Chapter 1: Flames of Regret

The jungle was filled with howling. But it was not the usual birds chirping or animals roaring that filled the jungle. No. It was the sound of monsters, being brought here from another world. They were scattered around the whole world, destroying everything in sight.

A lone figure stood at the heart of the jungle, gripping a sword in one hand and a vial in the other. His tattered attire spoke of countless battles, a testament to his struggle for survival. He stood attentively, marking every movement around him.

One bush moved, then another, and just like that he knew that he was already surrounded. The number of enemies was too great to count and too many to fight one on one. So he sheathed his blade. He then grabbed another vial from his bag, bathing his hands with it while drinking the vial that was already in his hand. He now felt a bit better, and somewhat ready to fight.

But the monsters did not give him anymore time to prepare. One of them jumped past the bush, revealing its chilling physical structure. They had the general shape of a wolf, but they were much bigger, had deadlier claws, jaws that looked like it could break steel apart with no effort. It had black fur, that made it look like a shadow.

It was a Nightlash, named after its lightning speed and ability disappear into darkness. It lashed at the figure, only to be stopped by a fury of flame. Even though the figure was slower than the beast, he hunted enough of them to know their habits and attack pattern. But that did not matter when there were such an overwhelming number of them.

After the death of the first one, they began to come forward in groups, surrounding him to the point of blocking the moonlight. The figure, however, did not falter, as he just took out his last vial. As Nightlash's began to rush towards him, he simply threw it upward and attacked it with his flames.

A huge explosion took place, clearing not only the monsters but also the surrounding forest. After the dust cleared, the figure could finally be seen clearly, standing upright behind his special carbon fiber cloak, which protected him.

He was Ethan, a man in his late twenties who looked like he aged much more. His body was lean but fit, filled with scars that revealed his enormous experience. He wore a dark carbon fiber cloak around his attire, had a sword in his waist and a vial bag which was now empty.

Even though he cleared the immediate problem, he had to move fast. Other monsters would surely rush here after hearing the explosion. He rushed past the now open field because of the explosion, entered the forest, and ran per his mental maps. A few miles more and he would reach the city. Finally he would be safe.

But plans rarely go as planned.

He was now atop a high yet crumbling platform, surrounded by what seems to be hundreds of monsters. The whole city was massacred, leaving no one alive. He gave a small smile, as if accepting his fate, and reached for his pockets which only had a cigarette and one last vial.

He lit up the cigarette with a small fire that rose from his fingers and took a slow drag from it. His mind was not filled with the horrible fate that awaits him, but the memories of the past that made him what he is now.

He remembered his family, his busy fathers pat on the hand, his mothers loving embrace and his little sister's warm smile, which filled their small family of four. He remembered every picnic they went to, every time they helped him research, every time they ditched their own research and spent time with them.

But then he remembered the Betrayal. Betrayal that was caused by people he thought were his family. The accusations. The disgrace. The struggle. He remembered his parents' shattered voices, their fight for the truth until their deaths, the loneliness that followed. All so they could get a bigger piece of the business.

He remembered his innocent little sister. He remembered how she endured alongside him for as long as she could, never showing her suffering. How the weight of their sufferings and humiliation crushed her tiny yet pure soul in the end. He still vividly remembers seeing her lifeless body hanging in the air, with one last note besides her that said:

I AM SORRY

He remembers his one and only friend, who stuck with him through it all, who gave him the courage to move forward. The only reason he was still alive amongst all this suffering was because of his friend. But then came the monsters. They brought with them destruction and chaos. The world burned. His only friend—his last anchor—fought beside him, survived with him… until he didn't.

Ten years. Ten years of nothing but Pain and Suffering.

His grip tightened around the hilt of his blade. A C-rank ability. Blaze. A pathetic flicker of fire in a world of monstrous powers. In a world where power is everything, he had clawed his way through hell with nothing but knowledge, grit and skills.

He tried everything, from training his body to honing his skills to their absolute limit, but he could not overcome the steep wall known as TALENT. Even went through all that effort, all that suffering, only to meet his end here.

A humorless chuckle left his lips. "What a joke."

He took one last drag, savoring the burn in his lungs, before flicking the cigarette away. The monsters shrieked louder as it landed among them.

He removed the cloak, took out his sword from his waist.

Then he stood.

And jumped.

The whole site was filled with flame and blood. Each time he took out one monster, another would take it place. No matter how many he killed, it seemed endless. But he did not stop. He knew this is where he would die. Since he was going to die anyway, he'd take as many as he could with him.

As time passed, his speed became slower, his strength became weaker, his flames started to diminish. The only thing that was still working was his mind. But he could no longer do it anymore. His whole body was riddled with bite marks, blood flowing everywhere. One of his arms was missing, a crescent shaped hole taking it's place.

The monsters were not attacking him anymore, instead they surrounded him, as if watching a prey struggle. Ethan could only smile seeing his pathetic situation.

After a while, the monsters lost their interest and were now closing in on him. He took out the last vial from his pocket, just staring at it for a while. It was a special potion he made himself, for situations just like this. As they came close enough, he gave it a shake and opened the top before lighting it up with the last of his strength.

BOOM.

An explosion occurred. Not a small one like back in the forest. It wiped the whole city structure out of the world map, creating a crater so big it looked like an meteor fell here.

Ethan's whole world turned white. As he was blending into nothingness, he felt only regret.

He regretted not putting in more effort, he regretted not being stronger, but most of all he regretted not being able to save those he cared for.

"If only I had one last time. If only -----"

A voice cut through the void breaking the silence and the weight of regret.

( Ding!)

(Subject found)

( Checking background and resolve)

(Analyzing)

"Who the hell is making all that noise? Can't you see a man is dying? Show a little respect damn it."

( Ding!)

(Requirement Fulfilled)

(Congratulation)

(You have been selected)

"What the hell do you mean congratulation, you crazy bastard? Didn't anyone teach you any manner?"

Before he could say anything else, he had no more strength, not to talk, not to even keep his eyes open. He felt his consciousness falling apart.

(Reverting Host to the Designated Time Period)

(Good Luck Host. Hope You Can Save The World This Time)

The entire scene faded to white before plunging into pitch blackness.

Ethan's senses slowly returned. His mind was still foggy but he knew something was wrong. He was not in the massacred city anymore. There were no signs of monsters.

Instead he was now in a room, laying flat on a mattress. A single, dim bulb struggled to light the room. The room was a wreck, fractured and torn. It was mostly empty with only a single desk standing out.

He stood up, while holding his head because of a terrible headache. He struggled to move, not due to injury, but because it felt as though he were in a foreign body, one he had yet to adjust to. He headed towards the table to see if he could find anything of use to protect himself with. There were only some flyers for jobs, some old notes about chemical and technology that seemed to be written by a grade school kid.

It seemed to be of nothing importance but as soon as he saw it, the headache worsen. He struggled to stand up, now leaning against the window. Only after he saw outside the window and saw the surroundings did he finally realize where he was.

It was his old house, where he lived some of his cruelest years of his life. This realization only made him more confused. How could he be back here? This place was already destroyed.

His confusion only worsen when he saw his reflection on the window mirror. He seemed to have regained his youth, displaying a scrawny build with dark circles around his eyes that made it clear how much he was working .

"Just what is happening? How could this be?", screamed Ethan in his head. His heart pounded rapidly. The sound of his heart echoed throughout the room.

"What is happening? Am I hallucinating? How can this be real?" He thought to himself, unable to comprehend what is going on. He began to process everything again and again.

He kept processing until he heard a voice calling him. It was a voice he yearned to hear but could not hear it for for years.

"Big brother, Are you awake? What is all that noise? I am coming in.", said a sweet, angelic voice.

His entire body stiffened.

That voice. That voice.

He turned sharply toward the worn out door just as it creaked open. A small girl peeked in wearing a torn yet carefully kept purple clothing, her short brown hair slightly messy, her eyes bright despite their exhaustion.

It was his little sister, Elise.

His throat tightened. His hands trembled.

"Brother? Are you okay? I have been calling you for so long. Why did you not say anything if you were awake?" she asked, stepping closer, concern flashing in her eyes.

Before Ethan could realize what was happening, his body moved on it's own. He embraced her, wrapping his hands around her. Elise was shocked, but did not push him away.

"...Brother?"

He buried his face into her hair, his shoulders shaking. She had a warmth, a warmth that no illusion could ever recreate. She was real. She was alive.

His sister hesitated before hugging him back. "Did you have a bad dream, brother?" she whispered, rubbing his back gently.

He took a shuddering breath, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yeah… a very long, cruel dream." His voice cracked. "So, can I stay like this for a while?"

She smiled, pulling him into her embrace, "Sure. Take as long as you need. Don't worry. I am not going anywhere."

She started to stroking his hair and comforting him as tears started flowing one by one.

Ethan clung to her, whispering under his breath.

"It was all just a dream. A terrible, terrible dream."

And for the first time in decades, he let himself cry.