Zain stood in silence, looking out at the vast landscape before him. The air was thick with a strange energy, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Mr. Oberoy, seated casually against a massive tree, broke the silence.
"Zain," Oberoy's voice was calm, almost knowing, "I ask you now do you have any questions? For after today, we may never meet again. It is important for you to understand the truth." His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. "Why were you cursed? Why must you live in such misery?"
Zain turned his gaze back toward the horizon, where a gray cave loomed in the distance, its entrance flanked by a sprawling graveyard. As far as he could see, the ground was dotted with countless graves, an endless sea of stone markers.
His eyes then lifted to the sky, where the towering stem of a divine war tree stood. The trunk was golden, as wide as a mountain, its massive roots spreading across the land. Leaves of vibrant green rustled in the wind, their sound echoing in the stillness. The tree cast a shadow that stretched for miles, yet there were no clouds in the sky, no sign of the sun just an endless, magical expanse above him.
Zain's thoughts drifted. This place, this realm belonged to someone far more powerful than he had initially imagined. Mr. Oberoy, a being of great strength, was clearly serving under someone else. Someone who could travel through time. How powerful must that person be, to command someone like Mr. Oberoy?
The realization weighed heavily on him. This world was far more complex than it appeared.
Zain turned his attention back to Mr. Oberoy, who sat against the tree, a vine connected to his purple core, emanating a strange dark purple and golden light. The sight was unsettling yet mesmerizing.
When Oberoy noticed Zain's gaze, he laughed softly. "Sit, Zain. There is little time left. Ask what you must, before I enter my dormant state. I've spent much energy already."
Zain hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside him, noticing that Mr. Oberoy didn't call him a "little kid" this time.
"I'm fine," Oberoy said, as if reading Zain's concern. "It's just a small price to pay for defying the rules."
Zain couldn't help but smirk. The man looked like a child pretending to be tough, the way one might act after falling while running. But now wasn't the time for idle chatter.
Zain took a deep breath and asked the question that had been plaguing his mind. "What do you mean when you say I'm an 'Anomaly'?"
Oberoy's expression faltered for a brief moment before he spoke again. "We are all creations of the universe, Zain. Our bodies, our very essence, are made from the components of this world. But there are times when a creation can destroy its creator. To prevent such destruction and maintain balance between all living beings, a force was put in place... a superexistence-level force we call ''RULES".
Zain listened intently as Mr. Oberoy continued.
"Rules dictate the path of all things, living and non-living. Everything has an end, and there are no exceptions. But sometimes, an error occurs. A being is born who is not bound by the rules.
Zain furrowed his brow.
"ANOMALY?"
"Yes," Oberoy confirmed. "A being who is free from the constraints of Rules. A being who cannot be controlled or predicted. You are one such being, Zain. One in a billion, perhaps. And you are both lucky and unlucky. Without the shackles of Fate, you can become a threat to the world itself."
Zain's stomach twisted at the words. "So... I'm dangerous?"
Oberoy nodded gravely. "Yes. Chaos often follows the presence of an Anomaly. The randomness, the lack of order... it can lead to the destruction of everything."
Zain's mind reeled. "So, what does that mean for me? For the world?"
"There are those who hunt beings like you," Oberoy explained. "THE GUARDIANS".
They are a group of beings who exist to protect the balance. They wear radiant white armor, with a golden shield crest, to symbolize their duty. Their purpose is to eliminate Anomalies like you, to prevent people like you from upsetting the world."
Zain's eyes widened as he absorbed this information. "Guardians? What are they?"
"They divide all beings into two categories: 'PRODUCTS' and 'ANOMALIES.'
Products are those bound by Rules. They cannot break the rules. Their lives are predetermined. They will die as their fate dictates.
Anomalies, however... They are free from rule's grasp.They are unpredictable. They can do anything, even destroy everything."
Zain's breath caught in his throat. "And the Guardians can't kill us directly?"
"No," Oberoy answered. "The Guardians are bound by their own rules. They cannot kill a Product or an Anomaly unless they are made to do so by others bound by rules. That's why they use other people like your family and friends, people who are bound by rules to torment those they wish to eliminate. The Guardians' role is to maintain order, to ensure that the balance is not disturbed."
Zain sat in stunned silence, trying to process everything. His mind was spinning. He was an Anomaly, a being without Rules. The world saw him as a threat, and the Guardians would stop at nothing to destroy him.
Oberoy sighed. "You're beginning to understand now. The world doesn't like you because you don't fit within its rules. You are a wild card in a world that thrives on order."
Zain's expression twisted into something dark. "So, I'm an error, a threat... a freak."
Oberoy glanced at him with a look of understanding. "It's not all bad, Zain. There's power in being free from Fate. But there's also a burden. You're a being without an end, and that scares people. You are unpredictable.
It's why they'll try to destroy you. But you can also choose to shape your own path."
Zain's eyes narrowed. "So, what now? What do I do with all this power, all this freedom?"
"I'm here to help you," Mr. Oberoy said. "My task is to make you stronger. To help you overcome the limits of your body, to unlock your true potential. But to do that, you need to leave this world. The first step is reincarnation, Zain. You'll enter a higher world where you can shed your weaknesses and grow stronger."
Zain clenched his fists. "And why are you helping me?"
Oberoy paused, his face softening. "Because I was told to. By my lord."
Zain's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Your lord? Who is he? And why does he want to save me?"
Oberoy smiled, a hint of reverence in his eyes. "He is not just mine but, also your lord. And soon, Zain, you will be his disciple. You will become the Apostle of the Darkness. The one who can devour anything in this world. He prophesized your arrival, Zain. He said that you would change everything."
Zain froze. "What... what did you just say?"
Oberoy's smile deepened. "You will be the one *** *** *** ***".
Looks like Lord doesn't want you to know everything for now, as he sees a faint smile on Mr. Oberoy.
Zain's heart pounded in his chest. "Who is he? This lord of yours?"
Mr. Oberoy stood, his eyes distant, as he gazed toward the graveyard. "He is one of the strongest beings in existence. He is free from the rules of the universe, just like you. He is known as Dark Lord."
Zain's mind raced. "The Dark Lord?"
"Yes," Oberoy replied. "He sees something in you, Zain. Something that calls to him. Perhaps, in your tragic death, he saw something of himself."
Zain shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. "I don't understand. Why me? Why no"
Oberoy turned back to him, a strange glimmer in his eyes. "I don't know all the answers, Zain. But I do know that you and my lord have much in common. And he has chosen you to be his apostle."
Zain's thoughts swirled, and just as he was about to ask another question, Oberoy raised his hand.
"Your time is up, Zain," he said softly. "It's time to begin."
Zain stood, his heart racing, as Mr. Oberoy's words echoed in his mind. What had he just agreed to? What kind of future awaited him?
And as Zain stood at the edge of the unknown, the weight of reincarnation into an unknown world pressing down on him, he couldn't help but wonder...
What had he just signed up for?
Mr. Oberoy, sensing Zain's inner turmoil, smiled softly, though there was a weariness to it. "Before you reincarnate into the world," he began, his voice low and solemn, "I will grant you two gifts."
Zain's gaze shifted to the man, his curiosity piqued. Two gifts? What kind of gifts could someone like Mr. Oberoy someone who was bound by such incredible power bestow upon him?
"One is from my lord," Mr. Oberoy continued, his eyes glimmering with something unreadable, "and the other, well, is from me... as a parting gift."
Zain's chest tightened as the words hung in the air. From his lord? The thought sent a chill down his spine. The mysterious figure who had taken an interest in him, who had seen something in him. And then, Mr. Oberoy... What could he possibly give me?