Kōsuke Hayashi awoke to the soft rustle of leaves and the gentle whisper of the wind through a vast, unfamiliar forest. The memories of his previous life, marred by the violence of a mad shooting and the chilling sensation of life slipping away, were still vivid in his mind.
As he wandered through the verdant expanse, he encountered a figure of regal bearing and otherworldly presence. This stranger, with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of eternity, introduced himself as Phadonis, one of the six gods governing this mystical realm.
"You have crossed the threshold of life, Kōsuke," Phadonis intoned, his voice a soothing balm to Kōsuke's confused soul. "Your departure from the mortal world was marked by tragedy and bloodshed."
Kōsuke felt a pang of sorrow as the reality of his death settled in. "Is this... the afterlife?"
"Not entirely," Phadonis replied, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "This is a place of transition, where souls are given the chance to be reborn."
Together, they walked deeper into the forest, where ancient trees towered like sentinels. Phadonis explained that they would soon reach a sacred shrine where the other gods awaited to perform the ritual of reincarnation.
As they journeyed, Phadonis revealed the gruesome details of Kōsuke's demise, yet his words were laced with hope. "We offer you the possibility of a new beginning. However, the form your new life will take is beyond even our foresight."
Upon reaching the shrine, Kōsuke was introduced to the divine assembly, each god emanating a unique aura of power and mystery. The air was thick with anticipation as they began the incantation, their voices weaving an intricate tapestry of magic.
Kōsuke felt his essence being unraveled and reformed, his identity dissolving into something new and unfamiliar. When the ritual concluded, he emerged as Oliver Albrecht Wainwright, the heir to the fifth demon lord.
