The realization came to him in the stillness of the night. As he lay on a woven mat inside his family's wooden hut, staring at the thatched ceiling, a thought gnawed at his mind like an insatiable beast.
Why was I given this second chance?
The System had been with him since birth, but he had never questioned its origins. He had accepted it as a tool, a gift—something to be used to gain power and reshape history. But as his knowledge of the world deepened, so too did his understanding of how unnatural his existence was. He was an anomaly in this timeline, a man reborn centuries before his own time, blessed with knowledge far beyond the people of this era.
Was it divine intervention? A test? Or was there something greater at play? He clenched his fists, frustration coursing through him. There were no answers, only more questions.
[New Quest: Seek the Truth]
Objective: Uncover the origins of your reincarnation and the System
Rewards: +5 Intelligence, +5 Wisdom, Unknown Hidden Reward
His breath hitched. The System had never given him a quest like this before. It only reaffirmed his suspicions—there was a reason for his existence here. But until he could find answers, he would focus on the one thing he knew for certain: power.
The world around him was in constant flux. Trade routes brought wealth, but they also brought threats. Pirates prowled the seas, rival datus sought dominance, and foreign powers loomed on the horizon. He had heard whispers from Chinese traders of a powerful empire across the seas—the Ming Dynasty. And further west, the Ottoman Empire had risen from the ashes of Byzantium, becoming an unstoppable force.
If he wanted to build an empire, he needed to understand the enemies and allies that lay beyond his shores.
But first, he needed control over his own land.Over the past months, he had observed the strongest warriors of Tondo. His father's men were skilled, but they lacked structure. Battles were fought with raw courage, not with strategy. He needed men who could think as well as fight.
Among them, three stood out:
Bulan – A towering warrior with unmatched strength, known for wielding a kampilan with ease.
Datu Bayani – A veteran fighter, older than most, but with a keen tactical mind.
Rajah Sulayman – The young ruler of a neighboring settlement, ambitious and intelligent.
He approached them individually, testing their loyalty, their ambitions, their weaknesses. He did not reveal his true plans yet, but he planted the seeds of unity.
"We cannot remain divided," he told Bayani one evening, as they sat overlooking the river. "The time will come when foreign invaders will set their sights on our land. If we do not unite now, we will fall."
Bayani studied him carefully. "You speak like a ruler, boy. But words are easy. Strength is what matters."
Louigi smiled. "Then allow me to prove my strength."
A test was arranged—a duel between him and one of Bayani's best warriors. It was meant to be a lesson, a demonstration that he was still a child.
But he had other plans.
The warrior chosen was Guro, a hardened fighter, skilled with both spear and shield. He stood a head taller than Louigi, his body marked with the scars of many battles. The gathered warriors laughed, expecting a quick defeat.
But Louigi did not step onto the field unprepared. His training had been relentless, his mind sharper than any blade. He analyzed Guro's stance, his grip, his breathing.
[Combat Mode Activated]
Opponent: Guro
Strength: 15
Speed: 12
Tactics: 8
Equipment: Spear, Shield, Leather Armor
[New Combat Skill: Adaptive Reflexes]
Effects: Adjusts to enemy movements in real-time, increasing dodge and counter efficiency.
The duel began.
Guro lunged first, his spear thrusting forward with speed and precision. Louigi sidestepped, feeling the rush of air as the weapon barely missed him. He countered with a quick strike to Guro's exposed side, but the veteran blocked it effortlessly with his shield.
A grin formed on Guro's face. "You're quick, boy. But not quick enough."
He pressed the attack, pushing Louigi back. The watching warriors cheered, expecting the match to end soon.
But then Louigi saw it—a flaw in Guro's stance. His footwork was strong, but predictable. He relied too much on forward momentum. If Louigi could disrupt his balance…
He feinted left, drawing Guro into an aggressive attack. At the last moment, he pivoted right, ducking low and sweeping Guro's leg from under him.
The warrior crashed to the ground, stunned. Before he could recover, Louigi pressed his wooden training sword against Guro's throat.
Silence fell over the crowd.
Bayani, who had been watching closely, nodded in approval. "Perhaps there is more to you than just words."
[Quest Completed: Prove Your Strength]
Rewards: +3 Physique, +5 Combat Awareness, New Title: Rising Warrior
Louigi extended a hand to Guro, who took it begrudgingly. The respect of the warriors had been earned. But this was only the beginning.
Louigi knew that an empire was not built on warriors alone—it needed structure, strategy, and an economy to sustain it. He met with blacksmiths, learning how to improve their forging techniques. He studied trade routes, figuring out where he could gain access to more weapons and armor.
Through careful planning, he introduced new training regimens to his warriors. Archers practiced from elevated platforms, spearmen drilled in formation rather than individually, and sword fighters honed their speed and precision through mock battles.
One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Bulan approached him. "You push us hard, Louigi. Harder than any of our ancestors ever did."
Louigi met his gaze steadily. "Because our ancestors never sought to build something greater than themselves."
Bulan grunted, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
News spread that Tondo was becoming stronger. Neighboring settlements grew uneasy. Some saw an opportunity for alliance; others saw a growing threat.
A messenger arrived from a rival datu, bearing a simple message: Submit, or prepare for war.
Louigi read the message, then burned it in the fire. He turned to his father, who had been watching him carefully.
"We will not act rashly," Louigi said. "Let them watch. Let them wonder. We are not yet ready for war."
His father nodded in agreement. "Patience is the mark of a true ruler."
Louigi knew that war was inevitable. But he would not rush into battle unprepared. He was still young, and there was much to learn. His time would come when he reached fifteen, when his strength, mind, and army were truly ready.For now, he would build. He would prepare. And when the time was right, he would strike back.