NshedRana

In his first life, Damien Sterling was nothing but a fool. Naïve, trusting, and constantly manipulated by those around him, he lived his life as a tool—used, discarded, and ultimately forgotten. His kindness was repaid with betrayal, his trust exploited, and his life ended in the most humiliating way: alone, broken, and filled with regret.

But fate had a cruel twist in store.

One evening, as Damien wandered the cold streets in a daze, he saw an old woman trying to cross the road. She had always been kind to him—the only person who showed him any genuine warmth. When a truck came speeding toward him, she shoved him aside and took the hit herself.

She died.

Yet, the moment her body hit the pavement, something impossible happened. Time rewound.

Damien woke up years earlier, in his younger body—but with all the knowledge, pain, and betrayal of his past life intact. And that day, everything changed.

The Devil..

Opening Scene – The Invitation to Death

The meeting was set at The Crimson Den—a high-end underground club where only the most powerful criminals gathered.

For ordinary people, it was a place of excess.

For those who ruled the underworld, it was a battleground.

Tonight, Damien Sterling walked in alone.

The club was dimly lit, a haze of cigar smoke filling the air.

Damien strolled through like he owned the place.

A man who had survived an assassination attempt was now walking straight into enemy territory.

At the back of the room, a long table awaited him.

A mastermind of assassinations, extortion, and silent wars.

Victor smiled, his fingers tapping a glass of brandy.

"Mr. Sterling. How bold of you to accept our invitation."

Damien sat down, completely unshaken.

"You sent a killer after me, Victor." He leaned forward, eyes cold. "A poor one."

Victor, however, simply chuckled. "Consider it a… test."

Damien tilted his head. "And what exactly were you testing?"

Victor's grin widened. "Whether you were a man worth killing."

Then Damien smirked. "And? What's the result?"

Victor swirled his drink. "You're still alive, aren't you?"

Victor leaned back, his tone casual. "You've been disrupting the balance, Sterling."

"Selene Blackwood? Aligned with you."

His smile faded. "You're forcing a shift in power."

Damien remained expressionless. "And that bothers you?"

Victor's fingers tightened around his glass. "It means I have to choose."

"Do I deal with you… or work with you?"

The men around the table watched in silence.

And only one would walk out victorious.

Damien took a slow sip of his whiskey.

Then, he placed his phone on the table.

On the screen? A Serpent Syndicate warehouse.

Stockpiles of weapons. Money. Illegal shipments.

An explosion tore through the building.

Victor's expression darkened. "You son of a—"

Damien interrupted, his voice calm.

"That was a warning shot. Next time, it won't be a warehouse. It will be you."

The other men looked between them, uneasy.

Damien leaned in slightly. "You think I'm disrupting the balance? No, Victor. I'm creating a new one."

Damien shook it. But both men knew—

It was just the beginning of a much bigger war.

Final Scene – Leaving the Vipers Behind

Damien walked out of The Crimson Den, stepping into the cold night.

Damien smirked. "I made them an offer they couldn't refuse."

Luther exhaled. "And if they betray you?"

"Then I'll make sure they regret it."

The war for the underworld had officially begun.

The Pit of Vipers