Earth 2246 A.D.- Area 8 , Subic , Novus Filipinos

“Please dad don’t hurt him.”

A woman in her early forties is about to burst to tears as she wrapped her hands behind her dad trying to stop him to get closer to her son who was knocked on floor with his right hand touching his bleeding and broken nose.

“I’ve had enough of your nonsense.”

The old man turned around to leave. Though of age, he was still capable of delivering a punch to his grandson like a teenager in the heat. Unlike other grandfathers who would sit down and spend the rest of their lives gazing the clouds, he still involves himself in working on the poultry business passed down in the family. As a hardworking man, it pains him to see a grandson without an ounce of his industriousness.

A month ago, he learned that his grandson who he thought was pursuing his dreams in a prestigious university was actually enrolled in a free government vocational school and the money they were sending him is being spent on his grandson’s girlfriend’s enrollment on a top and renowned college.

What got him to his limit is that this morning, he assigned some clerical tasks knowing it’s the last day of his grandson’s semestral break but his grandson attended a birthday party instead coming home inebriated.

“By the way, the task I assigned you this morning is about my inheritance. Since you don’t like responsibilities, I may as well have your cousin inherit everything.” The old man said and turned to leave.

The mother went to his son and helped him wipe the bleeding and broken nose. Her husband is a pilot who died in an accident ten years ago and was unaware she neglected most of her duties as a mother. Tonight though is a reckoning for both of them. His son may be under the influence of alcohol but not totally wasted. The boy’s name is Clay Ng La and he spent a few minutes of real and meaning full conversation with her mother before going to sleep.

The following morning, two lovebirds are sitting on a bench inside a station waiting for a southbound train to depart. It was Clay and his girlfriend, Kirsten.

“Why can’t you just ask me to stay and introduce me to your grandpa. Do I need to go to school to become a housewife?” Kirsten whispered to Clay’s ears as she kissed him on the cheeks.

(All passengers bound to capital city, please aboard the train in three minutes.)

“That’s your ride.” Clay stood up and helped her carry a luggage. Before stepping on the platform, Kirsten paused and turned to Clay.

“I’d rather stay than go alone.”

“It’s your dreams, ok? I’ll find time to visit you, alright?” Clay touched Kirsten’s hips and gently kissed her on the lips. A few passengers turned their heads away to avoid the nauseating Romeo and Juliet.

(All passengers bound to capitals city. Please aboard the train in one minute. The train is departing in one minute.)

Clay let go with conflicting emotions. She watched her girlfriend board the train and after a minute, the doors closed and the train started.

He smiled as he watched the disappearing figure of the train. He recalled when Kirsten played a Chopin on the piano and at that moment, he promised he will look for a way to send her to college and help her achieve her dreams.

Andara System: MA6Z2 Planet

Inside a hospital, a six year old boy woke up after a vivid dream about a scene of him listening to a girl play the piano. He is Clay on his second rebirth. Right before the mishap of teleportation, all his memories poured to his head revealing his true memories. He thought he was a scientist when in fact, he was just a regular guy.

He was a son of a slightly wealthier commoner. He being scientist was mere product of his daydreams after his favorite sci-fi series called Extinction. Like everyone whose desires are denied by reality, his mind unconsciously created an imaginary world that granted him a place to satisfy his fantasies.

After he stayed to take care of their family business and let her girlfriend go back to the city and continue her studies, he was occupied and had limited time to visit her. They did have a few conversations over the phone but his girlfriend never mentioned anything about meeting a new guy which he later caught her exchanging electronic messages.

Clay was confident that Kirsten would pick him so he let her made a choice. Kirsten did not give him an answer that time but after a month, a group of men came to harass and threatened their family business. It was then that Clay saw his rival. His looks is the personification of a tall, dark and handsome guy and on top of it, crazy wealthy enough to intimidate any competitor.

Clay thought their relationship would not last thinking that this rich man would probably grew tired of her but after a few years, he was sent an a wedding invitation. Clay did not mind the insult and attended the wedding hoping that Kirsten would see him and change her mind but he did not have the courage to confront her. He sat at the far back of the church and watched them exchanged vows at the altar. Seeing her ex-girlfriend happy and contented, he left with a broken heart.

They say that time would heal everything but he was an exception. Year after year, he hoped that Kirsten would find her way back to his arms. He dated a few women but none of them filled the void of his longing causing him to stay single. The next thing he knew, he was looking at a wrinkled old man in the mirror.

One day, news spread across the globe about an Alien space ship bounded towards earth. Clay was too old to care about anything but one night, everyone’s soul was extracted and was used to power a Spatial Teleportation Array to create a portal from the Mortal World to the Lower Plane.

Contrary to what he had imagined where everyone was turned into a zombie, earth was actually covered with a massive Killing Formation and every earthling’s soul was sealed and floated to power the Array. He has no idea how but his consciousness was retained in his soul form and he was able to witness what the cultivators did. He did not care how the world was ending as he was still busy regretting his choices and wished he could go back in time and asked Kirsten to stay.

Clay sighed as he recalled his memories on his first life and his reincarnation at Gar-Wahgar Planet. It is now his second rebirth and is puzzled why is he able to retain his memories. He wonders if every rebirther is the same.

Like his previous life, he was born with almost zero Elemental Affinity which is the opposite of his twin brother who according to this world’s measurement is nine. He has a two year old younger brother who has 5.5 and another baby brother with an affinity of 6. Normal citizens have 1 to 4 Affinities and 5 to 6 qualifies to become cultivators and 7 to 8 are called talents.

His current mother is a normal citizen and considering society’s observance of eugenics, she should not be listed nor recommended as partner for someone who is maintaining their lineage but probability and statistics has a way of playing with numbers. Aside from him and his twin brother, his other siblings all inherited the family bloodline.

Based on his observation, her mother has become a son incubator after giving birth to a cultivation genius. However even with such coincidence, she still remained a concubine and speaking of coincidences, he was named Clay Nera Arshua, the same pronunciation as Kle on his first rebirth although different spelling due to language difference.

Clay looked towards the window as he thought of his current life.

Who said harem is good?

He is currently living in a mansion with a man with two wives and he suspects there is a third hidden wife and every meal is full of superficial smiles. Clay sympathizes with the first wife as both her children are girls with elemental affinities of 5. For ancient families, women who cannot give birth to a boy especially if their offspring have average elemental affinity is considered useless. In short, Clay’s side of the family makes the primary wife looks like she is the concubine.

Clay did not want to be involved in the affairs of his parents and had been very obedient and maintained acting his age especially that he has no talents, however the animosity in the house has become more and more stressful.

One afternoon after his language lessons, he went outside and pretended to play however, he saw one of the maids taking a break. He wanted to ignore her but the aroma of a strong caffeinated hot beverage the maid was seeping reached his nose.

He sneaked into the kitchen and stole a few sachets. The creamy and mild sweet flavor made him unaware that he had drank too much causing him to be hospitalized. Clay forgot that he no longer has a transformed body and since he is deemed unsuitable for cultivation, he was not allocated any resources to open up his meridian making him a frail and vulnerable mortal.

(He should be fine if he was discharged today, right?)

Clay sat on the bed upon hearing the conversation right after the door was opened. It is her current mother, Renda. No matter how much she tries to think of her as her mother, he just could not feel the same closeness she had with her mother back on earth.

“Come here sweetie.”

Renda hugged and kissed him on the head.

“I just had you enrolled and you will be going to the same school with your bother, ok? So that you will have a strong and big body.”

Clay is still not used being treated as a boy and could only pretend so he gave her tight hug as well.