Chapter 1: The Awakening
Q
The world was burning. The sound of swords clashing and men screaming echoed in the night as the black flames devoured the battlefield. Aric stood at the center of the chaos, his body bloodied and broken, struggling to keep his feet.
Before him, Leon knelt, cradling a gaping wound across his chest. The hero's eyes were wide, his mouth moving to form words, but no sound escaped. Above them loomed the towering figure of the Demon Queen, her eyes glowing with a cruel, cold light.
Aric raised a shaking hand, his vision blurring. "Leon... move..."
But he was too slow. The Demon Queen's blade came down, a flash of darkness swallowing everything.
The world faded to black.
When Aric opened his eyes again, he was not on a battlefield. Instead, he was in a grand, ornate room, lying atop a luxurious bed draped in silken sheets. His limbs felt light, his skin unscarred. The scent of roses lingered in the air.
Aric sat up, his breath hitching. This room — he knew it. It was the bedroom of Aric Everhart, the eldest son of Duke Everhart and the childhood friend of Leon Valcrest, the protagonist of the novel "Rise of the Hero."
His hands trembled as he clutched the sheets. "I've... reincarnated."
Memories of his past life surged through him. On Earth, he had been a ruthless strategist, feared and respected for his cunning mind. Known as the "Shadow King," he was the man behind many powerful organizations, manipulating them like pieces on a chessboard. But despite his brilliance, he had been betrayed by those he trusted most — his right-hand man and his closest allies. They framed him as a traitor, and he died surrounded by flames, his empire crumbling to ashes.
The bitterness of that death still lingered in his chest. He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "Never again."
And now, he was here — inside the body of Aric Everhart, a character fated to die a pathetic death trying to save Leon in the last war against the demons. In the novel, Aric had been portrayed as a devoted, self-sacrificing friend, the perfect support for Leon. But his life had been tragically short, ending in obscurity as Leon became the hero of the world.
"Pathetic," Aric muttered, staring at his reflection in the mirror. The face that stared back at him was unfamiliar — a boy of fifteen, with striking silver hair and sharp blue eyes that glistened with a steely resolve. "If I'm going to survive in this world... I need to change the story."
For one year, Aric observed quietly, gathering information and solidifying his position in the Everhart household. He stayed close to Leon, pretending to be the doting best friend while keeping a careful distance. In his previous life, he had been a master manipulator, and now, he intended to use every ounce of that skill to reshape his destiny.
Today, that plan would begin.
Aric strode down the corridor toward the main hall, where the Mana Awakening Ceremony was being held. Today, he would awaken his mana and reveal his potential to the world. Today, he would take the first step toward changing his fate — and seizing control of the game board.