Prologue: The Life of Alastair

"For all that is lost will come back to you, Alastair. The pain you experience is not an illusion. If this life is an illusion then what is the point of you working hard to survive? You certainly aren't a stupid person but the way you see everything is not something normal humans see.

You are no hero. You are no monster. You are just a foolish person trying to do what is right but what's right to you is not always right to others."

. .

An orphan, Alastair Manikas. A young adult who's been in war for so long that his mental state is almost broken. For a young man, he is an excellent captain who does every task that has been given to him completed or moreover, very well.

"Alastair, this is no ordinary task. It's a suicide mission but even then, it will decide the outcome of this war." the Rebel Army's General said.

For 7 years. The Rebels have been at war with the corrupt Prime Government. This bloody war is no longer war, it's hell and a complete loss for everyone who's involved.

But knowing that, the Rebel Army never surrenders and keep moving forward. And this mission given from the General to Alastair Manikas will decide the outcome of this war. Shall they fail, the Rebel Army will never have the chance to defeat the Prime Government and if the mission succeeds, they will have a chance to defeat the Prime Government from the inside.

"I understand, General. I am ready to accept this mission." Alastair with his stoic face is unfazed by the fact that this is a suicide mission.

"You will not be arrested for treason if you decide to refuse this mission, Captain Alastair." The General tried to convince him.

"Knowing that, I will still accept this mission, sir." Unfazed by the offer, Alastair still stood strong.

"I see... It is no use trying to convince you." He sighed in defeat.

"Alastair Manikas. A spy leaked information to us about a Colossal Bomb. You shall infiltrate the Prime Government's main base undetected and detonate this Bomb. This mission shall be your last and will decide the outcome of this war."

"Understood, sir!" Alastair saluted and left the room.

Seeing that Alastair has left the room, the General glance at the picture frame on his desk. A young Alastair and the General are in the picture. The young orphan was taken in by the General. They don't have a strong relationship as the General was always busy. But he saw Alastair grow up to be the man that will decide the outcome of this war.

He let out a tired sigh and hoped that this bloody war will soon come to an end.

. . .

Alastair is in his room. He has a few hours before a helicopter will arrive to pick him up. He tidied up his room and sat on his bed.

His face is expressionless and without fear even though he knows he will certainly die if he succeeds and most likely be killed or tortured if he fails. But after seeing a picture in his drawer, he finally expressed an emotion.

Tired and broken.

There are Alastair and a woman in the picture. They are smiling together as Alastair had just received Captain Rank.

"I will break the promise we made... I am tired of this painful reality." He put the picture down and left his room.

After entering the helicopter, he looks at the base that he calls home for the last time.

"Captain Alastair, we will be taking off." The pilot informed him.

"Alright." He closed the helicopter door and took a seat.

Alastair has had this pilot for the past five years. They created a friendship over the years but as Alastair's mental health deteriorated, their friendship was strained and they aren't as close as they once were.

. . .

Arriving a fair distance from the Prime Government's main base. They couldn't get any closer or they would be detected. Most of the enemy aircrafts are preoccupied some distance from them as the Rebels created a distraction for Alastair. They all are paying a huge price for this mission.

"Captain... I hope you succeed… and thank you for everything." The pilot could only thank Alastair and wish him luck.

"I should be the one who is thanking you. Goodbye, friend." Alastair patted the Pilot's shoulder and jumped off the helicopter.

. . .

Alastair swiftly made his way to the base. He killed and hid the bodies of the soldiers he met along the way. The patrolling soldiers were few because of the Rebel army's distractions.

Alastair could be seen adjusting his hat and tie. He has disguising himself as a commander of the Prime Government. He is very confident as he has been trained for this.

As he entered the main building, his demeanor made him unapproachable. The soldiers were saluting him as he walked to the lift.

But he wasn't alone as a trainee researcher is also in the lift.

"Ah, sir! Good evening." The trainee researcher saluted him.

Alastair only nodded. His expressionless face was a little scary for the young researcher.

As the lift goes down, the transparent glass window allowed Alastair to see the underground research base. A large bomb was in the middle of the area and he could see many researchers and scientists working there.

The guards are not lacking like outside, they strictly guard the scientists and researchers.

Alastair unconsciously let out a tired sigh. This prompts the trainee to become a bit more talkative.

"Um, sir! It is a tiring day, is it? I guess that your work isn't over yet as you are here today. I hope that you will get rest soon enough." Even though the researcher is nervous, he managed to talk with Alastair.

"Thank you." Alastair gave a curt reply.

"Ah, it's nothing, sir!"

The lift finally reached its destination and the door opened. He walks forward with a solemn expression.

After he got halfway to the colossal bomb. The alarm suddenly rang out and chaos ensued and everyone panicked.

[INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!]

Alastair kept going forward to the colossal bomb until a high-ranking officer stopped him.

"Stop, identify yourself!" The high-ranking demanded.

Alastair quickly grabbed his gun and shot the officer in the head, killing him. The gunfire made the entire underground panic further.

The soldiers who saw Alastair kill the officer started to shoot at him so he quickly took cover.

Without anyone's notice, Alastair grabbed a detonation stick from his pocket to detonate the bombs planted by a spy. The explosion was not destructive enough to make the whole underground collapse.

The sound of the explosion made those at the base confused. Are they under attack by one person or an army? But they have no more time to think as they run away from the falling debris.

"These annoying bastards are persistent." Seeing that the soldiers are still shooting in his direction.

Alastair pulled the pin of a grenade and waited for the right moment to throw it. When he saw an opening, Alastair quickly threw the grenade in front of the soldiers and without time to react, they are blown into smithereens.

Seeing none of the soldiers are left alive, Alastair continues moving as he avoids the other soldiers' attention.

Finally, in front of the bomb's control room. He opens the door only to be shot in the stomach.

There is one guard that hasn't fled the scene. Alastair quickly jumped to the side to avoid the bullets.

Groaning in pain, Alastair covered his wound with his hand. He grabbed his gun and prepare for battle.

But he wasn't just gonna head in blindly. He will blind the guard with a flash-bang.

Throwing the flash-bang into the room, he covered his ears.

BANG.

Without a second thought, he quickly entered the room and pointed his gun straight at the guard's head. Ending him without any mercy.

He dropped his gun after seeing that there are no more guards in the room. After they find out that there is no army outside, they will soon go back so Alastair need to be fast.

After tinkering with the control system but Alastair wasn't alone as the best hacker in the country assist him.

"Hey, Captain. You know that this mission will cost your life, right?" The hacker speaks from a device in his robotic voice.

"I know." He responded.

"But knowing that, you still accepted this mission?"

"Yes, anything else does not matter."

"That is cold, the way you put it, but who am I to judge." Behind the screen, the hacker only shrugs.

Alastair was silent as he focused on working.

"And done!" The hacker announced.

The colossal bomb will detonate in a matter of minutes. The sound of gas and machinery was heard by everyone near by.

"Do you want to be alone or do you want me to accompany you till the end?" The hacker asked.

"Leave me alone." Without any emotions, he answered.

"I see... Then goodbye, Cap." The hacker disconnected himself from the device used to speak with Alastair.

Alastair suddenly coughs blood. He looked at his wound and realizes that the bullet hit his lung.

He bitted his lips as he sat down on the ground. He reminisced the old days when things weren't this chaotic .

"Is this the right thing to do? The explosion will reach the capital city and lives... many people won't survive. But this will put an end to this war."

As he tried to make himself feel better a light appeared in front of him, the light does nothing as if it is staring at him.

Feeling that he has gone insane, he just laughed.

"Haha! Who am I kidding? I am a monster, not a hero. Even if this bloody war will end because of me, there is no denying that I will take many lives with me. I'm a monster!" He gritted his teeth.

"If only... the government was not corrupt. This war wouldn't have happened in the first place, if only..."

"But I need to accept this reality. A reality where there is no pain is not here." Alastair continued.

"I hope that my second life. I have a good brother who can support me, parents who love me, and a little sister that I can adore. Heh, this is the first time I believe in second life bullshit but I guess it's just a hope." Unbeknownst to him, Alastair smiled as tears fell off his cheek.

Soon, the bomb went off and Alastair life ended along with many, many others.

* * *

Alastair. A lost soul. He accepted his death.

But this is not the end. Whether he is a monster, a hero, or just a foolish person. It doesn't matter what he thinks of himself.

A destiny. Bound with his soul.

An anomaly of fate resides within his soul. He is the master of his own fate, shall he succeed in changing his own fate and everyone else's. Will he get what he truly wanted.

This is a new beginnineg after a tragic end.