Zensa

After being betrayed and executed by his most trusted general, Emperor Ezra  awakens ten years in the past—inside the prison where his downfall began.

Armed with memories of betrayal and a mysterious system granting him power,  Ezra refuses to be a victim again. This time, he won’t beg for mercy. He will rewrite history.

Escaping the dungeon is just the first step. To reclaim his throne, Ezra must outmaneuver old enemies, recruit new allies, and crush the traitors before they strike.

But as he grows stronger, he realizes something terrifying—he wasn’t the only one who regressed.

The Emperor Return

The towering gates of Ardent Academy loomed before us, etched with ancient symbols of power. Students passed through in groups, some chatting excitedly, others moving with the sharp precision of seasoned fighters.

Damon eyed the entrance warily. "So, what's the plan? We just waltz in and ask for a tour?"

I exhaled. "No. We need information first."

I activated Appraisal, scanning the students and professors walking by.

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▶ Power: Lightning Manipulation (Rank C)

▶ Name: Professor Alistair Vexis

I narrowed my eyes. Another hidden power. That was the third one today.

Damon noticed my look. "Blocked again?"

I nodded. "One of the professors. Alistair Vexis."

I almost smirked. "Probably not a coincidence."

We moved further into the academy's outer grounds, blending in with the crowd. The campus was enormous—training fields, spellcasting arenas, entire buildings dedicated to combat strategy and elemental mastery.

At the center of it all was the Grand Hall, where rankings were decided, challenges were issued, and power was recognized.

We barely made it ten steps inside before we were stopped.

A young man, barely older than me, stood in our way. His uniform was adorned with silver trim—a high-ranking student. His emerald eyes flicked over us, analyzing, calculating.

Then, he smirked. "You don't belong here."

Damon tensed. "And who the hell are you?"

The student didn't even glance at him. His gaze was locked onto me.

▶ Power: Spatial Manipulation (Rank B)

I barely had time to process that before I felt pressure.

The space around me compressed, forcing me to take a step back. My vision blurred for a second—telekinetic force? No. This was different.

Lucien smiled. "You're interesting."

I clenched my fists. His power was no joke. If he could manipulate space, he could bend reality around him, making him nearly untouchable in a fight.

Damon's hand went to his sword. "You wanna move, or do we make you?"

Lucien chuckled. "Relax. I'm not here to fight. Just… curious."

Then, his eyes glowed faintly. "Your power. It's strange."

My blood ran cold. Did he sense the system?

Lucien studied me for a moment longer, then stepped aside. "Go ahead. But be careful."

Lucien's smirk widened. "Everyone here wants power. If you're not careful, someone might try to take yours."

I didn't respond. We walked past him, but I could still feel his eyes on my back.