The three boys had always joked about wanting something extraordinary to happen before the year ended. So, on the final day, they decided to spend it doing their usual end-of-year activities—laughing, exploring, and talking about what their futures might hold.
But destiny had other plans.
As they walked down the street, they noticed a little girl chasing after her runaway dog. The dog dashed across the road safely, but the girl was slower—too slow. A truck rounded the corner, speeding toward her. She froze in fear, unable to move.
The boys didn't think. They reacted.
They sprinted forward, shouting warnings. Just as the girl stepped into danger, they reached her, grabbed her shoulders, and pushed her out of the truck's path.
She rolled to safety.
The boys didn't.
The impact swallowed them in a blinding crash of metal and pain.
And then—silence.
When their eyes opened again, they were no longer on the street. Instead, they stood in a vast, fog-covered realm. The air was still. The sky glowed with a pale, ethereal light. Confused, they looked around until a figure emerged from the mist.
An angel.
Her wings shimmered like moonlit feathers, her smile warm and gentle.
"You three acted with great selflessness," she said softly. "Your lives have ended… but your souls remain pure. Thus, I grant you another chance—a rebirth into a new world. You may choose the powers you will carry into your next life."
Niruky's eyes widened, sparkling with a mix of excitement and disbelief.
"Can we… choose three different categories? Three sets of abilities?"
The angel's smile grew. "Yes, brave one. You may."
Niruky stepped forward.
"I choose Healer, Swordsman, and Blacksmith."
The angel nodded approvingly.
"Ah, a noble combination… one that will serve you well in the trials to come.
"As a Healer, you shall command the sacred power of water—the essence of all life. You will soothe wounds, quench the weary, cleanse impurities, and even heal yourself in battle when darkness surrounds you."
A gentle swirl of blue light embraced Niruky.
"As a Blacksmith, fire shall answer your call. You will melt and shape metal with ease, forging mighty blades and sturdy armor. Your flames can purify the most stubborn ores. And with Material Sight, no alloy—no matter how hidden—will escape your perception."
A flicker of red-orange sparks danced around him.
"And as a Swordsman, you shall harness the ancient powers of earth and wind. The winds grant you speed and precision; the earth grants you unyielding strength, enough to shatter stone and crush steel with a single blow. Your foes will tremble before the fury of the elements."
The boys' friends, hyped with excitement, quickly stepped forward to reveal their choices.
The first friend grinned fiercely.
"I chose Mana Manipulation and Enhancing Abilities, milady!"
The angel nodded.
"With Mana Manipulation, you will sense and disrupt magic itself—or amplify your allies' abilities. And with Enhancing Abilities, you may boost your strength, speed, and agility to superhuman levels… should your body withstand the strain."
The second friend stepped up, mischief gleaming in his eyes.
"I chose Shapeshifter, Trickster, and Assassin, milady!"
Her wings fluttered in approval.
"Shapeshifter grants adaptability in any environment. Trickster grants cunning, stealth, and deception. Assassin grants lethal speed and precision. A dangerous combination… and a powerful one."
Finally, the angel turned back to Niruky.
"And what is your name, young one?"
He grinned.
"My name is… Niruky!"
Her smile brightened like dawn.
"A name that echoes with power and legend. Your journey begins now. The fate of your new world awaits."
A brilliant light engulfed the three boys. Their bodies dissolved into radiance, their senses fading into silence…