[First Layer of the Spirit Realm]
Pitch-black fog blotted out the sky. Even though daylight had already arrived in the real world, this reverse side of reality remained shrouded in impenetrable darkness.
Inside a dilapidated church.
Children's songs drifted faintly out.
But anyone listening closely would discover that those songs had no rhythm at all. Instead, they sounded like eerie noise pieced together from shrieks and twisted syllables.
On the steps before the church, a hand as white as porcelain scooped up the damp soil underfoot.
Along with it, she dug up a bloody chunk of flesh.
Beside her lay the massive corpse of a twisted flesh Terror Demon that had already been beheaded.
Gurgle-gurgle-
That white, porcelain-like hand kneaded the soil and fresh flesh together bit by bit. Soon, under her deft shaping, a child's body gradually took form.
"Little Anna, sorry for the wait."
A woman's voice, like the chime of wind bells.
Soon, a small, dazed, vacant soul appeared beside her, staring straight at the sculpture in her hands.
"This will be your new body. You can join everyone now. Here with your big sister, none of you will ever be hurt again."
The soul faded away little by little.
The sculpture in her hands seemed to come alive. Its features gradually took shape, its body trembled with little clicks, and its finger joints slowly moved.
Yet the sculpture's eyes remained empty, like a puppet's.
As she looked at the sculpture before her, a faint sigh could be heard. Her fingers tightened slightly, and she bent down to gently embrace the new child.
"Go on, Anna. Join everyone."
She watched the sculpture mechanically obey her command and walk into the ruined church, step by step.
She closed her eyes and drew a deep, forceful breath.