Die, Replay, Repeat - Chapter 15: A Brush with the Specter

When Fang Zheng opened his eyes, he was surprised to find himself reborn in a fantasy world of magic, dragons, knights, and princesses. Not only that, but even the game system that Fang Zheng had designed before also followed him into this world. Then, his next step would be to traverse thousands of plains, gain endless strength, become a brave hero, defeat the devil, marry the princess, reach the apex in life… wait, wait, wait, before all that, why was he reborn as someone who everyone called a cultist?

I’m a high school student who became an author after debuting at Dengeki Bunko. After taking a year of hiatus from school to write my work, I transferred out to another high school to study, and met a girl called Eri Nitadori in school, a rookie voice actress cast as a character in the anime adaptation of my work.

In school, we treat our professions as a secret. However, Nitadori’s very popular in class, and I’m a loner…the only chance we get to talk to each other is when we take the Limited Express train together every Thursday, seated side by side as we head off for an anime, After Recording.

To improve her skills, she asked me questions regarding the profession. While I was answering the questions regarding the process–how did it end up like this.

This is what I last remembered before I lost consciousness, and the story of my near-death experience.

Leo is an academic genius who enrolled in one of the top universities in the world for the rich and powerful, but he was born in a common family, which was more than enough of a reason for the other students to mess with him.

In a world transformed by the arrival of mana, Earth is no longer the domain of humanity alone. Magical beasts and three powerful humanoid species have claimed vast territories, forcing humanity into fortified cities protected by mana-infused barriers.The hope for survival lies with the awakened—those blessed with magical classes and the ability to wield mana.Victor Revenant, a hilarious and self-deprecating 16-year-old, has spent his life dreaming of joining their ranks. But on the day of his Awakening Test, his dreams are shattered. Like countless others, he fails to awaken, destined to remain ordinary in a world where mediocrity means irrelevance.Just as Victor hits rock bottom, his father gifts him a VRMMORPG game, Ascendant Realms: Cultivation Chronicles, as a consolation prize. The game promises an immersive cultivation experience, complete with mystical techniques, powerful bloodlines, and the journey to ascend to godhood. But when Victor logs in as his in-game persona, Fang Chen, he discovers something incredible: the cultivation techniques he learns in the game begin to manifest in the real world.Armed with the Primordial Chaos Constitution and the legendary Void Emperor Bloodline, Victor embarks on a dual journey—mastering the game’s cultivation system while using his newfound abilities to change his fate in the real world.What begins as an escape from his failures turns into a chance to rewrite his destiny. But Victor quickly learns that his unique ability may make him more than just an anomaly—it may make him a target...