Chapter 1: To a New Beginning

The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the streets as students roamed in and out of Seiryu High School, their laughter echoing through the cold winter air. Among the crowd, Isamu Yamamoto walked in his usual quiet stride, his black school bag slung over one shoulder. His eyes were distant, focused on the rhythm of his steps, lost in thoughts of another boring day.

Isamu wasn’t like the others, he didn’t like to talk and express himself. He preferred to stay under the roof, doing well enough in school but never pushing himself too far into the spotlight. His classmates knew him as the guy who sat near the window, or reading, and rarely participating in any events. It wasn’t that he disliked people — he just found it easier to be alone.

As he walked home, his mind wandered. Maybe tonight he’d finish the new manga he'd been reading or sleep. His family lived just a few blocks away, in a small house near the edge of the city. The streets were usually quiet by this time of day, with only a few cars passing by.

He turned a corner onto the narrow side street that led directly to his home. The road was empty, and for a moment, the only sounds were the rustling of leaves in the wind and the faint hum of distant traffic.

It was peaceful.

Too peaceful.

The sudden roar of an engine shattered the silence.

Isamu’s head snapped up, eyes widening as he spotted a truck running down the road, out of control, its horn honking but too late to change course. The driver inside was yelling, desperately trying to regain control of the vehicle, but the truck swerved dangerously, heading directly toward Isamu.

Time seemed to slow. Isamu’s instincts told him to move, but his body wouldn’t respond fast enough. The world around him blurred as the truck loomed closer, its headlights blinding. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, louder than anything else.

And then, impact.

Pain ran through his body as he felt himself thrown into the air, weightless for a brief moment before everything went dark.

When Isamu opened his eyes again, the first thing he noticed was the light. It wasn’t harsh like the truck’s headlights — it was soft, warm, almost inviting like spring. He blinked, his vision adjusting, and realized he was no longer lying on the cold ground of the street.

He was standing.

But not on any ground, he recognized. Beneath his feet was a platform of shimmering white stuff, surrounded by an endless sea of stars. The sky was dark speckled with constellations that shone more brightly than any he had ever seen on Earth.

“What… where am I?”

A gentle voice broke the silence. “Oh, you died from a car accident.”

Isamu turned, startled, and found himself face to face with a figure that made him question if he was still dreaming. Before him stood a woman, so pretty that her light blinded his eyes, her long, flowing hair was the color of moonlight, and her eyes — they were unlike any human’s, glowing with every color ever imagined.

“Is this heaven, am I dead?” Isamu said calmly, though his body was shaking. He wasn’t sure how else to process the situation.

The woman smiled softly. “Yes, you did die in your world, Isamu Yamamoto. But that doesn’t mean your journey is over.”

“Who are you?” he asked, confused. Was this some kind of afterlife?

“I am the Goddess of Rebirth,” she said, her voice as calm as the gentle waves from the sea. “It is my duty to guide those who lost their lives before their time was up.”

Isamu’s thoughts spun. One minute he was walking home from school, and the next… this. He was sure he was dreaming.

“You will be reborn,” the goddess explained. “In another world, very different from your own. A world of magic, kingdoms, and great battles — a place where you will have the chance to live your life again.”

Isamu felt his heart race again, but this time, not out of fear. Something about her words ignited a spark within him. He had always felt out of place in the normal world as if he were meant for something more. But this… a world of magic?

“Why me?” he asked, his voice quieter now, laced with curiosity. “Why was I chosen?”

The goddess tilted her head slightly, her smile never fading. “ I didn’t choose you. You just happened to die and ended up here. It was fate that brought you here.”

A world of magic and kingdoms. The idea was scary, but at the same time… exciting. For once in his life, Isamu felt a sense of purpose.

“What happens now?” he asked, his voice steadying. “Do I just appear in my new world?”

“You will be reincarnated in this new world. However, as a gift, I will grant you 3 powers of your choosing,” the goddess said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Choose wisely, for this power will shape your new life.”

Isamu paused, thinking carefully. He couldn't waste this opportunity if he truly was being reborn in a magical world. He thought about all the possibilities: strength, intelligence, and control over the elements.

“What are the options?” asked Isamu

The goddess smiled, “Anything you could imagine.”

“I want to have the ability to regenerate, element control, and endless stamina,” he said at last.

The goddess’s smile broadened, clearly pleased with his choice. “A noble choice. But there are still limitations on these abilities.” You will be granted these powers to help you through your journey.

Before he could ask anything else, he was knocked out. The world faded as he closed his eyes. Isamu felt his body grow lighter, his senses fading as he was pulled toward something new, something unknown.

“Good luck, Isamu,” the goddess’s voice echoed in his mind, the last thing he heard before everything went black. “Your new life awaits.”

When Isamu opened his eyes again, he found himself in the arms of a woman, a man standing over the woman who cried out tears of joy.

He had been reborn.

And so, his new journey began

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