
As his vision slowly adjusted, he noticed a few people staring at him—not with joy, but with something colder. Fear. Unease. Maybe even hate.
Trying to play it safe, Rin did his best to act like a clueless baby, avoiding eye contact. But then something caught his eye—floating above everyone's heads were glowing frames, like projections in the air. Each one filled with information.
*
Name: Jhorton Thunderspel
Level: 36
Title: Mana Inspector
Class: Expert Mage
*
Another appeared when his gaze shifted to a woman in knight's armor:
*
Name: Elese Broomland
Level: 42
Title: The Shield Breaker
Class: Commander Knight
*
'A game-like world with system prompts?' Rin thought, excitement sparking despite the tension. 'This just keeps getting better.'
He forced himself to keep glancing casually, memorizing faces and names without betraying his awareness. He had thirty years to complete his mission; patience would be his first weapon.
Among the crowd, two figures drew his focus the most: a man standing further away- his supposed father—and a lifeless woman on the bed beside him-bhis mother.
The man's eyes burned with cold disdain.
The look pierced Rin deeper than expected. It was the same look his real parents had worn when they'd abandoned him. He swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Your Majesty… this is strange," Jhorton muttered as he struggled with his spellwork. Magical sigils glowed faintly around Rin, then fizzled out. A pair of maids entered, carrying other newborns into the chamber and placing them beside him. Jhorton moved between each, performing some kind of advanced magical inspection.
For the other infants, detailed frames appeared:
Name: Miron of House Katana
Level: 0
Title: Baby
Class: Knight
Father: Mirhuval Katana (Holy Knight Commander)
Mother: Kalise Broomland (Rune Knight)
Potential: 3rd Class Advancement
Golden Phoenix Blood: 0.0045%
Innate Passive Skills:
Unyielding Spirit – Stamina and healing recovery increase by 5% every three levels.
Locked
Active Skills:
Locked
Locked
Locked
*
But when Jhorton turned his spell back to Rin- nothing. No data. No Divine Frame. Nothing at all.
The King's expression hardened. Even Jhorton, one of the kingdom's finest magicians, couldn't extract any information.
"Your Majesty," Jhorton began hesitantly, "I've scanned the other children successfully. But with the newborn prince… I can't detect any Divine Frame."
The King finished the thought coldly. "He doesn't have one."
Jhorton bit his tongue, then tried to offer hope. "Perhaps if we brought him to the Mage Kingdom, the Grand Magus could- "
"Enough," the King snapped. "No one is to hear of this. Dispose of the child."
The words cut deeper than any blade.
His gaze shifted to the lifeless mother. "I should have expected nothing from a commoner. My mistake was hoping weak blood could produce strength."
Jhorton's fists clenched. The woman- Merina- had been his childhood friend. He'd loved her once, long ago, but stepped aside when the King claimed her, believing it would secure her a better life. Now she was dead, her body spent carrying the King's powerful lineage.
In this kingdom, the Golden Phoenix's bloodline was everything. The King's purity level was an extraordinary 3%, while ordinary citizens had barely 0.0002%. Even nobles rarely reached 0.005%. Bearing his child was an honor—and a death sentence. Out of hundreds of concubines, only a handful ever conceived. Even fewer survived childbirth.
Merina hadn't been one of them.
Now her son- a prince- was already branded a "freak."
Outside the chamber, the King's aide, Kurtan, approached. His armor gleamed, his voice sharp. "Your Majesty, if word of this 'unique' prince spreads-"
"Silence everyone involved," the King ordered. "No witnesses."
"As you command." A cruel smile crept across Kurtan's face.
Back inside, Rin had pieced enough together to know exactly what was about to happen.
Jhorton tried one last time. "It's tragic. We should be celebrating—the chance to find a woman capable of bearing the King's child is rare. Now…"
"It is what it is," Kurtan interrupted flatly, stepping forward. His hand rested on his sword, its blade glowing faint blue.
"The King's order," he said, eyes like cold steel."Get rid of the child."
Jhorton froze. "I… I see."
But Kurtan's next words chilled everyone in the room:"Including everyone else present."
The maids stiffened. The butler's hands trembled. Elese reached instinctively for her own weapon. And Jhorton's eyes widened in horror.
Rin- still just a newborn- wailed louder, not just because of instinct, but because he understood. He understood everything.
UWAA-UWAAAAAH!~
it was his baby words for:
"YOU BRATTY ANGEL! I JUST GOT REINCARNATED AND YOU NOW WANT ME DEAD!?
UUUWAAAAH!~
it was his baby words for:
"AND WHERE IS MY DAMN SYSTEM!?"