Chapter 1: Limitless

Darkness that felt like it could devour everything; silence that felt like it could suffocate, and a coldness that seeped deep within the soul... 

Raven didn't know how long his consciousness roamed in the eternal void. Has it been a week? A month? A year or a decade? 

There was no sense of time or space, just an endless emptiness. He tried to grasp onto a thought or memory, but everything seemed fleeting.

He didn't know how long he had been lost in this void. Time wasn't a tangible concept in this suspended state of mind. 

He couldn't remember who he was. In the endless passage time, his mind was clouded. The only thing that kept him going was the inexplicable urge to free himself from this endless darkness. 

Even as he had forgotten all about himself, there were still some vague memories that prevented him from going insane. 

In those memories, there were his parents, who were always there for him, until the day they weren't... It was an unexpected turn of events that changed everything for him.

It had already been half a decade since Raven had unexpectedly slipped into a coma without any clear explanation. For the last five years, his consciousness floated in the endless darkness between life and death, unable to see the light again. 

Gradually, his memories began to fade away, leaving behind only an existence shrouded in darkness.

He had lost track of time and could not determine how long he had been here. Each passing moment seemed to stretch on endlessly, void of any sense of time.

As his soul aimlessly roamed the nether for an eternity, losing all hope, a shift occurred, and a glimmer of light pierced through the boundless darkness.

The light slowly grew brighter, illuminating the surroundings, while also nourishing Raven's Soul. 

Along with the boundless light, a mysterious screen appeared before his eyes. It displayed unfamiliar symbols and numbers that seemed to be constantly changing. 

In the end, the symbols stopped changing, turning into words that he could read, as if the screen had finally found the language Raven was comfortable with. 

{Congratulations. Your body has been successfully remodeled. You are now able to accept your Exclusive Skill, Limitless}

{You have successfully received 'Limitless'}

{Please join Hellfire as soon as possible}

The mysterious screen and the magical voice finally brought Raven out of his daze. After a long time in this scary silence, he was finally able to see and hear something!

The perpetual abyss dissipated as his awareness reconnected with his physical form, reawakening to the sensations that had eluded him!

However, right before his soul entered his real body, it seemed to pass through a strange space. Even though it was for a fleeting moment, that was enough to shock Raven to his core. 

In the fleeting moment, he saw a heavily wounded young man who was in his early twenties. His entire body was covered in blood. It was as if the man could die at any moment. 

Even in such bad condition, the man was still standing proudly, holding his sword firmly as if he was prepared to go against the gods!

"Wei...ss?" Raven's pupils dilated, as he recognised that person. 

However, in the next moment, the scene disappeared, as if everything he saw was nothing more than an illusion. 

Raven had almost forgotten about his existence and most of his memories. However, now that he was out of that nightmare, he was able to remember everything!

As he gradually awakened, he slowly opened his eyes after five years, only to notice that the light was too bright. 

Moisture gathered in the corners of his eyes, prompting him to shutter them briefly. When he reopened them, he was careful to do so gradually, allowing his vision to adjust to the sudden influx of light.

Even now, he felt as if his eyesight was hazy. Despite the fuzziness, he could make out lengthy tubes attached to syringes that were entering his veins.

The once lavish bedroom, where he used to live, now accommodated top-of-the-line medical equipment that was solely responsible for sustaining his fragile life during the last five years.

As he woke up, he was overcome with weakness, rendering his hands almost immobile. His thoughts were jumbled, and he felt as though he had been in a deep slumber for an eternity. The passage of time was uncertain to him – it seemed as though an unfathomable length had elapsed.

He was so weak that he couldn't even sit up. 

After a prolonged daze, he stirred, attempting to utter a call for assistance. However, his speech was fragmented, conveying the impression that he was disoriented and struggling to recollect how to communicate effectively.  

Furthermore, it seemed that even if he had the ability to speak, his voice would not have been audible to anyone as it was too feeble.

His mind was still filled with confusion, however thanks to slowly recovering his memories, he remembered his past. 

He remembered the moments before he had fallen into a deep slumber. He still couldn't believe what had happened to him. 

Seven years ago, he had inherited the Astral Group after his parents' death which was a multi-billion dollar conglomerate founded by his father.

It made him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. The luxurious estate of his family, which rivaled the British Royal Palace in size, served as a testament to their opulence.

At the young age of nineteen, he assumed responsibility for leading the Astral Corporation.

However, around five years ago, everything changed. At that time, he was going through some business documents when a mysterious screen suddenly appeared before his eyes. 

{Congratulations! You have been selected to enter Hellfire}

{Exclusive Skill 'Limitless' has been received}

{Error: Your body isn't capable of accommodating Limitless}

{Your body will be modified to accommodate Limitless}

{Body shutting down for reconstruction}

The words were the last sound he heard before the world around him plunged into an abyss of darkness. 

From that moment, his entire being felt lifeless. For five long years, he wandered through a never-ending nightmare, suspended in an endless void, without any sense of belonging or purpose.

After what seemed like an endless wait, a similar screen finally materialized before him and he was finally free of that nightmare!

"I told you. The chances of him waking up are getting slimmer day by day. We don't even know what's wrong with him, let alone how to wake him up. All the scans are completely normal!"

As Raven was still trying to comprehend the situation, an audible voice caught his attention from outside of the room.

"I think it's better for you to pull the plug. It's already been five years since he went into that coma! This kind of pitiful life... It might be better for you to free him from this..."

"I can't. After the disappearance of Weiss five years ago, Young Master Raven is the only heir of the Astral Household. I can't let anything happen to him!" came an old voice in response. 

As the door to the room swung open, a middle-aged man with a white beard, donning a white coat entered. He was accompanied by an elderly man, who appeared to be in his late sixties.

Though Raven didn't immediately recognize the middle-aged man, his professional attire made it evident that he was a doctor. However, the man standing behind him was a familiar figure. He was the head butler of the Astral Household who had left quite a lasting impression.

Hearing the conversation between the two men, Raven was slightly stunned. His expressions changed. 

He couldn't help but think back to the scene where he saw a bloodied young man standing all alone. That person's face was very similar to his little brother Weiss, albeit he appeared a little older. 

"What... happened... to Weiss?" With great struggle, he finally managed to speak even when his body felt so weak. 

Despite speaking softly, his voice was akin to a loud clap of thunder to the Doctor and the Head Butler. As soon as they noticed that Raven's eyes were open, it seemed like they had seen a ghost.

"You're awake!" The Head Butler's eyes lit up in excitement. Finally, after five years, Raven was awake!

The sight before him seemed too surreal to believe. He had lost all hope of ever witnessing it. He rubbed his eyes, trying to comprehend if he was hallucinating.