Louigi O. Nillos had always been a man obsessed with history, warfare, and strategy. With an IQ far beyond the norm, he had spent his life engrossed in the study of conquests, military tactics, and empire-building. A devout Catholic and a firm believer in order and discipline, he often fantasized about what he could achieve if he had been born in an earlier era—one where a single great leader could shape the destiny of nations.
Yet, all of that knowledge became meaningless in an instant.
It was supposed to be an ordinary day. The sun gleamed brightly over the horizon, casting golden rays upon the vast ocean. Louigi had gone out for a short trip on a ferry, seeking solitude in the embrace of the sea. But fate had other plans. A storm rolled in from nowhere, dark clouds swallowing the sky, and the once calm sea turned into a merciless beast. A monstrous wave crashed against the ferry, and before he could react, he was thrown overboard.
The world around him became a swirl of chaos. Cold water engulfed him, pulling him downward, deeper and deeper into the abyss. He struggled, but the weight of the ocean crushed his movements. His lungs screamed for air, and his vision darkened.
No... not like this... He tried to move his arms, but they felt like lead. His mind raced. I refuse to die here! Not when I have so much more to do! But reality was cruel, and his consciousness began slipping away.
In those final moments, he thought: Is this really how it ends? After all the knowledge I've gained, after all the dreams of empire and conquest... is this how my story concludes?
Then, there was nothing.
---
Louigi awoke to a strange sensation--weightlessness, warmth, and an overwhelming feeling of security. His body felt small, weak, and foreign. Sounds were muffled, but he could hear rhythmic thumping, almost like a heartbeat.
Where am I?
He tried to move, but his limbs barely responded. His body was encased in some sort of liquid, his vision was nonexistent, and he felt utterly helpless. That was when the realization struck him—
I... I'm inside a womb?
Panic set in, but almost as quickly, an unnatural calm washed over him. Information flooded into his mind, a deep and authoritative voice resonating in his consciousness.
[Initializing...]
[Welcome, Louigi O. Nillos. You have been chosen by the System of Conquest.]
[Rebirth confirmed. Year: 1490. Location: The Kingdom of Tondo, Luzon, Southeast Asia.]
[The world is in a period of transition. The Ottomans rule the remnants of the Byzantine Empire. The Age of Exploration has begun. The world's empires rise and fall—yet, none have achieved the ultimate conquest.]
[You have been granted the System of Conquest, an entity designed to assist in ruling, war, and the expansion of empires.]
A massive amount of information surged into his brain. The system explained its functions:
Stats: Intelligence, Wisdom, Physique.
Skills: Specialized abilities for warfare, strategy, and governance.
Buffs: Enhancements for battle and leadership.
Missions: Tasks that provide rewards upon completion.
Louigi's mind reeled as he processed what was happening. This... this is real? I actually died? The weight of his situation crashed down on him. He had been reborn, but not just anywhere,he was in 1490, a crucial turning point in history. This is it. My chance. My opportunity to reshape the world.
Despite his newborn state, he could hardly believe what was happening. He wasn't just reborn,he had been given the means to fulfill the dream he had always longed for. The dream of conquest, of empire, of forging a civilization so powerful it would be remembered for all eternity.
I won't waste this chance. If the world has given me a new beginning, then I will take it with both hands. I will build an empire that will last for millennia.
For now, he was helpless. But in time, he would rise.
And the world would tremble before the name Maharlika.