I Refused To Be Reincarnated

In peace with his feelings and happy to be an official family member, Adam pulled back from the tender embrace and gazed into Alina's bright hazel eyes.

"I'll contact the best healer for you, Mom."

He smiled, his mind as vibrant as a lush forest brimming with life. The guilt and doubts were gone, and now he would enjoy his hard-earned freedom wholeheartedly.

Alina nodded in response, her bright smile as soothing as the gentle sun's ray. Then, she spoke.

"You have something more important to do. Don't worry about me. Julius is here."

"Leave everything to me and take care of the summoned."

Julius patted his shoulder, his eyes darting between him and the summoned sleeping on his mana construct.

"Alright," he said, leaving the hug and stepping back. "I'll set the college coordinates into the Gate. Cross it when you are ready."

With a last glance at the duo, the muffled noise of his leather boots echoed on the soft carpet as he left the manor.

After a short walk, he manipulated the Gate's magic circle before the familiar thick veil of mana appeared. Without wasting a second, he crossed it, the dizzy sensation of teleportation assaulting his senses for half a second. Then... nothing.

His mana affinity naturally shifted to space, protecting his soul from the discomfort like a natural rampart.

Stepping out the next second, his eyes enlarged, and his head jerked back in shock.

"What happened?"

The question echoed under the starlit sky as he peered into the distance, noticing Shepard's ruined tower. The grand ebony spear-like construct that once pierced the sky was no more, replaced by a pile of fuming rubles. Nearby buildings were in the same state, and even dormitory three suffered.

Blackened walls, broken windows, and uplifted roof tiles, he could hardly recognise the place he spent a year in.

With heavy steps and a pensive frown, he walked to his room, dragging the five hundred summoned behind him as he passed the scorched gardens Julius liked so much.

'What is Shepard doing? How did he let his college end in this state?'

The thought thundered in his mind, but it wasn't time to burden it with additional problems. As an arcanist, Shepard would definitely fix everything without him.

A moment later, he reached dormitory three and distributed the summoned in the empty rooms before closing his eyes to join them in the dream place. After all, he couldn't let those poor souls enter the tower, unaware of its dangers. He also needed to retrieve his sutra before someone entered the fusion pool.

****

When he reopened his eyes, the vibrant nature spreading in his soul sea's every corner flooded his vision. Without wasting time to appreciate the vista, he threw himself into the vortex, and stepped into the plaza, his eyes widening.

Unlike the uninhabited dream place he grew used to in the past thirteen years, he saw excited youths everywhere. Their boisterous laughter and cheerful voices echoed under the moon's red glow, changing the dreary mood to something much warmer.

"Guys! A new brother emerged!"

A youth yelled, cupping his hand over his mouth to amplify his voice before running to him. Enjoy more content from empire

"Hey, bro! Don't feel too stressed by the situation. We'll share everything we discovered so far with you."

Somehow, the declaration caused a stifled laugh to escape his lips. Yet, he didn't want to offend the boy, especially since his intentions were pure.

"Don't worry about me. I know the place already," he answered, patting the boy's shoulder before stepping away.

However, before he could cross a meter, the youth's eyes widened comically, and his lips curled into an infectious smile.

"I FOUND HIM!" He roared, drawing everyone's attention.

Soon, thousands of youths locked eyes with Adam, causing an icy shiver to run down his spine.

"W-What? Why are you looking at me like..."

Before finishing his sentence, he rushed to the nearby fusion pool, afraid of their hope-filled gazes.

And he was right. The next moment, the air trembled, and the sturdy slabs shook as a human tide chased behind him, yelling.

"It's Prometheus!"

"We found him so fast! I can't believe it!"

"Guys, check the ranking! Not even an hour after awakening, he already reached the fourth floor!"

"Humanity's hero!"

"I'm not Prometheus! Leave me alone!" He yelled back, launching himself like a rocket through the grand building before gazing at the water sphere hovering above the pool.

'It's still here.'

He sighed in relief, shoving his arm through the powerful currents before retrieving a booklet containing an entirely new sutra.

"Qīng Huǒ Jīng, or sutra of clear fire."

He read, a satisfied smile stretching his lips as the kids' excited yells pierced the sky, causing an invisible wave of stress to weigh on his shoulders.

'I'll read it later.'

Then, he turned, left the building, and leapt above the crowd.

Standing before the tower, he raised his hand, calming everyone and squinting at them before ominous shadows danced on his somber face.

"First of all, I came to warn you. Do not touch the tower behind me if you aren't ready to die."

Before they could explode into loud chatter again, his tone icy and black lines covering his forehead, he continued.

"Don't call me Prometheus. I'm not him, and I'm not a hero!"

Stunned by the denial, whispers filled the plaza for a few moments before a youth stepped forward and said, "We can see the stylish titles hovering above your head. You are Adam, correct?"

'That's what they are used for? Empty boasting?!'

The realisation boomed in his mind like a thunderclap as a bitter scoff escaped his lips.

Gritting his teeth, he nodded to answer the question, causing excited yells to resound again.

"We all heard Luna scream your name during that last battle!"

"I M NOT PROMETHEUS!" He roared, deafening the crowd using mana and imposing silence.

Then, he continued.

"The five hundred who were imprisoned in the Ashford mansion. You are free. I brought you to the College of Alchemy and Transmutation, so find me after waking up. For the others, I warned you. Enter the tower at your own risk!"

Finally, he closed his eyes to leave the dream place, too frustrated to spend a second more here.