From Death To Domination: I’ll Level up and Take My Revenge

-Prologue-

9AM, it was the morning of Li Mei's birthday, and the sun had barely crested the horizon.

The air was cool with a slight breeze, and the small apartment where Jiang Xuan lived with his mother and sister felt warm.

His mother, Lin Yue, was bustling around the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Li Mei, his little sister, was excitedly bouncing around, her innocent laughter filling the room as she jumped out of bed.

Her bright eyes sparkled with joy at the thought of presents and cake.

But Jiang Xuan could feel the unease in his chest. It was a strange day, one that didn't sit right with him.

"Xuan, come on, help your sister with her birthday surprise!" his mother called from the kitchen.

Jiang Xuan forced a smile and stood up from the couch where he'd been sitting, distracted by his thoughts. Today, he couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming. Something he couldn't prepare for.

His background as a former soldier still weighed heavily on his shoulders.

The discipline, the constant vigilance, it had become second nature to him. But since his discharge, he had tried to live a normal life again. However, he couldn't fully escape the sense that danger lurked around every corner, a habit ingrained from years of service in combat zones.

"I'll go grab her something special after breakfast," he said, his voice softer than usual.

Lin Yue nodded, seemingly oblivious to the tension in her son's tone. "You always know what she likes. Make it a good one."

As the family sat down for breakfast, they chatted about Li Mei's upcoming school year, what she wanted for her birthday, and other simple, normal things. But Jiang Xuan was distant, distracted. His mother caught his gaze and gave him a knowing smile.

"You know, Xuan, you've been distant lately. You haven't told me much about work. What's been going on?"

Jiang Xuan paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. He cleared his throat before responding. "Same old stuff, Mom. Just… the usual. Busy."

His mother gave him a skeptical look, but let it go. The atmosphere lightened as Li Mei's laugh filled the air again.

But Jiang Xuan couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong, like a storm gathering just out of sight.

After breakfast, Jiang Xuan kissed his mother on the cheek, telling her he'd be back shortly. "I'll get her something nice. Stay here, okay?"

"Be careful," his mother called after him.

Jiang Xuan stepped out into the crisp morning air and walked down the streets, his thoughts still heavy.

He decided to stop by the market to get something special for his sister. He had the perfect idea, a limited edition doll she'd been eyeing for months. It was rare, expensive, and would mean the world to her.

As he reached the market, he couldn't help but notice a familiar face across the street. Standing near the bookshop was Chun Hua, his ex-girlfriend. They locked eyes for a moment, and his heart skipped a beat.

Her face softened as she noticed him, and she gave him a small, tentative wave. It had been months since they'd last seen each other, and even longer since they'd talked. The end of their relationship had been messy, but neither had forgotten the other.

He approached her, his face breaking into a half-smile. "Chun Hua… It's been a while."

She smiled back, a little nervously. "I wasn't expecting to see you today."

Jiang Xuan chuckled lightly. "I wasn't expecting to see you either. What are you up to?"

"I was just picking up a few things," Chun Hua explained. "How's everything going?"

"Same old," Jiang Xuan said, shrugging. "Busy with work. You know, the usual."

Chun Hua raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You used to tell me about how you were a soldier, how you'd seen some crazy things. It must be hard, adjusting to civilian life."

Jiang Xuan's face hardened for a moment as memories flashed, being on the battlefield, making impossible decisions, watching comrades fall. It was a side of his past he rarely shared, but with Chun Hua, it somehow felt natural to talk about it.

"It was a lot harder than I expected," he said quietly, "But I've learned to move on… to make peace with it. I'm just… tired of the constant pressure."

Chun Hua nodded, understanding. "It's good that you've found peace. But you know you can always talk to me, right?"

He smiled, though it felt bittersweet. "I know, Chun Hua. Thanks."

The old couple talked for a while longer, reminiscing about old times.

Three hours passed without either of them noticing. Time seemed to stand still in the presence of the one person Jiang Xuan had once loved.

Eventually, the conversation drifted to their separate paths. Jiang Xuan, his chest tight, knew he had to leave. "I should get back home," he said reluctantly. "Li Mei's waiting for me."

Chun Hua smiled softly. "Take care of yourself, Jiang Xuan. Don't lose yourself."

"I won't," he promised.

With a final exchange of smiles, Jiang Xuan left Chun Hua standing by the bookshop and walked back home, gift in hand. He was excited to see his sister's face light up when she opened the present. Everything felt normal.

As he entered the house, Jiang Xuan felt a strange sense of peace, as if everything was finally settling into place. Li Mei ran toward him as soon as he opened the door, and his mother followed behind. The warmth of family filled the room, the air filled with the scent of cake. Jiang Xuan smiled.

"Happy birthday, Li Mei," he said, handing her the gift.

She squealed with excitement, her eyes wide with joy. "You got it!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

But as they celebrated, the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang. Jiang Xuan's smile faltered as men dressed in tactical gear stormed into the apartment.

"Move!" one of them barked. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the terrifying look in their eyes.

A struggle broke out. The sound of gunfire echoed through the room. His mother cried out in pain as one of the assailants shot her. Jiang Xuan rushed to her side, but it was too late. She was gone.

"Li Mei!" he screamed, turning to see his sister being dragged out the door by one of the masked men.

He tried to rush after her, but he was met with another gunshot. The pain tore through him. His vision blurred.

He collapsed.

The End of Jiang Xuan's Life.