Chapter 5: The Beginning

Damon's POV

'Arghh! What is this light?'

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around.

'A hospital? Who brought me here?'

I fell asleep when I suddenly remembered the last thing that happened, fuck! There's a monster! Where is that? Where am I? You can't tell me that someone killed that monster. Who could've done that?

I moved my body and tried to sit up when I heard a voice from outside.

Surprisingly, they are a bit far away, and their voices are not loud either, but every word they say is clear to my ears. Which is kind of weird?

"Too hasty Aurken, I just gave you an overview for you to understand, the third type I mentioned, which is being reborn with half of one's original age consume, can also drain one's necro if the necro of a reborn is not enough. So talented reborn of this class is because being able to provide the necessary amount of necro in their reborn state, means they have massive amounts of necro." A voice from a seemingly old man.

"So basically, what you're trying to say doc is-"

"Yes, there's a huge possibility that what you brought here was a third-class reborn that ran out of necro during reborn state." He stopped for a moment. "However, it's just a theory, this is the first time this has happened so I can't conclude yet."

"We'll know that, when he wakes up, so let's just wait."

'So that's how it is huh?'

My existence is a mystery for them. I do not understand the reborn and necro stuff they say, but I think I have a glimpse of ​​what it is thanks to my other self because we are one, and I know everything he knows and vice versa.

I heard them stand up and walk, so I went back to bed and waited for them to enter. I was sitting in the hospital bed when the door creaked and opened.

An old man wearing a lab gown entered. There seems to be a person behind him, but he's a bit far, so I cannot recognize him."So, you're awake!" An old man greeted me with a cheerful smile with his arms open wide.

The man behind him soon followed in, "Doc, I need to leave, because-." He wasn't able to finish his words when he saw me. I stared at him out of curiosity, unconsciously realizing that he is someone I know in my past life.

'Wtf? Clause?'

I can't be wrong. That's why the voice of the speaker outside was familiar earlier. The face, the hair, as well, without a doubt he's the Klause I know, my secretary in my past life except that he's more muscular here.

He walked his way towards me and reached out his hand, and smiled, "I am Aurken, I am the one who saved you, and the man here beside me is Dr. Quazano." I reached out my hand and shook their hands.

Surprising as it seems, but it can't be too obvious. I should never reveal my true identity and everything about myself, especially the second soul I have,

"Thank you." I replied with a smile.

He just smiled and turned away. " Dr. Quazano, you take care of him, I'll be heading now." He raised his left hand and walked out of the room.

"So, do you know where you are now?"

"No sir, as long as I remember I woke up in a building and some monster appeared and I just lost consciousness."

He took a deep breath, "So you're a reborn."

I frowned my eyebrows and said, "What is that?" I pretended to not know everything because it would be too suspicious to just wake up and have knowledge about this world. I should try to act like how a person should typically act when he just wakes up and found himself in an unfamiliar world.

*****

Dr. Quazano explained to me, what is reborn, necro, and my current situation. Though I already knew a few things about it, I better understand the present world even more and what I had to do to survive it.

"What's your name? You're third type reborn, I suppose you are aware of who you are and what you are in you're past life right?"

"Yes, I am Rik Van Der Werf." I gently smiled, "You can call me Vander." I lied.

I made up my mind not to reveal my true identity. After all, I've been reborn, so why should I use my real name? Right now, I am no longer Damon Fritzwalt.

'I am now Rik Van Der Werf.'

And this is the start of my journey to gain power. Now that I had a chance to be reborn, maybe I'll have the opportunity to rule this world. Now I will carry out my long-term plan.

'To be the most powerful man.'

"I see, what a nice name," He whispered while removing the patches that were on my body. "Since you are already fine, I suppose I can discharge you now."

*****

I asked the doctor more before leaving, and I asked a few things about the places I should go. When you are stuck in a new world (Isekai) or in a new realm, it has been proven and tested that the first thing you must do is go to a library. In the library, you will find everything you want to know and learn.

So, right now, I am at Lumiere City, not sure which country it is since the countries merged together and became what was known as Pangea, but it's somewhere near the Philippines, I guess. According to Dr. Quazano, the nearest library here is located in South Fulgoant District. The name of the library is Quietus Athenaeum.

It's quite far from here so I will have to use their means of transportation. As I walked out and got down from the hospital's third floor, I noticed that the earth is quite the same as it was before. The people, and everything, it looks like they managed to adapt, which just shows how flexible humans are. Today's technology is more advanced, and humans seem to be more skillful, which is caused by some unknown phenomena that happened a hundred thousand years ago, as explained by Dr. Quazano. As I walk around, I noticed that people are still living a simple life despite technological advancements. Maybe it's because these technologies are more focused on defense and fight against kuishinbos. Dr. Quazano gave me a small bag they call the reborn starter pack, which can help me survive my mundane commodities. I checked my purse and noticed that I have a hundred copper coins. This should be more than enough to travel from one city to another. Dr. Quazano also gave me a badge of reborn to show to those around me that I am new to this world and in grave need of assistance. The badge will make people obliged to guide you and assist you.

I was lost in my thoughts that I overlooked that I am already quite far from the hospital. I raised my reborn badge to a random person, "Hello, I am a reborn, I need to go to the library and I think it's somewhere at Lumiere City? How can I get there?"

He was startled at first, but he then stared at me and smiled. "Hey! You're a reborn that's good!" He offered his hand to me, which I gladly accept. "Welcome to Pi Earth!" He even raised his arms with a wide smile. Everyone around noticed his gestures and heard his loud voice. Many of them looked at me and smile. "Or just Earth since nothing much changed except for the Pangea," He giggled.

I bowed to express my gratitude, "Thank you so much!"

"Brother! I'll lead you to a train nearby, it will lead you to Lumiere City directly." He started to walk and raised his hands. "Come with me."

I quickly followed him. It's not that far, so in just a few walks, we arrived immediately.

The train station is the same as before except that the train seems faster and more high-tech. The design of the train looks compact and more delicate.

"This is the train, it is the same as before, but its faster."

So this guy must be a second or third-class reborn since he knows about the train before.

"However, instead of electricity or gasoline, it is ran by the necro of the captain, and the passengers' as well, the more people contribute, the faster the train will be."

"I see." I smiled at him. "Thanks for the assistance!"

"So long brother!"

I waved my hands and continued my walk towards the station. Everything seems the same, except the people who look weird. This world is an eclectic medieval and modern style. I wonder why.

As I continue to move forward and proceed to a machine to get a ticket. I proceed to find where I should fall in line to wait for the next train stop. Surprisingly, the people are more organized and unscattered. Securities are pretty much everywhere, and they look capable.

After almost five minutes, the train arrived, everyone went in, and I followed. I noticed that they inserted their ticket in some sort of a machine, so I did the same. After that, I sat somewhere near the door of the train. There are still more people coming, and we waited for about two more minutes.

"Buckle up passengers! You may contribute to fueling the train using your necros by pressing the button above you." It must be the train captain speaking.

So people here can contribute to fuel the train, eh? They are not obliged, but if they want to speed up, they should contribute in providing necro.

A few minutes earlier, the train started to move, and a few people began to grab an upside down 'u' shaped metal in front of their seats.. It's quite hard to identify, but it seems that this metal absorbs the necro that caused the train to accelerate.

The train is extremely fast, that I felt my soul would almost detach from my body.

A few more minutes…

"Arriving at the Ariodale City." The captain spoke, and the train's door opened, allowing a few people inside the train.

The train once again runs and just a few more minutes…

"Arriving at the Lumiere City, for those who will leave the train, please step outside peacefully, thank you for riding with us!"

As I step outside the train, I closed my eyes and stretched my arms as I expected a nice fresh air to caress my face, but… I was wrong. Instead of fresh air, the scent of rusts, smokes and some unfamiliar odor smudged my nose.

What the hell? So everything I saw from the windows inside the train is all fake? And what the hell is this place? The train station is somewhere at the top of a hill, from here, I can almost see the entire city. Their name sounds elegant, but the town... I can sense poverty in here. Houses are all rusty, only a few decent ones left. Most people wear less appealing clothes except for those wearing high-tech suites, but they were all dirty.

The city is large, a lot of vehicles are coming here and there, as I traversed and observe my surroundings...

A young lady approached me. Her hair is all messy, her face looks dirty, and her smell is very unpleasant."Sir just a few copper coins please."

Not too far from here is an old woman who is pretty much the same as the lady earlier. "Sir please, just a copper coin, we need to survive, we'll die without food to eat." She reminds me of my mom, speaking of her... I wonder where is she right now? Well, it doesn't matter. We're not family anyway.

I asked a few people where is South Fulgoant district, one of the districts here in Lumiere City. They said that I should ride an automobile worth ten copper coins since it's quite far from here. I immediately ride on one, and it took almost an hour before I get to the destination.

The entrance has a large signboard in it. At first look, I can tell that this district is relatively better than the previous one. There were signboards anywhere, so I quickly found the way to Quietus Athenaeum. Luckily it's just a five-minute walk from the entrance.

***

At first glance, it looks like it's just a big house, but as I strolled in, I could see from huge mirrors surrounding the place that there are so many tables and towering bookshelves inside.

There were not that many people, so I did not hesitate to enter.

I greeted with a large smile etched on my face, "Ahmm, good morning!" The person inside must be the librarian. "Where can I find history books?"

"Good morning too, ahmm go to section 3 left side, just look for the ones with the history signboard, it's all there."

*****

"So it's been 200,000 years already huh?" I smiled and whispered to myself. So my other soul has kept me alive for such a scary long time.

I just kept reading, and I found out that their type of government is basically monarchy, constitutional monarchy to be precise.

'The Vasilia' or the King of the world, he is the strongest reborn. He was the one who saved humanity 120,000 years ago from the great Meokolt Attack. Meokolt is a kuishinbo but an apocalyptic one. The first hundred thousand years were called "The Havoc Age," while the following years are now called "The Aeon of Reformation" because people gradually adapt to life.

The Earth countries converged and became the Pangea, the Pangea, on the other hand, is divided into seven cities, much like the seven continents, but there's a vast difference among countries involved. These seven cities, which in order based on their power ranking, are the following:

City of Slydenn

City of Zephys

City of Ainswell

Nath City

Vehemont City

Alderburg City

Lumiere City

So Lumiere City is the worst city among all seven, that explains everything I saw. Each city is divided into four districts, north, west, east, and south, respectively. Each district has its own mayor, while the ruler of the city is called the city lord. Every city lord is under the one central government called Vasilia or the King. Which is Reeve Giraudus, the one who established everything, the savior of humanity.

Under the kings are the ministers and counselors, I don't know their role since it doesn't matter right now, but I realize how necros are vital as I read further. And how I suck since I don't even have a speck of it,

I stretched my arms wide after hours of reading.

'I think I learned too much.'

"Now, how do I start this?" I smiled and whispered to myself.

I stood up slowly and suddenly…

"Done reading now?" A small woman's voice spoke from behind me. I was a little surprised.

"What the hell?" I shouted

"Hi !! I'm Olivia Palmer." She is a beautiful woman, thin, with black hair, slightly hazel-colored eyes, and white skin.

"I'm Vander."

"Vander?"

"Yeah, just Vander."

"Okay then." She smiled again as she speaks

"Anyway, I noticed you earlier when you entered."

I just looked at her.

"And I've been staring at you for a while."

'The fuck? What?'

"I said I was staring at you earlier."

"I heard that."

She grinned and looked at me. "Then why are you just stunned, are you crazy or something?"

"No, it's because you said you were looking at me earlier, of course, that's startling."

"Ahhhh !! hahahahahaha" She laughed even louder. "It's not like what you think it is, I've been staring at you for a while because you kinda look strange. Are you new to this world? A reborn?" This time she leaned even closer to me as if she's scrutinizing my existence.

I then tried to move my head far away from her, "Ahhh, hahahah, y-yeah."

"What type?"

"Ahmm, the third type, actually I just came from Dr. Quazano."

She bit her lips and smiled. "Oh, so you have a lot of necros."

"Actually, it's the opposite," I replied. I can't believe it. I've been reborn as useless shit in this world. Why does the world want me to suffer? I always start at the very bottom like a piece of shit.

Though I am smart, and I have my other soul but for me, what I need here is a necro. I need lots of it.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I don't understand much but they say, I don't seem to have a necro."

Her eyes widened, "Whaaaaat??? Nani? Seriously? How? How is that possible?"

"I also don't know since I just got reborn yesterday, I also don't know how to start."

"Hmmm" She rubbed her chin as her head faced upwards. "Would you like to join us?" She asked.

"Where?"

"Research Guild, this is the guild that leads the search in Kuishinbo bases, also in finding new weapons, in case you want to join, you definitely need your brains here, you need to be smart." She said as she pointed her temple with her finger,

"Hmmm, sounds a good deal, back in thousands of years ago, I was a successful businessman, I am smart and I'm sure you can use my brain, though I'm not sure about it since I don't have any necro" I don't know if joining a guild is right, but I think it's a good starting point.

"Hmm well, think about it, until tomorrow I will wait, go to our headquarters in the West Clild Yard District, just after that, ask questions where is the Cloudspire Garrison, when you go there, just find me." She said before finally leaving.

I just nodded as a response.