The first reincarnated.

A black void—nothing to hear, nothing to see, nothing to smell, nothing to feel. Yet, the dark place held a bright light in the midst of the darkness. A purplish-gray bonfire, without wood or any kind of fuel, illuminated the scene.

A woman's figure, lacking defining characteristics, her skin as black as coal, entered the space. She glanced around, her expression, movements, and voice serene like a clear sky at dawn.

She approached the bonfire, drawn by its color and a familiar sensation. Sitting down near the purple glow, she reclined, gazing into the darkness. A soft smile emerged in the obscurity.

"Am I dead?... It's a beautiful sight. So peaceful..."

The bonfire made no sound; its warmth eluded her. She raised a hand to examine herself, her expression distant. Then she closed her hand forcefully.

"I remember... I remember I was talking on the phone... That piece of garbage... he abandoned me. After years of friendship, he just left. He couldn't take it anymore."

The woman laughed with frustration, turning her head toward the bonfire.

"How could he dare raise his voice... to claim that I mistreated him? I was so close to taking a chance to... control everything, and he just... left! Once I get my hands on him." She raised her hands to the sky while still lounging.

"I will wipe that smile off his face."

She clenched her hands with hatred. The satisfaction she imagined in her head was chilling, capable of unsettling even the purest souls. Her narrowed eyes conveyed unrelenting animosity toward the man.

"What a despicable excuse for a person he was; his nickname was even Chump. The next time I see him, I will break every single bone. I will make him beg for mercy. I will make him acknowledge his place as a toy, as the little stubborn moron that he is."

However, in the end, she merely stretched her body, her gaze fixed on the unchanging flame, devoid of any sensation.

She concluded her brief tirade, yet nothing changed. Minutes, hours, days passed indiscernibly. She was unable to tell how much time had elapsed. Her thoughts pondered endless possibilities, but most importantly, she yearned to sleep.

At times, she spoke; at times, she shifted position. But her efforts were in vain—the void was boundless. She believed this to be the end of everything, the afterlife, as she understood it.

Or so she thought.

A new sound shattered the silence, transporting her back to the bonfire she had left. It was a voice—no, an ominous voice, a chorus of multiple feminine voices in perfect harmony. This entity was distinct, far from human.

Some carried the vibrant energy untainted by puberty, while others bore the weight of years of experience. Some emanated composure, a resolute clarity, while others conveyed carefreeness, the patience of a saint.

The unnatural voice posed a question to the woman.

"Would you like to become a god, to wield the power to shape your destiny?"

The woman lay there in silence. Although she clearly heard the voice, she made no sound—no heartbeat, no breath, not even a flutter of her eyelids. After a while, the woman hissed, her annoyance palpable, yet her tone remained unchanged.

"I would inflict pain upon those who have wronged me. I would make them suffer to understand the true nature of death... No, I would force them to kneel before me, to obey my will, to become my puppets, my playthings. I would have the world truly know me and fear me."

Her gaze remained fixed on the bonfire.

"I would gladly accept, without a doubt."

The omniscient voice wasted no time in responding. It seemed satisfied with her resolute answer.

"Very well, Child of the Earth. I am the goddess of this universe. You shall receive my gift, my blessing, and once again walk among mortals. I anticipate great events from you."

The bonfire enveloped her body like a gentle blanket. After a brief moment, it melded with her. The black skin began to crack slowly, spreading from her torso outward. The woman closed her eyes, prepared for this transition. As the skin fissured, the entire void was flooded with a brilliant white light.

"All vitals seem to be in order..."

"Her hair is changing; the Remnant is flowing through her..."

"The soul is accepting her, becoming the host..."

Multiple voices could be heard, a cacophony of age and gender, discordant and chaotic.

"Sir, she is awakening... The reincarnation process was successful!" a masculine voice reported.

Another voice responded, "Finally, after the third attempt..." Two claps followed. "Alright, everyone out of the room. Summon the maidens to bring her new attire. Also, bring Betanya in."

"Of course, si—" "Can all of you please be quiet?! My head..." the woman shouted.

She groaned uncomfortably, feeling as though she had dreamt for a thousand years. She attempted to move her arms, but they felt unresponsive, as did her legs. She strained to look around, panic taking hold.

Then realization dawned upon her.

"Where am I? What is happening?"

All she could hear in response were hurried footsteps leaving the room. She could barely discern two sets of breaths within the room, one of which was her own.

"Where are you all going?"

She was lying on a ritual bed at the center of the room.

The room itself was an amalgamation of contrasts. On one side, the decor was simple. The floor consisted of laminated wood, decorated columns adorned the walls, featuring intricate floral patterns made from silver-like material.

The other half of the room, however, was dominated by a massive tree trunk that served as a wall. Enormous purple flowers hung from the ceiling, large enough to accommodate a humanoid from another world.

Most importantly, one of the flowers was open, releasing amber liquid onto the floor. Roots from the tree trunk had broken through the floor and were connected to the bed.

A tremulous feminine voice spoke to her from beside her, though her eyes struggled to perceive much.

"H-Hello, miss. C-Can you hear me? P-Please don't panic. Your soul is adjusting to its new body. P-Please, can you s-state your name for us?"

"My name... My name is Sharlindra."