The story begins with the clash of blades.
A midst a shattered battlefield, Ralph, a lone warrior, fought with all his might, his sword slicing through the air with unmatched precision. Opposite him stood a powerful enemy — shrouded in shadows, their face obscured, their presence terrifying. The earth beneath them trembled as their battle raged on, a fight so fierce it felt like it could shake the planet itself.
But Ralph was losing.
Bloodied and bruised, his strength was waning. With a final roar, he summoned every last ounce of power and launched one last devastating strike. His blade met its mark — his opponent staggered, and both plunged into the dark depths of a watery abyss.
As Ralph sank deeper into the cold silence, his vision blurred. But in his final moments, thoughts filled his mind — thoughts not of victory, but of regret.
> "My name is Ralph. Ever since I was a child, I wanted to become a hero — to protect others. But the world… it's not a place where you can trust everyone. That dream of being a hero slowly faded. I became powerful the day I stopped trying to save everyone. And maybe… today is the price I pay for abandoning that dream."
His breath slowed. His body grew still.
> "My eyes… they're closing. But… what is that light…?"
And then — silence.
His eyes shut for the final time… or so it seemed.
From his lifeless body, a faint glow emerged. His soul — radiant and weightless — began to rise, drifting upward through the dark waters toward that mysterious light above. The light grew brighter… closer…
Suddenly — a gasp.
A different man's eyes snapped open.
He blinked rapidly, staring at the ceiling above, dazed and confused. Beeping monitors and sterile white lights surrounded him. He was in a hospital room.
Panic set in.
He looked around, unsure of where — or who — he was. From the hallway, a nurse entered. She froze at the sight of him awake, the tray in her hands clattering to the floor.
She turned and ran.
> "DOCTOR! DOCTOR! HE'S AWAKE!"
The man, now alone, slowly sat up. His body felt weak — bones thin, limbs trembling. He tried to stand but collapsed as soon as his feet touched the cold floor.
Crawling on trembling hands, he reached a mirror across the room.
He stood before it.
And froze.
> "This… this isn't my face…"
He touched the reflection, eyes wide in disbelief. His body was fragile, emaciated. Long, unkempt hair framed a face he didn't recognize. His voice trembled.
> "I've never looked like this… I was strong. Tall. My body was— This… this can't be mine."
> "Wait… I died. I remember the fight. The water. That light…"
His breathing quickened.
> "Is this the afterlife? Did I reincarnate? But… if I was reborn, shouldn't I have grown up from childhood? What is this…?"
Just then, the door burst open. A doctor rushed in, the nurse trailing behind him.
The doctor stared, stunned.
> "This… this can't be happening… How are you alive?"
"You were dead. We declared your death."
And with that chilling line… the chapter ends.
To be continued…