Old World, New Life, Last Chance

Someone was screaming... This was the first thought that flashed through Yan's aching head as he regained consciousness. It took him a while to realize that the person, who was screaming himself hoarse, was him.

Yan moved and mind numbing pain assaulted his senses. He breathed in harshly, trying hard not to pass out. He knew that if he stayed where he was he would die, again.

Yan shakily stood up and dumbly stared at his bloody hands. He doesn't understand. His last memory was the pain of having his soul shattered by the Tower of Reincarnation. He failed his last trial and because his previous results were mediocre, at best, he was not given another chance. So why is he here?

Yan looked around and sure enough, the place was familiar. This was the world of his last and failed reincarnation; a war-torn country wrought with slaughter and blood.

In this world, Yan was born as the youngest son of a local lord. He remembers this scene. His family was besieged by enemies at all sides. No one would survive this hellish night, except for him. This episode marked the beginning of his 'end'.

Yan's task was to avenge the blood debt owed to his family and conquer the lands of his enemies. But due to the betrayal of a confidante that he did not foresee, Yan's quest was prematurely cut short.

Upon his 'death', Yan was teleported back to the Tower of Reincarnation and after deliberation, his soul was sentenced to be shattered.

Yan's mind was in utter chaos. No one escapes the tower so how did he manage to survive his terrible fate? Why is he still alive?

Yan was lost in contemplation when his hand was unceremoniously grabbed. "Move!" An angry but oddly familiar voice hissed by his ear.

The scent of death and blood was thick in the air as Yan's mysterious savior fought his way out of the chaos, mercilessly pulling Yan behind him.

Once they were on the clear the man ruthlessly let go and tugged at the mask covering his face, breathing heavily as he glared at Yan's pale face.

"Jin?" Yan was taken aback. Jin was like him, a reincarnator. And never, not once, in the tower's long history was it allowed for two reincarnators to be in the same world at the same time.

Jin came to be at the same time as Yan did. In essence, they could be considered as brothers. But unlike Yan, Jin is an elite who subdues and conquers worlds. He accomplishes his tasks with ease and gains the highest possible marks each time. Jin's achievements are amongst the best in the tower's history. Which begs the question...

"W-Why are you here?" Yan asked, bewildered.

Jin was livid. He looked like he wanted to hack Yan to pieces but couldn't. In the end, Jin could only sigh tiredly and say, "This is my reincarnation, not yours."

Yan's heart suddenly felt sour. He didn't need to ask further. Jin must have found a way to trick the system to allow them to coexist on the same plane.

But Yan was not naive to think it was for free. To get here, Jin must have paid a heavy price.

Seeing his dejected look, Jin softened and said, "Did you really think I'll allow your soul to be shattered?" He reached out to flick Yan's forehead. "With me here, who would dare bully you?"

With that, Yan's determination soared. This was an opportunity created for him, at Jin's expense. Life and death, they were now entangled.

Yan cannot afford to fail. But with Jin by his side Yan felt he could do anything.

The end... or is it?