Dear Readers,

  This tale is a whimsical journey of pure fantasy, spun from the creative mind of Khana_X, crafted solely to bring you enjoyment and a world full of imagination. Every name, place, object, and event you'll encounter is entirely a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, places, or happenings is purely coincidental.

  Remember, what unfolds here isn't tied to reality. It's a fantastical adventure meant to sweep you away, and if by chance anything feels familiar, it's just a lucky coincidence. The aim is to lift you beyond the ordinary into the extraordinary.

  Also, I know I've been publishing a lot of stories lately (and yes, I have quite a few unfinished ones, oops!). I apologize for the chaos, but this one just wouldn't leave my mind. I had to share it with you—so here we are! Hehe.

  Your understanding and willingness to dive into this magical world are deeply appreciated.

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  Prologue

  The gentle breeze whispered through the curtains of a small, sunlit room where an old woman lay, her silver hair spread across the pillow like a crown of wisdom. Her eyes fluttered shut for the last time, a peaceful smile tugging at her lips. She had lived a life filled with kindness, loved by everyone—neighbors, children, even the local stray cats. But despite all the love she gave, she never had the chance to experience a love of her own—no husband, no wild romance, just a simple, quiet life. And she was okay with that. She had no regrets, only gratitude.

  When her final breath left her, she thought it was the end. But when she opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in an ethereal place, facing a figure cloaked in light. No face, no features, just... light. Kind of blinding, honestly.

  "Welcome," the faceless god said, with a voice that sounded like a choir and a summer breeze had a baby. "You've lived a life full of kindness, selflessness, and—"

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Wait, hold on," she interrupted, squinting at the glowing figure. "Are you... God?"

  The figure hesitated. "Sort of."

  She raised an eyebrow. "Sort of?"

  "Well, technicalities. Anyway!" The god waved it off like it wasn't important. "You've been kind, never asked for anything, and I know deep down, you always wanted to experience real love. So, as a reward, I'm giving you a second chance. A fresh start, a new life—this time, with the love and excitement you missed out on."

  Her heart fluttered at the thought. A second chance? To live again, maybe fall in love, see the world through younger eyes? She was about to thank the god, but before she could, the world around her spun, and poof—everything went black.

  When she opened her eyes, she was standing in a lush green field, the wind gently rustling through her younger hair. She blinked, feeling the strength and vitality in her new, youthful body. "Wow," she whispered, stretching her arms. "This is amazing! I actually feel... alive!"

  But her moment of awe was rudely interrupted by a loud, earth-shaking roar. She turned around, her heart sinking into her stomach. There, not too far away, was a creature straight out of her worst nightmares—giant, scaly, with way too many teeth for comfort.

  What the—

  Before she could process the horror in front of her, words appeared in her vision, floating as if in some twisted video game HUD:

  "Level 1: Defeat the Lesser Dragon!"

  Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me?! Lesser Dragon? What lesser dragon? That big fella? Are you serious? That thing has more teeth than I have years left to live—well, HAD left!"

  Suddenly, a sword materialized in her hands, its weight pulling her arms down as she staggered under it. "Oh no, no, no, no! I didn't sign up for this! I wanted a quiet love life, not an all-you-can-eat dragon buffet where I'm the main course!"

  The dragon roared again, and she took a few awkward steps back, the sword dragging on the ground behind her. "Listen, big fella little baby coo, can we just... talk about this? Maybe grab a coffee, discuss our differences? No? Okay!"

  She turned on her heel and sprinted in the opposite direction, flailing wildly, sword clanging as it bounced behind her. "This is NOT what I meant by a second chance!"

  As she ran, more game-like text appeared in front of her:

  "Warning: You have 0% luck but infinite points!" Please say Status Check for more information.

  "Oh, fantastic," she muttered sarcastically. "Zero luck but infinite ways to die. What a deal!"

  From somewhere deep within, a part of her started to regret every nice thing she'd ever done in her old life. Was being nice really worth running from a dragon in her second life? Probably not