Shadow of the Abyss - Chapter 9: Mana

What if I told you, right now, everything you know about what happens after death is a lie?

What if I told you that there is no afterlife after death, just an endless cycle of reincarnation after wiping your memory?

What if I told you that there is a way out of the cycle of reincarnation and all you have to do is wear a religious artifact, and if you die with it on, you are given the opportunity to reincarnate into a world of your choice while keeping your memories?

Would you take it...or would you continue with the mundane cycle that has gone on since the beginning of time?

This is a story about two brothers, one is a responsible police officer, the other a heartless weeb, who died during WW3 and are offered the opportunity to reincarnate into another world as brothers once more.

Upon their death, they are summoned to a mysterious Realm named the Hall of Gods, where they obtain a Game-like System from the Raven God Odin and The God of Light Yahweh.

Once the system, named The Over-Break System, is installed into their souls, the brothers are Reincarnated into a massive, ever-expanding, technologically advanced fantasy world called Vinestra, as newborn babies with the names, Cynrik and Brance Jetlensr.

But, in Vinestra, things aren't as they seem. Several types of Spatial Tears called “Egresses” frequently open up to an unknown dimension where monsters who drop items when killed spawn.

Cynrik and Brance, under the watchful eye of their respective Deities, learn how to utilize their new system, to become powerful existences who wield Mana like their plaything. But are they in control of their lives, or are the Deities?

((THIS STORY IS WRITTEN IN A VERY SPECIFIC WESTERN FORMAT, WHERE CERTAIN CHARACTERS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED IN CERTAIN WAYS MORE THAN OTHERS! AT ITS CORE THIS STORY DOES HAVE 2 MAIN CHARACTERS EVEN IF EARLY ON IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT WAY!))

It all started with a glass of Tequila that Aira thought was orange juice, making her drunk and unknowingly spending a hot night with a handsome young man named Renji Ishikawa. As a result of that night, Aira's life changed drastically, especially when she had to marry Renji Ishikawa, who turned out to be a teenager in his teens. But if she refuses to marry him, Aira is threatened with a lawsuit on charges of sexual harassment against a high school student.…………How sad it was, how heartbreaking, and feeling like the biggest fool for being in the middle of the wedding of her ex-lover and her best friend.“Your drink, Miss,” offered a polite waiter, approaching with a tray full of various colours and flavours.She picked a glass of orange drink with a fresh cherry on the rim. Her moon-like eyes stayed fixed on the groom while she drank the beverage until it was empty.Nothing strange happened to the sweet girl for a minute, but suddenly, dizziness struck, and she stumbled as her body swayed.Her delicate hand searched the wall for support, afraid of falling, feeling like she was experiencing an earthquake, and seeing everything around her shake.Feeling too weak to walk, she chose to squat near a large pot close to the ballroom's entrance. People around her watched silently, unwilling to help; some even gossiped about her.She was distressed and needed help, not performing for an audience, yet many still criticized her.Wild imaginings suddenly crossed her mind, wishing for a handsome prince on a white horse to rescue her, like scenes from her childhood anime favourites.But things like that only happened in fairy tales, where the prince would permanently save the princess from the villain's hands. That was how the stories were written. For her, there would never be a prince in her life story. But who would have thought that God would grant such an extraordinary miracle?Among the hundreds of high-class guests, one person approached and tried to offer help after observing her in silence.A handsome young man in a black suit stood right behind her. “Miss, are you alright?” he asked, concerned.“Who are you?” she asked, her voice still shaky from crying.The man stood frozen for a moment as though startled by the sight of this stranger but then smiled and extended his hand. “Don't cry here. Let me help you up.”She shook her head, her cheeks red, not from embarrassment but from the effects of the drink. “My head is spinning, and I can't walk.”The young man raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Alright then.”He slipped his arms between her legs and under her body, lifting her, and she was heavy, just as he expected.From afar, the girls began to watch with shocked faces, filled with envy, anger, and jealousy, seeing the young man from the Ishikawa family carrying a girl, rumoured to be Aira Hoshino, the ex-girlfriend of Kairo Kenzaki and the best friend of Mika Kurogane, who were the couple getting married tonight.She rested her head on his shoulder comfortably, inhaling the refreshing scent of mint.Only this handsome young man, like a Greek god, came to her aid, asking about her condition, and now, carrying her out of the party without saying a word.“Where is your home?” he asked as he laid Aira, the girl he just met, into the car and fastened her seatbelt.“I don't want to go home,” she whimpered.“Why?” he asked as he sat in the driver's seat.“Do you want to comfort me while my heart is broken?” she said, draping her arms around his neck.A grin spread across his handsome face. “How?” he asked, pretending not to know.“Stay with me until morning,” Aira teased with a playful smile. In the next moment, Aira's lips were captured in his.Slowly, Aira's eyes closed tightly, leading her into a peaceful dream, soaring high into the sky, feeling as if it were real, not just a dream.…

Three centuries ago, reality tore open and parasites from another dimension poured through. They didn't just kill humanity—they consumed it, wearing human faces while spreading like a plague through every major city.The strong became Originals, commanding lesser generations in a hierarchy of monsters that humanity calls Bloodsuckers.Now they own everything. Governments, corporations, entire cities bow to creatures that should be myths.That's when the Shadowguard was born. They were humanity's elite hunters equiped with the skills and tools to put an end to the bloodsuckers. But they became nothing more than political tools, protecting the wealthy while the poor got harvested by Bloodsuckers like cattle.Kaine Cross was one of the best hunters alive until he walked away from the corruption. He decided to become a solo hunter.Unfortunately, going freelance got him killed by the very monsters he'd spent twelve years learning to destroy.Death was supposed to be final. Instead, Kaine awakens in an ancient tomb with a system that makes him something the bloodsuckers have never faced—a predator that grows stronger with every kill, commands armies of the dead, and turns their own kind against them.Every kill feeds his strength. Every corpse becomes a loyal soldier. Every battle expands his growing army until even vampire lords will bow or join his ranks permanently.[LEGENDARY WEAPON ACQUIRED: SOUL END - THE DEATH REAPER][SKILL UNLOCKED: CORPSE DOMINATION - UNLIMITED ARMY CAPACITY][MORTAL ESSENCE SYSTEM: ABSORB POWER FROM EVERY KILL]Zombies. Liches. Reapers. Wights. Revenants. And even monster girls; beautiful, deadly creatures once enslaved by the vampires now serve at his side, bound by Kaine’s will or by lust, vengeance, and freedom.He's not a hero. Heroes save people. Kaine Cross collects enemies and turns them into allies, whether they want to be or not.The vampires ruled through fear for centuries. Now they're about to learn what happens when death itself holds a grudge.Join Kaine as he builds an unstoppable army of undead and monster girls, and leads them on a path of blood-soaked revenge.Build an army. Claim your revenge. Rule the dead.

In a world where Beast Tamers command respect and wealth, Kai is nothing but a street rat, scraping by on the streets of Ashenford.Orphaned and despised by townsfolk, he's learned to expect nothing more than cold stares and cruel words.His life takes an unexpected turn when he stumbles across an injured beast deep in the wilderness.Kai nurses the creature, forming an unspoken bond that will alter his fate, and he begins to see the harsh realities of a world ruled by power, status, and secrets.