Warning

Neaf gasped in shock as the cruel words spilled from Axtral's mouth. Being stuck in this loop was the last thing he wanted. How could he bear to repeat the same existence over and over? He'd rather be a hybrid of AI and human than endure this endless cycle.

"What can I do? How can you send me back, or perhaps end my existence so the original soul can return?" Neaf asked, feeling weak and bewildered.

His own life seemed insignificant, but in just one day, he had witnessed how much Alisa and Alfred cared for the person whose body he now inhabited. He couldn't be selfish enough to let them suffer. Neaf knew he couldn't escape, so why not take the only option that might help him?

"Are you sure you can do them?" Axtral asked, circling around Neaf.

"I don't know if I can, but I can at least try. You won't send me back if I don't comply, that's for sure," Neaf replied, trying to choose his words carefully. Talking to this entity felt like being trapped in a game or a dream, where he had some control, but here, it seemed like there was a vendetta against him.

"You think too much, Neaf Stellar. I have no quarrel with anyone. I thought I could help you," Axtral said, narrowing his eyes as he delved into Neaf's thoughts.

Humans are complex thinkers, that's what he could gather from this small mind. A small mind leads to small outcomes. He, Axtral, who was more powerful than any human or robot, was being accused of seeking revenge on a mere boy. Such a bizarre thought, and yet Neaf had the audacity to label him as strange when he was the peculiar one. At least his thoughts were.

"Get to the point," Neaf said through clenched teeth, frustrated with his own words.

That was half the reason he was dead and hadn't found a place in any afterlife, but instead ended up in a parallel world just because he had wished to be something other than human.

"The point is you. I want you to fight. Only you can save this body. If this body perishes, you will be reborn again, but who knows where. For the safety of this body, you must complete the tasks that will be assigned to you in due time," Axtral said, stopping in front of Neaf, eye to eye.

Confusion began to overwhelm Neaf as he struggled to understand what tasks he needed to undertake and how he could ensure the safety of the body he inhabited. If he couldn't even save his own body, why was all of this being placed on his shoulders? He had died due to bullying—how could he possibly save anyone when he had perished so helplessly?

"Trash, is that what you think? I can't wait to see how much you'll reek when you're scattered," Axtral laughed wickedly.

A surge of anger coursed through Neaf's veins at the sight of Axtral revelling in his misery. No one could be more despicable than this. Now, as Neaf contemplated it, even his death hadn't been as cruel as the way this despicable being was making it hard for him to breathe.

"Remember, there's a lot you need to do, so I'm giving you time for now. Adjust until then. You're unbearable, but we're going to meet a lot, so try to be a little more bearable. Otherwise, there will be consequences before you even get through the tasks," Axtral warned.

Before Neaf could respond, Axtral vanished into thin air once again, leaving Neaf to catch his breath. When he opened his eyes, he saw the doctor and nurses standing around him, looking tense.

And here he was again, back in the midst of more troubles and questions.

"How are you feeling, Neaf? Can you hear me?" Adam asked, clearly stressed as he struggled to find any issues in Neaf's system, yet Neaf lay lifelessly on the bed, making it even more difficult for Adam to remain calm.

Neaf looked at Adam's panicked face and managed to croak out, "Fine," in a hoarse voice.

He could feel the weakness in his body, as if he had just come alive again. How was he going to protect this body? And what did he need to protect it from? Tasks? Protecting this body? Some kind of evil system?

What more was going to come his way? It all seemed overwhelming, beyond his capacity.

"That's such a relief. What happened to you? Is there any pain? Or something bothering you?" Adam asked.

If only Neaf could speak the truth, but there was no one who would believe him. Axtral's warning about consequences felt like sharp swords hanging over his head. He couldn't risk getting himself into trouble. If it were just about him, he might have chosen to face the consequences, but he had a responsibility to the owner of this body, and he couldn't be selfish about it.

"Water," Neaf whispered, ignoring Adam's words.

He just wanted to relax today. It already felt like he had a heart attack, and he had a lot on his mind. He needed to figure things out, no matter what. He had to pull himself out of this whole scenario so the original owner could get this body back.

He had no intention of occupying it. Who knew what this body's soul was suffering from?

"Yeah, sure," Adam answered as he brought the glass of water to Neaf's lips.

The bed immediately tilted, raising Neaf's head and upper body. Neaf drank the water in one go, feeling his parched throat being somewhat satisfied. As his senses began to clear from the fuzzy feeling.

After drinking the water, Neaf rested his head back again, feeling the weight of all the machines on his head, legs, and wrists ticking together, giving him a major anxiety about his reality that was all on him.

He didn't know what it would take to save this body. If this unimaginable task fell to him, he could only imagine the future struggle.

"God knows,"