01 - Imminent Death

Surrounded by his greatest enemies, Dante, the most wanted criminal in the world, accused of conspiring against the largest guilds and governments of several countries, had finally come one step closer to his imminent end.

???: Give up, Dante! Your reign of terror is over, now that the world's largest guilds have allied to kill you, you won't be able to escape no matter what you try to do.

Dante: Go... to hell... you spoiled... rich... bastard.

"What the hell, it seems like this is really the end for me... Well, if I'm going to die anyway, then I'll at least take some of these bastards to hell with me."

Even completely surrounded and with many injuries, whether due to his pride or his honor, Dante refuses with all his might to die without a fight, and so, with the little mana left in him, knowing he will die anyway, he decides to use his strongest and at the same time most destructive magic in his arsenal.

???: Hump! I gave you a chance, so since you refuse to die peacefully until the end, I have no choice. KILL HIM!

At the same moment the order is given, echoing loud enough for everyone on the battlefield to hear, a crowd of thousands of people who were initially standing still start running towards the already injured Dante.

"Although I couldn't kill the big fish, I'm satisfied that I was able to kill tens of thousands, so I'll die without any regrets, except for the fact that I didn't reach the top like I wanted... Well, that's it."

Dante: DIE, YOU BASTARDS!!!

At that moment, an enormous and unbelievable amount of mana is felt by all the mages coming directly from Dante's body.

???: SHIT, HE'S GOING TO SELF-DESTRUCT!!!

Without giving any chance to escape, a huge explosion occurs, completely shredding and evaporating all parts of Dante's body.

The explosion is terrifying, expanding more and more to the point where it seems that it will grow uncontrollably without end, consuming the entire environment around it and killing thousands of awakened with extreme ease, even those who were once considered the strongest, could not escape no fatal injuries from that blast.

[Hello, User! I am the "System", and I will assist you on your journey.]

"What the hell is this... Where am I?"

Upon opening his eyes again, Dante realized he was in a completely unknown location, no longer on Earth, nor in the heaven or hell he thought he might be in, but rather in a completely white place with nothing but a blue and almost transparent screen flying right in front of him.

[You are in what is known as the "Void", a neutral and independent dimension where nothing resides, except for the two of us at this moment.]

Dante:... But... Why am I here?.

[You have been chosen to become the user of the all-powerful "System", after we analyzed your memories, your mind, and your desires.]

"Referring to itself as all-powerful, apparently there's an ego behind this System."

Dante: No, that's not what I'm referring to, did... did I die?

[I'm sorry to inform you, but yes, after the explosion your body not only shattered but also evaporated completely to the point where not even ashes remained.]

At that moment, a small shock of reality hit Dante's mind as he realized that his life had really ended, and now all the people he cared about, he simply would never see again.

"It's not like I expected to live for very long following the path I chose, but it still saddens me to know that I died before achieving what I wanted."

[Don't worry, user! You have just been given a new chance at life.]

Dante: Wait, what!?!!

Shocked but at the same time positively surprised by the System's response, Dante tries to keep a little bit of his hope alive as he waits for the System's explanation.

[As previously stated, you have been chosen by us to reincarnate in a new world, and then become the main test subject for the System.]

"Despite hating to be called a test subject, if it guarantees me a chance to achieve my goal of reaching the top, I won't mind at all what they call me."

Dante: And who was it that chose me? Who exactly is this "we" that you mentioned?

[I'm sorry, but I cannot answer those questions at this time.]

"What's so special that I can't know, even though they chose me on their own?"

Dante: Anyway, System...

After these questions, a conversation takes place between Dante and the System, with them asking and answering some questions, most of which the System refuses to answer or the answer is not as satisfactory as Dante had hoped.

[That's it, User! I hope I have answered most of your questions. Goodbye, and good luck with your new life!]

Dante: Yeah... I hope I have better luck this time.

???: Congratulations, Mistress! It's a boy.