The Second Year — Mastery Over Life
Keith stood alone in the quiet training hall as dawn light filtered through the reinforced glass ceiling.
Sixteen years old.
Two years since his rebirth.
Two years since fate itself had begun bending around him.
He exhaled slowly.
"System," Keith said calmly, yet with a trace of anticipation, "sign in."
System Sign-in Successful
System Reward:
Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a Skill Upgrade Card (Skills Only).
Keith didn't rush.
He opened the familiar panel, eyes scanning every line with the composure of someone long accustomed to power.
System Panel
Host: Keith Argus Runcandel
Title:
• Heir to Runcandel
• Heir to Karasuma Family
Age: 16
Bloodline: Human
Strength: Peak of Human
Unique Skills:
• Great Sage
• Predator
Talents:
• Perfect Mind
• Space Affinity
• Avalon Scabbard
Skills:
• Business Skill – Advanced
• Medical Skills – Advanced
• Cooking – Advanced
• Baking – Advanced
• Hacking – Advanced
• Finance – Advanced
• Martial Arts – Advanced
• Weapons Mastery – Master
• Ope-Ope no Mi – Advanced
• Ope-Ope Domain – Advanced
System Storage:
Yamato, Lucky Coupon, Shares, Dollars, Movie Scripts
Keith's gaze stopped on a single line.
Ope-Ope no Mi – Advanced
He closed his eyes.
In his previous life, power had meant command.
In this life, power meant choice.
And there was only one choice.
"…Upgrade Ope-Ope no Mi."
Skill Upgrade in Progress
Ope-Ope no Mi → Master
A surge of information flooded Keith's mind—not pain, not chaos, but clarity.
Cells.
Telomeres.
Genetic entropy.
Time degradation at the biological level.
The fruit was no longer just a surgical power.
It was dominion over life's flow.
Keith staggered slightly, steadying himself as Great Sage instantly organized the knowledge.
New Understanding Acquired
• Cellular rejuvenation without memory loss
• Controlled biological de-aging
• Longevity optimization
• Life-force stabilization
• Age regression without side effects
Keith's breath caught.
"…So it's really possible."
Not immortality.
Not resurrection.
But something far more precious.
Time.
He clenched his fist, eyes shining—not with ambition, but emotion.
"Grandfather… Grandmother…"
For the first time since coming to this world, Keith felt something crack inside his perfect composure.
"I can give you more years," he whispered.
"I can make sure you stay with me."
A Decision Made
That evening, Keith stood before the Runcandel mansion's private medical wing—one no doctor in the world had access to.
Darius and Clara sat calmly, unaware of what their grandson now truly held.
Keith bowed deeply.
"Grandfather. Grandmother," he said softly, "I want to try something."
Darius chuckled lightly.
"Keith, you look serious. Is this business again?"
Clara smiled gently.
"As long as you're safe, dear."
Keith looked at them—wrinkles earned through decades of battle, leadership, and sacrifice.
"…Trust me," he said.
Something in his voice made both elders nod without question.
ROOM
A translucent sphere expanded silently, enveloping the room.
No alarms.
No disturbances.
Only control.
Keith moved with absolute precision, hands guiding invisible threads of life itself.
Cells reversed their decay.
DNA repaired itself.
Time… flowed backward.
Minutes passed.
Then—
Clara gasped softly, touching her face.
"…Darius?"
Darius stared at his hands.
"…My arthritis… it's gone."
They looked at a nearby mirror.
Their hair darker.
Their posture straighter.
Their bodies—decades younger.
Not youth.
But vitality.
Darius turned slowly to Keith, eyes trembling.
"…What did you do?"
Keith smiled—small, genuine, and full of warmth.
"I brought you back a little," he said.
"So you can stay longer."
Silence fell.
Then Clara pulled Keith into a trembling embrace.
"…You foolish child," she whispered, tears falling.
"…You've given us something priceless."
Darius placed a firm hand on Keith's shoulder.
"You are not just our heir," he said quietly.
"You are our miracle."
Keith closed his eyes, holding onto them.
For once—
He wasn't a weapon.
He wasn't an heir.
He wasn't a genius.
He was just a grandson.
Somewhere Else…
Far away, Karasuma Renya paused mid-step.
"…So," the old man murmured, a slow, dangerous smile forming,
"you've reached that level already."
Rum, standing beside him, felt a chill.
"The future," Renya continued, "belongs to that boy."