Chapter no. 1

Word's counted - 1100

Chapter 1: The Courts of Soul

The vast courtroom stretched endlessly, its marble floors gleaming faintly under the eerie light of an unseen source. The walls seemed alive, swirling with celestial and infernal energy. At the center, an imposing bench loomed high, where two spectral figures sat—one male, one female. Their robes shimmered with a blend of gold and obsidian, signifying their authority over both the celestial and infernal realms.

Bound in chains, Ash, a recently deceased young man, stood at the center of the courtroom. His eyes darted nervously between the ghostly judges, his movements hindered by the heavy chains that glowed faintly with ethereal energy.

Male Judge:

"Ah, Ash. Welcome to the Courts of Heaven and Hell," he said, his voice deep and echoing with authority.

Ash flinched at the sudden address. (Courts of Heaven and Hell? Why does that sound like something out of a wuxia& Xianxia novel?) he muttered, trying to adjust his stance but failing due to the restrictive chains. "Court... But why am I being bound in chains?"

The woman next to the male judge chuckled softly, her voice melodious yet sharp. "Because it's more dramatic that way, don't you think? Adds flair."

"Flair? I'm dead! Shouldn't there be some… I don't know… respect for the departed?" Ash retorted, his frustration evident.

The male judge raised an eyebrow and pulled out a massive ledger. Its pages flipped open on their own, stopping at a specific point. He scanned it for a moment before letting out an impressed whistle.

Male Judge:"Well, now. I must say, I'm impressed."

Ash's curiosity piqued despite his fear. "Impressed? By what?"

Male Judge: "Oh, you're still here," the man said distractedly, his eyes glued to the page.

"What do you mean I'm still here? I'm literally chained and can't move! How would I leave?" Ash snapped, struggling futilely against the glowing restraints.

"Oops, sorry about that," the female judge said, flicking her fingers. The chains loosened slightly, enough to allow Ash a bit of movement. "He forgets these little details sometimes."

Male Judge:"Anyway," the man continued, ignoring the exchange, "your karma record is fascinating. Your good and bad deeds are nearly… null."

Ash blinked in confusion. "Null? What does that mean?"

The male judge leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "You see, the Almighty has given us his rules. We judge souls based on their deeds during life, weighing their good and evil actions to decide their fate—heaven or hell. It's all very fair."

Female Judge: "Yes, yes. Dharma, morality, purpose, duty, all that jazz," she chimed in, waving her hand dismissively. "Basically, live a good life, worship, pray, don't kill unnecessarily, help others, blah, blah, blah."

Ash frowned. "That sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare. What about accidents? Or, like, morally gray situations?"

Male Judge:"Would you kindly not interrupt while I'm explaining?" the man snapped, his voice taking on a sharper edge.

Ash:"Sorry…"

Male Judge:"Thank you. Now, as I was saying, these rules are universal and just. Even actions like killing are judged based on context. A soldier defending their country, for example, isn't penalized for their actions. It's all about dharma. Your personal purpose or duty. A butcher killing animals or a researcher researching a living body, what they are doing is their duty so we cannot judge based on that."

Ash:"So… it's not just about actions, but intent and context?"

Female Judge:"Exactly! It's not rocket science," she said with a grin. "But in your case…" She gestured to the book in the male judge's hands.

Male Judge: "Right. As I said, your deeds are close to null. No significant evil, but no extraordinary good either. It's fascinating."

Ash frowned. "How is that possible?"

The male judge gave a small shrug. "You were only 16 when you died. Children under the age of 7 aren't judged at all. After that, your actions were normal for your age. Typical contradictions—good deeds here, minor bad ones there. But it gets interesting after age 9."

Female Judge:"Oh, yes! The anime phase," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Ash:"What does anime have to do with anything?" he asked, his voice rising with indignation.

Male Judge:"Your record notes that you spent most of your free time watching anime, reading manga, and daydreaming. These aren't considered evil deeds, but… let's just say there are some embarrassing details."

Female Judge:"Like that one time you—"

Male Judge:

"Enough," he interrupted, shooting her a warning glance. He turned back to Ash. "In short, you've left us with little to judge. Your life ended before you could truly make a mark."

Ash's shoulders sagged. "So… what happens now?"

The male judge closed the ledger with a resounding thud. "You're being given a second chance. Reincarnation, transmigration, possession, regression—take your pick."

Ash's eyes widened. "Wait, what? I get to choose?"

Female Judge:

"Lucky you. Most souls don't get this privilege. So, what'll it be?"

Ash hesitated, emotions swirling within him. "Regression sounds tempting… but no. I don't want to disturb the people I left behind. They've moved on even before i die." His voice cracked slightly, but he steadied himself. "I'll go with transmigration."

The male judge nodded approvingly. "Good choice."

Female Judge:"Oh, this is going to be fun. Any preferences for a 'cheat' to help you in your new life?"

Ash thought for a moment. "I watched a lot of Bleach before I died. Something related to that would be cool."

The female judge whispered something in the male judge's ear, her expression mischievous. He nodded and turned back to Ash.

Male Judge:"Done. Your system will have abilities inspired by Bleach. And your destination…" He glanced at the woman beside him. "You'll be transmigrated into a world created by her. A certain Miss Vanessa, the pregnant villainous princess."

Ash blinked. "Wait… is that a novel?"

Female Judge:"No! Well… maybe," she said, looking sheepish.

Before Ash could protest further, his vision blurred, and the courtroom faded away.

After Ash disappeared, the male judge turned to the woman with a sigh. "Didn't I tell you to finish that novel before using it for transmigrations? Now you've sent him into an incomplete world."

The woman grinned. "Guess I'll just have to finish it now, won't I? After all I now have a helper."