The first thing Arkanos felt wasn't life—it was the cold, sterile sting of a needle.
As the greatest 'Forbidden Mage' of the Elrian Empire, Arkanos should have been dead. He remembered the feel of a hero's blade piercing his heart, the taste of his own blood, and the cold embrace of the void. But here he was, gasping for air that smelled of ozone and antiseptic.
Where is the mana? he screamed internally. He tried to reach for the familiar pulse of the earth, but there was nothing. Only a strange, mechanical hum that vibrated through the floor.
He forced his eyes open. Above him hung a glowing glass tube—no fire, no magic, just pure, artificial light. This wasn't his muscular, battle-scarred body. His hands were thin, pale, and trembling.
"Subject 402 is awake," a metallic voice echoed from a speaker in the corner.
Suddenly, a massive surge of memories—not his own—slammed into his brain. High school... exams... bullies... Ray. "So, my name is Ray now?" Arkanos—now Ray—gritted his teeth against the splitting headache. "A world without magic, but filled with these 'scientific' toys. Interesting."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The reinforced steel door of the infirmary rattled. "Hey, trash! I know you're awake! Get out here and give me your lunch credits before I break your other arm!"
Ray's eyes flickered with a cold, violet light. Deep within his new, weak soul, a spark of ancient lightning crackled. It was faint, but it was there—the Forbidden Magic had survived the reincarnation.
"You want my credits?" Ray whispered, a predatory smirk touching his lips. He raised his hand, and for the first time in this 'Science World', the air began to hiss with static electricity. "Come and take them."
The door flew open, but the bully froze. What he saw wasn't the coward he expected. He saw a boy with the eyes of a god, ready to tear this mechanical world apart.