Prologue: The Last Wish of the Swordmaster
The light was dim, yet the air felt heavy with brilliance.
A chamber overflowing with wealth—gold, silver, servants waiting on every gesture—stood silent.
At its center lay an old man, frail and sunken, as though the world itself had drained from his body.
Dozens of men gathered around the bed. Some had tears in their eyes. Physicians hovered close, but none dared to give false hope.
The man's face was wrinkled, his beard long and unkempt. His eyes, once sharp enough to terrify kings, could barely see shadows now. He coughed, violently, blood staining his lips.
This man was Douglas Verrina Varkierd III—once the strongest human alive, the greatest Aura user the world had ever known.
Now, he was only a dying shadow of himself.
A physician gently wiped the blood from his mouth, then turned to the crowd.
"I… I am sorry," he said, voice heavy with grief. "The Marquis will not last much longer."
A man stepped forward, tears already streaming as he grasped the old man's hand.
"Father… please, don't leave us. Not yet."
Douglas shifted his gaze. With effort, his skeletal hand rose and rested on his son's head. The others tried to stop him, fearing he'd exhaust himself, but the old man's cracked voice broke the silence.
"Varkierd… my son…" He coughed again, his frail body shaking. "As my final wish… I want you to surpass me. To become stronger than I ever was. I was… a poor father. You may not believe this, but…"
He hacked again, blood spilling. The room grew tense, but he forced himself to go on.
"When you were born… even that day, I went drinking. Your mother scolded me, but I… I didn't listen. I wasted so much, taking my gifts for granted."
His son sobbed, his body trembling at every word.
Douglas closed his eyes briefly, then smiled faintly, voice weakening.
"In the past… I was reckless. Arrogant. I played with power, and treated life like a game. If I could go back… I would repent."
Slowly, he lowered his hand, resting it free on the sheets. His lips curled into a final, wry smile.
"If I had one more wish… as the strongest…"
His chest shuddered, breath leaving him.
"I would like… to be reborn."
His eyes closed. His voice faded.
And in that silence, the strongest man on Earth passed away.
Every head bowed. Douglas's soul drifted free of his body, as his son cried out through tears:
"Long live the Heavens! Long live Marquis Douglas Verrina Varkierd III!"
A chorus rose, echoing through the chamber:
"Long live the Heavens!"
---
Between Heaven and Hell
Douglas's soul floated in a space that was not black, nor white, nor colored at all. It was Absolute Nothingness.
When he opened his eyes, his body was whole again—young, strong, as it once was in his prime. And before him sat… something.
An Entity.
It had no form he could truly grasp, yet it felt as though it were sitting on nothingness itself.
"Oh? You're awake, Douglas Verrina Varkierd III," it said.
Douglas flinched. He tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond.
He narrowed his eyes. "I know I've died. So tell me… is this Heaven? Or is it Hell?"
The Entity tilted its head. Its voice was neither male nor female, neither warm nor cold. It was something beyond human comprehension.
Then, with what looked like a smirk, it replied:
"You're dumber than you look."
Douglas's eyes widened.
"This is neither Heaven nor Hell," the Entity continued. "This is between the two. A place called… Absolute Nothingness. And yes—you are dead. But you won't be going to either Heaven or Hell."
Douglas frowned. "Then what? Will I become an undead? A wandering spirit?"
"No." The Entity leaned closer, its gaze piercing. "You are going to be reincarnated."
"Reincarnated?" Douglas muttered, confusion flickering across his face.
The Entity raised a brow. "Why are you surprised? Weren't you the one who asked to be reborn?"
"I asked to be reborn," Douglas corrected, his tone sharp.
The Entity blinked. "Is there a difference?"
Suddenly, a cushioned chair and a strange device appeared out of nowhere. The Entity sat down and tapped at it casually.
Douglas stared. "What is that?"
"A laptop," the Entity replied, nonchalant. "From another dimension." It clicked a few keys, then snapped its fingers. "Ahhh, I see now. Yes. There is a difference between reincarnation and rebirth."
Douglas leaned forward. "So which is—"
But before he could finish, his soul began to scatter. His outline faded.
The Entity scratched its head. "Oops. Looks like your time's up. My mistake—you're being reincarnated after all."
Douglas's voice trembled with urgency. "Wait! Where?!"
As only his mouth remained, the Entity's words reached him:
"To a different realm. A Martial Realm. Enjoy your second life… weakest sword."
And with that, Douglas Verrina Varkierd III was gone.
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[A/N: This is an Experimental Wuxia Novel]