(A.N - Hope you like this extra chapter. There are some spoilers. But it's fine.
Please don't be confused. This is separate from the story which you were following. from the next chapter, it will continue as it is.)
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Kenshun City. 120 km away north of Aston City.
Inside a dark rundown apartment. A brown-haired man woke up gasping for air.
'Haah...Hah... Haah.'
'Am I alive?' He thought in confusion.
'But How? Wasn't I dead? Those bastards killed me. So how come I'm alive? I clearly remember the pain when that high-grade sword pierced my heart. After getting spammed by hundreds of magic attacks and projectiles.'
'So what is this? I am sure that wasn't a dream.'
He was confused. Just a moment ago he died at the hands of those Rankers. He could never forget that pain. He had already killed hundreds of people but never did he understand. How does it feel to die?
But now he did. He touched his heart and smiled. It was a hysterical smile on his face.
"So this is how it feels to die. That pain, the sound of that sword piercing inside your body. Everything becomes blurred. Feeling hot and cold at the same time. Painful at the same time pleasant."
"How interesting. The concept of life and death."
"But what is this?Afterlife?" He said as he checked around only to find this place familiar.
"Isn't this place just like my old apartment where I used to live?" He thought and confirmed it was the same place.
"But how come I am here? This place was destroyed on the day of the first Cataclysm." He was confused but suddenly realization hit him.
'Don't tell me.' He hurriedly jumped out of the bed to search for something.
Soon his hand paused on a familiar smartphone that he used to have 5 years ago. Seeing that his heart was thumping with excitement. What if it was true? If what he is thinking is true then maybe... Maybe.
He clicked on it and opened it. As he saw the date and time. Tears started falling from his eyes and a creepy grin formed across his face.
[ 8:17 a.m, 6th December 2025, Sunday. ]
"Ha. Haha. Hahaha hahaha."
"I am back. Hell, I AM BACK. It's the best day of my life."
"Did I get a second chance in life?" Thinking that he started laughing again.
"Hahaha. I can't believe it. Those fools kept on going on about good deeds and gods. How they will be blessed and bullshit."
"And here I am the one who got it. Did the gods bless me?" He laughed after rethinking his own words.
"Maybe because I did so many good deeds that even the gods like me." He thought in sarcasm.
The man's name was Leonard Drake. He was a Villain. A cruel one at that. He killed many people for just the joy of killing. He was a leader of an organization that did human experiments trying to extract Mana and Life energies directly from human bodies.
He had done atrocious deeds. Such as blasting a whole hospital. Assassinating other awakeneds. He aimed to reach the pinnacle. The strongest being. But he couldn't do that. Maybe his talent, luck, or whatever may be the reason.
He was an F-ranked awakened. In his last life even with that he reached a high level and got strong enough to fight many Rankers. But all his powers were at the cost of many lives. He killed many people so he can keep that strength.
"Blah, Blah, Blah. No, backstory for now? I don't have much time." Leonard was irritated.
He moved around his body a bit.
"This body is weak. Was I that weak five years ago? No wonder I couldn't a thing and just ran for my life hiding inside Military barracks. While others were getting stronger and enjoying the benefits."
"Now that I think about it. I should be 18 years old."
"I have around 3 hours to prepare. Before the monsters start invading." Leonard said as he walked around to check his home.
He started checking for the latest news and articles. He confirmed everything was normal like how the world used to. Peaceful and boring. At least for others.
He was an orphan. He was barely surviving with part-time jobs until the monsters started invading.
Leonard took out all the food he had. They should have been for a whole week. That was it. He only had 1,490 Keros on him. Which he needed to use for this whole month. It was just the first week after all.
(Keros are the currency used here only until the new currency system is implemented.
10 Keros = 1 USD.)
"Only this much. No wonder I was so weak." Leonard frowned seeing the total food he had in front of him.
"Well, last time it was only wasted and I was hungry for days."
Leonard shook his and felt how much he was starving so he could save and eat but all of that was useless.
"I'll need a lot of energy," Leonard said and closed his eyes.
A moment later he started eating everything. He kept on eating it. Even after he was full. He ate the whole week's worth of food. He needed to that was necessary after all.
Others didn't know yet but the amount of energy a person has inside his or her body will determine his or her initial mana stat when they or awakened.
Although a difference of 1 or 2 stats won't be much for some ridiculous people(You know who those people are.) But for Leonard, this was matter of life and death.
After waiting for another hour to digest his food Leonard stood up and started his preparation.
He was dressed in tight black. He looked like some agent. He had that dress and it was perfect for now so why not use it?
He hurried outside it was still two hours before the monsters comes out of the Red portal. But he needed some things.
He took a ride and headed towards a weapon shop. No, they didn't sell guns or anything and he wouldn't even purchase them as they were useless against monsters. Only mana guns will be useful which will be made a lot later.
The shop he was heading to sells antique swords. He soon arrived at that shop and saw an old man tending the counter.
'Just as I thought. I am at the right place.' Leonard laughed inwardly.
"Welcome customer, what would you like?" The old man greeted Leonard with a gentle smile.
'This old man is so stupid and simple so how did get his hands on that?' Leonard smiled back.
"I would like to buy a sword," Leonard said.
"What kind of sword do you want?" The old asked.
"What do you suggest?" Leonard asked the old man.
The old man nodded and asked Leonard to follow him. The old man started showing all kinds of swords inside the shop.
Most of them were only for the showcase. They were of many designs. Some of them can be used in the practice of martial arts or as a hobby. But all of them were useless to Leonard.
'Thrash, utter Thrash. These swords won't last long. They are useless.' Leonard was disappointed. But he knew he shouldn't be after all these swords weren't the reason he came here.
'Let's stop this act now.'
"Don't you have a sword that can be used in actual battles?" Leonard asked.
"This section here is good for practicing swords." The Old man showed a shelf filled with plain-looking swords.
"I would like to have Blooded Khalsa." Hearing Leonard's words the old man froze.
"I am sorry. I can't sell that. It's my family heirloom. I don't know where did you get to know about it. But please leave or buy any other sword." The old man replied calmly in a flat tone.
Leonard didn't like this.
"Listen old man. Enough of this bull shit. You better give me that sword now if you want to be safe."
Hearing Leonard's threats the old man got angry.
"Get out. You are not welcome here. I'll call the police if you don't."
"Ok ok. Calm down, old man. But can't I at least see that sword please?" Leonard pleaded.
"Why would I show it to you?" The old man snorted.
"Please old man. My family had a history related to Khalsa heritage. It's very important to me. I got agitated please forgive me. Please just let me see it. I'll leave after that and won't come back again." Leonard bowed his head as he said that.
The old man looked at how sincere Leonard was and sighed. His anger calmed down.
"Ok, I'll let you see it. But that's it."
Leonard nodded happily.
The old man soon brought a sword which was covered in red clothing. Soon he took out the sheathed sword from the cloth.
Leonard got excited seeing that sword.
'Yes, that's the one. This sword will turn into a high-grade artifact.'
'I can't believe I'm seeing Blooded Khalsa in front of me.'
Leonard tried to touch the sword. But the old man frowned.
"Listen kid I didn't allow you to touch-"
The old man saw himself falling before finishing his sentence. More precisely only his head fell. His headless body stood there without any movements. Which also soon fell with a thud.
The old man was dead.
"Damn, it's still sharp. Great old man." Leonard said with excitement as he felt the sword in his hand dripping with blood.
Leonard soon thought of something.
"Oh, right you can't reply now. Well, I tolerated you enough. You should be happy that I didn't torture you."
"In the occasion of being the first person to die by my hands in this life. I gave you a swift death."
"In my last life, this old man died at the hands of monsters by getting eaten alive. I gave him an easy death this time. My first good deed in this life."
"I'll do many good deeds from now on."
Leonard laughed again.
"My humor is good."