Chapter - 1 : Another Chance
In the endless silence after the annihilation, Kai opens his eyes to find himself standing in a place beyond understanding. The world around him is vibrant, but it's nothing like the earth he's known. Swirling colors shift and dance through a space not bound by ground or sky, stretching infinitely in all directions—a kaleidoscope of existence within the cosmos. Stars pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat, planets drift by like quiet guardians, and nebulae swirl in a hypnotic dance. He stands alone, awestruck, feeling an overwhelming calm that clashes with the chaos he had unleashed just moments before.
The presence of this amusing surrounding hums, filling him with a joy he can't explain, as if every sorrow, every loss, and every love he'd ever known was being woven into a perfect, beautiful symphony. And as he stands, surrounded by the cosmos, he feels a strange sense of belonging, as if he had finally come home.
Then, a warm presence fills the space, and he feels it before he even sees it. A gentle, almost musical voice speaks, reverberating through him, touching his very soul.
"Welcome, Kai."
Kai's eyes widen, his heart racing. This… who could it be…?
Before him, an ethereal figure begins to coalesce. It isn't a person, nor does it have any definitive shape, but a radiant energy that morphs from moment to moment—sometimes as a blinding light, sometimes a deep, comforting darkness, other times a thousand shimmering stars. This presence is neither bound nor confined; it's everything and nothing at once. For a moment, Kai's breath catches. He feels the weight of awe and confusion at once, unable to find words for what he is witnessing.
The voice speaks again, calm and eternal, yet carrying a warmth that feels oddly familiar, as if reaching to the deepest parts of his soul. "I am the beginning and the end, Kai. I am boundless and formless, born from Eternity and Chaos, existing outside time and space. All that exists—life, death, joy, sorrow, even you—has always been within me."
Kai stumbles for words, but the awe has taken him over completely. He feels small, yet somehow seen, utterly insignificant yet deeply valued. "Are you… God?"
"I am that which you call God, yes," the being replies, the Almighty's tone rich with both understanding and mystery.
As a question arises in Kai's mind, the Almighty with a smile like face tells Kai that he had freedom of asking whatever he wanted, afterall the thoughts, teachings and so-called wishful thinking that Kai's world had were only limited to people of that world, an Entity like him wouldn't care much a about it. And so, Kai gathers his courage, and asks with a humble curiosity, "Then…are you the God of all religions? The Creator they worship?"
A gentle energy, a cosmic sigh, fills the space. "Eternity's creation is an enigma, even to me. My existence, if one could call it that, is the first ripple upon the endless waters of creation. Across worlds beyond count, I manifest in countless forms—different shapes, names, and natures that cultures and beings have given me. Each God, every holy figure, is but a fraction of my vastness, a mere glimmer that helps bridge the gap between me and the hearts of those who seek me. In your world, as in many others, I was once close, yet the human heart has grown cold, distant, evil. That evil—the collective corruption—forced the divine to sever, leaving no choice but to step back and await humanity's reckoning."
The God's words clear Kai's heart as he mumbles, 'All those gods…all those beliefs... only fragments of the same whole.'
Seeing Kai in confusion the Almighty talks, "And I have watched you, Kai, from the very beginning, through every struggle, every triumph, every loss."
Kai's heart aches at the mention of those he lost. "My friends…my family… Are they…?"
A warm light wraps around him, comforting yet honest. "Those you loved and lost are not gone, Kai. They have been given another chance, a new world where their bonds remain intact. Their lives, unburdened by past trials, are flourishing, for they lived with kindness, honor, and love. Your mother, father, friends—they have all been reborn in forms and worlds that mirror the purity of their souls."
A soft, faint smile crosses Kai's face as he closes his eyes, feeling a sense of peace he had forgotten. "Thank you…for granting them happiness."
"Your path was a difficult one, but your courage and determination to bring balance are honored. You bore the weight of a world's karma upon your shoulders—an act not many could endure."
Kai opens his eyes, gazing into the boundless, colorful cosmos that stretches in every direction, feeling the immense presence surrounding him. He finds himself in awe, not just of the power before him, but of the mercy and wisdom that guide it.
"And...me?" Kai's voice trembles as a thought comes across his mind, unsure if he even deserves a chance for peace.
"You, are a bit different, Kai. Though you carried out the fate that befell humanity, your heart was weighed down by the sacrifice of innocence. Though not allowed ever, I made a exception allowing the fragment of your Origin Soul to be reincarnated, bound to your family and friends still, placed in another world where friendship and family awaits.", the Almighty Replies.
A wave of relief and longing rushes through Kai, and he feels tears form in his eyes. In this boundless cosmos, he feels as if he can sense them—the faintest echoes of their happiness, the laughter of his fragment and his family living happily, somewhere beyond his reach, in places he cannot follow. He smiles softly, the weight of guilt slipping from him in that gentle cosmic light.
"You, too, have done well, Kai," God continues, an infinite kindness in the voice. "You took upon yourself the burden of justice, faced unimaginable pain, and sought to cleanse a world torn by corruption and darkness. Though harsh, your actions were born of selflessness, of a love for a world that no longer loved you back. You have served your purpose with a rare courage and strength. For this, you have my deepest praise."
Kai looks up, the pain of his past melting into a serene peace he had never known. He bows his head in gratitude, whispering, "Thank you… for guiding me, for all the blessings, for the life I had."
Sensing his thoughts, God's voice reverberates gently. "Kai, your soul carries burdens and deeds unlike any other. The choice to reincarnate you fully was not a simple one. For you wielded great power, enacted unimaginable consequences, and your heart bore the weight of a world's downfall."
Kai nods, understanding the gravity of his actions. He is ready to accept this, even if it means staying forever in this boundless realm. But then, to his surprise, God continues.
"But there is one who intervened on your behalf," God says softly. "Mother Earth, Gaia—the essence of the world you once walked upon, the spirit of all its life and beauty. It was she who, in her love for you, pleaded that you be granted another chance."
Kai's eyes widen, an unexpected warmth flooding through him. Gaia… the spirit of Earth itself… petitioned for me?
"Yes," God replies, perceiving his wonder. "Gaia saw in you not only the wrathful warrior who enacted justice, but the innocent child who once loved her fields and rivers, the soul who bled and sacrificed for the world. Your connection to her was profound, Kai; you fought not just for yourself, but for every creature, every blade of grass, every whisper of wind."
With reverence, God continues, "Gaia, as the God of your world, supported you. She saw your sorrow and resilience and, above all, the noble intent that fueled your actions. She came to me and asked that you be given one more chance. She saw you not as a destroyer, but as one who, though flawed and burdened, acted out of love for the greater good."
Kai's heart swells, and a feeling he thought he had lost returns—a spark of hope, an ember of belonging. "So… I was given another chance because Gaia believed in me?"
"Yes, Kai. With Gaia's plea and your karmic balance weighed, it was decided you would be allowed to be reborn. This privilege is no small matter; only those with the rarest of virtues may receive such a gift. Your past actions, though heavy, were ultimately forged from love and honor. Thus, your karma was enough to open this path."
Kai feels a tear slip down his face, a release of all the sorrow and gratitude he has carried. To have such grace after everything… it's more than I deserve.
"Kai," God began, "your journey is not yet complete. While your Soul Fragment shall be reborn to fulfill the karmic bonds you shared, your true reincarnation has been granted a rare chance—by the grace of one who has watched over you for lifetimes, the very Spirit of your world…Gaia."
As Kai processed this, a soft, warm presence emerged beside the Almighty. Gaia, the Spirit of Mother Earth, appeared as a shimmering form, her energy wrapping around Kai like the embrace of a mother.
"Remember this, Kai," God says in closing, a profound kindness in His tone. "Your new life will come with its own challenges, but Gaia's spirit will be with you always, guiding and protecting you as her beloved child of Earth. Use this chance wisely, for it is a gift not given lightly."
"Kai," Gaia spoke, her voice tender and affectionate. "I could not bear to see your spirit fade into oblivion after all you sacrificed for the balance of our world. So I pleaded on your behalf. Your karmic deeds, the love you held in your heart, have granted you this second chance. But not in our world—no, in a world beyond, a place of new beginnings where I will transcend as well and guide you from afar."
A flicker of wonder crossed Kai's face. "Then…I will be reborn in another universe? And I can live out my dreams, create my own story?"
The Almighty nodded. "Yes, Kai. Your karmic fortune is immense; it has woven the path for you to choose. This world you seek will be born from your desires, a realm of fantasy as vivid as the dreams you once clung to. You are destined for a universe where everything you imagined is real, where all the stories of anime, manga, and legends come alive. For all such worlds and existences are interconnected fragments of Creation and Chaos. What you believed was only imagination is real, alive in realms beyond yours."
Kai's eyes shone with astonishment. "So…every fantasy world, every story…they all truly exist somewhere?"
"Yes," the Almighty affirmed, his voice resonant. "They are all facets of existence scattered across the cosmos, born from the endless tides of Chaos and Eternity. Every dream, every fantasy, exists in some form, an echo in a universe beyond. They are real in their own way, as all thoughts are the manifestations of the vast Creation."
A slight hesitation crossed Kai's face. "But…my memories. If I'm to live a new life, will I remember any of this? My past, my friends, my family…"
Gaia's essence radiated a motherly warmth as she placed a comforting hand over Kai's heart. "You may relive these memories once more, if you wish. They are precious, but they must be left behind before you move on. This way, when you are reborn, you will be free of the pain that once burdened you."
Kai closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek. "Then…yes, let me feel it one last time."
As he did, a warm energy surged through him, filling him with the memories of his childhood. Moments of pure joy flooded his mind—running wild and laughing with his friends, the reassuring hand of his father, the gentle smile of his mother, the dreams of worlds and stories that had captured his heart. Scenes of innocence and adventure washed over him like a warm breeze, his past life playing before his eyes like a cherished tale.
In what felt like both an eternity and an instant, the memories subsided, and Kai opened his eyes, now wet with tears and filled with a sense of completion. He turned to the Almighty and Gaia, bowing deeply in gratitude.
"Thank you," he said, his voice full of warmth and respect.
The Almighty smiled. "Now, Kai, tell me of the worlds you long to see."
Kai began listing names, worlds from stories he had once known in his past life, each one carrying a piece of his hopes. With a simple motion, the Almighty conjured a great, shining wheel, inscribed with the names of these realms. It glowed with cosmic energy, independent and bound by fate, spinning freely.
"This wheel," the Almighty explained, "is beyond the reach of my will or anyone else's. When it stops, it will lead you to the world of your destiny."
Kai glanced at Gaia, who gave him a nod of reassurance. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he wished for a growth system to guide him, not one of overpowering strength but of balanced, evolving power suited to his new journey. In every world, Gaia would be there as his planetary guide, the spirit of the land that held him.
As the wheel spun, a profound smile crossed the Almighty's face. "Farewell, Kai," he said softly, his voice brimming with blessing.
Kai bowed deeply, a final gesture of respect and gratitude. "Thank you for everything."
The wheel's spinning began to slow, and a warm energy enveloped Kai's Origin Soul, unknowingly imparted by the Almighty—a parting gift to fortify his spirit.
As the wheel settled, its glowing pointer fell upon a name that Kai's heart had longed for. His gaze softened with joy, recognizing the world before him—Douluo Continent. Just as he absorbed this, his form dissolved into a spirit of light, his essence flowing into the ether, journeying across space and time with Gaia moving along.
In the endless depths of the cosmos, the Almighty looked toward a greater, omniscient presence, sending a gentle pulse of energy. And in the starry distance, an ancient being received the energy, smiling as two different Celestial rivers of Starry Sky merged i.e. Two Universes of Two Different Dimensions merged.
"Once more," the voice murmured, "someone interesting enters one of those worlds."
To Be Continued...