Chapter I - Chaos Seed

In the year 1827 ABW, atop the world tree located in Western Sylvania, the final battle for the chaos seed took place. The hundred-year war between the Lords of Chaos and Celestial Deities was finally coming to an end. Countless battles devastated the mortal world. With rifts opening between planes, the demonic forces swarmed every continent, ravaged every city, and brought the world down on its knees. Yet the conquest of the mortal plane was hardly their goal.

Both sides wished to acquire a way to destroy the other, regardless of the cost. Without the ability to permanently die outside of their plane, Heaven or Hell, the two invaded relentlessly. Heaven, which at first was believed to be the saving grace against the demons, proved to be just as destructive. They claimed that if the sacrifice of the mortals that lived now would result in peace without demons in the future, it was a small price to pay.

There was only one man who successfully stood against both Heaven and Hell. The same man that after the final fight ended, was making his way towards the blooming flower, heavily injured.

“How many times has it been?” he asked himself. “As if one lifetime was not enough. . .”

The cracking arcane energy rippled around him, causing the wood on top of which it stood to crack under heavy pressure.

Black tendrils formed the base of the flower itself, while the seed was its core. Made completely out of the natural energy that surrounded us, the chaos seed absorbed raw mana known as chaos, converting it into power. The drawback was the slow growth it had, taking eons to bloom. However, that did not stop the Lords of Chaos from finding a way to speed up the process. All it took was a few rituals, sacrifices by the hundreds of thousands, and increasing the presence of mana in the world. War was the perfect solution.

“I’ve sacrificed myself three times already to save the world. Fought countless battles, lost many friends, and have killed enemies by the thousands. Just how many sins have I committed, fighting the forces of evil that plagued our lands? Even the heavens themselves that threatened us.” his words, while pointless, were a mere showing of his frustration, as he walked to his death. “How many innocents did I sacrifice. . . No, murdered, all to prevent the celestial forces from invading. I just wish I could have grown old at least once in my lifetime. To have lived a peaceful life. . .”

Surrounded by both ally and enemy corpses, the young man, not even in his mid-twenties, wobbled, covered in blood. The smell of acid from the demonic corpses, mixed with the sickeningly dry, sweet metallic scent of blood made him nearly vomit.

Forced to live a life of a soldier, a man who would once again be forgotten upon death, reborn each time, fated to keep on fighting from a very young age. He never knew what it was like, living a normal life.

“I’ve achieved so much, yet so little. I’ve mastered both magic and martial arts in order to achieve my goals. I’ve reached the pinnacle of power a mortal can. . . Yet, I’ve left no heir to continue my bloodline, found no love, and had no joy in the life I’ve lived.”

With the ability to withstand the power even Gods wielded, he truly was the most powerful mortal in existence, but it was simply not enough.

His vision blurred from blood loss, as he was missing his left arm. The final demon he faced had claimed it as a reward. The only thing keeping him forward was recovery magic coursing through him, which struggled to keep up with the lethal wound, but numbed the pain.

“I am done with this world. If the universe wishes for the mortal realm to survive any more conflicts like this, then let it find someone else to pick up the mantle.”

The force of the blooming white flower mixed with the arcane color blue slowly resisted the man’s advance. Even just approaching it was mind-blowingly difficult. The sound emitted was similar to lightning clashing together continuously, as waves of vibrating energy blasted from its core. The closer he got, the stronger the vibration was, almost powerful enough to push him back. Every part of his body felt as if struck a thousand times with each step. If he were a regular mortal, his life would have been already forfeit. Yet he kept on going, knowing that he will die regardless.

I wonder, will they even remember my name, he thought to himself, as speech was no longer possible.

Andras, the savior. . . As if. . .

Andras tried to chuckle, but the air around him was too suffocating.

If anything, they would remember me as nothing more than a destroyer. Those who have not met me of course. . .

As he reached the chaos seed, Andras extended his right arm, aiming for its core. The tendrils forming the base reached around his height. Channeling what little Qi he had left, he shredded the flower’s core open.

Sticking his hand in resulted in total numbness, barely remaining on his feet. There was only one way of truly destroying it, and that was to shove refined mana into the central area of the core. Though, that was not an easy feat, since it required both precision and strength. To aid him, he mustered up all of his remaining Qi and thrust his mana inward.

He always wondered if allowing the gods to harvest the seed’s power was the right call, and in doing so giving them the chance to defeat the Lords of Chaos once and for all. Even at the cost of humanity.

Maybe if the Lords of Chaos were beaten, then the mortal world would be free of conflict. However, that was not the question he needed to bother with any longer.

In his final moments, his mind was filled with regret, but it was all worth it. Things were different this time around. Now that the flower was destroyed, the conflict on the material plane made no sense for either side. Destroying the essence of the flower resulted in magic vanishing from the world for many centuries, as well as closing all the rifts between worlds. There would still be war, and many will lose their lives, but it is as close to freedom that Andras could grant them in his final moments.

This is the last time. The last time that I fight for this world and its survival. From now on choose a new champion! If I do reincarnate for the fourth time, I shall live life to the fullest! I will find peace, love, and joy. I’ve worked harder than anyone, and now I want to rest. This war has taken everything from me, so damn you all to hell!

In a flash of white light, Andras was freed from his fate. The explosion that followed was so large that it covered hundreds of miles in radius before Imploding.

All that was left of his resting place, was the large inland sea that would form a hundred years later.

The first sound that Andras heard was the beeping sound of the electronic vital sign monitors.

As his eyes opened, he found himself in an unknown room surrounded by items that he had never seen before. Strapped onto his face, a transparent mask connected to a large tube that helped his body breathe.

Looking at himself he was covered in injuries that were steadily healing themselves, and even though they hurt, it was nowhere as painful as the final moments of his previous life.

Focusing, he could tell that he was covered in bruises and multiple bones were cracked but none broken.

In his previous life, this would be considered a minor injury.

Taking off the mask and ripping the cords that were connected to him, he stretched his upper body for the first time as if waking up from a long slumber.

The smell of a hospital occupied his senses, yet it was oddly enjoyable to him, unique even.

“Where am I?” he asked himself.

The monitors no longer beeped at consistent intervals but instead turned into prolonged noise.

“So loud. . .”

Rushing through the door, a young and fairly attractive nurse barged in.

She looked worried, winded even.

She must have run.

“You’re awake!” the nurse yelled out happily. “You must lay down.”

She approached, placing her hand on Andras and guided him slowly back onto the bed.

He wasn’t objecting to such a woman having her hands all over him.

She was in her early twenties and with her golden hair tied into a ponytail, fair skin and fit body, Andras could not help but assume she was nobility.

“Excuse me young lady, but would you mind telling me where exactly am I? Certainly not heaven, they would never allow my entry after what happened.”

“You’re in the Central Hospital. Unfortunately you’ve gotten into an accident and got seriously injured. While your wounds have been healing steadily, you’ve been comatose for the past few days,“ she explained. “But shockingly we did not expect you to wake up so soon! It must have been good fortune. Your sister and grandfather are worried sick.”

He was confused, but refrained from speaking about it.

“I’ll call the doctor over to have you checked out, Mister Park Arthur,” she said as she slowly made her way outside.

While alone, he scanned the surrounding room. The window was covered, and the room looked nothing like a bedroom.

Looking over himself once more, he did not recognize the body he now possessed.

“Have I reincarnated again?” he spoke out loud again. “Strange. . . Usually I was reborn rather than just given a body.”

He sighed, followed up by a chuckle.

“Arthur huh. . . Will I know peace in this life?”

Moments later, an older man returned with the nurse. He was wearing all white and had weird gloves on his hands.

“Can you speak?” the doctor asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you remember your name?”

Andras though for a bit.

“Arthur,” he answered, believing it to be better to not claim otherwise.

“Good. Do you remember how old you are?”

Already a question that he could not answer appeared.

“No. . .”

“I see, and do you remember anything about yourself at all?”

Arthur thought back to all of his previous lives, but if he spoke about those without remembering his current one, he might be just branded insane.

“Before you ask any further questions, I am physically just fine, but I do appear not to have any recollection of who I am.”

“Seems your brain injury has caused amnesia. It was to be expected, but I am glad that it’s the extent of your injury. Seems like your speech has not been impaired.”

“My name is Doctor Miller. I’ve moved here ten years ago from England. Seems your mother is from there as well. However, right now you’re in the Seoul Central Hospital. This is my assistant and nurse, Lee Hea. You young man, are Park Arthur, Park being your father’s last name.”

Arthur listened intently, knowing that this information would prove crucial.

“Born on April 30th, living with your grandfather and younger sister. Your father is Park Hwan from Korea, and mother Scarlet Williams from England. You have suffered from severe physical injuries with multiple bone fractures, luckily no breaks, and a brain injury that we worried would cause a lot more than memory loss. The cause of it all was an accident where Mister Park was struck by a truck. Luckily the driver stopped on time, otherwise death on the spot was guaranteed. The report says it was an accident, but the investigators believe it might have been an attempt of suicide. Sadly due to your memory loss, guess we won’t know.”

Arthur pushed himself up into a sitting position.

“You should not move young man,” the doctor advised.

“Like I said, physically I feel fine.”

“You should listen to what the doctor says,” spoke up the nurse.

“It’s fine. Considering he has been laying down for days, I can’t imagine this youth wishing to be stuck in bed any longer. However,” he gave Arthur a stern look. “Mister Park, you should avoid any strenuous activity for a while, and should stay here until your sister arrives. I shall inform them of your awakening.”

“Thank you doctor.”

The doctor nodded before getting up.

“Can you stand up?” he asked.

Arthur did not hesitate to make his way off the bed, though the nurse rushed to him for assistance.

Standing up his body became wobbly, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

This body is fairly weak compared to any of my previous ones. It does hold potential, but clearly I lack fitness.

From a single glance, the doctor could tell that physically all was well enough.

“Very well,” Miller spoke. “I shall leave you here to rest, if you need anything do not hesitate to ask Miss Lee.”

Arthur nodded as he watched the doctor take his leave.

“I’m glad all is well,” Lee Hae spoke up. “Surely enough your memories will return quickly.”

Arthur chuckled.

“Worry not, I shall be fine. Though might I ask from which noble house do you belong to Miss Lee?”

“Noble house?” she asked confused.

“A beautiful lady such as yourself, and versed in medical practices. . . You must be a lady of a prominent household.”

She burst into laughter.

“That’s so sweet,” she replied taking his words as jest. “I am no lady of a noble house, but I am flattered that such a young man would find me attractive. I’m sure that once you grow older, you’ll have plenty of ladies around you.”

He failed to see what was so funny.

“Miss Lee, you don’t seem much older than me.”

“What do you mean? I’m twenty-two! Plenty older than you. Also, feel free to call me Hae.”

“Doesn’t sound much older. . .”

“Well, call me when you can drink legally,” she teased.

Though all this sounded weird to him, Arthur felt a sense of relief.

His new life had begun, the last reincarnation.

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.