He immediately recoiled in fear.


    The woman standing before him was not only beautiful but had the grace of a goddess. With her glowing green hair, eyes and the dancing vines around her, she looked almost like a fantasy dryad. A welcoming spirit of the forest. And yet, he still cowered in fear. Had he been on Gaia then he would’ve probably found a nearby building to hide behind, just to be safe.


    The image of a small girl brutally clobbering him to death was fresh in his mind. Had he truly died then? If so, where was he now? Heaven? Hell?! …Or maybe this was some place for judgment? …No. None of those could be it. It isn’t as if this was his first time dying, nowhere close. If he really had died during that fight, then he should’ve just woken up as a baby, surrounded by family if he was lucky. Though that might be asking for a bit much.


    “I know you mean well, Shibo… But when you jump at the mere sight of me like that, it makes me so sad. Please don’t be afraid of me.”


    Her voice was captivating, only proving his slight suspicion that she was indeed some kind of goddess. Until his day dreaming was cut short by the tears swelling in her eyes.


    “Wait, please don’t cry. I-I’m sorry. You just caught me off-guard is all.”


    In an instant, Shibo forgot about his own troubles and dashed over to the mysterious dryad’s side to comfort her.


    “I know…” She commented as she sniffled. “…It’s my fault you were so scared. It’s always my fault. I’m the problem for everything.”


    “Um… I wouldn’t go that far now. It wouldn''t e right to blame you since I still don’t even know who you are. Actually, how is it that you know my name?”


    “How do I know your name…? I guess the only real answer I have, is that I’m in love with you, Shibo.”


    “Eh…? H-Huh?! W-What are you even saying? And who even are you?!”


    “Relax. Deep breaths… That’s it. Take it one step at a time. Alright. Are you calm now?”


    “Y-Yes. Sorry about that.”


    “No need to apologize. It happens to the best of us. Now. Is it okay if I explain your current situation? Or would you rather introductions first?”


    “Please introduce yourself. I’m sorry but I just can’t listen to anything you say until I know who you are. And no funny business, like that last comment.”


    “Hm? But I really am in love with you, Shibo.”


    “Alright! J-Just tell me who you are.”


    He was convinced that if Arboria hadn’t killed him then this embarrassment will surely do the trick.


    “Before I can tell you who I am, I have to first tell you what I am… When God created this world, he created three races: Angels, Spirits and Humans. While you may have heard of other races, they’re all just descendants of these races one way or another. Now, what you might not know is that there was actually a God before God. He’s actually the one who split himself into the two Gods of Yggdrasil. I think right now, they go by Akuma and Tenshi.”


    “T-Tenshi?! Tenshi is God?!”


    “No, not the Tenshi you’re familiar with. They just happened to share the same name. The Tenshi I’m referring to is the parallel version of Akuma. I honestly can’t see you two ever meeting. But I’m sure you know of Akuma.”


    “Akuma…? You mean that self-proclaimed God?”


    “Well, he isn’t just self-proclaimed. Believe it or not, he’s the legitimate reincarnation of God. Though he’s lost most of his powers.”


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    A heavy air came over Shibo as he grit his teeth. The mysterious dryad noticed his fingernails beginning to bleed from the grip of his clenched fist.


    “So, he really is God… He’s the one responsible for all my suffer-!”


    “Please, stop.”


    “?”


    “Please don’t blame him for your excessive reincarnation. If anyone is to blame, then it’s me.”


    A tear fell down her eye as she said that. Her expression had shifted from its normal chirpy, which compelled Shibo to once again comfort her.


    “T-That was on me. I shouldn’t have just pointed the blame at Akuma for no reason. Alright. Akuma equals God and Tenshi equals not God. But there is a Tenshi out there that equals God. Got it… If it’s alright with you, I’d like to hear the rest of what you have to say.”


    “Yes, of course...” She replied while wiping her tears. “…As I said, there was a God before those two Gods. He too created three distinct beings. Michael, The Librarian and the Conceptual Gods… I am one of the Conceptual Gods. The concept of Life itself.”


    “The concept of life, huh… I guess that explains why you’re so green.”


    That comment brought her back to tears.


    “W-Wait! I mean that as a complement... Yeah, I was trying to say that you look like a beautiful flower.”


    “You really mean it? ...You aren’t lying to me?”


    “Of course not! What reason would I have to lie?”


    “Alright. I’ll take your word for it.”


    “So…. It’ll be kinda weird calling you Life, so how about a nickname? …Let’s see, I’ll call you Leafe.”


    The two vines that circled her body began to wag around as if they were a dog’s tail.


    “That will do, I suppose.”


    “Alright then, Leafe. Where exactly am I? Is there something different about this reincarnation?”


    “While it is true that you reincarnate after every death, you haven’t actually died yet. You see, I invited you to our dimension.”


    “Our… dimension…?”


    “We Conceptual Gods exist in the infinite dimension and can invite anyone we see fit. I’ve temporarily invited you so that we could talk.”


    “Okay. I guess that makes sense. What is it that you wanted to talk about?”


    “Um… It’s about the future of your friends. As I said before, Akuma is the reincarnation of God. But he is also the reincarnation of the AntiGod. I’m sorry but I can’t go into further explanation right now. All you need to know is that Akuma is prophesized to one day destroy the world and slay God. And he’ll so with the company of seven sinners.”


    “Seven…? Wait, that number doesn’t sound right. There’s Tenshi, Alice, Arthur, Rin, Me, and Kyoko. That’s six, isn’t it?”


    “Well, you forgot to count Finral which makes it seven right now.”


    “Oh right. That old man sleeping on the ship. Completely forgot about him.”


    “That’s a good thing. He isn’t a sinner so there isn’t any need to count him. In fact, he’s not even from this world… The last two haven’t joined yet but they will soon. Actually, you’re already well acquainted with one of them. That girl with the cowboy outfit.”


    “Aamil? Wait, Aamil is gonna join our crew?!”


    “Yep. And after she joins, there should be one more.”


    “Wait, then excluding Akuma, that’ll bring the number to eight, wouldn’t it?”


    “It would. Which is what I’m trying to tell you. You aren’t a sinner, Shibo. It’s all wrong, the current events are all twisted. You weren’t supposed to meet Kyoko that day. You weren’t supposed to be saved by Nana. Nor were you even supposed to have lived. And you weren’t supposed to join the crew.”


    What should’ve been groundbreaking news to him was honestly not that shocking. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew it was too good to be true. Friends? As if he of all people could actually indulge in such a thing.


    “Yep… I figured as much.”


    “I’m sorry Shibo. According to the prophecy, those seven sinners should live until the day the AntiGod destroys the world. But I fear your presence might change things. You simply being there could cause someone’s death.”


    Shibo began to giggle.


    “Sounds about right. The way you’re explaining this, I suppose Akuma destroying the world is a good thing. Then should I just kill myself or something? For the greater good of the world?”


    “Um… I wouldn’t say that. But it would be best if you left-!”


    “Spare me the sugar coat! I’m better off dead! I always am! Everyone around me just ends up suffering from my misfortune… Why even bring me here? Why didn’t you just let me die-?!”


    “BECAUSE I CAN’T BARE TO WATCH ANYMORE!!”


    “?”


    “I’ve seen you die over and over and over again. Only to reincarnate into a life worst than the last. It hurts. Especially when I love you so much… Look, I know you’re confused. Some random girl is confessing her love for you after telling you to just leave your friends… But it isn’t fair to you. So, I’ll give you a choice. Right here and now, you either die and live through hell all over again, or I release the power sealed deep within you!”


    “What…? W-What about the prophecy-?”


    “TO HELL WITH THAT PROHPECY!! …After speaking with you, I’ve made up my mind. If I must pick you or the world, then the answer is clear to me. So what will it be, Shibo? Are you okay with your destiny? Or will you shatter it here and now?”


    Her extended palm was like a rope at the bottom of a dark abyss. This time, it wasn’t Leafe who began crying, but Shibo.


    “I will.”


    “I can’t hear you.”


    “I will!”


    “I still can’t hear you!”


    “I WILL!!!”


    “That’s the spirit… What I’m about to show you is an ability that allows you to connect with the Spirit World. It falls under the Connection Arts… If used correctly, your body will become the physical manifestation of any Spirit that answers your call. Though, since this is your first time, I recommend calling on one of the friendlier Spirits. Are you ready?”


    “Yes!”


    “Alright. Focus on the sensation of my palm and repeat after me… Connection Arts: Spiritual Link… Musashi.”