CHAPTER 0
White.
Endless white.
It hurt—like hell.
Then everything turned black.
A mysterious man stood in the sky, dressed in a long black coat. His eyes shimmered like a star-filled night. Lightning rained down upon a young, average-looking man below.
The mysterious man let out a quiet sigh.
"I wish you can become what we hope you will," he murmured.
"This is the final will of us dying people—that you may achieve what awaits you in your future."
With those words, his body dissolved like mist, returning to nothingness.
Alexander's POV
What happened?
Where am I?
Why can't I feel my body?
…Yes. Now I remember. A lightning bolt struck me.
I tried to open my eyes.
When I finally saw my surroundings, my thoughts froze.
I was floating in space.
Before me stood a huge white crystal—no, enormous wasn't enough. It stretched endlessly, at least a million feet long.
"H-Holy moly… where the hell am I?" I muttered.
"And why is my body transparent?"
"Who dares disturb my slumber?"
The crystal roared.
My heart nearly stopped.
At the center of the crystal, a massive eye slowly opened and stared directly at me.
"WHAT?! What are you?!" I shouted.
"Oh? This is new," the crystal said calmly.
"How can a little soul like you reach me and disturb my slumber?"
"I—uh—"
"I am the Core of the Cosmos.
The center of all existence.
The origin of all causality."
"…Why am I here?" I asked nervously.
"What happened to me?"
"How should I know?" the Core replied.
"You just said you're the Core of everything! Doesn't that mean you know everything?" I protested.
"Boy, do you think I keep records of every ant crawling across existence?" the Core snapped.
"So… I probably died from the lightning strike," I muttered.
Great. I'm dead.
I wasn't even married yet…
"Boy," the Core said, "don't be sad. Haven't you noticed something unique about yourself?"
"What are you talking about now?" I asked.
"I have slept here since the birth of this cosmos. Souls die every second—but you are the only one who has ever reached me."
"…Then what's so special about me?" I asked.
"Let me take a closer look."
The Core paused.
"…Impossible."
"What?"
"How can a mere mortal from a lower world possess this much causality?
This makes no sense."
I was completely baffled.
"Uh… what exactly is causality?" I asked. "You've been talking about it from the start."
The Core sighed deeply, its gaze changing.
"Boy, you are… a miracle.
Causality—what you call karma—is the record of every action in your life. Good or bad, it is engraved upon your soul. After death, this causality determines your fate."
"If a soul's positive and negative causality balance to zero, it is purified and sent to reincarnate."
"…And if it's not zero?" I asked.
"Souls with negative causality are erased from existence.
Souls with positive causality are given a choice—by their planet's core."
That sent chills down my nonexistent spine.
"So… why am I here? You're not a planet core."
"You're thinking correctly," the Core said.
"Your case is unique."
"Souls with positive causality may donate it to their planet core in exchange for a peaceful afterlife—a so-called heaven. These are merely pocket dimensions rented out for profit."
What a scam, I thought. Why would anyone trade freedom for boredom?
"What's the second choice?" I asked.
"We bind all causality into the soul and send it to a new life. A powerful soul gains benefits—memory retention, abilities, even divine potential."
…This feels like an isekai anime.
"Understand this hierarchy," the Core continued.
"Planet Cores form Galactic Cores.
Galactic Cores form Universal Cores.
Trillions of Universes form a Cosmos Core—me."
"…Then what comes after you?" I asked.
"Your mind is too small," the Core replied.
"But more importantly, you still don't understand your position."
"…If I died on my planet, why am I here?" I asked slowly.
"Every Core has limits. What happens if you try to pour an ocean into a glass bottle?"
My eyes widened.
"…So my causality is too much for a planet core?"
"…Even a universal core?"
The Core remained silent.
I grinned.
I knew donating 10% of my income every year would pay off.
"Don't be ridiculous," the Core scoffed.
"You think donations gave you this?"
"Hey! Stop reading my thoughts!" I protested.
"Choose already," the Core said impatiently.
"I'll pass on heaven," I replied.
"I choose reincarnation. By the way—how much causality do I have?"
The Core sighed heavily.
"You're greedy," it muttered.
"Tell me the highest record and mine," I said confidently.
"…The highest recorded causality was 8,000 units. That soul lived as a hero—then a tyrant—and eventually fell to -6,000, erasing itself."
"And me?" I asked.
"…Your causality is
12,996,968,036,403,680 units."
…Holy moly.
"That's… twelve quadrillion," I whispered.
"With that much power," the Core said,
"you may design your new body and abilities from scratch."
Four months passed.
Finally, I submitted my list.
The Core burst into laughter.
"What the hell is this, boy?"
My face burned red.
"Cosmic Immortal Physique.
Infinite Ever-Expanding Inner Universe.
God Domains.
All-Seeing Eyes.
Artificial All-Knowing Intelligence Assistant.
Immortal Soul.
Evolving Divine Weapon."
"…Business is business," the Core said.
It calculated calmly.
"Total cost deducted. Approved."
"Now hold tight," the Core said.
"And enjoy the show."
"WAIT! Why does memory transfer cost so much? You're cheating!" I shouted.
"To ensure your soul survives," the Core replied coldly.
"And I'm sending you very far away—so you never reach me again."
Before I could say anything—
Everything went black