Darkness.

That was the first thing Kurotsuki Rei felt as he regained consciousness. It wasn’t just the absence of light—it was the kind of darkness that seeps into your bones, that fills every crevice of your being with cold, unforgiving dread.

His heart raced as his eyes darted around, struggling to adjust. The world around him was nothing like the nightmare he'd just been ripped from. Gone were the blood-soaked streets, the screams of the dying, and the monstrous creatures that hunted relentlessly. Instead, he found himself lying on a familiar futon in a dimly lit apartment.

“W-what the hell…?” Rei muttered, pushing himself up to a sitting position. His mind was foggy, filled with fragmented memories of horrors that felt too real to be a dream.

He looked around, taking in the surroundings—the same shabby furniture, the stack of overdue bills on the table, the faint smell of instant noodles from last night’s dinner. Everything was exactly as he remembered it. Too exactly.

“Three years… before the Eclipse,” he whispered, the realization crashing down on him like a ton of bricks. “I’m… back?”

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, forcing him to clutch his temples. It felt like something was clawing its way into his mind, digging deep, embedding itself within his very soul. Then, as quickly as it started, the pain subsided, leaving a strange sense of presence in its wake.

[System Binding Complete.]

The voice echoed in his mind, cold and emotionless. He flinched, instinctively scanning the room for the source, but found nothing. It was as if the voice came from within him.

“Who’s there?!” Rei demanded, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound authoritative.

[Host: Kurotsuki Rei. Age: 21. Status: Bound to The Overlord’s Grimoire.]

“The… what?” Rei frowned. He’d heard of some weird shit before, but this? This was on a whole new level.

[The Overlord’s Grimoire is an ancient system that has chosen you as its host. With its power, you can alter the fabric of reality, bend time, and shape the world as you see fit.]

The words hung in the air like a sinister promise. Rei’s heart pounded in his chest. This couldn’t be real. He had to be losing his mind. But the memories of the Eclipse, the blood, the death—it all felt too real to be a hallucination.

“Why me?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Why the fuck did you choose me?”

[You have the potential to become the Overlord—a being of unimaginable power, destined to rule over the world’s ruins. The Grimoire seeks a host who can wield its power without hesitation, without mercy.]

Rei let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve got the wrong guy. I’m not some kind of savior. I’m just a regular guy trying to survive in a fucked-up world.”

[Survival is only the beginning, Rei. The world you knew is on a path to destruction. The Eclipse is inevitable unless you take control and change the course of history.]

Images flashed before his eyes—the world ending in fire and blood, monsters tearing through cities, humanity on its knees. He saw his sister, Hikari, her lifeless body lying in a pool of blood. The memory, or was it a vision, sent a shiver down his spine.

“No… I can’t let that happen again,” Rei muttered, his hands trembling as he clenched them into fists. “I won’t let them die.”

[Then accept your destiny. Bind yourself to the Grimoire, and together, you will reshape the future.]

Rei hesitated. This was crazy. A system that could grant him power beyond imagination? It sounded like something out of a shitty video game. But if there was even a chance he could stop the Eclipse, save his sister, and everyone he’d lost…

“What do I have to do?” he asked, steeling himself for the answer.

[Simply accept the binding. Your journey will begin.]

Rei took a deep breath. “Fine. I accept.”

The moment the words left his lips, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him, like a torrent of electricity flooding every nerve in his body. A glowing sigil appeared on the back of his hand, its intricate design pulsing with dark energy. It felt alien, yet familiar, like it had always been a part of him, waiting to be awakened.

[The Overlord’s Grimoire has been bound to the host. Welcome, Overlord.]

The voice was still emotionless, but there was an undercurrent of satisfaction, as if the Grimoire had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Rei stared at the sigil, his mind racing with the possibilities. Power. He had the power to change everything. But at what cost?

“What’s my first mission?” he asked, his voice more confident than before.

[Mission: Prevent the Fall of Tokyo. You have three years to alter the events leading to the Eclipse. Your actions will determine the fate of the world.]

“Three years…” Rei repeated, his mind already working. He had time, but not much. Every decision he made from now on would have consequences, and he couldn’t afford to make the wrong ones.

[Rewards will be given for each mission completed. Fail, and the Eclipse will proceed as before, with no chance of a second rebirth.]

Rei’s grip on the reality of his situation tightened. “What about my family? My friends?”

[They are currently safe, but their survival depends on your success. Protect them, and you will gain more than just power.]

The images of his sister, his parents, and the few friends he had left flickered in his mind. He couldn’t let them die again. He wouldn’t.

“Alright, Grimoire,” Rei said, his voice firm. “Let’s do this.”

The Grimoire pulsed in response, its pages flipping open to reveal a list of stats and abilities. Rei’s eyes scanned the screen, taking in the information.

Name: Kurotsuki Rei
Class: None
Level: 1
HP: 100
MP: 50
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 10
Dexterity: 10
Charm: 5
Skills: None

It was bare-bones, to say the least, but it was a start. He noticed a small line at the bottom of the screen: Points Available: 10.

[You have 10 points to distribute. Choose wisely.]

Rei rubbed his chin, considering his options. He needed to get stronger, fast. But which stats would help him survive in the hellhole the world was about to become? Strength and vitality would keep him alive in a fight, but intelligence and dexterity would give him the edge in outsmarting his enemies.

“Fuck it,” he muttered, distributing the points evenly across strength, vitality, and intelligence. “Balance is key, right?”

[Distribution complete.]

Rei felt a subtle shift in his body, a surge of energy that made him feel slightly more powerful, more aware. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“Alright,” Rei said, determination in his voice. “What’s next?”

[Your first task is to locate a powerful artifact hidden within Tokyo. It will be essential in your fight against the Eclipse.]

“An artifact, huh?” Rei smirked. “This just keeps getting better.”

He stood up, glancing around the room one last time before heading for the door. The world outside was the same as it had been three years ago—alive, bustling, blissfully unaware of the doom that awaited. But Rei knew better.

With the Grimoire at his side, he was ready to take on whatever came next. Because this time, he wasn’t just going to survive.

He was going to win.