In a rift between dimensions, everything was dark; there was no light, not even a speck of it.
There, amidst the void, stood a round table upon which rested a crystal, glowing with a mysterious aura. It displayed with perfect clarity the battle between Ares and Antares from its very beginning.
This was the gathering of the Kings—or rather, their projections. Their bodies were nothing but dense mist, as if a supreme force veiled their true forms from any world.
These Kings were mighty beings, unreachable by any creature: the Dragon Queen, the Beast King, the Sword King, the Elf Queen, the Dwarf King, the Sorcery Queen, and the Light King.
When they witnessed how Antares was torn apart, and saw the ring that would remain sealed for at least ten thousand years, a great relief washed over them all.
Though their features were obscured, their eager auras caused the dimensional gap itself to tremble.
The Beast King's voice rose, rough and savage, like a roar shaking the void:
"At last… Antares is finished."
The Elf Queen's voice followed, melodious with the warmth of nature:
"Yes, beast, I think we can finally rest for a long while."
The Dwarf King's laughter echoed like hammer striking stone:
"Hahaha! That fool… his arrogance was his downfall. If he had stayed with us, he wouldn't have ended up like this. This is the price of his choice."
Then came the Sorcery Queen's enchanting tone, soft enough to ensnare hearts:
"Indeed… he brought this upon himself."
The Sword King remained silent, sharp as an unsheathed blade. So too did the Dragon Queen and the Light King.
All of their gazes were fixed upon the crystal, where Ares lay collapsed on the ground, body bloodied and kneeling, while Raphael approached him.
When they heard the exchange between the two, suspicion and doubt flickered across their hazy visages.
The Sword King's voice cut through the void, sharp as steel:
"Light King… what is the meaning of this?"
The Dragon Queen's voice thundered like a storm:
"Yes, we want to hear your answer!"
But the Light King remained silent, watching with glowing eyes through the mist.
The others held their tongues as well, knowing the difference in standing between their rulers: the Light King, the Sword King, and the Dragon Queen—alongside the one who had once been their mightiest of all… Antares, the King of Destruction.
Finally, the Light King spoke, his voice calm and cold, unmoved by their pressure:
"What answer do you seek?"
The Dragon Queen slammed the table, shaking the rift itself:
"Do not feign ignorance… you know well what we mean!"
The Light King smiled faintly, his tone icy:
"Oh… you mean why I ordered Raphael to dispose of that human?"
The Sword King's tone was heavy, absolute:
"Yes. We demand a satisfactory explanation."
The Light King sighed lightly:
"Is it not obvious? To keep faith alive in us."
The Dwarf King sneered with mocking laughter:
"Hahaha! Light King, do not pretend innocence. Even a fool can see you're hiding something."
The Light King lifted his gaze from the crystal briefly, then returned it:
"It is for the sake of all. Or would you rather that human use the World Well and give rise to a new King?"
The Kings fell silent, pondering his words.
The Sorcery Queen tilted her head thoughtfully, her voice low:
"But he is just a swordsman… he does not even bear the seed of a Law."
The Beast King growled in agreement:
"True. He has no hope of ascending to the rank of a King even with the World Well."
But the Light King's cold tone cut through:
"Perhaps… but are you certain he would only follow the Law of the Sword? What if he chose the Law of Darkness instead?"
The Sword King burst into laughter, harsh and scornful:
"Hahaha! So that's your reason? You fear a mere possibility, less than 0.1%, that he might comprehend the Law of Darkness?"
The Light King stared into the crystal, speaking slowly:
"Have you forgotten the prophecy? When darkness descends, the Lord of Darkness shall rise, and his armies will drown the worlds in death and chaos."
The Dragon Queen roared in fury, her voice like rolling thunder:
"You believe that prophecy?! Especially one spoken from the mouth of Antares himself?"
As their argument grew heated, the World Well suddenly quaked, releasing a golden radiance that pierced the heavens, shaking countless worlds. A stream of light surged forth, racing toward the earth—toward the very moment Ares detonated himself.
The Kings were stunned.
"What?!"
"What is happening?!"
The golden light spread across every world, engulfing them like a flood.
And then, the gears of time began to turn—not forward… but backward!
In an instant, the light pierced Ares' soul and drew it away, vanishing from their sight.
A heavy dread filled the gathering of Kings.
The World Well… that enigmatic existence. None knew how it came to be. Was it natural? Or forged by some unknown hand? What was known was this: it gathered the energies of worlds, rewarding any who achieved the impossible. And among its unfathomable powers was one most perilous—
The Reversal of Time.
None in existence were exempt from it… not even the Kings, not even the Abyss itself.
Time began to roll backward, and events, memories, entire worlds… were rewritten anew.
---
The sky was clear and blue, clouds drifting lazily like fish across a vast ocean, while the golden sun hung high above like a jewel adorning the heavens.
The cries of merchants rang through the streets, mingling with the footsteps of the bustling crowd, the air thick with the scents of spices and freshly baked bread.
The city pulsed with life, moving like a massive engine at full power: here, the chime of coins in traders' hands, there, the clang of hammer on steel, and beyond, the steady march of soldiers on patrol. Adventurers could be seen dragging their bloodied spoils through the crowd, weapons and armor gleaming.
On the city's horizon towered a grand structure. From afar came the echoes of training drills. At its colossal gates, rows of youths gathered in excitement, while elegant carriages stopped to let noble scions descend in fine attire.
All paths led to the greatest place of all: the Academy—the Heart. The institution that birthed the mightiest knights, sorcerers, alchemists, and tamers. Humanity's pride, named the Heart because it pumped new lifeblood into the human continent.
Yet this year was unlike any other. At the gates, faces of many races mingled: dwarves, elves, beastkin, and even a few dragons.
For it had been announced that humans had forged an alliance with the other races, united against the threat of orcs, vampires, and werewolves. To strengthen this bond, a new generation of youths—fifteen years of age—from every race would join the Academy, forming the pillar of harmony between peoples.
Amidst the throng walked a young man with silver-gray hair, a handsome face marked by calm violet eyes, and a small vertical scar by his lip that nearly vanished within his cold expression.
He wore simple but neat black cotton clothes. Despite their plainness, they fit him with a quiet elegance.
He strode alone, his steps steady, his eyes carrying a strange clarity devoid of nervousness.
He murmured softly, his breath almost drowned in the city's noise:
"Hah… who would have thought I'd return to the day I first incarnated into this world?"
This was Ares, whom the World Well had returned to the very moment of his rebirth.
He remembered vividly how he awoke yesterday, believing his journey had ended—only to open his eyes once more in that narrow room where he had first awakened years ago.
In his previous life, he had been nothing more than an ordinary man of the twenty-first century, working quietly in a private company until he died of exhaustion, forced into brutal overtime by a merciless manager.
When he opened his eyes in this world, memories flooded in—revealing a realm of the extraordinary. As an anime and novel enthusiast, he thought he was destined to be the chosen protagonist, blessed with cheats and fate, conquering the world and winning beauties.
But reality was cruel.
He was born as a mere commoner, with no backing, no resources. He entered the Academy—Heart—but only in the standard division, not the elite. Disheartened, he nonetheless endured, armed with the mentality of an adult hardened by life.
He lived reclusive, seen as eccentric, bullied by an arrogant noble. He thought that would be the start of his hero's story… yet instead he was beaten and humiliated, saved only by the first person he would call a friend.
From then on, he followed that friend's lead step by step, until they graduated together. He joined the army to support him, climbing through battles and trials, eventually becoming one of the Twelve Pillars who shook the continent.
But with time, he saw the ugliness of the world: corrupt nobles, tyrannical rulers, treacherous allies. Even the friend who once saved him betrayed him with his lover. In the end, even his last companion stabbed him in the back.
They all betrayed him… even Raphael.
Memories stormed through his mind.
He clenched his fist, exhaling deeply:
"This time… the game will be played by my rules."
With the memories of his past life, he would surpass his former self and climb even higher—especially now that he had finally obtained a System.
"Status."
Before him, a transparent screen appeared:
[Name: Ares
Titles: None
Profession: Not unlocked
Attribute: Darkness
Talent: Sword & Magic Affinity SS+ (An extraordinary talent allowing unparalleled mastery of both sword and magic)
Skills:
King's Eye – (Allows you to see the essence and information of all living beings and objects)]
A faint smile tugged at his lips, his eyelids trembling with excitement:
"Honestly… I'm still stunned that I have talent in magic. In my past life, I only knew I was gifted with the sword. But this King's Eye… it's priceless."
He raised his head slowly toward the Academy's massive gates, his nose filled with the mingled scents of dust, sweat, and polished leather armor.
"Well then… let's start by entering the Academy and laying down a proper plan. But first… I need to obtain that item."
With calm steps, Ares moved toward the registration hall, pulling out his admission emblem from his pocket, light glinting in his violet eyes.
____
I hope you like the chapter and to support leave a comment and power stones