Reincarnation

[Word Count: 1277]

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It was not long ago that Leo had opened his eyes, and the sight that greeted him was the lush foliage of the surrounding wilderness.

In the distance, he could hear the faint sound of splashing. Was it a lake, a river, or perhaps an ocean?

Leo glanced down at his hands, only to realize that they were much smaller than he remembered. As he examined his forearms, he noticed bruises that marred his skin. The sight filled him with a mix of concern and disbelief. 'What kind of life was this kid living?' he wondered, his lips thinning with an expression of grim realization

Suddenly, a flood of memories rushed over Leo. The brief years of the child's life were tainted with neglect and abuse, a heartbreaking reality that he now shared.

Letting out a sigh, Leo pushed aside the distressing thoughts and resolved to keep moving.

With limited information to guide him, Leo devised a simple plan: he would follow the sound of splashing and explore where it led. It was the most prominent clue he had about his surroundings, and it seemed like a logical path to take.

Amidst his journey, Leo couldn't help but notice the sensation of the cool dirt beneath his bare feet. 'Another thing to add to the list, I guess,' he thought wryly.

As he continued, the sounds of splashing grew louder, transforming into the crashing of waves. 'So, it is a beach,' Leo concluded.

Approaching what appeared to be the edge of the forest, Leo shielded his eyes from the intensity of the incoming sunlight. Once his vision adjusted, he beheld a breathtaking sight—the sparkling reflection of sunlight on the vast expanse of the ocean. It stretched far beyond the horizon, seemingly endless in every direction.

'Impressive,' he marveled silently, simultaneously realizing his parched throat and the fatigue that plagued his muscles. The physical toll of his journey had caught up with him.

As he pondered which direction to follow along the sandy beach, Leo failed to notice a peculiar black sludge-like entity slithering toward him. In a sudden and unexpected motion, a tendril extended from the entity and made contact with Leo. In an instant, he found himself engulfed in an all-black room, his surroundings drastically transformed.

"What is it you desire, human?" The ominous voice reverberated through the enclosed space, filling it with an eerie presence.

Leo looked around, trying to locate the source of the voice, until his gaze settled on a makeshift face on one of the surrounding walls. The face, crude and unsettling, seemed to emanate an otherworldly energy.

"Hmm, I'm not too sure," the young boy responded, his voice calm and unaffected by the devil's loud question.

"Truly, Human. You disappoint me. Have you no wants?" The voice echoed with a hint of disappointment.

Taking a closer look at the room where the two voices conversed, one would see a small child with black hair, wearing a tattered shirt that was far too big for him. Despite his worn appearance, the boy appeared unfazed, sitting comfortably and cross-legged in front of the enigmatic being.

The being itself possessed an indistinct form, blending into the dark environment. Its eyes blazed with a blinding white, small black dots serving as its irises. Just below, its jagged teeth, some missing, evoked a shark-like appearance. It was evident that the being had endured its own share of battles, marked by its scars and the remnants of past conflicts.

"Not at the moment. I'm pretty content with what I have," Leo answered, his voice steady.

The boy's worn-out appearance told a different story. His face bore scratches, and under his shirt, one could glimpse bruises that would have stained a white shirt with dried blood. The origins of those wounds remained a mystery, known only to the depths of his forgotten memories.

"Those wounds. Where did you get them?" the being inquired.

After a moment of silence, Leo responded, "I'm not too sure. I usually forget them. I only remember when they start to ache."

"Hmm. If that's the case, let's make a contract then, human. In exchange for ridding you of your pain, I'll use you to carry out my will. Deal?" The devil proposed, its intentions revealed.

The being before the boy was a devil, a fragment that had survived a long-forgotten battle, seeking to forge a new path in the depths of hell. Revenge was no longer its desire, as it realized the futility of such pursuits. Instead, it sought to plan ahead, seizing the opportunity that the boy presented.

Rather than opting for the straightforward approach of killing the boy and taking over his lifeless body to become a fiend, the devil saw the potential for a mutually beneficial arrangement through a contract.

"No," Leo firmly declared, his voice unbothered but resolute.

The devil was puzzled by the boy's unexpected refusal. Everything about him seemed submissive, from his battered exterior to the almost lifeless look in his dull eyes. Where had this sudden determination come from?

"I don't know how I ended up here, but I know where I was before I opened my eyes in this place," Leo spoke, his words infused with newfound conviction. He looked down at his crossed legs before meeting the devil's gaze, a flicker of resolve illuminating his otherwise dull eyes.

"I came to the beach to either find a new way to live my life or to embrace death," Leo continued, his voice carrying a sense of purpose.

Amusement danced in the devil's eyes as it observed the boy

An empty vessel that acted solely according to its whims would have been preferable, but... If the boy's agenda and its own goals aligned, it could lead to swifter results.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The devil's sinister laughter filled the enclosed space, echoing and intensifying.

Leo crouched, covering his ears to shield them from the deafening laughter, fearing that his eardrums might burst under the weight of the devil's wicked cackles.

Eventually, the devil's laughter subsided, transitioning into wheezing as the room trembled in response to its weakened state.

"Ahhh, listen well, boy. I am the ⬜⬜⬜ Devil, a primal fear. I have been greatly weakened from a grueling battle with the Chainsaw Devil," it explained, taking a moment to compose itself.

"Now, let's make a contract. I will grant you my power to live the life you desire, and in return, you will help fulfill my dream," the devil proposed, its words laced with intrigue.

Curiosity gleamed in Leo's eyes as he inquired, "What is your dream?"

The devil's smile widened, its eyes narrowing with anticipation.

"My dream? My dream is to usher in a new era—an age of devils!" it proclaimed with fervor.

"An age of devils?" Leo questioned, his brows furrowing and lips forming a pout.

The devil erupted into laughter once more, the sound resonating throughout the space.

"Fear not, human. By the time this new age dawns, you will have long passed away," the devil reassured, a hint of mischief in its voice.

"By the time I'm dead, huh," Leo thought, a sly imaginary smirk crossing his face.

Pretending to contemplate the offer, Leo eventually acquiesced and accepted the devil's terms.

"Very well, devil. I accept your deal," he said, a childlike smile gracing his features.

A tendril emerged from the devil's gaping mouth, slowly transforming into a hand. Extending toward Leo, the tendril-formed hand awaited his grasp. Without hesitation, Leo reached out, clasping the devil's hand in a pact.

"It's a deal, then, human. For now, I shall take residence within your mind," the ⬜⬜⬜ Devil declared, its smile widening ever so subtly.