I Refused To Be Reincarnated

"Come on! We all voted to use code names because you don't want to tell us yours!" the green-eyed youth sneered, his lips curling into a mocking smirk.

"I don't care! Shut up, or I'll blast you."

The original clenched his fists, teeth gritting in frustration. He started to hate those stupid pranks of his. If not for Luna specifically requesting this brat's presence... Then, a vindictive light flashed in his eyes.

"You know that Atlas was forced to hold the weight of heaven against his will. By carrying his name, aren't you a slave? Hahaha."

"..."

"Calm down, boys," Luna interjected, shaking her head at their shenanigans. Then, she turned towards him.

"I chose this name because it fits your caring and benevolent character. But also your unpredictability and malice towards your enemies. With your powers, you bring light to humanity like Prometheus brought them fire in mythology."

Upon peering into her sparkling eyes, the original gulped, his chitinous mask a welcome shield for the blush creeping up his face. He didn't know when it started, but cracks began forming in the shimmering box where he had sealed his emotions. And the cause for their appearance stood before him.

However, he knew he couldn't let them out... yet he yearned to. He would be a fool if he didn't realise the girl had smitten him at first sight. Worse, she had been nothing but caring and understanding for the past five years, despite her strong character, making his feelings batter against the box a little harder each day.

It took him some time to understand those emotions. But if a word could explain them, it would be peace. Luna was the only person with whom he felt at peace. With whom all his concerns momentarily vanished, causing the tumultuous clouds to part and letting the bright blue sky shine upon his inner world.

He shook his head, wearing a facade of indifference over his chitinous mask, and answered evenly. "Do whatever you want. I'll go eat."

Without waiting for them to answer, he jumped off the enormous wall.

BOOM

A fleeting flash of light, sudden and noisy, appeared under his feet, breaking his fall without harming his body.

After walking for fifteen minutes amidst the oppressive silence, he stepped through the city gate, frowning.

"Everyone! Prometheus is back!"

"Prometheus, thank you for protecting us again!"

"Prometheus, say the sentence the next time you fight!"

"Prometheus! Prometheus! Prometheus!"

As always, brave citizens acclaimed his return, chanting his name as if he were a hero.

'If they knew...'

He shook his head, ignoring them on his way to the military canteen as he always did.

Finally, inside the building, he enjoyed the quiet, spending some time eating without that annoying mask on. But he knew his solitude wouldn't last...

"Prometheus, bad new! A new vortex appeared in the underground!"

Luna suddenly appeared, prompting him to put his mask back on before grimacing. Her tone was too solemn, so either the threat was too hard to handle, or she was hiding something. After all, interacting for five years made him know her better than she could imagine. Her habits, way of speech, and what she liked and hated, he had seen and memorised them all.

Anyway, he didn't care. He would flee if danger threatened his life. If he couldn't, he would obliterate it before it could. In the end, the situation never truly changed, nor did his mindset and priorities.

Without wasting a second, he followed her, leaving the city through another gate.

They passed through the vibrant fields filled with fresh vegetables managed by Tethys and Demeter -the two mutants wielding powers over water and earth- before crossing another vast wall.

So far from civilisation and deep underground, ominous darkness veiled his vision. Not that it could stop him. After all, he was a mobile nuclear reactor.

With an elegant movement of the wrist, a ball of terrifying heat condensed above his palm. The air sizzled, and steam billowed as it chased the darkness away.

Then, he resumed his investigation, following behind Luna for another two hours. And finally, he saw it, a billowing vortex of potent energy.

He squinted under his mask, preparing to decimate the creatures. Yet, he frowned instead.

Not because they were too strong or because there weren't any enemies, but because strange individuals curiously scanned the surroundings.

'Humans?' he thought, observing their capes that shimmered with faint energy waves, the wands adorned with jewels hanging on their belts, and the long, intricate staff held by their leader.

The large jewel resting atop the mysterious carvings running along the mystical metal struck him like a hammer. Like the insects, these humans weren't from Earth. They were invaders.

'Enemies.'

His face hardened, and his eyes narrowed into slits. In a flash, he retrieved the sharpened bone of the terror he had killed ten years ago and charged it with his energy.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

However, Luna hurriedly yelled, interrupting his actions and causing his shoulders to tremble.

"Keep the leader alive!"

Her words rang in his mind as a direct confirmation of his suspicions. She had been hiding something. He didn't know why, but he surprisingly felt... hurt.

'Am I not trustworthy?'

Why? Why was he thinking about that? He didn't care about what others did, only about his survival. So why was this feeling clawing at his heart as guilt did?

"Khhh"

He exhaled through gritted teeth, a surge of irrepressible anger turning his eyes blood red as his energy flared in the bone.

Simultaneously, the group of six turned to him, drawing their wands after hearing Luna's voice echo in the damp cave.

*"Are you a mage, too? The glorious Academy of Light Magic sent us to investigate this bizarre passage. We are not your enemies! Drop your weapon!"* The leader said, his tone confidant. Yet, a bead of sweat rolling down his brow betrayed his panic and hammering heart. He could feel mana coming from the man.

But his tattered attire and, most importantly, the hideous mask covering his face suggested he was a rogue mage. Your next chapter awaits on empire

However, his words fell on deaf ears. The original couldn't understand them. So, after charging the sturdy bone with potent atomic mana, he detonated its edge.

BOOM

Propelled by the deafening blast, the weapon darted in the men's direction before colliding with the ground a few meters behind the leader.

BOOM

Another explosion rocked the underground. Dust rose and billowed in a miniature mushroom cloud as the heat vaporised the bone and the leader's five subordinates.

Shocked by the swift assault, the leader lost his chance to protect himself. Worse, the shockwave blew his body towards the assailant and burned his back.

*"Ice ramp!"* He roared, channelling his mana into his circuit. A split second later, an icy construct materialised. Using it, he controlled his trajectory to land to the side instead of before the ominous masked man.

With fluid movements, he rolled back to his feet, his wary eyes darting left and right to understand his situation, only to feel an icy shiver run down his spine the next second.

His men were gone, ashes replacing them. But the most appalling thing was that the vortex... It was gone as well.