Past

Chapter 1e: Shadows of the Past

The labyrinth of stone twisted around Kai as he followed Lyra, Vorn, and Aelric deeper into the F-rank dungeon. The stone walls were cold, slick with moisture, and the faint echo of dripping water created an eerie atmosphere. Every step felt like it took them further into the heart of the maze. But it wasn't just the maze that weighed on Kai's mind. It was the memories—the fragments of his previous life that surfaced at the strangest times.

Each time he moved, it felt like his old body was still there, waiting to break free. He could remember the rush of battle, the feeling of power coursing through him, and even the pain of betrayal. His mind raced with thoughts of his former teammates—the ones who had used him as a pawn. Their faces, their voices, they haunted him like ghosts, never truly gone. He had been betrayed by those he trusted most, his rise to power cut short by their treachery. And now, here he was again, reborn into a new life, carrying the weight of that loss.

Kai's fists clenched as the memories came rushing back. He could almost hear their voices. "We'll help you level up." "We'll take you to the top." Those were the words they had spoken to him before the betrayal. Before they used him to get ahead in the game and left him to die.

But as much as those memories hurt, they also fueled him. He wasn't the same person who had died. He had been given another chance. A rebirth, but not without a price. His former self was gone, but he was still haunted by the ghost of who he used to be.

"Kai?" Lyra's voice broke through his thoughts, and he blinked, suddenly aware of the present again. She was standing at the front of the group, her sharp green eyes fixed on him. "You good?"

"Yeah," Kai said, trying to mask the turmoil in his chest. "Just... thinking."

Aelric, who had been trailing behind, spoke up next. "You know, this dungeon isn't just about the monsters or the traps. It's a test of patience. You can't rush through it. We've got to stick together."

"I know," Kai said, his voice steady. "I won't get in the way."

But the truth was, he didn't know if he could hold it all together. His mind was still divided between the world he had known and this new reality. He wasn't just fighting for points anymore. He wasn't just climbing the ranks to prove himself. There was a deeper need inside him now—to not just survive, but to change the game.

It wasn't just the Demon King he had to defeat. It was his past. It was the people who had betrayed him and turned his world into something darker. His rebirth wasn't just a chance to level up—it was a chance to rewrite his story.

They continued walking, the silence between them becoming a heavy blanket as they moved further into the labyrinth. Kai tried to push the memories aside. They were gone. His former life, his death, everything that had led to this moment—they were just echoes. Ghosts that had no place in this world.

Still, the weight of it pressed on him. Every twist and turn in the dungeon felt like a metaphor for his life. The uncertainty, the feeling of being lost, even as the walls closed in. The further he walked, the more he realized just how much he still needed to learn. Not just about the game, not just about the Dungeon, but about himself.

He had been given the Copy ability—a unique power that allowed him to replicate others' abilities. But it was limited. He could only stack two abilities at once, and there was a physical cost to it. If he didn't stay in control, the abilities could tear his body apart. It was a dangerous power, one that he hadn't fully learned to wield yet.

"Do you hear that?" Vorn's deep voice cut through the silence, drawing Kai's attention back to the present.

Kai stopped in his tracks, his senses sharpening. There it was—a low, guttural growl coming from somewhere ahead. The group tensed, their eyes scanning the maze.

"Get ready," Aelric whispered, slipping into a crouch.

The air seemed to thicken, the sound of their footsteps muted by the creeping tension. Kai's breath quickened as the growl grew louder, more menacing. The walls shifted slightly, the maze twisting around them in real-time, but it wasn't the labyrinth that worried Kai. It was what lay ahead.

A figure appeared from the shadows. At first, it was just a blur—a massive shape that seemed to grow larger with each passing second. It was a creature, hunched over, with glowing red eyes that reflected the dim light of the dungeon. Its form was obscured by shadows, but one thing was certain: it was no ordinary monster.

Lyra raised her twin blades, her stance fluid and poised. "A Beast Lord," she muttered under her breath. "Level 10. This could get tricky."

Kai's heart raced. A Beast Lord. He had heard of these. They were formidable opponents, capable of devastating attacks. But it wasn't just the creature that concerned him. It was the memories, the sharp sting of betrayal that threatened to resurface. The Beast Lord's growl echoed in his mind, turning into a haunting voice, one that he had once heard on the day of his death.

"You thought you were special, didn't you? Just another pawn in the game. Another tool to be used and discarded."

Kai shook his head, trying to clear the memory, trying to focus on the present. The Beast Lord was still there, pacing back and forth, eyes locked on the group.

"We'll handle this," Lyra said, her voice low. "Kai, stay back. Let us take the lead."

But Kai's body was already moving, instinctively stepping forward. He wasn't the same person who had died in the past. He had control now. He had power—more than he realized. And the only way forward was through the challenge.

His hand reached for the system interface, and the Copy ability surged within him. He reached for the Beast Lord's power, trying to replicate its agility and strength. The familiar sensation of the ability flowing through him made his blood rush, his senses heightening. But it wasn't just the Beast Lord's power that he copied. It was something else. A small fragment of the Beast Lord's primal rage surged within him, and for a moment, he felt a dangerous pull toward the darkness.

He clenched his fist, pulling back. He couldn't afford to lose himself. Not again.

"I'll take the first strike," Kai said, his voice steady. His past was a shadow, but it didn't define him anymore.

With the Copy ability now fully engaged, he charged forward, his body moving with a speed and power he had never experienced before. The Beast Lord roared, its massive claws swinging toward him, but Kai was already on the move, his new abilities propelling him through the air, dodging and countering with precision.

It was a battle of instincts, of power, but also of control. He couldn't afford to let the rage take hold again. Not this time.

As the Beast Lord struck, Kai leapt forward, the force of his blow landing squarely on the creature's chest, sending it crashing to the ground. It howled in pain, but Kai wasn't done. His fists were a blur, each hit a calculated strike, his speed increasing with every second.

The battle raged on, and as the Beast Lord's form crumbled beneath his assault, Kai realized something. His past wasn't gone, but he had the power to shape his future. This rebirth wasn't just a second chance—it was an opportunity to forge a new path.

The Beast Lord let out a final, desperate screech before crumbling to dust. Kai stood over its remains, panting, his body still humming with power.

"Nice work," Lyra said, stepping up beside him. "But remember, this is just the beginning."

Kai nodded, but as he looked down at the Beast Lord's remains, a part of him knew that this fight was more than just about survival. It was about redemption. And he would stop at nothing to reclaim his strength and rewrite his story.

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End of Chapter 13.