Mythbound: Rise Of The Reincarnated Sword God

Chapter 1: The Midnight Horror

The village of Lor glowed in the darkness, alive with the flickering lights of lanterns and the echo of laughter.

The Lunar Ascension festival stretched into its sixth night, a time of hope for the young—those destined to awaken to incredible powers or fall to the curse of becoming soulless, walking shadows. Beneath the festivities, an undercurrent of anxiety swept through the village, masked by feigned smiles and fervent prayers.

For some, this Ascension was their final chance to make something of them selfs and become dragons amongst men.

By 2 AM, the once-bustling streets had quieted, save for a few lingering revelers and couples stealing moments under the moonlight.

Most villagers had retired, their minds burdened with hopes for what tomorrow's Ascension might bring.

Near the edge of the village, under the ancient cherry blossom tree, Li Wei and Mei Lin were wrapped in each other's arms, their love momentarily untouched by the weight of the world.

"Li Wei," Mei Lin whispered, her voice barely louder than the rustling leaves above them. Her eyes shimmered in the moonlight. "I wish this night would last forever."

Li Wei smiled, his fingers brushing a loose strand of her hair. "Forever might be too long, but I'd take a few more hours with you."

She chuckled softly. "I'd stay if I could, but you know I can't be away from my master for long."

Li Wei's smile faltered, his brow creasing. "That bastard doesn't even notice when you're gone. Always drunk, always indifferent."

"Jealous, are we?" Mei Lin teased, her lips curving into a mischievous grin.

Li Wei didn't deny it. "Maybe I am. It's not like you'd ever leave him and be with me full-time."

A sigh escaped her lips, though it was laced with affection. "If only I could. But the pay's too good, and I have my duties. Besides, there's that strange cat... always watching me. I'd leave if I could, but then I wouldn't have the luxury of tasting your lips whenever I wanted."

<rustle rustle>

Their moment was interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps crunching against the gravel path, slow and deliberate. Li Wei tensed, pulling Mei Lin closer, his eyes scanning the shadowed road behind them.

"Did you hear that?" His voice was hushed, but there was an edge of urgency to it.

Mei Lin's heart quickened as she clung to him and tried to cover her self with her garment. "Who could be out here at this hour?"

Li Wei turned, his body instinctively positioning itself between Mei Lin and the darkness. The path was empty. "There's no one there…" he muttered, though his own words sounded unconvincing.

Then, from the shadows, two crimson eyes emerged—glowing like embers in the night. They were fixed on Li Wei, cold and predatory, unmoving yet pulsing with malice.

"It can't be?!!!"

Li wei's blood ran cold as the stories of missing villagers crept back into his mind. Whispers of creatures lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.

"Run!" Li Wei grabbed Mei Lin's hand, pulling her into a sprint down the narrow path.

The soft music of the festival felt like a distant memory, drowned beneath the pounding of their footsteps and the rapid beating of their hearts. Behind them, the creature moved with a slow, deliberate gait, each step vibrating through the earth. Every time they glanced back, it was closer—its form now a grotesque silhouette against the moonlit sky.

The beast was a twisted mockery of a human form, its limbs unnaturally elongated, its skin hanging in loose folds that dripped with black ichor. It savored the chase, a hunter playing with its prey.

Li Wei's lungs burned, but he pushed forward, pulling Mei Lin into a side alley, hoping to lose the monster in the labyrinth of village streets. His legs felt like lead, each step harder than the last. "Keep going!" he urged, though his voice was hoarse.

But the creature was faster, always just behind them, as if it knew their every move. It was toying with them, driving them to a corner, its red eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.

They stumbled into a dead end.

Li Wei turned, his body shielding Mei Lin as best as he could. "Stay behind me," he said, though the tremble in his voice betrayed his fear.

The creature stepped into the dim light, revealing its grotesque form fully. It towered over them, its gaping mouth filled with jagged teeth, its claws glistening under the moonlight.

Mei Lin whimpered, pressing herself into the wall. "Please… no…"

The monster lunged.

The impact was a blur of pain and terror as Li Wei fought to keep the creature at bay, but it was too strong. Claws ripped through flesh, and his screams filled the night. Mei Lin's cries echoed, desperate and terrified, but there was no one left to hear.

The village slept on, unaware of the horror unfolding in the shadows. And beneath the ancient cherry blossom tree, petals drifted down, covering the bloodstained ground where love had died.

________<_< p>

"Noooooo"

Lucian Ashwood bolted upright, drenched in sweat, his heart hammering in his chest as the nightmare's grip slowly loosened. His breaths came shallow, frantic, as he tried to ground himself in the dimly lit room.

"This damn nightmare again," he muttered, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. He sat there, staring at the faint morning light creeping in, haunted by the images that felt too real.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, reaching for the crude tablet on the bedside table. The device flickered to life, its glow casting eerie shadows across his room. Notifications scrolled across the screen in Lucian's mind.

Lucian! Check out the latest success story—another Earthling has joined the ranks of the Mythbound elite!

He grimaced, scrolling past the glowing reports. Each notification felt like a punch to the gut..

Ethan Reyes—the new "Sword Saint" has successfully defeated a Leviathan!

Holly Caldwell—a former accountant, now revered as the "Mistress of Flames," has secured her own territory!

The list went on, name after name of those who had transmigrated into this world and thrived. People who, like Lucian, had been dragged from their mundane lives back on Earth and thrown into this brutal, unforgiving world . But unlike him, they had quickly found their footing, discovered their powers, and risen to fame and glory.

Lucian's lips twisted into a bitter smile. They make it sound so easy.

Where were his achievements? Where was the power he had been promised? years had passed since he had crossed into this strange world, leaving behind the familiar life he once knew. Back on Earth, he had been a gamer, chasing glory and riches in the virtual world of Myth. A game that promised fortune, but instead delivered him into a twisted reality.

It was supposed to be simple: complete the game, conquer the final boss, and reap the rewards. He never expected the game to vanish after flashing a cryptic message: "You have qualified." Qualified for what?

Lucian had been left with questions and a growing sense of madness. His friends wjo recommended the game to him even denied ever playing the game. Some even suggested he'd dreamed it all up. But the debt collectors pounding on his door had been all too real.

The next moment he jumped out of his two story apartment, somehow landed safely unfortunately causing a ruckus that drew his debtors attention to him,

Without thinking too much he ran, with the air behind his back he ran so fast he believed even the famous athletes like Usain Bolt couldn't match his speed, unfortunately truck Kun could.

His escape was short-lived. Out of fear, he had fled blindly, only to be struck down by a speeding truck—the memory of his bones shattering seared into his mind.

And then... he had awakened here, in a world of mythical monsters, powerful beings, and endless mysteries.

But none of that mattered. Despite being on the cusp of sixteen, the age when young men and women should have completely awaken their powers and stepped into the path of a mythbound, Lucian remained powerless—his dreams of heroism shattered. This Ascension period was his last hope until he was too old.

There was another option to awaken, that was to be forcefully sent to am Ascension test by a powerful Mythbound.

For Lucian, that option had disappeared two years ago when his parents vanished during one of their expeditions into the other realms.

His parents had been powerful Mythbound themselves—renowned explorers of the dimensions, tracing forgotten paths and battling ancient horrors. They had always promised to take him under their wing when the time was right. That time had never come. Their disappearance closed the door on his last chance to awaken through guidance.

Now, he had only the Ascension left. If he failed to get into this final test, there would be no redemption, no way forward. His parents' legacy would mean nothing.

"Meow."

A soft sound pulled him from his thoughts. Midnight, his black cat, sat at the doorway, watching him with unnerving intensity. Its green eyes gleamed in the dim light, unblinking.

Lucian sighed. "Not now, Midnight. I need to drown myself in wine… and forget."

The cat simply stared as Lucian rose, grabbed his coat, and made his way toward the door. If he couldn't escape his fate, at least he could lose himself in the bottom of a bottle.