Chapter 1: Death

Ryota was 18 years old. He lived in Portugal, worked tirelessly, and had long since given up on the luxury of dreams.

Two years ago, he left school—not because he wanted to, but because life had forced his hand. His mother had fallen gravely ill, and with no one else to support her, he took up whatever work he could find. It didn't matter if it was washing dishes, lifting crates, or cleaning tables—so long as it paid for her medical treatment, it was worth it.

Every day was exhausting, but Ryota endured. He had no talent, no fortune, and certainly no luck. Yet, he never once hesitated. If suffering was the price to keep his mother alive, he would gladly pay it.

And today, that suffering was finally about to end.

As he wiped the counter at the bar where he worked, his half-broken phone buzzed in his pocket. When he saw the caller ID, his heart pounded.

It was his mother.

With trembling fingers, he accepted the call.

"Hey, honey," her voice came through, soft yet filled with emotion.

"Mom? Why are you crying?" Ryota's grip on the phone tightened.

"You don't have to work hard for me anymore," she said, her voice shaking. "They finally discharged me! I'm… I'm free, Ryota!"

For a long moment, Ryota said nothing.

Then, a smile—one of pure, unfiltered joy—spread across his face. "You're serious!? They really released you!?"

"Yes," she sobbed. "And I'm so sorry, Ryota. You sacrificed so much for me… you even left school… I—"

"Mom, stop," he interrupted, his throat tightening. "I didn't work hard just to hear you apologize! I just want you to be happy. That's all that matters."

Silence, except for the sound of her sniffles.

"Okay, honey."

"Stay right there," Ryota said, already pulling off his apron. "I'm coming to pick you up!"

"Ryota!" his boss called as he sprinted past.

"I resign!" he shouted back, throwing his uniform onto a chair.

He ran.

He didn't own a car, nor did he have the money for a taxi, but none of that mattered. His legs carried him forward, fueled by sheer will alone.

His vision blurred from the wind and the tears in his eyes, but he didn't slow down.

Then, he saw her.

Standing across the street, dressed in clean clothes, looking healthier than ever before.

"Mom!" he called, his voice raw with emotion.

"Ryota!" she cried, smiling through her tears.

He moved without thinking.

A step onto the road.

A flash of headlights.

A deafening honk.

A force like a hammer against his body.

Pain.

Then—nothing.

...

Endless darkness.

No light, no sound, no warmth.

Ryota found himself floating, yet he felt no weight—no sense of up or down. His body existed, but it didn't. His senses were dulled, as if reality itself had abandoned him.

He tried to move, but there was no resistance. No ground beneath his feet. No air against his skin.

Time felt… wrong. Had he been here for mere seconds? Hours? An eternity?

"Where… am I?" he murmured, his voice eerily muffled by the void.

Then—

A voice.

Silky. Sultry. Sinful.

"You're dead, my dear…"

A shiver ran down Ryota's spine. The voice came from behind him, warm and intimate, as if whispered directly into his ear.

Instinctively, he turned—

And his breath caught in his throat.

She stood there, wrapped in an aura of pure temptation. A woman unlike any he had ever seen.

Her figure was breathtaking, with curves that defied logic and a presence that exuded both allure and danger. A tight, black dress clung to her body, scandalously exposing her flawless skin. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her shoulders like silk, and her eyes—smoldering and crimson—seemed to pierce straight into his soul.

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A smirk played on her lips as she watched him.

"Who… are you?" Ryota asked, struggling to keep his gaze on her face, but failing miserably.

She giggled, the sound dangerously sweet. "Oh? Is that where your focus is, my dear?"

Ryota immediately forced himself to look up, face flushing. "Answer the question."

The woman tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "I go by many names, but for now, you may call me… Lilith."

Ryota's breath hitched as he took an involuntary step back, his body tensed like a coiled spring.

The way Lilith moved—the slow, deliberate sway of her hips, the amused glint in her crimson eyes—felt overwhelming. Everything about her screamed danger, yet his mind struggled to process anything beyond the absurdity of the situation.

"I—" he gulped, his voice breaking slightly, "P-please don't eat my soul!"

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Lilith blinked before bursting into laughter—rich, velvety, and dripping with amusement.

"My, my… You truly are an innocent little thing, aren't you?" she cooed.

Before Ryota could react, she reached out, pulling him forward in a single fluid motion. His face landed directly against her chest, smothered by an impossible softness.

His brain short-circuited.

"I—I can't breathe!" Ryota's muffled thoughts screamed in panic. His arms flailed uselessly, his entire face burning with embarrassment.

Lilith held him there effortlessly, a smirk curving her lips. "Now, now… If I wanted to eat your soul, do you really think I'd waste my time playing with you like this?"

Ryota barely processed her words—his mind was too occupied with the fact that he was being suffocated in the most humiliating way possible.

Summoning what little dignity he had left, he managed to pry himself free, stumbling backward, gasping for air like a drowning man.

Lilith watched, clearly entertained. "Relax, dear. I don't devour souls… at least, not in the way you're thinking."

Ryota wiped the sweat from his brow. "Then what do you want from me?"

Lilith's playful expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something deeper crossing her gaze.

"Well," she began, tapping a perfectly manicured finger against his chest, "Let's just say that I owe someone a favor..."

Ryota blinked, his breath still unsteady. "You owe someone a favor? And what does that have to do with me?"

Lilith chuckled, the sound smooth and teasing. "You're quite the curious one, aren't you?" Her fingers traced a lazy circle in the air, crimson energy shimmering at her fingertips. "But answers are far more precious when earned, dear."

Ryota narrowed his eyes. "So you're not going to tell me?"

She leaned in, close enough that he could feel her warmth, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "You'll figure it out someday, Ryota..."

Something about the way she said his name sent a shiver down his spine.

"Now..." She stepped back, lifting her hand.

Before Ryota could react, his vision blurred. A strange weightlessness overtook him, his body dissolving into nothingness. The darkness around him trembled, shifting, twisting—pulling him into its depths.

"Wait—what's happening!?" His voice echoed, distorted, fading.

Lilith's voice was the last thing he heard, soft and final.

"It's time for your journey to start... enjoy my gifts..."

Then—silence.

And Ryota's consciousness faded into the abyss.

[You have been granted access to the Divine System!]

[You have awakened your unique Divine Ability, Copy!]

To be continued...

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Well, this was it. How was this chapter compared to the old one? Better? Worse?

I tried to use AI to make my writing better (and because I can't still write much on my own), so if there's anything wrong, please tell me.

I hope all of you an amazing day!