The storm born reincarnation

The sky roared, the sound echoing across the vast expanse of floating mountains. "Well, this sure isn't Kansas anymore," I muttered with a chuckle, my voice tinged with disbelief. "That is just about the most awe-inspiring thing I've ever seen." A floating mountain range, endless in its scope, glimmered in the distance. It was a sight both terrifying and mesmerizing, confirming what I had suspected. I wasn't on Earth anymore.

I laughed softly, letting the realization sink in. "I guess I got what I wanted after all—magic, a new world… a fresh start. Only…" I looked at myself—or rather, at the swirling, cloudy form that now defined my existence. "I don't even have a body anymore."

The core I had formed, my anchor in this world, pulsed faintly within me. "Might as well stop calling it 'rock.' From now on, this is my mana core," I decided with a grin.

The static that had once surrounded me felt different now. It had shape, movement, and purpose. "Mana," I whispered. "That's what you are." A flood of memories surged through me, fragmented yet vivid. Stories of spirits, elementals, and otherworldly powers. Could it be true? Was I… a spirit?

A pang of longing hit me as I thought of home. My sister, my brother, my mom—what were they doing now? Would they be okay without me? But as quickly as the sadness rose, I pushed it down. "There's no point dwelling on the past," I said, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "I need to focus on the here and now. Starting with mastering this new power and figuring out my place in this world."

Closing my eyes—or at least imagining the act—I let my awareness expand. The mana flowed like a river, chaotic yet enticing. Drawing it in felt intoxicating, like inhaling life itself. My core grew stronger, more tangible, and with it came clarity. Memories sharpened, and I remembered my old body—tall, athletic, caramel skin, long black hair.

Suddenly, I felt something new. My hand—or what passed for it—appeared, a construct of clouds and streaks of lightning. I stared, entranced, as it shifted and pulsed with energy. "This is… me," I murmured, watching as my form began to coalesce. Storming clouds, flashes of thunder, ever-changing yet malleable.

A laugh escaped me, thunder rumbling in its wake. "I'm not human anymore," I said, the weight of the truth settling in. "But I'm… free."

I looked out at the floating mountains, their peaks cloaked in mystery. "Time to explore," I decided, willing myself forward. At first, nothing happened. Then, with a push of will, I surged through the sky, riding the wind.

It was exhilarating. I spun, rolled, and dove through the clouds, feeling more alive than I ever had. The mountains were massive, towering over anything on Earth. I marveled at the sheer scale, each peak larger than Mount Everest.

The journey wasn't without its challenges. My new body felt like a muscle, requiring effort and concentration to control. But I adapted quickly, weaving through the air with increasing confidence.

When I reached the peak of a mountain, I paused to take it all in. The air buzzed with energy, and the mana here felt alive. Birds—if they could be called that—fluttered past, their forms outlined in glowing mana, orbs of light burning brightly in their chests.

The ground below teemed with life. Massive deer with antlers like trees, draconic lizards stalking through the brush, and what could only be described as a moving mountain—a behemoth, its mana tamed and steady. The flora was just as diverse, plants of every color and shape stretching toward the sky.

And then I felt it.

Raw, primal energy surged in the distance. A storm rolled in, dark and menacing, its presence overwhelming. It wasn't just weather—it was alive, ancient, and hungry.

For the first time, I felt something close to fear.

The storm wanted to devour me.

The storm loomed before me, a chaotic vortex of raw, untamed mana. Its presence was overwhelming, primal, and magnificent. I could feel the winds shifting around me, pulling me closer like an irresistible current. It wasn't alive, not in the way I was. It had no soul, no core. It was pure, unrivaled power—nature in its most feral, unrestrained form. And it was terrifying.

As I drew nearer, my own control wavered. The mana I had gathered around my core thinned, slipping through my grasp like sand. I felt small, insignificant in the face of this colossal force.

The creatures around me reacted as if they could sense the danger too. Birds scattered, their glowing forms darting away into the safety of the trees. Beasts that had stood tall and proud moments ago now fled, seeking shelter from what was to come. The entire world seemed to shrink back in fear of the storm.

But inside me, amidst the fear, something stirred—a familiar feeling, one I hadn't experienced in what felt like lifetimes. It was the same sensation I had when I'd watched hurricanes swirl across the ocean or seen tornadoes tear across the land on television back on Earth.

Excitement.

Pure, unbridled excitement coursed through me.

This wasn't just a storm; it was a challenge, a force of nature that I could face, maybe even conquer. The raw, chaotic energy called to me like a siren's song, daring me to approach, to test my newfound power against it.

I chuckled softly, though the sound was swallowed by the wind. "Well, if I'm going to be a storm, might as well see what I'm made of."

The thought ignited something deep within me. I steadied my will, reaching for the swirling energy around me. My form crackled with electricity, thunder rumbling faintly in the distance as I prepared myself.

If this storm was nature at its most untamed, then I would prove I could tame it.