My Celestial Ascension Chapter 1 Rebirth After Death

"Why does every fiber of my being feel so drained?"

A thin young man of eighteen years spoke aloud, baffled by the sudden, crushing fatigue that had overtaken him despite his lack of exertion.

Yuan possessed an emaciated frame, yet his face held a striking, heartwarming charm that seemed at odds with his failing health.

During the height of a global pandemic, he had been struck with a terminal leukemia diagnosis. The disease had already reached the blast phase; without immediate medical intervention, he was told he had a mere four years left to live.

At first, he had been swallowed by a dark pit of despair, finding it nearly impossible to reconcile with the reality of his fading life.

Eventually, however, he accepted his limited time. He vowed to live fully, even though he was a penniless orphan surviving on part-time wages. He had managed to save $45,000—a sum that felt like a king's ransom to someone in his position.

Despite his desperate attempts to cherish his final years, his physical condition worsened rapidly, eventually leaving him bedridden in his small apartment for days at a time.

Still, Yuan remained steadfast in his resolve to treasure every fleeting moment and savor the precious memories life afforded him.

"Is... is this the end? Why is my fate so cruel?"

He let out a heavy sigh.

"I need to rest." Muttering to himself, he managed to reach the bed and sat down. The struggle to keep his eyes open had become too much, and as he finally reclined, his eyelids drifted shut.

A single tear escaped as he thought of a certain person, whispering, "It looks like I can't keep my promise, Lulu... I hope you can forgive me."

Lulu was a girl from the same orphanage. They had been inseparable until her adoption by a wealthy man when they were ten years old.

She had cherished their time together, and he had felt the same. Back then, many of the other boys at the orphanage were jealous of Yuan because Lulu ignored everyone but him.

He regretted that he would never see her again, but a question still lingered in his mind: Did she even remember him?

In truth, he hadn't even attempted to locate her. The past eight years had been a blur of exhausting part-time shifts and schoolwork as he fought just to survive.

He had intended to seek her out eventually, but that was a vow he was now destined to break.

Upon learning of his terminal leukemia, he abandoned his studies. For the next three years, he focused on working and experiencing the world, finding a strange freedom in his final days after leaving school behind.

Just days ago, his life changed when he discovered an old photo album hidden away, filled with memories of his childhood at the orphanage.

One photograph in particular had frozen him in place. It showed a young girl with a radiant smile that could brighten any room, standing beside him and clutching his hand.

Lulu, his childhood sweetheart, occupied his every thought. Sadly, it was too late to find her now as his body continued to fail.

As he reached for the album, a torrent of memories rushed back. His hands shook as he opened the pages to a snapshot of their happier days.

Gazing at the image, a sharp ache struck his heart. Tears flowed freely down his face, soaking into his pillow.

"I... I just wish I could see her one last time before I go..." His voice trailed off as he was pulled into the darkness, his final breath disappearing into the void.

——

Yuan felt as light as a feather caught in a breeze. Opening his eyes, he found himself suspended in a pitch-black expanse, floating in mid-air.

The surreal nature of the situation left him breathless; nothing in his experience could explain this. It felt as though he had been cast into another realm, one that ignored all known logic.

A primal fear began to tighten in his chest, but he fought to keep his emotions in check. He began to speculate on his situation.

A cold thought struck him as he drifted. He recalled stories of souls being sent to an afterlife where their memories were wiped clean for a fresh start. Was this to be his end? Would everything he was be erased to make way for a stranger?

Lost in the gloom, he whispered, "Am I dead?" There was no blinding light or celestial music like the legends suggested. Instead, there was only a heavy, terrifying unknown that prevented him from even seeing his own limbs.

"Indeed! You have passed away, and I find it both pathetic and disgraceful. A truly miserable conclusion for a life with such potential!"

A magnificent voice suddenly shattered the silence. It carried a divine weight that sent shivers down Yuan's spine, leaving him completely paralyzed with awe.

Strangely, the voice felt familiar, as if it were a sound he had lived with every day. He scanned the darkness, trying to find the source of this terrifying, god-like tone.

"W-Who are you? Why won't you show yourself?" Yuan’s heart throbbed against his ribs as he demanded answers. He trembled, feeling like an ant before a deity, knowing his very existence hung by a thread.

Within the suffocating dark, he sensed a presence nearby. Then, as if by some miracle, a pair of majestic golden eyes manifested. They pierced the shadows with an intense, burning glow.

He was unable to look away from the hypnotic sight. It felt as though those eyes were peering into his very soul, leaving him completely exposed. Nothing could remain hidden from that ancient, otherworldly stare.

"Tsk. To perish at the hands of a mortal sickness is truly a tragic waste! It is a shame that despite having the potential to command your own destiny, you failed to act. Instead, you surrendered to fate like a common chicken waiting for the blade."

The voice continued, "Do you not crave the opportunity to be born anew? Out of my own compassion, I shall grant you my assistance."

Following the divine words, a brilliant golden radiance appeared. It cut through the darkness and surged into Yuan, filling his soul with a strange, celestial power.

"I look forward to our future meeting with great interest. For now, however, I must depart. Before I go, I urge you to do everything in your power to forge a stronger body and mind... Hahahah!" As the entity’s laughter echoed through the void, the massive golden eyes vanished.

Yuan’s voice was barely a whisper. "What do you mean by destiny?"

The blinding light consumed him, leaving his soul at the mercy of forces he didn't understand. Despite his desperate confusion, the true meaning of destiny remained just out of reach.

—

Yuan woke from his sleep, his senses tingling as he breathed in air so pure and fresh it put the polluted atmosphere of Earth to shame.

As his eyes adjusted, a strange feeling of belonging settled over him, even though he was in a place he didn't recognize. The room felt warm and welcoming, like the embrace of a mother.

Turning his head to the right, he was met with a sight that stole his breath away.

A remarkably beautiful girl stood there, radiating a light that seemed brighter than the sun itself. Her youthful elegance and refined features were breathtaking; he had never seen such perfection in his life. Even the most famous celebrities or models couldn't compare to her allure.

She was a vision that left him utterly captivated.

Thump! Thump!

His heart raced like a drum as he stared at the woman. Despite his shock, a small smile touched his lips. Her presence alone acted as a soothing balm to his spirit, like a calm harbor after a storm.

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. A thousand unspoken thoughts passed between them. Yuan was lost in her gaze until he noticed tears beginning to track down her face.

She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, the raw grief in her eyes striking him to the core. Then, as if pulled by an invisible string, she threw herself into his arms, clinging to him for comfort.

"Oh, my dear little brother! Thank the heavens you've finally woken up! Mother and I were so worried—we thought we had lost you to the abyss forever. But you came back! You must promise to be more careful. If I hadn't arrived when I did, they would have taken your life. I can't lose you! Please, stay safe!" She sobbed, her words leaving a deep impression on him.

The body he now inhabited seemed to hold a lingering, deep-seated hatred for someone. As he held her, her cries filling the room, he wondered what dark secrets this new life held.

'Brother? What is she talking about? Where am I, and what is going on? Why is such a beautiful woman calling me her little brother?' Doubts swirled in his mind as he tried to process the situation.

"Aghhh!"

A sudden, agonizing pain shot through his brain. A flood of foreign memories crashed into his own consciousness, leaving him reeling. Through the mental chaos, he realized a shocking truth: he was no longer an orphan. He now belonged to a family of three, and his name was still Yuan.

The "Yuan" of this world had been raised on the love of his mother, Anna Grace Blank. However, she possessed a mysterious side, as if a dark shadow followed her.

Yuan had never been able to solve the mystery of her past before fate intervened. His mother had been struck down by a strange, unknown illness that left her bedridden for more than ten years. Despite her state, Anna remained his fiercest protector and closest confidant.

As her condition worsened, she lost the ability to speak, leaving Yuan to wonder about the secrets she carried.

Looking at the girl before him, he felt a surge of gratitude for his new family. This was Lily, his stunning older sister, whose dark hair flowed down her back like a silken waterfall.

While they only slightly resembled their mother in temperament, her gentle nature made him feel truly at home.

Yuan's father had passed away when he was only two months old. With no memories of the man, Yuan had never pressed his mother for details, leaving his father’s legacy a total mystery.

In this world where magic was reality, every child dreamed of their awakening. At fifteen, they would go to the church, filled with hope. Awakening meant gaining access to Mana, the mystical energy that allowed those gifted enough to cast spells.

But for Yuan, the outcome had been tragic. Despite showing great potential and skill beforehand, his awakening ceremony was a total failure.

In an instant, his world collapsed. His life went from one of promise to a nightmare of mockery and abuse.

The city was dominated by a powerful Lord. His son, Jim, along with two thugs named Tony and Paul, had spent three years tormenting Yuan. In a final act of cruelty, the three of them had actually killed the original Yuan, leaving behind nothing but pain.

'Just wait, you three. I'll make sure you pay for this!' He made a silent, vengeful vow with a dark smile.

"Sister Lily, please don't worry. I'm perfectly fine now," Yuan said, gently stroking her hair. "As you can see, I'm alive and full of energy. There's no need to be upset about me anymore. I'm truly here."

"Listen to me, you reckless boy! You have to give me your word that you will never be so careless again!"

Yuan looked directly into her deep brown eyes and gave his word. "I promise. I won't gamble with my life or do anything that foolish again."

Lily’s cheeks turned as red as roses under his gaze. To hide her embarrassment, she hugged him tightly again. Her innocent affection stirred something in Yuan’s heart.

He mentally scolded his own body’s reaction. 'Calm down! What are you doing? She's your sister, for heaven's sake!'

Lily blushed even deeper and whispered with a shaky voice, "Y-Yuan, something strange is... poking my stomach." She couldn't meet his eyes, her face burning with sheer awkwardness.

Seeing her flustered state, Yuan couldn't resist a bit of teasing, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes.

"Don't you know, sister? Any man would have a similar reaction to being hugged by a woman as beautiful as you," he said playfully, his voice full of mock-mischief. His words sent her heart racing.

The comment hit her like a sudden gust of wind, and a wave of modesty turned her face a deep crimson.

Instead of hiding, she began to playfully pummel his chest with her small fists, her light strikes echoing the deep bond between them.

Lily reached out and playfully pinched his ears. "My goodness, waking up has turned you into quite the little rascal, hasn't it, Yuan'er?" she said with a twinkle in her eye.

"What do you mean, big sister? I'm just telling the truth!" He laughed, mocking her gently with a wide grin.

In the middle of their playful banter, something impossible happened that grabbed his full attention.

A shimmering blue interface suddenly appeared in the air before him, accompanied by a sharp, electronic "ding."

"..."

[Ding! System reboot successful!]

[Ding! System has been activated!]

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