I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Sitting on the ground in a small house on the city's outskirts, Prometheus guided the flask's disgusting scarlet liquid towards his mouth. The putrid smell made him gag, not to mention the ingredients Luna used. Only a fool wouldn't have understood.

'Humans for the life force, creatures for the mana.'

He closed his eyes, sighing at the horrific potion. Then, without hesitation, he downed it.

The next second, a burning sensation spread inside him as he felt his failing body recover its strength. Then, a boundless surge of mana assaulted his circuits. Like carps swimming against a river's current, it rushed towards his heart with terrifying momentum. However, dreadful shrieks and agonising screams accompanied those incredible boosts.

The rancid taste of acid filled his mouth, and his face distorted into a grimace as he tried to digest everything.

'Focus on the energy!'

He used this thought as a beacon to endure and guided the mana to his heart. Sweat dripped from his forehead, plopping to the ground as he gradually weaved the unruly energy into a ring around his heart.

Fortunately, Luna didn't lie. The potion's effects were miraculous... for whoever could drink it, knowing that millions of human lives had been sacrificed to make it.

In an hour, a seventh ring rotated around his heart. Three hours later, he clutched his chest, breathing with difficulty. But a smile curled his lips. He had formed the eighth. Together, they hovered in a delicate balance like an atom's rings.

He rose to his feet the next second, clenching his fists as he sensed the incredible power coursing through his veins. He felt he could even affect reality with his magic now. Additionally, he noticed his cells move and rearrange around his brain, making him realise he most likely inherited Mnemosyne's ability.

"Sigh. But I can't alarm her, right, Atlas?" He muttered, retrieving his brother's eyes from his pocket.

Somehow, he knew the eyes were more than a parting gift and using them could make his plan a reality. But to do so, he would need the adept's help for two things.

"Andreas! Come and teach me..."

He interrupted his words. He didn't need a teacher anymore since he could scan his memories with his new ability.

"She planned it," he muttered, holding his forehead and exhaling loudly.

Luna had used the creatures to collect materials ruthlessly. All to create a well-rounded champion to protect her core. It was obvious, vicious, and logical.

A moment later, he saw Andreas enter the soberly furnished room and gaze at him, his eyes red and his fists clenched into balls.

"No need to speak. I know what you're thinking," he said, shaking his head. Then, he rose to his feet, walked to the man, and grabbed his forehead.

Focusing, he felt a soft connection with his new ability, instinctively using it as if it had always been his.

Within a minute, he gathered all the magical knowledge the man possessed. He also removed his memories of every earthling he had met but him.

"Listen well. I have a mission of the utmost importance for you. If you complete it, I'll make your staff a legendary item of the sixth tier."

Upon hearing the appealing offer, a jolt shook Andreas' brain. Items of this tier were already unobtainable. Even among arcanists, only Elisabeth and Shepard possessed one.

"A legendary one! No matter what it is, I'll do it!" He roared, the grogginess he felt a second ago disappearing in the raging river of excitement billowing in his heart.
Your next chapter awaits on empire

However, before they could discuss the mission, reality cracked before Adam again, its shard blinding him as his lips curled downwards in dissatisfaction.

"Let me hear the plan!"

His voice echoed in the silent darkness in vain. When he recovered his vision, he saw Prometheus standing on a podium. The city's entire population surrounded him, their cheerful voice reverberating in the cavern.

"Everyone! You did well surviving for so long, and your sufferings end now!"

Prometheus' voice filled the place, his bold declaration causing a fire to burn in everyone's heart. A bright smile illuminated their faces for a second before they all froze simultaneously.

"I won't ask for your forgiveness," he added, his gaze hardening and his heart turning as hard as steel.

"Atomic blast."

BOOM

Wild tremors shook and fissured space as a deafening noise engulfed the city.

Terrifying heat reaching millions of degrees vaporised humans and buildings alike. The only thing left behind the spell was a billowing cloud of dust in an empty cave and a deadly silence.

"What the?! Did he just kill almost two million humans for no reason?!" Adam roared, his eyes trembling, wishing he could interact with the original to slap him for his folly.

After a few deep breaths to calm down, he squinted, noticing Prometheus' movements and hearing his voice.

"Now, she won't be able to use you as materials for her plans."

Then, he saw him move a medal adorned with two emerald jewels. No. They were Atlas' eyes!

'Wait, what was his ability again?'

With each passing second, his eyes widened until they bulged, almost popping out of their sockets.

"What a madman! He truly became a monster, but I like it!" He roared in laughter as he witnessed almost two million human souls rush inside the medal.

"NOOO! What have you done?!"

Immediately, Luna's trembling figure appeared before Prometheus, staring at him in disbelief.

"I did what I had to. Now, guide me to your core for the last battle."

His emotionless voice echoed amidst the devastated field, infuriating her further.

"I could have used them! We could have prolonged your life until we gathered enough creatures' carcasses to substitute them!" She roared, grinding her teeth until they cracked.

He shook his head in response, a smirk stretching his lips.

"Everything will end today. Humanity's sufferings, the creature's assault, and your anxieties. Guide me to your core now."

"You'd better succeed!" She shot back before the thick rocky ground split apart, revealing a bottomless abyss. "Jump down, idiot!"

Despite her worry for her safety, a part of her fury was directed at his impending death. She had expected him to detonate his dying body to kill as many creatures as possible in this battle and thus prepared countermeasures to keep him alive. Yet, she had never expected such an illogical and stupid choice.

"I won't let you die," she muttered, watching him leap into Earth's depths.