I had never known defeat. For 1,500 years, I stood unchallenged, defeating every threat that crossed my path. Demonic hordes, vile creatures—none could withstand my magic, my unmatched power. I was the Supreme Mage, the ultimate guardian of this world.

But that day, everything changed. Facing the Demon Lord Valtharis, I felt something new for the first time—fear. His burning red eyes pierced through me, and his oppressive aura wrapped around me like a suffocating fog. I had never encountered such raw, overwhelming power.

Our battle shook the very foundations of the citadel. Spells collided with explosive force, sending waves of destruction across the battlefield. But his dark energy surged against mine effortlessly, pushing me back despite everything I had. I was overwhelmed, outmatched by his savage might.

Caught in a storm of black magic, my strength drained away. My spells faltered, my focus shattered. It was as if Valtharis could see into my soul, predicting my every move.

"You’ve reached the top, Supreme Mage, but your reign ends today," he taunted, his deep, sinister voice echoing through the hall. "Your arrogance has sealed your fate. This world is mine now."

His monstrous, clawed hands closed around my throat, lifting me off the ground like I weighed nothing. I gasped for air, my struggles useless against his unyielding grip. His demonic aura burned into me, and it felt as though my very essence was being scorched away.

"Farewell, Supreme Mage. May you rot in chains for a thousand years!"

A flash of light tore through the air. Pain, white-hot and all-consuming, ripped through my body. It felt as though my soul itself had been torn in half. My screams echoed through the chamber as my strength ebbed away completely.

And then... nothing. Just void.

When I opened my eyes again, there was only darkness. I was alone in an endless, oppressive emptiness. No sound, no light—only silence. I was trapped, sealed in a formless prison, condemned to drift in this void forever.

The Demon Lord had succeeded. I had been defeated, stripped of my power. My soul was doomed to endless torment, cut off from the world I once protected.

How long did I remain there? Days? Years? Centuries? Time lost all meaning in the icy grip of that nothingness. Even my mind began to fray, fragments of who I was eroded by the darkness.

But then, one day—or perhaps an eternity later—a glimmer of hope pierced the void. A faint spark of light appeared, fragile and flickering, but enough to break the suffocating monotony. It grew brighter, warmer, until it surrounded me with a comforting glow.

It felt like a second chance, a renewal. The shadows receded, and a sensation I thought I’d lost forever began to return—life. My dulled senses slowly came back to me. I could feel again, think again.

Where was I? What had happened? Could it be... was I alive? After all this time, had my soul somehow escaped that wretched prison?

My thoughts cleared, and my resolve hardened. I couldn’t stay here. I had to free myself. I had to find the Demon Lord. He would pay for what he’d done.

Focusing on the light that surrounded me, I reached for its source, seeking to unravel its mysteries. To my amazement, I discovered a new form of magic—different from anything I’d known before. This magic connected me to something greater, something I couldn’t yet understand.

I felt the bonds of my prison weaken. Cracks spread across its surface. One last surge of effort, and I broke free, roaring in triumph as I escaped the darkness.

The blinding light of the outside world greeted me. My eyes, unused to brightness, struggled to adjust. The air felt heavy, my surroundings strange and unfamiliar. I tried to move, but my body was weak, fragile. I couldn’t even lift myself from the soft, warm surface beneath me. What had happened to me?

Then, a gentle voice broke through the haze.

"Shh, little one. You’re safe now."

A figure leaned over me, her features coming into focus—a woman, beautiful and serene, smiled down at me with the kind of tenderness I’d never known. Her gaze held warmth, her voice soothing.

"Welcome to the world, my little angel," she whispered, cradling me close.

Angel? Her words made no sense. Confusion washed over me as I realized something horrifying: I wasn’t myself anymore. I wasn’t the Supreme Mage. My once-mighty body, my power, everything I had—it was gone. Instead, I was... a baby. A helpless, fragile newborn, cradled in the arms of this woman.

How could this be? How had I gone from eternal imprisonment to this? What cruel twist of fate had brought me here, stripped of all I’d known and thrown into an existence so foreign?

I had no answers, only questions. Yet I could do nothing. My new body was too weak, my mind too clouded. All I could do was nestle into the warmth of her embrace and surrender to exhaustion. Her soft lullaby carried me into sleep.

Days turned to months, and gradually, I grew. My frail body became stronger, my senses sharper. Slowly, I began to understand what had happened. I had been reincarnated. My soul, once bound to the void, had been reborn into this strange new life.

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The woman who held me on the day of my birth was my mother, Eliana. By her side was Kiran, my father. They showered me with love and care, cherishing me as their only child. For them, I was everything.

Life here was simple. My parents were humble villagers, living on the edge of a sprawling forest. Their days revolved around farming and helping their neighbors. It was a life far removed from the grand battles and monumental power I’d once known.

Part of me felt restless, frustrated by this mundane existence. Yet another part—a quieter, deeper part—found peace in it. This life, with its quiet rhythms and gentle joys, was something I’d never experienced before.

As the years passed, my body grew stronger. My senses became more attuned, and my mind began to awaken to the truth. The Supreme Mage I once was had not disappeared completely. Deep within me, I could feel it—a slumbering power, waiting to be called upon.

And then, on my ninth birthday, everything changed.

While playing in the fields near our home, I felt something stir inside me. A strange energy coursed through my body, electric and alive, igniting every nerve. My surroundings seemed to shift, as if the world itself was responding to me.

My parents, watching from a distance, froze. Their expressions were a mix of shock and awe. My father, Kiran, approached, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. His gaze burned with intensity.

"My son," he said, his voice steady, "it’s time you learned the truth about magic."

Kiran, my father, handed me a thick, leather-bound book with great solemnity. "Son, this book holds the secrets of ancient magic. The time has come for you to begin your training."

I grabbed the precious tome eagerly, sensing an odd energy radiating from its worn pages. Kiran’s eyes shone with pride as he continued, "This book has been passed down through our family for generations. Inside, you’ll find foundational magic—from rank C to A. I know you’ll make the most of it."

He smiled warmly before leaving me to study in peace. The moment I opened the book, a strange sensation surged through me. Out of nowhere, a mysterious interface appeared, as if it had been summoned by the book itself.

Name: Griffith Magic: 0 Age: 9 Life: 100 Level: 1 Endurance: 80 Race: Human Strength: 10 Speed: 12 Defense: 9 Intelligence: 15 Mana: 35

I stared at the floating display, dumbfounded. Mana? Magic? What did all of this mean? It felt as if I had stepped into an entirely different reality—one governed by rules I didn’t yet understand.

My fingers turned the pages of the book nervously, revealing a catalog of spells and techniques, each ranked by difficulty. As I prepared to dive into the first lessons, another notification blinked before me.

[Unlocked Skills: None.]

What was that supposed to mean? Why didn’t I have any skills? Frowning, I scanned my stats again, searching for a clue.

Then it hit me. There was a key difference between “Mana” and “Magic” listed on the display. While I had a decent mana reserve—a kind of energy pool—my magic stat was set at zero. Completely empty.

Was that why I couldn’t access any skills? Did my ability to use magic depend on this stat? And if so, where was my mana coming from if I didn’t have magic to wield it?

Frustration bubbled up, and I slammed the book shut. Clearly, this wasn’t going to be as straightforward as I’d hoped. But giving up wasn’t an option. I’d been the Supreme Mage before, and I wasn’t about to let this setback stop me now.

I leapt to my feet, determined to figure this out. Kiran watched me with an amused expression as I retreated to a quiet corner of the house. There, I reopened the book, fully committed to unraveling its mysteries.

For hours, I devoured its contents, carefully absorbing its explanations about the different types of magic. I started to grasp that mana was the raw essence needed to shape and cast spells.

But no matter how much I studied, the problem remained: I couldn’t activate any magical skills. It was as if the door to actual magic was locked, and I didn’t have the key.

Then, something in the text caught my eye.

"Mastery of magic requires consistent practice and natural talent. Only those with innate abilities can unlock skills from an early age."

My fingers trembled as I reread the line. Innate abilities? Did that mean I didn’t have the natural gift required to wield magic? My heart sank. How could this be? I had once been the Supreme Mage, feared and revered across worlds, and now I couldn’t even cast a simple spell.

I sighed deeply, my disappointment weighing heavy. But just as I was about to close the book, a sudden notification flared in front of me, making me jump.

[Detected: Disturbance in mana flow. Analyzing..."]

My eyes widened as the interface displayed a countdown. Moments later, another message popped up:

"Disturbance detected. Special ability identified: Mana Perception."

For a moment, I could only stare, stunned. A special ability? How was that possible if I couldn’t even access basic skills?

Heart pounding, I closed my eyes and focused, trying to tap into this newfound ability. To my astonishment, the air around me seemed to shift. A faint glow appeared, and shimmering threads of energy began weaving through the space, surrounding me like an intricate web.

It was incredible. For the first time, I could see the mana coursing through everything—the walls, the plants nearby, even the faint traces left by my own breathing. It was as if a hidden layer of the world had suddenly revealed itself to me.

Maybe I didn’t need traditional magical skills to begin my training after all. This ability to perceive mana might be exactly what I needed to truly understand the foundations of magic.

With renewed determination, I started to explore this power, paying close attention to every subtle ripple and shift in the energy around me. I was certain that within these delicate threads lay the key to unlocking my true potential.

One thing was certain: I wasn’t going to stop here. No matter how long it took, I would master magic once again. And when that day came, the Demon Lord who had cast me down would face the full force of my wrath. His defeat would be my greatest triumph!