1 So I died...

I was asleep, I think... I think... No, that's not right. I was wide awake, in my lazyboy playing a video game. And I felt as if my mind went numb. It felt as if I had drifted into a deep sleep. But that couldn't be right. I was wide awake, and have chronic insomnia. It's why I was playing a game. It should've been almost impossible.

But then, how can I explain my current situation?

All around me, blackness. Like I'm looking at a picture of that vanta black stuff I saw a long time ago. So dark, it feel like I am staring at the sky. No movement, no light, no... nothing.

And then, I felt as if I was falling. But I knew I was not moving. It just felt as if some immense, intense force was trying to floor me. My mind was in a panic, trying to understand what the hell was happening.

And then, a voice called out in my head.

[Hello there, little one.]

At the noise, the immense weight simply vanished. I felt relieved, but my mind was still racing. Before I could even begin to form a question, the voice spoke again.

[You seem quite distressed, child. Unsurprising, given your cause of death.]

"WHAT?!" I shouted out as soon as I heard that. I'm dead?! How the fuck did that happen?! I was just sitting in my fucking house, and now I'm dead?!

[Soothe your wrathful cursing, child. Allow a moment, and I shall show you.]

I tried, and it was easier than I actually expected. I mean, I've never been much of an emotional person, but this was my death we were talking about! Why couldn't I stay angry? It felt almost impossible, after that voice asked me to calm myself. Why was the voice being so kind? I decided to wait and see what it was up to.

And the moment I came to that conclusion, millions of lights and colors filled my vision. Reds, blues, golds, and every other thing you could imagine. Colors that should be impossible, colors no one has ever seen. And then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, they faded, leaving myself looking at an image. It almost looked like a screen from a movie theater. Massive, showcasing something of great importance. And on that screen... was me.

It was me, as I was just earlier. Sitting on my couch, playing a game, not a care to be given. And then... The color distorted. The space around where I was sitting bent, and I saw a look in my own eyes, of confusion, and drowsiness. And then, my body was gone. The couch was shredded, the carpet scorched. The television had frozen, and the controller I had held was melted. None of it made sense, but it happened all the same.

[That, child, is the moment of your death. This was a mistake of cosmic proportions. An incident in space-time that should have never occurred. A fool in the distant future, firing a void-woken weapon for the first, and last, time in all existence. He erased himself, and his weapon. Unfortunately, the Void is a rash, foolish woman that one should never trifle with. And in her foolish anger, she accidentally targeted the correct spot, at the wrong time. And thus, you were erased.]

That was... Oh, this is just unbelievable. I was an accidental casualty? A god put a gun to my head and pulled the trigger? Are you kidding me?

My mind was racing again. I was livid, but at the same time, sad. I never even got to go to college. Nor did I get to do anything else with my life. No real friends, no loves, and a family I hardly talked to. I died because of a god, and I didn't even get to live my life.

[Yet.]

"What?"

[You haven't lived a fulfilling life. Yet.]

"You phrase that as if I'm not already dead."

[Oh, you are absolutely correct. You are dead. But I would not be speaking to you, if I did not have a plan for you. An apology, of sorts.]

Light filled my eyes again, and suddenly I was once more capable of moving. I hadn't even noticed until now, but within that empty space, I felt nothing. Looking around, I saw an incredible sight. Marble pillars extending forth from a grassy field resting beneath my feet. A small forest to my left, off in the distance a mountain on my right. A man and a woman stood before me. Behind me, several more people, of all sorts of races and types. Oddly, a few looked... not quite human. But I paid it no mind.

"Hello child. I believe I should formally introduce myself. I am the Imperial Creator, third son of the Emperor of the Cosmos. You may call me Fen."

On a reflex I didn't even know I had, I kneeled down before the man. I don't know what possessed me to do so, but I did. The aura the man exuded was one of supreme confidence, and one without a hint of arrogance. The aura of a benevolent, kind man. One who should never be angered.

"H-hello, Lord Fen." I don't know why, but a tinge of fear was creeping within my heart. I had never met a royal. Nor did I live in the middle ages. But I feel that even staring down a tyrannical king about to lop off my head was less stressful.

"Adam, do not be frightened." The woman spoke now. I lifted my head to look at her, and I froze. She was, without a doubt, the most entrancing thing I had ever laid eyes on. My body felt as if I needed her. Not a need of lust, or even a need of love. It felt the same as a man deprived of food, getting his first meal in weeks. I didn't want to love her, I didn't want to hold her. I simply wanted to be around her, to watch her in her endless grace. Words could not even begin to describe her... And then she spoke again.

"My name is Nemu. Though many know me as the Void." Light dimmed as she said those last words. Space shook, and a few of the gathered people looked unwell. If just her name caused such an effect, what was she capable of?

Just then, a thought occurred to me. And Nemu spoke again.

"Yes. I am, in fact, the one who killed you. Sorry. As such, I intend to make amends. Little Ori helped me come up with the perfect solution."

Just then, a small child stepped forward from the crowd. He looked like an average ten year old. Perhaps a bit muscular? And he seemed incredibly bored. "Hiya. Name's Ori. Imperial God of Games."

And with that simple introduction, he tapped my head. I felt a surge of cold run through my body, filling it in its entirety before dissipating.

"There ya go, Miss Nemu. He's all ready now."

"Thank you, little Ori. I will give you your payment tomorrow. Now, Adam. I know this is sudden, but... I am going to make you my child."

And with a touch of her finger this time, my body felt like an immense pressure was about to cause it to burst open. And then it did. Violent, unfathomable energy, constantly ripping apart and rebuilding me in an endless cycle. Bones bursting, shredding muscle and flesh like paper. Blood boiling, turning to ash, and then flooding forth once more. My muscles clenched, twisting and tearing themselves as they bent in unnatural ways. I felt myself die and revive countless times, knowing that my body was slowly changing each and every time. I no longer felt human. As I went through this agony, she explained.

"I grant you a shard of my divine soul, so that you may grow into one of your own making. However, you will need to start small. I'm afraid it will be some time before we meet again, Adam. My son. Farewell."

Unconsciousness took me.

...

In a dark forest, in a far off dimension, men and women were doing battle. A dozen, armed with little more than swords, dressed in green robes with black trim, clashing against a great force. However, their prowess was beyond human. One man moved, as if he was made of rock. Slow, heavy steps. Yet his skin turned away blade and fist without problem. Another, a woman, struck foes like lightning, each strike of her fist causing a thunderous roar, and each step casting arcing lightning between herself and the ground.

However, they were all, without exception, outmatched. Surrounding the twelve disciples, a hundred others, in simple red robes. Clearly, they belonged to some separate faction, and were thirsting for the twelve to die. A tall man with dark skin and wild, black hair moved himself to the front of the twelve.

"Blazing Winds Sect! Are you cowards so ill trained that you need a hundred men to take down even twelve of our disciples!? The Grigory Sect will not abide your foolish warmongering much longer!"

To declare himself further, he cast a massive spout of golden flames toward the enemies, unnerving them. Among the Blazing Winds Sect, it was hard to grow. Almost no-one present could take that man in a single battle. But, this was not a simple duel. This was a war between the sects. Cheap tricks were called tactics, and cheating was just being clever. It didn't matter how strong he was. He'd burn his Mortal Energy long before he could kill even twenty of them.

Besides... Looking behind him, one could clearly see that his team were struggling. Wounds tend to pile up, after all. And they had been fighting for hours. The Blazing Winds disciples began to creep forward. Many prepared various skills and techniques. They were ready to kill.

And out of the blue, a speck of space behind the Grigory Sect disciples bent. And from it, a giant, pale blue cocoon appeared. Within, a faint outline of a person was apparent. A thick layer of Mortal Energy was congealing around the cocoon with every moment. And then, it cracked.

With a flood of immense power, the world went white.

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