The world exploded. Not literally — yet — but it exploded into war.
The world's greatest powers went to war, a war that evolved with each passing day. I saw countries fall, cities razed by the military forces of multiple nations. I saw and suffered with the people being slaughtered and starved. War was a disgrace.
And the worst part of it all… was humanity itself. I watched the city I lived in get swept away, looted, burned, and violated. We were reduced to mere cattle and labor for the so-called "patriots." I watched my sister and mother be abused to death right before my eyes. I saw the worst that war had to offer.
Death
Disease
Hunger
War
Everything.
And when we were "liberated," nothing changed. The survivors remained cattle, labor, and flesh shields. All in the name of our homeland.
That's when I understood... no one cares about anyone. Those at the top only care about themselves. We all suffered for… nothing...
In the end, the country that invaded my home became an ally of my own. Together, they turned to exploit and invade weaker nations, repeating the cycle of looting.
In the end, nothing changed.
And after all of this—
Here I am. Lying in a trench with shredded bodies, the air polluted with blood and lingering nuclear radiation.
I hate this world.
I hate everyone in it.
I hate that they stripped away every last shred of my humanity and turned me into an empty shell. A being who can no longer feel anything for humans.
In these moments… I think about how beautiful nature used to be. All living things existed on a food chain where even the most fleeting death had value—it fertilized the soil, fed the hungry.
Meanwhile, we humans kill, loot, burn, and rape our own kind for pleasure or selfishness.
I still see the memories of my mother and sister. But I can't feel much.
I am hollow.
If I… could have a new life… I… wouldn't want to live among humans anymore…
"D-Dear God, Gah!" Blood congealed from my cracked lips. The radiation was killing me, slowly. "I knew it. If you still exist… please… give me a new life… where… humans can't… ruin it…" With that final prayer, I felt my strength fade into the rot.
I am… as filthy as the humans I hate…
---
When I woke up, I saw three eyes with black sclera and silver pupils staring at me, tears flowing freely from her sorrowful face.
She was a small girl, with silver hair and pale skin. But what caught my attention was the third eye glowing on her forehead. I'd heard of those in some religions.
"Are you… the one who came to collect my soul?" I couldn't think of any other explanation. I felt my death — I was fully aware that I had died in that trench. But I couldn't understand this afterlife.
The girl whimpered through her sobs before wrapping her thin arms around me in a strange embrace. Normally, I hate being touched (especially by humans). But… this girl gave me a feeling of uncanny valley. She looked human, but I knew she wasn't. Maybe… that's why I felt at peace in the warmth of her arms.
Her warm hug evoked memories of my mother and sister when they were alive. And that was when I was surprised again.
"T-Tears?"
Tears fell from my eyes. I didn't even know I was still capable of something like that.
"My dear child."
Her warm, delicate hand lifted my face gently to meet her three eyes.
I didn't understand what was happening or who she was. But the warmth in my chest was unusual. Only one word came to my lips:
"Mother?"
Her once-empty gaze dissolved into endless tears. And a single word was murmured from her lips:
"Mara…"
I didn't know what or who "Mara" was, but those words resonated deep within me. I felt my being turned inside out. It was like something within me wanted to come out. A cancerous tumor seeking to consume me would be the best description.
"Gah… I-It hurts!"
Touches—so many strange touches within me. It was painful, it was strange, it was foreign. I hated it.
"I hate it."
Hate
Hate
Hate
Hate
HateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHate—
Disappear!
AAAAAAAAAH! It felt like a flood crashing into my skull. Invisible claws pierced through my head, and new information poured into my mind—sensations, thoughts, worlds, memories, lives!
I don't care about you, insects (humans) who bring me nothing but pain. Disappear! My body (world) is mine alone! I hate you! I want to be alone, with no insects (humans) inside me. Die, all of you!
Conquest (Hadou)
Truth (Gudou)
He didn't understand (or want to understand) where this knowledge came from. But he knew what they were. Like knowing the final product but having the components scrambled. He saw the world (universe) — a canvas not painted in monochrome or a single hue as he once thought.
It was a kaleidoscope of colors.
Blue
Gold
Red
Yellowish
It hurts… I hate your lights, they burn!
"Who were they? The ones who caused me pain? I hated them. Die!"
While I sank into hatred and bitterness, the gentle, welcoming arms never let me go.
I now understood who that woman was.
Sahasrara.
A goddess in pursuit of Truth (Gudou), a girl who lost her heart (ego) and became a machine, sacrificing all that made her human to give birth to a salvation.
And that was me.
I've had many names throughout my 5,000 years of reincarnations.
Hajun, the Most Sublime Existence between Heaven and Earth, Sixth Heaven, Sixth Generation,Metsujin Messo,
Demonic Child,Child of the Dharma of Extinction,God of the Throne,
The Sixth God, Strongest Existence,
That Thing, King, Vilest God,
Most Evil Creature in History, Narcissistic God, Hadou God,Gudou God,God of Hegemony, God of Transcendence,
Lethal Toxic Weapon, Absolute in Violence,
The Great Greedy Tengu Kingdom,
Monarch Ruler, Greatest Monstrosity in History, Most Powerful Monstrosity in History, Limitless Evil-Eyed One,
Filthy Fool, Extremely Large Fetus,
Deformed Fetus, Living Buddha,
Demon King Mara.
They were all my names.
But I identified with only two.
Two names that defined my existence:
Mara, the Demonic Child.
And Hajun, the Sixth Heaven.
As I felt my metamorphosis begin, I watched myself become a Cocoon (Fetus), returning to my home (Womb) deep within the innermost layers of Sahasrara (Mother), where I would enter my solitude (sleep) until the time came to awaken into my enlightenment (birth).
My three eyes closed, claimed by the eternal fleeting moment (Setsuna) of silence.
And before I shut my eyes and let sleep take me, I heard the hopeful voice of the Vessel (Mother) that held me.
"Sleep, my little ray of salvation. Sleep until the time comes for you to awaken and save us all… sweet dreams… my beloved demonic son… Hajun…"