I woke up suddenly, startled by a hand gripping me tightly and a scream that shattered the silence. All I felt was an increase in tension around me.
As my eyes slowly opened, I found myself lying in a dark and unfamiliar place. The background was a cloudy sky with smoke swirling all around. Questions jumped into my mind: Is this reality or just a dream?
I turned my head to look around, and in my confusion, I came across a truly unexpected sight. Tall buildings, cars rushing by on the road, and the city lights twinkling, all indicating that I was not in a grave. But my memories suddenly came rushing back, hitting me with full force. I remembered the tragic scene that shook my heart, trembling through my entire body until I felt my heart pounding in my chest.
As I tried to gain a deeper understanding of this situation, an old woman's voice interrupted my thoughts. Her voice came with a firm tone amidst my deepening confusion.
"You have to go, my son. Leave," said the old woman, her voice filled with determination.
The presence of this old woman added to the already bewildering story. I furrowed my brow and finally mustered the courage to ask, "Where... where am I?" My voice sounded strange as if I were a little child. However, the question was quickly thrown out due to my unparalleled confusion. I tried to check my hands and was surprised to find that I had become much smaller than usual.
I saw the old woman in a bad condition, half of her body crushed under the rubble of a building.
As I tried to comprehend what was happening, the old woman suddenly screamed, "Quick, run, Hans!"
The old woman pushed my body. "Hurry, run-"
I nodded, trying to respond, but before I could act, a gunshot suddenly shattered her head. Her startled gaze locked onto me as her body fell. I stared in deepening confusion, feeling lost in a reality that was becoming increasingly blurred.
Without hesitation, I quickly changed my body position and started running, even though I didn't know where I was supposed to go. Gunshots rang out around me, producing deadly flashes that triggered fear within me. I didn't have time to think long, all I knew was that my current condition was not good.
I felt thankful when my eyes caught sight of a group of soldiers approaching from the front. My heart was pounding fast amidst indescribable confusion. "Are you okay, dear?" one of the soldiers asked with a caring voice, relieving me a bit. "I... I... help me," I stuttered, my terrified eyes still showing deep fear.
"Alright," they replied, trying to give a comforting smile. I could sense the positive encouragement in their words. They then reached for a pistol on their waist and aimed it right under my chin. At that moment, the seconds seemed to pass so slowly, and each one felt like a deep abyss of darkness.
Suddenly, as the bullet was fired, despair flooded my thoughts. I saw a bright light at the end of the dark tunnel. But as the bullet reached my head, everything turned dark. Dead. It felt like an inevitable death.
When my consciousness returned, I felt afraid, but I was still alive. This place was different again. I didn't know what was happening. I found myself in an unfamiliar world. The soldiers and the pistol that were there before vanished like dust in the air. I felt trapped in an endless nightmare. But now, I have to find answers to these questions, and I must survive.
***
I continued to feel trapped in an endless cycle that felt like a never-ending nightmare. Every time I felt real pain, every time I was thrown into an unfamiliar world, and every time I witnessed tragic death. I tried to count it, to understand how many times I had died, but the number kept changing. This was the thirtieth, fiftieth, three hundredth time I had died. It was like erratic waves crashing against a fragile shore.
My mind wandered in darkness, trying to find answers to all of this. Am I alive, or is this part of a hellish torment? I have lost my identity, no longer knowing who I truly am. Every moment, I only feel a sense of living, a deep torment, and a tragic end awaiting me.
Before my moments of death arrive, I am always greeted by a terrifying creature that haunts every incarnation of mine. Even though it's reached the five-hundredth death, every time I see that figure, fear still engulfs me as if it were the first time. I started to wonder, is this entity a manifestation of all the fears and uncertainties that have haunted me throughout this countless time?
However, when the 700th death arrived, my understanding changed. I realized that figure was the god of death. Now, I have grown accustomed to its presence, accustomed to the god of death who keeps calling me after each life and death I go through.
If I count how many hundreds of years I have spent on this journey, I feel like a pioneer of human skills. Every new life brings new lessons and experiences, and over time, I have mastered various skills. From martial arts to survival skills, magic, and more. The fear and anxiety that used to dominate my mind have now vanished, replaced by a deep sense of boredom.
Finally, in the 1000th life, my determination grew stronger to uncover the mastermind behind all of this. Was it the God who played a role in my endless existence? This question has haunted my mind for centuries, even though I have lost the ability to feel anger. But one thing I believe, my search is not over.
It may sound crazy, even absolute foolishness, but I will challenge the God of Death. When my moment of death arrives, the moment when he appears to draw my soul into the unseen realm, I am determined to fight against him. I reach out for him with my unseen hand and try to press my grip on his neck. You may be curious how I can do this, but through thousands of reincarnations, I have honed my ability to control my soul, even after leaving my dead body.
At that moment, the God of Death was surprised and tried hard to free himself from my unseen grasp.
"Who commands you? Tell me!" I demanded firmly.
It didn't take long before the terrifying black shadow transformed into a handsome angel with clean and radiant white wings.
"Is this your true form? You look like a compassionate god, if so," I said, trying to mock him.
"Ple...please...let go!" the God of Death spoke with a stuttering voice.
But I knew that he had no power in this place, a place hidden from his control.
"Hurry up, speak!" I retorted firmly, my eyes staring sharply at him.
"You're a lost soul!" he said, his voice filled with desperation, while still trying to free himself from my grip. His now fragile body felt even more helpless in my strong grasp.
Then, I froze both of his legs coldly until I reached his knees, and then his wings which looked powerless. His hands, even in the form of a spirit, could no longer move anything. I felt my power over him, even in spirit form.
The God of Death was shocked and stumbled. "Wh...what are you doing to me!?" he screamed with fear flooding his voice.
I released my chokehold, and the god fell to the ground, and I violently grabbed his hair. His white hair was torn out and scattered everywhere, forming strands hanging in the air. "Just answer my question or I'll destroy that frozen part of your body," I snapped, my voice filled with threats.
"Fi..fine..but you have to promise first," said the god of death with a trembling voice. His eyes looked for an opportunity to escape from my strong grip.
I nodded and reached for my left index finger, pointing it at his frozen left palm. Then, instantly, the palm shattered into pieces, causing a sharp pain that made him scream. "Akkkk!!!" he yelled, but his movements remained halted due to my control.
"I've been saying it all along, you have no power here," I firmly threatened, while my eyes glared at him.
"Ugh...She's the goddess of love," said the god of death with a fearful voice, trying to explain himself.
"Hm...Goddess of love...interesting," I said contemplatively while considering what to do next.
"I've already said it, please release me.." he pleaded with a desperate voice, pondering on the future that might await him.
I released my grip on his hair and stood upright, saying, "Take me to that vile goddess, I'll teach her a lesson." My firm voice created an inevitable tense atmosphere.
*****