Chapter 1 D "Task or Death through Assassination"

On the smartphone screen

"Dark dweller, you don't need to panic, for I have been watching you."

You are concerned about your hair; don't worry, I am here to help."

"You can find a list of herbs to use on the following page, along with a very powerful hair booster mantra that may help you with your hair issues."

Next Page:

—

After reading this, he was completely stumped and didn't know what to do as all this problem began with his insecurity about his hair, and now, because of this insecurity issue, he has opted to stay home and earn money through this channel, which isn't at all safe as he feels his personal data is being compromised.

But this channel is offering me help with his core reason.

Given that he has already been victimized by this, he ought to see what is available to help with his hair.

Why not give it a look? he thought. Who advised trying it on oneself?

Because of his hair, he was forced to choose to press the Next Page button on the smartphone screen, even though he had no other option.

He is also frustrated that this has happened with no return.

—

Shikakai

Brahmi

Bhringraj

Amla

Fenugreek

Neem

Aritha

A list of thirty more ingredients was provided, along with instructions on how to combine and utilize them.

Powerful mantra for hair growth.

॥ Om Aim Vaakdeviyai Cha Vidhmahe Kaamrajaya Dheemahi Tanno Devi Prachodayat

It is recommended to recite the entire mantra 108 times, five times a day.

Without any breaks or delays, this chanting should be performed nonstop for 42 days.

Scrool down

—

After reading it, he was unsure whether all of these were being recommended as hair treatments because they were frequently mentioned as treatments on websites for regular hair, so why was it listed here on the dark web?

He looked over the following herb list and the components to make sure there was anything fishy, but neither the herb list nor the ingredients that needed to be combined had anything unusual about them.

"So, he checked the mantra, which was a powerful Durga mantra.

Shivam is a Hindu guy who was born and raised in a Hindu household. So, during his mother's puja at the family temple, he frequently heard the Durga Mantra.

He looked over everything, and nothing that seemed off that could hurt him was discovered.

However, as he scrolled down, he came across a 'Next Page !!!!' button.

Shivam said in his mind, 'Here it is!'

He was certain there was a problem on the next page, so he thought to himself, 'If you really wanted to help me, why did you hack my personal data?'

He thought to himself, 'How would this hidden anonymous person on the dark web know me in a few hours of accessing his data?'

He proceeded to check the subsequent page."

—

A red-colored emoji with a mask over its eyes appeared as a pop-up animation on the screen.

"Hello, fellow dark dwellers," the emoji began. "

Here I am to help you understand the consequences of not completing the task given by the Dark Web."

Shivam knew there would be a catch, so when it appeared in animation and began to speak, he silently questioned, "What if the suggested remedy doesn't work?" He inquired without realizing that the image on the screen was just a standard AI emoji, as he was very curious to know, as all the remedies he tried till now didn't work on him.

The catch wasn't on the third page but rather on the second, which was left as a task for him to complete.

So, when the emoji heard Shivam, it stared at Shivam like a real person on the screen, which creeped Shivam out and didn't ask any more questions.

"Don't be afraid of this relatively hard work," the red emoji indicated, "rewards will be awarded upon task completion.

However, if you fail to finish a single-day align task of 42 days, you will face harsh consequences."

Unknowingly, Shivam inquired again: "What would be the consequences?"

Shivam's question was met with an abrupt shake of the red emoji, instilling a sense of fear in him about what "The Consequences" might entail.

Just after this moment, on the other side of the red masked emoji inside the smartphone screen box, a shadow emerged—an animated presence that displayed intense anger towards the red masked emoji.

Gradually, the shadow transformed into a dark masked emoji, intensifying the eerie atmosphere.

To Shivam's horror, the dark-masked emoji suddenly drew a gun and aimed it at the red-masked emoji without warning.

In a swift and merciless motion, the dark-masked emoji fired a shot, instantly killing the red-masked emoji.

While to any ordinary observer, this animated scene might seem mundane, to Shivam, it was a chilling experience unlike any other.

The sight of the violent act unfolding before him sent shivers down his spine, leaving him trembling with fear.

His hands shook uncontrollably as he struggled to hold onto his smartphone, overcome by a wave of sickness and terror.

Despite his horrified state of mind, Shivam managed to hold his phone steady as the continuous sound of gunfire echoed in his ears.

Cartoonish projectiles were launched in his direction, but thankfully, they caused no harm.

As the chaotic scene unfolded on his smartphone screen, Shivam received warnings from the other party via animated messages from the "Dark Web."

The instructions were clear: he was to follow the prescribed course of action, which involved using the listed herbs according to the directions on the page and repeating the mantra 108 times, five times a day, without fail.

Failure to complete the task would result in dire consequences, as evidenced by the violent animation playing out before him.

The threat looming over Shivam from the "Dark Web" sent him into a frenzy of fear and panic.

The prospect of facing assassination at the hands of an unknown assailant shook him to his core.

His foremost concern was not for his own life, but for the safety of his family, who could potentially be implicated due to his own mistakes.

Recalling the numerous cases he had heard of on the "Dark Web," Shivam understood the gravity of the situation.

He knew he had to comply with the task at hand, no matter how daunting or unsettling it seemed. Failure was not an option, not when the lives of his loved ones hung in the balance.

Shivam's fear of facing dire consequences spurred him into immediate action.

He wasted no time in seeking clarification on when to commence the task, his apprehension driven by the ominous warning conveyed through the unsettling animation.

As anticipated, the red masked emoji sprung to life in the animation, while the foreboding presence of the dark masked emoji receded from the screen.

Shivam interpreted this as a stark reminder of the grave consequences that awaited him should he fail to fulfill the assigned task imposed by the anonymous individual behind the smartphone communication.

Caught in a web of uncertainty and apprehension, Shivam grappled with the myriad questions swirling in his mind.

The initial task spanning 42 days seemed manageable, yet he harbored deep-seated concerns about the nature of future assignments.

What if the tasks veered into illegal territory? What if he found himself entangled in a web of deceit and criminality?

These unsettling thoughts cast a shadow of doubt over Shivam's resolve, leaving him feeling trapped in an abyss of uncertainty.

With no clear answers in sight, he felt as though he had unwittingly stumbled into a labyrinth of danger and intrigue, unsure of what lay ahead on this enigmatic journey through the dark web.

Before Shivam could utter a word of reassurance or defiance, the ominous voice continued its ominous proclamation.

"You may be worried, but don't be; I am the powerful 'Red Band,' and I will reassure you that you are in good hands.

I am your pathfinder to wisdom, might, or death."

Shivam's silence spoke volumes, a testament to his realization of the perilous situation he found himself in.

Despite his apprehension, he held onto a glimmer of hope that he would find assistance from within his organization, trusting in the strength of his allies to navigate the treacherous waters of the dark web.

"All the tasks that you accept have risks and rewards, so you need to choose them as per your capabilities," the voice continued with a chilling assurance.

"Since the first 42-days task initiated your new life and your soul was the only valuable item remaining, you had no right to refuse it.

If you failed to complete the task, the 'Dark Web' minions would take your soul as payment."

Shivam listened intently, his heart pounding with the weight of the consequences laid before him.

The gravity of the situation was not lost on him, as he understood the dire implications of failure.

"So complete it," the voice urged, its tone unnervingly calm, "as this first task isn't hard to complete as per the analysis of your data and your capacity.

As every task that is provided by the Dark Domain is according to the capacity of the dweller."

"After finishing various tasks, you will have the option of accepting or rejecting any task," the voice continued, its words ominous yet matter-of-fact.

However, if you want to reject a task, you must compensate with the rewards from the task that you completed.

Furthermore, you will not be assigned any tasks for a week, which you will regret.

I am certain of it, since you will forfeit the rewards that you received previously for rejecting the task. You would have to wait for a week, which would be a very bad experience for you."

Shivam felt a knot form in his stomach as he processed the implications of this statement.

The consequences of his decisions weighed heavily on him, as he realized the precarious position he now found himself in.

"You will realize this when you receive a reward," the voice continued, its tone unwavering.

"As it will increase your willingness to complete another activity, And you won't be able to refuse a task once it's started, so know what you're going to do before you start so you don't regret it."

"For now, this is what you should know.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask," the red-masked emoji said with a smile.

Shivam didn't speak directly, but he digested what the red-masked emoji said to him.

He then asked the questions that weighed heavily on his mind.

"Will my failure to finish my task have any consequences for my family?" Shivam inquired, his voice tinged with concern.

"Will I be assigned any unlawful tasks?"

He continued, his tone betraying his apprehension.

However, before Shivam could ask his third question, he was abruptly interrupted by a voice emanating from the smartphone.

"STOP," the voice commanded, cutting Shivam off mid-sentence.

The interruption was jarring, leaving Shivam momentarily speechless.

"You have only three questions left," the red-masked emoji continued.

"As the initial dweller, you only have five questions as a bonus for being a part of it.

You have already asked two, so there are just three left.

Ask your last three questions with caution because you will only gain an answer after completing a task.

For every task you complete, you will gain a single answer from the Dark Web."

-Author-

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