Mason’s Revenge

Chapter 1: Reborn

Year - 2230.

It all began in 2230...

Portals of unknown origins appeared worldwide, known as "Crypt,"each connected to myths and legends. This was believed to be from the power hidden in historical stories.

The danger came from powerful artifacts inside. Claiming these artifacts brought wealth and abilities, changing lives and the world. People gained mythical powers, rising in rank. It became a world where anyone could rise with the right artifact. However, by 2250, hope turned into a nightmare. The world split into those with artifacts and those without. Emperors, with the strongest artifacts, ruled with absolute power. Governments couldn't oppose them, rewriting laws to keep the powerless trapped in poverty as modern-day slaves. Mason, stuck in the lower class, had to serve an Emperor for escape. He worked for Depay Husk, promised help in return for loyalty. Mason did everything for Depay, even risking his life, but it was all a lie.

But it had all been a lie.

Mason stumbled through the dark alley, holding his bleeding side. His mind raced. His boss had set him up, sending him on a suicide mission. Depay had used him, then thrown him away.

“Damn you, Depay!” Mason spat, feeling the pain in his chest worsen.

For ten years, he had done everything to survive. He had believed Depay’s promises—believed he could save his family. Now, it was clear Depay never planned to heal them. He had been a pawn, disposable the moment he became a threat.

As his vision blurred, Mason found himself surrounded. His teammates had already fallen, devoured by snakes that slithered out of the shadows. This Crypt was their grave, and it seemed like it would be his too.

He laughed bitterly. "You used me up, Depay. But you’re not rid of me yet."

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his head.

"Still planning to fight?"

Mason’s eyes narrowed. "Who’s there?"

"You don’t have much time left," the voice said calmly. "But you’ve got spirit. That’s rare."

Mason forced a smile, wiping blood from his lips. "You think spirit’s going to save me now?"

"Perhaps not. But what if I offered you a second chance?"

Mason froze. "A second chance?"

The voice chuckled. "You hate them, don’t you? The Emperors, the world they built. I can feel your rage, your desire for revenge."

Mason clenched his fists. "If you can do something, then do it. Or shut up."

The voice didn’t respond right away, but then the darkness around him started to shift. A raven appeared, glowing with an unnatural light.

"I’ll give you a chance. Take down an Emperor, and claim their throne for yourself."

Mason frowned, but before he could ask what the raven meant, the world around him blurred. When his vision cleared, he was no longer in the Crypt.

He was sitting in a small interrogation room.

An officer slammed his hands on the table in front of him. “I’ve asked for your ID three times now. We don’t have all day. It’s New Year’s Day, 2230, and I’d like to go home. So stop wasting time!”

Mason blinked. "What year did you say?"

The officer sighed. "It’s January 1st, 2230. Now, where’s your ID?"

Mason’s heart pounded. 2230? That was twenty years ago—before the Crypt appeared. He glanced at a nearby calendar, confirming what the officer had said.

His mind raced. If this was real, then all the legendary artifacts were still out there, waiting to be discovered. He could get to them first. He could become an Emperor before the others even knew what was happening.m

But then reality hit him. He no longer had his abilities. His unique Seeker systems were gone. Without them, finding the Crypt and surviving the raids would be impossible.

‘Damn it!’ he thought, feeling his hope crumble.

Just when he was about to curse his luck, he noticed something in his reflection. Next to his face in the glass, glowing text appeared:

-You Have Received The Vengeful Artifact System-

-You Have Receive The Crypt Seeker System-

Mason Monroe sat in the police station, staring at the text floating before him.

-Crypt Seeker Mason Monroe-

Level 1.

A small chuckle escaped his lips. "Crypt Seeker?" The term made no sense. He rubbed his eyes, convinced he was hallucinating.

"Did my eyes go crazy?" he muttered. But the words didn’t vanish.

Mason knew better than to ignore something strange like this. He needed to test if this was real. If he could still use his abilities, then maybe his life wasn’t over yet.

He looked around the room, his eyes landing on an old, rusty chair. This would do.

Mason gripped the chair’s arm tightly, focusing. ‘Regress!’ he commanded in his mind. If this worked, the rust would disappear, and the chair would be restored to its original condition.

Nothing happened.

Mason sighed. ‘Figures... it only works with a Mythic Item.’ He leaned back in the chair, frustrated. In the past, the Regression ability he had from the Seeker’s Mythic Item would have easily removed the rust. Now, it was just wishful thinking.

"Is this all in my head?" he wondered aloud, losing hope.

Suddenly, a new message flashed in front of him.

-Other systems are required to activate the Regression ability.-

-Please unlock all four basic systems first.-

Mason blinked in surprise. ‘A higher-tier system?’ It felt like some kind of game interface. He couldn’t help but smirk as the next message appeared.

-Crypt Seeker Basic Systems (1/4)-

-Detect (F-Rank): Scan a 1-meter radius around you.-

Mason burst into laughter. It wasn’t just a random thought or hallucination. He really could access his old abilities—albeit in a different form. The officers stared at him, bewildered.

“Is this guy losing it?” one officer muttered.

“Hey, why are you laughing like that?” the other one demanded.

But Mason didn’t care. He was too caught up in his revelation. ‘So, my original abilities have turned into these game-like systems?’

His eyes gleamed with excitement. If this was real, he didn’t need his old Mythic Item to use his powers anymore. He could unlock them directly.

Another message popped up.

-Please unlock all four dormant systems to advance to Crypt Seeker.-

-Mission: Successfully activate all four basic Crypt Seeker systems.-

Mason grinned. A quest? It felt surreal, but he had no reason to object. If it meant getting his powers back, he would play along. But how was he supposed to unlock these systems?

As Mason pondered his next move, a loud voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Hey! You! Are you just going to sit there, or are you going to apologize?” The voice came from across the room. A woman stood with her arms crossed, glaring at a young man in a school uniform beside her. “Admit you hit my son! We’ll settle for 10 million dollars, or you can spend the night in jail!”

Mason frowned. ‘What kind of nonsense is this?’