Ren's resurrection this time differed from the thousands he had experienced before his reincarnation into Samsara. As his life came to an end, his soul ascended into the void, only to be instantly ensnared by the pull of an immense star.
It felt as though his soul was stretched into a thin ribbon, pulled taut by an invisible force.
The force was overwhelming, erasing all perception of his surroundings. Everything became a blur—a dizzying rush—until, suddenly, his soul was submerged in the depths of emerald waters again.
Looks like I will be floating around in these green waters for a long time. Is this how resurrection is going to go from now on? Not that I'm complaining—it’s pretty soothing here.
The waters were healing the cracks and the extreme distortion his soul endured during the journey.
Honestly, I'm not even tired. Being a baby was the real killer; just watching stuff was exhausting! Maybe I can take some of this water back with me. If it works on my soul, why wouldn’t it work on my body too, right?
Ren tried cupping the waters in his soul's hands, though calling them 'hands' was generous—they were more like fluid, shifting tendrils, reminiscent of an abstract painting, constantly changing their shape.
Is this what being a ghost feels like?
Despite his best efforts, the water slipped through, leaving not a single drop behind. Ren tried taking a few gulps, attempting to hold the water in, but it slipped through immediately. One moment, the waters interacted with his soul, mending any cracks left by death, and the next, they treated his soul as though it were incorporeal.
His soul was rising from the waters again, ready for a full resurrection back on Vega.
Think, think, think—come on, brain, don't fail me now! Wait, do souls have a mind? Ahh!
The Arm
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Ren had tried summoning his Spectral arm so many times during those first two weeks as a baby. But nope, the stubborn thing refused to show itself. He could feel it in there, somewhere, lurking—but it never answered his call. Maybe it had something to do with his profile, he thought. So, naturally, he tried to open his profile.
It flashed open and closed faster than a lightning strike. Blink and it was gone. He tried a few more times, but each attempt left him feeling like he had just run a marathon. Come on, practice makes perfect, right? But no—no amount of coaxing worked. The damn thing was as slippery as that one memory you just can’t grab, no matter how hard you try. Ugh!
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This time, as soon as Ren called for it, the Spectral arm popped out immediately, almost catching him off guard. And wow, it felt different—like, seriously different. Ever since it guzzled down those gulps of emerald water and his soul had been marinating in skills, aspect, and destiny for a whole month, the arm had undergone a serious glow-up.
The core, once as solid and dense as a neutron star, had gone full liquid—now filled with shimmering jade waters that pulsed with their own mysterious energy. Even the Viperion Rifle, once just a trusty long-range weapon, now had a quirky new feature: it had somehow absorbed the Keeper of Souls. Ren could only spot these two changes for now, but who knew what else was lurking beneath the surface?
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Guess I’ll have to dig deeper some other day. No time for arm-studying today—got things to do, places to be.
He gave the arm a test move, watching as the jade waters swirled around its translucent structure.
Jackpot
Ren activated the recently transformed Jade Heart Reactor, grinning greedily as he began filling it up. He kept going until the waters flooded every corner of the suit—even the energy channels running through different systems of the Spectral Arm were now coursing with emerald goodness.
Not yet! Not yet! For god's sake, I said not yet!
It was happening again—Ren's armed soul fluttered through the boundaries of existence, diving headfirst into Samsara.
Seriously, could somebody please make this resurrection process a little easier—or at least a lot less dizzy?
Inside Ren's room, the crib was back in its usual spot, the windows were shut tight, and a protective barrier was carefully drawn over the entire crib. The moon, that old accomplice of the dancing rabbit, has decided not to share its shining shadier side with the room anymore.
Everything looked just like any other night—except, of course, for the not-so-small detail of Ren's lifeless, blue body. Yeah, that was kind of hard to ignore.
In the empty room, Ren's blue, lifeless body lay inside the crib, gradually crumbling into ashes and oblivion. Ren's armored soul, not one to miss a dramatic entrance, spanned in its place.
Resurrection...
The mana gathered up like a bunch of overenthusiastic ants who found some sweet sugar they are trying to peddle, solidifying from a vague outline into a lifelike form, with skin and features rapidly coming together like some 3D printed high-tech human body.
When Ren's consciousness snapped into the new body, he couldn't help but grin. The Jade Heart Reactor fired upon his command, releasing the emerald waters he'd so carefully hoarded. The waters danced around the forming body, wrapping it in shiny streams that seeped into bones, muscles, and whatever other parts needed a boost. This time, Ren's soul wasn't just spectating—it was diving in, taking charge of the whole show.
The emerald waters didn’t just patch things up; they went all out. Ren felt each cell coming alive, muscles practically buzzing with energy, his entire body glowing like he'd just chugged a drugged-up Mana drink. He felt like he could bench-press a mountain—or at least arm-wrestle an overly ambitious chicken.
Alright, world. Ren 2.0 is ready to rock.
Samsara Online…
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"Did everything go as planned?" The Master, her gaze as sharp as her wit, eyed the furry figure with a gentle smile.
The Rabbit knelt before her, his head bowed low, sweat dripping from his forehead in fear of his master. "Yes, Master. The child is dead, and there are no witnesses. No one will trace this back to us."
She arched an eyebrow, her expression almost playful. "Are you absolutely certain? You know how I dislike surprises—especially ones that lead back to me."
"Absolutely, Master," the Rabbit answered confidently. "All traces of our involvement have been erased. There will be no evidence left behind."
The Rabbit Master allowed herself a small, almost dismissive smile. "Good work, Rabbit," she said, the words carrying a hint of approval.
The Rabbit dared a small lift of his head, relief just starting to settle in. "Thank you, Master."
She stepped forward, her voice suddenly soft and deceptively gentle. "You know, Rabbit, there’s an old saying about secrets. Care to guess what it is?"
The Rabbit looked up, a flash of confusion on his face. "A saying, Master?"
"Yes," she nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly, her tone almost conspiratorial. "The best-kept secret is the one known only to you."
There was a heartbeat of silence—a moment where understanding hit. But before he could react, her slender hand moved with the deadly precision of a striking snake. A thin, silver blade gleamed briefly before plunging into his heart.
The Rabbit's eyes widened, his mouth opened, but no sound came out. He slumped forward, the life leaving his body in an instant.
The Rabbit Master wiped the blade with a practiced elegance, glancing down at the lifeless form without a trace of emotion. "Nothing personal, Rabbit. Just the cost of dreams," she quipped, her voice laced with dry amusement.