Chapter 1: "A Second Chance"

In the dying moments of his life, Alex Thorn's world had crumbled like the very dungeons he'd once explored. He remembered the deafening roar of collapsing stone, the acrid taste of dust-choked air, and the sensation of being crushed beneath the weight of despair. For Alex, it was the end of a life marked by mediocrity, powerlessness, and bitter regrets.

Alex Thorn, a man in his early thirties, had a face that bore the weariness of a life not fully lived. His eyes, once filled with dreams and ambition, now held only the reflection of shattered hopes. Dark circles underlined his gaze, evidence of countless sleepless nights spent pondering his futile existence.

It all began ten years before, in the year 2020, a year that would forever haunt the memories of those who witnessed the world's descent into chaos. As the clock struck midnight on January 1st, the Earth trembled with a foreboding energy, and a phenomenon unlike any other befell humanity.

Whispers, like ripples in the cosmic fabric, echoed through the night. It began with the appearance of enigmatic structures known as dungeons—bewildering labyrinths that manifested across the planet behind the mysterious Gates. From bustling metropolises to the remotest wilderness, dungeons emerged, each harboring untold secrets, dangers, and treasures behind these enigmatic Gates.

Governments, military forces, and scientists were thrust into a frantic frenzy, striving to unravel the mysteries of these dungeons and the purpose behind their sudden appearance. Society was forever altered.

People adapted to a new way of life as they adjusted to the dungeons' presence. Governments worldwide established protocols to deal with dungeon-related incidents and allocate resources for dungeon exploration and defense. New industries emerged, specializing in dungeon materials and technology.

But answers were scarce, and as humanity delved deeper into these enigmatic labyrinths behind the imposing Gates, they discovered that they were not alone in their newfound obsession. A new and dangerous world existed behind these gates, with roaming different species that were only heard of in myths and stories.

As people of Earth accommodated themselves with the dungeons, just ten days after the phenomenon's appearance, on January 10th, 2020, calamity struck. Without any warning, monsters poured out from the Gates, leaving only cries, pain, and agony in their wake. Human beings were killed like mosquitoes.

Modern weapons proved ineffective against the monsters. Within just two days, half of the population was destroyed, and small countries were annihilated. It was then that people discovered that only weapons made from dungeon materials were able to kill them. They later named this phenomenon 'dungeon overload.'

Amid the chaos of the dungeon overload, another force lingered, unseen and unfathomable. Cosmic constellations from the far reaches of the universe gazed upon Earth, captivated by the unfolding drama. These celestial entities gave power to the chosen ones known as hunters.

There were two types of hunters: those with the backing of a constellation and those without. These types of hunters were born from their will to become stronger, but each and every one who became a hunter needed to collect a certain amount of unique but mystic power known as 'Mana,' which was introduced to Earth with the phenomenon of dungeon overload.

With the emergence of hunters, different countries were able to subdue the dungeons. Hunters became the new generation superstars and celebrities, sought after for their power, fame, and wealth.

As hunters grew in number to maintain balance, different countries' governments established hunter associations to regulate the hunters and subdue the dungeons. Private guilds were also formed, led by strong hunters.

With the passage of time, countries united to form the World Hunter Association (WHA), whose primary goal was to maintain peace on Earth and maintain different countries' hunter associations.

But for Alex, a native of America, the path to becoming a hunter was far from glorious. He had once dreamed of achieving greatness as a hunter. But life had a way of dashing dreams and reducing them to ashes. He had joined a mid-tier guild, 'Valiant Vanguard,' full of promise and camaraderie, believing it would be his ticket to fame and power.

However, reality had been far crueler. The dungeons, once hailed as opportunities for glory, had become death traps for many. Alex found himself trapped within one such dungeon, his girlfriend Ellie and guildmates abandoning him to his fate.

But he knew the bitter truth that lay beneath the surface—they had left him not just wounded and powerless but also betrayed by someone he had trusted. Ellie, the woman he had loved, had been the one to plunge the knife deepest into his heart. She had used him for his connections within the guild, leveraging his relationships to advance her own standing. In the end, she had left him to die, a pawn in her pursuit.

As he lay beneath the rubble, thoughts of Ellie's betrayal cut deeper than any physical wounds. The pain of her treachery was a heavy burden, weighing down his soul alongside the guilt of not being able to save his parents.

John, his younger brother, had perished alongside their parents. Their family's demise had been a crushing blow to Alex, who had been unable to protect them. He often thought about the moments they had shared, the laughter, and the love that had once filled their home. Now, all that remained were memories stained with regret.

His parents' faces flashed before his eyes, their voices echoing in his ears. They had perished in the A-rank dungeon overload disaster of September 2021 when the guilds tasked with its management failed to clear it in time.

Alex, a D-rank hunter for a lifetime, had lived a life of mediocrity and regret. He'd been powerless when his parents needed him most. The memories of their final moments, the fear in their eyes as the dungeon's horrors closed in, had tormented his soul.

As the darkness descended, and his vision faded, Alex was consumed by the overwhelming regret that had defined his existence. He longed for a second chance, an opportunity to make amends, to save his parents and little brother,and to rise above the mediocrity that had plagued his life.

In that twilight of despair, when hope seemed a distant memory, something remarkable happened. A voice, monotonic and oddly artificial, echoed in his mind.

**<Ding ... Host found Would you like another chance?>**

The words resonated in Alex's fading consciousness, like a lifeline extended from the abyss. He clung to it with every fiber of his being, his last vestige of hope.

The voice continued, its tone emotionless but oddly comforting, **<You have been selected as the host of Dungeon System. With this system, you will gain power to reshape your destiny. Do accept?>**

In that moment, with the threat of death closing in, Alex Thorn made a choice. He chose rebirth. He chose to accept the enigmatic offer that promised a chance to undo the past and rewrite the future.

**<System initializing... Welcome to the Dungeon System, Host Alex. Your second chance begins now.>**

With those words, Alex Thorn's consciousness slipped into darkness. He felt as though he were falling, tumbling through a void of endless possibilities. And then, like a star being born in the cosmos, his existence ignited once more. In the infinite expanse of space and time, Alex Thorn's rebirth was a mere flicker, a spark of potential waiting to be kindled.

The world beyond, the world of dungeons and constellations, awaited his return.

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(A/N- you can read my second book : ' Magic in every bite : A chef reincarnation ')