One week ago…
A young man gasped for air in a bathtub. His lungs burned, his head pounded, and his body felt as heavy as lead, sinking to the bottom. His trembling hand reached up, gripping the edge of the tub. Water splashed onto the floor as he pulled himself up, coughing and desperate for breath.
The face that rose from the water was no longer the Steven of old. His black hair clung wet to his face, his wide-open eyes reflecting a sharp, cold glint. The man slicked his hair back, drawing in a long breath as if reborn.
"Wasn't I killed by my own subordinates? Then… what is this place?!"
He looked around. Everything was unfamiliar, so different from the kingdom he once ruled. Slowly, he tried to stand from the bathtub, but his weakened legs immediately gave out.
"Damn it! My legs are numb… how long has this body been submerged in water?"
He struggled to get up, but collapsed a second time. His breath came hard and fast. Finally, he gave up, leaning against the cold bathroom wall for support.
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out:
"CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REBIRTH, MY LORD!"
From thin air, a translucent blue orb appeared before him. The orb had eyes, eyebrows, and a mouth, floating directly in front of the man's face.
Startled, he instinctively swung his fist. The punch landed true—but passed straight through the orb, as if he were striking nothing but air.
The orb smiled broadly, drifting back just out of reach.
"Forgive me for startling you," it said calmly. "I am a system from the realm of time and space, designated Z032O4. I will guide your life from this rebirth onward… Your Majesty, King Altar!"
"A new birth? Perhaps the gods are on my side! After the pain of a sword through my heart, the heavens have given me a new body. But why is it so weak?!"
King Altar clenched his fists, but felt no energy coursing through his frail body. It was unbearably weak!
"Allow me to explain your new life, my lord," the orb said, bowing politely.
"Right now, you are in another world—a different dimension entirely. Your previous world was destroyed, along with your former body. In this world, you are known as Steven: a wealthy, handsome young man… but extremely weak, and often bullied. Your parents are divorced, and you live alone in an apartment. Because of relentless bullying, one week ago you attempted suicide. This is your second attempt."
The words made Steven narrow his eyes. This body's former owner had truly been miserable.
> "For now, I will restore your body first. After that, I will slowly explain the purpose of your rebirth," Z032O4 said.
Steven gave a curt nod. The system began scanning his body before opening the Time Shop and retrieving a small vial of recovery potion. Without hesitation, Steven downed it in a single gulp.
The change was immediate. Strength slowly returned to his limbs, his pallid skin regained its color, and his lips—once nearly blue from being submerged in water—now showed a healthy red tint.
"This world is the hundredth world targeted by the demon race for conquest. They invade one planet after another, searching for the perfect place to claim as their own. Your task is to hunt those demons… and save this world!"
The orb floated closer, its voice solemn.
"At this beginner stage, you must train on your own to become stronger. Even though I am your system, my ability to assist you is limited. That potion was my gift to you. From now on, every time you slay a demon, you will earn points that can be used to purchase items from the Time Shop."
Steven stood up, flexing his hands, and smiled coldly.
"Hunt demons? That's the one thing I will enjoy the most…"
He had died once at the hands of demons. Now, he swore he would eradicate them from this world.
---
For the next week, Steven secluded himself at home, training his body relentlessly. Though he wasn't as powerful as before, he was now strong enough to fight with his bare hands.
…
Meanwhile, mysterious murders began to plague the city. The victims were found missing multiple body parts. The police had been investigating the case for a year, yet they found no clues.
Steven stood atop the school building, gazing out at the seemingly peaceful city.
"They're here already… one by one," he murmured.
The demons had begun infiltrating silently, biding their time until their king arrived and they could launch an all-out assault.
Using the news he gathered from the internet, Steven pinpointed the latest crime scenes.
"Tomorrow," he muttered, gripping the ledge tightly, "I'll hunt my first demon."
And for the demons hiding in the dark, it would be the beginning of their nightmare.