"Welcome, Brave. You have finally arrived!"
A cheerful voice echoed through the enclosed space. I immediately looked around, yet there was no one in sight.
Just moments ago, I was still inside the dungeon. I was supposed to use the teleportation circle to leave, but somehow, I ended up in this strange, sealed-off place. The space was completely closed, and standing before me was a massive stone statue of a woman.
I recognized her.
It was the same statue often seen in the town square—the goddess people worshipped, the Goddess of Fate, Fatelis.
Seeing the statue reminded me of an old tale:
They say only those chosen by the Goddess of Fate can reach the very bottom of the labyrinth.
If that's true…
"I've been chosen as the Brave?"
The moment I whispered that, I realized—things weren't that simple.
Because everything… began 16 years ago.
This day was the last day of my life.
My name is Goo Xingyu, a student born in Malaysia. In November this year, I'm supposed to take my graduation exams, so I've been attending extra classes every week.
Today was no exception. After class ended, at around 6:30 p.m., I said goodbye to my friends and walked toward my motorcycle.
I'm seventeen years old. I already have a motorcycle license, so I usually ride my bike to school and tuition classes.
My birthday is on September 12th, so I haven't gotten my car license yet, though I'm currently learning how to drive.
I reached the rear box of my motorcycle, inserted the key, and opened it. After taking out my helmet and putting it on, I locked the box again, switched to the ignition key, inserted it into the slot, turned it, and started the engine. I pushed the bike toward the road, shifted into first gear, and twisted the throttle.
After riding for a while, I approached a crossroad. The road leading straight ahead would take me home.
There were no traffic lights here—just a "STOP" sign and a white line drawn about a meter before the junction, reminding drivers to slow down and check both sides before crossing. Since the road ahead of me had no sign, I didn't need to stop and could continue straight.
My current speed was 45 km/h, and I was about 25 meters away from the intersection. On the left side, a black car had its right turn signal on and had stopped, waiting for a chance to move. On the opposite lane ahead, a blue car was coming toward me at around 50 km/h.
Seeing the black car stopped, I decided to speed up and pass the intersection before it moved.
Twenty meters… ten meters… five… four… three… two… one—
Suddenly, the black car lunged forward at high speed, cutting right in front of me. I hadn't crossed yet. Panic froze my body for an instant—
but my mind snapped back immediately, and I tried to think fast.
At nearly 55 km/h, it was too late to brake. My only option was to accelerate. But if I swerved right, I'd crash into the oncoming blue car.
The black car was already beside me—barely a meter away.
I turned my head left and saw the driver's terrified face. He must've misjudged the timing.
Then came the deafening screech of his brakes—
but it was far too late.
A loud, violent crash followed.
In just a few seconds, my fate was sealed.
As I flew through the air, I could only regret speeding up, thinking the straight road would be safe.
I was flung into the opposite lane. The blue car driver, seeing me airborne, slammed the brakes, but there was no time.
A second impact struck me like a two-hit combo—then came the third.
I hit the ground hard, rolled several times, and—unluckily—my helmet came off just before I smashed the back of my head against an electric pole.
And that's where my memory ended.
Now that I think about it, I really was unlucky, huh…
Wait… huh!?
(Hold on! Why am I still conscious? Why is everything dark? My body won't move! Don't tell me… I'm in a coma!)
I struggled, trying to move. My hands… I could feel them, weakly. My eyes… they could open.
In front of me was a sweating woman, breathing heavily but smiling at me warmly.
(Who… is she? Maybe I should ask.)
I decided to speak.
＂Waa… waa waa? (Excuse me, where am I?)＂
『The baby cried! I'm your mommy.』
I heard myself make strange noises—and not a single word came out right.
She responded with words I didn't understand at all—not Chinese, not Malay, not even English.
(What language is that? It's none I've ever learned…)
I gave up trying to talk and looked down at my body.
It was wrapped tightly in cloth—like a rice dumpling.
And my limbs… were tiny.
The woman's arms were around me, but I could barely feel her touch.
(Okay, calm down, think this through…)
I straightened my head and looked up again. She was beside me now—only her face and shoulders visible.
(I'm lying down… my body's smaller… she's holding me… I can't speak properly… don't tell me—)
The conclusion hit me.
(I've turned into a baby!? Is this… reincarnation into another world!? That means… she's my mother!)
And so… my new life began.