Inside a shabby cottage on the outskirts of a small village, a baby was being born to a resentful mother.

"I never wanted to have a child in the first place, but this monster has been residing in me for the past nine months, no matter how many times I tried to get rid of it," the mother said, casting a hateful gaze at the baby as it emerged.

Unlike most newborns, the baby stared at its mother with a dumbfounded expression, internally questioning, "What the hell? Where am I?"

The baby's gaze shifted, filled with a mix of fear and wonder, as its memories suddenly flooded back. "Those bastards!" it exclaimed internally. "They invaded my home. I fought to defend myself, but then a sharp pain struck the back of my head, and I can't recall anything beyond that."

The mother's anger and hatred intensified as she held the child. "That son of a bitch! I never expected him to impregnate me. This child cannot be allowed to survive." However, no matter how monstrous she was, she couldn't bring herself to kill the child with her bare hands.

"I will abandon the child in the woods and let nature take care of the rest," the mother contemplated, her gaze fixed upon the child.

Despite the mother's intense hatred for the child, exhaustion overcame her after giving birth, and she fell asleep, still holding the child.

The baby, also exhausted, drifted off to sleep in the comfort of its mother's embrace, unaware of what would unfold the next day.

As morning dawned, the mother awoke, her eyes still filled with intense hatred. She composed herself and ventured into the depths of the woods, with the child still peacefully asleep in her arms.

After venturing deep into the woods, the mother callously abandoned the child without hesitation. She heartlessly placed the still-sleeping infant on the ground and muttered, "No one can know of this. The existence of this child must be erased." With a cold resolve, she turned away and left the child behind in the depths of the woods.

After an hour, the infant woke up to find a wolf-like creature standing over its body. A voice resonated within its mind, asking, "What is your name, young one?"

The fear-stricken infant responded within its mind, "Dred."

"An odd name for a human," the wolf thought. "I saw how your mother brought you into these woods and cast hateful gazes at you. No child deserves to be abandoned like that," the wolf conveyed to Dred within Dred's mind.

"From now on, I will be your guardian and protect you as my own," the wolf communicated. As a mother with five cubs, she couldn't bear to let the infant die and felt compelled to take care of him.

Stolen novel; please report.

Dred, still flabbergasted and bewildered by his surroundings, questioned within his mind, "First of all, why am I an infant? And second, why is there a talking wolf?" Dred was incredibly confused and trying to make sense of the situation.

Dred, grappling with his own understanding, questioned to himself, "From my understanding, I believe I died. So how am I alive?" He was trying to reconcile the notion of being alive despite his belief that he had previously perished.

As a newborn, Dred found himself unable to do anything but comply with the mother wolf.

The mother wolf placed Dred on her back and returned to her den. Curious, Dred asked the mother wolf, "Do you have a name?"

"My name is Eria, the protector of this mighty forest and all of its inhabitants," the mother wolf responded.

Back at the den, Eria's cubs were initially apprehensive about the newcomer, but over time, they gradually came to accept Dred as one of their own.

-6 months later-

A few months had passed since Dred's arrival, and he had come to a realization that he was no longer on Earth but in a world filled with magic.

Eria had shown Dred many things that were considered mere fairy tales on Earth, such as shooting lightning bolts and casting fire from one's body. Dred was astounded as he witnessed Eria's ability to fly, which was beyond anything he had ever imagined. The world of magic unfolded before him, revealing endless possibilities.

Dred carried a sense of regret for what had transpired on Earth, but it fueled his determination to forge a new path in this magical world. With a revived sense of self and an unyielding drive, he set his sights on a new goal: to become more powerful than anyone else. Fuelled by ambition, Dred embarked on a journey of self-discovery and relentless pursuit of strength, eager to unlock his full potential and leave a lasting mark in this realm of magic.

For the next couple of months, Dred persistently requested Eria to teach him magic. Eventually, Eria gave in to his requests. However, she couldn't help but ponder, "Now that I think about it, how are you able to talk? You're only a newborn. And why do you speak in such an unusual language? The only reason I can understand you is because our mind link enables communication and understanding of any language when we converse telepathically." Eria was intrigued by Dred's unique abilities and questioned the origins of his linguistic skills.

Dred let out a sigh and proceeded to explain to Eria that despite his physical form as a newborn, he was actually a 30-year-old man who had, unfortunately, met his demise in his previous life. He shared with Eria the circumstances of his untimely death. Eria listened attentively, her eyes reflecting understanding and compassion for Dred's extraordinary situation.

"I have heard of otherworlders, but I have never encountered anyone with circumstances quite like yours," Eria telepathically conveyed to Dred, as he was still unable to speak. Her words carried a mix of curiosity and fascination, as she contemplated the uniqueness of his situation.

"Anyways, you are one of my own," Eria affirmed. "So, I shall teach you the basics of magic." Throughout the day, Eria patiently imparted her knowledge to Dred, introducing him to the fundamental principles and techniques of magic. As Dred absorbed the teachings, Eria became increasingly astounded by his monstrous comprehension and aptitude for magic, surpassing her expectations. The depth of his understanding and natural talent left her in awe.

As Dred delved into the world of magic and effortlessly grasped its concepts, he couldn't help but think, "This is extremely easy. It's as if magic is part of my nature." The connection he felt with magic was profound as if it resonated with his very being. Dred's innate affinity for magic was becoming increasingly apparent, further fueling his ambition to become a formidable practitioner of the arcane arts.