Cold.
That was the first thing Ren felt.
Not the sharp cold of winter air, but a deep, sinking cold that wrapped around his bones and dragged him downward.
His ears rang violently.
Gunfire echoed far away, muffled, like it was happening underwater.
Someone was shouting his name.
"Sir! SIR!"
Hands shook him.
But his body no longer obeyed.
The poison worked faster than anything he had ever studied.
His fingers twitched once.
Then nothing.
His lungs burned.
Air refused to enter.
The night sky above him blurred into streaks of white and gold.
The city lights twisted like dying stars.
So this is death, he thought dimly.
Not dramatic.
Just quiet.
Heavy.
Memories surged.
His father teaching him chess at seven.
His mother correcting his posture during speeches.
Long nights studying market trends.
Morning training sessions until his arms couldn't lift.
The Kingswell name.
The responsibility.
The empire he hadn't finished building.
I wasn't done.
His heartbeat stuttered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
Stopped.
Silence.
Absolute.
No pain.
No body.
No breath.
Ren felt suspended, as if floating in warm water.
When he opened his eyes—
There was no sky.
No ground.
Only endless light.
Stars formed and collapsed around him like breathing lungs of the universe.
Galaxies spiraled past his vision.
Before him, space bent inward.
Something enormous began to take shape.
Not a creature.
Not a god.
A presence.
A being made of shifting cosmic matter, its form constantly rearranging into constellations, nebulae, collapsing suns.
Ancient.
Neutral.
Power beyond comprehension.
"Ren Alaric Kingswell."
The voice didn't travel through air.
It existed directly inside his mind.
Deep.
Layered.
Timeless.
Ren instinctively straightened, despite having no body.
"I'm dead," he said calmly.
"Yes."
No comfort.
No sympathy.
Just fact.
Ren exhaled slowly.
Figures.
The being pulsed faintly, universes forming in its core.
"Your life ended due to calculated malice. Yet your soul carries the traits of balance, ambition, and command."
"Leadership," Ren corrected quietly.
"Authority," the being replied.
A massive planet appeared between them, glowing with rivers of mana.
"Aetherra."
The name resonated through Ren's chest.
"A world shaped by magic, ancient wars, dragons, gods, and endless conflict."
Ren studied it carefully like a strategist observing a battlefield.
"You're offering a second life."
"Not life," the being corrected.
"Purpose."
The planet zoomed closer.
Continents cracked with glowing energy.
Dragons soared across skies.
Kingdoms burned.
Cult rituals twisted reality.
"You will not be reborn as an infant," the being continued. "You will receive a perfected vessel. One that will not age. One that adapts. One that regenerates."
Images surged.
Muscle reforged.
Bones glowing with runes.
Blood burning like molten gold.
"And you will receive a core."
A blazing heart of crimson and gold formed.
"The Heart of the Dragon King."
Ren felt its power even from a distance.
"Absolute dominion over dragonkind. Mastery of all magic paths. Draconic knowledge. A sovereign aura."
Silence stretched.
Ren finally asked, "Why me?"
The being leaned closer, galaxies folding inward.
"You understand systems. Control. Sacrifice for stability. You lead naturally without needing worship."
Ren clenched invisible fists.
"You want a ruler."
"Yes."
"Aetherra is approaching an era of collapse. It needs order, not heroes."
Ren considered carefully.
"And the cost?"
"There will be blood."
Ren's lips curved faintly.
"There always is."
A translucent interface flickered into existence.
"Gacha Sovereign System activated."
Summoning.
Growth.
Progression.
"The power scales with mana density," the being explained. "High-risk zones yield high reward."
Ren's eyes gleamed with understanding.
Resources.
Scaling.
Risk management.
Perfect.
"Send me," he said calmly.
The being pulsed.
"Then claim your throne, Ren Alaric Kingswell."
The universe twisted violently.
Light collapsed inward.
And Ren fell.
Pain slammed into him like a mountain.
His lungs sucked in air violently.
His body convulsed.
Cold stone pressed against his back.
A powerful hum vibrated through his bones.
Ren gasped.
Coughed.
Sat upright.
Green light pulsed beneath him.
He lay atop a massive glowing crystal slab embedded in a cavern floor.
The air crackled with raw energy.
It felt thick.
Heavy.
Alive.
Every breath filled his body with burning strength.
He slowly stood.
His movements were too light.
Too strong.
He clenched his fist.
The air warped.
Stone cracked.
His heart thundered like a living furnace.
He looked around.
The cavern was enormous, stretching endlessly.
Dragon skeletons littered the ground.
Some so massive they dwarfed skyscrapers.
Mana rivers flowed like glowing veins through obsidian rock.
The pressure alone would've crushed a normal human.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
System InitializedMana Density: ExtremeEnvironment Bonus: +700%Gacha Overdrive Active
A transparent interface appeared before him.
Stats he couldn't fully comprehend yet.
Energy reserves overflowing.
Authority locked but rising.
One glowing button.
SUMMON
Ren swallowed slowly.
"This place is insane…"
He hesitated.
Then pressed it.
Light exploded outward.
The cavern shook violently.
Mana surged like a storm.
Something massive began forming.
Scales.
Fire.
Power.
A colossal dragon emerged from the brilliance.
Obsidian-black scales glowing with molten cracks.
Eyes burning like twin suns.
It was ancient.
Terrifying.
Its presence alone bent the air.
Instead of roaring—
It lowered its massive head.
Pressed its snout to the stone.
Elder Dragon — Ignivar the WorldburnerStatus: Bound Loyalty
Ren felt the connection slam into him.
Fire.
War.
Command.
Instinctive authority flooded his veins.
"My Sovereign," Ignivar rumbled. "Your will is my flame."
Ren slowly exhaled.
This wasn't a dream.
This wasn't mercy.
This was power.
"Aetherra," he whispered.
"I'm going to rebuild you."