Lucas's body dangled from the ceiling as he choked, and his legs were in a tangle.
His body flapped like a pigeon that had been trapped by a hunter.
His mind was overwhelmed with various thoughts that questioned his mortality.
—
I-I feel like I just heard a voice
Oh...I'm going to die
I'm terrified. What would happen to me after this?
But this is so peaceful.
Death isn't all that bad, in fact, the little pain was nothing but another price to pay for this tranquility.
Ah, I appear to be getting flashbacks.
In the park, my father and mother are sitting in front of me...
Oh, those lovely days...But I have to leave...
—
His face turned pallid, and his lifeless body hung from the ceiling in zero gravity. It was terrible, yet his agonised soul had last escaped, finding rest in this region of seduction and misery known as human life.
***
Lucas found himself in an immense chamber, its polished marble floor reflecting his own image under him, as his eyes adjusted to the dimness.
A gigantic screen levitated in the centre of the room, emitting an ethereal glow that showered the surroundings in otherworldly light.
"Where…Where am I?..."
A voice rang out from the darkness, resonating with a disturbing cadence that demanded attention.
"Welcome, Lucas, to the Plaza of Life," it said, its tone both hypnotic and disturbing.
The voice was velvety sweet, but there was an undercurrent of darkness and intrigue behind it.
Lucas turned his attention to the source of the voice and found himself face-to-face with a captivating beauty.
His features exuded an otherworldly charm, which was emphasised by his pale skin, pointed ears, and bluish-black long hair.
His crimson eyes were penetrating, as if they could see into Lucas' soul.
'Dude, he's super hot…Oh wait, f*ck, I am straight, I am straight!'
The individual was dressed magnificently, with a tailored coat with a Victorian flair and gothic grace.
The ornate ornamentation, dark tones, and superb craftsmanship of the coat communicated authority and mystery.
The long coat hung past his knees, adding to the eerie atmosphere around him.
His little figure was complemented by an attractive waistcoat covered in lovely motifs, communicating sophistication.
An immaculate white shirt with ruffled sleeves peeked out from beneath, conveying old-world charm.
Fitted trousers finished the ensemble, their immaculate workmanship enhancing his stunning figure with each delicate step he took.
A necklace or medallion strung from a delicate chain adorned him, implying hidden secrets or markers of his interesting origins.
He approached Lucas with his hands clenched behind his back and a blank expression on his face, his presence commanding attention and instilling a sense of interest and unease.
Lucas' voice quivered as he forced himself to speak. "W-who... What is your name? And where exactly am I?"
The events that had occurred had temporarily removed his memories of his recent demise.
The figure in front of him, with an enigmatic smile, responded with an alien voice. "Me? I am a departed soul, and you, my friend, have found yourself in a place where vampire souls congregate."
Lucas' expression was clouded with confusion and surprise as he tried to digest the information.
"Vampires? Enough with the joking... This had to be hell, doesn't it? I... I forgot that killing oneself is a sin..."
The figure's smile grew slightly, a glint of delight in his eyes.
"You make me laugh, Lucas. You have really died, but the domain you now inhabit is neither paradise nor hell. It's a data lake, a haven for souls once they leave their mortal bodies."
Lucas' mind raced as he tried to make sense of the bizarre event that was unfolding in front of him.
He asked another query, this time with scepticism and trepidation. "So... What fate awaits me now?"
"You, Lucas, have been given a duty. Your spirit will be implanted in my lifeless body. Oh, how rude of me! Allow me to adequately introduce myself."
He emphasised his aristocratic ancestry with an elegant motion evocative of noble bows.
"My name was Kleir la Brume, the second son of Brume's illustrious vampiric noble family."
"Was…?"
"I am dead haha!"
Lucas's scepticism deepened, and his voice became tinged with uncertainty. "Transplanted into your body? Vampires? Is this some sort of fantasy? Stop fooling around with me!"
Kleir let out a cool chuckle that was both definite and mysterious. "This is no fairy tale, my darling Lucas. Your soul will be transferred into my lifeless vessel, providing you with a second chance at life. However, like with everything, there is a cost..."
"Keep that life to yourself! I am not fond of living a second life! This…This place is rather peaceful…I would just live here!"
"Hoho…You behave as if everything works according to your own will…"
"W-What?"
"Life is beautiful yet why must you hate it?"
"It…It is beautiful? Sure it seems beautiful to those who never had to face any problems and never had to go through any questionable situations!"
"Oh my! Please don't be angry so much. No matter how cruel life is, it still has a meaning!"
"What the f*ck is that meaning?!"
"Haha! You will find that soon, just like how you will give meaning to my death!"
"Hey! I didn't agree to your shit proposal!"
"Lucas…You want to escape this cycle of life, isn't it?
"Yes…"
"You may be unaware but you have to go through 84,00,00,00 rebirth of species and then you have to gain humanity once again. Then you need to let go of the desires of the world to gain moksha, which is union with God!"
The extent of Lucas' trauma was indicated by his trembling form and haunting gaze.
—
Reborn for this many times and again starting as a human?...
This…This is true hell...
I-I don't want to go through all of this again...
Life is nothing more than a cave filled with darkness under the guise of happiness!
—
"Then comes the deal I suggested!"
"Huh?..."
"If you do as I say, you can escape this cycle of life and death!"
"H-How so?"
"God," The figure whispered slowly.
Confused, Lucas questioned him in the middle, "What?"
"This is a task created by God himself! Oh, how beautiful life is! My praises always belong to the God who created this!" The figure spoke, his excitement filling the room, with outstretched arms and an ecstatic voice.
"I-I get it but how does that affect me?"
"Oh dear Lucas, use your brain for once haha!" he mused while shrugging.
"If I had the brain then I wouldn't have died by myself…"
"Ah, that's true as well!"
"You know about what happened to me?"
"Of course I do! How could I not check your background before giving you the task of God?"
"But why me?"
"Because you are the most fitted to be the user of my vessel! Your circuits are too perfect for you to be living in the realm of mortals! As much as I hate to admit, the develop- I mean angels made a mistake by placing your soul in that world of mortals!"
"Realm of mortals? Am I not going to get transmigrated to Earth?"
"Oh, you seem to be interested! Dear Lucas, do vampires exist on Earth?" The figure's voice had a humorous and mischievous tone to it.
"N-No, they do not…" Lucas replied, his face etched with perplexity.
"Bingo! You are correct, they all went extinct along with elves, cat men, dogmen and a lot of other humanoid species!" His laughter reverberated throughout the cabin.
"E-Extinct? How?"
"Hoho! That's a story we must not speak about moreover the time's short on our hands! You will be reincarnated in another world"
"Alright but how will you help me escape from this cycle of life and death if I complete your task?"
"You see, as this is the will of God, he will reward you with anything you want! You can even attain the level of an angel! Oh, how lucky~" he declared with a gleeful tone.
"But how can I trust you?"
"Do you have any other option than trusting me, Lucas?"
Lucas' throat clenched, his Adam's apple bobbing with the weight of realisation.
—
How can I trust him?... There's little to no validity to what he's saying!
But…But as he says, I do not have any other choice…
Shit!
—
The mysterious figure in front of him had a broad smile that stretched across his face, causing his crimson eyes to sparkle with an unsettling glow.
Lucas stepped forward with a face of glowing determination.
"W-What is the task?"
The figure's eyes sparkled with eagerness, his voice filling with fervour and anticipation, each syllable vibrating with an exhilarating energy that filled the air.
"Kekeke! The task, you say? It's…Vengeance on humans!"