The rain came down in heavy sheets, soaking through Ryu’s cloak as he staggered against the alley wall. His breaths were ragged. Shallow. Blood oozed from the wound in his side, each drop swallowed by the muddy ground beneath him.
He never thought he’d die like this—betrayed by comrades he trusted, in a nameless backstreet, his sword snapped in half beside him.
"Figures," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper. "The people closest to you… they always aim for the heart."
His legs gave way, and he slid down the wall to the ground, the cold of the stone seeping through to his bones. He was numb. Not from the wound—but from everything. The battles. The loss. The lies.
He let out a shaky laugh, rain dripping from his chin. “Guess I wasn’t meant for peace after all…”
His vision blurred. The world dimmed.
And then, silence.
It felt like floating.
Weightless.
There was no pain. No rain. Just… nothing. Until something deep, ancient, and calm echoed through the void:
[System initializing… Matching soul frequency… 98.7% compatibility. Binding successful.]
Ryu’s eyes flew open—but he wasn’t in the alley anymore.
He lay on soft sheets beneath a canopy of gold and white. The room was bathed in sunlight streaming through silk-draped windows. It smelled of lavender and sandalwood.
"What… the hell?"
His voice. It sounded… younger. He lifted his hand. No scars. No calluses. Smooth, pale skin.
Then came the knocking. “Your Highness? May I come in?”
The door creaked open before he could answer.
A girl no older than twenty stepped in, her dark hair tied in a neat braid. She wore a servant’s uniform and looked like she hadn’t slept all night.
When she saw him sitting up, she gasped. “Prince Ryu! You’re awake!”
Prince?
She rushed to his side. “You collapsed during training yesterday. The court physician said your spirit was unstable. You’ve been unconscious for three days!”
Prince Ryu. Unstable spirit. Three days?
[Martial God Ascension System fully activated.]
[Welcome, Ryu. You have been reincarnated as the Third Prince of the Arvandorian Empire.]
His mind went blank.
No, not blank. Reeling.
Reincarnated?
A slow, disbelieving smile crept onto his lips. “You’ve got to be kidding…”
[Daily Starter Reward: 1x Beginner Martial Technique Scroll]
[You have gained: Iron Body Breathing Technique (Rank: Mortal-High)]
A scroll shimmered into existence before him, glowing faintly with golden script. He reached out instinctively, and the moment his fingers touched it, knowledge rushed into his mind—like it had always been there, waiting.
He gasped—images of warriors punching through boulders, channeling inner energy, controlling breath and power.
So this was cultivation? It was… insane.
A second life. A new body. A system. Power. A chance.
[System Tip: You may begin practicing. Progress will be tracked.]
[Would you like to open your Status Window?]
“Yes,” Ryu said aloud.
A translucent screen floated in front of his eyes.
Name: Ryu Arvandor
Age: 16
Title: Third Prince of Arvandor
Cultivation: None
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Endurance: 3
Martial Arts Known: Iron Body Breathing (Lv. 1)
Skills: None
System Points: 0
He chuckled. “So I’m weak now. But that’s about to change.”
Later that evening, long after the maid had left, Ryu stood in the open courtyard behind his chambers. The air was still. The stars above shimmered like they were watching.
He knelt, steadying his breath, and began the Iron Body Breathing Technique.
He felt something shift within. A warmth flickered in his chest, then flowed through his veins like liquid fire. The ground beneath him trembled slightly.
[Technique leveled up: Iron Body Breathing – Level 2]
[Strength +1. Endurance +1]
He opened his eyes. His body felt stronger.
For the first time in either life, he felt truly alive.
[Congratulations. Your first step toward becoming a Martial God has begun.]
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