Within the dim confines of a dungeon, three figures stood locked in a grim confrontation—a towering monster and two Awakened fighters.
"This isn’t how it was supposed to end," Klaus thought in despair, his eyes fixed on the horrific sight of his captain, impaled by a massive, menacing praying mantis.
“CAPTAIN CLARK!” Klaus screamed, his voice trembling with anguish as he sprinted toward the creature. But before he could reach him, a shimmering barrier sprang up, cast by Clark to hold him back.
“Run, Klaus… save yourse—” Clark's final words were cut short as the mantis's blade-like arm swept through his neck, severing his head from his body.
Terror gripped Klaus as he froze, watching the horrifying scene unfold. ‘I’m going to die!’ he thought, panic flooding his mind. His hands trembled as he raised his sword in a shaky defensive stance, his last attempt to stave off the inevitable.
The mantis lunged at him, its front legs striking with the force of steel. Klaus barely managed to block the blow, but a sharp, searing pain erupted from behind him. He gasped, looking down to see another pair of mantis legs impaling him.
‘There were two of them...’ was his final, fleeting thought as blood gushed from his lips, and the world faded to black.
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In a shadowy alley within the bustling city of Celmaris, a man lay unconscious amidst the grime, his body battered and bruised as if he had been in a fierce struggle. His dark hair was matted with sweat and dirt, and his attire—a simple leather tunic and worn pants—marked him unmistakably as a peasant.
Moments later, the man, who appeared lifeless just moments ago, slowly regained consciousness. As the wave of pain coursed through his bruised body, it shattered his sleepiness, and he screamed in agony, “AHH, SHIT, THIS HURTS, DAMN IT!” He cursed relentlessly, his frustration echoing in the alley. Eventually, he managed to calm himself, though the pain still lingered like a cruel reminder.
"Where the hell even am I?" he muttered, scanning his surroundings. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, he froze. “WAIT, HOW AM I ALIVE?” His mind raced, recalling the last thing he remembered—a deadly dungeon crawl with his group, an ambush by high-level monsters, and a massive mantis impaling him.
Confused, he tried to piece together what had happened, attempting to make sense of his sudden reincarnation. But before he could come to any conclusion, a blue holographic screen materialized before his eyes.
[System Rebooting…1%]
[System Rebooting…23%]
[System Rebooting…56%]
[System Rebooting…78%]
[System Rebooting…100%]
[Welcome Awakened Klaus Williams]
“What the hell, why did my system reboot?” Klaus muttered, his mind swirling with confusion. He had never heard of a system rebooting, especially not for an Awakened person. It was unheard of.
With a furrowed brow, he commanded, “Open my status.”
In response, the blue holographic screen flickered for a moment before displaying his status, but Klaus could only stare at it in stunned silence.
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This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Available stat point: 4
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Klaus stared blankly at the glowing system screen, his mind reeling in disbelief. His shock wasn’t just from the strange technology before him—it was the crushing realization that all his hard work, the 40 levels he had painstakingly earned, and the skills he had honed, were now nothing but a distant memory.
“How can this happen? Everything… my 40 levels, my skills... it’s all gone,” he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief and frustration. The weight of the loss settled over him like an unbearable burden, and the pain from his battered body only deepened his sense of despair.
Dejected, he collapsed back onto the cold ground, allowing the silence of the alley to engulf him. For over an hour, he simply lay there, letting the shock and anguish sink in, unable to bring himself to move.
“How pathetic,” a voice suddenly echoed through the alley, startling Klaus. He quickly turned his head, searching for the source, only for his eyes to widen in disbelief. Standing before him was someone who looked exactly like him—same face, same clothes, same everything. But there was something off about the doppelgänger; his voice carried an edge of disdain, and his presence exuded a sinister air.
“The Gods really did curse me,” the stranger sneered. “As if being trapped in a pathetic body wasn’t cruel enough, now they’ve gone and stuck me here with another soul.”
Klaus’s confusion quickly turned to alarm as he demanded, “Who the hell are you? And why do you look like me?”
The impostor, however, ignored his question, his sharp eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Klaus. After a moment, he finally spoke. “I’m Akuzar. And, unfortunately, it seems my soul has been combined with yours.”
Akuzar stepped closer, his gaze intense and probing. “Hmm… your soul… there’s something embedded in it. Something otherworldly…” He leaned in, his eyes narrowing further as he tried to make sense of the strange presence he could sense. But despite his efforts, the mystery eluded him.
‘This kid,’ Akuzar thought, his curiosity piqued despite his obvious disdain. ‘Even though he looks pathetic, there’s something fascinating about his soul.’ A dark chuckle escaped his lips, and he turned his back to Klaus, a menacing smile spreading across his face. “Hehehe… looks like I’ll have to stick around for a while.”
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“So, kid, what’s your plan? We’re stuck somewhere completely unknown,” Akuzar questioned, his piercing gaze fixed on Klaus, who was now shakily back on his feet.
Without answering, Klaus began walking out of the alley, his body still sore but his curiosity and unease driving him forward. As he stepped into the open, his breath caught in his throat.
The sight before him was unlike anything he had seen before. The city was alive with a vibrant, almost chaotic energy. Narrow cobblestone streets wove between densely packed timber-framed houses, their steeply slanted roofs almost touching above the winding lanes. People bustled about, their voices mingling with the sounds of blacksmiths hammering away, merchants hawking their wares, and children laughing as they darted through the crowd.
Surrounding the city was a formidable stone wall, its watchtowers standing as silent sentinels. The main entrance—a towering gatehouse—loomed in the distance. At the heart of the city, a magnificent cathedral reached toward the heavens, its spires glinting in the sunlight. Around it sprawled a bustling market square, filled with wooden stalls where traders peddled everything from fresh produce to finely crafted goods. The aroma of freshly baked bread, sizzling meat, and livestock mingled in the air, creating an intoxicating sensory overload.
On a hill overlooking the city stood a grand castle, its imposing presence casting a long shadow over the bustling streets below.
Klaus stood there, stunned. His heart sank as the realization struck him like a thunderbolt. “Where the hell even are we?” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the clamor of the city.
This wasn’t his world. It couldn’t be. Everything about this place—the sights, the sounds, even the very air—was different from the modern and apocalyptic world he lived in.