Darkness... Absolute void... Am I dead?
That was the last thought Rian had before he felt his body being forcefully pulled through an invisible vortex. There was no pain—just a terrifying sensation of falling into the depths of the unknown.
Then...
BOOOOM!
He crashed into solid ground with a heavy thud. The air was knocked out of his lungs, and he gasped in pain, struggling to breathe. The impact echoed through the place, the sound bouncing off the surroundings, as if the ruins around him were groaning under the weight of time.
He slowly raised his head to find himself surrounded by ruined debris—cracked stone walls, collapsed pillars, and ground torn by deep fissures, as if a fierce battle had once raged here. Dry winds blew dust and brittle leaves through the air, giving the place a gloomy atmosphere—like a forgotten graveyard.
A… deserted place?
"Where… am I?"
His voice echoed into the void, but the only reply was the whispering wind between the ruins, as if murmuring the secrets of this place's past.
He tried to stand, but his body betrayed him. A strange sensation washed over him… like he hadn't used this body in a very long time. Then, he noticed something even more shocking—
His body was different.
He had become a thin young man with pale skin, as if he had been bedridden for years. His fingers were bony, and his limbs cold as death.
Then, a sudden wave of memories crashed into his mind like a torrential flood.
---
Rian, a young man from Earth, lived his life through the pages of manga and fantasy novels. But he died in a mysterious accident… and now, he has reincarnated into a world of martial arts!
---
His eyes widened.
"Reincarnated…?"
If this was a fantasy world, surely there had to be a powerful system, supernatural abilities, or at least innate talent!
But…
Three years passed, and nothing happened.
Three years of living like an ant with no strength.
Three years of hunger, humiliation, and suffering.
Three years of waiting for a system to appear, but in vain.
It wasn't how he imagined it. No skills, no legendary powers, no golden opportunities. Just a weak boy in a world that worships strength.
"But wait..." He looked around again. "How did I end up here?"
Then he saw something strange amidst the ruins… a cracked black stone resting in the center of the courtyard.
It wasn't just any stone. Its jagged cracks shimmered faintly with golden light, as if hiding an ancient power within.
A chill ran through his body, as if the stone was watching him—despite being lifeless.
---
"Why… do I feel like it's calling to me?"
---
He cautiously approached it, extended his trembling hand, and touched its dusty surface with his fingertips.
WHOOOOSH!
A golden light burst from the stone, and an ancient voice echoed through the air:
"Welcome, new leader of the Heavenly Sect."
Rian froze in place.
"W-What?!"
A glowing notification suddenly appeared before him, written in golden text.
---
[Heavenly Sect System Activating…]
[Analyzing host…]
[Identity confirmed: Rian, Leader of the Heavenly Sect.]
[Sect status: Destroyed (0/10,000 Development Points)]
[Initial missions available.]
---
Rian stood dumbfounded.
"Is this… real?"
After three years of waiting… the system had finally appeared!
But… wait a second.
0/10,000 development points?
"Sect status: Destroyed"?
Where was the overwhelming power? The legendary skills? The treasures that would grant him world domination?
Another notification appeared:
---
[Starting Mission: Clean the Sect's Courtyard.]
[Reward: 10 Development Points, Information about the Heavenly Sect.]
---
Rian froze for a moment.
After three years of hell, and after all the dreams of mythical systems…
His first mission was… cleaning?
He looked around at the scattered rubble, the thick dust, and the weeds growing through the cracks.
Then at his weak hands.
He exhaled slowly, clenched his fists, and raised his head with determination blazing in his eyes.
"If I have to start from zero… then there's only one path left—up!"
---
But before he could move, something else caught his eye…
Next to the black stone, there were collapsed wooden shelves, as if they were once a grand library, now abandoned for centuries. Among the rubble, there was a tattered old book, still strangely intact.
Carefully, he picked it up and brushed off the dust, revealing a barely legible title:
"Legend of the Heavenly Sect"
His eyes widened, and he cautiously opened the book, reading the first lines inside:
"In ancient times, the Heavenly Sect was the greatest sect in the Celestial Realm. None dared to challenge its authority, for it ruled the heavens with unbeatable might…"
"But that changed when their eternal enemy appeared—"
The next words were smudged, but after some focus, he managed to read them…
"The Eternal Darkness Clan"
A chill ran down Rian's spine.
"The Eternal Darkness Clan? Who are they?"
He kept reading…
"In a war that lasted a thousand years, the Heavenly Sect was utterly destroyed by the Eternal Darkness Clan. Only a few survived, fleeing to the lower realm where they secretly re-established the sect… But due to lack of resources and support, the sect faded into obscurity… until today."
But what shocked him most was the final sentence…
"It is said that the leader of the Eternal Darkness Clan is still alive, watching from the shadows, awaiting the perfect moment to finish what was started…"
Rian swallowed hard.
Then…
A whis
per echoed in his ear.
"You've returned… at last."
Rian's eyes widened in horror.
---
End of Chapter One.
---