Somewhere on Earth, probably,
A boy no more than sixteen years old with black hair and eyes lay on a bed, his head covered by what seemed like a VR headset.
Not only that, but his entire body was also clad in a transparent bodysuit that seemed to absorb some of the light rays directed at it, while most bounced off the surface, illuminating him with a faint glow in the process.
It seemed like the boy was really enjoying whatever he was playing—the grin etched across his face the entire time was proof enough.
He lay there for what felt like hours, not moving an inch of his body.
Engrossed in the virtual world, he suddenly felt a sharp pain spreading through his body.
His hands began to tingle with coldness, then a numbing sensation crept up his arms.
His skin felt like it was burning and freezing at the same time.
The pain intensified, spreading across his chest and legs, until every inch of his body felt like it was disintegrating. His bones felt fragile, his skin cracked as if unseen hands were tearing him apart molecule by molecule.
He gasped, unable to move or scream, as his body seemed to break down—his form turning into particles, just like it had in the game.
Like what happened to his in-game character, his body in the real world also began to dissipate under the same energy.
Wisps of ash floated away from his limbs, dissolving into the air until all that was left was nothing. A white abyss stretched endlessly around him, as if the world itself had been erased in his wake.
•••
In a dimly lit room,
Cries of a newborn baby could be heard.
Not one, but two distinctive cries.
SNAP
Alavrio jolted awake from his… slumber?
Wait… where am I? he pondered, his eyes darting around the room.
Why does this place seem kind of… familiar?
He scanned the room carefully, until a specific memory clicked in his mind.
Déjà vu.
Isn't this the room I saw in the game?
The walls of the room were paneled with dark, rich wood, and the floor was covered with thick, luxurious rugs.
The furniture was robust: the oak table, the high-backed chair covered in fabric—it was the same as what he had seen in the game.
Being sharp-minded, he quickly analyzed the situation and came to a conclusion.
I think the game has restarted because I died… but they should at least have asked for confirmation.
As he looked beside him, his breath caught.
There lay a newborn boy with amethyst eyes and purple hair, his eyes closed.
There was no mistaking it.
He was someone he shouldn't be.
He was Cyrus Arcane.
But… if the boy beside him was Cyrus Arcane, then what about him?
A sudden chill ran down his spine as he stared at the child next to him.
His dilemma grew worse—somehow, he was able to hold back his own cry. To move at will.
Suspicious.
Wasn't this supposed to be a cutscene?
But his thoughts came to a halt as a lady in her thirties approached him—no, them.
Alavrio concluded that she must be the midwife, the same one who appeared in the cutscene last time before he died. He stared at her figure as she came closer.
And it was as he thought—the lady lifted the newborn Cyrus and handed him to the woman with amethyst eyes and purple hair lying on the bed.
She locked her gaze with the boy in her arms and flashed a smile—a smile mixed with amusement, love, and satisfaction.
Well… that's because of the blessings, I think.
I guess this time I'm playing with another character, since I died as Cyrus last time. But still… what was that thing? And how the heck did my view even shift when the VR doesn't support second or third person?
Alvario tried to change his point of view again, but failed miserably. The screen didn't even appear.
His gaze shifted back toward the bed, and the same thing that had happened to him last time unfolded before his eyes.
He was the witness.
Fuck, it should have been me… not him.
He cursed internally and decided to leave the game. Many hours had passed since he started, and he was feeling sleepy.
But leaving now would mean repeating the cutscene again… still, sleep was more important.
"Eternal Breaker: Exit God Slayer."
""
""
"_"
Nothing changed.
The exit screen didn't appear.
What…?
He tried again, but nothing happened.
Again.
And again.
And again.
After countless failed attempts, his face turned pale. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
He quickly sorted his thoughts, running through possibilities, and finally muttered to himself:
Sigh… I think I've been reincarnated.
"Next,"
Handing Cyrus back to the midwife, the woman on the bed spoke in a sweet voice.
As those words left her mouth, Alavrio trembled inside, cursing—not the woman, but his body.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. You'd better be a talented body. A talented body, I said. I don't want to live like a freaking dog. I don't know who you are, but talent…
A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek as the midwife proceeded to lift him and carefully hand him to his mother.
He was dying inside from the tension, though it wasn't visible on his infant face.
As his mother scanned his features, a memory from the game returned to him.
Janaya.
That was her name. Despite how harmless she looked on the outside, inside she could be compared to a monster.
She was also one of the strongest female demon hunters in the world, having killed tens of thousands of demons without mercy.
Although there were few events that showed it, the treatment anyone received in the clan was always decided by her.
That was why only Cyrus was allowed to meet her anytime, receiving any resources he wanted.
But it didn't change the fact that she truly loved those with higher talent. A good example being Cyrus and his elder sister.
All the other siblings were treated strictly according to their value and talent.
If someone from a branch family was more talented than the heirs, they would hold a higher position in the clan hierarchy than the heirs themselves.
"Kill him."
A cold voice snapped him out of his thoughts. It was a complete contrast to the sweet tone she had used earlier.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
His body trembled in fear, his heart pounding faster with every second, eyes widening in terror.
And he couldn't do anything. What Janaya decided was absolute.
"W-what?" the midwife stuttered, trembling as she neared Janaya to reconfirm what she had just heard.
Alavrio had already prepared himself to die. Closing his eyes, he thought bitterly:
Somehow, I died twice… every time without even knowing why. I didn't even get to do the legendary 'I ain't returning your five bucks' moment with my friend.
Knock. Knock.
Suddenly, two knocks echoed at the door. A person outside spoke without daring to enter.
"Lady Janaya, Master has expressed his desire to know about the younger one."
Janaya turned her head toward me, staring into my eyes. Her gaze was filled with disgust and hatred as she spoke again, her voice echoing through the room.
"I think… he will perform well as a servant. A mannequin for the training of others."
Ding!
Target found…
Binding with target…
[Binding complete]
Name: 50%…