Second Beginning

Shree Heng opened his eyes to a world he had long left behind.

The first thing he noticed was the air—it was light, free of the oppressive weight that hung over Rana. It lacked the metallic tang of blood and the suffocating scent of decay. He sat up, his hands trembling as they touched the soft fabric of a school uniform. A desk stood before him, scattered with notes, pencils, and the scribbled remnants of a forgotten life.

The world outside the window was familiar—buildings rising against the pale morning sky, the hum of distant traffic, the faint chatter of students gathering for another mundane day.

He was back. Back in the life he had left behind, back in the body of the boy who had once been struck down by a truck.

The weight of centuries pressed against his mind, memories of Rana flooding him in a chaotic storm. The screams, the blood, the endless struggle to survive—it all clawed at him, threatening to overwhelm the fragile peace of this new reality. But Shree Heng forced himself to breathe, to ground himself in the moment.

This was no illusion. He had returned.

The garland had worked.

"Shree Heng, are you paying attention?"

The voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned to see the teacher glaring at him, her sharp eyes narrowing in disapproval. Around him, his classmates snickered, their laughter echoing like distant ghosts of a life he no longer belonged to.

For a moment, Shree Heng hesitated. This place, this life, felt so small compared to the vastness of Rana. The petty concerns of students and teachers, the monotony of schoolwork—none of it mattered.

But then he remembered his vow.

This time, he would not waste his second chance. This time, he would use every moment, every resource, to prepare. The world of Rana still existed, lurking beneath the surface of this reality. It was only a matter of time before it reclaimed him. And when it did, he would be ready.

"I'm paying attention," he said, his voice steady and calm.

The teacher gave him a skeptical look but moved on. Shree Heng let his gaze drift back to the window, his mind already racing with plans.

A World of Opportunity

In his first life, Shree Heng had been powerless, a mere pawn in the game of existence. But this time, he had centuries of knowledge at his disposal—secrets gleaned from forbidden tomes, strategies forged in the fires of survival, and an intimate understanding of the horrors that awaited him.

He would start small. This world, though mundane, was not without its resources. He would find the relics and tools that could bridge the gap between realities, artifacts that would grant him the strength to confront Rana on his own terms.

He would cultivate power—not just physical strength, but influence, wealth, and knowledge. The people around him, the systems they relied on, the rules they followed—all of it could be bent to his will.

But most importantly, he would ensure that when Rana came for him again, it would find not a frightened boy, but a man prepared to destroy it.

The First Step

That afternoon, Shree Heng walked home in silence, his thoughts consumed by the task ahead. His parents greeted him warmly, their voices full of love and concern, but he responded with practiced indifference. These people were strangers to him now, relics of a life he no longer recognized.

His room was exactly as he remembered it—simple, unremarkable, filled with the trivial belongings of a normal teenager. Shree Heng stood in the center of it, his gaze sweeping over the space as if seeing it for the first time.

He opened his desk drawer and retrieved a notebook. Its pages were blank, but not for long.

Sitting at the desk, Shree Heng began to write.

The first page was a list of priorities:

Locate artifacts with connections to Rana.

Identify key individuals and potential allies.

Build financial and political influence in this world.

Prepare for the return to Rana.

The second page detailed his strengths and weaknesses. He had knowledge, experience, and an unshakable will, but his current body was weak and untrained. That would need to change.

The third page was a list of targets—individuals and organizations that could provide the resources he needed. Some would be manipulated, others eliminated.

By the time the sun had set, the notebook was filled with Shree Heng's meticulous plans.

He closed it with a sense of satisfaction, his resolve solidified.

This time, he would not falter. This time, he would break the illusion of life and death.

And if the world stood in his way, he would burn it to the ground.