Respawn? Nah, Just Built Different.

The darkness grows, consuming him completely, and he feels himself sinking deeper into an abyss.

Then, a soft voice cuts through the void, breaking the silence.

"Handle yourself. You're here now."

Hansi's eyes snap open, and he finds himself standing in an entirely new space. Before him is a young girl, her presence gentle yet resolute. She is small in stature, with delicate features that seem to glow with an ethereal light, despite the darkness that surrounds them.

She smiles softly, her expression kind yet firm. "You're awake."

Hansi looks down at himself, still clad in his assassin's gear, his body encased in the familiar attire of a life he's long known. But a strange, instinctual urge rises within him, compelling him to reach for his face. His fingers brush against something unfamiliar—something soft and fabric-like.

Curiosity drives him, and without hesitation, he pulls at the cloth, feeling the fabric slide from his face with surprising ease. The force of the movement strips away not only the cloth covering his face but also the upper half of his attire, exposing his bare form beneath.

The girl gasps in shock, her face immediately flushing a deep shade of red. She spins around, embarrassed, her hands instinctively flying to cover her face, clearly trying to avoid looking at him.

Hansi stands still, unaffected by the sudden awkwardness. His gaze shifts downward, and for the first time, he truly sees himself. The endless void reflects his true appearance, a sight that is both haunting and beautiful.

His face, undeniably handsome, strikes a unique balance between sharp masculinity and an almost innocent cuteness. Every angle of his jawline, every feature, is perfectly sculpted, radiating an almost otherworldly allure. His physique is the epitome of strength and beauty—a shredded, muscular body, his biceps, triceps, forearms, and chest rippling with lean muscle. His back is broad, his lats defined, and his core—his twelve-pack abs—are a marvel, sharp and veined, a testament to his extraordinary physicality.

Beneath his left eye, a thin scar with three delicate stitches traces a path down his cheek, while a small cut adorns his right eyebrow. These imperfections, in some strange way, only enhance his rugged appeal, giving him a more human touch. Without them, his features might have been too perfect—too pristine. But now, he stands as the embodiment of unparalleled handsomeness.

His hair, a wild fantasy in itself, cascades in a striking mix of colors. It's long, untamed, with the base color primarily black and white, but the strands at the bottom slowly transition into an ethereal blend of blue, red, and violet. This striking combination forms a stunning mullet wolf cut that is both fierce and elegant.

His body tells a story of its own, covered in tattoos that give him an added depth. On his right bicep, a majestic celestial lion roars in intricate detail. On his left bicep, a heart arrow with the word Love serves as a reminder of something long lost. Across his back, a vibrant phoenix stretches across his skin, its feathers flowing with life and color. Beneath his neck, a small, intricate Chinese-style dragon winds its way around his body. And around both his forearms, black-and-white wristband tattoos mark his strength, resolve, and the warrior's life he leads.

Hansi stares at his reflection in the endless void, his expression unreadable, a mix of emotions flickering within him. Slowly, almost thoughtfully, he raises a hand to his face, his magic flowing through his fingertips. The scars, the imperfections, fade away in an instant, and his skin becomes flawless once again. In this new form, he is the picture of innocence, the epitome of beauty, radiating an allure that could captivate anyone.

For the first time, his voice—clear, smooth, and unmistakably charming—breaks the silence.

"I can... speak."

The girl's heart skips a beat at the sound of his voice. She turns slowly, her eyes widening as she takes in his newfound form. The overwhelming beauty of his appearance nearly overwhelms her, and her face turns crimson once more. The sheer presence of him seems to send a shock through her system.

And in the next instant—a nosebleed.

Hansi steps closer, his concern for her genuine and immediate. "Hey... are you okay?" he asks, his voice laced with genuine worry.

The girl, struggling to maintain composure, nods rapidly, her face flushed with embarrassment and flustered beyond words. Her hands desperately try to stanch the flow of blood, but the sight of Hansi—of him standing there, worry in his eyes—leaves her completely undone.

The girl quickly wipes away the blood that drips from her nose with the sleeve of her kimono, still unable to meet Hansi's piercing gaze. Her face is flushed with embarrassment, and she stammers out an attempt to explain, her voice shaky. "Y-yeah... I'm fine... just—" She glances up briefly, but immediately looks away again, her discomfort palpable. "You... you're not what I expected."

Hansi tilts his head in curiosity, his newly discovered voice still unfamiliar to him, yet calm. "What did you expect?" There's a trace of curiosity in his tone, though his expression remains unreadable.

The girl exhales deeply, trying to steady herself and regain some composure. "Not someone who looks... like that." She gestures vaguely toward him, not quite meeting his gaze. "Anyway, I'm supposed to be your guide... or something like that."

Hansi crosses his arms with a fluid motion, his muscles subtly flexing under the motion. "Guide?" He raises an eyebrow, his expression one of intrigue, not fully understanding what she means.

She nods slowly, still avoiding his gaze, her words coming in a soft murmur. "Yes. You're in the boundary between life and death. Call it purgatory, limbo, whatever you like. I'm here to help you... well, figure things out."

Hansi looks down at his chest, where the sword had pierced him earlier. His chest is perfectly whole—no wound, no trace of injury. He runs a hand over the spot as if to confirm it and lets out a slow, resigned sigh. "So I failed... again."

The girl's eyes soften, her voice gentle but firm. "Failed? No. You just haven't found what you're looking for."

Hansi meets her gaze at last, his deep purple eyes—now free of the red essence that had consumed them—staring into hers. He studies her carefully before speaking again, his voice carrying a weight of emotion. "And what am I looking for?"

The girl hesitates for a moment, her eyes reflecting uncertainty, but she answers him honestly. "I don't know. But something tells me... you do."

For a moment, silence lingers between them, the air heavy with the unspoken. The darkness around them seems less oppressive now, more like a waiting space, a place to pause and reflect. Hansi speaks again, his tone quieter this time. "If I'm not dead... does that mean I have to go back?"

The girl nods softly, her gaze steady. "Yes. But... not just yet."

She steps forward, taking a deep breath, and finally gathers the courage to meet his eyes directly. Her voice becomes more confident, more certain. "Tell me, Hansi... why do you want to die?"

Hansi's expression hardens, a flicker of something dark crossing his features. He stands still for a moment, searching for the right words, words he hasn't allowed himself to say before. "Because..." He hesitates, his voice quiet and raw. "Because I don't know how to live."

The girl's expression softens, and she smiles gently, her voice reassuring. "Then let's change that."

Before Hansi can respond, the darkness around them begins to shift. The heavy blackness seems to give way to light, and slowly, small orbs begin to appear, floating around them like fireflies in the night. The girl's presence becomes warmer, more familiar, and the oppressive void feels less suffocating, more like a space for new beginnings.

"Come," she says, holding out her hand to him, her voice like a soft beckoning. "Let's find out who you really are."

Hansi hesitates for a moment, staring at her outstretched hand. A long silence passes as he contemplates the offer. Then, as if something shifts within him, he reaches out and takes her hand. The moment their fingers touch, something unspoken passes between them, and the darkness around them shatters like glass.

Suddenly, Hansi finds himself standing on the beach once again. The familiar sound of the waves crashing gently against the shore reaches his ears, and the calm sea stretches out before him. The moonlight reflects off the waves, casting a soft, silvery glow across the landscape. His heart beats steadily within his chest, the magic crystal inside him intact, as if nothing had ever happened.

The wind blows softly, carrying with it the girl's voice in his mind, faint but clear. "Live."

Hansi's expression hardens for a moment, his fists clenching at his sides as he takes in the world around him. His gaze lifts toward the horizon, where the distant city lights flicker in the darkness. Something stirs within him, a sensation he hasn't felt in a long time—something like hope.

For the first time in a long while, Hansi takes a deep breath, filling his lungs with the cool night air. He closes his eyes for a moment, letting the sensation wash over him. When he opens them again, he looks forward, his expression unreadable yet resolute.

With one last glance toward the horizon, he starts walking forward, his footsteps steady and sure, leaving behind the uncertainty of his past.

As Hansi walks along the beach, his steps are slow yet purposeful, each footfall leaving a temporary imprint in the sand that is quickly washed away by the gentle waves. The cool breeze brushes against his skin, and for the first time in what feels like forever, he is acutely aware of the world around him—not just as a place to exist, but as something... more. The stars above shine brightly, the moon's glow reflecting off the water, and the scent of salt in the air feels grounding, almost like a reminder that he's still part of something bigger than himself. The red essence in his eyes flickers faintly, a reminder of the torment he's lived through, before fading entirely, leaving only the deep purple glow beneath the moonlight.

His thoughts drift back to the girl he met in the void. Her presence had been both comforting and unsettling, her words echoing in his mind: "Let's find out who you really are." The phrase resonates deeply within him, like a question he hasn't dared to ask himself until now.

Hansi clenches his fist, his thoughts tangled in confusion. Who am I?

The sound of footsteps approaching breaks his concentration. The crunch of sand beneath boots is slow and deliberate, each step unmistakable. Hansi doesn't turn around immediately; he already knows who it is.

The voice that follows confirms it. "You're still alive, huh?"

Hansi glances over his shoulder, his gaze cold and uninterested. Standing there is the same guild member who had once called him down—the one who always acted as the boss's errand boy. The man's expression is neutral but watchful, his eyes calculating as they linger on Hansi.

Ignoring the question, Hansi simply says, "Why are you here?"

The man smirks, a cynical twist to his lips. "I could ask you the same thing. After all, you were supposed to die back there." His gaze falls on the sword still embedded in Hansi's chest, an object that had once been a symbol of death but now lay like a futile reminder. "Yet here you are, alive and... weirdly intact."

Hansi pulls the sword out of his chest effortlessly, the wound sealing instantly without a trace of blood. "I don't have an answer." His voice is flat, emotionless, as if the concept of life and death no longer holds meaning for him.

The man sighs, rubbing the back of his neck in exasperation. "Well, the boss isn't gonna be happy. He already received your message... and let's just say he wasn't exactly celebrating." He pauses, his eyes narrowing as he studies Hansi carefully. "You should probably stay dead, you know."

Hansi doesn't respond, his gaze shifting back toward the ocean, where the waves gently lap at the shore, a rhythmic, almost mocking reminder of the life he had once lived.

The man takes another step closer, his voice lowering as if imparting some secret. "Listen," he continues, "the guild doesn't take kindly to people who don't finish the job... or those who try to leave. You were our top assassin, Hansi. A legend, even. If they find out you're still alive, they won't just let you walk away."

Hansi smirks faintly, the corners of his lips curling in a barely noticeable expression of defiance. "Let them come."

The man shakes his head in frustration,

his voice tinged with an edge of warning. "You really don't get it, do you? This isn't just about you. The guild doesn't like loose ends. And right now, you're the loosest end there is."

Hansi remains silent, his eyes unreadable as the man's words sink in. The weight of his past hangs over him like a shadow, and for the first time, he feels the gravity of it all. But the question remains: can he truly escape it?

After a moment of tense silence, Hansi finally speaks, his voice low. "Then why tell me this?"

The man hesitates, a flicker of something resembling regret passing through his eyes before he shrugs, as if to dismiss the matter. "Maybe I owe you one... maybe I don't want to see you turn into a target." He turns to leave, but pauses midway, glancing over his shoulder one last time. "If you're serious about leaving it all behind... you better disappear. For real this time."

With that, he walks away, his figure slowly fading into the darkness of the night.

Hansi watches him go, his expression unreadable as the sounds of the man's footsteps fade into the distance. The guild... his past... the missions... all of it feels so distant now. He feels untethered, as if he has stepped outside the boundaries of everything he once knew. But the question still lingers in his mind—Could he really escape it?

His hand unconsciously drifts to his chest where his heart should have been. I should be dead... but I'm not.The thought circles in his mind, and for a fleeting moment, he wonders if there's something more to this existence than mere survival.

As the first light of dawn begins to break over the horizon, casting a soft golden hue across the sky, Hansi makes a decision. He turns away from the ocean, its vastness no longer holding him captive, and begins to walk inland, toward the unknown.

Whatever awaited him beyond this point, it would no longer be dictated by the guild.

This time... he would decide for himself.