Awakening

Strange memories suddenly emerged in Nora's mind—not unfamiliar fragments, but knowledge of how to wield the Reincarnation Divine Art and Samsara Fist.

These two techniques were of immense value to him, especially the Reincarnation Divine Art.

His starting point had been that of a hero with the lowest possible talent. Only after enduring countless hardships had he managed to rise to the rank of an A-rank hero.

The greatest power of the Reincarnation Divine Art was its ability to enhance a person's talent to the absolute limit of a given world.

This meant that in his next life, Nora would require far less time to grow strong compared to the past.

Having obtained these abilities, he felt an overwhelming sense of optimism about the future. Laughing, he said:

"Haha, thank you so much, Heavenly Book of Reincarnation. Even though most of my memories won't remain, I now have far more confidence in defeating the Demon King."

"There's no need to thank me. I am merely fulfilling my duty."

"And what does that have to do with whether I want to thank you?"

Nora wasn't wrong. Even if the other party claimed it was simply its responsibility, that didn't change the fact that he had benefited from it.

In this world, one should always remember those who have helped them.

"Suit yourself."

The Heavenly Book of Reincarnation responded indifferently. Though it possessed intelligence, it was not human. It existed solely for its mission, devoid of most emotions.

"Are you ready to depart?" the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation asked.

It could tell that Nora was fully prepared. The time had come for him to restart his life.

"Yes, there's no reason for me to remain here any longer. Please, send me back to the past."

"Understood."

With those words, a spacetime vortex appeared beside the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation. The vortex pulled in Nora's soul form, and the next moment, it vanished.

.....

On Earth, in country X, a young man with heterochromatic eyes—one sapphire blue and the other golden—sat cross-legged on a stone bench in a park.

His platinum-white hair, reaching down to his shoulders, swayed slightly in the breeze.

Dressed in a black outfit with a dark purple cloak, he leisurely sipped a cup of coffee he had just purchased.

Suddenly, his expression changed. His gaze became sharper, far more mature than just moments ago.

He placed the coffee cup on the bench and lifted his eyes toward the sky. Then, he took a moment to observe the peaceful scenery around him.

"So this really is the past. It seems the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation didn't deceive me. I truly have a second chance to save this world. Even though my memories are gone, I believe that with sheer determination alone, I can help humanity escape its destined end."

With that thought, he sprang to his feet and dashed home, trying to recall if anything important was supposed to happen around this time.

"What exactly was significant about this period? Right... my awakening. It should happen tonight. Even though I don't remember anything, there's no way the Heavenly Book of Reincarnation would send me back to a random point in the past."

After piecing things together, he quickened his pace. He needed to ensure that this awakening went as smoothly as possible.

Unfortunately, he was bound to be disappointed. After all, his natural talent had never been high to begin with.

.....

Upon reaching home, he rushed straight into his room.

This small apartment belonged to him alone. His parents had passed away when he was young, leaving him to fend for himself from an early age.

Fortunately, his family's financial situation had been decent, so survival was never too much of a struggle.

The moment he entered his room, he threw himself onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as he thought to himself:

"When exactly will my awakening happen? Maybe I should try doing something first."

Simply waiting felt dull. He pondered what he could do in the meantime.

Suddenly, a thought surfaced in his mind—about the two abilities he had received.

"Forget the Samsara Fist, that's a lethal move—I can't use it recklessly. But the Reincarnation Divine Art, on the other hand... that, I can test out."

Having made up his mind, he climbed out of bed and searched for an open space on the floor.

Once he found a suitable spot, he sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state.

His body instantly felt unbelievably clear, as if he could sense every tiny part of himself.

More importantly, he became aware of something he had never felt before—the energy of nature itself.

A vast, seemingly endless energy flowed steadily into his body—not concentrated in one place, but stretching infinitely across the world.

Physically, he felt an incredible sense of comfort. However, his mind remained tense, as channeling the Reincarnation Divine Art required absolute focus.

Hours passed before he finally opened his eyes. Standing up, he examined his body, then smiled and said:

"As expected of the Reincarnation Divine Art, its effects are truly extraordinary."

But then, something felt off.

All of a sudden, an intense heat surged through his body.

His heartbeat became erratic, pounding wildly against his chest.

It felt as though his blood was undergoing some kind of special stimulation, boiling within his veins.

Clutching his chest, he collapsed onto the floor, his face twisted in pain.

"Damn it, what's happening?!"

That was his last conscious thought before the excruciating pain overwhelmed him, and his mind faded into darkness.

Moments later, his body lay completely still on the ground.

He was no longer trembling. At a glance, one might think he had passed out—or even died.

Then, suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

His muscles had visibly expanded, his physique growing significantly stronger.

With a powerful motion, he sprang into the air before landing lightly on the ground.

Staring at his own palm, he clenched and unclenched his fist, testing his newfound strength.

After confirming that not only was his body unharmed, but had actually become stronger, a surge of excitement filled him.

He clenched his fists tightly, then leaped into the air, punching the sky in exhilaration.

"Ha ha ha! This is incredible! Is this a bloodline awakening? I wonder what element I'll obtain—this is going to be interesting! Now, I can finally grow strong enough to protect humanity. It's time for me to register as a hero!"