Far beyond planet earth, beyond the milky way galaxy, even the universe itself.
Far from the reaches of time and space.
Beyond even the concept of thought sat a transcendental realm.
A realm beyond anyone's knowledge except a certain few, a place existed.
An ancient existence, the Samsara Cycle. Better known as the reincarnation cycle, at least in the mortal plane of knowledge.
Covered by a gas looking white energy, and a cluster of greyish stars was an ocean of untold proportions.
The grey stars blotted out the chaos of darkness. Their numbers were innumerable, but they paled in comparison to the ocean behind the white gas.
Towering greyish-white waves crashing against the yellow crystalline sand shore with relentless force.
Their white crests are frothing and churning like a beast in a rage.
Red flame-like flowers fell from the dark skies like rain, and fell on top of the ocean. They sat like little rafts floating above a behemoth. They gave off little light, looking like candles flickering in the wind.
The black sky above was dark and brooding, with storm clouds swirling ominously. The wind howled and whistled, whipping the sea into a frenzy, sending the dark water and sand flying in all directions.
The water itself was a deep, tumultuous grey, almost black in its fury, with currents that pulled and tugged unpredictably.
The ocean whipped around like it was a world devouring serpent.
There was no end or beginning to this place, it just looked like a never-ending sea of dark grey water, highlighted by the yellow crystalline sand.
Wails could be heard come from the sea, like it was suffering. Or someone, or something was suffering.
None would dare disturb this place, nor have an arrogant expression.
But, on this day, it had a visitor. And a very arrogant one at that.
*BOOOOM*
The fabric of space itself was torn open, like a vast, dark canvas being ripped apart by an unseen force. The stars and nebulas that once dotted the expanse were now distorted.
Their light bending and warping around the edges of the rift.
The void beyond was a swirling maelstrom of energy and chaos, with flashes of brilliant light and deep shadows. It was as if the very essence of the universe was being pulled and stretched, creating a sense of both awe and dread.
The silence after was deafening, a stark contrast to the violent upheaval unfolding at the moment.
It's a scene of cosmic destruction and creation, a glimpse into the raw power and mystery of the cosmos.
"Humph!"
A powerful snort exploded out from the crack in space like thunder. The gap in space widened up even more so like they were making way from someone.
Then a tall man with a hunched back flew into the rift, his posture twisted and uneven.
His face was weathered, with deep lines etched into his skin, telling tales of a hard life.
His golden eyes were sharp and piercing, but there was a hint of weariness in them. His teeth, yellowed and stained, peek out from behind thin, cracked lips whenever he grinned.
His white hair was unkempt, a wild tangle of grays and whites, adding to his disheveled appearance. Despite his rough exterior, there's a certain resilience in his demeanor, a testament to the battles he's faced and survived.
The old, crooked man wore just a simple and plain golden robe that pulsed with untold power.
Black runic symbols emerged like gas from the robe, and they would drill back into the robe.
"This crooked man had come for what is owed," the man paused and gazed into the depths of the ocean as he said, "Samsara!"
His voice detonated through the realm like a divine decree. The ocean twisted in response, the very sea itself recoiling at his utterance. Waves, once untamed, froze mid-crash. The drifting red flames ceased their flickering. Even the rift behind the man halted its distortion.
All things stood still— Except for him.
Then, from the depths of the ocean, an answer came.
"Just take it and leave."
The voice that emerged was neither male nor female, neither young nor old—it was absolute. A presence that had endured beyond time itself. A will unchallenged.
The crooked man snorted once more and waved his hand. A flash of gold light appeared, and then a long dark brown stick entered into the man's right hand.
Its surface was slightly rough, with natural grooves and textures that gave iit character. The stick had a few knots and imperfections, adding to its rustic charm. There were black runic symbols of untold power engraved on the stick.
A black energy leaked out from it as the man made a simple motion and threw it into the ocean like a javelin.
A few minutes later the stick appeared, and with it a small white blob of light. The crooked man grabbed it and with one last look back at the water he turned and left.
No words needed to be spoken by him.
The gap in space slowly closed, but right when the last sliver of it was about to be sealed.
A rumble came from the ocean, a rumble that silenced the wails of the sea. The rumble came out of the sea, and a soft but solemn voice echoed out from it saying, "This is the last favor."
"Never set foot in this place again!"
The sky above the ocean shook, and trembled. Lighting crackled along the sky like rivers, arcing all over the place like whips. The red flames like flowers roared and became an ocean of red fire, twisting and churning like a tempest.
This voice shook the entire Samsara Cycle, making it clear that whoever was in the sea was not happy with the Crooked man at all.
As the voice faded, the small gap in space was sealed.
Outside of the Samsara realm, the Crooked man just spat out in annoyance as if he didn't care about what that voice said.
And he really didn't care at all!
He just flicked his sleeves and calmly floated onto a huge black carpet that sat in the dark void.
The Crooked man put away the stick as he grasped the white blob of light. This blob of light was extremely small, it was the size of an ant in the crooked man's hands.
"This is the last step I need to take for my cultivation to progress." There was a seriousness in his voice as he spoke.
Then his golden eyes began to glow brightly; it made the darkness in the void recede in fear.
Even the grey stars dimmed in front of this gold light.
He mumbled some words, then made a symbol with his left hand. The golden light from his eyes grew even brighter as it homed in on the blob of white light. As it did, something crazy happened.
The blob of light began to steam, and smoke like it was melting.
Then a very thin thread of red light was pulled from the blob of white. That red light was sucked into the old man's mouth, and he began to chew it.
Crunching sound echoed out from his mouth, then he swallowed and burped.
The golden light in his eyes began to fade, as it did, he spoke up in a joyful mood.
"Ah, karma sure does taste great!"
He was about to destroy the blob but then he paused, he cocked an eyebrow up as he looked at the blob.
"Hmmmm, what a broken mind, such fragmented memories. You can't even see most of your life, little one. Oh? What this, eternal life you say! You want it that badly huh?!"
His face twisted with a bit of madness.
The Crooked man grinned savagely as he peered into the blob, then he said, "Sure why not?!"
"It could make for some decent entertainment, and my old stomping grounds could use a little shaking up as well."
"But where you end up, depends on fate."
As he made up his mind, he took one last look at the blob and said, "I guess this could be me making it up to you huh?"
He frowned as he spoke, "Forget it, when have I ever not done as I pleased. But I need to strengthen you up some, I did eat your karma after all."
After he spoke, the old man let out a breath from his mouth that drilled into the blob. The blob began to swell up greatly, up until a certain point and then it stopped. Then something happened that even the crooked man didn't foresee.
In the middle of the blob a dark grey light appeared, and the breath that he breathed into the blob began to be swallowed by it.
The blob didn't weaken, oh no!
On the contrary it slowly defined the soul's shape and quality.
This stunned the man greatly as he realized something.
"Eh, a Soul Devourer in this age! There hasn't been one since the third age of Emperor Ming."
The Crooked man regained his countenance. But the twisted smile on his face said otherwise.
"I'm looking forward to your growth little guy."
Satisfied with his work, he pointed into the void, once he did a seven colored wormhole appeared. Then he tossed the blob into the wormhole.
After he did that, the crooked man sat down on the black carpet and calmly flew away in the blink of an eye.
Only the faint sound of his voice was left as it said, "Enteral Life huh? Well, let's just see how far you go.... Tao."
"Maybe we'll meet again someday in the future."
Then there was silence in the dark void.
If certain people knew that the Crooked man just gave a random soul a favor. Then they'd lose their minds, among all three chaos worlds, and all the nine circles of hell the Crooked man was well known for his crazy personality and his cruelty.
He's never been as nice as he was today, to anyone else in history!
But Tao wouldn't know this until much, much later.
At the moment he was too busy dealing with and loathing his current situation.