Reincarnation

In the stifling darkness of the night, Ryan's destiny loomed inexorably. The pale glow of the moon barely illuminated the darkness that enveloped the sleeping city. He felt his pulse beating in his temples, an irregular rhythm that seemed to announce the inevitable. Around him, the distant murmur of city life continued, ignoring the silent agony that gripped him.

Ryan lay there on the cold asphalt of a dark alley, his body bruised and his mind clouded with pain. Flashes of memories swirled in his mind, fleeting moments of his earthly life flashed before his eyes in a kaleidoscope of sensations and regrets.

He remembered the tumult of his youth, the carefree laughter and the unfinished dreams. But those memories seemed so distant now, overshadowed by the cold reality of his impending end. Destiny, this undisputed master, had reserved a final test for him, a confrontation with his own mortality.

Ryan is a young man of 22 years old, he has lived his whole life in New York City, he did his studies, his activities, his mischief there. Unfortunately for him, life has not been kind to him, he is an orphan from birth. In fact, his mother died just after giving birth to him. He therefore had to live a life without support, without example. It was really hard, he was always rejected by others, his existence was compared to that of a plague. As for his father, he never knew him and he never wanted to meet him because he did not consider the individual who had abandoned his pregnant mother, left to her own devices.

Today he does what he used to do every day since his childhood to survive, organizing bets on sports matches. He didn't have the chance to go far in his studies because of the financial costs and also because it didn't interest him that much. So he started organizing bets and little by little, he began to make a name for himself in his neighborhood and then in the city.

However, the more he became known, the more people became interested in his business. He started working with some unsavory people for exorbitant amounts of money. Some may find this greedy but who would not join forces with rich people for a joint business knowing that there would be more than zero on their salary.

Unfortunately for him, he was the scapegoat in a story between his allies and their rivals and ended up in this dark alley, beaten to the brink of death.

The searing pain that tore through his body seemed to be only a distant echo of the internal struggle that raged within him. He was faced with a crucial choice, a final moment of lucidity where the past merged into the present, where regrets mixed with acceptance.

"And damn… I knew not to trust them."

Rage built inside him as he thought about the recent turn of events that brought him to this situation. But he only had himself to blame.

And as the night slowly swallowed up his last thoughts, a glimmer of hope rose in the darkness. A glow that would transcend the boundaries of life and death, that would open the way to a new existence. For in that moment of agony, on the threshold of eternal oblivion, as Ryan lay there, on the threshold of eternal darkness, images of his past life swirled in his mind, like fragments of broken glass. He sees the moments of happiness and pain, the faces of those he loved, the choices he had made, good or bad. Each memory was like a sharp blade, puncturing his soul already bruised by physical pain.

Suddenly, a strange sensation invaded him, as if his entire being was being sucked into an invisible vortex. A whirlwind of light and shadow enveloped his mind, transporting him to an unknown elsewhere. In this semi-conscious state, he felt an irresistible force pulling him away from his dying body, as if an invisible hand was drawing him toward a new and uncharted destiny.

The sounds of the city slowly faded away, replaced by an oppressive silence. The slivers of light from the street fade away, giving way to a deep, calming darkness. Ryan floated in this ocean of darkness, lost between sleep and wakefulness, between life and death.

Then, suddenly, a dazzling glow burst forth in front of him, illuminating the darkness with a golden aura. He felt his entire being being drawn towards this light, as if drawn by an invisible magnet. A powerful force seemed to guide him, directing him towards a mysterious destination.

As the light grew, the blurred outlines of his body redefined themselves, taking shape in this new environment. He felt a comforting warmth invade him, dispelling the darkness that had enveloped him. His mind cleared, his consciousness sharpened, as if an invisible veil had been lifted from his thoughts.

And then, in an instant, he's there, lying on this sweaty bed, surrounded by an aura of dazzling light. He opened his eyes to discover a room that was strange and fascinating at the same time. The colors were brighter, the sounds clearer, the smells more intense. He felt both amazed and confused by this new reality before him. He got up from his bed and sat down.

"Where am I? A few minutes ago I was beaten to death by these people and now I'm on a bed."

The protagonist sat up in bed, his eyes scanning the strangely familiar room. A strange feeling of strangeness came over him as he realized that this was not his room, or even his own house. He felt an inexplicable connection with this place, as if he had already lived a previous life there.

Suddenly, fragments of memories flooded into his mind, like pieces of a puzzle slowly coming together to form a clear picture. He remembered his name, Ryan, but he knew now that the name belonged to another life, another time. He also remembered the name of the person he had taken possession of, a name that resonated with deep meaning in his tormented mind: Luo Tian.

"Luo Tian…" he whispered, feeling a strange connection with that name. He knew instinctively that this character was important, that he was linked to events greater than himself. But before he could even delve into this revelation, a voice rang out in his mind, clear and distinct.

[Welcome to the world of Apotheosis, Luo Tian. I am the System, your guide in this world.]

Luo Tian blinked, surprised by this sudden intrusion into his thoughts. The system ? What was it? He concentrated, trying to understand what was happening.

[You have been chosen to play a crucial role in this story, Luo Tian. You are now the adopted older brother of Luo Zheng, a key figure in the struggle for power and survival in this world. Your mission is to become stronger, discover your origins, and protect those you care about.]

Luo Toan absorbed this information, trying to assimilate it. Luo Zheng's adoptive brother? Power ? Survival? It was a lot to digest in such a short time. But he knew he had to adapt quickly if he wanted to survive in this unforgiving world.

[The System has only two functions: Status and Universal Store. You have access to the Universal Store, where you can exchange points for anything you want, obviously this includes other universes that you know. They may or may not be culture universes. Also the person who created me and sent me to you, allowed you to have a little bonus. You have unlimited points for purchases in the universal store. But remember that every action has consequences. Choose wisely, Luo Tian.]

The System Store? Unlimited points? Luo Tian felt a glimmer of excitement growing within him. He now had the power to shape his own destiny, to become stronger than ever. But with that power came an overwhelming responsibility, an obligation to make the right choices for himself and those he loved. Since he knew the manhua Apotheosis well, he would not be disoriented, on the contrary, he would use his knowledge to forcefully dominate his future opponents. Plus, he's now a big brother to Luo Zheng and Luo Yan, so he should protect them.

Getting up from the bed, Ryan walked to the window, looking out at the busy streets of the city spread out before him. He knew that his journey was only just beginning, that challenges and dangers awaited him at every turn. But he was ready to face the future with courage and determination, because he knew that in this world of Apotheosis, only the strongest would survive. And he was determined to become the strongest of them all.