Am I going to die? Marcus thought, and his eyes slowly closed.
The bodyguards outside the house rushed to the door at the sound of gunfire. They broke it open—and saw blood everywhere on the floor, three bodies lying motionless.
The bodyguards froze in shock.
The one at the back said with a faint smile, "The hunter became the prey himself." He stepped forward and checked every pulse—they had all stopped.
One bodyguard muttered, "This bastard Marcus turned out to be a monster. He even killed poor Yuki."
"Now what do we do with these three?" another asked.
The pulse-checker grinned. "I have a plan. We'll hand the bodies to Mr. Elias's son and say—these three killed your father, so we took them out."
"But will they believe it?"
"Why wouldn't they?" He chuckled and pulled a pen drive from Mr. Alden's pocket. "Alden was a scumbag. He recorded Marcus taking the contract to kill Elias—and never showed his own face."
"Hurry—load the bodies into the cars. Gunfire will bring the cops."
One bodyguard leered. "Yuki was really beautiful… and now she's gone. We can do whatever we want with her."
"Ha ha ha!" They laughed with creepy glee.
"Check every room," the lead bodyguard barked. "If anyone's hiding, shoot on sight."
Two kicked doors open, sweeping rooms. Two others hauled the corpses. In the bedroom they found Mira—chained, curled tight from the gunfire's echo.
The first guard grinned. "Jackpot. Two girls today—"
The second didn't wait. He unloaded a storm of bullets into Mira. She jerked, then stilled.
"What the hell?" the first snapped. "You killed her!"
"Shut up and work," the second growled.
They loaded every body into the cars and vanished.
Marcus's eyes cracked open. I'm… alive? The poison didn't take?
Darkness swallowed him. He stood, legs shaky. Where am I? Hell?
Then the void shattered. Blinding light exploded outward. He ran toward it.
At the center: a massive, gleaming throne. On it sat a girl-like figure, radiating power.
The girl looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. She wore radiant white garments that shimmered like moonlight; her hair gleamed like strands of silver. Her form was delicate and perfect, like a beautifully crafted doll.
Is she… a goddess? Marcus thought, astonished.
The girl rose and walked toward him gracefully.
"Welcome, Marcus."
Her voice echoed through the vast hall—soft yet resonant, melodious, carrying strange warmth.
"Who are you?" Marcus asked, eyes wide. "How did I end up here?"
"I am Elyndra, Goddess of Life," she said with a serene smile. "Whenever someone dies, I send their soul to the world beyond—where it is purified."
A faint smile curved her lips.
"So… I'm about to be sent to the soul world," Marcus said, voice low and saddened.
"No," Elyndra replied, eyes suddenly bright with enthusiasm. "If you were meant for the soul world, you would never have met me. You've been chosen for a greater purpose, Marcus. That's why I summoned you here."
"A greater purpose?" Marcus repeated.
"Yes," the goddess said, silver eyes gleaming. "You will be reborn in another world—where your mission is to kill a hero. A hero more powerful than anything you've ever imagined."
Marcus kept his face calm. "But why me? You could send a powerful human—or you, a goddess, could kill him yourself. What need do you have of me?"
"You're right: no god may interfere in a world's internal affairs—that is a rule set by the True Creator."
Marcus blinked, astonished. "But you're interfering right now."
The goddess spoke softly. "We do not interfere unless the very existence of the universe is at stake." A hint of sadness touched her voice. "The hero you must kill intends not only to destroy that world but to end the universe itself."
Marcus grew serious. "If he can end the universe, how can I possibly kill him? I was just a normal killer—no powers."
The goddess smiled faintly. "You don't need power to kill him—you need a satanic mind." She exhaled with weary understanding. "That is why we chose you: only a demon can kill another demon."
Marcus shrugged. "And what do I gain?"
"If you kill that hero," the goddess said, "you will be granted a place in Heaven for eternity."
Marcus nodded. "Where will I be born, and how will I survive?"
"You will be born on Riven, a planet in the Aetherion universe where earth-like species live," the goddess replied. "To kill the hero, I will grant you certain magical powers to increase your chances of survival."
"What kind of powers?" Marcus asked, eyes wide.
"You'll find out when you arrive," the goddess smiled.
Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but darkness fell. The platform beneath him vanished. He began to fall—faster, faster—heartbeat thundering.
He landed on another platform. No pain. He tried to stand; legs weak. He fell onto his back, reached for his hands and feet—and froze.
My arms… my legs… they're tiny. Like a child's.
Thick darkness spread. Then a small, silver stone—sharp, shining—drifted toward him.
Marcus reached out. The light was blinding; he shut his eyes. The stone plunged into his chest.
Pain—unbearable, worse than poison—tore through him. He clamped his mouth shut, stifling screams as the stone sank fully.
The pain faded. The light dimmed.
A screen materialized in the air:
[Name: Marcus]
[Level: 0]
[XP: 0]
[Skills: None]
[Status: Initializing…]
Before he could react, a sweet, youthful voice echoed in his ears.
"Hello, Mr. Marcus. My name is Nexus-01."
The voice belonged to a fourteen-year-old girl—soft, melodic, strangely calm.
"Who are you? And what's this thing in front of me?" Marcus asked, tone steady despite confusion.
"I am your assistant, Mr. Marcus. I'll help you increase your magical power levels," the voice replied.
A system… sent by the goddess, Marcus thought.
"Now, please prepare yourself," Nexus said.
"Prepare? For wh—" Marcus began, but a blinding white light engulfed him. He shut his eyes as a woman's scream pierced the air, growing louder.
Something gripped his legs—pulling him down fast.
The pull stopped. He blinked open his eyes and saw the wrinkled face of an old woman, smiling gently. She looked seventy or eighty. Marcus realized he was in her arms.
The old woman turned and handed him to a young woman on the bed—sweat-soaked hair, teary eyes, face glowing with exhausted beauty. Her dark eyes shimmered as she held him close.
Is this… my mother? Marcus thought.
Mira opened her eyes. Goddess Elyndra stood before her, glow making Mira dizzy.
"You've lost many lives and suffered much. I can give you a new life—tell me, what kind do you want?" Elyndra asked, smiling.
"I—am I dead?" Mira's voice was heavy with grief. "Revenge was my whole life. The one who killed my parents—watching him writhe and die was my only goal. Now that's over, a new life feels meaningless."
Anger boiled in her eyes. "I don't want a new life. If you help me take my revenge, I'm ready to live in hell."
"I only want to see Marcus suffer—I want to kill him myself. When he begs for life, that will bring me peace," Mira said with a devilish laugh.
Elyndra smiled faintly. "Marcus has been reborn in another world. I have a plan—I'll send you there. If you kill the hero who intends to destroy that world and the entire universe, I will give Marcus to you. Then do with him as you wish."
A cold laugh escaped Mira; bitter satisfaction settled on her face.
"How will I know whom to kill, and how?"
"You must meet a boy named Cyrus Ashbourne," Elyndra replied. "Take your information from him—and keep your identity hidden."
"You will be born with magical power to help you kill the hero."
"Fine," Mira said, pleased—and vanished.
Elyndra smiled to herself. At her side stood a boy of eight or nine, his appearance hidden from Mira, shining like a god. He grinned.
"Sister, the plan always surprises me," the godlike boy said with a sharp smile.