rejected by the reincarnation system

stray sparks in the nether

The air was thick. Not just with smoke or mist--but something worse. The kind of pressure that curled under

your skin and whispered to your bones: You shouldn't be here.

Hinata trudged behind Alis, eyes darting from one jagged outcrop to the next. The Nether was... wrong. The

sky above pulsed like a dying ember, and the ground cracked and groaned with every step, like the land itself

wanted to scream.

"So," Alis said, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade, "what's your plan, Mr. Suicide?"

Hinata frowned. "Don't call me that."

"Why not? It's accurate."

"You're a demon. Aren't you supposed to be evil? Not just rude."

She shot him a sideways glance. "I'm a woman first, Hinata. Demon second. We come with opinions."

That shut him up for a few seconds.

Then: "...What is this place, really?"Alis shrugged. "A pit. A prison. A battlefield. Home. Depends who you ask." She hopped over a smoldering

rock, cloak trailing behind her like shadow made silk. "You? You're a fresh soul. No class, no power, no

protection. You're basically bait."

Hinata didn't like the sound of that.

A deep growl echoed from somewhere nearby.

He really didn't like the sound of that.

Alis came to a sudden stop, arm outstretched. "Stay behind me."

The ground split open like wet paper. A hulking demon burst forth--twisted limbs, teeth for fingers, eyes

blinking from its chest. It screeched, more sound than sense, and lunged straight for them.

Hinata froze.

Alis didn't.

She flicked her wrist.

BOOM.

A streak of violet flame erupted from her palm, swallowing the demon whole. The creature didn't even get thechance to scream before it was reduced to ash and embers.

Hinata stared, jaw slack. "What the--?"

Alis smirked. "What? Never seen a girl use fire magic?"

He swallowed. "You just--how did you--?"

"You're asking too many questions for someone who almost peed himself."

"I didn't--!" he started, then stopped. "Okay maybe a little."

She laughed--low, amused, and just a bit wicked. "You're fun. Don't die too quickly."

They walked for hours. At least, Hinata thought it was hours. Time didn't move normally in the Nether. There

was no sun, no moon--only that pulsating sky and the distant groans of things better left unseen.

Hinata finally broke the silence. "You seem comfortable here."

"I am comfortable here."

"Are all demons this chill, or is it just you?"

Alis smirked. "You're asking too many questions again."A silence passed. Then:

"...Thanks," Hinata said quietly.

Alis raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For saving me back there. Twice now, actually."

She looked at him for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it."

"Right. Obviously."

Another pause. Then, she spoke again--softly, but firmly.

"The Nether doesn't forgive weakness, Hinata. If you want to survive, you'll need to become something more."

He looked at her. "More like you?"

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "No. You don't want to be like me."

Before Hinata could reply, the ground trembled again.

This time, it wasn't a demonIt was something... else.

The sky above flickered violently, and a gust of heat swept over them. Alis's eyes narrowed.

"Oh. Him."

"Him?"

She reached into her cloak and pulled out a strange curved blade--shimmering, black as obsidian, humming

with low power.

"Get ready. Your training arc starts now."

Hinata blinked. "My what now?"

Alis grinned. "You'll thank me later. If you live."