Dead Again

"Argh, it hurts… What happened?" Ludwig groaned, his voice barely a whisper as he stirred. His body felt heavy, like it had been dragged through the depths of hell. His head throbbed, every pulse of pain a reminder that something had gone terribly wrong. Blinking against the oppressive darkness, he tried to piece together the fragments of his memory, but everything was jumbled—a chaotic blur of screaming, shuddering metal, and a violent, terrifying descent into nothingness.

The last thing he remembered was the plane—the craft shuddering so violently it felt like it would tear apart. His father's voice, panicked for the first time in Ludwig's life, calling out to his mother. His mother's scream, raw and piercing, cutting through the chaos. Then… darkness.

And now… more darkness.

But something was wrong. The pain, the broken bones, the agony of the crash—none of it was there. He wasn't lying in twisted metal or engulfed in flames. There were no scattered seats, no twisted wreckage, no smell of burning fuel. Instead, he felt something cold—something hard beneath him. A stone floor. He strained his eyes, trying to make sense of the shadows around him, but the only light came from small, flickering flames in the distance, like forgotten embers scattered across a desolate plain.

"Dad? Mom?" Ludwig's voice echoed back to him in the vast emptiness, swallowed by the oppressive silence. There was no response. Just his own ragged breathing. A chill crept up his spine. This wasn't right. His heart raced as panic clawed at his chest. Where was the plane? Where was the fire? Where was his family?

Suddenly, a series of garbled sounds pierced the silence. "+)/***$$$@@."

Ludwig whipped his head around, his heart pounding in his chest. The words—if they could even be called words—were unintelligible, more like static or a broken transmission. His blood ran cold.

[Automated Translation Initiated.]

A voice echoed in his mind, emotionless and robotic, snapping Ludwig from his confusion. The voice sounded disturbingly artificial, hollow and devoid of any human warmth.

"What…?" Ludwig breathed, his chest tightening. "No, no, this can't be happening." His mind raced, his thoughts spiraling into disbelief. He'd read about situations like this—isekai stories, where characters were thrown into other worlds. But that was fiction, an escape from the suffocating reality of his high-society life. This—this was real. And it was impossible.

A soft chime echoed in his head, and a glowing blue screen appeared before him, hovering in midair.

[Initializing Transmigration…] [Ludwig Heart.]

"No, no, no, no!" Ludwig's voice rose in panic, shaking the emptiness around him. His breath came in short, frantic bursts as he took in the impossible sight before him. "This isn't real! It's a dream—it has to be!"

But the screen remained, indifferent to his denial.

[Initialization Complete.] [Welcome to the World of Ikos, traveler Ludwig Heart.] [You have been transported to another world. Please read through your status screen before beginning.]

Ludwig's heart hammered in his chest. He didn't want to believe it, but the words on the screen burned into his mind with an eerie clarity. Another world? It felt absurd, yet the cold stone beneath him and the disorienting void around him were all too real.

Before he could process what was happening, two figures emerged from the shadows, their crimson robes flowing like liquid darkness. Their faces were hidden beneath hoods, and long staffs crowned with grotesque skulls were clutched in their hands. The faint, flickering light reflected off their robes, casting them in an otherworldly glow.

"Seems like he woke up. Bring it," one of them said, his voice low and menacing.

Ludwig's pulse quickened. The men moved with a predatory grace, their steps silent on the cold stone. One of them approached Ludwig, holding a black orb that pulsed with a sinister energy. Panic surged through him as the other man loomed closer, his breath hot on Ludwig's face.

"Where am I?" Ludwig shouted, his voice cracking as fear overtook him.

Without a word, the robed figure raised his staff and swung it. The thick wooden end crashed into Ludwig's face with brutal force, the impact echoing in the empty chamber.

[You have been Dazed!] [-22 HP.]

A sharp pain exploded in Ludwig's skull, and his vision blurred. His knees buckled beneath him as he fought to stay conscious. What… is this? His thoughts were a jumbled mess, unable to focus on anything but the searing pain and the surreal events unfolding around him. Was this some sort of kidnapping? A sick game orchestrated by lunatics?

"Open your hand," one of the robed men demanded.

Ludwig's mind reeled, trying to make sense of the situation. Cultists? Terrorists? None of it explained the floating screens, the strange voice in his head. He tried to resist, but his body, still dazed from the blow, betrayed him. His hand shook as he extended it.

The second man placed the orb in Ludwig's open palm, and suddenly, agony. Long, razor-sharp spikes shot out from the orb, piercing through his skin and muscle like molten knives. A guttural scream tore from Ludwig's throat, the pain more intense than anything he had ever felt. His body convulsed as the fiery spikes burned into his flesh.

[Please read through your status screen! You do not have much time!]

The robotic voice pierced through the pain, and Ludwig, barely able to think, willed the screen to appear.

[Status Screen: Ludwig Heart]

 Health: 72/100

 Stamina: 30/100

Mana: 100/100

Intelligence: 15

Strength: 15

Dexterity: 15

Vigor: 15

Luck: 15

Class: Hero

Title: Predestined Hero! One who can save the world!

Possessed Abilities: [Hero's Starter Pack]

Passives: Resolve: {Negate One Negative Effect on the bearer.} Activates once a day.

Overt Genius: Increased proficiency in all sorts of masteries.

Heroic Spirit: Strong Resistance to Demonic Temptations and Mental Ailments.

The numbers flashed before him, but his mind could barely process them. The pain, the confusion—it was too much.

"Oh, we hit the jackpot. It's a hero," one of the men muttered.

"Really?" the other responded, his voice dripping with disbelief.

Ludwig's mind spun. How can they see this? He thought of the stories he had read late at night, hidden under the covers. Heroes, status screens, other worlds. None of it made sense, yet here he was, trapped in the very nightmare he used to fantasize about.

"The orb is glowing gold," the first man said with a twisted grin. "He's the real deal."

Ludwig's breath came in short, sharp gasps. What do they want from me? He thought, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Let him go," the second man said.

For a moment, hope flickered in Ludwig's chest. Maybe they'll let me live. After all, I'm a hero now, right? Heroes are supposed to be protected, revered.

But that hope was short-lived.

"Now kill him," the first man said, his voice cold and final.

Ludwig barely had time to register the command before a dagger, gleaming in the dim light, sliced through the air and buried itself deep in his skull. The pain was blinding, a sudden flash of white-hot agony, and then—