I Was Never Meant to Return

The parallel dimension that exists between our tangible reality and the enigmatic depths of the eternal abyss harbors a multitude of dark secrets yet to be uncovered. The origins of this dimension remain shrouded in mystery, leaving scholars and mystics alike to ponder how it mirrors the eternal abyss in its boundless expanse.

In this haunting realm, individuals who meet their end in the real world find themselves reincarnated in younger forms, preserving the essence of their memories. However, this phenomenon does not come with added capabilities or enchanted artifacts; those reborn solely as humans emerge devoid of extraordinary powers.

Yet, the possibilities in this dimension are far more diverse than mere human reincarnation. Some souls are reborn as terrifying demons, stripped of their emotions and driven by an insatiable hunger for chaos. Others may take on forms of grotesque creatures, endowed with nightmarish abilities that boggle the mind. This variance in reincarnation raises profound questions about the nature of existence and the identities we carry with us beyond death.

Ultimately, the parallel dimension serves as a haunting reflection of our world, steeped in mystery, horror, and the potential for transformation into beings far removed from our previous selves. The exploration of this dimension is just beginning, and the dark secrets it holds may forever alter our understanding of life, death, and the realms that lie in between.

The cold fog beneath Dylan's feet began to thin, but its grip around his body never loosened. It was an abyss made of shadows and whispers, and even the silence screamed. As he plummeted, weightless, into the endless black void, he heard a voice. It was soft… almost melodic. Too calm for this nightmare.

"You're falling," it whispered. "And falling further than most ever do."

Before he could react, a violent gust of air erupted beneath him. A colossal silhouette sliced through the fog—a violet-scaled dragon, monstrous in size, with wings so large they could eclipse the sky if there had been one. Its eyes glowed blood-red, intelligent and ancient. Dylan stared in shock, struggling to make sense of the beast.

"The fuck...? Where did that come from?"

Just as panic surged, the dragon caught him gently in one claw, wings slicing through the mist like blades. Before he could speak again, a hand reached down from above him—a soft, elegant hand adorned with a gauntlet that shimmered faintly in the darkness.

He looked up. Perched atop the dragon was a stunning young woman. She had sharp violet eyes that shimmered with quiet power and short, feathered hair that danced in the wind. Her outfit was a black, form-fitting suit with flowing sleeves, She smiled as if she'd done this a thousand times.

"I'm Melissa," she said, pulling him up with surprising strength. "Nice to meet you, Dylan Daniels."

He blinked. "How the hell do you know my name?"

"I know many things. Including the fact that if I hadn't shown up when I did, your soul would've been swallowed whole by the fog beneath us. You're lucky."

"Lucky?" he scoffed, glancing down. "Even demons avoid this place. What is this hellhole?"

Melissa's smile faded, her tone turning serious. "This is the border. The deepest edge of the Fog Realm. Below us lies the first trial of your soul—the entrance to the Dark Labyrinth. Fewer than one in a million souls ever come this far. Most are devoured. But you… you might just be insane enough to survive."

Dylan crossed his arms. "Okay. I get it. I died. But I was supposed to go to hell, heaven, or be reborn or something. Not ride a giant purple lizard into eternal foggy bullshit."

The dragon rumbled beneath them, as if irritated.

"Show some respect," Melissa said calmly. "His name is Vael'Zarok. He's not just a dragon—he's the last of the Deepscale Guardians. Even demons fear him."

"Great," Dylan muttered. "So we've got a sexy oracle, a pissed-off dragon Uber, and me—some gangster in a kid's body, riding into a death maze. Hell of a Saturday night."

Melissa laughed softly. "Still got that humor. You'll need it."

The ride down was endless.

The fog churned like a living thing, clawing at the edges of the dragon's wings, trying to pull them into nothingness. It wasn't mist—it was something else. A curse. A presence. Every so often, Dylan could swear he saw faces in the fog—some crying, some screaming, others grinning with teeth too sharp and eyes too hollow.

"Hold tight," Melissa warned, suddenly more tense. "We're nearing the threshold. Fall here, and you're gone. Not dead—just… erased."

Dylan clenched his teeth. "Fog that eats you alive. Nice."

After what felt like an eternity—Melissa claimed they had traveled nearly 900 kilometers vertically—the fog began to lift. Or rather, it thinned, revealing something below.

A vast, charred land stretched as far as the eye could see. Ashen soil. Dead trees twisted like tormented souls. Cracked mountains. No sun, no sky—just red lightning above and endless darkness around.

Vael'Zarok descended fast and landed hard, sending a shockwave through the ground. Dylan was thrown from his back, hitting the earth with a brutal thud. His head struck a stone, and pain bloomed like a firework behind his eyes.

"Goddammit, you overgrown bat!" Dylan shouted, holding his head. "At least warn before slamming into a planet!"

Melissa jumped down beside him, her boots not even stirring dust. "Don't be so smug. This is just the silence before the storm."

Dylan stood slowly, wincing. "What does that mean? Where's the exit? How do we get back?"

Melissa's voice dropped to a whisper, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Did you ever wonder why you're here? Why you survived the crash, or why you're still in this... in-between form?"

"I figured I was just too badass to die."

"No," she replied flatly. "You're here because you're being judged. Everyone is. This dimension is the first trial—a test to determine whether your soul deserves to be reborn in the next realm, the Eternal Abyss… or whether you become one of the lost."

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "So what, this is purgatory? With dragons and fog monsters?"

"No," she said. "This is far worse. The Eternal Abyss is a realm of fantasy, magic, and new beginnings. But before you get there, you must survive the Dark Labyrinth."

She pointed forward.

Dylan turned and froze.

A forest of impossibly tall, black trees stretched out before them. Their leaves bled shadows, and the trunks seemed to pulse with veins. At the center stood a massive gate of bone and obsidian, half-buried in twisted roots. Above it, the red moon glowed like a bleeding eye. From deep within, a distant shriek echoed—high-pitched, alien, and hungry.

"That," Melissa said, "is the entrance."

The wind howled around them suddenly, sweeping up dust and whispering Dylan's name in cruel, mocking tones. He looked into the trees. Eyes stared back—hundreds of them. Watching. Waiting.

"You wanted adventure," Melissa said with a smirk. "Well… this is it."

Dylan took a step forward, fists clenched. "I may be in a kid's body, but I still got my old balls."

Melissa burst out laughing. "You either have a death wish or you're the dumbest soul I've ever met."

The Dark Labyrinth Arc Begins