Chapter 2: A Dream Reborn
Ren's world had collapsed. His sword had struck true, his vengeance had been claimed, and the Heavenly Emperor had fallen to his might. But the price for that vengeance was steep—far steeper than anyone could have predicted. With the last breath of the emperor, Ren's soul was torn from his body, cast across the Nine Heavens like a shattered star. His life—his power—was extinguished in an instant.
But even in death, his soul did not rest. It wandered, aimless and lost, passing through the Nine Heavens, passing through time itself, until it found its way into a new form.
---
Sixteen years later, in a small, humble village nestled within the mortal realm, a boy lay in a dimly lit room. Sweat dripped down his brow, his body drenched in the cold chill of his nightmare. His heart raced in his chest, as though it could tear itself free from his ribcage. A sharp, agonizing pain coursed through his head, the kind that felt as though his mind was being ripped apart by a thousand invisible hands.
His name was Ren. But unlike the legend of the Slaughter God, this boy knew nothing of the divine or of vengeance. He was simply a child, lost in a world that seemed indifferent to his struggles.
Ren's eyes snapped open, the haunting remnants of his dream still lingering in the corners of his vision. The faces, the blood, the chaos—it all swirled in his mind like an ever-looming storm. His breath was heavy, ragged, and his hands trembled at his sides as he sat up in bed.
"Not again…" Ren muttered under his breath, wiping his face with the back of his hand. His head throbbed with unbearable pain, but it was nothing new. For the past few months, since his sixteenth birthday, these nightmares had tormented him every single night. Each time, they were the same—a battle that he couldn't fully comprehend, a vast power he couldn't even touch. And always, always, the same ending: the fall of a mighty emperor, a brutal slaughter, and the feeling of something precious slipping away.
Why? Why was this happening to him?
Ren stumbled to his feet, his legs weak from the lingering ache that still pulsed in his body. He walked to the window, parting the thin curtains to look out at the pale moonlight. The quiet village lay before him, peaceful and serene, unaware of the storm brewing inside him.
For as long as he could remember, Ren had been ordinary—nothing special. His parents were farmers, struggling to make a living in a world that didn't care for the lives of the common folk. But despite his normalcy, something about him had always felt… off.
It wasn't just the nightmares. There were times when his senses would sharpen unnaturally. His body would feel lighter than air, as though he could leap across vast distances in a single bound. Other times, a strange, powerful force would surge through him—energy that he couldn't explain or control, but that terrified him when it did.
In every corner of his mind, there was a sense of something forgotten, something important… but he couldn't grasp it. It was like a distant echo, calling him, telling him there was more to his existence than the simple life he led.
Ren looked down at his hands. His skin was tanned from the years of hard work in the fields, but there was something unnatural about his grip. His fingers were long, almost elegant, and when he focused on them, they seemed to hum with an energy he couldn't name.
"I must be losing my mind," he muttered, running his hands through his messy dark hair. He had no answers, no explanation. All he had was the unbearable pain that came with each dream, and the nagging sense that his past life—or whatever this was—was something far beyond this mortal world.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps from outside his door.
"Ren! Are you awake?" a voice called softly from the hallway. It was his mother, her voice warm and concerned. Ren quickly wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to look composed as he opened the door.
"Yes, Mother," he said, offering her a small smile. But it didn't reach his eyes.
She peered inside, her expression softening as she saw his pallor. "Another nightmare, isn't it?" she asked gently.
Ren nodded, feeling a pang of guilt in his chest. His mother had always been there for him, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth. The nightmares were becoming harder to bear, and no matter what he did, he couldn't make them stop.
"You've been getting them every night since your sixteenth birthday," his mother said, her brow furrowed. "Maybe it's the stress from all the work we've been doing. The world can be hard, Ren."
Ren lowered his gaze, biting his lip. "Maybe," he said quietly. But deep down, he knew the truth wasn't so simple. He wasn't just stressed. It was something else. Something deeper, something that felt like it was tied to his very soul.
His mother smiled warmly, ruffling his hair. "Get some rest, Ren. You've got a big day ahead of you. The village will need your help with the harvest."
Ren nodded absently, his mind already elsewhere. As his mother turned to leave, he stood still, watching her go. The lingering headache from his dream made it hard to focus, but something else gnawed at him—something he couldn't shake.
What if those dreams weren't just dreams? What if they were memories?
Ren's breath caught in his throat as a realization hit him like a thunderclap.
What if he was not who he thought he was?
---
The door clicked shut behind his mother, leaving Ren alone with his thoughts. The thought that had just crossed his mind was impossible. Ridiculous. He had to be crazy. But…
What if it was true?
What if his past life—the one filled with divine power and godly vengeance—was trying to remind him of something?
Ren glanced at the window, the faint stars flickering in the distance. A burning sensation spread through his chest, as if something deep within him was waking up. He had no answers yet, but one thing was certain. This nightmare, this aching sensation, it was a sign.
He was about to be pulled back into a fate far beyond his control.
And this time, he would not run from it.