Cursed By Fate

Zain's eyes darkened as he stared at Oberoy, trying to make sense of the words that had just been spoken.

"What do you mean… I am an anomaly?" he asked, his voice hoarse. His fingers curled into trembling fists. "Are you saying that all the suffering my family and friends went through… was because of me?"

The weight of those words crushed down on him, suffocating him like an iron grip around his throat. His head ached—not from any external force this time, but from the storm raging within. Guilt. Doubt. Questions that clawed at the edges of his sanity. His mind went completely blank, replaced by an eerie, hollow ringing.

His breath came in ragged gasps. His fingers dug into his scalp, nails piercing flesh as warm blood trickled down his forehead. He felt nothing—only emptiness, only the sinking realization that his very existence may have been a curse.

Oberoy took a step forward, his voice calm but firm. "Zain, listen to me."

But Zain barely heard him. His thoughts spiraled into chaos, dragging him into memories he wished he could forget. Every regret, every moment of weakness, every failure.

All his life, he had thought himself a coward, a man too weak to save anyone he loved. Now, as he stood here, after finally finding peace, a sinister truth gnawed at his soul.

If their suffering was because of me…

Isn't that the same as causing the problem in the first place, then solving it and calling myself a hero?

A bitter laugh choked in his throat. Was his life truly worth living? If his existence was the root of all suffering, then wouldn't he only bring more pain in the future? Did he even deserve to be here? To be alive?

The world is telling me to die.

"Calm down, Zain!" Oberoy's voice cut through his thoughts, sharp as a blade. He stepped closer, gripping Zain's shoulders as the younger man trembled violently. "This is not the time to lose yourself."

Zain's wide, unfocused eyes flickered toward him.

"Don't you want to know why your existence caused all these problems? Why I saved you? Why the world hates you?" Oberoy's voice carried something deeper than just an explanation—it was a challenge. "Answer me first. Who suffered the most? Who died the most pathetic death?"

Silence.

Then, Oberoy leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"It's you, Zain. It's always been you."

Zain's breath hitched.

"Think about it." Oberoy's fingers tightened on his shoulders, shaking him as if trying to force his words into Zain's mind. "Your life was nothing but a cruel joke. You had loving parents, the happiest nineteen years of your life. And then? One night, they were murdered. The next day, the woman you loved vanished. And after that? Your best friend—your brother in all but blood—died in a way that made you blame yourself for his death."

Zain's chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths. The emptiness in his eyes flickered—anger, grief, denial.

"You wanted to die after that, didn't you?" Oberoy continued, his voice growing harsher. "But you couldn't. Because fate wouldn't let you. It kept you alive, watching, suffering, drowning in guilt. You had to raise his child. You had to lie to those kids, look into their innocent eyes while they asked for their dead father, and pretend you could be enough."

Zain's hands clenched so hard his nails threatened to break skin.

"And yet, none of those children suffered the way you did. Why? Because if they had… you would've finally broken. And that wouldn't have been fun for fate, would it?" Oberoy sneered. "The world hates you, Zain. The world despises you!"

Something inside Zain snapped. His lips curled in a snarl, a shadow passing over his face. His rage burned like wildfire, but it was nothing compared to the despair that swallowed him whole.

"The world… hates me," he muttered, his voice eerily hollow.

A second later, Oberoy's hand shot out, striking Zain across the face. The sharp sound echoed in the darkness.

"Enough," Oberoy commanded.

Zain staggered, his vision blurring. The last thing he saw was Oberoy's worried face before his world faded to black.

---

When Zain awoke, his mind felt… lighter. Clearer. But the moment he opened his eyes, his breath caught in his throat.

Before him stood a man with blue skin, his body lined with purple lightning tattoos that pulsed with energy. His hair was a deep violet, his armor dark gold, and at the center of his chest was a violet core that radiated an eerie glow.

"You're awake," the man said, his voice carrying an unmistakable sense of relief.

Zain stared at him, confused. The man's presence was overwhelming, like a force of nature condensed into a single being.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked.

Zain blinked, realizing something was wrong. His surroundings—green fields, deer grazing peacefully, birds soaring overhead—were nothing like the darkness he remembered. A cool breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers.

This place… it's peaceful.

"Isn't it beautiful?" the man mused, watching Zain's reaction.

Zain's eyes narrowed. That voice…

"Mr. Oberoy?" he asked cautiously.

The man smirked. "Hah. You've finally regained some rationality."

Zain felt his breath catch. Oberoy looked nothing like the man he had seen before. His human appearance had been a mere facade.

Still, Zain didn't question it. He had too many things weighing on his mind.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked.

Oberoy crossed his arms. "If we're talking in terms of your previous world's time, about a thousand years."

Zain's body stiffened, but he forced his expression to remain unreadable.

"Don't worry," Oberoy continued. "We're in the ***dimension, so time here doesn't affect the outside world."

Zain exhaled slowly. He wanted to feel relieved, but his mind was already drifting elsewhere.

One thousand years…

That means my parents… my sister… Veer…

His chest tightened, but he buried the emotions deep. Now wasn't the time.

He stood, but as he moved, he felt a strange pull at the back of his head. Reaching back, his fingers met something—a thick wooden root connected to his skull.

His blood ran cold.

Oberoy, noticing his reaction, explained, "It's the root of the Divine War Tree. It heals those suffering from mental afflictions."

Zain clenched his jaw, his fingers trembling as he gripped the root. A sudden, searing pain shot through his head, like something crawling inside his skull. He gasped, hands gripping his temples as agony burned through his veins.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain faded.

Zain staggered, his breaths heavy.

He lifted his head. "Where… are we?"

Oberoy smiled. "We're in my lord's spirit realm. This is were you'll be reincarnated into another world."

Zain stiffened. "Reincarnated?"

"You have questions, don't you?" Oberoy said, his grin widening. "Go ahead and ask. But be prepared, Zain. The truth of this world… isn't as simple as you think."

He studied Zain's face, noting the hardened gaze and clenched fists.

"Is he really the same man I met before?" Oberoy mused to himself.

But then, as he watched Zain's darkened expression, his smirk grew.

"Interesting. This is getting fun."

And deep inside, Oberoy knew.

Zain was ready to learn the truth.