Rian's eyes fluttered open. Sunlight spilled into the room, warm and ordinary, yet every corner of his mind screamed that this moment was impossible. His heart thudded painfully—not from fear, but from memory.
It had been a year since everything ended. A year since betrayal had pierced him deeper than any blade. A year since death had embraced him in the most bitter way imaginable.
And now… he was back.
"No… it can't be…" he muttered, sitting upright. His bedroom was unchanged, the same cluttered space he had left behind, the same desk with worn books, the same faint scent of morning air drifting through the window. Yet he knew: this was no dream.
The memory came rushing in—the girl he had trusted, the one he had loved. The one who had ended him. Her smile… the words she spoke… and then the pain, sharp and final, the coldness of betrayal.
Rage bubbled within him, bitter and raw. His chest ached with the weight of the emotions he had carried for a year. And yet, underneath it all, he felt something else—a small, strange warmth, pulsing faintly in the center of his being.
Then a voice spoke. Calm. Certain. A voice that didn't come from anywhere, yet filled his mind entirely:
[Primordial Bloodline System Activated]
A single-screen interface appeared before him, glowing faintly in the air. Words and symbols danced, illuminating the room:
System Name: Primordial Bloodline
Core Functions: Bloodline Detection | Skill Reclamation | Evolution | Fusion
Current Status: Active
Bloodline Potential Detected: Latent
Rian froze. A system? Latent bloodlines? Potential waiting to be reclaimed?
He reached out instinctively. The air responded. Threads of shimmering energy rose from every object—his desk, the books, even the simple wooden floorboards. Every fragment of the world around him pulsed with potential.
The interface blinked again, glowing brighter. One single word appeared, etched with quiet authority:
[Reclaim]
Rian's mind raced. This wasn't a gift of instant power. This was a tool. A chance. One shot to reclaim what had been lost, awaken powers hidden in the world, and prepare himself for the storm he knew was coming.
He clenched his fists. The sting of betrayal was still fresh, but now it was sharpened into resolve. He wasn't weak. Not yet. But he would become strong.
Outside, the city moved on as if nothing had changed. Shops opened. Cars hummed along streets. Children laughed, oblivious to the disaster creeping ever closer. A month remained before dungeons emerged, before monsters prowled the streets, before the apocalypse swept the world into chaos.
A month.
A month to awaken his bloodline.
A month to reclaim powers, hidden skills, and latent potential.
A month to prepare for survival—and for vengeance.
Rian rose to his feet. His gaze hardened. The threads of power in the room pulsed faintly, reacting to his determination. One by one, he reached out, touching objects, feeling their potential stir. The System hummed in response, scanning, categorizing, evaluating.
Potential Detected: Weak Human Bloodline | Beast Fragment: Tier 1 | Skill Residue: Unstable | Reclamation Available
Every touch was a spark, every spark a seed. It wouldn't make him invincible, not yet—but it was the beginning.
And in that moment, Rian realized the truth:
He had been given a second chance.
Not to undo the past.
Not to cheat fate.
But to rise stronger than anyone could imagine.
The first thread of destiny had been woven.
The bloodline was awakening.
And the legacy of power, waiting hidden in the world, would soon answer his call.
Rian inhaled, steadying himself. A month. That was all he had. And he would not waste a single day.
The Primordial Bloodline System awaited. And so did his future.