A massive phoenix and a colossal dragon clashed in the void.

Their battle shook even the chaos.

"Zhao Long, you lizard bastard!" the phoenix screeched. "Why did you follow me here?!"

The dragon's voice rumbled like thunder. "Hmph. How could I let you do what you're about to do?"

"I know you liked the Lord and the Lady. I liked them just as much as you did. But this isn't the way."

The phoenix's flames intensified. "And what do you suppose I do? Nothing?!"

"But you can't just try to recreate the Lord and the Lady!" the dragon roared. "That's disrespectful! I can't let you do that!"

The phoenix scoffed. "So what? So what if it's disrespectful?"

Her eyes blazed with defiance.

"If they haven't truly abandoned us, they'll come and punish me themselves. I win either way."

The dragon shook his massive head. "How can you be so foolish? Do you even hear yourself?"

He turned, his body cutting through the chaos.

"Fine. Have it your way."

He began flying away, but his voice echoed back.

"You'll create it, but I'll destroy it all."

"Hmph."

The phoenix scoffed as she watched him leave. She reverted to her human form - a woman with fiery red hair and golden eyes that burned like suns.

"Just you wait, you stupid lizard."

At that moment, she sensed something.

Her eyes narrowed.

Hmm. Is that... time Dao resonance?

Something was definitely wrong with the time around this area. Because she had learned most of her dao from the Lord, she had some basic understanding of time - even though it wasn't her main Dao.

Mostly because her Reincarnation Dao was somewhat related to time.

She extended her energy and probed the anomaly.

She made a series of hand signs.

A massive dark hand descended from the above, shattering all the space around her target and grabbing it.

She examined what she had caught.

Hmm. What's this?

It looked like some sort of soul.

Is this a reincarnation technique? she wondered.

…

A few thousand years later.

Zhu Que held a ball of golden-reddish energy in her palm.

"I've finally cracked it," she murmured.

It really was some sort of reincarnation technique.

Sadly, the soul didn't seem to have maintained its memories. The user must have been desperate - they hadn't had enough energy to complete the process properly.

Suddenly, an idea struck her.

She could use her Reincarnation Dao to complete this soul's reincarnation.

A soul that could survive the chaotic river of time for who knows how long... it was definitely a rare talent.

And the best part?

She could manipulate the soul. Make it do whatever she wanted.

Her smile widened.

If she engraved tendencies like those of the Lady into this soul... perhaps she could recreate the Lady.

Hehe.

Zhao Long, you said you'd destroy everything I made.

I'd like to see you try.

She gazed at the glowing soul in her hand - her creation.

"From now on," she declared, "you are Maya."

Her golden eyes shone.

"The God of Time."

…

Maya floated in the void.

She looked about five years old - a small girl with messy hair drifting aimlessly through the void.

She waved her hand.

A clone of herself appeared beside her.

She waved again. Another clone.

She made them dance around her, giggling as they spun in circles. Then she clapped her hands and they merged back into her.

Her smile faded.

She looked around at the endless void surrounding her.

Nothing.

Just emptiness stretching infinitely in every direction.

She pouted.

"So boring..."

A ripple appeared in space beside her.

Zhu Que stepped out of nothing.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Maya turned to her with innocent eyes. "I'm bored, Ma."

She gestured at the void around them.

"There's nothing out here."

Zhu Que's expression flickered with confusion.

Companionship... she murmured internally.

She hadn't considered that.

"Fine," she said after a moment. "I was just about to create the Lord anyway."

She remembered how she had first encountered Maya - that golden-red wisp drifting through the river of time. Ever since then, she had been practicing her Reincarnation powers in conjunction with time manipulation.

She felt confident now. She could create something similar to Maya's soul.

Energy gathered around her fingers.

It swirled into a glowing blob, pulsing every few seconds. Zhu Que's eyes narrowed in deep concentration. Sweat formed on her brow as she carefully shaped the energy.

Slowly, it began transforming.

Features emerged. Limbs. A face.

A baby.

She held the newborn in her arms, examining her work.

Then she frowned.

The baby began glitching - its form flickering and destabilizing. Parts of it phased in and out of existence.

A failure, she thought.

She raised her hand, preparing to destroy the defective creation…

It was gone.

She blinked.

Maya was already running circles around her, the baby clutched in her arms.

"It's a boy!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "I have a younger brother now!"

She held him up, inspecting his face with childlike wonder.

"Hmm... from now on, I'll call you Cipher!"

Suddenly, she stopped.

She turned back to Zhu Que, her expression falling.

"It... it stopped," she said quietly.

Zhu Que facepalmed.

"Of course it died. This is deep space with no air whatsoever. I'm actually surprised it survived that long."

She waved dismissively.

"Get rid of it."

"Ah! It's moving again!"

Maya jumped, nearly dropping the baby.

"What?"

Zhu Que's eyes widened. She moved closer and looked at the infant.

It was indeed moving. Its tiny chest rose and fell. Its eyes blinked.

Impossible, she thought.

Then it died again.

Then it came back.

Died. Returned. Died. Returned.

Zhu Que took the baby from Maya's arms, examining it closely.

What is this?

She probed the infant with her energy.

Is this some sort of immortality law? It's somewhat similar to my Reincarnation method...

She turned the baby over, studying every aspect of its existence.

Looks like it wasn't a complete failure after all.

She decided to keep the baby for research.

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