Three months had passed since Saji was reincarnated into this strange and brutal world. In that time, he had turned the dungeon-like cage that imprisoned him into a forge, and his body into a weapon. Each day he spent in those damp, foul-smelling halls was a day closer to the future he envisioned.
He trained relentlessly—his muscles burned, his bones ached, but his will never faltered. He refused to let the illusion of a second chance lull him into complacency. Saji knew better than anyone that a new life meant nothing without strength to seize and protect it.
He had already received five powerful wishes. Those, combined with his memories, experience, and unyielding ambition, would make him a god among men in time. But for now, he remained in chains—until today.
---
Meanwhile, in the Noble District…
Within a lavish estate in the heart of the Proxia Empire's capital, inside a velvet-draped chamber reeking of cigar smoke and expensive liquor, four men shared drinks and dark ambition.
The owner of the underground fight club, a round-bellied man named Mr. Acke, was beaming as he poured whiskey into a silver chalice. Across from him sat Lord Reiss, a middle-aged noble with pale skin, long flowing blue hair, and piercing red eyes that shimmered with wicked amusement. Standing quietly behind him was another man—refined, silent, but alert. His sharp gaze swept the room like a hawk watching prey.
"So, Mr. Acke," Lord Reiss began with a devilish smile, swirling the golden liquor in his glass. "I hear you've been profiting nicely from your little... operation these past eight years."
Acke bowed his head slightly, smiling like a merchant in the presence of royalty. "Yes, Lord Reiss. My underground fight club has brought in a significant fortune. It's become quite the spectacle in certain circles."
Reiss took a sip and narrowed his eyes. "I'm here to watch your prized gladiators fight. If one catches my eye... I might just take him with me."
Mr. Acke's eyes gleamed. "As you wish, my lord. I will ensure you're impressed."
---
Back in the Underground Cages…
In the dark belly of the empire, far from the lavish halls above, five rats stood on their hind legs inside a cold iron cage. Their small bodies trembled, sweat beading on their fur. Before them sat a boy—no, a force of nature. Saji.
His right hand was raised, black eyes focused, exerting control over the creatures.
"Excellent," he murmured, lowering his hand. "It looks like I've finally got the basics of blood manipulation down."
The rats, freed from his influence, scattered immediately, fleeing into holes in the cracked stone walls.
Saji stood and touched the metal collar on his neck. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "Time to say goodbye."
A sharp gust of cold burst forth from his fingers. Ice crystalized around the collar before he shattered it with a twist of his hand. The pieces clinked to the ground like broken chains of fate.
He stepped toward the barred gate of his cage and did the same. Frost spread across the iron bars, weakening them until he could kick them down. A loud crash echoed through the underground prison.
"They'll come running," he whispered to himself, lips curling into a grin. "Let them."
He closed his eyes, then exhaled—and in an instant, his body turned into smoke. Using the powers of the Moku Moku no Mi, he slipped through the shadows of the underground complex, rising with the heat and whispers in the air.
The world above welcomed him with cold wind and a bustling cityscape. He had escaped. He was free.
But he wasn't stupid. He knew the guards—"Grants," as he called them—would soon be searching for him. That's when he tapped into another of his gifts.
His form shimmered and shifted. His silver-white hair bled into vibrant green. His pitch-black eyes changed—his left one glowed with a gentle lavender, while his right became a piercing light blue. Even his face changed, now soft and unfamiliar. He was no longer the half-elf boy imprisoned in chains.
He walked among the citizens unnoticed, a stranger in the city that had once caged him.
Soon, he saw a carriage rolling down a cobbled road. Without hesitation, he turned to smoke and slipped inside unnoticed, curling in the shadows of the interior.
"Anywhere is better than here," he thought.
Then a familiar, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
> [System Notification]
Quest Completed
Rewards Earned:
– 1000 Gold Coins
– 100 Silver Coins
A grin spread across Saji's disguised face.
"One step closer."