The room was dim and damp, filled with the smell of mildew and rotting straw.

  Reed lay on the cold pile of firewood, his consciousness gradually clearing.

  He struggled to open his eyes, and what greeted him were dusty wooden beams and cobwebs.

  A dull ache spread throughout his body, as if he had been crushed, especially in his chest, where every breath brought a sharp pain.

  Memories of his past life flooded his mind like a tide: flames soaring into the sky, thick smoke billowing, and the searing heat that still seemed to burn his skin.

  As a firefighter, he had rushed into the burning building to save a trapped child, only to be struck by a collapsing beam...

  In his final moments of consciousness, he was filled with regret and unwillingness.

  When he woke up again, he found himself in a strange world called the Stan Continent, as the namesake heir of a fallen knight family in the Saint Roland Empire.

  The original owner of this body had also met misfortune—he was severely beaten by his classmate Brown at the Knight Academy while protecting his sister Emily, then judged by the instructor to be a talentless waste and discarded in the woodshed to fend for himself.

  What a pitiful guy

  Reed sighed inwardly, deeply sympathizing with the original owner’s plight.

  We’re both lost souls in this world.

  He could understand the feeling of powerlessness and despair.

  Since fate had allowed him to replace the original owner, he would find a way to live on for him—not only to seek revenge but also to become a true powerhouse in this new world, to change his destiny and no longer be bullied.

  At that moment, he felt a strange energy emerging within him, warm and gentle, dispelling the cold and pain in his body.

  His heavy, lead-like body became light, and his wounds began to tingle and itch, as if they were healing rapidly.

  Suddenly, a mysterious gray light pierced through the shabby roof of the woodshed, pouring down like moonlight and enveloping him completely.

  The light was not blinding but carried a hint of awe-inspiring majesty.

  Instinctively, Reed felt reverence. He didn’t resist but instead opened his heart and mind to welcome this unknown Holy Light baptism.

  The gray Holy Light gently surrounded him, like a mother’s hand caressing an injured child, soft yet powerful.

  Wherever the light passed, his wounds healed at a visible rate, broken bones reconnected, and blood clots dissolved.

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  The Holy Light baptism lasted for a moment before gradually merging into Reed’s body, ultimately gathering in his heart.

  There, a faint gray light slowly took shape.

  The Knight’s Heart!

  Reed’s heart trembled as he instantly understood the nature of this gray light.

  The Knight’s Heart was the symbol of a knight, the source of their power, and something countless people on the Stan Continent dreamed of possessing.

  It was the foundation of becoming a knight, and without it, one could never become a knight.

  However, the academy instructor had once declared him utterly talentless.

  So why did he now have this gray Knight’s Heart?

  He closed his eyes and carefully sensed this unique Knight’s Heart. It wasn’t any of the colors recorded in the academy—not the red of fire, the blue of the sea, nor the sacred gold.

  Instead, it was a gray as if from the dawn of chaos, mysterious and profound, impossible to fathom.

  What is going on?

  But before Reed could ponder further, the Holy Light Power didn’t disappear but transformed into streams of warmth flowing through his body, nourishing his flesh, strengthening his bones, and healing the last of his injuries.

  He could clearly feel his body undergoing a transformative change, with power gathering like small streams that would eventually become a roaring river.

  Outside the tightly shut woodshed door, a faint sobbing sound reached his ears.

  Reed recognized it—it was his sister Emily, crying.

  She must have thought he was dead.

  Reed struggled to get up and slowly pushed open the woodshed door.

  Outside, a frail figure came into view.

  Emily was dressed in coarse linen, crouched by the door, her face covered in dust.

  Her once clear and bright blue eyes were now bloodshot, swollen from crying.

  When she saw Reed open the door, she froze for a second before lunging forward and tightly hugging his waist, as if clinging to a lifeline in the sea, crying, “Brother! You’re finally awake! You’re finally awake… you scared me to death! Wuwuwu…”

  Emily’s body trembled slightly, and her tears soaked Reed’s chest.

  In his past life, he had no parents or family, having been adopted by the fire department.

  Seeing his sister so frightened and worried, a strong sense of pity and protectiveness welled up in his heart.

  He gently patted Emily’s back and comforted her softly, “Don’t be afraid, Emily. Brother is fine now. See, I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?”

  Emily looked up at Reed with tearful eyes, her little face full of disbelief. “Really? But… Brown and the others were so ruthless, and the doctor said…”

  “It’s all in the past,” Reed interrupted her. “Brother is fine now, and… I’ve awakened my Knight’s Heart.”

  “Knight’s Heart?!” Emily froze, her crying abruptly stopping.

  Her blue eyes widened as if she had heard something unbelievable. She stared at Reed in disbelief, as if seeing her brother in a new light.

  Reed smiled slightly and extended his hand.

  A faint gray light danced at his fingertips, flickering like a firefly.

  Emily gasped, covering her mouth with her small hands, her eyes filled with surprise and excitement.

  Her earlier worry and fear vanished in an instant, replaced by genuine joy and admiration.

  “Brother! You really awakened your Knight’s Heart! That’s amazing! That’s truly amazing!” Emily jumped up excitedly, throwing her arms around Reed’s neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.

  Her young voice was filled with exuberance. “I knew it! Brother is the best! Those people were blind to call you a waste!”

  Reed felt warmth in his heart as he gently ruffled Emily’s hair and said softly, “Emily, thank you for believing in me.”

  “Of course I believe in you! You’re my only family, Brother. I’ll always believe in you!” Emily declared without hesitation.

  Reed looked at his sister’s innocent face and swore silently in his heart that he would never let anyone bully her again, never let Emily suffer even the slightest harm.

  He took a deep breath, feeling the newly born power within him.

  A strong desire surged in his heart.

  I will become stronger, much stronger. Only with enough power can I protect myself and my sister, survive in this world where the strong prey on the weak.

  Though he had taken over Reed’s body, he would never forget the original owner’s unwillingness and despair in his final moments.

  All of this, he would reclaim!