I woke up in the same familiar room.
For a moment, nothing made sense. The soft silk sheets, the faint lavender scent from the pillows, the heavy velvet curtains blocking the morning light — everything was exactly how I remembered it from my childhood. But that couldn't be right.
Hadn't I died?
The memories hit me hard. The 99th floor of the Abyss Ekati Labyrinth. We had been so close to clearing it. One more chamber and we would've made it. Then the ground started shaking violently. Someone — or something — had broken the labyrinth from the outside. The protective timer ran out, and the entire tower collapsed.
Monsters and demons came pouring out like a flood. My teammates' screams still echoed in my head as they were ripped apart. I tried to fight, tried to run, but a massive claw tore through my body. The last thing I saw was the ceiling crashing down as everything fell apart.
And now… here I was. Alive. Breathing. Trapped once again in the weak, sickly body of a child.
I sat up slowly, my small arms trembling with the effort. This was my old room — the private chamber of the fourth son of Duke Vonstrom. The place I had left behind years ago when my family finally gave up on me.
All because I was born a twin.
My older brother had taken everything good from our parents — strong mana veins, a perfect body, natural talent with both sword and magic. I came out second, frail and sickly. From the time I was old enough to understand, I was neglected. Forgotten. Just a disappointment.
That pain was what eventually pushed me to run away at sixteen. I became an adventurer, found a team of friends who didn't care how weak I was, and together we tackled the Abyss Ekati Labyrinth.
But right now, the labyrinth hadn't even appeared yet.
I glanced at the calendar on the wall.
24th March 1387.
My birthday. The exact day my old life had started to change.
A strange warmth suddenly bloomed in my chest, right over my heart. Something had come back with me.
The Hogyoku.
In my previous life, I had found it on the 55th floor of the labyrinth — a small, perfectly round orb that glowed with a soft inner light. I never really understood what it was, but I kept it hidden and carried it with me until the end. Somehow, it had followed me back into this young body.
I focused on it, and the Hogyoku responded with a quiet, deep resonance inside me. It didn't speak or show any messages. It just felt like it was waiting — listening.
I closed my eyes and thought clearly:
"I want to change my fate. I refuse to live as the weak, neglected twin again. I will become stronger than anyone in this world. Stronger than my brother. Stronger than the duke. I'll reach heights no one has ever imagined."
A gentle heat spread through my body. The Hogyoku pulsed once, slowly, as if it had heard me. Something deep inside felt like it had begun to shift — subtle, quiet, but real.
Before I could think any further, the door opened.
My father stepped in.
Yama Ga Leon. A towering man built like a mountain, every inch of him packed with muscle. A giant among humans.
The moment I saw him, I knew the hell was about to begin.
He didn't say a word. He simply clapped his hands twice. Two servants immediately rushed in, scooped up me and my brother, and carried us out.
Next thing I knew, we were in the middle of the naming ceremony.
The Yama clan was the most powerful in the kingdom. They weren't just warriors — they were master blacksmiths who created the finest artifacts. The clan was split into two branches: one focused on research and crafting, the other on combat. Only the main family combined both. My father was one of those rare few.
"Sir, look at this one," one of the servants said, holding my brother. "He's so healthy. Looks like he'll win this race easily."
I knew that servant too well, but that was a problem for later.
Our family's naming ceremony had three parts: the Race, the Blessing, and the Choosing.
It wasn't just the two of us. Many other servants had brought children from the clan. My father gave a small nod as the head of the family, and the race began.
They placed us on the ground and stepped back.
From my memories of the past, I already knew what was coming. The moment they let go, I started running as best as my tiny legs could manage. I must have eaten and slept well before waking up, because I actually had a bit of energy this time.
The other children didn't understand at first. Then the dogs were released.
Suddenly the air filled with terrified crying. Some kids got bitten. Others ran in blind panic.
Just like before, my brother was right behind me. I pushed my small body harder. My breathing grew ragged, sweat stung my eyes, and my legs burned.
Damn this child's body… At this rate—
Before I could finish the thought, a cool sensation spread through my chest. My breathing steadied on its own. My legs felt lighter. My speed picked up again.
I was getting close to the finish line — the river.
The Null River. The River of Death.
This was how the Yama clan tested its successors. You couldn't grow strong if you feared death, so they threw you into it right after birth.
I took a deep breath and jumped.
The dark water swallowed me instantly. I opened my eyes underwater, and they burned like fire. I forced them to stay open. My lungs screamed for air. I couldn't hold it anymore. I gasped — and swallowed cold river water.
My body started going numb. I could feel myself slipping.
Then the voices came.
"Come… Come to me. Life holds nothing for you. Death is peaceful… sleepy. You've struggled enough. Rest easy."
"Life only brings suffering. Forget everything. Break the chains of desire and madness. Just die… and rest."
The words wrapped around my mind like silk. For a moment, I felt hypnotized.
Yeah… Life really is too hard. I have nothing worth holding onto. Maybe death is better…
But then I remembered my old life — my friends who stood by me, the people who had laughed at me, the dreams I never got to fulfill.
"No," I thought fiercely. "I can't die here. I'm going to make something of my life. I won't break so easily."
I forced my eyes open again. I was lying on the muddy riverbed. I tried to push myself up, but my body had almost no strength left.
Still, I kept trying. Again and again.
Finally, my limbs responded. I started swimming upward, weak but determined. Every stroke felt like it took everything I had, yet a strange energy kept pushing me forward.
I was almost at the surface when my vision started to fade. Consciousness slipping away…
Then something grabbed me.