Demon Rebirth

Somewhere in the world, on a bright day under the sun, a city bus rumbled down the streets. The seats were half-full, students chatting, dozing, or watching the scenery blur by. Among them sat a loud, animated duo, causing more commotion than the rest of the bus combined.

Max Wilder leaned back into his seat, a handheld console in his hands. Jet-black hair—slightly messy, like he'd just rolled out of bed—and dark brown eyes gleamed with glee. He wore a hoodie over an anime graphic tee and loose joggers that screamed otaku comfort. On his screen, an intense video game battle unfolded.

"Alright, final boss phase three—c'mon, c'mon...!" Max muttered, eyes locked on the screen. His in-game character, a fiery-haired swordmaster, dodged a flurry of projectiles and countered with a spinning slash.

Max let out a triumphant yell. "Let's GOOOO! Eat pixel dust, Demon Overlord Akuroth!"

Next to him, Zack Ryuunosuke sighed, arms crossed but watching. Midnight blue-black hair framed his sharp face, and his icy blue eyes flicked from the screen to Max with calm amusement.

"You spammed dodge roll and used four healing items. That's not a win. That's desperation with good timing."

Max turned to him, smirking. "Hey, a win is a win. Strategy, baby. Learn it."

Zack raised an eyebrow, pulling out his own console. "Strategy? You mean panic-rolling and chugging potions like a maniac? Watch a master now."

He loaded up the same boss fight. His playstyle was cleaner—precise blocks, critical counters.

"Okay, Mr. Calm-and-Collected," Max said, nudging him with a grin. "Bet you don't even make it to phase two."

Zack didn't respond—his eyes focused, but a tiny smirk played on his lips. "Shhh. Learning from your mistakes."

"Learning from greatness, you mean," Max shot back.

They were so caught up in their gaming war that they didn't notice the shadow looming behind them until—THWACK!

"GAH!" Max yelped.

Zack winced. "Was that you or did my soul just leave my body?"

They turned in unison to see Violet Arisugawa standing there, arms crossed, eyes blazing. Her long violet hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her amber gaze could melt steel.

"Stop yelling like toddlers. Some of us like peace and quiet," she snapped.

Max blinked, rubbing the back of his head. "Jeez, Violet! I think you cracked my skull! Monster!"

Violet's eye twitched. "...What did you just call me?"

Max shrunk slightly. "I said 'mentor!' Mentally strong mentor! You're an inspiration. Ow! Don't hit me again!"

Zack chuckled softly. "You brought that one on yourself."

"I swear, Max, every time you open your mouth—"

"—a rainbow of dumb spills out?" Zack offered.

Max glared at him. "Et tu, Zack?"

Violet rolled her eyes. "If you two idiots don't calm down, I will throw you out the emergency exit."

Max slumped into his seat. "It's like having a dragon as a classmate. A very punchy dragon."

Zack smirked. "She does breathe fire. Metaphorically."

Violet crossed her arms. "Keep talking. See what happens."

Across the bus, the rest of their classmates sat, each in their own little world:

Reina Takahashi – the genius shut-in, with short dark-blue bob-cut hair and glasses, sat hunched in her oversized hoodie, nose buried in a thick novel. She barely looked up but muttered, "Some people have no concept of volume..."

Ryota Kenzaki – the hot-headed jock, with red-tinted spiky hair and bandages on his fists, cracked his knuckles. "Max! Quit screaming! I'll fight you right here!" he yelled with a grin.

Aika Saito – the gentle artist, with soft pink curls and a cardigan stained with paint, looked up dreamily from her sketchpad. "It's nice to see everyone so lively today..."

Haruki Minamoto – the cunning nerd, clean-cut in a spotless blazer, adjusted his glasses with a smirk. "Honestly, it's like watching a comedy show."

Rika Tanaka – the fighter girl, toned arms crossed and fingerless gloves ready for a punch, glared. "Keep it down, dweebs! Max, do you want me to suplex you again?!"

Sora Nishikawa – the chill music guy, silver-blond hair messy, headphones slung around his neck, blew a bubble of gum. "Let 'em be loud. It's better than awkward silence."

Emi Kurosawa – the strict student council prez, tall and regal, clutched her clipboard. "Unacceptable behavior on public transportation... again."

Kaede Mori – the popular rich girl, blonde curls perfect and nails manicured, sighed. "Seriously, you people have zero class."

Yui Kanzaki – the silent observer, short black hair and pale, watched everyone quietly, her eyes sharp behind her calm demeanor.

Back at the front, Max was still rubbing his head dramatically. "That bump's definitely permanent. I'm gonna need compensation. Emotional damage included."

"Stop whining," Violet muttered. "Man up."

Zack chuckled. "She's not wrong."

Max huffed, stuffing his console into his bag. He looked out the window, watching the city fly past. For a brief moment, his usually goofy expression softened.

"Man… I wonder what it'd be like to live in another world. No school. No rules. Just swords, dragons, and epic quests. That'd be the dream..."

Suddenly—BUMP.

The bus shook.

"Whoa—what was that?!" Max sat upright.

Zack narrowed his eyes. "Did we hit something?"

Then it swerved.

Tires screeched.

People screamed.

"What the hell's going on?!" Ryota yelled.

"This isn't normal!" Reina cried.

"Brace yourselves!" Emi ordered.

The bus veered out of control, crashing into the railing, sparks flying as it smashed through other vehicles. Chaos erupted—screaming, crying, crashing.

Max clutched the seat. Everything slowed down.

"Is this it?" he thought. "Am I really gonna die... like this?"

As the bus launched off the bridge, Max's final thought echoed:

"I hope... I wake up somewhere epic."

Then everything went black.

A few minutes later...

Max opened his eyes.

But he felt... nothing. No body. No pain. No heat. No sound. Just... floating.

"Where... am I?" he muttered, voice echoing like a whisper in the void.

He glanced around, panic slowly bubbling in his chest. "Am I dead? Wait—am I actually dead?!"

He tried to move, but there was no movement. No arms. No legs. Just awareness.

"I... I have nobody. I'm just a soul!!!" Max screamed dramatically, voice echoing into nothingness.

He floated there, frozen in panic, until curiosity pushed aside the fear. He looked around.

All around him was a shifting void—deep, endless, cosmic black. Floating fragments of glass, ancient ruins, and crumbling bones drifted around like stars in slow motion.

"Okay... okay, Max... chill. Deep breath—oh wait, no lungs. Cool. Real cool," he muttered to himself.

As his soul floated, something immense loomed ahead. A mirror.

Massive. As tall as a skyscraper. Floating in the void. Its surface shimmered with glowing red runes.

Inside the mirror… he saw himself.

His human self, sitting on the bus, smiling weakly.

But then the images began to change.

Another version—Max as a Demon, standing atop a battlefield littered with angelic corpses, wings of shadow spread wide.

Another—Max, crowned, lounging on a throne surrounded by radiant, otherworldly goddesses gazing at him with awe and adoration.

Another—just his soul, screaming silently behind a wall of fire, burning eternally.

The mirror shuddered—cracks spreading like spiderwebs.

Max stared, stunned. "What... the actual... anime cliffhanger hell is this?!"

The images echoed in his mind. He couldn't breathe—because he didn't have lungs—but the feeling was real. Overwhelming. Terrifying.

"Is that… me? All of those? What does it even mean?"

Then—

A voice dripped down from the shadows above, smooth as velvet over razors.

"So... you finally woke up, little soul."

Max jerked, eyes darting around. "Who said that?! Where are you?!"

No answer—just the soundless thrum of the void.

The voice returned, richer this time, seductive and ancient.

"Your body was shattered... but your soul? Mmm. Intact. Curious. Wild."

Then, from the darkness, she stepped forward.

A woman—if that word even fit. She was more like a vision. Elegant. Dangerous. Divine.

Her glowing violet-red eyes with vertical pupils locked onto Max's soul like a predator savoring her prey. Her hair flowed like liquid night, floor-length midnight black with crimson ombré tips. Her pale skin shimmered with faint demonic runes that shifted across her arms and back like a living tattoo. Two elegant, curved black horns crowned her head, etched with glowing sigils. Her dress was made of void silk and living shadows, wrapping around her like a second skin.

She looked at him—not like a person. Like an artist staring at her next masterpiece.

"Welcome to the Cradle of Night, Max. I've been waiting for you."

Max blinked. "She looks like... a demon. A really hot demon... Is this Hell? Is this what anime lied about?!"

He found his voice. "Who... are you?"

She smiled, a curve of lips that could melt minds. "Lilith Nocturna – The Demon Goddess of Rebirth and Chaos."

Max's mind broke a little. "Demon... goddess...?! This has to be a dream. A really detailed, terrifyingly gorgeous dream..."

Lilith giggled, the sound sending shivers through the void. "You're wondering why you're here. Why you, of all souls."

Max stuttered. "Y-yeah! Why me?!"

She tilted her head, eyes glowing brighter. "Because I see potential. The potential to become the greatest demon the worlds have ever seen. To shape a new world in your image."

Max flailed in mid-air, or at least felt like he did. "W-WHAT?! I'm human! I just died! What world?! What are you talking about?!"

Lilith laughed, like thunder wrapped in honey. "Your life on Earth is over. But I'm offering you something far greater. A second chance. In another world—of magic, monsters, and might. And you, Max, shall be reborn... as an Overpowered High Demon."

Max's soul reeled. "You're... you're serious?! This is real?!"

Lilith nodded, raising a hand. Her fingers shimmered with power.

"Watch."

With a graceful wave, Max's soul began to change.

Crimson light enveloped him. His form began to solidify—limbs, skin, bones. He could feel everything as his new body took shape.

His hair turned crimson with black tips, wild but majestic. Two black horns curled elegantly from his head. His eyes opened—now golden-crimson, glowing with otherworldly power. His body was athletic, strong, and refined. His new clothes shimmered with black and red accents—armor-like, yet flexible. Regal. Powerful.

He flexed his hands. He felt power. It pulsed through his veins like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

Lilith stepped forward, admiration in her gaze. "How do you feel, Max?"

Max looked at himself, then grinned. "Like I just unlocked Ultra Instinct in real life. This is insane... I'm hot, I'm jacked, and I feel like I could punch a dragon into next week!"

Lilith giggled, eyes twinkling. "Good. That confidence will serve you well."

Max raised his hand, energy crackling around his fingers. "Okay. Okay! This... this is like every otaku dream come true. Overpowered? Check. Demon form? Check. Hot demon goddess giving me a second chance? Ultra check."

Lilith smiled. "Are you ready for your new journey?"

Max nodded, fire in his eyes. "I was born ready. Or... reborn ready? Either way—let's go."

She leaned close, whispering, "Good. Then go forth, my demon. I hope we meet again."

She waved her hand—

And Max vanished.

A few minutes later...

Max woke up under the shade of a massive tree.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves. A breeze ruffled his hair. Birds chirped.

He sat up slowly, blinking.

"...Whoa. That wasn't a dream. That actually happened."

He looked at his hands—still demonic, still glowing with power.

He grinned. "New world... new body... new life. Let's freaking go."

He stood, stretching like a cat. Before him lay a vast forest, full of mystery and magic.

"Alright, Max Wilder... or should I say Max the High Demon... time to start your isekai adventure."

To be continued...