Ren found himself floating in the midst of an endless void. For anyone else, the suffocating darkness stretching infinitely in all directions would have been terrifying. But Ren was too lost in his thoughts to even notice.
'What the hell was that? Who were those people? How were they so strong? Their attacks were literally shattering space! And that kid... he seemed even stronger than the rest! And they transformed into terrifying beasts...' Ren's mind was a whirlwind of questions.
He couldn't tell if what he had witnessed was happening now or if it was just a glimpse into the past.
As he pondered, the void around him suddenly cracked open. An invisible force gripped him and yanked him upwards, pulling him into unconsciousness.
---
Back in the room where Zen was forging, sweat dripped from his brow as he stared at the figure lying on the table with a mix of exhaustion and excitement.
The young man before him was strikingly handsome, his body well-toned yet slender, with muscles that hinted at hidden strength. His skin, now a deep, dark tone, had an almost imperceptible shimmer, revealing the small black compact scales covering his entire body. His face, subtly textured with these scales, exuded a mysterious allure. Long, dark gold hair, laced with strands of black, cascaded down his back, framing his face. Two sharp horns protruded from his head, adding to his formidable appearance. Despite the fearsome features, his eyes were closed in a deep slumber, with long lashes brushing softly against his cheeks. Crimson lines etched across his body formed ancient runic symbols, trailing from his neck to his face, radiating an aura that was both ominous and majestic. Dark gold and black scaly feathered wings emerged from his back, adding to his otherworldly presence. His fingers and feet, though still very human, ended in sharp, claw-like tips, enhancing his overall predatory look. Even in sleep, the faint gleam of his razor-sharp teeth hinted at the danger hidden within.
"Phew, that was close. I didn't expect it to turn out like this. Now there are three souls inside one body. What a hassle. Looks like I've got more work ahead of me," Zen muttered, wiping the sweat from his face.
"But it shouldn't be too much of a problem, right? You added your essence, that should be enough to suppress them," said Qia, handing him a towel.
Zen accepted the towel and nodded. "For now. I managed to seal the wild one, and the other isn't causing trouble but refuses to be tampered with. The misfit, however, has settled nicely into the new body. But now I'm thinking... why not use the two anomalies to strengthen the misfit? A strong soul for a strong body, right?" His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"You're insane," Qia sighed helplessly.
"Not insane, just a little crazy," Zen replied with a grin. But then his smile faded into a slight frown. "Unfortunately, I don't think I'll have enough time to finish this. We have guests."
"Already, huh?" Qia frowned as well. "What do you intend to do now?"
"What? You think I'm going to stop this experiment now? What a joke. I'm sending him down."
"But he's incomplete!" Qia raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't matter. I'll send him down with a little gift. It'll take care of the rest," Zen said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Okay, but what about your friends outside?" Qia asked.
Zen smirked. "Well... I was wondering if my dear, darling wife wouldn't mind entertaining them for a while?"
Qia stared silently at his contagious smile for a while before sighing. "The things I do for this idiot husband of mine." She shook her head before turning to leave. She gently tapped the small dragon perched on her shoulder, which let out a loud roar in response. Then, Qia vanished from the space.
---
Above a desolate forest filled with towering, dying trees, a group of people had gathered. At the forefront was a giant of a man, standing over three meters tall, clad in golden armor and wielding a saber nearly as long as he was tall. The dozen or so people behind him wore armor of similar design but in a dull gray.
They stood above the forest as if waiting for someone.
Soon, a tear materialized in the sky above, and Qia stepped out, her small dragon flapping its wings behind her.
The golden-armored giant spoke first. "Lady Qia, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Qia smiled lightly. "Supreme General Jin. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Apologies for the intrusion, but we need to search your realm," Jin said, his face stoic.
"Oh? And why is that, if I may ask?" Qia's smile didn't waver.
"Your husband, Lord Zen, tampered with the path of reincarnation and took a misfit. We're here to retrieve him and bring him before the council for questioning, and to destroy the misfit," Jin replied.
Qia's smile remained as she shook her head. "That husband of mine, always causing trouble. I apologize on his behalf."
"So, do we have permission to search the realm?" Jin asked.
Still smiling, Qia responded, "Unfortunately, you don't." She brought out a beautifully crafted rifle and aimed it at Jin. As she did, her dragon grew to a colossal size, towering over 500 meters tall, letting out a roar that shook the heavens.
Seeing this, the soldiers behind Jin quickly drew their weapons, preparing for a battle.
"Very well," Jin said as he gripped the hilt of his saber. "Show me your moves, Goddess of Death."
Qia laughed lightly. "Of course." She pulled the trigger, and a massive beam of white light erupted from the rifle. The soldiers and Jin managed to avoid the beam, but the space behind them shattered.
As they regained their footing, everyone, except for the supreme General, still shaken, they heard a feminine voice say,
"Let's play."