Chapter 1

I suddenly came to.

The sluggishness of waking up mixed with the cold surrounding me.

But when I opened my eyes, I couldn’t see anything.

No matter how hard I tried to move my body, it wouldn’t budge.

No, it wasn’t just that I couldn’t move – I couldn’t even feel my body at all.

What the hell is this?

Just an unpleasant floating sensation and bone-chilling cold.

Trying to shout only brought more frustration as no sound came out.

Let me think…

Not too long ago, I came home after a long day of work and cracked open a bottle. So logically, I must have passed out drunk.

I fell asleep drunk. It’s weirdly cold. So it must still be the early morning?

Am I sleep paralyzed then?

That has to be it.

Can’t move hands or feet or even open my eyes…what else could it be?

But there’s this unsettling floating feeling along with the bone-deep cold.

Is this a dream?

If so, I’ll wake up eventually.

So I waited.

But nothing happened.

I cursed, I pleaded, I begged – I did everything I could think of.

Still nothing.

The cold seeped in until I could barely remember what warmth felt like.

Still nothing.

No matter how many silent screams I let out, this empty darkness remained unchanged.

I waited.

There was nothing else I could do.

Then I noticed a light.

Bright light and welcoming warmth.

I instantly knew – I wanted that.

But I forgot…

I can’t move.

All I could do was look up helplessly as more lights appeared.

What my heart desired was right there above me – something I couldn’t abandon, something I had to obtain.

Eventually the sky above was filled with lights like a starry night.

Down below the surface, fragments of distant memories surfaced – people from long ago who were now vivid in my mind.

I strained to imagine long-forgotten warmth, though I couldn’t actually feel it.

Then one light descended.

Down, down, down…

Splash.

Through the surface and into the depths below.

Only then did I realize – this wasn’t an ocean. I was the ocean.

The lights weren’t real stars – they were dying lives filled with hatred and despair, cursing the world as they expired.

For the first time in ages, I felt the faintest trace of warmth from one of these falling lights.

Like eating ice cream after weeks of plain rice – sweet and delicious.

If I didn’t know any better, this would have been enough.

Unfortunately, I know this sweetness comes with bitterness.

Only those who’ve been cast aside by fate, society, or their own misdeeds come to me. Those consumed by hatred or despair.

Only those who’ve hit rock bottom reach me.

As I tasted each light, I saw glimpses of their lives – though these moments were fleeting before disappearing forever.

And so I waited, sometimes for what felt like eternity, for the next light to fall.

One, two, three, four…

Then there was a long gap.

How long? Without time perception, who knows?

Deciding to reach for a nearby light, I discovered something strange – I had a hand.

When had I gained the ability to move?

But the desire for warmth outweighed my confusion.

My hand slowly reached toward the light. Though it struggled against some invisible barrier, bit by bit I condensed myself like a needle piercing the surface.

Finally, my almost imperceptible hand touched a light floating just above the surface.

Unlike the others, this one was alive – warm and full of potential despite its cracks of despair.

It grabbed onto me, pleading for salvation.

But I had nothing to offer.

What could I do with nothing to give?

Looking at my hand extending above the surface gave me an idea.

Perhaps I could sacrifice myself?

Pushing upward, I broke through the invisible barrier. The light grew excited as incredible power surged through my hand – then it screamed.

“Stop! Stop!”

But I couldn’t. Trapped in place, I watched as the light exploded, turning black and darkening everything around it. Other lights began falling toward me.

Ah…

Like discovering fire for the first time.

What had happened?

Tasting the darkened fragments revealed the living being had exploded, taking innocent lives with it. They all fell into me.

This led to some conclusions:

I must be some form of condensed power. Though I retain vague memories of being human once.

Some kind of reincarnation perhaps?

But warmth is more important now.

This place feels like standing outside in winter wearing too little – completely frozen.

Holding a hand warmer provides slight relief.

I need more warmth. Enough to melt this bone-deep chill.

The previous explosion gave insight:

The container was too fragile. Filling it with my essence caused it to shatter.

However, the spilled essence affected those nearby, causing them to fall into me.

Higher lights seemed to represent happier lives – closer physically but farther from me.

When explosions occur, nearby lives are dragged down, falling into me.

So reaching up and triggering explosions creates radiation effects!

More explosions mean more warmth.

With increasing desperation in the world, more lights will appear within reach.

When they do, I extend my hand. When I touch them, I push myself into them, causing inevitable explosions.

Though the results were inconsistent and insufficient.

Then it hit me:

A dark wizard contracting with demons. That sort of thing.

Give them power to do as they please.

Since that power is me, any deaths will fall into me!

Perfect!

So I carefully extended my influence.

Too gently.

Too slow.

Too subtle…

Ah!

It shattered immediately.

Despair-filled containers are too weak. Higher lights are stronger but riskier.

Sweetness increases with height.

Warmth equals sweetness.

So I examined every light across this endless sea. Time is infinite here, and lack of warmth isn’t fatal.

Occasionally I hunted out of boredom, but I craved more.

Renting out power, collecting “rent” in deaths, then claiming everything upon expiration – pure passive income!

Intelligence should be used this way.

But how to prevent immediate destruction?

Then one day…

A thin thread descended from above, connecting to me. Grabbing it, I was instantly pulled upward.

Hmm?

This situation seems familiar…

Wait, did I get scammed?

For the first time in ages, the world was unbearably noisy inside and out. The sensation of blood flowing and cells moving brought overwhelming irritation.

Opening my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar dark architectural style. Black-robed figures bowed before me.

“From the void comes a force of hunger and malice, waiting for us to despair and fall!”

Though foreign, I understood the language perfectly.

So it’s a known language to me.

Looking down, I saw pale skin, sitting naked on a hard stone throne. Blood flowed freely from wounds in my chest where organs should be.

Lifting my heavy hand revealed small delicate fingers, now cold.

Around me, robed figures chanted a simple prayer for prosperity, confirming this was indeed a ritual.

Dark fortress, black robes, heartless girl, summoned entity.

Definitely a cult.

“Our lord, hear our prayers! Our lord, hear our prayers! Oh great Cruxshibal!”

Excuse me, but my name isn’t some random swear word.

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