Rebirth and Revelation

Darkness.

An overwhelming void surrounded Kai Nakamura, an abyss so deep it felt like an eternity. He couldn't see, couldn't move, and yet, his consciousness remained intact, trapped in a state of suspended nothingness.

Then—pain.

A sudden, sharp inhalation filled his lungs with air as he shot upright in bed, heart hammering against his ribs. The sensation of breath, of warmth, of life, flooded his senses in a way he hadn't felt in years. His body trembled, drenched in cold sweat, his mind in chaos.

He knew this room.

His eyes darted around in frantic confusion. The cluttered desk with his old laptop, the posters of tech giants he had once admired, the bookshelf filled with programming guides, and the small window that let in the faintest glow of the streetlights outside—this was his childhood bedroom.

Panic gripped his chest. This isn't possible.

With shaky hands, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand, his fingers fumbling as he tapped the screen. September 4, 20XX.

His breath hitched. His birthday. His eighteenth birthday.

The exact day before his life had started to spiral downward.

A memory flashed in his mind—a much older version of himself, hunched over a dimly lit office desk, his face gaunt, his fingers sore from endless coding. He had worked tirelessly for years, clawing his way up in the IT industry, only to be chewed up and spat out by corporate overlords who saw him as disposable.

But now? Now he was here. Back.

He stumbled out of bed, his heart racing. Was this a dream? A cruel illusion? His gaze fell on the mirror by the door. The reflection staring back at him was unmistakably his younger self. His once-worn features were smooth, untouched by stress or exhaustion. His dark hair was slightly messy, his physique average, untouched by the years of wear and tear his body had endured.

Kai swallowed hard. He had regressed.

A surge of emotions—shock, confusion, disbelief—threatened to overwhelm him. Why? How?

Then, a deep chime echoed in his mind, followed by a mechanical voice that sent chills down his spine.

[System Initialization Complete. Welcome to the Erebus System, Kai Nakamura.]

His vision flickered as a translucent screen appeared before his eyes, glowing with crisp, golden text.

Erebus System ActivatedUser: Kai NakamuraAbilities Granted:

Time-Freeze: Temporarily halt time at will. Black Card: Unlimited wealth at your disposal. (Starting balance: $1,000,000,000)Attribute Upgrade System: Earn points to enhance your physical and mental abilities. System Missions: Complete objectives for monetary rewards and power boosts.

Kai's breath caught in his throat.

Time-Freeze? One billion dollars? Attribute upgrades?

This wasn't just regression—this was an absolute cheat system. A way to rewrite his destiny from scratch.

His fingers curled into fists as a rush of adrenaline coursed through his veins. He had been given power. Power beyond anything he had ever imagined.

A laugh bubbled up from his throat. It was low at first, then grew louder. A manic, incredulous sound. This was his second chance.

He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to calm down. Think.

First, he needed to test the abilities.

Closing his eyes, he focused on the Time-Freeze function. Immediately, a strange, icy sensation coursed through his body, and the world around him stilled.

The faint hum of the ceiling fan stopped. The red digits of his clock no longer ticked forward. The distant sounds of traffic from outside fell into utter silence.

He waved his hand in front of his laptop screen—it left a motionless afterimage, frozen mid-motion. The world had stopped moving.

A slow grin spread across his face. He owned time itself.

After a few minutes of testing, he willed time to resume. The world jolted back to life—the fan whirred, the clock ticked, and the distant city sounds returned.

Kai exhaled sharply. This wasn't a dream.

Next, he checked the Black Card section of the system. A sleek, obsidian-black credit card materialized in his hand, an elegant insignia embossed on its surface. One billion dollars at his disposal.

He flexed his fingers around the card, feeling its cool, smooth texture. Unlimited wealth. Absolute control over time. A system designed to make him stronger.

This was beyond just a second chance. This was the key to absolute power.

His mind sharpened. He wouldn't waste this opportunity.

The Eclipse Syndicate—the shadowy organization that had crushed his ambitions in his past life—would no longer be a threat. He would dismantle them before they even had the chance to rise.

This time, he wouldn't just survive. He would dominate.

His priorities were clear:

Master the system. Understand the full extent of his abilities and limitations. Start building his empire. He had limitless resources—money, time, and knowledge of the future. Eliminate potential threats early. Prevent past mistakes. Enjoy life to the fullest. No more suffering, no more regrets.

Kai inhaled deeply, staring at his reflection in the mirror. The young man looking back at him no longer carried the weight of helplessness.

He was in control.

With a smirk, he whispered, "Let the game begin."