8. The mission

When Lina opened her eyes again, she found herself in a strange place. The chaotic noise of battle was gone, replaced by an overwhelming stillness. She stood in a vast, empty room, its walls and floor a pristine, blinding white with fog extending as far as the eye could see.

There was no sign of Ashborne, no sign of the battle, and no sign of the pain she had just felt. Lina was confused because she thought the skill she had could reflect damage. However, more importantly:

"Where... am I?" Lina whispered, her voice echoing in the emptiness.

"You are in the space between time and space," a calm voice answered.

Lina turned, startled by the voice. A figure materialized before her, shimmering as if formed from the very light of the room. The figure had no distinct features but radiated an aura of immense power. Despite the lack of form, Lina could feel the presence of a being far beyond anything she had ever encountered.

"You... you're a god, aren't you?" Lina asked, her voice trembling with realization.

The figure nodded, its form shifting slightly as it spoke. "Yes, Lina Johnson. I am the one who brought you to this world. The one who gave you the power of damage reflection."

Lina's heart raced. "Why? Why did you bring me here? What is this all about?"

The god's presence seemed to pulse with energy as it responded. "This world faces a great threat. A hero, chosen to save the world, soon turns against it. If left unchecked, this hero will bring about its destruction. You, Lina, were chosen to stop that from happening."

Lina's mind raced. "But... why me? I'm just a normal girl. How am I supposed to stop a hero? Besides, why would the hero turn his back on the world?"

"You are not just a normal girl, Lina. And as for the hero, his lover, the heroine, is killed by the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Azia. After the heroine is killed, the hero keeps a deep-seated grudge against Azia, as the heroine risked her life to save Azia. Thus, when she is killed by Azia, the deep hatred he will have."

Lina clenched her fists, trying to make sense of it all. "But I just died. How can I stop anyone if I'm dead?"

The god's voice softened. "Your journey is not over. I will return you to the world, and you will have another chance. But know this: your mission is more important than you realize. The fate of this world rests in your hands."

"But how do I even stop the hero from destroying the world?" Lina still in denial.

"Well, you could choose from these options: ONE - Kill the hero immediately after he defeats the demon lord, but he is no walk in the park. TWO - Kill the heroine yourself and suffer the wrath of the hero as he turns his anger on you and not the world.You can choose from these options, as any of them work for me."

Lina looked down, starting to ponder how she would stop the world from ending. "What makes you think I can do this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I clearly just died although I have an all-powerful skill. What happened anyway?"

"You died because you received damage that was not meant or intended to hurt you." The all-white being answered.

The god's form shimmered once more. "I believe in you, Lina. But remember, you are not alone in this. Seek out allies, learn from your mistakes, and trust in your own strength. And this time around I will send the hero your way to make it easier for you."

As the god's words echoed in the white room, Lina felt the world around her begin to blur and fade. "You have the power to survive," the god's words echoed as her sight started to blur like a ripple. The white light enveloped her, and soon, she was no longer in the empty room.

When Lina opened her eyes again, she found herself back in Ashborne, but the scene was different. The village was no longer burning, and the bandits were gone. She was lying on a bed in a small room, her body aching but whole. She glanced around and realized she was in the village inn. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room.

"Was it all a dream?" Lina muttered, but as she sat up, she knew it wasn't. The god's words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the mission she had been given.

Lina blinked as her surroundings came into focus. The sun's golden rays streamed through the small window of the inn, casting long shadows on the wooden floor. Her body ached, the memory of the recent battle with Ming and the betrayal still fresh in her mind. She could still feel the tension in her muscles, the sharp sting of betrayal in her heart. Yet, everything around her seemed peaceful, calm.

For a moment, she wondered if it had all been a dream—the chaos, the god, the ominous warning. But as she sat up in bed, the clarity of the god's voice echoed in her mind.

"This world faces a great threat... The fate of this world rests in your hands."

Lina frowned, her fingers curling into the rough fabric of the blanket. This wasn't the aftermath of the battle. There were no burning buildings, no signs of destruction. The village of Ashborne, which had been a smoldering ruin, now seemed untouched. And yet, the pain, the confusion, it all felt too real to be dismissed as a dream.

Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of what was happening. She had died—she remembered the pain, the cold grip of death taking hold. But then the god had brought her back, given her a second chance. Could it be that she had been sent back in time? Lina's breath caught in her throat as the realization hit her.

The god hadn't just revived her; he had reset everything.

She jumped out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold wooden floor. Moving quickly to the window, she pushed the curtains aside and stared out at the village. Everything looked so normal—too normal. The villagers bustled about their daily routines, oblivious to the impending doom that had consumed Lina's thoughts. The bandits hadn't attacked yet, and the village was still whole.

This was the morning of the same day she had just died.

She felt a mixture of relief and dread wash over her. Relief because she had a chance to change things, to prevent the horrors she had witnessed. But now, she had the heavy burden of knowledge—knowing what was to come and what she had to do to stop it.

The god's words echoed in her mind again: "You could choose from these options..."

Lina clenched her fists, feeling the weight of the choices. Kill the hero, kill the heroine, or make the hero fall in love with her. Each option felt impossible in its own way, of course. But for now, the immediate threat was right in front of her—the bandits, Ming's betrayal, and the village of Ashborne.

Ming.

The memory of Ming's cold smile, the way she had turned on Lina, twisted like a knife in her chest. Lina had trusted her, believed her to be a friend, only to be stabbed in the back.

And now, there she was again, back in time, meaning Ming was downstairs in the inn. Lina's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.

She had to act fast. The village wouldn't be safe for long.

But what could she do? She had barely survived the battle the first time, even with her damage reflection skill. The god had said she died because the damage wasn't meant for her—but how was she supposed to avoid that this time around? She needed a plan, something more than just brute strength. She needed allies.

The god's words echoed once more: "Seek out allies, learn from your mistakes..."

Lina nodded to herself, determination filling her. She wasn't the same girl who had been blindsided by betrayal. This time, she had knowledge on her side, and she would use it to her advantage. If Ming and her bandit friends thought they could outsmart her again, or just outsmart her, they were in for a rude awakening.

But first, she had to confront Ming—calmly, carefully. She couldn't let on that she knew what was going to happen, not yet. If she could get information out of Ming, figure out exactly when and where the bandits planned to strike, she might be able to stop them before they could do any damage.

Lina quickly dressed, slipping into the simple but sturdy clothes she had worn before. As she tied her boots, she ran through her plan in her head. Confront Ming, gather information, and then find a way to warn the village without raising suspicion. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was better than nothing.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way downstairs, her mind sharp and focused. The sound of clinking dishes and low chatter greeted her as she stepped into the inn's dining area. And there, sitting at a corner table with a cup of tea in hand, was Ming, looking every bit the innocent traveler.

Lina forced a smile as she approached, her heart pounding in her chest. This time, she would be ready.