Zev wanted to know who had orchestrated his assassination. At the same time, a deep regret gnawed at him—for letting his guard down, for trusting those people... especially Eros, whom he had treated like a true brother.
But what did it matter now? I am going to die anyway.
[Would you like to restart your life?]
If I could... why not?
Zev spoke as a soft light began to bloom before his eyes, radiant and pure, like a god or an angel reaching out to claim him.
-
The world had changed drastically, seeing hybrid-humans or individuals wielding magic had become ordinary. Their appearances were altered, and they possessed extraordinary strength.
But with this new reality came a dark consequence. Monsters—and people who had turned into monsters—began to attack the world. Although the experiments were initially successful, the long-term effects were devastating. Like a virus, the power slowly ate away at their bodies, unless they managed to control it.
Because of this, scientists decided to halt the transfer of monster genes into human bodies, realizing that not everyone could withstand the overwhelming power. Instead, they turned to a more natural approach, allowing the mutated genes to be passed down through generations. It was the safest method, as the children's bodies were better adapted to endure the monster's power.
Argh!
A man with silky black hair and a slim physique groaned in pain, as if his head had been struck by a metal bat.
Where am I?
As the pain gradually eased, the question slipped from his lips. His vision was still blurry, so he squinted, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
He was in a spacious room, lying on a massive bed, large enough to fit three people. Around him were pieces of expensive furniture, and above, a grand chandelier glittered overhead. A look of surprise crossed his face as full recognition dawned, he remembered this place.
This was his room from more than twenty years ago.
What happened? Did I die...?
Zev placed a hand on the spot where he had been stabbed, but there was no wound. Then he realized something strange. His body felt smaller and lighter than he remembered.
He rushed to the nearby mirror. Staring back at him was the body of an eight-year-old boy with black hair, blue eyes, and a thin frame. A bandage was wrapped around his head, confirming the unbelievable truth.
Did I really come back to the past? And wait—where did my burn scars go?
Back then, his body had been burned so badly it was nearly impossible to recognize who he was or what his face had looked like.
Countless questions flooded his mind. How had he returned to the past? Why was he given a second chance? And why had Eros betrayed him, despite the bond they once shared? But no one was there to answer.
Tears welled in the corners of his eyes. He still couldn't believe this was real. To be sure, he pinched his cheek. Pain shot through him in response, this was no dream.
So it was true.
Zev sat on the bed, carefully analyzing the situation. He knew it would be dangerous to let his emotions take over.
I need to calm down so I can think clearly.
After about fifteen minutes, he came to a conclusion, he had truly returned to the past. He was eight years old again, and the bandage on his head was from a sparring match with his older brother. Back then, he had been arrogant, convinced he was stronger than everyone else. No one could touch him, or so he believed. That overconfidence led him to challenge his brother, only to end up badly beaten.
Zev smiled faintly, remembering how narrow-minded he had been as a child.
Bam!
Suddenly, Zev was snapped from his thoughts as a man with silver hair and a bulky physique entered the room, dressed in a butler's outfit.
Zev's eyes widened, his gaze shaking with disbelief. The man who had just walked in was Harin Cess, his personal butler and the one who had trained him in the art of swordsmanship. Though the lessons had been more like advice, they had left a lasting impact on Zev.
As far as Zev knew, Harin Cess had died after leaving the Black Sigil main house. Harin had planned to leave the mansion, but his father had stopped him, aware of how powerful Harin was. According to the story, Harin died when a powerful monster attacked the Black Sigil headquarters. This was no ordinary monster—it had managed to obliterate the headquarters with ease. It appeared to be a demon, but no one could confirm whether that was true.
The reason why Zev felt so emotional looking at Harin was because he had viewed him as a father figure. Harin was the only person who had stayed by his side, even in the face of his failures.
"Harin…" Zev muttered, lost for words, not even realizing he had spoken his name aloud.
"What's the matter, Sir Zev? Does your injury still hurt?" Harin asked calmly, stepping closer. "Experiencing pain during battle is natural. Let your body feel it, and next time, you'll be able to avoid it." He smiled warmly.
Zev shook his head, not concerned about the pain. His thoughts were consumed with how he could repay this man for everything he had done for him. Still, he kept his emotions in check, knowing that Harin would easily notice if something had changed in him.
"No, I'm good, Harin," Zev replied, flexing his body to show that he wasn't in pain at all.
"That's good to hear. But how did you come to the conclusion that you could fight Sir Leron, despite the difference in strength?" Harin asked, then added, "I'm not saying you're weak, but Leron is already twelve and has awakened his gene, while you have not."
To be honest, Harin felt a sense of pride for Zev. Despite the vast difference in their strength, Zev had still managed to land a hit on his older brother.
He scratched the back of his head. "I was just curious to see if I had matched up with Brother Leron. But, well, the outcome speaks for itself."
Harin hadn't expected that response, and it impressed him. Without saying a word, he took out a small blue bottle from his pocket—the real reason he had come to Zev's room.
"You should drink this," Harin said, handing him the bottle.
The spirit potion was commonly used to replenish the spirit power lost during battle. But the reason Harin was giving it to Zev was more specific. They were preparing for the awakening, and this potion would help Zev familiarize himself with the power, preventing him from being overwhelmed when the time came. It would also aid in awakening the dormant monster genes within their bodies.
Without a second thought, Zev took the spirit potion and drank it. The taste was similar to a carbonated drink, but the real difference was the surge of power that began to move throughout his body.
"Just calm down and stabilize the power." Harin said.
A dim blue light surrounded his body as Zev immediately sat down on the floor and began to meditate. The spirit power was wild, moving in different directions as it struggled for control.
I know it's still hard for him to control the spirit power, Harin thought, watching carefully. But as long as there's progress, that's all that matters. We still have two years before the awakening. I know he can master it by then.
Harin watched quietly as Zev began to materialize the spirit power. However, his expression shifted as he saw the power flowing smoothly, like water in a lake.
How is this possible? Harin thought, stunned. Just yesterday, moving the spirit power was incredibly difficult for him, but now it's as if it's become a part of his body.
Though he was shocked by Zev's progress, Harin kept his composure, remaining calm as he stood to the side.
Soon, the spirit power subsided, and Zev slowly opened his eyes, sensing the power within him. It wasn't his first time experiencing this, so it felt no different to him. However, for Harin, it was a different story. It was the first time he had witnessed an eight-year-old stabilize their spirit power.
"How did you do it, Sir Zev?"
Zev didn't realize the significance of what he had just done, as his attention was drawn to something that appeared in front of him.
[You have reached Spirit Power I]