"Older women are into me...
The first time I realized this was when I started noticing older ladies staring at me. I mean, you'll know a seductive gaze when you see one, right?
Then I became even more sure when my boss's wife gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I still remember how hot her breath felt.
It's not that I'm not happy about that fact... It's just that there's this satisfaction that comes with knowing the girls your age are attracted to you."
Gary finally leaned back on his chair after answering the question.
He took a sip of his orange juice as he stared at Andy, who was frozen beside him.
Gary just rolled his eyes, ignoring his friend's over-exaggerated expression.
Andy was genuinely shocked by everything Gary just said, but what made him even more shocked was the fact that he had only asked Gary a simple question:
"Why don't you have a girlfriend?"
And yet, he didn't realize that there was so much story to it.
After a few seconds, Andy finally blinked.
"Uhm... How old is your boss's wife again?"
"She's 43 years old, if I remember correctly," Gary answered, taking another sip.
Andy adjusted.
"And did I hear you say girls your age? What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Andy spoke a little too loud, making everyone in the cafe look at him and Gary.
Staring at Gary with a rage-filled expression, he continued,
"Do you know how many guys dream of having this superpower you're taking for granted? Heck, if I had this, I would've slep—"
"It's not that deep, Andy," Gary cut him off. "Stop being delusional and start thinking of how to get a job."
Andy sighed.
"Well, if I were you, I would start getting closer to that boss's wife. There's no greater feeling than losing your virginity to an experienced woman."
Andy added,
"Take this advice from a man of culture."
Gary scoffed. "Just shut up, bro."
After speaking with Andy a bit more, Gary entered a bus, ready to head home.
As usual, he found his way to the last seat at the back, directly next to the window.
It was his favorite spot.
While waiting for the bus to get filled, he unlocked his phone and opened the novel app.
His gaze lingered on the novel that was first in his library.
It read:
Rise Of The Strongest Ability User.
'Still no updates,' he thought. 'It's been three weeks now.'
A few minutes later, all the seats were finally occupied and the bus began moving.
Gary kept his phone and began looking outside through the window.
Finally, the moment he was waiting for arrived.
The golden hue of the sunset hit his face as a smile formed on his lips.
The golden hue also cast itself in the sky and on the busy road.
Gary's smile widened.
"I live for moments like this."
But then...
BOOM!
"AGHHHHHHH!!!"
Gary's head instantly snapped forward, looking ahead to see what was going on.
And what he saw left him awestruck.
Flaming rocks tore through the sky, slamming into buildings, cars, and screaming people. The bus jerked as chaos erupted all around.
"AGHHHHH!"
People on the road screamed as they ran for their dear lives.
"What the hell!?" Gary blurted out as the occupants of the bus began screaming.
The driver instantly accelerated, trying to move as far as possible from the road.
'What the hell is going on?!' Gary screamed in his mind. 'An apocalypse?!'
But then, another blazing rock tore through the sky, heading towards the back of the bus.
Before Gary could react...
BOOM!
A blinding blaze engulfed his vision.
Gary laid on the ground in the pool of his own blood, his eyes fixated on the sky.
'So this is it...? No heroic death?' he thought.
'Sorry, mum, dad... and... Andy...'
With that, he died.
**********
"Young Master, please wake up..."
A melodic voice drifted into Gary's ears like a whisper. His eyes instantly snapped open and he was met with the face of a pretty girl.
'Huh? Didn't I die?'
Gary sat upright on the bed, taking in his surroundings.
'Whose room is this?'
He looked around the luxurious room, wondering what was going on.
But before he could think any further, memories suddenly invaded his brain, making a slight frown appear on his face.
It wasn't painful. It just stung a bit.
But...
'Wait... This power system, these names... I'm in the world of Rise Of The Strongest Soul Ability User...?!'
Gary's eyes widened as soon as he realized this.
His thought was suddenly interrupted by the maid who knelt down and placed her head on the floor.
"If I've annoyed you in any way, I'm deeply sorry, Young Master," Lily, the maid, said.
He wasn't even surprised that the maid was apologizing even when she didn't do anything wrong, after all, the person he reincarnated as was... well, an idiot.
Gary let out a sigh as he got up from the bed.
"Stand up, Lily. You didn't do anything wrong."
Lily quickly stood up and adjusted her maid uniform, though Gary didn't fail to notice the surprised expression she had.
"Today is the Soul Awakening Ceremony," Lily said. "I came to get you prepared."
"You don't have to worry about that," Gary said as he began walking towards the bathroom. "You can wait for me outside."
"A-are you sure? I mean..." Lily stuttered.
Gary flashed her a gentle smile before saying, "it's alright."
Lily nodded and walked out of the room.
Now that he was alone, Gary finally had time to assess his thoughts.
He walked into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror.
His black hair fell over his face, framing his eyes as he stared back at himself.
'I transmigrated into my favorite novel as Raiven Ashland, huh?'
He wasn't the protagonist.
He was just an extra.
But being an extra wasn't so bad, right?
Well, in "Raiven's" case, it was bad.
Raiven entered the bathtub, his thoughts running wild.
'In the novel, the Ashland name appeared a few times. They were the ones who created one of the most used Soultech, so they were quite a prominent family,' Raiven thought.
'Raiven Ashland, the spoilt arrogant son of the leader of the Ashland Family, was an extra doomed to die at the hands of the protagonist in the first few chapters of the novel.'
As for the cause of his death...
The Academy he applied for had a special training for individuals who were yet to awaken and become students at the academy.
There, Avin Serak, the protagonist, was always bullied before he awakened in the ceremony.
As soon as he awakened his Disaster Rank Flame Soul Ability, the first thing he did the next day was kill his bullies.
'And unfortunately...'
Raiven exited the bathroom and began wearing his clothes.
'... I'm one of those bullies. So that means Avin will kill me tomorrow. And if I remember correctly, Raiven awakened a weak Soul Ability.'
'And since today is the Soul Awakening Ceremony, that means "Armageddon" will arrive one year from now... Just one year left before the world is plunged into even deeper chaos.'
'I'm doomed.'
PA!
Raiven suddenly slapped himself as he looked at himself in the large mirror.
"No. Don't say that. You're not doomed. I have to survive... No matter what."
Raiven left the room and began heading outside.
"Since I definitely will not awaken a powerful Soul Ability, I have to think of a way to avoid getting killed by Avin tomorrow. Also, I have to make sure to remember key details and places that can enable me to get stronger."
Raiven opened the large door of the mansion, revealing the compound.
He stepped outside, walking towards the spot where a sleek black car was parked.
A man and a woman were standing beside the car, their eyes fixated on Raiven as he approached.
"Oh, my handsome son," the woman said affectionately, her arms wide open.
Raiven hugged his mother with a smile on his face.
'Act natural,' he thought.
The man who shared a striking resemblance with Raiven tapped him on his back.
"I know you'll awaken a powerful Soul Ability, son."
"Thanks mum and dad. You can believe your son," Raiven said.
He said that last part intentionally to not sound off. After all, that was what the original Raiven would've said.
Allen Ashland, his father, nodded.
"I trust you."
"Now go, you don't want to be late," Stella Ashland, his mother, said.
Raiven nodded.
The door to the back seat of the car suddenly unlocked with a soft click.
As soon as Raiven entered, the door closed.
He was in the world of his favorite novel... A world where danger was present everywhere you looked.
And on an even more serious note, Armageddon, the great calamity that would soon descend on this world, was coming closer, and no one was aware of it yet... Except Raiven.
Now, Raiven had only one goal in mind.
Survive.