Rebirth: The Magician Who Masters Fate

**[ALERT! ALERT!]**

**[Player 'Dustwalker,' you are under attack by the Prince of Shadows.]**

**[You have been inflicted with Bleed, Curse, Poison, Disease, Aging, Decay, Corruption, and Death effects.]**

**[Your body is rotting, your soul is disintegrating, and your life force is rapidly draining.]**

**[You have no resurrection items, no faith in any gods, and no divine kingdom to claim you.]**

**[You… are about to die!]**

"Is this how I'm going to die?"

"As I thought… I'm still too weak. I can't even beat a low-tier god!"

"But… I can't accept this!"

Watching his decaying body and feeling his life force slip away, Ethan's face filled with despair. 

He had grown from a lowly thief to a legendary assassin. He had believed this time he would succeed in ascending to godhood, to finally catch up with the first tier of players. Yet here he was, on the brink of failure.

He had utterly, completely failed.

*Cough, cough…*

Ethan coughed heavily, struggling to lift his heavy eyelids to look ahead. Standing before him was a figure draped in a black cloak, holding a dagger. 

Meeting the figure's cold, silver-gray eyes, Ethan voiced the question burning in his heart:

"Prince of Shadows, we have no grudge between us. Why are you blocking my way?"

"Of course, it's because of me."

Before Ethan could get an answer, a playful voice came from behind the Prince of Shadows. 

A figure stepped out from behind the cloaked man.

"Damien, it's you!"

Ethan's eyes turned blood-red the moment he recognized the newcomer.

"Why are you here? How could you possibly be here?"

"Why wouldn't I be here?"

Damien replied coolly, striding forward and looking down on Ethan from above.

"Ever since *Godfall* descended on Terra, I've been watching you. I knew a worthless gambling addict like you would never give up. 

"After all, I took your woman. What man wouldn't want revenge?

"So, from the moment you reached the rank of legend, I've had you under surveillance. Your teammates, your enemies, even random passersby you casually asked for directions—I bought them all off!

"Haha, you should be proud, Ethan. For me, Damien, to go to such lengths, you must be something special.

"But this is the only way I can rest easy. Only by completely killing you can I truly have her.

"So, Ethan, don't worry. I'll take good care of her. I'll enjoy every inch of her."

"Damien! I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you!"

Ethan's eyes were wide with rage. This was the man who had torn his family apart, the man who had destroyed his life.

He wanted to rip Damien's flesh from his bones, drink his blood, and shatter his soul.

"Kill me? Hah, maybe in your next life. In this one, you're destined to be a loser, to be crushed under my heel."

Damien sneered, lazily drawing a greatsword from his side. With a swift swing, he aimed at Ethan's neck, but suddenly stopped, a mocking smile curling his lips.

"Oh, right, your daughter Lily. She's grown now, hasn't she? Sixteen years old, I bet she's nice and tight."

"Bastard! I'll…"

*Swish—*

Before Ethan could finish, Damien's sword swung down, its sharp blade cleaving his head from his body.

The world spun as Ethan's vision blurred.

In his final moments, his life flashed before his eyes.

He saw himself ten years ago, living a happy life with his family. A loving wife, an adorable daughter, and his parents still alive and healthy.

They spent their leisure time traveling, strolling with his wife, taking his daughter to amusement parks. On holidays, they visited his parents in the countryside, sharing stories of work and life.

It was as if he had returned to that time, to that small home, ten years ago.

*Sigh… I can't believe it's ending like this.*

"If only… If only I hadn't become addicted to gambling, how different would my life have been…"

With deep regret, Ethan let out a long sigh and slowly closed his eyes.

---

"It's too late for regrets now!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced his consciousness. 

Ethan blinked, opening his eyes out of reflex.

Before him stood a tall woman with a slender neck and a breathtakingly beautiful face. But now, her face appeared weary, with a hint of sorrow in her once perfect features.

"Wife!" Ethan blurted out the word when he saw her.

"Don't call me that. Marrying you was the worst mistake of my life!

"Do you even have a conscience? You spent Lily's medical funds on gambling! Do you even know what kind of illness she has? Do you understand how important that money was?"

Claire stared at her husband, disappointment evident in her eyes.

She couldn't understand why Ethan, once such an exceptional man, had fallen into gambling addiction. How could he have stooped so low, even to the point of using their daughter's medical funds for gambling?

Was this the same Ethan she once knew? The once-great husband and father?

*Sigh…*

Claire sighed, her voice drained of energy. After a moment of silence, she continued:

"Forget it. I don't want to argue anymore. We're divorced, and I'll take care of Lily. As for you… take care of yourself."

With those words, Claire cast one final glance at Ethan, her gaze flickering before she bit her lip and opened the door, walking out.

*Bang!*

The door slammed shut, the sound reverberating through the house and finally jolting Ethan back to full consciousness.

He didn't chase after Claire. Instead, he looked around the room, touching the walls as if trying to confirm something.

A spacious, bright living room. Freshly painted white walls. Clean, orderly furniture.

And hanging on the wall, the smiling wedding photo of him and Claire.

Ironically, right beneath the photo lay a divorce agreement.

*Ding!*

At that moment, his phone buzzed on the table, displaying an unread message.

Ethan hurried over, his eyes fixed on the date and time on the screen.

**[October 7th, 2030, Monday]**

"2030… This is… ten years ago!"

Ethan stared blankly at his phone, stunned.

He didn't know how long he stood there before a wide grin slowly spread across his face, his eyes gradually brightening.

"I'm back! I've been reborn! Hahaha!"

Ethan laughed loudly, finally letting go of the years of bitterness he had held inside.

Ten years ago, his life hadn't been one of wealth, but it was a happy one. He had a loving wife and a sweet daughter. His parents were still alive and well.

But everything changed when Damien came into his life.

Damien got him into business deals and stocks, and Ethan thought his old classmate was a great friend, helping him make lots of money, bringing him contacts and big orders.

But during a trip to Macau, Damien revealed his true nature.

He set a trap—a gambling trap—designed just for Ethan.

After that, Ethan changed. He became a full-fledged gambling addict. His savings were gone. His house was gambled away. His parents' savings were lost. 

Even his daughter's life-saving medical funds were wasted.

Claire left him, heartbroken, taking their daughter with her.

Crushed by the weight of his failure, Ethan spiraled into despair.

In an attempt to escape reality, he entered the virtual world of *Godfall*.

"Who would have thought… the heavens have given me a second chance!"

"Damien, this time, I won't let you win!"

Ethan's face twisted with resolve as he clenched his teeth.

"And Claire!"

He suddenly remembered, rushing toward the door to chase after her. But just as quickly, he stopped himself, muttering under his breath:

"I may have been reborn, but Claire doesn't know that. My parents don't know. Damien doesn't know.

"To them, I'm still the same pathetic gambling addict.

"So… even if I chase after her now, Claire wouldn't forgive me."

Ethan sighed, slowly stepping back and closing the door again.

He knew what a scumbag he had been in the past. If Claire's heart hadn't been completely broken, they wouldn't have divorced.

His top priority now was to prove himself, to show her real change. Only then could he win her back.

"And there's Lily… her illness can't wait any longer!"

Lily was his beloved daughter, innocent and sweet, but suffering from a rare blood disease. It couldn't be cured, only managed with expensive treatments.

There was only one way to save her: *Godfall*.