54 Reincarnation

The air was heavy with the stench of blood and burnt flesh, the aftermath of a brutal battle that had left the field filled with corpses. Amidst the devastation of the battlefield, the black-haired man lay impaled to the ground, his body ravaged by injuries too numerous to count. Despite the agony he endured, his expression remained eerily calm, devoid of any hint of emotion.

"Cough, So my Prophecy was right again…" The black-haired man's voice was strained, each word punctuated by a cough that wracked his ravaged body. Yet, despite the agony, his face and his eyes remained eerily calm.

His words caught the attention of the red-haired man standing over him, his flaming sword still embedded in the ground. Tears streamed down the red-haired man's face as he surveyed the carnage surrounding them, the fallen comrades and loved ones lying motionless on the battlefield.

"Why...why did you have to do all this...tell me! WHY!" The red-haired man's voice cracked with anguish as he demanded answers, his emotions raw and unrestrained. The weight of loss and betrayal hung heavy in the air, suffusing the moment with sorrow.

"Do you want to hear the reason or did you want me to apologize?" His voice was steady, devoid of remorse or regret. "I'm sorry...it's all my fault, Hongjun. I am back to my senses now...please forgive me...is that what you want to hear?"

Ma Hongjun's trembling form froze at the words, his eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and anger but ultimately decided to stay silent.

"The truth is as simple as it is" the black-haired man continued, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. "To get stronger, their life force was the best nourishment for me to get stronger, especially that girl with the Holy Life Phoenix, her life force was terrifying, even stronger than yours"

His words cut through the silence like a knife, each syllable a painful reminder to Ma Hongjun, as he processed his words, he was consumed by a surge of fury.

"Shut up! Don't you dare mention Sheng Ba ever again!" Ma Hongjun's voice cracked with emotion as he unleashed a barrage of punches, his fists driven by anger and grief.

After the onslaught ceased and Ma Hongjun's rage subsided, the black-haired man spoke once more, despite the pain, he remained composed, his gaze fixed on Ma Hongjun with an unsettling tranquility. "Yes, that was her name... it was a mistake to absorb her so early. Or else, I would have had more time to absorb life forces, then I would have reached Titled Douluo and ascended to Godhood without a problem. But I didn't expect my brothers and sisters to actually betray me after I absorbed her…"

As he heard this Ma Hongjun found himself engulfed in a whirlwind of sorrow and regret. As tears streamed down his face, he couldn't suppress the anguish that gripped his heart.

"What happened to you, why did you change so much after you came back five years ago..." His voice quivered with sadness as he addressed the black-haired man beneath him, seeking answers. But his words fell upon deaf ears, as the black-haired man had already drawn his final breath, leaving behind only silence and the weight of unresolved questions.

Gazing down at the lifeless form before him, Ma Hongjun felt a profound sense of loss wash over him. With the passing of his brother, he was left in a world devoid of the companionship and kinship that had once defined his existence. The realization that he had failed to protect those he cherished most, and had even killed off his brother with his own hands, weighed heavily on his soul.

In a moment of clarity, fueled by grief and determination, Ma Hongjun made a decision. With trembling hands, he reached for his own heart, tearing it from his chest. Though his body possessed the resilience to withstand and heal such injuries, his depleted soul power and shattered spirit rings left him beyond the reach of healing. Yet, in that moment, he found solace in the prospect of joining his loved ones in the afterlife.

"Chenxiang...everyone, I'm coming to see you now" he whispered softly, his voice barely a whisper as he collapsed beside the lifeless form of his brother, embracing the peace that awaited him. And with one last exhale, Ma Hongjun surrendered to the embrace of eternity, finding release from the burdens of the world he left behind.

THE END

…

"THE END?! This can't be it!" A voice cracked with raw emotion, as the black-haired girl's tears flowed freely, her emotions swaying between sadness, surprise, and anger, she found herself staring blankly at the screen before her.

But before she could fully process her feelings, her sorrow morphed into a fiery rage. With a fierce determination, as she threw herself onto her bed, her fists pounding against the mattress in a futile attempt to release the flood of emotions. The blanket bore the brunt of her fury, absorbing the force of her blows as she kicked and thrashed in a fit of despair.

"What do you mean, THE END?" she bellowed indignantly, her voice tinged with fury. "I'm going to sue whoever made this game! No, whoever came up with this plot! I will definitely–"

Her attack was abruptly cut short by a sudden bang on her door, followed by a shout from outside her room. "Eris! Keep your voice down! You're waking up the kids! What are you yelling about at this hour? You're already 18 years old!" The woman's voice, firm yet tinged with concern, resonated through the door, breaking through Eris's thoughts. "You're leaving this orphanage tomorrow and starting a new chapter in your life. Do you want to leave a bad last impression on the other kids here?"

The weight of the woman's words settled heavily on Eris's shoulders, her guilt palpable as she realized the impact of her outburst. With a sheepish expression, she offered a quick apology to the woman who had been a mother figure to her for as long as she had remembered.

Once the woman had left, Eris turned her attention back to the screen beside her, as she found a new message within.

[Congratulations! You are the first person to successfully kill the Antagonist: The Corrupted Crow of The World of Douluo!!!]

[You have unlocked the hidden ending mode!!]

[Do you wish to download the hidden ending mode and play as a Hidden Character and try to change the ending?]

[Yes] [NO]

Looking at the message in front of her, Eris, still feeling a mix of sadness and anger, couldn't help but taste the bitterness creeping up inside her.

Resetting the game countless times, she had tried various play styles, from Auxiliary to Attack to Agility System Spirit Masters with different Martial Souls. Yet, despite her efforts, every attempt had inevitably ended in defeat.

Frustrated by the endless cycle of her own demise, Eris made a decision: she would no longer solely focus on increasing her combat power. 

Even when blessed with a God-Level Martial Soul, ten in-game years proved insufficient to close the gap and defeat the villainous bastard capable of taking on multiple Titled Douluo simultaneously, all while at the Spirit Douluo rank. Even the booster pack that elevated her to Super Douluo rank within ten years failed to prevent her destined demise.

So Eris resolved to concentrate on expanding her influence. This time around, she focused on building trust with the eight main characters, ultimately leveraging their support to negotiate with other major forces in the World of Douluo. Together, they formed an alliance strong enough to challenge and ultimately dismantle the Sheng Company, a nest of lunatic followers loyal to the villain.

Their victory over the company marked a turning point. With their combined forces, they launched a relentless siege against the villain himself. Despite the heavy toll it exacted, they finally succeeded in taking him down. Yet, victory came at a heavy price, as every member of the alliance sacrificed their lives in the battle.

With a heavy sigh, Eris couldn't help but lament, "What's the use of being a Hidden Character anyway? Even with the combined might of the entire world, we could only manage to bring him down together. What difference can one person truly make?" Her tone dripped with dejection as she still pressed the [Yes] button. After all, it was just additional content, if she ever felt like revisiting the game, she could always choose to play as this Hidden Character.

Eris then decided it was time to call it a night, feeling a flicker of excitement for the day ahead. The prospect of finally living on her own stirred a sense of anticipation within her. She had always dedicated herself to her studies, foregoing any social connections in pursuit of her goals. And while it meant she never had any friends, she believed it was a sacrifice worth making.

Her aspirations were clear: she aimed to excel in her studies, secure a good job, and ultimately amass wealth. Eris dreamed of a life of luxury, adorned with every piece of jewelry she desired. Once, she had harbored fantasies of marrying into wealth and living like a princess, after all, who wouldn't be enticed by such luxury? But as reality set in, she realized that no one had ever shown romantic interest in her, let alone a wealthy suitor. Undeterred, she resolved to forge her own path to success, independent and self-made.

With a soft giggle, she allowed herself to drift into sleep, ready to face the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow with renewed determination.

…

"Rena, thank you for everything up to now," Eris expressed, her face streaked with tears as she embraced the woman before her tightly. 

"Hmph, why are you still hugging me? I have other kids to attend to. Hurry up and go already" Rena replied, her voice trembling slightly as she pushed Eris away and turned her back, clearly attempting to maintain a facade as she ushered Eris away.

With one final squeeze, Eris reluctantly released Rena and began to walk away. She glanced back over her shoulder several times, waving goodbye to Rena, who stole quick glances back at her.

Suddenly, Rena's face contorted with panic as she bolted towards the waving Eris, her complexion draining of color. "Eris!! Get out of the way!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Startled by Rena's urgency, Eris turned just in time to be met with the sight of a speeding car hurtling towards her. Before she could comprehend the danger, the vehicle collided with her with a deafening bang, sending her hurtling through the air.

As she tumbled, pain searing through her body, Eris's consciousness began to fade. Through blurred vision, she gazed upon Rena's tear-streaked face, struggling to make out the words she was desperately saying.

"This...is the first time...I've seen you cry...Rena" Eris managed to utter, a faint, painful smile stretching across her lips as darkness invaded upon her senses, enveloping her in its embrace.

…

Slowly opening her 'eyes', Eris surveyed her surroundings with confusion. "Huh? Where is this place? Didn't I get hit by a car?...WAIT! I got hit by a car!! Aaaaa! Whyyyyy!" she exclaimed loudly to herself, cursing the reckless driver for an indeterminate amount of time.

After managing to calm down, she refocused her attention on herself. "I don't seem to be able to move my body at all. And what is this place, a cave?" she pondered aloud, her voice filled with confusion. "Huh, wait a minute, when did I have a 360-degree field of view?" she added, growing even more perplexed as she 'looked' around.

Finally, she managed to focus her 'gaze', directing it towards herself. "Ah! I have become a flower?!" she exclaimed in despair, studying her petal-covered form. Her petals were a stark contrast of black and white, with an eerie blood-red center at the heart of her flower.

After calming down, Eris finally resigned herself to her unexpected fate. "Why did I have to become a flower! This is not following the usual plot!! Shouldn't I reincarnate as a Female Lead or Villainess or even a Side Character? Ah! My Duke of the North and Crown Prince, I'm sorry, but you'll have to live without me *sob*" she lamented dramatically, her flower body rustling with emotion.

"So...what can I even do as a flower?" she pondered 'aloud', attempting to explore her newfound form. Suddenly, she felt something invisible surrounding her. "Huh? What is this?" she exclaimed, confused by the sudden sensation, which felt akin to being immersed in water. Without hesitation, she followed her instincts and began to 'drink' the water-like substance surrounding her.

As the 'water' entered her body, Eris suddenly felt a refreshing sensation wash over her. In that moment, a massive golden mole burst through the wall of her cave, its expression a mix of fear and excitement as it charged toward her with its mouth gaping open.

Instinctively, Eris reacted in panic, her body moving to 'drink' the approaching mole. The creature froze in its tracks, trembling with fear as its life force was rapidly drained away. Within moments, the mole became nothing more than a dried corpse, its life force absorbed by Eris, who experienced a sudden surge of euphoria.

"Did it just try to eat me, and did I just..." Eris questioned doubtfully, her 'gaze' shifting between herself and the dried corpse nearby. She couldn't shake the guilt that gnawed at her 'heart', after all, she had never harmed anything beyond an insect before.

"But this doesn't seem to be the same planet I have been before, after all, there is no such huge golden mole on that planet" she reasoned, coming to the realization that she might have reincarnated into something far more dangerous than she had initially thought.