Chapter 2 A Second Chance
“Bro, you look like a depressed philosopher.”
Arjun’s hands trembled.
He slowly looked at the sky.
It was still normal.
But he knew something terrifying.
The tower hadn’t appeared yet.
And this time…
He knew what was coming.
Arjun’s chest heaved as he sat upright on the rooftop.
The cool night air rushed into his lungs, but it did nothing to calm the chaos inside his head.
For several seconds, he didn’t move.
He simply stared at his trembling hands.
They were clean.
No blood.
No claw marks.
No torn flesh.
But he could still feel it.
The memory of the monster’s teeth tearing through his chest was painfully clear.
The pain had been real.
Too real.
Kabir stood nearby holding two cups of chai, exactly as before.
“Bro, you look like a depressed philosopher.”
The same words.
The same tone.
The same moment.
Arjun slowly turned toward him.
His voice came out hoarse.
“Kabir… what time is it?”
Kabir blinked.
“Uh… 11:47 PM. Why?”
Arjun’s stomach tightened.
That was the exact time it had been before the tower appeared.
Everything was repeating.
Exactly.
Kabir waved a hand in front of Arjun’s face.
“Hello? Earth to Arjun.”
Arjun forced himself to breathe slowly.
Think.
Don’t panic.
Something impossible had just happened.
He had died.
And now he was here again.
Twenty-four hours earlier.
A memory surfaced in his mind.
The blue system message he had seen right before everything went dark.
Karma System Activated
Karma Reversal Activated
Arjun whispered under his breath.
“…I came back.”
Kabir tilted his head.
“You came back from where?”
Arjun shook his head quickly.
“Nothing.”
He stood up and walked to the edge of the rooftop.
The city looked peaceful.
Cars moved normally.
People laughed in the streets.
No giant tower.
No glowing messages in the sky.
But Arjun knew it was coming.
He had seen it.
He had died inside it.
Kabir walked over and handed him the chai.
“You’re acting weird tonight.”
Arjun accepted the cup absentmindedly.
His mind was racing.
If everything was repeating exactly the same…
Then the tower would appear in about thirteen minutes.
He looked up at the sky.
Dark.
Silent.
Normal.
But not for long.
Kabir suddenly spoke again.
“So… serious question.”
Arjun glanced at him.
“What?”
Kabir grinned.
“If aliens invade tonight, do you think engineering students will finally get some respect?”
Despite everything, Arjun almost laughed.
But before he could reply—
The sky rumbled.
Arjun’s heart skipped.
Kabir frowned.
“Wait… did you hear that?”
Arjun didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
The sky cracked open.
A thin blue line of light split the darkness.
Kabir’s jaw slowly dropped.
“No way…”
The tower emerged from the sky once again.
Exactly as before.
Black stone.
Glowing runes.
Lightning crawling across its surface.
Arjun watched silently.
This time he wasn’t shocked.
He was preparing.
Below them, people were shouting in confusion.
Phones buzzed across the city.
And once again, glowing text appeared across the sky.
WELCOME PLAYERS
Kabir whispered, “What the hell…”
Arjun clenched his fists.
Everything was happening exactly the same.
Which meant something important.
He knew what was coming next.
The monster.
The deaths.
His own death.
But this time…
He wouldn’t panic.
This time he had knowledge.
And knowledge meant survival.
Kabir grabbed Arjun’s arm.
“Bro, we should go see it!”
Arjun nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Kabir blinked.
“That was easier than expected.”
Arjun didn’t explain.
Because he needed to go.
Everything depended on what happened inside the tower.
An hour later they stood before the massive glowing gate once again.
Thousands of people had gathered.
Police sirens echoed in the distance.
Everything looked exactly the same as before.
Arjun scanned the crowd.
His heartbeat quickened.
The same man who had entered first last time was standing near the front.
A tall guy wearing a black jacket.
Arjun remembered what would happen.
The man would touch the gate.
Then disappear.
Arjun stepped closer.
Kabir followed nervously.
“Are we really doing this?”
Arjun nodded.
“Yes.”
The tall man suddenly stepped forward.
Just like before.
He touched the gate.
And vanished.
The crowd gasped.
Arjun inhaled slowly.
Everything is the same.
Which meant the monster would appear inside the tower soon after players entered.
And last time…
He had been completely unprepared.
This time would be different.
Kabir looked at him.
“Okay… I’m officially scared now.”
Arjun placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Stay calm when we go inside.”
Kabir frowned.
“When?”
Arjun smiled faintly.
“Now.”
Before Kabir could protest, Arjun stepped forward and touched the gate.
Light swallowed him.
Cold stone greeted him again.
The massive hall of the tower appeared around him.
Torches flickered along the walls.
Players were scattered across the floor.
Exactly like before.
Arjun stood up quickly.
He didn’t wait.
Because he knew what was coming.
A glowing blue screen appeared in front of him.
PLAYER DETECTED
He ignored it.
Instead, he looked toward the dark corner of the hall.
Where the monster would appear.
His heart pounded.
Any second now.
Kabir appeared nearby, looking disoriented.
“Whoa… this place is insane.”
Arjun grabbed his arm.
“Kabir, listen to me carefully.”
Kabir looked confused.
“What?”
“We’re about to be attacked.”
Kabir laughed.
“Bro, relax.”
The growl echoed through the hall.
Kabir froze.
“…Okay never mind.”
The armored wolf stepped into the torchlight.
Players screamed.
Chaos erupted again.
But this time Arjun moved immediately.
“Run toward the pillars!” he shouted.
Kabir followed instinctively.
The monster lunged at the nearest group of players.
Blood splattered across the floor.
But Arjun had already reached one of the massive stone pillars.
He pressed his back against it.
Kabir whispered urgently.
“What’s the plan?!”
Arjun stared at the monster.
His brain worked rapidly.
Last time he had died within seconds.
But now he had information.
And information meant opportunity.
The creature roared again.
Then suddenly—
The blue system screen flickered before Arjun’s eyes.
KARMA SYSTEM ACTIVE
Another message appeared.
SPECIAL CONDITION DETECTED
Arjun’s eyes widened.
“What…?”
The message continued.
FIRST DEATH REGISTERED
BONUS SKILL AVAILABLE
Kabir shouted.
“Arjun! It’s coming!”
The monster turned toward them.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Arjun.
The system screen flashed again.
SKILL UNLOCK AVAILABLE
Arjun felt something strange inside his mind.
A new power.
A choice.
But he didn’t know what the skill was yet.
And the monster was already charging.
Its claws scraped across the stone floor.
Arjun’s heart raced.
If he died again…
Would he rewind again?
Or was that ability only once?
He didn’t know.
And he didn’t have time to think.
The monster leaped toward him.
The system screen glowed brightly.
CHOOSE YOUR FIRST SKILL
The creature’s shadow swallowed him.
Arjun clenched his fists.
And made his decision.
