Ashen woke up feeling uncertain about everything.
What exactly had he signed himself up for?
Being the hero of the universe? It still sounded like something out of a fairy tale. Unreal. Impossible.
He hadn't yet accepted that this was his new reality, but soon he would. Once his first mission began, there would be no denying it.
That mission was simple in words but terrifying in meaning. He had to eliminate someone.
A name echoed in his head.
"Arnold Savern."
Ashen Froze.
That was strange.
Fobias had never mentioned the man's name, yet Ashen somehow knew it as clearly as if someone had whispered it in his ear.
Arnold Savern… the man said to possess the power of time reversal reincarnation.
If Arnold died, he would return to the past, alive again, carrying all the memories from his present life.
Ashen could understand now why such an ability would threaten the Order of the Universe.
Anyone who could keep changing time and rewriting events would eventually destroy the balance of everything.
It was up to Ashen to stop that from happening.
But that was a problem for later.
Right now, he needed to focus on surviving.
He looked around, realising he was standing in the middle of a bustling street.
People hurried past him dressed in fine suits and ties, polished shoes tapping on the clean stone walkway.
Compared to them, Ashen looked completely out of place with his plain white shirt, long black trousers, bare hands, and confusion written across his face.
He must have appeared like someone who didn't belong here.
Ashen had stepped out of the narrow alleyway behind him and arrived in the open street. The air smelled different here, cleaner, sharper, and the tall buildings made him feel small again.
"I need to find somewhere better," he muttered.
Standing still and staring around like a lost child would only draw more attention.
He also needed information regarding where he was, what kind of world this was, and how things worked here. If he wanted to blend in, he had to understand the basics first.
According to the faint memories planted in his mind, he had been sent four years before Arnold Savern's death.
That meant he had four years, four short years to find Arnold and eliminate him before someone else did.
It sounded like a long time, but considering how little he knew about this place, four years might not be enough at all.
Ashen wandered the streets for hours, scanning faces and listening to conversations.
He tried asking simple questions here and there, but he had to be careful. One wrong word could make him look suspicious.
Still, his efforts didn't pay off. Most people ignored him or brushed past without a second glance.
As the day went on, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of red and purple. Street lights flickered on, glowing warmly against the darkening streets.
Ashen sighed. Night was coming, and he didn't have anywhere to stay.
No money. No identification. No home.
The thought made his chest tighten.
He looked around. The streets were spotless with no homeless people, no beggars running around.
Everyone looked busy, purposeful. Sleeping on the street here would definitely make him stand out, maybe even get him arrested.
That was a risk he couldn't take.
He searched until he found a narrow alley between two tall buildings. It was quiet, hidden from sight, and a large waste bin sat in the middle of it.
Perfect.
"If I move the bin forward a bit," he murmured to himself, "I can sleep behind it. That should block me from view."
He pushed the bin carefully and climbed over it, squeezing into the small space behind. The ground was cold but tiled and cleaner than he expected.
At least it wasn't wet or full of trash.
"This will do for tonight," he whispered, leaning against the wall.
He sighed deeply. "Tomorrow, I'm going to find a job first."
Sleeping outdoors reminded him of his childhood, of the days after he was kicked out of the orphanage, when he had nothing but the clothes on his back.
Those nights had been the hardest of his life.
And now, here he was again. Different world, same feeling.
He clenched his fists, forcing the old memories away.
He needed to focus on the present.
If he could awaken the energy Fobias spoke of, he could finally start preparing for his mission.
But first…
Ashen reached into his trouser pocket and pulled something out. Ten glowing rings.
They were exactly as Fobias had given them: shining with a soft platinum glow, smooth and simple with no special carvings.
He studied them closely, then slipped them back into his pocket.
The rings served no purpose to him for the time being.
Ashen would put them on only after he awakens his energy.
He didn't know why he chose to do it that way, but it just felt right following said pattern.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a deep growl from his stomach.
Grrrruuu.
He froze, then sighed in defeat. "Right. I haven't eaten…"
It had completely slipped his mind. He hadn't eaten since the day before he died on Earth. That made it two full days without food.
His old habit of eating only once a day wasn't helping either.
"I seriously need to get a job. For real this time," he said to himself.
Dimensional Crusader or not, he was still human. He needed food, water, and shelter just like anyone else.
Whatever mission he was supposed to do could wait until he had his basic needs covered.
Right now, finding a job is top priority.
Once he managed that, he could start looking for ways to awaken the mysterious energy inside him.
His eyes widened suddenly. "The book!"
He reached into his other pocket, searching frantically.
Empty.
There was no sign of the book Fobias had given him. The one that contained all the techniques and arts he needed to learn.
"Where is it?" he muttered, checking again. Nothing.
Panic began to rise.
Without that book, how was he supposed to learn how to control his power?
He sat still for a moment, thinking. Then an idea struck him.
"Wait… maybe it's one of those things that only appears after I awaken my energy?"
That made sense.
The rings had appeared easily because they were meant to help him control his energy once it awakened. The book, however, might only show up after he awakens.
"Yes," he whispered. "That has to be it."
It was the only explanation he had, and it gave him a small sense of relief.
"Alright," he said to himself. "So how do I awaken this energy?"
He leaned back against the cold wall, staring up at the small patch of dark sky visible above the alley.
He needed to figure that out soon.
If he could unlock the energy Fobias mentioned, then maybe, just maybe he could start living up to the title of Dimensional Crusader.
Before he could think any further—
Knock. Knock. Knock!
Ashen froze.
Someone was knocking.
But who would be knocking… here?
The sound echoed softly through the narrow alleyway, followed by silence.
Ashen turned toward the noise, his heart beating faster.