The world became silent.
Kael could not hear the rain anymore. He could not feel the cold wind on his skin. Everything around him turned dark and quiet, like he had fallen into a deep ocean without light.
For a moment, he did not know what happened.
His mind tried to remember.
The gunshop.
The rain.
The street.
Then the headlights.
The truck.
"...Ah."
Kael finally understood.
"I died."
His voice sounded strange. It was not loud or soft. It felt like his thoughts were echoing inside a large empty space.
He tried to move his body.
But he couldn't feel anything.
No arms.
No legs.
No heartbeat.
Just darkness.
Most people would panic in this situation.
But Kael did not.
Instead, he calmly started analyzing his situation.
If I died... why am I still conscious?
That was the first question.
Normally, death means the end. But Kael was still thinking. His mind was still working.
Maybe this was a dream.
Or maybe this was something else.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Or maybe hours.
Kael could not tell.
Time felt strange in this empty darkness.
Then suddenly—
A faint light appeared.
At first, it looked like a tiny star in the distance.
Slowly, the light grew bigger.
Brighter.
Warmer.
Kael focused on it.
The light continued to expand until it filled his entire vision.
Then a voice appeared.
It was not male or female.
It sounded ancient.
Powerful.
And distant.
[Searching for compatible soul…]
Kael frowned slightly.
A strange blue window suddenly appeared in front of him.
Floating in the darkness.
[System Initialization…]
[Soul compatibility: 98%]
[Host Selected]
[Divine Armory System Activated]
Kael stared at the glowing words.
A system?
It reminded him of the game-like stories he sometimes saw on the internet.
So… this is what people call an Isekai.
The voice continued.
[New world detected.]
[Granting starter weapon…]
[Hunter Rifle – Unlocked]
Kael slowly thought about the information.
A rifle.
Even after death… he still received a weapon.
He almost laughed.
"Of course," he thought.
"Even in death, guns follow me."
The light around him started spinning.
The darkness began to disappear.
Then the system spoke one last time.
[Reincarnation starting…]
[Good luck, Host.]
Suddenly—
Kael felt something again.
Cold air.
The smell of wet soil.
Leaves moving in the wind.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Above him was a strange sky.
Two moons.
One white.
One red.
"..."
Kael slowly sat up.
His body felt smaller.
Lighter.
When he looked at his hands, they were the hands of a young boy.
Around him was a forest.
Tall black trees.
Thick fog.
Strange glowing plants.
The air felt heavy and cold.
Not like Earth.
Kael stood up slowly.
His calm eyes scanned the area carefully.
Just like he always did.
He listened.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
A low growl came from the darkness.
"Grrrrrr…"
Two red eyes appeared between the trees.
Then another.
And another.
Creatures slowly stepped out of the shadows.
They looked like wolves.
But their bodies were bigger.
Their fur was black.
Their mouths were dripping with dark red blood.
Their eyes glowed like burning coals.
Kael's expression did not change.
Instead, he quietly spoke.
"System."
A blue screen appeared instantly.
[Divine Armory System]
Starter Weapon Available:
Hunter Rifle
Ammo: Mana Bullets (Unlimited)
Kael raised his hand.
A soft blue light formed in his palm.
Then—
A rifle appeared.
Cold metal.
Perfect balance.
A familiar weight.
Kael held the weapon like an old friend.
The wolves slowly surrounded him.
Five of them.
Maybe more hiding in the fog.
The largest wolf stepped forward.
Its mouth opened wide, revealing long sharp teeth.
It growled loudly.
Kael calmly raised the rifle.
His cold eyes looked through the scope.
The monster lunged.
Kael pulled the trigger.
BANG.
The sound of the rifle exploded through the forest.
The bullet flew like lightning.
And the wolf's head burst apart instantly.
Blood sprayed across the fog.
The other wolves froze.
For the first time—
Fear appeared in their glowing red eyes.
Kael lowered the rifle slightly.
His cold voice whispered into the dark forest.
"...So this world has monsters."
He slowly chambered the next round.
"Good."