Chapter 2

In the unfathomable darkness, a shapeless soul began to take form, gradually restoring its long-lost essence. However, this soul remained a canvas of obsidian, marred by a solitary light-colored shard, like an ill-fitting puzzle piece. This shard did little to obscure the seething hatred that consumed the soul, now given humanoid form.

As its eyes flickered open, it gazed upon the abyss that surrounded it, mirroring the profound darkness that had entrenched its heart. Hatred coursed through its being, an emotion only partially eclipsed by a lingering trace of love—an emotion that had driven it to endure immense suffering even within the Void.

[Welcome, Human]

A voice resonated, distinct from the soul's isolation, materializing from the depths of the formless void. It manifested as a black orb, an enigma akin to a miniature black hole, bearing an inexplicable aura.

"Tell me, where are they?"

The soul demanded, resolute, as if it had always sensed an inseparable connection with this enigmatic entity, determined to inflict the same anguish upon those who had wrought its torment.

[Human, they are preparing for a New Karmic Vessel]

the voice from the black light being replied, drifting through the darkness.

"What is that? Tell me everything, leave nothing behind,"

the soul implored, its patience worn thin by the relentless torment it had endured.

[A Karmic Vessel, what you mortals call a Demon God. They prepare for that]

the voice explained, leaving the soul bewildered. Would this not challenge the very dominion of these self-proclaimed deities?

[Tell me, Human, what is the mightiest force in all existence?]

"Isn't it Power and Strength?" the soul ventured.

[You are naive, Human. If power were supreme, why would you still exist, even after your soul was shattered, at the mercy of beings who epitomize power?]

"Then, what is it?"

the soul inquired, recalling the moments when it had been crushed like an ant, its fate dictated by forces beyond its comprehension.

[It's Karma]

"I don't understand, what does it even mean?"

"[Karma is the accumulation of deeds, returning in kind]"

"Does it truly matter when one possesses power beyond such considerations?"

[Human, tell me what you think about the beings you refer to as Monster, Demon, or Devils.]

"Aren't they evil bei...."

In the boundless darkness, the Humanoid soul hesitated, its perspective forever altered by encounters with the beings it once revered as deities and the one it had seen as the harbinger of the Evil Abyss. It couldn't help but wonder if these malevolent entities, who openly caused harm, were more straightforward than the purported benevolent forces.

[Human, those beings accumulate a substantial amount of bad karma and then transfer it to the so-called 'evil' beings, perpetuating a cycle to maintain balance.]

"Balance, they harm others and then claim all good, only to inflict pain and rid themselves of their karma," the soul retorted bitterly.

[Human, from your perspective, tell me, which mortal has not taken a single life in their brief journey?]

As the soul listened, it hesitated, for it knew that even if mortals didn't directly take lives, they still interacted with living beings, whether ants, plants, fish, or animals, treating life with varying degrees of disregard.

[At least, you are astute, Human. It's this simple: you are nothing more than an ant. Does one need a reason to crush an ant?]

The soul gritted its teeth, once again feeling helpless, unaware of how it would be crushed.

"Help me then," the broken soul pleaded, its dignity already shattered.

[Human, stop being weak. Never plead to others. Take what you want. Now you are not a mortal soul; you are a member of the abyss—the entity that devours light itself.]

The soul raised its head as it heard those words, as if it had suddenly remembered its place. It regained its posture, one that showed no deference to deities.

[Good. That's it, Human. Listen to me carefully.]

The orb floated in the abyss, hovering around the soul as it began to explain.

[To create a Demon God, they need to choose a candidate. For this, those twelve beings send one of themselves to each of the twelve worlds they select. These candidates are born and referred to as God Children, or, from your perspective, 'Sons of Heavens.' And for your first journey, you will be sent to a world more similar to the urban Cultivation world, a world you mortals often write about.]

"What? Why would something like a novel world be included in this?" the soul asked, bewildered by the revelation.

[This is why I call you Humans naive. Do you truly believe that your brains can create an entirely new world with a unique system from scratch? Wouldn't that make you gods yourselves?]

"But isn't writing just creating stories and not real worlds?" the soul queried.

[If your brain can conceive of things that don't even exist, that, in itself, is a miracle, isn't it?]

"I don't understand what you're getting at," the soul admitted, growing irritated.

[Human, it's simple. The worlds you mortals write about are real. You merely gain knowledge of them through cosmic waves that carry some of their memories.]

"So, you mean our brains process this information, not create it?" the soul pondered.

[Bingo, Human. I'm starting to like you. You're quite clever for a mortal.]

The soul couldn't believe what it was hearing, but after witnessing all it had, it only sought revenge.

[Now, at least it will be easier for me. I don't need to explain much to you. You only need to know that while choosing the Karmic Vessel, these beings will make bets with each other using their Divine energy. The more they have, the more powerful they become. But if they lose, they become weak. You have two options, Human—either live your forthcoming life, accumulating strength that will transfer to you through all your subsequent lives, and then seek your revenge, or destroy their bets, which will weaken their power and then you seek your revenge.]

"My decision is clear. And about Divine Energy, will your Master lose his Divine energy if I, as his Candidate, lose?" the soul inquired, eager to know how much the entity that had aided it would suffer.

[For Master, these petty games are not worth his time. He simply enjoys resting. As for Divine Energy, he possesses it like specks of dust. The Abyss itself provides this energy, and he is its sole Lord, unfettered by Karma.]

"You mean the Abyss is like an energy source?" the soul probed.

[Of course not, Human. All things within the Abyss provide Divine Energy to Master, rendering him unfathomable and free from Karma.]

"What? But didn't you say no one escapes it, not even deities?" the soul questioned, feeling a shiver of unease.

[You are too weak to comprehend that.]

"..."

The soul clenched its teeth, hearing the same phrase that had led it to this point of suffering.

"I understand. Continue," the soul commanded.

[Good decision, Human. Now, choose

which body you want—villain, protagonist, extra, heroine, or any other. I will claim it.]

"I don't want any of those. Make me the richest person in that world," the soul declared.

[Human, that will require a substantial amount of energy, you know.]

"Do it," the soul replied, unfazed.

[As you say, Human.]

*Swish*

Once more, the consuming darkness enveloped the surroundings as both sources of light faded into obscurity.