***Extra***

{{

Cultivation Realms

At the moment, those are the realms available.

I'll think about the rest when they get there.

Body Transformation;

Energy Gathering;

Foundation Establishment, 150 lifespan;

Core Formation, 200 lifespan;

Core and Soul Fusion, 300 lifespan;

Nascent Soul, 500 lifespan;

and Soul Transformation, 1000 lifespan.

}}

Rean Faran had never been anything special. Born into a typical family, with ordinary parents, ordinary siblings, etc. He pretty much had a going-with-the-flow life. If there is something different about him, it is the fact that he doesn't care much about anything. Everyone always has something that they desire to have or accomplish, but Rean didn't have anything like that.

Because of this, he always looked at everything with a bored face. From the start to the end of his education, he just got by with average scores. As soon as a specific knowledge wasn't necessary, he would forget it as if he had never learned it in the first place.

He knew that he was a little different. Thanks to that, he always had the same thought. 'Born unimpressively, living unimpressively, fated to die unimpressively...' He believed that this is how it would be until the end of his life, and made no effort whatsoever to change it.

Unfortunately, when he was thirty-one years old, he tried to save a boy from being hit by a truck. The boy didn't look to the sides before crossing a road and ended running right in front of it. It was not like Rean wanted to save the boy. It was just that as a going-with-the-flow man, he thought it was the right thing to do. Rean jumped and pushed the boy out of the way. Of course, the one who was hit by the truck after that was him.

Rean was sent flying and crashed on the ground several meters always. His body was so damaged that Rean couldn't even feel pain. He immediately understood that perhaps, he shouldn't have done that. In the end, he could only think while laughing in self-deprecation.

"Hehe... Even my Death will turn out to be this Cliche. Something that you can see in any low rated book or film. As I thought, born unimpressively, lived unimpressively, fated to die unimpressively... a fitting end for someone who never desired anything."

Almost instantly, Rean already came to terms with his outcome... or so he thought.

But it was at this moment that Rean's Soul woke up! Suddenly, a feeling of unwillingness started to spread through his mind.

"No...!"

Rean was taken aback. Was it him who just said that? Why would he say no? He should have no reason to refuse something, even Death. That made no sense! However, that sentiment was just too strong! But at the same time, it was also too foreign for him! For a few moments, Rean couldn't even understand what he was feeling at all. He couldn't be blamed, though. He had never felt something like unwillingness before.

Perhaps, due to never having felt like that, that feeling was bottled up until this moment. And now, during Rean's last moments, the bottleneck was finally broken! Rean clenched his fists. For the first time, he felt like he didn't want something.

"I don't want to die!"

Or better, it could also be said that he wanted something.

"I want to live!"

But it was too late, his body functions were shutting down. His mind was starting to get fussy. The last sounds he could hear were sob of the boy's mother, who was crying by his side with guilt-filled expression. But that didn't matter, his entire Soul was screaming! He wanted to live! He didn't want to die! Finally, Ran lost his conscienceness... and died.

Later on that same day, on the table of the morgue, Rean's mutilated body had finally ended to be cleaned by the employee of that place. It would be passed to his family later, who would then proceed with the funeral. The employe sighed after seeing this early thirties man dead body. He had read the report and knew that he died to save a boy he didn't even know.

"Life is such a bitch, don't you think, my friend?"

The employee then put his tools down and left the room. His part was finished, so he had to take care of other things.

The room was quiet, all one could hear was the sounds at other places in the distance where the employees of the morgue were working.

But it was at that moment that suddenly, a Gate appeared out of nowhere right beside Rean's body! From inside, a figure holding a Scythe came out. The guy's body was covered in faint black energy while he was using a black robe. Not to mention that the robe had a hood that also covered his head.

He then looked at Rean for a second and ignored him. Instead, he looked at his attire and sighed.

"Why the hell humans picture Death like this? Even my weapon became a Scythe for no reason. I really can't understand why humans think about me with this appearance."

He was obviously Death. As for his appearance, it was the general concept of how most of the humans around this place thought that Death looked like. Depending on where he goes, his appearance would change according to the natives' beliefs.

"I liked the past when humans didn't think about me. I could take any shape I wanted. But, since a few thousand years ago, my appearance began to become more and more bizarre."

In the end, Death sighed and returned his attention to the body on the table.

Death then extended his hand, and some kind of black energy started to come out. It entered Rean's body and soon, someone that looked precisely like Rean, but had an ethereal appearance, came out. Obviously, that was none other than Rean Faran's Soul!

Death looked at Rean's Soul and said.

"Well, it's time to die."

Death just said that on a whim, Souls of dead people or any other life form would never answer to start with... at least, that was how it was supposed to be.

However...

"Don't wanna!"

For a second, Death thought that he was hallucinating. As far as he knows, no soul had ever talked back after the body died. Once someone dies, their Soul was not supposed to be able to think. After all, the process of thinking was done by the brain, which is already not working anymore.

"I must have been working too much recently. I could swear that the Soul just talked. When I'm back, I will take a few hundred years off to relax a little."

But it was then that Death noticed Rean looking directly at him with an ugly expression.

"Did you... just say that you 'don't wanna'?"

Rean nodded.

"I still want to live, so just put me back."

Death looked at Rean as if he had seen the most unbelievable thing of his life. Still, he is Death, so he didn't take long to recover for his stupor. So what if he can speak? His job won't change anyway. He can simply ask others later after he is done with everything.

"What don't wanna? Just come with me, it is your time."

Death then made a grabbing motion and the same kind of energy shot towards Rean once more as if wanting to grab him. But to his surprise, Rean dodged!

"Who the hell will accept that? I haven't lived enough yet! Or better, I haven't lived at all!"

Rean's Soul then jumped directly into his dead body again... or so he tried. But his body was already dead, so how could he possibly go back to it? Rean's Spiritual Form passed right through, and he fell under the table of his dead body.

Death saw that and snorted.

"You are dead, so what makes you think you can return?"

Death then raised his Scythe and slashed it down at Rean's Soul. Even though his weapon took this weird shape, his Scythe had the power to turn a Soul back to its purest form. Simply put, Rean would turn into pure Soul Energy and nothing more. Death could then grab it and throw inside the Path of Reincarnation. A new soul would then be formed from the Soul Energy and be reincarnated into a new body, just like it has always been.

But to his surprise... Rean's Soul rolled to the side, dodging the Scythe by a hair! Right after, Rean used all the strength he had to kick Death away!

Death didn't expect that at all! It was not like Death was weak or anything. It was just that such a situation had never happened before, so he was unprepared. Death fell on the ground after that kick and could only see the ceiling above. For a few seconds, Death didn't move at all. What happened just now was so inconceivable that Death had a hard time believing it!

In its countless years of life (or maybe Death), Death had never been kicked before. To be more specific, Death had never suffered any kind of attack ever since it came into existence. Obviously, that action made it enraged! He is Death! Created by God himself to guide all the Souls into Reincarnation. A vital existence in this world! Even between the other celestial existences, Death was one of the most important ones!

But just as Death got up and was about to teach that Soul a lesson...

"Where is he?!"

Rean's Soul was nowhere to be seen... Yes, Rean has fled!

Rean sighed in relief when he confirmed that he could really cross through walls in that form of his.

"Who the hell would stay put waiting for a creepy guy to cut you in half? Go to hell! No, wait! If he is Death, then he came from hell to start with. Errr... whatever, go to Heavens then!"

Rean still thought that it didn't sound quite right, either. However, it was not time to ponder whether he is properly cursing Death or not. He had to flee!

Nevertheless, that was useless. In the next second, a gate appeared right in front of Rean's Soul and Death came out from it. Rean tried to turn around and run once more, but Death was already prepared for it. The black energy precisely wrapped around Rean's waist before being pulled back.

"Hmph! Making me waste my time. Usually, I would go around collecting a few Souls before sending them all into the Path of Reincarnation at once. But since you are this eager to be first, I will fulfill your wish."

Before Rean could even reply that comment, another Gate, this time bigger, opened right in front of him. As soon as the Gate opened, Rean's Soul felt like he was being pulled by an enormous pressure! The more he struggled, the higher the attractive force seemed to be.

Death saw that and snorted. Once the Gate to the Path of Reincarnation is opened, any soul that stopped to be part of the living world would be dragged inside. It was impossible to escape! He didn't even need to transform Rean's Soul into Soul Energy, the Path would do that automatically.

Death then turned around and opened another Gate. He still had several Souls to pull out of their dead bodies today, so he wouldn't stay here just to watch Rean's Soul falling inside. After all, he had seen this scene countless times already.

A new gate appeared in front of him, and Death Stepped forward.

But it was at this moment that Death noticed something strange.

"Weird... How come I'm walking forward, but the Gate is getting further away?"

Of course, such a train of thought only lasted for a second. That is because Death suddenly fell with his face on the ground. He then looked back and saw Rean holding one of his lower legs. Immediately, Death's expression changed paled! Well, it was already pale to start with.

"LET GO!"

Death must be dreaming if he thinks that Rean would do as he asked.

"THEN CLOSE THAT GATE!"

Death then started to struggle and kick Rean's head with his other leg. But Rean seemed just like a maggot. It didn't matter how much he kicked, Rean kept holding him tightly!

"I can't close it until the dead soul has passed through, so let go!

Rean immediately answered.

"I Don't wanna die!"

Death felt like crying.

"You are already dead, idiot! Just go and pass away peacefully!"

Rean couldn't help but snort.

"Then come with me, and let's peacefully pass away together. Hahaha!"

"Don't drag me down with you!"

"It was you who put me in this situation to start with!"

"I'm only doing my job!"

"And what does that have to do with me?!"

Between screams, struggles, kicks, and curses, Rean and Death were sent into the Path of Reincarnation... together

ath,death, who was still being tightly held by Rean, tried to reopen the Path of Reincarnation gate. Still, it was futile. The gate can only be opened from the outside!

"Bastard! Look what you have done!"

Rean didn't care at all.

"What I've done? Ha! It is your fault that we are in this place to start with. Would it be that much of an issue of you had simply left me be?"

Death felt like killing Rean. Unfortunately, Rean is already dead.

"You are really an idiot! I might as well tell you this. Any soul that is not sent into the Path of Reincarnation in 38 hours will completely dissipate. Simply put, let alone having your memories wiped out and reincarnating, you would be completed dead both in Body and Soul."

Rean was taken aback. That is the first time he heard anything about that.

"This! Then why didn't you tell me from the very start?"

Death felt like crying.

"With how much you wanted to 'live,' would you believe me?"

Rean had to admit that Death was speaking the truth. At that moment, he would think that Death was simply finding an excuse to get rid of him. In fact, even now, he isn't sure if Death is telling the truth or not. But looking at the circumstances and how Death stopped struggling completely, it seems like he isn't lying.

"What do we do now?"

Death's mouth twitched.

"We? There is no we! First of all, I've never heard about a Death Spirit Soul like me falling inside the Path of Reincarnation, so I have no idea about what is going to happen with me. That being said, do you think I have time to think about you?"

Rean started to think and asked a moment later.

"In that case, what will be happening with me? Since you are lost at the moment, there shouldn't be a problem for you to tell me what happens for normal souls in this place."

Death thought for a second and nodded. Since he already got to this point, perhaps explaining things to Rean might give him some new ideas.

"In the Path of Reincarnation, the Soul of the dead will be converted back into pure Soul Energy. Soul Energy will then be used to form an entirely new Soul. Through this process, any memories, emotions, dreams, or anything else related to its previous identity will be wiped out. After this 'cleaning' process, the Soul is finally ready to leave the Path of Reincarnation and be born as a new life."

Rean nodded.

"And when will this process begin?"

Death pointed in the distance.

"Can you see that colored portal there?"

Rean had to pay good attention to notice the portal that Death mentioned.

"Yes... barely."

Death then continued

"That portal will send you directly inside of the River of Forgetfulness. It is that river that will cleanse your Soul and wipe out all your memories. Once you pass that portal, it will be a point of no return."

Rean then asked.

"What about you?"

Death shrugged his shoulders.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be this worried. Or perhaps, I would be a lot more worried instead. As I said, no other Death Spirit Soul had ever fallen inside the Path of Reincarnation. Thanks to that, I have no idea."

It was then that Death remembered something.

"By the way, how the hell can you think and talk?"

Rean immediately looked at Death with a surprised expression.

"Shouldn't I be able to?"

Death mouth's twitched hearing that question.

"Are you BLIND?! Look around you, idiot! How many fucking Souls can you see going in the same direction as us? Can you see a single one speaking? Does it even look like they are thinking at all?!"

Rean was a lot more worried about his situation. Because of that, he really hadn't paid attention to the other Souls until now. He then took an in-depth look around, but all he could see were Souls that looked like to be absent-minded. Or to be more specific, Souls that weren't thinking about anything to start with.

"It is as if everyone is in a trance."

Death nodded.

"It's not incorrect to think like that, but not right either. Say it, what part of the body is responsible for the thinking ability?"

Rean immediately understood the crux of the issue.

"I see... Because we are all dead, our brains are obviously dead too. How can a dead brain think about anything? Without the brain's support, a Soul should not be able to think to start with. Is that what you meant?"

Death nodded.

"Correct. That's why I can't understand you. Your body is, without a doubt, 100% dead! But how come you can have the ability to think without a brain?"

Rean was just as confused as Death. Indeed? Just what is serving as support for him to generate thoughts?

"Can you see anything different in my Soul? I don't know... perhaps some hidden Soul treasure?"

Death felt like kicking Rean once again.

"What do you think it is? Some Novel? As if such a thing cou-"

Suddenly, Death noticed something unbelievable! Right at the center of Rean's Soul, there seemed to be a very faint light. It was so frail that if Rean hadn't asked that question, he definitely wouldn't have noticed.

However, as a Death Spirit Soul that guided countless numbers of dead Souls into the Path of Reincarnation, he was absolutely sure that such a thing shouldn't exist!

"There is really such a thing as a Soul Treasure?"

Rean noticed the change with Death and understood that perhaps, he was right about his judgment. But he too was taken aback. After all, he really asked that on a whim. Who would believe in such a thing as a Soul Treasure? But then again, until a few moments ago, he didn't believe that a Death Spirit and the Path of Reincarnation existed either. But lo and behold, here he is!

Suddenly... Rean released Death!

Death, of course, was taken aback by that action. He was holding onto his leg as if his life depended on it. Well, he is not really alive, though. But now, he let him go that easily. Could it be that he trusted his words about the Soul disappearing after 38 hours and now felt remorse? So now he decided to face his destiny without affecting him?

But in the next second, Death's expression changed!

Tud!

Once again, someone began to hold tightly onto someone else's leg... But this time... It was Death who wasn't letting Rean go?!

"LET GO!"

Death immediately replied.

"AS IF!"

Rean's expression went dark.

"DIDN'T YOU WANT TO GET RID OF ME?"

Death, on the other hand, laughed out loud.

"HAHAHA! Although I don't know what will happen to a Death Spiritual Soul in the Path of Reincarnation, it doesn't change the fact that I'm also a Soul. Chances are that I will have my memories wiped as well. Right now, this 'treasure' or whatever that you have in your head is my only guarantee!"

"You should be grateful! Your Grandfather, Lord Death, will be accompanying you into the River of Forgetfulness! There is no need to thank me."

Rean's mouth twitched. First of all, he doesn't even know if this thing inside his Soul can really prevent him from losing his memories later. But assuming that it is, what guarantees are there that it has enough power to protect two Souls? There is even a chance that there is too much to protect. Thus, this treasure or whatever will not work correctly because of that.

Once again, between screams, struggles, kicks, and curses, Rean and Death were sent into the River of Forgetfulness... together...

Author's note: If you like the story so far, consider leaving a few Power Stones to help the story.

Death and Rean passed through the colored Portal and fell directly into the River of Forgetfulness. Both Death and Rean's Soul started to change shape almost immediately after that. Their minds got fussy, and they couldn't tell right from left. Still, Death made sure to hold Rean and not let him escape.

Suddenly, both Soul lost their shape. At the same time, they were being converted into Pure Soul Energy. But it was at this moment that that faint Light inside Rean's Soul started to get brighter! Both Rean and Death's Soul Energies then began to revolve around it together.

That Light then started to gather all their memories and emotions. Not only that, but the Light also started to change! What was just a White Light before, now became half White and half Dark. However, Death was right! That Light really had the power to keep both of their memories somehow. Unfortunately, Rean and Death already lost consciousness.

Suddenly.

[War---g!

Uniden...ed So-l Mem---ies -etected.

Se-ar-tion imp---ble.

Initi--ng em-rgenc--- ana--sis...

...

...

...

Analy-- c--ple-ed.

Sea-c-ing for alternat--- sol-tion...

...

...

...

Alter--ti-- solution f-oun-.

In-ti-tin- So-l connect--n.

...

...

...

Soul connection completed.

...

Warning!

Unidentified Soul is of a different type.

Soul Gem is not compatible.

Initiating analysis...

...

...

Analysis completed.

Soul Gem upgrade needed.

Initiating Soul Gem upgrade...

...

...

...

Upgrade completed.

Restarting memories preservation...

...

...

...

Memories saved.

Auto Reincarnation Pilot ON.

Entering hibernation until enough energy is accumulated.]

Death and Rean, obviously, didn't hear or see anything.

The River of Forgetfulness tried to take those memories away, but the Light's power was a lot stronger than it. In the end, every single memory, emotion, or anything related to that was sent into that Light. With the memories disappearing altogether, the River of Forgetfulness felt like its target was gone. The River didn't have a mind. It only did what it was supposed to do. With no more memories to wipe out, it would simply start the next process.

Both their Soul Energies were then released by the Light so that the River of Forgetfulness could do its job. The cleansing process went for several years, but during all this time, both Souls had always stayed close to the Light of their Memories.

Finally, both Soul Energies finished passing through the River of Forgetfulness. From there, they seemed to be dragged by some kind of supernatural power, which tried to send them into another portal. In fact, that power was supposed to get just a single Soul each time, but the Light acted as a glue that kept Death and Rean's Soul Energies together.

But there was a problem. The moment that Rean and Death Soul Energies were about to enter that Portal, that Light began to get even brighter! The space around it looked like to distort, and the Portal where they were supposed to be sent into disappeared. Right after, another portal that wasn't supposed to be there materialized right in front of both Souls.

That supernatural power from before tried to stop Rean and Death from falling into it. But the Light also acted as a barrier that prevented that power from getting close. Rean and Death Soul Energies then passed through this new Portal, which closed right after they entered.

Usually, the Portal that disappeared would send Rean and Death to be reformed as new Souls. After that, they would enter a new life form that was being created. Like a baby, for example. That would then conclude their Reincarnation Process.

But the Portal that the Light opened for them led both Soul Energies outside of the Universe. Or to be more precise, it led them to a completely different plane altogether!

In this new plane, the laws were completely different.

To start, the Souls in the Reincarnation Path are a lot stronger than they are. Death and Rean's Soul Energies looked as if they could be smashed by any other Souls there.

That can't be helped. This plane is a place where Cultivation Reigns Supreme! Everyone in this place can cultivate. Even if you don't cultivate at all, just the natural accumulation of Spiritual Energy will strengthen your Soul to an entirely different level. It is completely different from the plane from where Death and Rean came from.

Once they arrived, Rean and Death's Souls were once again sent into another River of Forgetfulness. However, Death and Rean had already received the cleansing from the previous River. Because of that, they were not kept there for several years like it was back in the other Universe. It only took them around a week to be once more dragged out of the River.

Just like before, a portal opened, and they were sent inside. This time, the Light did not obstruct this process. From there, Rean and Death's Soul Energies were sent directly into the end of the Path of Reincarnation. Of course, this one was completely different from before.

Rean and Death didn't know anything about it, though. They were in a state of hibernation at the moment, and the only thing that kept their identities was that Light.

While passing through that Portal, millions of images could be seen moving at breakneck speeds around them. Each one of those images represented a new life being born in this new Universe.

Humans, Beasts, Demon Plants, Sentient Objects, Spirits... The options were unlimited!

Finally, they entered the final stage of Reincarnation, and their Soul Energies were once again reformed into new Souls. From that point, the Light began to send their memories back into each of their minds. Because they were not inside the River of Forgetfulness anymore, nothing tried to stop this process.

Finally, Rean and Death's new Souls were awakened.

Rean looked around and felt lost. The last thing he remembers is the time he and Death fell into the River of Forgetfulness. From that point onwards, everything went black.

"Where is this?"

Soon, he heard Death's laugh beside him.

"We left the River of Forgetfulness! Hahahahaha! I still have my memories, great!"

Death then looked at Rean and snorted.

"Still, if not for you, I would not have passed through this torment."

Rean's mouth twitched.

"Did you forget who opened that gate in the first place? If you had let me go, nothing like that would have happened."

Death, of course, didn't take that low.

"How many times I have to tell you? If I had left you like that, your Soul would dissipate later. Your only choice was to be reincarnated, that's all."

Rean decided to ignore that part, though.

"Whatever. What will happen now?"

Death then explained.

"I haven't seen this place before. Still, since we are out of the River of Forgetfulness, it means that we entered the last stage of Reincarnation. Our Souls have already been reconstructed, so all that awaits us now is to be sent into a new Life Form."

Rean was delighted to hear it.

"Does that mean I will be born again with all my memories? Hahahaha! Great!"

Death snorted but didn't deny that.

"Anyway, this is where we part ways. Soon, our Souls are going to be pulled into one of the new life forms, and we are going to reincarnate somewhere in the Universe. I hope to never see your face in my life again."

Death wasn't afraid of being reborn. With his understanding of his home Universe, he could use his connection with the underworld and return there. After that, he can simply reconstruct his own Soul as a Death Spirit once more. As for Rean... **** that guy!

Rean, of course, couldn't be happier to be separated from this troublesome thing as well.

Death and Rean then moved away from each other... or so they tried. As soon as the distance between themselves reached 100 or so meters, some kind of power pulled them back!

Their Soul slammed against each other, which made both parties feel quite dizzy for a few moments. Only when they recovered did they notice a faint white and dark thread connecting their Souls. At the very center of this line, one could see that soft Light that had kept their memories until now.

Before, Death could only see a White Light, but now, that Light was both White and Dark. The black color side of the thread was connected to his Soul, while the White was connected to Rean's one.

Both Death and Rean were taken aback by that. But before they could even discuss this issue, they felt that their Souls began to be dragged away against their will.

"The hell? What is it?"

Death immediately replied.

"We are probably reincarnating!"

Rean and Death looked at each other, and the White and Dark thread that is connecting their Souls. Seeing that, they felt like crying.

"I don't want to reincarnate with you!"

Still, that Light had created some kind of connection between Death and Rean. Because of that, they simply couldn't get too far away from each other. That being said, they couldn't Reincarnate in different places anymore. That had to reincarnate together!

However, Rean and Death are, after all, different Souls. It is not like they can merge or use the same body. With no other option, the Reincarnation Path of this new plane could only do one thing...

Death and Rean... had to Reincarnate as Twins!