"Shinobi World...?" I confirmed, looking at the sky.
Sure enough, the atmosphere was thick with nature energy—something Earth never had.
That alone confirmed it.
And just like that, thinking about Earth made me remember another thing as my jaw tensed.
"What happened to her? Is she still after me?"
I already knew the answer. Still, I asked.
[How would I know? I'm not omnipresent.]
I sighed before starting to gather chakra within me.
"[Locate] the Dark Angel who attacked me."
The system responded immediately with a flicker of new windows.
[Locate — Tier 3: Activated]
[The Target has been located.]
[The Target is on the planet 'Earth'. Timeline: 1332004.]
I exhaled again, dragging my hand across my face.
It was reassuring in its own weird way. She was back on Earth and it also didn't seem like she had any way to track me. Good.
With that settled, I shifted my focus to something even more important... my chest tightened as I used the skill again,
"[Locate] my father..."
[Locate has been Activated]
[The target cannot be located anywhere in the Omniverse.]
My throat dried up. But I wasn't done.
"[Locate]... my mother."
[Locate has been Activated]
[The target cannot be located anywhere in the Omniverse.]
...Damn it.
---
Three days later...
[Ren, snap out of it. You've been like this for three days…]
"...Hmm...I need more beer."
I slammed my mug on the bar. "Another one!" I barked, and the scarred bartender scrambled to refill it.
[Ren, the samurai will come back. It would be an army this time. You should not be killing them all.]
"Hm."
[…Ren!]
"..."
[Ren...]
*Sigh
[Cell Manipulation: Activated]
A soft green glow danced in my eyes. My posture straightened as the skill triggered, cleaning the alcohol from my system with brutal efficiency.
"Haa… you really couldn't let me wallow a few more days, huh?"
[Drowning in sorrow isn't the answer.]
"Yeah. Yeah." I waved a lazy hand, brushing the words away like smoke.
I turned to the bartender. "Sorry about the mess. How much do I owe you?"
He didn't answer. Scared stiff, he just stared at me, wide-eyed.
"Oh right. I'm even more broke then a begger here, don't think modern currency will work will it?" I chuckled. "Is there another way to pay you…?"
I turned to the empty air beside me.
"[Inventory — Tier 3: Activated.]"
The menu shimmered open. I scrolled through cluttered rows of junk and items—until something stopped me cold.
[Aiko's Diamond Ring]
I stared at it.
This had been here for... how long again? I had almost forgotten about it... There never really came any use of it so I never took it out of my inventory.
But now, Is it a good time to get rid of it?
Trading it for a broken bar table and a few rounds of cheap liquor... Maybe it is the remaining alcohol but, what else can I even use this?
I plucked it from the menu and held it up. It felt heavier than it should've. I could almost see her wearing it... almost.
I rubbed the gem gently, whispering, "It's not like it's made of actual diamond, so I should be careful not to scratch it, right?"
My voice cracked a little. "Hah… my sarcasm's really are losing their charm."
I squeezed the ring between my fingers before looking up towards the bartender, "Please take good care of it... or well, sell it or whatever, i don't really care... Haha..."
I handed the ring to the bartender. "This... should cover the damages."
He resisted as if not wanting the ring but I shoved the ring in his hand before getting up.
[Ren… are you sure?]
Ignoring Sys, I stepped out into the cold.
Snow fell quietly. The kind of snow that makes no sound—just soft, slow, and endless.
Another sigh escaped my lips as a flake landed on my cheek and melted.
I really was sighing a lot lately.
---
The wind whispered across the snowy ridge as I sat atop the hill, just beyond the borders of the Land of Iron.
Below, a village rested quietly—tucked between frozen ridgelines and pine-draped slopes. Its rooftops slanted in the old Japanese style, with curling eaves and lantern-lit streets. Peaceful. Untouched. Familiar.
It hadn't changed much.
At the village center stood a fountain—the first thing I ever built here. Back then, it had marked the beginning of everything. Now, beside it, a statue had been erected. It looked nearly identical to me.
They didn't have to do that. But... I'm glad they did.
"My legacy, huh..."
From above, the people looked like ants—training in the snow, tending crops, children laughing in the cold. It didn't feel like it belonged to me anymore. Not really.
So many years had passed, and still, this place carried my name.
Snowflakes danced around me in silence.
And then, as always—
[Ren.]
Sys's voice returned, soft as the wind.
[What do you want to do next?]
I sighed. Again, yeah. I must be tired. But how do you rest when there's still so much left to do?
"Shop," I murmured.
It was the only system function I had access to. But truthfully? I didn't need anything else.
---
[SHOP(s)]
[Tier 1 Shop] (Locked – The Absolute Observer isn't pleased enough)
[Tier 2 Shop]
[Tier 3 Shop]
[Tier 4 Shop]
[Tier 5 Shop]
[Tier 6 Shop]
[Divinity: 517,815]
---
The Dark Angel that attacked me back on Earth... I hate to admit it, but she was too powerful.
My attacks barely scratched her. My chakra was being eroded just by being near her. Even a single graze from her was enough to corrode my body from the inside out. I had to cut off my own flesh just to survive.
I used everything I had—every skill, every strategy. Nothing worked.
She felt unstoppable. But I know better: nothing is truly unbeatable. I just didn't have what I needed to win—not strength-wise. Something else.
There was a trick to her power. I'm almost certain I've figured it out. But even with that knowledge, I have nothing in my arsenal to counter it.
Not yet.
Not even the current System offers anything useful against her. And that's why—
"Sys, when exactly are Tier 1 skills supposed to unlock? It's been almost my entire life. 54 years is a lot. The Absolute Observer still isn't entertained enough? This thing isn't broken, is it?"
That's why I needed the tier 1 skills which were still hidden behind the Observer's pleasure.
[I don't know what's happening, Ren. But it's not broken. Maybe the Absolute Observer just wants... more entertainment?]
I rolled my eyes. As expected.
This entire clan—this whole village—was built to entertain that so-called god. And it still wasn't enough?
I looked down at the rooftops once more. If I want access to Tier 1 skills… I need to entertain him. I need to make the Observer feel things.
But how?
Simple, An entertaining story. I need to write it. However, before writing it, I need to determine some things...
Every great story needs great characters. Unique characters. Conflicts. Tension. Struggle.
I've known many great characters in my time. If I want to entertain him, I have to bring those characters here, But again, how? how do I bring them here? How do I get Unique characters?
My eyes drifted back to the glowing system screen. I opened the Tier 3 skill tab, scrolling slowly—until one entry caught my attention.
---
[Reincarnation — Tier 3]
[Cost: 250,000 Divinity]
---
...Heh. I guess it's time to play God.
With a tap, I purchased the skill.
I needed to kill that Dark Angel that killed me. That killed my parents. She needs to die but, to kill her, I need to unlock the Tier one skills which is only possible to entertaining A God. And, To entertain this being... I need... a main character.
I stood from the rock I'd been sitting on and stepped into an open patch of snow. Stretching my arms, I took a breath, gathered chakra, and activated the first set of skills.
---
[Timeless — Tier 3: Activated]
[Echo Grasp — Tier 3: Activated]
---
A rift in space tore open before me, shimmering violet at the edges.
Seconds passed.
Then, slowly, a single blue wisp emerged—flickering softly in the cold air.
It came to me and I caught it in my hand. It had no weight but holding it felt like holding the universe.
I also felt bad for this soul... It tried so hard in its world, while it got a minor success, that quickly got shadowed too. And now, I am sending him to another death ride...
"I am just sending you from one cursed world to another… Well, at least you'll have more tools up your sleeves this time, Not just three techniques—or is it four if we count Infinity as well?"
No response. It was just a soul. But I couldn't help myself.
I watched the wisp flicker for a moment longer before gathering chakra once more.
---
[Reincarnation: Activated]
---
The soul vanished—absorbed by the world around me.
I turned to the largest house in the village below.
Nine months from now… he'll be born.
So—what's next?
---
[The Absolute Observer smirks at your actions.]
---
I blinked at the message.
---
[+300,000 Divinity]
---
...Seems like he likes what I am doing. That's a good start at least. Now, what to do next.
I walked to the cliff's edge, staring down the sheer drop.
If you fell from here, there'd be nothing left of you by the time you hit the ground.
I remembered a game I used to play at this fall. What was that line again?
"…The gods of Olympus have abandoned me…"
With a half-smile, I leaned forward.
And jumped.
[REN!!]
The snow whipped past my face. In a second, my body hit the earth like a falling star.
Everything went black.
The last thing I saw were glowing blue letters.
---
[Reincarnation: Activated]
---
A/N: tbh, I feel like there is too much info in these chapters. Maybe I'll edit them sometimes but, if anyone have any questions, ask in the comments.