The first thing I became aware of was the coolness beneath me.
My eyelids fluttered open, heavy as if weighted by forgotten dreams, and I found myself staring at an endless expanse of water.
Not submerged, not drowning—no, I was sitting atop it, as if the surface had solidified into a mirror of glass just for me.
Ripples spread outward from where my legs crossed, faint waves lapping at the fabric of the simple white tunic that now clothed my body.
It felt light against my skin, a far cry from the bloodied shirt I'd worn in my final moments.
I blinked, disoriented, my hands pressing down instinctively to steady myself.
All around stretched this vast realm, an ocean without shores, under a night sky ablaze with countless stars.
They twinkled like scattered diamonds, their light piercing the darkness and dancing upon the water's surface in perfect reflection, where sky and sea blurred into one another.
But serenity was fleeting.
A sharp pain lanced through my skull, sudden and vicious, as fragments of memory crashed back.
Kotori's face—cold, unyielding—her finger squeezing the trigger.
The black mist coiling like a serpent, its voice dripping with false affection.
The bullet's impact, tearing through me, and then... nothing.
Betrayal burned in my chest, hotter than the wound had been.
I clenched my head between my hands, fingers digging into my scalp as if I could claw out the agony.
My vision swam, and in the haze, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the water below—my blue eyes, usually so steady, now flickering with violent purple hues.
Anger surged, raw and unfiltered, toward the woman I'd loved, the one who'd ended me without a flicker of remorse.
[Noah~]
A voice called, soothing and gentle, like a melody woven from moonlight.
It wrapped around the edges of my pain, easing it just enough to draw my gaze.
I turned slowly, the water rippling beneath me with the motion.
There she stood, a vision that stole the breath from my lungs.
She was beautiful in a way that transcended mortal allure—milky white skin glowing faintly under the starlight, long white hair cascading like a veil.
Elegant black horns curved gracefully from her forehead, not menacing but regal, framing a face of elegance.
Her form was clad in a dark, revealing bodice that hugged her curves with intimate precision, paired with a long, flowing white skirt that parted teasingly to reveal glimpses of dark stockings beneath.
Large, dark wings folded elegantly behind her, and black gloves adorned her hands, accented by red jewels that caught the light like drops of blood.
She moved with a seductive grace, each step sending soft waves across the water's surface.
[Allow me to introduce myself]
She said, her voice a silken thread pulling me closer.
[I am Nyxiana Mynn Evernight, the Primordial Demoness.]
Her words hung in the air, and I stared, confusion knitting my brow.
The pain in my head remained slightly, but questions flooded in its place.
"Where... where am I? What happened to me?"
Nyxiana's lips curved into a soft, knowing smile as she approached, her wings rustling faintly like whispers in the night.
She stopped a few paces away, the water undisturbed between us.
[You have died, Noah. Killed by the gods themselves.]
Died?
The word echoed in my mind, confirming what I'd feared.
I swallowed hard, the memory of that final shot resurfacing—the gray energy leaking from Kotori's gun, the mist's insidious command.
"God? Yeah... that mist. It called her 'daughter.' Was that... one of them?"
She tilted her head, her white hair shifting like liquid silver.
Her eyes, deep and fathomless, held mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.
"How did it feel, Noah? To be struck down by the hand of your own wife? The one who carried your child?"
The question pierced deeper than any bullet. Vulnerability cracked through my composure, and I looked away, the purple in my eyes flaring briefly before fading.
"Did you bring me here just to mock me? To twist the knife?"
A melodious laugh escaped her, light and genuine, like chimes in a gentle breeze.
It wasn't cruel; it warmed the chill around us, drawing my gaze back.
[Of course not, Dear~. Mockery has no place in this realm. I brought you here for a purpose— out of care, not cruelty.]
She took another step closer, the water yielding to her as if in reverence.
Her presence was magnetic, pulling at something deep within me, a thread of connection I couldn't yet name.
[Tell me, Noah—don't you wish to see Elena and Lia again? To hold them, to mend what was shattered?]
My eyes widened, surprise jolting through me like electricity.
Elena's lifeless form on the penthouse floor, Lia's teasing smile in the office—they flooded back, vivid and aching.
"How? They're... they're gone. Dead, like me."
Nyxiana's expression softened, a tender glow in her eyes that spoke of quiet understanding.
[They are here, in this new world. Reincarnated, their souls woven into fresh beginnings. Alive, waiting.]
"How?" The word tumbled out before I could stop it, desperation edging my voice.
"Where are they? What world?"
She closed the distance in a fluid motion, her gloved finger pressing gently to my lips.
The touch was cool, intimate, silencing me with a shush that carried both command and affection.
[Shhh, you ask too many questions, Noah. Let the answers unfold as they must. I will reincarnate you into a new body, strong and powerful. From there, your journey begins—to find them, to reclaim what was taken.]
Her finger lingered for a heartbeat, tracing the curve of my lower lip before withdrawing, leaving a faint tingle in its wake.
I searched her face, the graceful lines of her features illuminated by the stars' reflection.
Trust was a fragile thing, especially after betrayal, but in her gaze, I saw no deceit—only a depth of emotion that mirrored my own longing.
"Why are you doing this? What's the catch? No one offers salvation without a price."
Nyxiana's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and sorrow.
She knelt before me on the water, her skirt pooling like waves around her, bringing us eye to eye.
[Elena was one of my daughters, Noah. In the vast tapestry of existence, she carried my blood, my legacy. Every daughter is granted a wish by me—a sacred bond. Hers was simple yet profound: if anything should befall her, I was to look after you. To guide you through the shadows.]
The revelation settled over me, heavy yet comforting. Elena, with her sharp intellect and unyielding drive, a daughter?
It explained the artifacts, the secrets she'd guarded.
"So you're honoring her wish?"
She nodded, her horns catching the starlight.
[Yes and no, Just as you said, No act of true power is without reciprocity. In exchange for this new life, for the chance to reunite with those you love, you must revive me. Restore my empire to its former glory before the battle of Arsinya's Final Cataclysm descends upon us all.]
"Arsinya's Final Cataclysm?" The name stirred something ancient in my memory, a whisper from forgotten lore.
"Isn't that... the end of everything? The prophecy from—"
Nyxiana raised a hand, her voice cutting through with gentle firmness.
[Yes, You will be reincarnated into the world of the game you once played—Divinity's Will. A realm of gods and mortals, quests and destinies. But know this, Noah: that world is no mere illusion.]
I leaned forward, the water rippling softly under my shifting weight.
"The game... it's real? All of it—the heroes, the battles, the divine wars?"
Her laugh returned, richer this time, laced with a bittersweet edge.
She reached out, her gloved hand brushing my cheek in a gesture so tender it made my heart ache.
[Oh, yes. The gods crafted it as a game to lure the unwary, to harvest sacrificial lambs for their Ascension. Players like you, chasing glory, feeding their ascent without knowing the truth. In that world, happiness is a facade—the 'happy ending' you seek is scripted for their triumph, not yours. To claim your own, you must rise against them. Defy the divine order, for the sake of those you hold dear.]
The weight of her words pressed down, intertwining with the emotional currents between us.
I felt exposed.
"So what do I do? How do I find Lia and Elena in that world? What if—"
[Our time here is over]
Nyxiana interrupted softly, her voice a caress against the rising tide of my questions.
She rose gracefully though the hurry in her tone was visible as pure daylight.
Her wings unfurling slightly as if to embrace the stars themselves.
[But first, I name you my apostle. Through me, you will carry strength unspoken, a bond to guide your steps.]
She stepped fully before me, the air humming with latent power.
Her hands cupped my face with exquisite care—thumbs tracing my jawline, fingers threading into my hair.
The touch was intimate, charged with an undercurrent of affection that made my breath hitch.
Our foreheads met, a point of connection that grounded me amid the swirling unknowns.
Then, her lips pressed to mine.
It was no mere kiss; it was a transference, a sharing of souls.
Soft and lingering, her mouth moved against mine with a tenderness that spoke of deep, unspoken promises.
Warmth bloomed where our lips touched, a familiar sensation washing over me—like a memory from another life, a echo of love long buried.
My eyes widened in surprise, but I didn't pull away; instead, I leaned into it, vulnerability yielding to the trust she offered.
It felt like coming home, even as the world around us began to fade.
A torrent of information flooded my mind—visions of Divinity's Will's true nature, maps of hidden realms, whispers of alliances and betrayals.
Nyxiana's essence wove into me, a gentle fire igniting my core, promising power born of restoration and revenge.
The stars above blurred, the water's reflections swirling into chaos.
Her lips parted from mine reluctantly, her eyes locking onto my fading ones with a gaze full of quiet longing.
[Find them, Noah] she murmured, her voice echoing as darkness claimed me.
[And in doing so, save us all.]
Then, I vanished from the realm, the vast waters closing over the space I'd occupied, leaving only ripples in my wake.
.
.
.
The void reclaimed its silence, but the air hummed with new energy.
Nyxiana lingered, touching her lips, a sensual giggle escaping.
[Ahh~ This time... I'll make no mistake,
My Dear Noah~]
The air hummed with her power, a subtle ward weaving around them—ensuring no god, no mortal, no nightmare could pry him from her grasp again.