Prologue - 1 (Rewrite)

Mc pov:

Sigh...

School ends early today. I should be glad, but the emptiness inside me persists.

I'm Leonart Griffith—Leo or Leon to most. At 14, nearing the end of my school year, life feels more burdensome than ever. The first eight years were decent, or perhaps I was just too naive to notice the cracks. My parents dote on my elder sister, treating her like royalty. She's a year older, and our birthdays are just two days apart. Yet, the gap in affection feels immeasurable. She bullies me when we're alone, then plays the innocent victim before our parents. One complaint from her, and they pounce on me like hyenas, leaving me bruised and battered.

At school, it's no better. She spreads rumours, painting me as a weakling and a slacker. Even teachers join in the ridicule. Classmates avoid me, and bullies find me an easy target. My pleas fall on deaf ears at home; my sister's words carry more weight.

I yearn to fight back, to scream, to make them see the truth. But fear and despair chain me down. The world around me loses its colour, fading into monochrome. Is it my imagination, or is the vibrancy truly slipping away?

Seeking solace, I turn to my smartphone. Classmates often discuss isekai anime and MMORPGs. Without a computer, my phone is my portal to these worlds. I browse the Play Store: Honkai Impact 3rd catches my eye, but its 20GB size is daunting. Perhaps a memory card upgrade is in order. Anime like SAO and Engage Kiss intrigue me. I dream of escaping to a fantasy realm, embarking on grand adventures.

Punishing: Gray Raven also stands out, especially Lucia: Crimson Abyss, with her lightning-fast katana skills. Prince of Persia's trilogy offers thrilling escapades, and Vector's parkour challenges excite me. Solo Levelling's narrative resonates deeply. Yet, Honkai Impact 3rd's storyline ends in tragedy. If only there were a way to alter their fates.

Today was supposed to be a full school day, but a sudden announcement grants us a half-day. As I prepare to leave, an all-too-familiar voice interrupts.

"Hey, trash."

I turn to face my sister.

"What do you want, big sis?"

"Did I detect sarcasm? Just wait—I'll tell Father. Don't think this ends here. They'll make sure you won't sleep tonight."

I mutter under my breath, "Isn't that what always happens?"

"What did you say, fool?"

"Why did you come here?"

"Oh, right. Tell Father and Mother I'll be at my friend's place this weekend. Bye."

She walks away without another word.

I sigh, "You could've just said that without the drama." Shrugging it off, I head home, eager to immerse myself in Honkai Impact 3rd.

After a half-kilometre walk, I arrive home. My parents, ever the looming presence, greet me with silence.

"Father, Mother, big sis said she'll be at her friend's place this weekend."

No response.

I mutter, "Of course, silence. What else did I expect?" I retreat to my room, toss my bag onto the bed, and head to the bathroom for a shower.

Post-shower, I decide to watch Honkai Impact 3rd lore on YouTube. A gameplay walkthrough catches my attention. It's 7:00 PM; I have time.

The walkthrough concludes with a heart-wrenching battle between Kiana and the Herrscher of Domination. Tears well up as I whisper, "Such a sad story." It's 8:30 PM. The house is dark; my parents have likely gone to bed. I head to the kitchen, hoping for leftovers.

Thankfully, there's food. After eating, I decide to pull an all-nighter with Punishing: Gray Raven, eager to play as Lucia Alpha.

The game's story is average, but Lucia's gameplay keeps me engaged. Eventually, I switch back to Honkai Impact 3rd. Time flies; it's 1:30 AM. I open the basic gacha, hoping for an S-rank Valkyrie.

"Please, let it be a Herrscher."

Luck smiles upon me—I get the Herrscher of the Void. I max out her level and skills, then tackle multiplayer missions to obtain the Key of Corruption.

By 6:00 AM, I complete the final level and secure the key. A notification from the school administration pops up:

"School will commence as usual on Saturday. No weekend holiday."

"Seriously? No joke?" I groan, "Looks like today will be a long day without sleep." I prepare for school.

As I sling my bag over my shoulder, the TV murmurs in the background.

TV News: "We advise all citizens to avoid alleyways. A serial killer is reportedly on the loose."

I scoff under my breath, zipping my bag.

"A killer on the loose? Near the school? Pfft. Like that would ever happen... Wait—did I just raise a death flag?"

The thought sends a chill down my spine.

I walk toward school, eyes half-lidded from a sleepless night. The usual morning fog wraps around the buildings like a silent omen. That's when I see her.

My sister.

She's being pulled into an alley.

I freeze for a second. Then instincts take over. My legs move before my mind catches up. I rush into the alley, adrenaline flooding my system.

She's cornered. A man towers over her, a gleaming knife raised mid-air.

I don't think. I act.

A sharp breath. A forward sprint. My fist crashes into his solar plexus.

The man stumbles, falling back with a grunt, slamming into the alley wall.

I turn to my sister. "Are you—"

CRACK!

A blinding pain explodes at the back of my neck. I stagger forward, vision swimming. My knees hit the ground.

"Wh... why?" I gasp.

She's already turning to run.

"Be my sacrifice," she whispers, not even looking back. "I'll always remember you."

I stare in disbelief as she disappears down the alley, abandoning me.

The man—blood on his lips, rage in his eyes—pulls himself up, knife in hand again.

"You've got guts, kid. Not many take a hit like that and stay awake. Shame your sister sold you out."

I clutch my chest, breath ragged. "Maybe I just... want to see you fall before I do."

He grins. "Then die, brat."

Steel plunges into my chest. Agony blossoms instantly, spreading fire through my limbs.

"If you want someone to blame," he growls, twisting the blade, "blame her. And yourself. Damn... you're still... conscious?"

My fingers tremble, but I reach up, grabbing his wrist.

"If I'm going down... I'm taking you with me."

With the last of my strength, I lunge.

His head slams into a rusted metal pipe with a sickening CLANG. He stumbles. I rip the knife from my chest. Blood pours down my shirt like ink spilt across paper.

I don't stop.

I slash. A clean arc. Straight across his throat.

The killer collapses, choking, eyes wide.

"Damn... brat... never... thought... I'd... die... to a high schooler..."

He stops moving.

Silence.

Only the slow drip of blood and my shallow breaths remain.

I drop the blade.

My knees buckle. I fall onto my back, staring up at the overcast sky as my vision dims.

"Is this... death?"

It doesn't hurt as much as I thought. It's not warmth I feel, nor pain. Just... cold. Hollow. Like everything is draining away.

"I wonder how long it'll take before someone finds me here..."

The darkness begins to swallow my sight.

"If... reincarnation exists... please, let me live again."

Just then, I remember unlocking Lucia: Crimson Abyss and regret never getting to play as her. My phone, lying just beside me, lights up—its wallpaper showing every character from Honkai Impact 3rd.

"If only... I could meet them..."

The world fades.

Everything is black.

Weightless.

Soundless.

Endless.

And then—a single dot of light appears. A spark in the void.

It grows, expanding, blinding, pulling me in. My thoughts scatter as the light consumes me.

To be continued...

Disclaimer: All characters, images, songs, and videos belong to their respective owners.

Author's Note: I appreciate your patience with any grammatical errors. If you have suggestions or ideas, feel free to share them in the comments. I'm always open to feedback. Please see if there are any mistakes as I made improvements using ChatGPT. Ciao!