Ashborn Primordial - Chapter 18: Kalaripayattu

Ye Chen, once the unrivaled immortal standing at the pinnacle of the cultivation world, fell at the final hurdle—his last heavenly tribulation. Struck down by the wrath of the heavens, his body was destroyed, his cultivation shattered. Yet, instead of vanishing into oblivion, his soul defied fate itself.When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the vast cultivation realms but in the familiar yet distant world of modern Earth—inside the body of his younger self during his high school days. Armed with the knowledge and power of an immortal, he would rise once more, overturn destiny, and reclaim his supremacy in this new world.

Ethan's head throbbed violently as he opened his eyes, his vision hazy and unfocused. A dull ringing filled his ears, drowning out his thoughts.“What’s happening…?” he thought, his mind sluggish, struggling to catch up with reality. One moment, he was asleep—or at least, he thought he was—and the next, searing pain forced him awake.His vision swam, shapes blurring together in a disorienting mess. But then, muffled noises filtered through the haze—frantic, panicked sounds. Someone was trying to scream, their voice smothered, choked by something.A cold shiver ran down his spine.As his sight gradually sharpened, Ethan's breath hitched.He was on all fours, looming over someone. A girl.Her body twisted and writhed beneath him, ropes biting into her wrists and ankles. Her mouth was gagged, muffling her cries. Her wide brown eyes, brimming with fear and fury, glared up at him.Ethan's body locked in place, his blood running cold.“What the…?” His mind reeled, thoughts slamming into each other in chaotic disarray. “What kind of bizarre dream is this?”Panic clawed at his chest. His breath came in ragged, uneven gasps as he scrambled backward, only to realize his limbs felt sluggish, uncooperative, like they didn’t belong to him.“Is this… is this some kind of twisted fantasy I never knew I had?” A sickening thought slithered through his mind, making his stomach churn.The girl's frantic squirming slowed for a moment, her gaze flickering with confusion as she took in his expression—his trembling hands, his wide, horrified eyes. But the fear returned just as quickly. She struggled harder, her body arching, her muffled screams rising in pitch.Ethan wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but before he could force out a word, a glowing blue window materialized before his eyes.His breath caught.A translucent, hovering screen?“What…?”Lines of glowing text scrolled across its surface.---[System Activated…][Host Confirmed.][Simulating Previous Data…]Ethan awakens in a mysterious world, shackled by a curse that clouds his judgment and drives him toward choices he never wished to make. Burdened by guilt and responsibility, he must navigate the fallout of his actions while unraveling the truth behind the curse—and his place in this enigmatic new reality.

A Speedster in a Fantasy World

“Guildbane: Battle for Domination,” the virtual MMORPG that has taken the world by storm, players enter a realm where guilds vie for ultimate supremacy.Set four years before Xin awakens from a coma, the game has undergone significant changes and evolved into a battleground for strategic guild warfare. With immersive gameplay, intense player-versus-player combat, and a focus on guild clashes, players must navigate a dynamic world where alliances are forged, rivalries are kindled, and the ultimate goal is to dominate the game's virtual landscape.[CONGRATULATIONS! You’re the LAST player in your generation to enter this game at the exact time of our anniversary date!]You don’t have to rub it on me. Xin muttered. He was keenly aware that his peers left him behind.[You received a GIFT!]Xin was baffled. Maybe because it was his birthday, or it was an anniversary thing?Opening the gift, his avatar glowed, but he didn’t feel like anything had changed.He opened his stat box.‖ S T A TU S ‖HP: 40MP: 20STR: 2DEX: 2CONS: 2INT: 2WIS: 2CHA: ꝏ‖ E N D ‖Xin’s head bobbed to the side. “Huh?”