As I gazed around, darkness engulfed everything. A chilling thought echoed in my mind: "Am I in hell?"
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, holding a familiar book from the library. She was a girl, around 12 years old, standing before me. Her presence felt like a whisper against the chaos.
"No, you're not in hell, nor are you dead," she said, her voice soothing and almost too calm for the situation. "You're about to die in a second, but I can save you… and the women. However, I have one condition."
My heart raced. Shock coursed through my veins. This felt unreal, like a fantasy I never thought would be real. Her words sparked something deep inside me—hope. I could feel it in my chest, a fragile, tentative flame.
"What… what do you want me to do?" I stuttered, my voice barely a whisper, as if saying it too loudly might break this strange reality.
Her expression shifted. It grew solemn, serious in a way I couldn't comprehend. "I'll save you and the women, but you must promise me one thing: you must… do my one work. After today, I will meet you… maybe someday or never. Keep the one thing remembered… everything you love could be in danger. Safe them from harm. Can I trust you?"
Her words seemed to linger in the air, thick with meaning I couldn't fully grasp.
I stood frozen. My mind was a whirlpool. I have to save them—that's all that mattered. My family. The women. Nothing else existed. Nothing.
"I'll do it," I vowed, determination flooding my veins. "I won't let anyone die because of me. Please, save them."
She nodded, her lips curving slightly. A hint of a smile, but it was shadowed by something darker.
"I understand your willingness to save the women," she said, her voice gentle but piercing. "But what drives you to make such a selfless sacrifice?"
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "My motive is simple: I cannot bear the thought of innocent lives lost because of me. I'll do anything—anything—to protect them, to preserve their dignity, their safety."
Her eyes held mine, unblinking, as if seeing straight through me.
"And what are you willing to give in return?"
I bowed my head, humbled. "Whatever you demand, I'll provide. I'll owe you a debt of gratitude, forever bound to your will."
She paused, her expression softening. For a fleeting moment, there was a warmth in her gaze. "Even if you hadn't spoken, I would have saved you. Our connection is established. I'm invested in your fate."
Her tone shifted, a tinge of melancholy creeping into her voice. "But know this…"
Her words seemed to hang in the air, like a dark fog.
"I'm not like other beings. I'm a self-made consciousness, a life that shouldn't exist. My presence will alter your life's purpose, rendering it meaningless."
The weight of her words settled over me, cold and suffocating.
"What do you mean?" I whispered, barely able to form the question.
"I'm a cursed existence," she continued. "The full extent of this curse remains unknown, and its effects on you are unpredictable. Are you prepared to take this risk?"
I hesitated. The air felt thick with danger, yet the image of those women—their lives—loomed too large to ignore.
No hesitation now.
My decision had already been made.
I see you're aiming for a continued, emotionally charged narrative. Here's a refined version with enhanced tone and pacing:
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"I understand," I said, determination burning in my chest. "Whatever curse you speak of, it can't be worse than dying with the regret of killing someone due to my own weakness. I couldn't save her. Please, just save her. That's all I ask."
The girl nodded solemnly, her expression grave. "I'll use my ability of perfect time alteration. But know this: I can only do this once, and the consequences are unpredictable. My powers are weakened, and I lack control."
Her eyes locked onto mine with unwavering intensity. "Unlike other powerful beings with time magic, my method won't create an alternate timeline. We'll alter the existing one. Hold still, close your eyes, and don't move. Any sudden action could seal your fate."
I nodded, feeling the weight of her words, steeling myself for what was to come.
"Remember," she added, her voice low and final, "this will change your life and your destiny. After this, I will never have been born. I will be free from all laws and destiny. And you… you will be free from your destiny as well. The outcome is uncertain. Are you prepared?"
With a deep breath, I nodded again, still unsure of much, but certain of one thing: this was my only chance.
Her voice became a mere whisper. "Close your eyes."
I obeyed, and the darkness took me.
"Begin," I whispered, barely hearing the words over the pounding of my heart.
The girl's voice echoed in the distance: I, the book of cursed time immortality, summon the time law of universes...
Something shifted around me. The air grew thick, and curiosity burned within me, but I didn't dare open my eyes.
Then, her voice again, sharp and commanding: "Now, bow. On my demand, change the past."
Without warning, a searing pain erupted through my body. Every cell in me screamed as though it were being torn apart. The world blurred, stretched, and twisted. I felt myself plummeting, falling into an endless abyss. Time itself seemed to warp, to unravel, until—
Everything ceased.
I opened my eyes. I was lying on a table, gasping for air, my body trembling. Disoriented, I glanced around. The clock on the wall remained unchanged. Time had not moved.
But something within me had shifted. A strange power thrummed beneath my skin, a force I couldn't fully comprehend. I didn't have the luxury of introspection, though. There was no time.
I sprang into action. Grabbing my phone, I dialed the police.
"Sir, hurry to 3rd Gali, Chowk Number 4, Bharatnagar. A rape is in progress. Please help!" I urged, my voice firm, urgent.
I wasn't joking. I wasn't waiting.
Without a second thought, I grabbed a knife from the nearby drawer and rushed out.
My feet hit the pavement, faster, stronger than ever before. A new energy coursed through me, and with it, a new resolve.
I reached the location, moving swiftly, silently, and hiding in the shadows.
My grip on the knife tightened. Four minutes passed, and then I saw her. The woman, running for her life. The attacker was closing in. He halted, suddenly, as though sensing something was wrong.
"Come out," he growled, voice dripping with menace. "I see you. Who are you? Why do you interfere?"
I froze. Shocked. How did he detect me?
No time to waste. Knife raised, I lunged at him, the blade flashing in the moonlight.
He drew his own blade, blocking my strike. The shock of his strength hit me like a wave. He was fast, stronger than I expected.
But I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. I prepared myself for the next move, knowing that delaying him could save the woman.
The attacker hesitated, his stance faltering. Something was off—he seemed weaker.
A voice echoed inside my mind: "Current Status: Enhanced Strength and Agility."
A holographic screen materialized beside me, showing a girl with purple hair.
"Alternate Timeline Integration: 74.2%," she stated calmly. "Your modified physiology grants advantages. Utilize them."
I glanced at the screen:
Current Status:
Cultivation: None
Strength: 190
Speed: 200
Attack: 180
Defense: 150
Skill: Low-Level Martial Arts, Medical Skill
Anger God Eye, Killing Intent
Level: Unknown
Weapon: Simple Knife
Then, I turned my attention to the attacker's stats:
Attacker's Status:
Strength: 200
Speed: 150
Attack: 201
Defense: 200
Skill: None
Weapon: Simple Knife
I quickly assessed the situation. I was stronger. Faster. I had the advantage, but I couldn't afford to underestimate him.
Confusion clouded my mind, but I quickly refocused on the screen. A new section appeared—store options? I tapped on it, and a fresh set of options appeared on the screen.
"Dodge now!" the voice shouted.
I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attacker's strike. His blade slammed into the ground, sending vibrations through the earth and leaving a gaping hole where his attack had landed.
Last time, he held back, I thought, but now, he's going all out. The stats were clear—he had strength, defense, and attack on his side. All I had was speed. The odds were quickly stacking up against me.
"Right now, even the police won't help," I thought to myself. "Bullets wouldn't even slow him down. He could survive and escape before they could act."
I knew, with a sinking feeling, that the only help I could rely on was this system, whatever it was.
Frantically scanning the screen, I searched for anything that could give me an edge.
"Voice, can you provide something to fight him?" I pleaded, my voice barely a whisper of hope.
But before I could get a response, the attacker lunged again. I barely managed to dodge, his increased speed catching me off guard. He had consumed something. His movements were faster now, more relentless.
His blade struck again. I shifted, just enough to avoid the full impact, but still—I was slammed into the wall, the air knocked out of my lungs.
But this time, I wasn't hurt. The power coursing through me kept me healthy, strong, despite the blow.
"You kid," the attacker sneered, eyeing me with growing respect, "you have some impressive power and speed."
He prepared for his next move.
Suddenly, I heard something—an idea, a thought, or maybe just a strange instinct. I couldn't help but smile.
Will Ayush survive this?
What is his cultivation?
What will the curse do to Ayush's future?
For answers, stay tuned and read the next chapter of Cursed Rebirth...
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