Prologue – Everything Falls Apart

“YOU’RE FIRED!” A thunderous roar echoed inside the room.

Jie flinched as he clenched his jaw in silence. He somehow expected this to happen since he argued with the boss regarding his request for an increase in his salary.

He had been working hard, and the company took advantage of it. Paying him less despite him working like a dog. Jie needed money. For his mother’s medication and his little sister’s schooling. If only his father hadn’t passed away, leaving them buried in debt.

“Leave! I don’t want to see your face here. Ungrateful bastard!” The boss turned and sat back in his swivel chair.

For a while, Jie stood frozen. Lost in his thoughts. What would happen to his life now? He had no savings. The only money he had in his wallet was a few hundred pesos, enough for three days.

At twenty-five, he was far behind his peers. It didn’t matter, he’d always been in survival mode for as long as he could remember.

“What are you waiting for? Get the hell out of here!” The old man glared at him.

Jie finally mustered up the nerve to move his feet—like a robot without a direction. He was too preoccupied with how he managed to get out of the building.

He didn’t know what to do. Instead of looking out for a taxi, Jie strolled endlessly down the street, hoping to clear his mind. It seemed that he was born unlucky. Jie was convinced that in this life, he was meant to suffer.

A black van was rushing towards him. Jie turned his head as he heard a loud screech. He blinked rapidly as he became aware that he was in the shadowy alley and that the intense headlights were dazzling him.

“Oh, how did I get in here?” he whispered.

Jie’s mind was too busy to think that his life was in danger. Before he could react, two big men came to his side, used their brute force, and smacked his face with a sack. They had strange tattoos on their temples and sported all-black attire.

“Don’t do anything stupid!” one of the men yelled out while his companion was busy tying Jie’s arms.

“H-help!” Jie tried to flee. While his life flashed before his eyes.

“Help!” He shouted as loud as he could and struggled to break free, but all this led to futility.

These unbelievably strong men forced him to get inside the vehicle. Jie’s heart was pounding hard while his face was sweating, trying to get some air.

“Please, let me go!” he begged. But the men remained quiet.

Jie could not believe this was happening. He thought that getting fired from his job was the worst. What a twist of fate! Now, he’d lose his life.

Do I really need to have this kind of distressful ending? The heavens must hate me that much!

Life was never fair for him; even as a child, he almost had no happy memories to reminisce about. His abusive father gave them hell. Being the eldest son, it became his duty to protect his mother and younger sister.

Jie chuckled at the hopelessness of the situation until he laughed out of desperation. He’d only take pity on himself if he cried. Besides, he was brought up in a household with the belief that a man who sheds tears is considered weak.

“Shut up! What’s funny about dying?” One of the men seemed irritated, and he did not hesitate to hit the back of Jie’s neck until the latter lost consciousness.

Jie had no idea how long he had been unconscious. He found himself lying on the cold floor while his eyes were still blurred, yet he could hear their voices in a language that he couldn’t understand.

There was a familiar smell that reached his nose—the fragrance of Jasmine flowers. It made him wonder where he was.

“Are you sure he’s the one?” It was a female voice.

“Yes, we are sure!” A man answered alertly.

“Good. It is time.” The female kneeled and leaned closer to Jie. “Your death will be quick,” she added in a soothing voice.

Jie thought that he might be hallucinating. Did he already die? Was this girl an angel? Because he could hear a flapping of wings even though he couldn’t see her face clearly. Jie met her distinctly bright purple eyes.

“Who... are you?” Jie’s voice stuttered.

He finally surrendered especially when he saw the gold dagger stabbing him as if the winged woman was biding her time to take his life.

Just as the face of the lady slowly became vivid, Jie felt the stinging pain when the dagger pierced his heart. The searing agony was unbearable.

“N-no…” Jie gathered all his remaining strength, but his body didn’t move.

“Let me bestow you a gift of words.” The purple-eyed female smirked before she continued, “We’ll see you on the other side.” She got up and laughed wickedly after ensuring that Jie’s heartbeat stopped.

For the first time, Jie felt at peace. Perhaps dying wasn’t a bad choice at all. He only prayed that his mother and younger sister would be fine without him.

Jie felt his body become lighter. He was levitating! Could it be that his soul traveled to paradise?

He smiled.

Jie wondered if he’d have a chance to be reborn. So that in his next life, he’d make sure to be the strongest. No one would trample him, and the world would be swept off his feet.

There was a loud thud as if he suddenly fell. The force was so strong that all his consciousness faded away.