In a formless place, there was nothing but an endless void—like a regret that time could never cleanse.
Satani Erlan—known simply as Satan—drifted aimlessly through the emptiness.
No sky.
No ground.
No sound.
Only a silence so deep it felt as if the universe itself was holding its breath.
His expression was blank. His gaze hollow, staring into nothing. He knew… he was dead.
And now?
Now he savored a feeling long forgotten: freedom.
Freedom from pain, from ridicule, from the stench of rot that clung to his flesh like sins that could never be washed away.
Yet even in death… trauma does not die.
His body remained frozen with invisible fear.
Once, even the act of moving a finger would make his entire body feel as if it were being flayed alive.
The pain had been etched too deeply into him.
His body had learned: stillness was the safest way to survive.
Slowly, he opened his mouth.
"Ah."
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… HUAHAHAHAHA!"
"I'M FREE!!!"
He screamed, releasing the emotions that had been imprisoned within him for so long.
Then—
[DING!]
[Universal System Detected: A soul ravaged by hatred has reached the threshold of collapse.]
[Validating... 99.7% match with S-Class Reincarnation World: AZERAL.]
A voice echoed suddenly. Cold. Emotionless. Yet it rang directly inside his head, like a whisper from a god—or a devil.
[Input received: Default option engaged.]
[Discarding all former physical limitations...]
[Universal System: Initiating soul placement.]
[Validating host... Target: Third Prince of the Arvendel Kingdom.]
[Synchronizing...]
[Unlocking maximum soul potential...]
[Second life begins in 3...]
"2…"
The voice faded. Satan, praying that this wasn't just another cruel illusion, froze.
"1…"
A dark light devoured everything.
But this was not the kind of light that brings illumination—it was a darkness that burned.
A flame that consumed existence itself.
A fire that scorched meaning from its roots.
Satani Erlan was no longer floating.
He fell—not like a man returning to earth, but like a curse unsealed from ancient bindings, crashing through layer upon layer of reality without form.
[ERROR]
[SYSTEM FAILURE: REINCARNATION INTEGRITY UNSTABLE]
[HOST BODY LOCATION MISSING. SEEKING NEAREST HOST...]
[FAILED]
[FAILED]
[FAILED]
[EMERGENCY ACCESS GRANTED]
[WARNING: Soul density too high. Unsuitable for royal host.]
[FAILED TO MERGE WITH PRINCE ATHERION ARVENDEL]
[EMERGENCY HOST: Code BUD_00013 -]
[STATUS: Scheduled for execution in 2 minutes 41 seconds.]
[Confirmation?]
...Confirmation received automatically.
[FORCED MERGE INITIATED]
CRACK!
Satan's body slammed onto cold stone.
He remained unaware of the system error.
The black light of transmigration had vanished…
Now, only the stench of blood, filth, and rust welcomed him.
He coughed.
His body was frail.
Thin.
His wrists and ankles shackled.
A rusted iron collar dug into the skin of his neck.
He looked around—damp walls, sneering armored men, and a massive execution scaffold looming like a monument to death.
"What the hell is this?"
"This isn't the body of a prince."
Satan grimaced.
Frustration, anger, amusement—they swirled in his chest.
The system chimed again:
[Additional Information]
[Reincarnation error caused by interference from an interdimensional entity.]
[Intended host: Prince ATHERION ARVENDEL]
[Current host: Abandoned slave accused of poisoning the royal family.]
His body trembled violently.
"Bullshit! This has to be a joke," he cursed inwardly.
Once more, he scanned his surroundings.
[System error has forcefully merged your soul with the system.]
[Unbinding is only possible upon death.]
As if grasping a final spark of hope, Satan clawed at the ground with his bleeding fingers.
The collar rattled as he moved slightly.
He looked up—and there they were.
Arrogant nobles perched on high seats, observing the execution like it was nothing more than vulgar entertainment.
"A filthy slave, nothing more."
"The charges are clear."
"Execution is justified. Let this be a warning to others."
They laughed.
They drank from golden goblets.
As if a man's life were just a grotesque play.
Satan growled.
"Well then save me, dammit! If I die, you die too, right?!"
[Ding! The system can initiate an emergency escape, but you currently have no system points.]
[Warning: Forced activation is possible, but repayment will be five times the normal cost.]
"Do it! I'll pay whatever it takes!"
Satan's eyes locked on the massive blade descending toward his neck.
The metal glinted coldly in his left eye, which flickered with a dark, hellish glow.
The crowd howled for blood.
The executioner raised his hand.
"Execute."
The word was cold. Absolute.
The blade fell.
Swift.
Lethal.
Slicing through air with a scream of death.
One meter.
Half.
A quarter.
Three inches.
Two.
One—
And—
ONE INCH FROM HIS NECK:
[DING!!!]
[FORCED ACCESS GRANTED — Void Step: Emergency Activation]
[COST: Deferred — Consequences delayed]
FWUSHHH!!!
The air trembled.
A sound echoed—not of impact, but of space being torn.
And…
Satan vanished.
One inch before his head could be severed.
The blade struck empty wood.
CRAAAACK!!
The execution platform shattered.
A hollow echo rang out.
The crowd went still.
No head.
No blood.
Just… absence.
[VOID TRANSPORT: SUCCESSFUL]
[Remaining Void Energy: 0.2% — Chaos Source Accelerated]
[Current Location: Mistwood Forest]
THUD.
His body landed among the roots and fog.
He sat up slowly, eyes scanning the dense white mist.
Then he laughed.
Softly…
Then louder…
Until it became madness.
"So close… and I would've died again."
Meanwhile, chaos erupted back at the execution plaza.
"That slave… just used teleportation magic?"
"Impossible."
"Is this real?"
"No way. That spell only exists in ancient legends."
"We may have just pissed off the wrong person."
Shock.
Fear.
Disbelief.
It was all there.
Teleportation magic was from the age of the Founders—one of the first spells ever used by humankind.
As time passed, it faded into myth, now remembered only through forgotten scrolls and oral tales.
Back in the fog…
"Death... You love me this much? Why don't we just get married, you bastard!"
Just as he cursed death itself, he heard a faint voice calling for help nearby.
Satan froze.
He didn't move.
In fact, he deliberately acted like he hadn't heard it.
[DING! System Mission Triggered.]
[Mission: Save the life of a female elder from the Sun God Sect.]
[Reward: Knowledge of magic, ancient spellbook, mysterious sword.]
[Penalty if failed: Your beloved younger sibling will be erased.]
As the holographic screen hovered before his eyes, Satan's expression twisted in disbelief.
He was being forced to help someone—when he himself desperately needed saving.
"Oh come on… this is the worst."