I am dead.
Yes, I am literally dead, the king I faithfully served ordered my execution.
I was decapitated.
The moment my head fell, my heart didn't stop beating, and I was still conscious.
Now, it felt like I had been transported to a strange place, it seemed like my head was still attached to my neck, but I felt like I no longer had my head on my shoulders here.
The decor of the place reminded me of those grand castles from ancient China, filled with strange decorations, paintings with images of dragons painted in Chinese ink, demons reminiscent of Ashura, etc.
If someone had told me this place was a place of worship, I would have believed it. The Chinese touch wasn't the only thing, no, the castle was like a blend of mysticism from different cultures, from Nzambi ya Pungu to Yoruba, Yomu deities, Japanese and Chinese deities, Greek, Nordic, or Mesopotamian, etc.
Apart from the decorations, the room I was in had a certain presence, but the most unsettling thing was that at the back, on a throne, sat a being with a terrifying presence, so much so that I immediately kneeled.
I felt like I was losing my mind, my thoughts were agitated.
If someone had told me this being was a god, well, I would have believed it.
This being appeared to be a man in his twenties, with white hair and black eyes, dressed in simple black attire, and he sighed when he saw me.
"This one doesn't understand, really, he doesn't understand."
I was speechless, I had died. Instead of being led to heaven in joy or bliss, or being reincarnated, I was kneeling in front of this man.
"So you still found a way to die for nothing?"
I had no words to defend myself, the king killed me just because he wanted to, no noble cause, no plot, no betrayal, I was just killed.
"It's really troubling, with all the experience you have, you lived such dull lives, it's shameful."
As a Transmigrator, this was my second life. The first time, I lived in a modern world, around 2020, in my fifties. I hadn't accomplished anything great and I died because of COVID-19. Then, I don't know how, but I found myself in a fantasy world in the body of a stranger, so I worked diligently.
I was noticed by the king and became one of his close collaborators. If I had died sacrificing myself for him or for the kingdom, I would have had no objections, but instead, I was humiliated and decapitated on a whim.
"..."
"This one doesn't like your personality, how could a descendant of the Celestial Demon live like this?"
Listening to him speak, I learned that I was his descendant, the descendant of the Celestial Demon. I was too afraid of being killed on a whim, this time I was sure that no reincarnation or transmigration would be possible. So, I raised my hand, intending to ask for permission to speak.
"Oh, raise your head, this one grants you the floor."
I slightly straightened up and asked my question to the Celestial Demon.
"Are you behind my transmigration to this world?"
He looked at me, I felt a chill deep in my being, it was as if, in front of him, I was an open book.
"Somewhat, but to be more precise, it comes from your nature, you are a blasphemer to the heavens. Therefore, you could not join the paradise of the lower district, so your soul followed the path this one has set for cases like yours."
I was terrified at the thought that one could play so carelessly with people's souls, so this was a god.
"It's a matter of pride, how could this one allow the heavens to play with what belongs to him? But honestly, this one didn't think you would live so pathetically in your new life."
I didn't really understand what he was talking about, but if such a being said it, there must have been some truth to it.
"I see, so what do you intend to do with me, my lord?" I asked.
He smiled.
"This one gives you two choices: return to the world where you were just killed and spread the glory of the Celestial Demon, or be erased. After all, it would be shameful for you to join the underworld, and reincarnation would be an easy way out."
Of course, I admit that I had lived rather pathetic lives. I thought if everything ended there, it would be fine, but the prospect of being erased was presented, and an unknown fear overwhelmed me. There was nothing better than existing, even if it cost me my soul. Coming back was the choice to make.
"This one sees your choice has been made!"
"Yes, my lord, I would like to live again."
The Celestial Demon rose from his throne, and the room vibrated as if the place itself was excited at the thought of its owner exercising his power.
I felt as if everything here was watching me. Had these paintings developed eyes? My presence was not even comparable to a grain of sand, not even a point, it was as if I didn't even exist, I was overwhelmed.
Just as I was about to lose myself, the voice of the Celestial Demon kept my mind intact.
"Do not fear, and learn."
"Celestial Demon is not a simple title, it is not a title earned by merit, or inherited by kinship. For now, it is the only thing this one can teach you.
This one will give you the seed, it is up to you to make it bloom."
"All the knowledge will be engraved in your soul. As you become capable, you will be able to draw from this knowledge."
I felt strange knowledge being engraved into me, but beyond that, I didn't feel anything particularly special.
And finally, the Celestial Demon came face to face with me.
"Now go, wield the power, and live a life worthy of you."
Before I could say anything, I was expelled.
My head rolled across the floor.
The executioner who had carried out my decapitation walked over to pick it up and continue with the proceedings.
The crowd, gathered, had various expressions. It was a public execution of an important figure, the king himself was present, after all, he had this for his own amusement.
But the executioner, whose face was hidden, observed the crowd, which had gone silent. He didn't understand why they wore such terrified, horrified, shocked faces... Sure, he was an executioner, but it was the first time he had seen such a reaction.
He held my head in his hands, and he sensed something was wrong because the head simply melted. He saw at his feet, where the head had melted, a pool of blood. Then he noticed a shadow; something had risen behind him.
Someone in the crowd whispered: "A demon."
Yes, the person he had just executed, me, had come back to life after being decapitated. This was not the effect of magic or a sacred spell.
As if I had practiced this scene thousands of times, instinctively, I breathed in, took in air, and as I exhaled…
I heard people running away noisily, my hearing was extremely sharp. Some were shouting: "Call the knights, evacuate the king, we need to understand the situation, it's a monster, capture him, etc."
…I walked, no, I took a step forward.
Not from the Celestial Demon.
As if the world had shaken with that one step, the scaffold was destroyed, people were thrown into the air before crashing violently. Everything in the great square was destroyed, and many died, the luckiest ones were severely injured.
It was as if a localized earthquake of great magnitude had been triggered at that spot for an instant.
In his room, the Celestial Demon wore a smile, as if what he was seeing in the distance pleased him.
"This one will call this, the descent of the heavenly demon."