The world was burning.
Ash fell like snow from the sky. The air reeked of blood and gunpowder. Cities had crumbled. Oceans had boiled. And the final gate hung open in the heavens like a wound in space.
From it, monsters poured.
Endless. Relentless. Godless.
But he stood alone.
The last Awakened.
A man once hailed as humanity's final hope… now reduced to a trembling silhouette, surrounded by the corpses of both friend and foe.
His blade was chipped.
His armor cracked.
His body broken.
But he didn't stop.
Not until the Gate Boss roared—a titan of obsidian and flame, with six eyes that reflected the fall of humanity. Its presence alone shattered mountains and ripped through the clouds.
He charged.
A final clash.
Steel met shadow.
Flame met soul.
And then—
A blinding light.
The Gate Boss collapsed, split in two.
He dropped to his knees, breathing raggedly as blood pooled beneath him.
It was over.
It was finally—
> [Final Gate Cleared.]
[You have exceeded the world's system parameters.]
[Unique Reincarnation Process Initiated…]
"…Hah?"
His lips barely moved.
> [Body condition: Critical.]
[Soul Preservation: 0.01%. Initiating emergency protocol.]
"No," he whispered.
"I was supposed to die here…"
The notification blinked again.
> [Transferring soul…]
[Searching viable host…]
[Target Found: F-Rank Awakened – Kang Minho.]
His vision darkened.
His name—the one worshipped by millions—vanished like mist.
And just before the light swallowed him whole…
He laughed.
---
Somewhere, ten years later…
A boy opened his eyes.