The world was crumbling. Not metaphorically, but literally.
Ashen clouds blanketed the sky, casting a suffocating gloom over the ruined city. Buildings stood half-collapsed like broken bones. Fires crackled in the distance, painting the horizon in hues of red and despair.
Raze stood at the edge of the shattered rooftop, his black hoodie flapping in the wind, face lit by the dying glow of civilization. He didn't flinch as a chunk of concrete crashed from the level above. What was the point? Everyone he had ever known was gone.
And now, so was he.
The final blow had been delivered not by monsters or magic, but by betrayal — a dagger in the back by the only friend he trusted. He had fought to save this world, given everything... only to be discarded.
He smiled bitterly. "What a joke."
His vision blurred. Blood seeped from the wound in his abdomen, soaking his clothes. His legs gave out. He dropped to his knees, the crumbling stone cold beneath him.
Just then, time seemed to halt.
Everything froze: the wind, the fire, even the falling embers.
> [Emotion System initializing... Syncing with host consciousness...]
Raze's eyes shot open.
"What…?"
> [Conditions met: Extreme emotional distress. System compatibility confirmed.]
> [Welcome, Host. You have been selected to inherit the Emotion System.]
> [Do you wish to continue living? Y/N]
He blinked, stunned. Was this some hallucination before death? Some cruel trick?
His lips curled into a faint smirk. "Yes."
> [Request accepted.]
> [Reincarnation in process... Location: Chaos Realm.]
> [Warning: All previous stats, skills, and memories will be reset except for core emotions.]
> [You have been granted a Unique Trait: Emotion Conversion.]
Before he could question further, a vortex of light and darkness enveloped him. His body felt like it was being ripped apart and stitched together at once. Pain. Fear. Rage. Hope. Every emotion surged within him like a storm. Then—
Silence.
He landed hard — not on stone or concrete, but on grass. Soft, damp earth beneath him. Above, twin moons glowed in a sky filled with purple mist and floating islands. Strange birds called in the distance, and glowing plants pulsed with life.
"Where... am I?" he whispered.
> [Welcome to the Chaos Realm.]
> [You have been reborn.]
> [Initiating tutorial...]
As Raze tried to sit up, a sudden notification blinked before him like a transparent window:
> [Quest: Survive your first night in the Chaos Realm.]
> [Reward: Basic Survival Pack + Emotion Crystal x1]
> [Time Limit: 6 hours]
He swallowed. Whatever this place was, it wasn't merciful. And judging by the howls echoing in the distance, nightfall would bring worse things than despair.
But this time, Raze wasn't just a victim.
He was the system's host.
And in this new world — emotions were power.