Back to the Past

05/27/2022 — 12:32 pm, Wednesday.

''N-no! Please let us live! I beg you!" Desperate, a man in a suit shouted. ''AAAARGH!''

His futile efforts were completely wasted when the hostile creature walking towards him leapt forward.

The man's black pupils expanded exponentially as he saw the beast pointing the huge, gleaming, sharp claws attached to its front paw, towards his neck.

''Father!'' A little boy right behind the older man said.

His thin hand stretched forward as he tried to step forward, but faltered from the fear that filled his foolish, unprepared mind.

''E-eek...!''

Hunching against the hard, rough wall, he whimpered, hoping that one of the other adults around him would help his last living familiar.

''Run for your lives!''

''The thing is distracted, it's our chance to get out of here!''

However, they only took advantage of the breach created by the boy's father and distanced themselves from the place as much as they could, trying to escape into any different alleys they came across.

''N-no... I need to help daddy!'' The little boy spoke, but was interrupted by the beast's roar.

And, as if the universe were telling him he was mere easy prey, fresh, vivid red blood splattered all over his white clothes and under his freckled face.

His dark blue eyes, like the starry night sky, suddenly went still.

The little one just watched his father's body, which he considered strong and unbeatable, plummet uncontrollably towards the black asphalt of the street where they were hiding.

''D-Dad?'' He called out to the middle-aged man. ''D-DAD! ANSWER ME PLEASE! DAD! DAD!!!''

His father had promised to protect him at all costs, after his mother died in the clutches of the villainous monsters, surged from the first demonic wave.

He should be the kid's hero, even if he didn't have powers like the Epics — humans fortunately blessed with supernatural abilities, mysteriously capable of taking on monsters.

The man had saved him from the burning rubble of what they had once called 'home, sweet home'.

He was responsible for the young boy's survival, now living together in a colony — a place safer than the old metropolises, that were now turned into dwellings and lairs inhabited by monsters and mutations.

So why the hell was he lying on the floor, with red liquid pouring out of his throat and mouth?

Why hadn't he yet stood up to stop the monster from tearing at his flesh, his soul, his limbs and sinews, that is, every physical bit of his being?

''Y-you're just taking a nap, aren't you, Dad?'' He tried to deny reality, his eyes watering.

Anyway, before he could even mourn the death of his last kin, a shove threw him backwards — taking him out of sight of the giant orange wolf devouring his father's corpse.

''H-huh?'' Confused, the boy landed on his butt on the uneven ground.

His eyes, now filled with puzzlement, watched a low figure pass in front of him.

''Get out of the way, asshole! I need to pass, time is running out!"'

Running towards the monster, a relatively short scrawny teenager, showed no hesitation as he jumped right on top of the lifeless body and the wolf.

''Screw everything!!!''

****************

[Gift assignment has been completed]

[All main processes have come to an end]

[Finishing transfer]

Gradually, with the appearance of several blue windows of his power, Ezra overcame the layer of black and white sparks that had engulfed his eyes.

Had he passed out due to the influence of his ability? Honestly, the boy had no idea.

Although, as he recalled, he suspected so.

''Incredible…'' He said, as his irises roamed the region.

The once cheesy, frightening dark had now turned to a sickening white, spreading endlessly in all directions.

The maddening sensation, however, didn't seem to have been replaced with color.

Frantically considering possibilities, a light entered his field of vision. For the record, it was as if Ezra was looking straight into the scorching sun that for 38 years had provided him with vitamin D.

''Where are we, damn it?!'' A mysterious voice, clearly desperate, took over the place where the brown-haired man was.

Suspicious and half-drowsy, Ezra peered closer into the blinding light that practically blinded him.

Moreover, as the man did that, he felt light twinges all over his body. Against his will, his hairs stood on end and his few loose strands of hair were tousled.

At the same time, screams of shock, from what appeared to be women and men, utterly filled Ezra's head.

''Ugh!''

Quickly, with his honed instincts, trained throughout his arduous journey, he put his hands to his head, trying not to hear the echoing screams — a futile effort, as his eardrums were shaking from the noise.

"S-spare me, please!"

''Get me out of here… hey you there, help me please! I can give you money!''

''I'm doing all I can, sir. You have to calm down.''

''But, but…''

Several voices filled Ezra's troubled mind.

Was this some sort of side effect of him abusing his power? Perhaps he had gone overboard by returning so long, all at once?

As he thought aloud, babbling unreal idiocy, Ezra suddenly felt a tug.

And then another. And another. And one more.

His motionless body staggered, nearly falling flat on his face on the black surface. However, as if leaning against an invisible platform, he floated in midair, a few steps away from the translucent floor.

Startled, he didn't have time to do anything, as he began to be dragged through the unknown infinity, towards the light he was curious about.

Now, he just wished he hadn't been all that curious.

"That had never fucking happened!" His screams didn't echo in the darkness, disappearing without a trace.

He kicked like a small child, swinging his arms at the same time.

''What is happening?!''

His hands, covered in scars and calluses, returned to his ears as a deafening boom filled the entire space.

And then, everything went dark.

[Save Point loading is complete]

[The unique skill, 'World Memoir', wishes you good luck]

''What the... What's going on?'' His voice came out of his dry throat, sounding strange to his ears.

Spitting curses, his crimson eyes snapped open, revealing people and objects in the gloom of that new place, surrounded by thick, filthy walls.

That was the alley of his first memories of his power. The first place where he died.

The beginning of everything.

"I… am I really back?" Asking that, he breathed in and out continuously, sitting up to orient himself. His tired eyes were moist, for some reason he didn't know.

Then with the back of his hand he wiped them away, feeling a sudden soft uncomfortable sensation. Without hesitation, he quickly took a look at his hands.

Previously, his hands were calloused and ugly from his harsh routine of heavy training — in addition to, of course, the various life-or-death situations he had been subjected to.

But surprisingly, they were now smooth, soft, and thin, though still pale. In a way, it looked like he'd never done any physical work in his entire life.

Falling into absolute silence for a second, he looked down at the asphalt floor, head down.

''I'll have to do it all over again, won't I?'' Ezra said nonchalantly. ''Hmm...''

Ezra, now trapped in his 14-year-old younger body, paused to calmly analyze the situation.

Time around him seemed to slow down. No wonder he had been leader and strategist of one of the biggest teams of Heroes, during his several previous attempts.

But that wasn't what he was worried about. There was only one thing that permeated his mind, like a big fish in a small river: This was clearly a chance to become unbeatable.

It was a chance to get revenge on all those damn gods who had done nothing to help him along the way.

''Fuuhh...'' His heart pounded against his chest, along with his ragged breathing.

He panted like a pervert, his face as red as a fresh tomato.

A chance to become strong enough to reign above those who called themselves absolutes.

A chance to kill the creature that took everything from him.

Thinking deeply, he swore an oath to himself: from now on, he would accept his new life.

There was no reason to return to that earlier failure, which he had called his life long.

He would live and experience this hell once more, overcoming it with his own hands. And most of all, he would take revenge on the guardian of the Kronos Dungeon, whatever the cost.

He would, certainly, turn himself into an unstoppable beast.

This time, there was no space for errors; minimum or not.

'World Memoir: Mnemosyne', in that filthy alley, he thought, trying to summon the windows of his power, resolute in his decisions.