Chapter 1: Awakening in Blood
The cold was the first thing Aman noticed. Not the sort of cold that seeped through the skin and shivered muscles, but a bone-deep emptiness that seemed to gnaw at the very marrow. He opened his eyes to darkness, a damp, fetid smell hanging in the air, stinging the back of his throat. Panic rose, clawing at him like a living thing, but his body—new, unfamiliar, weak—refused to respond as he expected.
"Where… am I?" he croaked, voice cracked and foreign. There was a faint echo, mocking in its emptiness.
As his vision adjusted, he realized he wasn't alone. The room was a narrow, stone-walled cell, water dripping somewhere in the shadows. Chains clinked faintly behind him—iron, rusted, and cruel. He looked down. His hands were pale, thin, and trembling, fingers bound in shackles. His heart pounded as he tried to make sense of what had happened.
Memories surged unbidden, flashes of another life—a world of sunlight, noise, and the ordinary struggles of a teenager. Then the accident. The searing pain. And now… this.
A voice—a mechanical, emotionless tone—cut through the haze of panic.
"System activated. Reincarnation confirmed."
The words were calm, neutral, like a fact being stated in a ledger. Yet they made Aman's heart leap in disbelief.
"System?" he whispered. "What… what are you?"
"Host identified: Aman. Level 1. Skill unlocked: Frequency Manipulation."
Aman blinked. Frequency… manipulation? What did that even mean? His mind, foggy from whatever had transported him here, tried to process it. Was this some hallucination? A dream?
The system continued without waiting for his comprehension.
"Current status: Physical Form – Human. Body – Untrained. Skill: Frequency Manipulation (Level 1). Initial energy: 100 points. Objective: Survive in hostile environment. Tutorial recommended."
He swallowed hard, unsure whether to scream or faint. The idea that he had been reincarnated into another world… wasn't just absurd—it was terrifying.
A metallic clink echoed nearby, and a pair of glowing red eyes appeared through the darkness.
A figure stepped forward, smooth and predatory. Pale skin stretched over sharp bones, and fangs glinted even in the low light. The vampire.
"You awake, little one?" the creature hissed, voice smooth, almost seductive, though there was no warmth behind it. "Good. Dinner time."
Panic surged anew. Aman struggled against the chains. Nothing moved. Fear threatened to consume him, but somewhere deep, a spark of resolve ignited.
This isn't the end, he thought. If I die here, I die. But maybe… maybe there's a way out.
The system's interface appeared in his mind again:
"Skill Tutorial: Frequency Manipulation – Basic Principles: You can manipulate atomic vibrations within objects. Small-scale applications recommended. Energy cost: low."
Atomic vibrations. He tried to picture it. Molecules shaking, atoms moving… an idea sparked. A tiny tremor under his fingertips. He flexed his fingers experimentally. Nothing. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
The vampire moved closer, fangs bared. His chest constricted with terror, but instinct and the faintest glimmer of knowledge from his past life surged forward.
Friction… vibration… energy…
He focused. Just a tremor, a whisper of motion. The chains rattled—not enough to break, but enough to make the vampire pause. Red eyes narrowed.
"Interesting," it murmured. "Little human… you have spirit."
Aman's pulse raced, fear mixing with an odd thrill. He could feel it: the raw, untapped potential humming under his skin. If I can just… learn.
A thought came, almost like a whisper from another life. Fire… friction… I can make fire. His mind raced as he pictured it: atoms colliding, energy transferring, air catching flame.
"Try it," the system instructed, calm as ever.
Aman clenched his fists, focused on the friction between the cold iron links. A faint warmth blossomed, spreading like a seed. Sparks leapt, small and flickering. The vampire hissed in irritation, but recoiled.
The system chimed:
"Skill progress: Level 1 → Level 2. Experience +10."
A thrill ran through him—part fear, part exhilaration. He could feel power surging, tiny but real. The chains shuddered under his touch, and he pulled once more.
The vampire's expression twisted, fury replacing surprise. It lunged.
Desperation fueled him. He concentrated on the vibration of air itself. A sharp, piercing sound ripped through the room, deafening in its intensity. The vampire's eyes narrowed, hands over its ears, fangs snapping.
The chains shattered.
Aman fell to the cold stone floor, heart pounding, adrenaline coursing. The vampire had recoiled, giving him a chance, but he knew it would not hesitate to strike again.
He scrambled to his feet. Every muscle ached, every nerve screamed, yet he felt… alive. This world is cruel. I can feel it. But I have something they don't.
His mind raced with possibilities. If friction could make fire, if vibration could hurt a vampire, then… what else? Air, metal, stone… all atoms could be manipulated. His knowledge of physics from a life long gone surged forward, and with it, a strange calm.
"System," he whispered, voice trembling but determined, "teach me. Show me how to survive."
"Tutorial: Basic Elemental Manipulation – Fire generation confirmed. Recommended next step: Material resonance. Objective: Survive first day. Warning: Hostile entities nearby."
He nodded. That was the only option. Fight. Learn. Adapt. Survive.
From the shadows, the vampire gathered itself, eyes glowing brighter, faster. It snarled. Hunger, malice, centuries of predatory instinct driving it forward.
Aman took a deep breath, feeling energy ripple under his skin. He extended his hand, focusing on the vibration of the air in front of him. The faint hum of atoms vibrated under his control. Sparks leapt again. Small flames flickered along the stone floor. The vampire hesitated, surprised at the audacity of this human.
He didn't wait. He advanced, stepping into the small circle of fire, focusing on every molecule he could reach, pushing, pulling, twisting. A sudden burst of heat exploded from the ground, and the vampire hissed, retreating a step.
I can do this. I will survive. I will not be meat.
The system chimed again:
"Experience +50. Skill unlocked: Fire Manipulation via Atomic Friction. Energy cost: low. Suggested next: Environmental scanning."
Aman swallowed, chest heaving. For the first time since he awoke, he felt a surge of hope. Survival was possible—not because he was strong, but because he was smart, and because he had something no one in this world had: knowledge.
And a skill that could bend atoms themselves.
Outside the cell, the night stretched endlessly, filled with the whispers of the undead. Somewhere in the distance, another scream echoed—a warning, or a promise.
He clenched his fists.
This world is mine to understand. And someday… I will bend it to my will.
The chains lay shattered at his feet. The fire flickered. And somewhere in the darkness, red eyes glinted… watching.
Chapter End