The woman's gaze softened, almost wistful as she spoke. "Finn, the seven of us together have accumulated over one hundred billion years of cultivation. Every hardship, every battle, every secret we have uncovered has been preserved in us." She paused, letting the enormity of her words settle. "Now that you have chosen to return to the world, you will one day uncover the truths of where we come from, and why we exist." The others stepped closer in unison. "Because you have chosen this path, we will each grant you a gift. Into your body, we will implant a fragment of our essence, each carrying one million years of cultivation. These fragments will help on your journey to fulfill your greatest wishes."
One by one, the seven orbs drew closer, their light intensifying until it surrounded Finn in a cocoon of swirling gold, silver, and shadow. From each orb, a stream of radiant energy surged into his body, piercing every fiber of his being, yet feeling as natural as the blood in his body. With each implantation, he could feel a fragment of their power merging with his soul, a million years of cultivation infusing him with unimaginable strength. And then it began.
The memories of all ninety-nine lives returned, rushing through him like a torrential river. Faces, places, victories, and failures all flooded back, every sorrow and every fleeting joy, merging into a tapestry of experience. Pain and grief, loss and longing, they were all his, yet now tempered by the calm, potent energy of the seven essences. He gasped, staggering under the weight of remembrance and power, until he felt whole. For the first time in all those lifetimes, Finn knew what it meant to truly be a great figure.
Once the seven essences had fully integrated, one of the figures stepped forward, his hands glowing with a soft, warm light. He traced intricate patterns across Finn's body, and a seal took form, embedding itself deep within him. "This mark," he explained, "will prevent anyone, mortal or Immortal, from probing your body or soul. To the eyes of the world, you will appear as any ordinary person. No one will sense the power that flows within you, and that will serve you well." Finn felt the seal settle like a protective cloak around him, a hidden safeguard for the battles and responsibilities yet to come.
Drawing upon the immense power now coursing through him, Finn reached out with his will and tore a rift in the fabric of the void, a shimmering tear that pulsed with energy. He turned to the seven figures, bowing deeply once more. "Until we meet again," he said, his voice steady with newfound resolve. They nodded, their forms glowing warmly in silent farewell. With a final step, Finn moved through the rift, and in an instant, he emerged back into the world. He stood at the shore of the Shadow Lake, but now it was different. The darkness no longer hid its secrets. He could see the seven figures reflected on its black surface, their faces watching him with pride, encouragement, and the quiet promise of guidance.
Finn reached into his robe and withdrew a black and green hexagonal coin one of the male seniors had entrusted to him. The moment his blood touched its surface, the coin flared with a brief, vivid glow before settling into a faint pulse. He slipped it around his neck, feeling a subtle link form, then whispered in his mind, "Come here."
The air in front of him trembled, as a pool of dark green water surged up from nothing, swirling in a spiraling column before spilling outward. From within that living tide, a figure rose tall, poised, and wrapped in a cloak of black and emerald green that shimmered like polished gems. A golden headpiece crowned his brow. As the last drops fell away, he stepped forward and bowed deeply before Finn.
"You are...? Finn asked, keeping his tone respectful. The figure lifted his head, revealing a face shaped from lazily molded clay. "I am Deth," he replied, voice calm and resonant. "King of the Life and Death Domain." Finn's breath stilled for a moment. He looked down at the coin hanging from his neck, then back at the being standing before him. To command Deth, one of the most feared and revered existences in all Nine Realms, was a responsibility few would dare to shoulder or even dream of.
For a moment, he considered asking about his family, about the fate of those lost to flame and cruelty. But he pushed the thought aside. For the path he was about to walk, he needed no attachments. No anchors to pull him back into sorrow. Not yet. Instead, he straightened his back, meeting Deth's clay-formed gaze with newfound resolve. "I seek to bring order to the world," Finn said quietly. "Tell me, what aid can you offer?"
Deth rose to his full height, emerald water still dripping from his cloak, and spoke with a calm authority. "Since you bear the Realmless Coin, you are already beyond mortality," he explained. "No poison, no toxin, no blade, no curse can claim your life. You cannot be slain unless you will it yourself or until the day you ascend to Nirvana." His clay features shifted into something like a faint smile. "As its master, the entire Life and Death Domain stands ready to act at your command. Life, death, rebirth, these forces will move at your word." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "And should you ever wish to vanish from the eyes of the world, I can craft your death so flawlessly that even Immortal Kings will accept it as truth."
Deth's voice deepened, carrying a solemn warning. "There is one matter you must understand, Master. If you choose to take disciples, the protection granted by the Realmless Coin does not extend to them, unless they are personally blessed by the Undying One, the maker of the coin and the true sovereign of Life and Death." He lifted a hand, and the air around them rippled with quiet power. "But do not be troubled. Though they can be slain, I can return them to the world seven times without the need for reincarnation, and without any cost to you or them." His eyes glimmered with shifting light. "And if you so desire, I can reshape them into a Shadow of Death or a Fairy of Life, beings far beyond ordinary cultivation."
Finn lifted his gaze toward the sky, sensing that this moment, this choice, was veiled even from the eyes of those above. Power thrummed quietly beneath his skin as he spoke, "Then, Deth, today marks the birth of Pantheon. A new order for the Nine Realms. Those old fools will finally answer for what they've done. No more checkless rule."