Damian Valcor was having a hard time sleeping.
Tomorrow, the results of the entrance examinations for the Awakened Academies would be announced- results that would decide his future.
These examinations were humanity's new rite of passage.
In the old world, there had been college entrance exams; Now, they determined whether one could join an Awakened Academy.
Dozens existed across the globe, but only one stood at the pinnacle:
Stormhold Academy.
The first and greatest of them all, built by the most powerful Awakened in history.
Its purpose was to forge a generation capable of holding back the storms of monstrosities pouring from the portals and protecting humanity.
When the portals first opened, humanity had been slaughtered to the brink of extinction.
To survive, the Earth Federation - the fragile government formed from the remnants of old nations - declared fifteen to be the new age of adulthood.
Although humanity took complete control of earth after they stabilized themselves, portals never closed.
Every once in a while few more portals open up anywhere and cause a lot of death and destruction if not prepared in advance.
Once they reach adulthood, every child, without exception, would undergo Entrance Examinations.
If their talent was enough, they would join an academy and become a weapon for humanity's survival.
And now, it was Damian's turn.
He shifted restlessly on his bed, exhaling a long sigh.
'No use worrying. I should've done enough to get into Stormhold. The rest… is up to fate.'
He closed his eyes.
And then - the pain struck.
It began as a sharp throb, then spread like fire tearing through his skull. His vision swam and his breath hitched. He clutched his head as agony overwhelmed him.
"AHHHHH!"
The scream ripped from his throat, echoing through the quiet house.
Moments later, his door burst open.
"Damy!"
His mother, Lyandra Valcor, rushed to his side, cradling his trembling body in her arms.
Tears streamed down her face as she rocked him desperately. "What's happening to him, Alaric!?"
Her husband, Alaric Valcor, stepped forward with steady composure, though his clenched fists betrayed his fear.
He placed a glowing hand on Damian's forehead, scanning his body with practiced precision.
"…His body's fine. No injuries, no internal disruption. Perhaps… he is just having a nightmare."
"Nightmare!?" Lyandra's voice cracked with fury. "Does this look like a nightmare to you? Look at him - he's in agony!"
Alaric faltered. He had no answer.
Then -
"Argh…"
Damian stirred, clutching his head, still numb with pain. His eyes fluttered open, and confusion washed across his face.
"Baby, what happened?!" Lyandra's voice trembled as she cupped his cheeks. "Tell Mommy who hurt you. I swear, I'll make them pay tenfold!"
But Damian only stared at her, and then at Alaric. His lips parted.
'…Who are they? Where… am I?'
Memory clashed with memory. A rooftop. A fall. The rush of air before the end. His final moment as-
Alessio.
The ruthless mafia boss who had ruled through blood and fear.
But now…
'No. I'm not Alessio. I'm Damian Valcor… a student. And yet –'
The truth hit him like a storm. He wasn't just Damian anymore. He carried both names, both lives, bound together in one body.
He looked again at the woman holding him, her black hair streaked with tears, and at the man whose calm mask could not hide the tremor in his fists.
Recognition bloomed with undeniable clarity.
"…I am Damian Valcor," he whispered.
His parents froze. The words were strange in themselves, but the tone was also weird. The voice felt completely different normal.
Lyandra's eyes widened and Alaric's frown deepened.
And then Damian spoke again.
"Mother. Father. I… seem to have awakened my previous life's memories."
The room fell silent.
Alaric broke it first, his voice low, uncertain. "…You're joking."
"No. Look at his eyes and his face." Lyandra murmured, her voice trembling. "This isn't a joke…"
Damian shook his head slowly.
"I'm sorry. I know this sounds insane. My mind is… filled with these sudden rush of memories. Please – give me until morning. I just need some time to process this."
For a long moment, Alaric looked as though he might protest. But Lyandra placed a hand on his arm and drew Damian into a fierce embrace.
"You can have all the time you need," she whispered against his hair. "Just remember – you're my son. Always."
Without waiting for an answer, she guided her husband out of the room. The door shut softly behind them.
Silence returned to the room.
Damian stood before the mirror, staring at his reflection.
A boy of fifteen, with sharp features, crimson eyes, and dark red hair. Neither handsome nor plain, but with an edge that set him apart.
He smirked faintly.
"Hmm. Now that I have these memories in my mind, I have to say; I'm really handsome in this life. Far more handsome than 'Alessio'."
His eyes hardened.
'But this world… seems completely different from the world of my past life and yet it feels so familiar.'
A memory surfaced in his mind of an old tattered book with the smell of rot and ink. The only novel he had ever seen as a starving child, read aloud by a beggar in exchange for food.
He couldn't recall much of the story, only some fragments. But this world... its academies, its awakened, its monsters... it all resonated like déjà vu.
"From what I remember, that old man only emphasized the world and its dangers alongside some interesting things.
I don't know anything about the main characters of the novel. But I know for sure the current me is not one of them. It is safe to assume I'm just some random guy in the novel." he muttered.
He tried recalling the details of the novel, but it was so long ago that he didn't even remember the names of the main characters.
"Forget it, all I need to know is that this world is dangerous. And danger… is something I know all too well."
He raised his hand. His voice carried the weight of command.
"Status."
A translucent screen flickered into existence.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Name: Damian Valcor
Age: 15
Rank: F-
Talent: B → S
Core Attributes:
Strength: 9
Speed: 8
Stamina: 9
Vitality: 10
Aura: 0
Will: 3 → 120
Skills: —
Shooting: C+
Hand Combat: B
Weapon Arts: —
━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Damian's breath deepened, then it became steadied after some time as his lips curved into a wolfish grin.
So it was true. This world wasn't ruled by politicians or kings. It was ruled by strength. By those willing to take what others could not.
"Power isn't granted," he murmured. "It's taken. And I've had a lifetime of practice."
His chuckle began low, building, swelling into unrestrained laughter that filled the room.
"Hehehe… haha… HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
It was the laughter of a man reborn.
The laughter of a predator who had just discovered the perfect hunting ground.