.I found myself in a vast, obscure realm, swallowed by an unsettling darkness. There was nothing—no sound, no sensation—only an endless void. Disoriented, I questioned, Where am I? Why is everything so empty? Why can't I feel anything?
Before I could gather my thoughts, a voice echoed through the void, "You have entered a new realm, formed..." But before it could finish, the space around me twisted and blurred.
Suddenly, I jolted awake, my breath unsteady. My eyes darted to my watch—9 PM. Shaking off the vivid dream, I hurriedly gathered my things and left for my hostel, an hour's ride away.
Halfway through my journey, I caught the faint sound of scuffling in a nearby alley. At first, I hesitated, but something—curiosity, instinct—compelled me to check. As I crossed the lane, a horrifying sight unfolded before me.
The woman I had seen in the library earlier was struggling against a man, her dress torn, blood trickling from her lips. The attacker, whom I also recognized from the library, loomed over her, his intentions unmistakable.
Rage surged through me, drowning out all reason. Before I could think, I rushed forward and drove my fist into his stomach. He staggered, falling to the ground.
But something was wrong. He was far stronger than I had anticipated. The moment our blows connected, I realized just how outmatched I was—it felt like a child challenging a seasoned warrior. Why do I feel like this? Am I weaker than I thought?
I quickly changed tactics. Reckless bravery would only get me killed. Recognizing the danger, I refrained from speaking to the woman, fearing even a moment's distraction could prove fatal. Instead, I focused on my opponent, launching a surprise strike aimed at his neck and other vulnerable points to prevent him from counterattacking.
Yet before I could land a decisive hit, a powerful kick sent me flying into the wall. The impact sent pain ripping through my body—I might have fractured something. But I had no time to dwell on it. If I stopped now, I wouldn't just lose. I might not walk away at all.
The Unforgivable Act
A surge of adrenaline flooded my veins. I turned to the woman, urgency lacing my voice.
"Ma'am, please run! I'm sorry… this happened because of my ignorance. Let me help you escape."
Without waiting for a response, I launched myself at the man, determined to keep him distracted.
His laughter echoed through the night, dark and mocking.
"You're no match for me, boy. If I were ordinary, you might have stood a chance. But I'm not."
A menacing grin stretched across his face.
Before I could react, a blur of movement appeared beside me. Instinct took over—I dodged and struck back with a swift punch to his stomach.
The woman stood frozen, trembling on the edge of flight. The man, undeterred, unleashed another powerful strike. I barely dodged, but even the glancing blow felt like a hammer crashing into my ribs. I stumbled, gasping for breath.
But I refused to fall. Gritting my teeth, I retaliated, putting every ounce of strength into a punch that shattered his tooth and sent it flying.
A scream tore through the air—not mine, but the woman's.
The man's expression twisted with fury. His speed increased, his attacks relentless. I dodged, countered, aimed for weak spots—his neck, his joints, anywhere that would slow him down.
But he was unfazed.
I, on the other hand, was reaching my limit. My stamina was fading, my body protesting each movement.
Then, in the corner of my vision, I saw it.
She was gone.
The woman had escaped.
Relief washed over me for a fleeting second—before I realized the man had noticed too.
His attention snapped back to me.
His next blow came too fast to react. It struck with devastating force, sending me hurtling into the wall.
Pain exploded through my body. Blood dribbled from my lips. My limbs refused to move. My vision blurred. My strength—gone.
I collapsed.
Then I saw him.
He walked toward me with a sickening calmness, the unconscious woman limp in his grasp.
A sneer curled on his lips.
"You failed, boy."
His words slithered into my mind like poison.
"You had potential—the perfect blend of hatred and anger. But you're weak. A soft-hearted fool willing to sacrifice himself for nothing. Now, you'll die. Say farewell to this world."
He chuckled, a twisted grin stretching across his bloodstained face.
"But first, let me reward you. Thanks to you, we captured her. Enjoy the sight—it's your handiwork."
The weight of his words crushed me.
"Because of me… she's captured?"
I wanted to deny it. To believe this was just another mind game.
But… his strength. His speed. His sheer power.
Was he telling the truth?
He continued, voice laced with malice.
"She's a perfect double cultivator—a necromancer with abilities beyond comprehension. Her appearance? Meaningless. It's her art I desire. And I will extract it from her, piece by piece, until she is nothing but a hollow shell, teetering on the edge of death."
His eyes gleamed with twisted delight.
"I tell you this so you drown in regret. So you suffer. But you should be happy, boy. You always dreamed of worlds like these, didn't you? Cultivation, warriors, power… Well, here's your fantasy."
My anger simmered.
But beneath it, regret festered.
Was this my fault?
My thoughts fractured. My body refused to move.
Before I could react, he grabbed my leg.
And slammed me into the ground.
CRACK.
Pain.
Mind-numbing, soul-crushing pain.
My head collided with the concrete, the impact reverberating through my skull. The world flickered. The night bled into darkness.
Then, nothing.
The Last Thread of Hope
A faint voice pulled me from the abyss.
Weak. Trembling. Yet urgent.
"Boy… I don't know who you are, but I'm sorry."
A whisper of desperation.
"I'll give you my ability. My soul's energy—everything. He can't have it. You must save me… or die trying."
Before I could fully grasp her words, something surged through me.
An overwhelming force.
Liquid fire coursing through my veins.
It was unlike anything I had ever felt.
Then—a violent jolt.
Electricity shot through my body.
My eyes snapped open.
She was above me, her gaze desperate, pleading.
The Unforgivable Sight
I looked at her.
Her body—bruised beyond recognition.
Her jaw—shattered.
Her eyes—swollen, dark, lifeless.
Her very existence—reduced to something unrecognizable.
Yet… something else caught my eye.
Her mask—breaking.
Even through the ruin of her face, through the crimson and agony, something… beautiful lay hidden beneath.
And then—
The man screamed.
A raw, guttural sound of pure rage.
**"This bitch is dead, you bitch
He raised his foot attack on her face again
Her body wa salready blodded
That was it
Seeing this all soemthing snapped in me
As I witnessed the horror unfolding before me, something inside me shattered.
Regret. Fear. Self-preservation.
All of it—gone.
Only one thought consumed me: I had to save her.
I lunged forward, desperation fueling my every move. But before I could act—
CRACK.
A force like an earthquake erupted beneath my feet. An unnatural power surged through my leg, igniting a devastating kick. The ground beneath me splintered. My body twisted, colliding with hers in a tangled heap.
Then—
AGONY.
Blood gushed from my mouth. My skull smashed into the cold, unyielding earth. Pain like I had never known before—raw, searing, merciless—consumed me.
For a fleeting moment, through the haze of pain, I felt something—soft lips against mine. Then, the impact tore me deeper into the ground. My vision blurred. Darkness crept in.
I lay there, my body broken, my breath ragged.
This was it. The end.
The woman—battered, broken, barely breathing—would die because of me. I had failed her.
Why? Why was I here, drowning in this cycle of rage and regret? Why did my heart burn with so much anger? Why had I let this happen?
A face surfaced in my mind.
My mother.
Her warm smile. Her gentle hands.
The shame hit me like a dagger to the chest. I had disappointed her. And now—I was leaving my brothers behind. They would grow up without me. Carry my mistakes like an unshakable curse. My failure would haunt them.
I was nothing but a fool.
With the last flicker of my consciousness, I wished for one thing.
A chance.
A chance to change. A chance to control the storm raging inside me. A chance to make my family proud. A chance to save this woman.
Just one more moment—one more breath—one more fight.
But the darkness swallowed me whole.
And my world faded to nothing.