The world had already changed fifty years ago.
When the first Gates appeared in the sky… humanity thought it was the end.
But it wasn't.
It was only the beginning of survival.
Over decades, humanity adapted.
Hunters were born.
Guilds rose.
Monsters were farmed.
And the world rebuilt itself around power.
But what no one knew…
Was that the Gates were never the true system.
They were only the surface.
20 YEARS LATER (FUTURE LINE — KAI'S PAST LIFE)
The sky was broken.
Not cracked—
But completely shattered like glass held together by light.
Kai Ren stood alone on a battlefield that no longer had a name.
Cities were gone.
Mountains were erased.
Even the air felt dead.
Before him floated beings made of pure divine light.
No face.
No emotion.
Only presence.
Gods.
One of them spoke.
"Humanity was an experiment."
Another continued.
"And you were the final variable."
Kai's sword trembled in his hand.
Blood covered his body.
But his eyes…
Were calm.
"I killed your apostles…"
His voice was hoarse.
"…I cleared your Gates…"
He lifted his broken blade.
"…I even reached your throne."
A pause.
Then a soft laugh from the gods.
"Yes."
"You did well."
Kai froze slightly.
Then the voice continued.
"That is why we allowed you to reach this far."
Silence.
Kai's expression darkened.
"…Allowed?"
The gods' light intensified.
"You were entertainment."
"A story written for us."
Kai's grip tightened.
Then—
A single gesture.
The world collapsed.
Not exploded.
Not burned.
Erased.
⏳ REGRESSION
Kai gasped.
Air rushed into his lungs violently.
He shot upright.
A classroom.
Bright lights.
Students talking.
A normal world.
"…What?"
His hands were clean.
Young.
Weak.
Alive.
He slowly stood up, staggering.
"…No… this is impossible…"
He looked around.
Everything felt too real.
Too peaceful.
He turned his head toward the window.
A normal city.
No destruction.
No gods.
No end of the world.
Then—
His eyes fell on the wall clock.
8:12 AM
His body froze.
"…No way…"
He grabbed his phone.
His hands shook slightly.
📅 Date: September 14
Kai's pupils shrank.
"…Awakening Ceremony Day."
Not the beginning of Gates.
Not the start of monsters.
But the day everything was decided.
The day humanity would be sorted.
Ranked.
Measured.
Controlled.
And in his past life…
It was the first step toward extinction.
📱 BUZZ
A notification appeared.
Mom ❤️
"Kai, don't forget your Awakening Ceremony today. Eat before you go, okay? I made your favorite food. Love you."
Silence.
Kai stared at the screen.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
His lips trembled slightly.
"…Mom…"
In his past life…
She died early during the Gate outbreaks.
He never got to save her.
Never got to say goodbye.
A sharp breath escaped him.
Then—
A tear fell.
But not of weakness.
Of disbelief.
"…You're alive…"
He pressed the phone tightly against his chest.
As if afraid reality would break again.
"…You're really alive…"
For the first time in decades—
Kai smiled.
Not the smile of a broken man.
Not the smile of a warrior.
But something human.
Then—
It slowly faded.
His eyes sharpened.
His grip tightened.
"…This time…"
The air around him felt heavier.
"…I won't lose anything again."
He stood up.
Slowly.
Firmly.
"…Not my family."
"…Not my world."
His reflection in the window stared back at him.
Young.
Weak.
But not empty.
"…And not even the gods."
A faint voice echoed inside his mind.
DING.
[Divine Error System Activated]
[Regression Confirmed]
[Godslayer Protocol Initiated]
Kai didn't react in shock.
He already understood.
Instead—
A cold smile formed.
"…Good."
His eyes darkened with absolute resolve.
"This time…"
A pause.
"I will rise faster."
He turned toward the door.
"And when the gods think this is just another story…"
His hand gripped the handle.
"I will end it."
CLICK.
The door opened.
And the second life of Kai Ren began.