Kael Lunaris had never been particularly religious. His life had been a series of calculated decisions—some successful, others disastrous, but none that led him to expect anything grandiose after death. So, when he died, the first thing he noticed was how utterly normal it felt. No grand flashes of light, no angels singing in heavenly choirs, and no pearly gates awaiting him. Just… nothing.
A slow exhale escaped his lips—or was it? Was he even still capable of exhaling?
"Really?" Kael muttered, voice muffled in the oppressive silence that surrounded him. "This is how I'm going out? Floating in an endless void? I don't even get to be a ghost or something?"
It was dark. Darker than anything he'd ever experienced. Not in the sense of mere absence of light, but in the sense of absolute, all-encompassing void. If he had still had a body, Kael might have expected to feel the weight of it—his limbs, his skin, his heartbeat. But there was nothing. Just the weight of nothingness, pressing in from all sides. It would have been maddening for anyone else, but Kael found it... boring.
"Well, this is... boring," Kael sighed, already used to the idea of nothing mattering. "Should I expect something dramatic to happen, or is this it? Maybe a light at the end of the tunnel? Maybe some guy with a clipboard who says 'well, that's that'? I'm really not in the mood for waiting around."
The moment Kael spoke, a sudden ripple echoed through the void, like the air itself vibrating, bending, and contorting. A voice rang out, one that seemed to carry weight beyond human comprehension. It was calm, yet there was an unmistakable, unspoken amusement beneath it.
"You're awfully calm for someone who's just died. I would have expected at least a little bit of panic. Perhaps some existential dread, maybe?"
Kael didn't flinch. He didn't even feel the need to raise an eyebrow—he'd been preparing for something like this. He took his death in stride, why not an obnoxious cosmic entity as well?
"Oh, I get it. You're the big cosmic thing, right?" Kael said with a smirk, though there was no one to see it. "The one who sends me to the next stage. Well, congratulations, you've caught my attention. I've been 'wondering' if the whole 'light at the end of the tunnel' thing would make an appearance, but I guess it was just you."
"I am many things," the voice responded, "but a simple 'thing' is beneath me. You may call me... Eris, for simplicity's sake. I am an entity that transcends the limitations of your mortal understanding."
"Sounds nice," Kael replied with a bored tone. "So, I'm dead, huh? No more pizza nights, no more swiping left or right, just... this? Nothing?"
"Exactly," Eris hummed, the words feeling like a ripple of amusement in the dark. "Your life is over, and you have nothing to look forward to but endless oblivion. Isn't it... beautiful?"
Kael shrugged, already accepting the fact that this was the reality he now found himself in. "I mean, I've been through worse, really. At least here, I don't have to listen to anyone complain about their 'first-world problems.'"
Eris chuckled, though it sounded like it came from the farthest reaches of the cosmos. "I must admit, your lack of emotional response is... curious. Most would beg for a second chance, try to bargain for more life."
"Ah, but you see," Kael said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I've done enough bargaining in my life. I'm beyond begging. If this is the end, then so be it. It's not like I was living the dream anyway."
Eris paused for a moment, the silence stretching as if weighing Kael's words. "You truly are an interesting specimen. Most would still be struggling with the weight of death, but you... you are unfazed."
"Hey, if anything, you should be grateful," Kael quipped, "I'm making your job easier. I'm not the dramatic 'fate is cruel' type. Honestly, if I get to leave, I'm fine with it. If I get to come back, cool, let's make it interesting. Maybe I can have some fun in another life."
A long, contemplative silence followed. Finally, Eris spoke again, with a more measured tone.
"Very well, Kael Lunaris. You seem to be... unusual. I can offer you a deal. I can grant you five wishes, within limits of course. You'll be allowed to reincarnate into any world you desire. But make no mistake, your wishes must be well thought out. I will not grant wishes that defy the natural order, nor will I give you a shortcut to omnipotence. But I will give you power, if that is what you seek."
"Five wishes, huh?" Kael raised an eyebrow, amused. "Isn't that a little cliché? Like one of those old hero movies where the protagonist gets five wishes from some being with a questionable moral compass. You sure you're not just some cosmic genie?"
Eris laughed softly, a sound like distant stars colliding. "Perhaps. But you seem to have a sharp mind. Now, what are your wishes?"
Kael leaned back in the darkness, as much as it was possible to do so. His fingers twitched, and after a moment of thought, he spoke, his voice measured.
"First wish: A leveling system with a status screen,store and inventory, like in those games. Simple and to the point. A bit of control over my progress, you know?"
"Noted," Eris replied, "A useful tool for growth. Your second wish?"
Kael didn't hesitate. "Second, I want the enhanced version of the Soul-Soul Fruit's abilities from One Piece. Let me manipulate souls at a whole new level. Not just regular souls. Everything."
"A bold choice. I shall grant it, but be wary—such power has its consequences. Your third wish?"
"Third," Kael continued, "Give me the highest level of talent for handling supernatural phenomena. And the best understanding of training. If I'm going to grow, I need to understand it all, and I want to excel."
"Ambitious," Eris mused. "Very well. Your fourth?"
"Fourth," Kael said with a grin, "I want to be a Lunarian from One Piece. Make me like them—durable, flying, and burning with fire."
Eris seemed to hum in contemplation. "Lunarians... an interesting choice. Your final wish?"
Kael didn't even think twice. "Give me all the shadow abilities of Sung Jin Woo from Solo Leveling at their lowest level. I want those powers—the darkness, the strength, everything he can do."
Eris was silent for a long while, almost as if weighing each of Kael's requests. Then, with a sigh that could almost be heard in the infinite dark, the entity spoke.
"You have made your wishes, and I will grant them. But understand this, Kael Lunaris—you will not be invincible. Your power will grow, but so will the challenges you face. You will face enemies, forces, and obstacles beyond your comprehension. Be prepared. Now, choose the world you wish to reincarnate into."
Kael thought for a moment. "Well, I've always liked The Beginning After the End—the whole 'rags to riches' thing appeals to me. Plus, I wouldn't mind having a bit of fun in that world."
"As you wish," Eris said, his tone almost teasing. "Off you go, then."
And with that, the darkness began to shift.
When Kael awoke, it was not the vast emptiness of the void he found himself in, but something much more... warm. He felt soft fabric against his skin and heard muffled voices around him. A smell of fresh air and life—a new beginning(after the end)—swirled in.
Opening his eyes, Kael was greeted by an unexpected sight: the face of a baby. His white hair glowed faintly, and his red eyes gleamed with intelligence far beyond his infant form.
He was in a basket. A large carriage. Surrounded by people.
He chuckled softly to himself, his voice tiny but clear. "Well, this is a bit of an... upgrade."
This was not the life he had known. This was something entirely new.
And Kael Lunaris—now reborn—was ready to take on whatever challenges this new world could throw at him.