The story begins with Sofi, who wakes up in a garden of white blooming flowers. Looking around, she thinks to herself,
"But I was dead... How is this even possible? Was everything I experienced real? And where am I now?"
A strange silence hangs in the air, heavy and endless.
Suddenly, she hears a female voice, and to her relief, it feels oddly familiar. The voice says,
"You're so irritating with all the noise you make. I'm really fed up with you."
Sofi stiffens. Her heartbeat quickens.
"Who are you? Why am I here?"
The voice replies mockingly,
"Do you really think you're worthy enough to know that?"
A cold gust brushes against her face. Sofi clenches her fists, her voice sharp with pride — or was it fear?
"I am the most powerful existence there is!" she snaps, almost as if trying to remind herself.
The voice laughs coldly and says,
"You? Powerful? You look more like a broken soul who betrayed her own people and is now pretending to be strong just to hide her weakness. Someone who couldn't even accept her own failures — how can she call herself powerful?"
This triggers Sofi. Her throat tightens, chest heavy with shame.
She shouts with tears in her eyes,
"Shut up! Who are you to judge me? You're just a hypocrite hiding in the shadows!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath her cracks open from the pressure of the cold voice. A space portal appears, shimmering with unnatural light. From it steps a beautiful woman with flowing white hair, eyes like blue ice — filled with disgust, as if Sofi meant nothing to her. Energy radiates from her body so intensely that even space itself seems to be breaking apart.
The woman says coldly,
"You've got guts, I'll give you that. To call me weak, when you should be grateful you're even alive after what happened."
She steps closer, and the ground pulses beneath her feet.
"I don't have time to stain my name by killing a worm like you. You should be thankful that, even after death, you got to meet me. But it doesn't matter — I will erase all of this and crush your soul to reconstruct it from scratch."
Sofi, in a low trembling voice, asks,
"Can I at least know who you really are? And what do you mean by reconstructing my soul?"
The woman laughs and replies,
"Oh? I haven't introduced myself? My name is Solmira, Guardian of the Reincarnation Path. I was about to erase your memories and prepare your soul for reincarnation."
She turns, calmly, as if Sofi's existence no longer interests her.
Sofi pleads, voice cracking,
"Please don't erase my memories! I beg you!"
Solmira smirks, her gaze sharp and chilling.
"Why should I listen to you, girl? What could you possibly offer me in return?"
Sofi lowers her head and answers honestly,
"You are supreme. I have nothing of value to give you."
Solmira smiles sharply, voice like ice slicing through air,
"Then why do you even dare speak to me? Every desire in this world comes with a price. If you want something, you must be willing to crush others beneath your feet. Every life is paid for with a death — that's the law of the universe."
Desperate, Sofi kneels and cries,
"Please, I beg you. Spare my soul. I'll do anything in return."
Solmira laughs again, cold and cruel.
"You're bold, I'll give you that. Even though your soul is useless, maybe I can still use you as a toy. Fine, I'll give you one chance — but you'll have to earn it. Don't worry, I'll even give you weapons to help you."
Suddenly, the entire place begins to shift, like reality peeling away. Many powerful weapons appear around Sofi, glowing with ancient light. She is stunned.
Then Solmira's voice rings out from nowhere,
"Now choose your weapon."
Sofi walks towards a sword and touches it — but it immediately turns to dust. Then it reappears elsewhere.
Solmira's laugh echoes like thunder,
"Oh, I forgot to mention — these weapons choose their wielder. If they don't accept you, they won't reveal their true form."
Sofi tries weapon after weapon — sword, spear, shield — but none of them accept her. Her breath quickens. Her hands tremble. Shame begins to rise in her chest. She begins to lose hope.
As her final attempt, she touches a ring. The ring also turns to dust — but this time, it reappears on her finger, embedding itself into her skin with a quiet, burning pulse.
Solmira watches with amusement.
"Lucky you. At least one weapon accepted you. I was worried I'd have to send you back empty-handed."
With a snap of her fingers, the scene changes again. Now, Sofi stands at the entrance of a massive gate. Beyond it lies nothing but darkness, smoke, and flowing lava.
Solmira says,
"Well then, what are you waiting for? If you want reincarnation, go through the gate. Or… you can turn back and live as a failure."
Sofi hesitates for a second, the air burning around her. Her eyes narrow, but her fists clench.
Her voice is steady now:
"I've never known defeat in my life. I'll go forward."
And with that, she walks through the gate — stepping into her next trial.