The grass whispered softly beneath his boots as he walked, each step carrying him farther from the tree that had cradled his rebirth and deeper into the vast, open field stretching endlessly under the moonlit sky. The world felt impossibly quiet, as if it were holding its breath, the stars above flickering like distant embers scattered across a canvas of deep blue.
There was no pain now.
No screaming memories.
Only the steady rhythm of his breathing and the faint echo of lives that no longer demanded his attention.
He slid his hands into the pockets of his worn coat, fingers brushing against fabric that felt unfamiliar yet strangely comforting, as though this body—this final one—was slowly accepting the weight of everything he had been before.
A soft glow shimmered at the edge of his vision.
[ So... ]
[ About the promise you mentioned earlier... ]
"One step at a time," he replied, his gaze sweeping across the moonlit field.
"That promise is going to be fulfilled... one at a time."
The light flickered faintly.
[ ...I suppose you're right. ]
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"What? Don't get all moody on me now. This is just the beginning."
He continued walking, the tall grass brushing against his legs like gentle waves.
"Just like the start of every fantasy story—comics, manga, all of it.
Except instead of being overpowered from day one, I actually have to think this time."
His eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful rather than annoyed.
"I'm guessing all the skills from my past lives are locked, right?"
A brief pause.
[ Yep. ]
He sighed, though there was no real frustration in it—only acceptance.
"Figures. My first life would've called this 'proper progression.'"
With a subtle motion, he raised his hand.
"Alright then... let's see what I'm working with."
He stopped walking as the glow expanded, unfolding into a familiar, translucent interface before his eyes.
Name: Unknown
Level: 1
Strength: Low
Agility: Low
Endurance: Low
Mana: Minimal
Affinity: None
Skills: Locked
His jaw tightened.
Of all the lives he had lived—kings, warriors, monsters, legends—this one had gifted him the body of someone who could barely survive a proper fistfight.
Still, he straightened his posture, rolling his shoulders back as he forced the irritation down into something quieter, more controlled.
"...So this is how we're starting," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Well... fuck me."
The system remained silent, as if waiting for him to complain.
He didn't.
Instead, he lifted a hand and began swiping through the interface. His fingers passed through the glowing panels as menus shifted, expanded, and collapsed in response—status logs, memory archives, soul records, locked permissions.
"So much data," he muttered, clicking his tongue.
"And not a single usable advantage."
His movements slowed when a different category caught his attention.
Soul Management
Fragment Storage: 99/99
Fragment Access: Restricted
He narrowed his eyes.
"Ah... there you are."
The interface pulsed faintly as he tried to open it, resisting his command like a silent warning. He ignored it, forcing the menu wider with deliberate precision.
A list appeared—mostly sealed, their names blurred or entirely unreadable.
But one entry remained clear.
Soul Fragment Divide
Status: Locked
Risk Level: Extreme
Description:
Allows the user to separate a fragment of their soul and embed it into a compatible vessel.
Severe backlash to the user.
Fragment loss is permanent unless reclaimed.
Additional Note:
If the vessel dies anywhere in this world, the soul fragment will be forcefully returned to the user's body.
His breath slowed as a low scoff escaped his lips.
"So... this is it..."
He reached up, resting a hand against his temple, eyes fixed on the glowing text.
"This... will be the first step of my first life's promise," he said quietly.
"Don't you think, System?"
The interface flickered.
[ Hey, I have a name too, you know? ]
[ ...Well, I guess you're right. ]
[ But don't you think this is risky? ]
"Risky?" He let out another scoff, dragging his hand through his hair.
"Just like what No. 56 said—
'the bigger the risk, the better the rewards.'"
[ ...You're crazy. ]
A faint grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah. And you'll have to get used to it."
He lowered his hand, eyes sharp with quiet determination.
"Because I'm not letting any advantage go to waste."
The system interface flickered one last time before fading away.
He exhaled slowly and closed the interface.
The night air felt colder without the glowing panels in front of him, the vast field stretching endlessly beneath the stars.
Then, without hesitation, he continued walking forward.
"Alright," he said under his breath, hands slipping back into his coat pockets.
"Let's do this, shall we?"