Reborn as the celestial God

The beast lunged, a blur of muscle and hunger.

Kael's body reacted on instinct, but his mind was still caught between terror and something else something awakening deep within him. The moment the Nightfang Stalker's claws came within inches of his throat, time twisted.

The world fractured.

It was as if the universe itself hesitated. The air thickened. The space around him warped. A strange force surged through his veins, not magic, not energy - but something far greater.

Without thinking, he reached out with his mind, as if commanding reality itself.

Stop.

The beast's motion froze mid-air, its body suspended unnaturally, its glowing red eyes wide in shock. Kael stumbled backward, gasping. He had done that. He had just stopped time.

The force inside him burned, raw and untamed, but exhilarating. His mind spun, trying to process the impossible. He clenched his fists, focusing.

Move.

Time resumed. But not for the beast.

The Nightfang Stalker slammed into the ground as if gravity had tripled in an instant. A sickening crunch followed as its bones shattered under an invisible weight. It let out a piercing shriek before falling silent, its body unnaturally twisted against the broken stone.

Kael stood there, chest rising and falling rapidly. The world around him settled, but his mind raced.

What was that?

This wasn't magic. No incantations, no mana manipulation. This was control over something far more fundamental. Had he just altered the laws of reality?

He exhaled slowly, turning his attention inward. The fragmented memories of Kael Draven still lingered, overlapping with his own. A prince. Betrayed. His empire gone. Hunted and left for dead. But why?

Kael pressed a hand to his temple, wincing. His new body was weak, his power unstable. He needed answers and strength.

His first priority: survival.

The Forsaken Lands were a wasteland where only the desperate or the damned ended up. If he had been exiled here, there was no telling what dangers lurked beyond the ruins. And if his enemies learned he was still alive…

He took a deep breath, then scanned his surroundings. The beast's corpse still lay motionless. He knelt beside it, pulling at its jagged fur. If this world was anything like Earth, predators like this were apex hunters.

Which meant their bodies held power.

Using a sharp piece of broken stone, Kael carved into the beast's thick hide. It was messy work, but eventually, he pulled out a glowing crimson crystal embedded in its chest. A Mana Core.

The moment he touched it, warmth spread through his fingers. His inherited memories stirred. These cores held raw energy the essence of creatures who had adapted to survive in this ruthless world. Mages, warriors, and even assassins used them to enhance their strength.

Kael grinned. "Looks like I won the lottery."

He placed the core against his chest and focused.

The moment he did, the world around him exploded into light.