In an instant, Marco's killing intent exploded.
The moment he saw that woman, memories from his previous life surged through his mind like a flood.
Back then, while heading home from work, he had seen a woman trying to jump into a river. Wanting to save her, he rushed forward without hesitation. But the moment he pulled her back, she panicked and dragged him underwater instead.
In the end, she survived.
He drowned.
And that woman was standing right in front of him now.
Sina.
The resentment buried deep within his soul erupted immediately. Hatred, rage, unwillingness, all of it twisted together violently inside him.
Marco suddenly realized that his body was unconsciously following her.
No, not his body.
His soul.
Was it because of resentment?
In his previous life, he had read supernatural novels claiming that if someone's resentment remained after death, their soul would linger around the person they hated most.
But after dying, he had transmigrated into the world of One Piece.
So why had his soul suddenly returned here?
Marco floated silently in the air as he stared at Sina walking down the street ahead of him. He could not move too far away from her, almost as if an invisible force was binding them together.
"This is the afterlife?" Marco muttered.
Only then did he notice the countless black shadows around him.
Some sat on utility poles.
Some crouched in dark corners.
Others followed living humans just like he was doing now.
Every single soul emitted a dark aura filled with resentment and curses. Their eyes were hollow and malicious.
But Marco noticed something different about himself.
Unlike those twisted spirits, his soul still retained its color and appearance. He did not look like a corrupted ghost.
Soon, Marco attempted to leave.
But the moment he moved over five meters away from Sina, he felt intense resistance. When he reached ten meters, it felt as though an invisible rubber band snapped tight around him, forcibly dragging him back beside her.
As expected, he could not leave.
Sina naturally could not see him.
And worse, Marco discovered he could not physically touch her either.
This made his frustration grow even stronger.
How was he supposed to take revenge like this?
His soul had somehow returned to the real world after being separated from his body. Marco suspected it had something to do with the strange Magic Circle Imu had used before.
Now, his resentment from his previous life had tied him directly to Sina.
He did not want forgiveness.
He did not want salvation.
He only wanted revenge.
Marco reached toward Sina and attempted to grab her shoulder.
His hand passed directly through her body.
"As expected..." Marco muttered coldly.
But at that exact moment, Sina suddenly stopped walking.
Her body trembled slightly as she turned around instinctively.
Their eyes met.
Of course, she could not actually see him.
Still, panic appeared on her face.
"What's going on?" Sina muttered nervously while looking around. "Why do I suddenly feel so uneasy?"
The evening air felt unusually cold around her.
A strange sense of dread crept into her heart.
Marco narrowed his eyes.
So she could feel it.
Immediately, he reached forward again, this time aiming directly at her chest.
The instant his hand passed through her body, Sina's face turned pale.
A suffocating chill spread through her entire body as though something filthy was staring directly at her soul.
Fear appeared in her eyes.
Without hesitation, she quickened her pace and hurried home.
Marco silently followed behind her.
"So I can't touch her body, but I can affect her soul."
That discovery made his eyes turn colder.
Soon, Sina arrived downstairs at her apartment building.
A man wearing a food delivery uniform was already waiting there anxiously.
The moment he saw Sina, his face lit up with excitement.
"Sina, you're finally back!" he said happily. "You weren't answering my calls, I got worried."
Marco glanced at the man.
Lebron.
One of Sina's many admirers.
Although the man was neither handsome nor tall, he was obedient. Every month, he willingly handed over most of his salary to Sina, believing they were building a future together.
Sina immediately revealed a sweet smile.
"The bag you promised me, did you buy it?" she asked expectantly.
Hearing this, Lebron quickly took out an expensive handbag from a gift box.
"Of course," he said proudly. "I saved money from my delivery jobs for a long time just to buy this for you."
The moment Sina saw the bag, satisfaction flashed through her eyes.
Her smile instantly became gentler.
"It's beautiful," she said sweetly.
That single compliment nearly made Lebron float from happiness.
"Oh right," Lebron continued excitedly, "my salary this month was transferred to your card already. If we keep saving together, we'll definitely afford a house down payment soon."
Sina maintained her smile patiently, though the impatience hidden in her eyes did not escape Marco's notice.
Today she had gotten the luxury bag she wanted, along with Lebron's salary, so naturally she was willing to act a little nicer.
Watching this scene, Marco suddenly felt a painful sense of familiarity.
Because he had once been exactly like this.
Back in his previous life, he had also loved someone foolishly.
Her name was Cuicui.
She came from the countryside and looked ordinary, but Marco once believed she was honest and dependable.
At first, he genuinely wanted a peaceful life with her.
But later, she constantly complained that he did not earn enough money.
Every day ended in arguments.
Because his family owned a small convenience store, Marco eventually moved into the shop just to avoid fighting with her constantly.
He thought giving each other some distance would improve things.
Instead, it completely destroyed their relationship.
One night, after closing the store and returning home, he discovered another man inside his house.
Inside his bedroom.
Inside his bed.
That memory still stabbed into his heart like a knife.
Marco slowly lowered his head.
For some reason, after experiencing death itself, he could easily see the truth hidden behind people.
Lebron's future would absolutely end in tragedy.
Just like his own once had.
Marco looked coldly at Sina's smiling face.
Women like her only knew how to take.
They enjoyed being worshipped while treating sincerity like garbage.
At that moment, the resentment inside Marco deepened further.