"Rei fell silent."
> "What kind of question is that?" he thought, confused—though he no longer had a face to show it.
The question carried no emotion,
but its weight was heavy enough to crush his very soul.
Live again?
For what?
To go back to the "Duck Coop"?
To be trampled, ridiculed, and looked down upon once more?
Rei felt a wave of bitterness rise inside him.
He had died in humiliation.
If he returned, he would only become the same weak Rei Ardan—powerless and pitiful.
> "No...!"
Suddenly, the dying ember within him burst into flame.
It wasn't the warmth of kindness, but the burning fire of rage.
Rage at fate.
Rage at a world that only valued predators.
Rage at himself—for dying so easily.
Rage at his own weakness, his doubt, his submission.
And without hesitation, Rei answered, his voice trembling across the Void:
> "YES!"
"I want to live again—but not as the same Rei. I'll return as someone no one can step on ever again!"
{DING}...
> [Choice confirmed.]
[Activating Cosmic Energy Transfer (CET).]
[Binding The Immortal System to soul core.]
A cold white light burst through the darkness.
It wasn't warmth—it was calculation.
The light of a civilization far beyond comprehension.
{DING}...
> [Warning: Physical body destroyed.]
[Reconstructing body using cosmic energy.]
[Returning subject to the moment before death.]
[Reconstruction begins.]
[Estimated time: 0.00001 seconds.]
Rei felt something beyond description.
Every shattered bone reformed, every ruptured vessel reconnected.
It wasn't healing—it was creation.
In an instant... he returned.
He truly lived again.
Rei coughed violently.
Filthy water and mud burst from his mouth.
He was still in the same gutter, under the same rain—but the world now felt different.
He inhaled deeply.
The air felt pure—too pure, as if his lungs had been rebuilt from something divine.
He pushed himself up.
The first miracle: no pain.
Just seconds ago, he was certain his ribs and spine had been shattered.
He touched his chest—solid.
Moved his legs—normal.
Everything was whole.
> "I'm... alive?" he whispered.
{DING}...
> [Welcome, Host.]
[The Immortal System is now fully operational.]
The mechanical voice now sounded closer—inside his mind.
Rei looked around, but saw no one.
Then he noticed it—
a faint, blue, translucent panel hovering before him, glowing softly like light on still water.
Suddenly, the voice spoke again.
{DING}...
> [Would you like to view your status?]
[Name]: Rei Ardan
[Age]: 19
[Cultivation]: Awakening (Early Stage)
[Immortal Balance Points (IBP)]: 0
[Body Attributes]
Strength (STR): 14
Speed (SPD): 12
Endurance (END): 20
[Mind Attributes]
Intelligence (INT): 26
Charisma (CHR): 10
Spirituality (SPR): 10
[Skills]
Basic Breathing Technique (LVL 1)
Basic Strategy (LVL 1)
Basic Combat (LVL 1)
Rei stared at the panel in disbelief.
But his enhanced mind—sharp and relentless—processed everything in seconds.
It was impossible.
Unreal.
And yet… it was happening.