As someone who grew up in the modern era, I do not believe in such things as reincarnation, many accounts of similar stories are known worldwide, there's a lot of bullshit claims "That was me before my reincarnation" for me it's all the same. delusions, coincidence, lies people told themselves to feel special.
Yeah I'm gonna buy that if we're inside a video game but no...
But then everything change...
..At this very moment, I'm currently at the process of being reincarnated?..
the last time I remember was when I was walking home from my work as a kitchen helper which I only earn a handful, I saw a child 5-6 years old I think? in the middle of the road chasing his ball, Then I heard a loud engine noise..
–A truck.. A speeding truck towards him!
"..Hey Kid–!!!"
I.., I think I shouted. My body moved before my mind could catch up. I ran. No hesitation. No second thoughts. I grabbed the kid, pushed him away–
And then
Light. Blinding. Overwhelming.
After that… nothing.
Could it really be? Am I really dead?…So this is what they meant. "Your life flashes before your eyes." Heh. Except… mine didn't. I can't explain...
No happy memories. No meaningful moments. No grand achievements. Just a dull, empty life that ended in a single impulsive decision.
"…What a joke."
But I can't die.. Not now–
..I haven't accomplished anything yet. All I did was work… play games… and waste time.. nothing important. Nothing meaningful.. I want to make things that feels right, things that gives me purpose–
"I want to be useful too.., to have a meaningful life like the others– a glorious purpose"
I plead for help hoping for someone or something to at least get me out in to this mess.
Am I falling? No... But my body froze? It's really hard to tell anymore. "... Please help me."
Then something changed...A faint voice–
Voice–"What will you do if you have a second chance?" As if a God.. Something or someone heard me and responded to me.
"–Everything!!!.." I answered as if it's the very last time I could at least scream up to my lungs.
– "Everything for what?"
"To do everything I believe is right.. To become useful to others.." But I'm met with silence "..Please, just help me– let me out."
– "You will be given a second life, but this time.. Seek for the light to guide others–
"…Light…?" The word echoed in the void. I didn't fully understand it, but somehow… it felt important. "…I don't care what it is," I whispered. "Just… give me a chance." Silence. For a moment again, I thought it was over–that whatever answered me had already left...Then–
The darkness shifted. Not like something moving… but like something breaking.
A faint glow appeared in the distance. Small at first, barely noticeable.. But it grew. Slowly, steadily, like a crack of light piercing through endless night.
– "Then prove it."
The voice returned–clearer this time. Not kind. Not cruel. Just… absolute.
–"A life without purpose is no different from death." My chest tightened...
–"You were empty."
"…I know."
–"You wasted your time."
"…I know."
–"You lived without meaning."
"…I know!"
My voice broke. "…That's why I'm asking! That's why I don't want to end like this!"
The light expanded, swallowing the darkness.
–"Then remember this."
Something pressed into me–not physically, but deeper, like it was being carved into my very existence.
Voice–"Power without purpose will destroy you., Purpose without power will break you."
My thoughts trembled. "…Then give me both." Silence. Longer this time. As if something was deciding.
Voice–"…Very well." The light surged violently. –"Your existence will not follow the system."
"…System…?"
Voice–"You will not be bound by class...You will stand outside of order. You will become…" Something in my mind cracked. My very being started to distort.
–Static. Noise. Distortion.
Voice—"…an anomaly." Everything shattered.
[–System… Initializing–]
[–Error–]
[No Class Detected]
[–Error–]
[Rewriting… Rewriting…]
"…What… is this…?"
[Unique Condition Met]
[Subject: Anomaly]
[Granting Special Authority]
Pain—not physical, but something far worse.
[Skill Acquired: Mana Override]
[Skill Acquired: Brute]
[Skill Acquired: Sword Master]
[Skill Acquired: Lancer]
[Skill Acquired: Dagger Expert]
[Skill Acquired: Universal Understanding]
[Skill Acquired: Copy]
[Skill Acquired: Precision and Swift Hands]
[Skill Acquired: Universal Sense]
"…I… can't…"
My consciousness began to fade as the light consumed everything.
–"Now go."
Warmth. A heartbeat. A cry.
"…Wah–!?" W..What–what is this…?
A cry? No, my cry. My body… small… weak… I can't even control it –…Wait. A baby?..No way. I'm a baby?! "…How_?!" My thoughts spiraled, but only another helpless cry came out.
"…Waaah–!"
Voices surrounded me–clear, real.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Greaves," a woman said. "He's a healthy baby boy."
Just who are these guys?
Arms held me gently. Warm. Careful. Someone… was cradling me like I mattered."…My child…" a soft voice trembled. A woman–my mother–held me close. "I… I can't believe it… he's finally here…" She was crying. I didn't understand why… but it felt… comforting.
Another voice entered–deep, urgent.
"…Is it done?" Footsteps rushed in."…My wife–! Is she alright?!"
"I'm fine," she replied softly. "Come… look…" A pause. "…So this is… my son?"
His voice changed–softer. "…He's small… but alive." A quiet breath escaped him. "…That's enough." A large, rough hand gently rested on my head. "…Welcome to the world, my son." but I'm still confused.., Are they my new parents now?. –Holy sh..
"…We need to give him a name," My mother said. "…A name…" the man repeated, thinking. "…Lucien." –"…Lucien?" she echoed. "…Lucien Greaves," he said firmly. "A name worthy of a new beginning." The midwife smiled. "A fine name, Mr. Greaves Shall I record it? "…"Yes. Let it be known." Lucien...Greaves…So that's… me? that's my name now?
My thoughts grew heavy. "…Am I really… reborn…?" I looked at them. They were smiling. Like my existence meant something.
"…For what purpose…?" No answer came. Not from them. Not from that voice anymore. Only silence. But deep within– Something remained.
[This existence does not conform to the system]
"…This life… won't be normal."
As question lingers on my mind.... "Who was that?, why did that thing put me here?, is this really my second chance?"
Light? What light should I seek?...to guide others? Hell I can't even have a good life decisions my self!..
..On top of that I am being held against my will, weak, defenseless, but these people around me at least they're happy.. To have me I think?...
Their voices blurred in and out as if I was underwater... I could hear them speaking, laughing softly, crying even... yet none of it felt real.– "No... this can't be real..."
Maybe this is what dying feels like. A final dream made from desperate thoughts. Some fantasy my brain created so I wouldn't have to accept the truck crushed me into the pavement. I chuckled "Yeah... that makes more sense."
...Reincarnation? New parents? A mysterious voice? Skills? System? What is this, some cheap game plot stitched together from all the nonsense I used to consume after work?–
–But then...
Warmth. I felt it again. The warmth of skin against mine. The slow rhythm of a heartbeat that wasn't my own. Fingers carefully supporting my head. Breathing. Movement. Tiny details too consistent to be a dream...
"...No. Dreams don't stay this stable." I tried to move my arm. Nothing graceful happened. Just a pathetic little twitch. "...Seriously?" Then I cried again without meaning to. "Waaah–!" How humiliating. The woman–my supposed mother–immediately rocked me gently. Her voice trembled as she whispered words I couldn't understand fully, yet the emotion behind them was obvious. Relief. Love. Fear. Hope. Why would a dying hallucination bother with details like that? Unless...
Because my brain is insane. Great. Either I'm reborn for real, or I've gone completely mad in my final seconds. What a set of choices..
I stared upward with my useless baby eyes. Shapes were blurry. Colors smeared together. Even my vision got nerfed. If this is a second life, then this start is cruel. No strength. No freedom. No dignity.
Can't walk. Can't talk. Can't even hold my own neck. Amazing. Truly a legendary beginning. Still... – That pain earlier...
The thing that carved words into me... I can still remember it too clearly. "Power without purpose will destroy you. Purpose without power will break you." Those words didn't feel imagined. They felt branded. And somewhere deeper than thought, I could sense it. Something hidden. Something waiting. Like a locked door inside my chest. When I focused, strange fragments flickered through my mind.
[System Error]
[No Class Detected]
[Authority Granted]
Then it vanished. "...So I'm not crazy enough to invent menus too?" Honestly, that doesn't help. I wanted proof. Real proof. Something undeniable. But hell, all I had were instincts, voices, and the fact I was currently wrapped in cloth and being treated like expensive cargo with a handle with care sticker.
The man–my supposed father–stood beside the bed, watching me with an expression I couldn't read fully. He looked strong. The kind of man who solved problems with his hands. Yet when he looked at me, there was restraint there... like he was afraid to hold something fragile. Me.
That thought felt strange. Someone being careful... because of me. In my old life, nobody waited for me at home. Nobody looked at me like I mattered. I existed between shifts, bills, and distractions. Alive... but not needed. Yet here, moments after being born, two strangers already had tears in their eyes because I existed. "...That's unfair, Why now? Why after I died? Why give me something valuable only after I lost everything?.."
Unless that's the point. A second chance isn't a reward. It's a test. I hated how much that made sense. My eyelids grew heavier. Exhaustion dragged at me from every side. Even thinking this much in a newborn body felt impossible. Before sleep claimed me, I made one silent promise. If this is fake... I'll know eventually. But if this is real... then I won't waste it. Not this time. As darkness closed in, one final thought echoed inside me. "...Lucien Greaves." A name that still felt foreign. For now.
End of chapter