(A/N: Quick note before we start. This chapter has some heavy info dumping, but it contains vital information. For those who are impatient, I'll eventually move all this content into the Character Sheet in the Auxiliary Volume. Now, onto the story.)
I floated in an endless black void, my perception warped.
I couldn't feel anything. Every time I tried to string a thought together, it felt like something was deliberately shattering it.
I don't know how long I've been here.
The last thing I remember is a wave of killing intent… and then, this place.
As I drifted aimlessly, I tried to speak, to listen—anything to prove I was still alive. But there was nothing.
Was I really reborn only to be returned to the cycle so soon?
Is this the end?
Is this what it feels like… to be dead?
"You're not dead yet, little soul," a distorted voice echoed from somewhere unseen.
And then he appeared.
A man stood before me, clad in all black with golden accents. His eyes were an intense crimson, piercing through me. His grey hair should've made him look older, but his features held the youthful sharpness of a man in his twenties. Most striking of all were the two black horns rising from his head.
"A demon?" I asked hesitantly, taking in his form.
"Some call me that," he replied. "But to those in the lower realms, I'm better known as a god. The God of Evil. It's… surprising to meet you, reincarnator."
God?!
And did he just say reincarnator?!
"A god? Like the Sea God?"
He scoffed. "Let's just say I'm far more important—and powerful—than that disgrace."
I paused, before deciding to ignore that previous statement and asking, "…What did you call me?"
"Reincarnator. Is that not what you are? Your soul isn't cleansed—I can see it," he said, eyes glowing faintly.
I sighed. "I won't bother pretending, then. How did you know? You said you could see it… and being the God of Evil somehow helps?"
"My authority over evil doesn't mean I'm evil," he said plainly. "Nor do I particularly enjoy the company of fallen Spirit Masters. My domain encompasses all that falls under the concept of evil—emotions, actions, karma. My wife, the Goddess of Kindness, and I can both see karma. I can tell when a soul hasn't been purified before entering the cycle. And yours has far too much karma for a seven-year-old."
That made sense. But it also showed how complicated divine authority really was. I had always thought gods' domains were straightforward—like the Sea God or Angel God: sea, justice, judgment.
"It doesn't matter," I muttered. "If you're here to observe and judge my soul, that means I'm close to death."
"Actually, you're still alive," he said with a chuckle. "Not as close to death as you think. I'm only here because something imbued with a fragment of my divinity was near you, and I instructed it to find you. That connection is why I've appeared before you now."
"…That's convenient. But I don't have anything a god would be interested in—unless my Martial Spirit is secretly a divine artifact or something."
"Are you sure? Have you never felt anything strange? Something that sets you apart? Are you truly confident you're ordinary?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
His question echoed in my mind, stirring memories—my ability to sense emotions, my hypersensitivity to spirit power, the strange energy that surged during my awakening but never appeared…
"I see you've realized it," he said. "All those incidents come from the same source."
"And that source is…?" I started to ask, but he cut me off.
"Before I explain, are you aware of the evil attribute?"
"…Vaguely. From what I know, it exists only in a certain Devil Tiger spirit beast. It holds a shard of the God of Evil's divinity, which is why it can't appear as a Martial Spirit, right?"
"Correct. And you've just answered your own question. Martial Spirits can't possess the evil attribute. You have something that's stuck, something hidden. Yet you also display abilities tied to the evil attribute like sensing emotions, negative ones mainly. Do you know what that means?"
"I… I have an evil attribute Martial Spirit? But how?!"
"Simple. Your soul wasn't cleansed when you reincarnated. Anything once attached to it came with you. That includes your second Martial Spirit."
"…But that doesn't make sense. My old world didn't have cultivation, magic, or anything supernatural. And even if it did—why the evil attribute?"
"Interesting," he mused. "No powers in your world? Fascinating. But think for yourself—did anything memorable happen in your life? Especially on the day you died?"
"No… nothing special, really. I immigrated during my life, and the day before I died, I was just excited for a figurine I ordered. I remember watching a show—wait…"
It clicked.
The figurine.
The slayer of the EVIL dragon—Siegfried.
Fate… and its alternates like Jalter.
"You've figured out the source of this peculiar spirit," the god said, breaking my trance.
"Ah—sorry for zoning out."
"No disrespect taken. Now, let's get to why I'm here—why I'm within your consciousness."
I nodded. "Of course. Go ahead."
"I want to make a deal. You clearly understand the basics of this world, so I won't bore you with explanations. You know that gods in the God Realm are bound by certain rules, yes?"
"Yes. They're restricted from interfering with the lower world and must follow divine law."
"Correct. That's why I'm making this offer. I will help you awaken your second Martial Spirit using my divinity, accelerating your body's adaptation to the evil attribute. In return, you will become my heir—and eventually, my successor. Do we have a deal?"
I didn't answer right away.
Being a god's inheritor is a huge opportunity. But it could put me at odds with the main characters. And judging by the way this god fidgeted, life in the God Realm probably wasn't comfortable.
But did I really care?
I wasn't stupid. I'd been set up by those three bastards. And their betrayal made me reevaluate everything I thought I knew.
I don't hate the Clear Sky Sect—not yet. But whatever gratitude or loyalty I once held is gone. As for those three? I definitely hate them.
So does it matter if I oppose Tang San?
Does it matter if Qian Renxue wants me dead?
Am I afraid of being bound by the God Realm?
If I'm right… I might be just as special—maybe even more—than Tang San. And with the knowledge from my past life and everything I'll learn here, I'll break the shackles of the divine laws.
Is that arrogant? Probably.
Do I care?
Not even a little.
I looked the God of Evil straight in the eyes and said without hesitation, "I accept."
He smiled faintly. "Then congratulations, Tang Zhenlong. You are now on the path to godhood."
"…Siegfried."
"Excuse me?" he blinked.
"Tang Zhenlong died today—killed by three traitors of the Clear Sky Clan. From this moment on, I am reborn a third time. My name is…
Siegfried."
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Author's Note:
So yeah, like I said—big info dump, but a necessary one. I finally revealed the MC's second Martial Spirit (though I know many of you had already guessed it) and gave him a god's inheritance in a way I hope feels believable.
Just to clarify: The God of Evil is the only one aware that the MC is a reincarnator, but he doesn't know the specifics. So no, I haven't broken the isekai "taboo" of spilling the beans to every random side character.
The name change also symbolizes him cutting ties—not with the people he cares about, but with the factions and attachments that limited him. He's finally free to carve out his own place in this world.
That's all from me. See you in the next chapter!
P.S. I'll be posting an extra chapter in about an hour with three new fanfic ideas. Don't worry—I'm not dropping this story. I just want you guys to help pick which one I should write alongside this.