Caelan knew it was over the moment the fourth bullet hit.
He didn’t even get a dramatic last line. Just a spray of gunfire from the gang’s rusty old SMG and a dull thud as his body slammed into the blood-slick bricks behind him.
He was twelve years old. Level 3. And very, very dead.
The streetlight flickered.
YOU HAVE DIED.
Everything should have gone black. No afterlife, no "Game Over" screen—just the silence of the grave.
But this was Aerthia. Death was only the loading screen for the next chapter—if you were lucky. If you were chosen.
And Caelan… had always been strange.
As his consciousness floated in the liminal void, a cold wind stirred around him—no, through him. Light shimmered in the distance like distant lightning beneath storm clouds.
Analyzing Soul Signature...Resonance Detected: Dual Affinity [Holy Lightning] / [Necrotic Will]Cause of Death: Murder by Auto-Projectile (x18 hits)Trait Detected: “Unyielding Bastard” (Rare)Karmic Load: -2 (Innocent Death)
Unique Class Unlock Eligible.
A golden-blue system window unfurled in front of his flickering soul.
CLASS SELECTION - INTERFERENCE DETECTED
Normally, the System offered safe, balanced classes to low-levels: Apprentice Mage, Bonepicker, Lightning Initiate… low-risk, low-reward.
But this wasn’t normal.
Two forces surged into the space behind the interface—divine, incompatible, overwhelming. One reeked of holiness, ozone, and burning judgment. The other whispered in quiet rot, cold logic, and the endless hunger of the grave.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The menu cracked.
Override in Progress...You have been chosen by the Divine Tempest and the Lady Below.Installing Hybrid Class: [Divine Lightning Necromancer]System Note: ...Seriously? This is going to be a mess. Good luck.
NEW CLASS UNLOCKED!
?? Divine Lightning NecromancerTier: Mythic (Hybrid)Role: Caster / Summoner / ExecutionerSpecialization: Soul-Burning Lightning | Intelligent Undead | Righteous Vengeance
Passive: SoulshockYour lightning bypasses armor and fries spiritual essence.+20% damage to morally “evil” entities (System judged).
Active: Gravecurrent (Cost: 25 MP)Raise a fallen corpse, infusing it with divine lightning.Duration: 3 min or until destroyed. Limit: 2 (scales with INT)
Ultimate: Judgement Storm (Cooldown: 24 hrs)Call down a divine necro-storm. Revives up to 5 allies (or undead), stuns enemies, and deals massive AoE damage.+Bonus effect: Marks guilty targets for 12 hours.
Stat Growth Enhanced! You have been reborn!You have gained 2 levels.Current Level: 5New Stat Distribution:
Title Earned: “The Reborn” – You have returned from death with power not meant for mortals.Perk Gained: Lightning Undead resist turn effects and deal bonus damage to holy targets.
Caelan gasped.
Not metaphorically—literally. His lungs filled like balloons snapping back into place. Energy surged through his body like a living circuit. The bullet holes hissed as they closed, burned shut by pure lightning.
He sat up, steam rising off his skin.
Behind him, the corpse of a rat twitched. Then glowed. Sparks danced over its decaying fur. Its eyes snapped open—glowing blue with unholy static.
[Gravecurrent] activated. Minion summoned: “Lightning Rat – Level 2 (Loyal)”
Caelan stood, barefoot in the alley, body still smoking, eyes wild.
He looked at his trembling hands, now laced with electric-blue veins. His shadow moved without wind.
“They killed me,” he muttered. His voice sounded older. Deeper. Charged.
The storm above cracked.
QUEST ACCEPTED: Vengeance Protocol (Unique)Objective: Track and execute the ones who ended your first life.Reward: Class Evolution Path Unlocked.Optional: Spare none.
Caelan grinned.
“Time to show them what it means to die.”