"Damnit!"
I cursed under my breath, my fingers flying across the keyboard as I dodged yet another horde of guards chasing after me. The rooftops of Florence stretched before me, a vast playground of stone and opportunity—if only my stamina bar wasn't draining faster than my will to live.
All I did was leave a single comment on a gaming forum. One tiny, innocent comment.
"Ezio is overrated. Altair and Edward were way better assassins."
And just like that, the entire Assassin's Creed fanbase descended upon me like a swarm of angry bees. The responses were brutal. Death threats? Check. Insults about my intelligence? Check. A particularly creative insult involving my mother, a haystack, and the phrase "you deserve a leap of faith off a cliff"? Double check.
But come on, was I really that wrong? Ezio was cool, sure. Charismatic? No doubt. But he had way too much plot armor. Meanwhile, Altair was a legend, and Edward was a goddamn pirate assassin—how was that not the coolest thing ever?
Still, none of that mattered right now because I had one goal: survive this godforsaken chase. My fingers moved on instinct, guiding Ezio through Florence's rooftops, weaving between chimneys, leaping across alleys, and desperately avoiding the guards hot on my tail.
"Come on, come on… just a little further."
I was almost at a hiding spot—a well-placed haystack that would let me break line of sight and disappear. But just as I made the final leap—
BZZZT!
The screen flickered. My heart skipped a beat.
"NO! NO, YOU PIECE OF—"
The dreaded blue screen of death appeared. My PC, my lifeline, my faithful companion in the digital world, had just betrayed me in the worst moment possible.
And then—everything went black.
...
I gasped, but no sound came out.
The world around me was a swirling void, neither dark nor light. My body—or what remained of it—felt weightless, drifting in an ocean of nothingness.
Was I… dead?
No, this wasn't right. I didn't remember any truck hitting me. No cliché death by lightning. No vengeful fan breaking into my room for my "blasphemy" against Ezio Auditore.
Yet here I was, suspended in emptiness.
And then—
Ding!
A soft chime echoed in the void, followed by a mechanical yet oddly soothing voice.
[Welcome, User. You have been selected for Reincarnation.]
[Initializing "Assassin's System"…]
What?
[Analyzing Source World… Assassin's Creed Franchise Identified.]
[Adjusting Reincarnation Parameters…]
The void around me began shifting, colors and shapes forming like an unfinished painting. My thoughts spiraled in confusion. Assassin's Creed? Was I being sent into the game? Was this some kind of messed-up isekai situation?
[Host Identity Assigned: Dante Auditore]
Wait. Auditore? As in Ezio Auditore?
[Family Relation: Younger Brother of Ezio Auditore da Firenze.]
[Integration Complete. Good luck, Assassin.]
Before I could even process what was happening, the void collapsed around me—
A sparkling tear—of light split through the nothingness, and before I could react, I was yanked forward like a puppet on invisible strings.
Pain.
A blinding headache slammed into my skull, like someone had just shoved centuries of memories into my brain all at once. Faces I didn't recognize—yet somehow knew—flashed before my eyes. A noble father, a kind mother, an older brother with a roguish smirk, a sister's laughter ringing in the halls of a grand estate.
Ezio.
Federico.
Claudia.
Petruccio.
And me—Dante Auditore.
The weight of my new existence settled over me like an iron cloak. The scents of parchment, ink, and the faint musk of Florence's bustling streets filled my lungs. The distant chatter of merchants, the clang of steel, the rhythmic pounding of horse hooves against cobblestone streets—it all felt too real.
I was alive.
And I wasn't in my gaming chair anymore.
"Figlio mio, sei sveglio?" (My son, are you awake?)
The voice was soft yet firm, filled with warmth. A woman. My mother. Maria Auditore.
I turned my head, feeling the stiffness of an unfamiliar body. My limbs were smaller, my movements sluggish. I was a child. No, I had been reborn as one.
My eyes blinked open to a lavish room bathed in morning sunlight. The ceiling was adorned with intricate wooden beams, the furniture rich with the elegance of Renaissance wealth. A soft mattress cradled my tiny frame.
Holy shit. This wasn't a dream.
I struggled to sit up, my thoughts racing, but a gentle hand pressed me back down.
"Shh, Dante. You took a nasty fall in the courtyard yesterday. Rest, mio caro." My mother's fingers brushed against my forehead with an affection I hadn't felt in… well, ever.
Ding!
A familiar sound echoed in my mind.
[System Activated.]
[Welcome, Host. The Assassin's System has been integrated successfully.]
[Initializing Beginner Package…]
Before I could even react, a translucent blue interface popped up in my vision, hovering just above Maria's concerned face. My breath hitched.
[Beginner Package: Open?]
Hell yes.
[Opening…]
As soon as I mentally confirmed, the screen flickered before expanding into a list of rewards.
—
[Beginner Package Contents:]
Assassin's Instinct (Passive) – Level 1Your senses are sharper than an average human's, allowing you to react faster to threats.
Parkour Proficiency – Level 1Basic knowledge of free-running techniques. Your body naturally adjusts to optimal movements.
Hidden Blade BlueprintA detailed schematic of the iconic Hidden Blade. Crafting requirements must be met before creation.
500 Assassin Points (AP)A currency used to purchase abilities, equipment, and upgrades from the system store.
Memory Fragment (???)A sealed memory fragment. Requires synchronization to unlock.
—
I barely had time to process the absurdity of what I was seeing before another notification popped up.
[System Tutorial Available – Would you like to begin?]
I exhaled slowly, barely resisting the urge to laugh like a madman. A system? An actual Assassin's Creed-style system? I had reincarnated into the game world and gotten a cheat?
This was every gamer's dream.
But before I could interact with the interface, I felt a pair of soft, warm hands gently cup my cheeks. My vision refocused on the worried face of Maria Auditore.
"Dante, Tesoro mio, what's wrong?" Her voice was soothing, filled with a motherly concern that tugged at something deep inside me.
I blinked rapidly, momentarily overwhelmed. This was real. I wasn't in my room anymore. I wasn't just some faceless player controlling a character—I was Dante Auditore now.
I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the floating interface in my vision. "Mi dispiace, madre. I was just… thinking." My voice was softer, younger. It was strange hearing it come from my own mouth.
Maria smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. "You gave us quite the scare, caro. Federico carried you inside after you collapsed. Ezio wouldn't stop pacing."
Ezio.
That name sent a shiver down my spine.
My brother.
And if my memories were correct, Ezio should be around eight years old right now—one year older than me. We were still children, years away from the tragic events that would turn him into an Assassin.
But that only meant one thing:
I had a chance.
A chance to change everything.
I clenched my tiny fists beneath the blanket. My father, Giovanni Auditore, Federico, and Petruccio would be executed in the future. Our family would be torn apart by treachery.
But if I were here now—if I had a system to help me—I would not let history repeat itself.
Maria pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. "Rest, my love. We will talk later."
She stood up and walked toward the door, her dress rustling against the marble floor. Just as she was about to leave, the door suddenly burst open.
"DANTE!"
A blur of movement—before I knew it, a small figure launched himself at me, wrapping his arms around my body.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
His auburn hair was slightly messy, his brown eyes wide with worry as he held me like I was made of glass. "Are you alright, fratellino? I told you not to try and race me on the walls! You could've broken your neck!"
I almost laughed. Ezio was lecturing me about safety? The same Ezio who, in a few years, would be leaping off rooftops and assassinating corrupt officials like it was a hobby?
"I'm fine, Ezio," I reassured him, though the warmth in my chest caught me off guard. He looked genuinely relieved, like he had been scared to lose me.
This wasn't just some character from a game. He was my brother now.
And if I was going to rewrite this story, then I'd make sure this time, Ezio Auditore wouldn't have to suffer alone.
The warmth of Ezio's embrace lingered even as he pulled away, his sharp brown eyes scanning me for any signs of injury. The concern on his face was so genuine, so real, that it almost made me forget everything—the system, the memories, the looming fate of the Auditore family.
Almost.
I had played through Assassin's Creed II enough times to know exactly what was coming. In just a few short years, our father, Giovanni Auditore, and my older brothers, Federico and Petruccio, would be falsely accused of treason and publicly executed. Ezio would be forced to witness their deaths, fueling his path to vengeance as an Assassin.
But that was the original timeline.
Now? Now I had a system—a literal game-breaking cheat that could change everything.
My mind raced with possibilities, but I quickly pushed them aside. I couldn't start planning while Ezio was still hovering over me like an overprotective mother hen.
"I'm fine, Ezio," I repeated, offering him the most reassuring smile I could manage. "Just a little sore."
Ezio sighed, crossing his arms. "Bene. But next time, don't try to climb like I do. You're still too small, fratellino."
I nearly rolled my eyes. Says the guy who's going to be parkouring across entire cities in a few years.
Still, I played along and nodded. "Alright, alright. I'll be more careful."
Ezio grinned, ruffling my already messy hair before turning toward the door. "Good. Now rest up, Dante. Federico said he'd take us to the market later, and I don't want you slowing us down."
With that, he darted out of the room, his footsteps fading into the distance.
Finally. Some peace.
As soon as the door shut, I exhaled deeply, my gaze shifting to the floating system interface still hovering in my vision.
—
[Assassin's System]
Status: Active
Name: Dante Auditore
Age: 7
Title: None
Abilities:
Assassin's Instinct (Passive) – Level 1 (0/100)
Parkour Proficiency – Level 1 (0/100)
Inventory:
Hidden Blade Blueprint
500 Assassin Points (AP)
Memory Fragment (???) – Requires Synchronization
—
My fingers twitched with excitement. Even though I was in a child's body, I felt more alive than ever.
"Alright," I muttered under my breath. "Let's see what I'm working with."
The Assassin's Instinct— A passive ability intrigued me the most. If I remember correctly, skilled Assassins had an almost supernatural ability to detect threats, react faster, and assess their surroundings in combat. Even at level one, it meant my reflexes were already better than an average seven-year-old.
The Parkour Proficiency was a no-brainer. Parkour was the bread and butter of any Assassin, and if I wanted to keep up with Ezio in the future, I'd need to master it.
The Hidden Blade Blueprint was interesting. Did this mean I could craft my own blade instead of waiting for Ezio to get his first set? I'd need materials, though. And access to a blacksmith.
And finally—
The Memory Fragment (???).
It was locked, requiring "Synchronization" to unlock. Did that mean I had to relive past memories? Or maybe uncover something about my previous life?
So many questions…
But one thing was clear—I wasn't a helpless background character. If I played my cards right, I could change the future.
And I intended to do just that.