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The Art of Blood and Shadow
Chapter 1: End of the Dreamworld

Chapter 1: End of the Dreamworld

Note: This was translate witch Ai. Sorry if is bad. 

I am 17 years old, and according to the cycle of reincarnation, when I die, I will be reborn in a world of magic. I should die within a year.

I am in a cycle where, after dying, I am reborn in the same world where magic exists. With each reincarnation in the world of magic, I am in a different timeline. Now, I will do everything to create a criminal organization—something I wasn't able to achieve in any of my previous lives. Now I am unbeatable, knowing everything from alchemy, magic, martial arts, to psychology. There is nothing that could stop me. I have never even felt what love and attachment are.

I walk along the sidewalk to school through the park. It's morning, and the sun warms me slightly. I notice a falling cherry blossom leaf and catch it. I examine it from every angle and place it on my left hand. I concentrate an unimaginably large amount of magical particles on my index finger. The leaf disintegrates down to the atomic level, leaving not a speck of dust. Only a small piece of the stem remains. I hear someone calling me from across the street.

—Aiko-san! — Aiko-san! — It's Sakura-san, my best friend in this lifetime. She runs across the crosswalk at the green light. I discreetly tuck the piece of stem into my bag. Sakura is beautiful, with golden eyes, blonde hair, and a great figure. She runs up to me, leans on my shoulder, and takes a deep breath.

—Hi, Sakura-san. You smell lovely today. Did you change your perfume?

Her beautiful scent gently wafts through the air, adding a touch of sweetness to my nose. You can also detect a subtle, yet distinct, hint of cherry blossom.

—Thank you! I got new perfume from my dad.

—Has your dad returned from his trip?

Stolen novel; please report.

—Yes, he brought a lot of presents for me and mom.

She looks at me with sparkling eyes.

—Aiko-san — Aiko-san — Did you read that manga I lent you?

—Yes, I read the manga you gave me yesterday.

—And how was it? What do you think about the main character's behavior?

Her excitement grows with every passing second. I hand her the book I pulled from my bag. We walk to school discussing the manga we just read. I'm in class, sitting in the corner by the window in the last row. Sakura went to the restroom, sitting two desks in front of me.

The day is like any other, nothing stands out, and the surroundings are normal as always. I fit perfectly like the last puzzle piece. My second self is controlled flawlessly. Everyone here is so bland; they lack that flair, strength, something that would make them stand out. They are too pampered, and I want this reality to be turned upside down as well.

The sun is touching the horizon. Two moons in the sky, one smaller and one larger. They dance on opposite sides of the sky. The cherry forest in the park rustles soothingly.

At that moment, I felt magic. I looked at the sky. I saw a large object spreading magic across the world. Curious, I jumped onto the road above, standing on the railing. I looked more closely at the object. I observed its trajectory. It should fall on the city across the river.

(IMAGE of crouching, looking at the object)

The object falls with great speed toward the city. It entered the Earth's atmosphere. The light blinds anyone who looks at it. My eyes burned. Suddenly, all mana disappeared.

The sound created by the impact with the atmosphere took away my hearing. Maintaining balance on the railing, I felt a jolt to my back. I fell to the ground. Why? Why isn't my magic working? Damn curse! I screamed, hitting my head against the ground.

I feel it. I feel my consciousness slowly...

Create magic! Create it! — anger burns inside me. I could die at any moment. I have no control over my body. I can't move. I increasingly sense the intense smell of blood.

Magic! My magic.

I have, I have magic. I moved my finger. I felt blood, probably spilled. I formed a mirror.

I felt my body being crushed. For a short period, I lost consciousness. Opening my eyes, I woke up in...

Note: If you have any corrections or if any part is unclear or needs adjustment, let me know through the website and I'll try to address it. If you need a translation into our language, let me know, and I'll work on it. The images will be added when I finish working on them.

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