Nolan's life had reached its end.
Once hailed as humanity's greatest warrior, he now stood in the void of nothingness. The chaos and despair that once defined his world had vanished, leaving a silence in their wake. It felt as though he was suspended in an endless limbo, his entire existence unraveling before him in a cascade of vivid memories.
Sadness, hardship, love, friendship—and betrayal. Each emotion had left its mark on him, layering over time until they forged an immense crown of rage that weighed heavily on his soul.
It seemed this state would stretch on forever, until, without warning, his consciousness was suddenly wrenched away. He found himself in a small, weathered boat, barely large enough for four people. The vessel drifted across a dark, still lake, the water eerily motionless beneath it.
The air was cold, biting at him with the chill of the night. A dim, flickering lantern hung from the boat's bow, its feeble light casting restless shadows on the surface of the water.
In the distance, the mournful cries of crows echoed, carrying a haunting melody across the silence.
Looking down, Nolan noticed his hands—and his entire body—were translucent, ethereal, like the form of a ghost. Panic simmered beneath his calm as his gaze darted around the endless lake. The boat moved, yet it seemed aimless, as though driven by some unseen force.
"Where am I?" he whispered, his voice fragile and lost, swallowed by the stillness of the lake.
In response to his question, the air seemed to thicken, heavy with an unseen weight. The stillness broke as a figure materialized before him. Draped in tattered gray robes, it bore the unsettling head of a goat, complete with curling horns that gleamed faintly in the dim light.
What is this? Nolan thought, his gaze locked on the strange apparition that loomed before him.
"You were betrayed by mankind," the figure intoned, its voice deep and resonant, vibrating as though it spoke directly to the depths of Nolan's soul. "But what if I told you there's still a path forward? A chance to work for me."
Nolan's voice was barely a murmur. "What are you?"
"My identity is irrelevant," the figure replied. "What matters is what I can offer you."
"And what do you want?" Nolan asked, his words faltering as doubt crept into his mind.
Am I not dead? he wondered, trying to make sense of the surreal scene.
Is this... some kind of afterlife? A place where souls are judged? Or something worse?
The thought unsettled him further. Even in death, he could still be called to work? He had believed—hoped—that everything ended the moment life did.
"My journey is over," Nolan said finally. "I just died. Isn't that the end?"
The goat-headed figure let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "You're far too modest, Nolan. To believe that death marks the end of all things? Ah, how you underestimate the nature of the gods."
"And you're saying you can bring me back? Let me return to my body?"
The goat-headed figure tilted its head slightly, the lantern's flickering light casting jagged shadows across its unsettling visage.
"This world," it began, "is a stage—a place where mortals struggle, clash, and endure endless trials. For us, the gods, it is an unending theater of intrigue and drama. As its patrons, we seek to make the performance... captivating."
"Our lives and deaths are nothing but a game to you?" Nolan growled.
He felt the urge to clench his fists, though his ghostly form made the action impossible. Still, the heat of his rising anger burned all the same. The audacity of this creature—speaking so casually about the suffering of humans as if it were a passing amusement—made his rage boil.
What kind of gods could be so cruel? What kind of beings would take such pleasure in torment?
"Precisely," the figure replied, unbothered by Nolan's simmering fury. "But don't despair. I offer you a chance to defy this fate, to craft a new story for yourself. To live again, with all your memories intact."
Nolan's eyes narrowed, suspicion laced in his next words. "And what do you want in return?"
The deity's smile widened, revealing rows of unnaturally sharp teeth that gleamed in the dim light.
"I can sense it, Nolan. The hatred burning within you. The anger. The insatiable desire for vengeance." It leaned closer, its glowing eyes piercing through him. "That hatred will be your fuel. It will make your story... delectable."
As the creature straightened, its laughter erupted, low at first, then growing louder, echoing across the desolate lake. The sound shook the air, disturbing the stillness. The crows that had been perched in the shadows scattered, their startled caws adding to the chaotic symphony.
The goat-headed figure's form began to dissolve, its tattered robes and menacing grin fading into the mist. Yet its laughter lingered, reverberating through the night long after the figure itself had vanished.
The boat drifted on, aimless and silent once more. Nolan sat alone, the dark waters stretching infinitely around him. The offer weighed heavily on his mind—a dangerous temptation that seemed to claw at his very soul.
The future was shrouded in uncertainty, but one truth pierced through the fog: his journey was not over. Not yet.
After what felt like an eternity shrouded in darkness, a sudden glimmer of light broke through the void. The shift was so abrupt that Nolan barely had time to process it before his new reality began.
He was reborn.
In the warmth of this new life, he found himself nestled in the arms of a woman whose gentle face radiated love and relief. Her jet-black hair framed her delicate features, and her porcelain skin glowed softly in the light. Her eyes, shimmering with joy, locked onto his tiny, helpless form.
She is my mother…
Lily Walker, a woman whose prayers had finally been answered, cradled the miracle she had waited so long to hold.
"Oh, my dearest child," she murmured, her voice trembling with happiness. "You have come into this world."
She pressed a tender kiss to Nolan's cheek, her embrace filled with all the love in the world.
Somewhere in the depths of his consciousness, Nolan registered her words.
So… I was reincarnated…
His instincts took over, prompting him to test his surroundings for the Gaia Force he had wielded in his previous life. Yet he felt nothing—no energy, no power. It was as if the abilities he once possessed had been wiped away entirely.
Of course, it made sense. He had returned as an infant, a fragile new being with no strength, no control. Instead, his mind was bombarded by unfamiliar sensations: the discomfort of needing to eat, to cry, to... relieve himself.
Lily's soothing voice broke through his infantile haze. "Your name is Nolan, yes, Nolan Walker… Do you like it?"
Her words resonated with a warmth he couldn't help but find comforting.
Yeah, that's good, he thought to himself. At least I don't have to get used to a new name.
Nolan stared in silence at the woman who had brought him into this world. Her soft smile radiated warmth, and when she leaned in to place another tender kiss on his cheek, he instinctively closed his eyes.
To his surprise, he felt the genuine love and affection behind her gesture seep into him.
This is... strange, he thought. But this body seems to accept it, even find comfort in it.
The thought lingered in his mind, foreign yet undeniable.
"Nolan…" she murmured, her voice as gentle as the touch of her finger brushing against his tiny cheek.
"You're so quiet. Don't you want to cry? Let everyone know you're here!"
Her beaming smile was filled with joy and pride, a sight that tugged at something deep within him.
Feeling an impulse to respond, Nolan tried to speak, but all that came out was a soft, baby-like coo.
Lily laughed softly. Her finger traced delicately across his face, as though memorizing every tiny feature.
"Those eyes of yours are so beautiful," she whispered.
Then, as though sensing something in him, she asked with a playful warmth, "Are you feeling a bit hungry? Let me give you some love."
Some… love?
Nolan froze, startled by the realization of what was happening. He closed his eyes, already understanding the gesture and what it meant.
He felt the fabric of her clothing shift aside, and then it happened—a wave of comfort and calm unlike anything he'd ever known enveloped him. It was a pure, selfless love, the kind only a mother could give her child.
The warmth of the moment made him feel safe, even as the situation continued to feel surreal. But before long, the fragility of his new infant body betrayed him. He lost control entirely and, to his utter humiliation, both peed and pooped at the same time.
Damn… this is so embarrassing.
Lily, however, remained unbothered, her voice soft and reassuring.
"Oh dear, there you go. Let me help you get cleaned up," she said with a light laugh, already moving to care for him.
Nolan had no choice but to surrender to her gentle care. She gave him a warm bath, her hands delicate and patient as she cleaned him thoroughly.
I guess there's no way around this.
He certainly wasn't capable of doing it himself, and if he was going to survive this new life, he'd have to accept her help.
Though humbling, the experience left him feeling oddly grounded. For now, he was just an infant, dependent on the unconditional love and care of his mother. And in that vulnerability, he found a strange sense of peace.