Chapter 1: Reincarnation

'It feels like something is suffocating my body...'

Kelvin's first thought upon waking up from what appeared to be a dream was the intense pain he experienced, as though something was suffocating his body. The agony was so severe that it felt as though his very bones were on the verge of shattering.

Kelvin's pain was a result of his soul clashing with another soul, a soul named Fang Ming, who was presently transitioning to another plane within the astral realm known as the Magus World. 

As the force of the clash intensified, the two souls began a gradual process of merging while struggling for sole control over the fused soul. This event bears a resemblance to the theory of galaxy mergers, wherein two galaxies colliding at the same angle and speed ultimately unite to form a single entity.

'Damn, this hurts so freaking bad! It's worse than anything I've felt before; not even dying hurt this much, and this guy is just making it worse by not letting me devour him to take control,' Kelvin thought as he tried his best to devour the soul essence of Fang Ming.

[Beep! Danger Alert! Danger Alert! The host soul is under threat from an unidentified soul attempting consumption. It is strongly advised for the host to disengage from the unknown soul to prevent being devoured during the fusion process.] Echoed a mechanical voice within Fang Ming's soul.

'Argh, A.I. Chip, is that you? Do something! It's as if I'm being eaten alive, feeling every excruciating bit of the pain,' thought Fang Ming as he struggled to resist, despite being more than halfway consumed in the fusion process.

[Beep! Task Established! Commencing analysis of escape methods from the unidentified soul and cessation of the fusion process... None found! Currently, I lack the power and essential data on the soul to halt the process.]

This persisted until Kelvin succeeded in completely devouring Fang Ming's soul, including the A.I. Chip nestled within it, thereby assuming ownership of the A.I. Chip. This momentous event would later alter the course of the astral plane and its inhabitants.

'It appears the A.I. Chip doesn't differentiate when it comes to its master,' Kelvin thought, regaining his composure and reflecting on the A.I. Chip's nature, as described in the novel, as emotionless and devoid of conscience due to the issues with human rights in Fang Ming's world.

However, before Kelvin could continue his monologue, a colossal astral beast, the size of a large plane, suddenly materialized and uttered words that, though unintelligible to Kelvin, conveyed their meaning directly to his soul.

"How intriguing to witness such an occurrence in the astral plane, not to mention the extraordinary purity of the soul in question. The soul's scent alone is enough to make me drool, though it's but a minuscule morsel compared to what I usually consume."

"Well, I suppose I'll need to exercise a bit of patience and allow this soul to mature over the next few centuries. Then, it will undoubtedly become a more gratifying feast, not to mention the fact that it will keep me sated for quite some time considering the purity of the soul," the colossal astral beast mused, its enormous eyes filled with hunger, fixated on Kelvin's soul. Kelvin, in a state of shock and fear, found himself utterly incapable of coherent thought, let alone escaping from the beast's looming presence.

"Well, I shall transport you to a world abundant with resources for your growth, and I hope that the next time our paths cross, you'll be a more savory dish. Do your best to survive until then, and oh, I've already left a mark on your soul, so you can't escape because I will find you," the beast declared in a sinister tone that sent shivers down Kelvin's spine.

With a wave that resembled its hands, it conjured a burst of spiritual wind, propelling Kelvin toward a vast realm within the astral plane known as the Magus World, a realm known for its capacity to nurture powerful magi, thanks to its competitive nature.

Upon arriving in the Magus World, his soul journeyed southward, heading to the South Coast, a continent isolated from the Central Continent, before venturing further to the vast expanse of the Chernobyl Islands, a landmass rivaling the size of the Eurasian Continent.

Subsequently, his soul found its way into the womb of a woman, where an embryo had recently taken form. He spent a year developing within the womb before being born to his new mother, Jean Farlier, a noblewoman from the Harris family.

"Argh... It hurts so much, dear," Jean cried out, clutching the bedsheet and her husband John Farlier's hand. She was in the midst of giving birth to Kelvin, enduring the intense pain of childbirth while her husband did his best to console her.

"It's okay, darling, you're almost there," John reassured his wife before turning to the midwife assisting with the delivery. "Hurry up, or I'll make sure to end your bloodline," he warned, his tone filled with urgency and gravity.

A few minutes later, the midwife successfully assisted with the delivery, and now the baby rested in Jean's arms as she reclined on the bed, utterly exhausted from the ordeal. Now John was thinking of a name for his son while waiting for Jean to recover enough so that she would know his name.

"Darling, I believe the name Leylin Farlier is perfect for our son. What do you think?" John inquired as he cradled Leylin in his hands, gazing into his son's inquisitive eyes, which were half-closed in response to the sudden light.

{John Farlier Image}

"I agree, dear. That's a wonderful name," Jean responded with joy in her eyes, seeing her husband holding their son with a heartfelt smile on his face.

{Jean Farlier Image}

'I suppose I am now Leylin Farlier, the firstborn of the noble Viscount family of Farlier. It seems that the astral beast expedited my arrival here by shooting me into this world rather than allowing me to drift here gradually. A family of knights with a secret lower-intermediate level knight breathing method, passed down from our ancestor who stumbled upon it along with a mystical gem that grants one of our family members the potential to become a magus,' pondered Kelvin, now bearing the name Leylin Farlier following his reincarnation.

'I have 13 years before I'm to be enrolled in the Magus Academy, so I must spend this time preparing to ensure I am strong enough to shape my destiny,' he thought before drifting into slumber, his new body weary from the day's events.