Regret hurt more than the dragon's flames ever had.
Kalyan opened his eyes.
A slow-spinning ceiling fan creaked above him, pushing warm air across the small, familiar room. For a moment, his mind was blank—then memories crashed into place.
The dungeon.
The betrayal.
The Hydra Dragon's final scream.
"…I lived."
He sat up sharply.
His body was light. Too light.
Hands unmarked by scars. No trace of the countless battles that had once hardened his skin.
Kalyan's breath turned shallow as he stood before the mirror.
A teenager stared back at him.
Black hair, unrefined features, eyes that should have held dreams—but instead carried calculation and restraint.
"So it's real," he murmured.
This was the beginning.
And also the point where everything had once gone wrong.
The World Around Him
The city outside was alive in ways he had never appreciated before. Towering buildings rose like steel and glass sentinels, streets winding through them like veins. Neon signs buzzed softly, reflecting off puddles in alleys. People moved with purpose, unaware of the power stirring just beneath the surface of their world.
Distant noises of traffic, laughter, and machinery filled the air. The world seemed peaceful, but Kalyan knew the truth. Beyond the city, gates to dungeons could appear at any time, monsters could strike without warning, and the power humans had awakened to protect themselves was still young and chaotic.
The awakening of mana and aura had changed everything. People were no longer simply human—they carried potential and danger in their veins. Guilds like the D-Adventure Guild monitored every gate, every adventurer, every rising star, trying to control what could not truly be controlled.
And Kalyan had a chance to rewrite his fate in this dangerous, evolving world.
Kalyan's Mindset
Kalyan was not the same man who once chased glory.
He no longer believed in loyalty without proof He valued control over trust He understood that power grows through structure, not chaos
A king does not rely on hope. He builds certainty.
System Reawakening
[DING]
A translucent interface unfolded before him.
Sage King System – Online
Soul authentication: Complete
Timeline synchronization: Stable
Authority privileges: Sealed
Kalyan's eyes narrowed.
"Still testing me?"
Correct.
The Sage King System does not create kings.
It recognizes those capable of becoming one.
Sage King System — Mix Style
Core Principle: Knowledge builds strategy. Authority builds empire.
Strategic Insight: Analyzes environments, people, and power structures. Authority Threads (Locked): Allows Kalyan to establish hierarchical bonds. Subordinates gain growth bonuses. Betrayal triggers penalties. Foresight Memory: Grants access to past-life future events. Information is fragmented. Kingpin Logic: Power is measured not just in combat strength but influence and control.
Kalyan smiled faintly.
"So this time… I rule."
Timeline Status
Current Age: 17
Days Until First Gate Appears: 312
Original Fate:
❖ Late Awakener
❖ Used as disposable manpower
❖ Survives—alone
His fingers curled.
That fate no longer existed.
Resolution
Kalyan stepped to the window.
The city slept peacefully, unaware of the disaster approaching.
"In my last life," he whispered,
"I fought at the end."
His reflection met his gaze—steady, unshaken.
"This time, I prepare from the beginning."
Main Quest
Main Quest Initiated
❖ Seize the First Step
Objective: Enter a Gate before official awakening; establish your first authority thread
Reward: Authority Privilege (Tier 1)
Kalyan exhaled slowly.
The game had restarted.
And this time—he would control the board.