Raghavendra Rakbedh's pristine white werewolf form stood in stark contrast to the darkness of the ancient dungeon of Lord Shiva, "Rudra Vyuh". Around him, the massive chamber had become a graveyard—nearly 400 Yeti corpses and 60 giant white Saber-tooth tigers lay strewn about, their blood staining the permafrost black. The carnage would have impressed even the fiercest of warriors, but victory's sweetness had turned bitter in his mouth.
His breath came in ragged gasps, the bitter cold of Rudra Vyuh's deepest dungeon level crystallizing each exhale into delicate frost patterns that dissolved into the darkness. The chamber reeked of death—the metallic tang of blood mixing with the musty fur of fallen Yetis and the sharp, clean scent of the arctic air. Each heartbeat sent waves of pain through his battle-worn body, a reminder of his carelessness in the heat of combat.
A voice whispered his name, barely distinguishable from the wind howling through the ancient stones. At first, Raghavendra dismissed it as exhaustion playing tricks on his mind, but the whisper grew stronger, more melodic—as if the very walls themselves were speaking. The sound emanated from what appeared to be an ordinary stone, unremarkable among the countless others littering the chamber floor.
Each step toward the stone was agony, his muscles screaming in protest. The proud werewolf who had just slain hundreds was reduced to dragging himself forward, leaving a trail of blood-matted fur that slowly reverted to human skin with each labored breath. The voice giggled—a sound both ancient and childlike—seeming to draw perverse pleasure from his struggle.
The stone began to pulse with an otherworldly light, ancient Sanskrit letters materializing and swirling around it like fireflies in a midnight dance. "O blessed devotee of our Lord Pashupatinath," the voice resonated with power now, "do you wish to gain strength?"
"Yes," Raghavendra responded without hesitation, his voice hoarse but determined. "I wish to be strong enough to kill the one that calls himself Pisasht." The memory of his nemesis made his blood boil, even in his weakened state.
The ancient stone's surface rippled like water, and he could have sworn it smiled. "Well then, are you willing to do anything to get your revenge?"
Raghavendra managed a pained smirk as his werewolf form finally gave way, forcing him back into his human shape. "I have died four times trying to kill that monster," he spat, each word laced with determination and barely contained rage. "I can die twice more, but I must face him before—" his voice caught, an old wound deeper than any physical injury surfacing, "—before someone I love is reincarnated again. I cannot lose her twice."
The stone's glow dimmed ominously, and a void darker than the deepest night began to form at its center. Before Raghavendra could react, searing pain erupted across his body—a thousand invisible needles piercing his flesh simultaneously. He looked down to find his skin riddled with perfectly circular purple holes, each pulsing with an alien light.
The ancient stone's laughter transformed into a haunting hymn that echoed through the chamber. "You shall die here, at the brink of your life," it proclaimed, almost gentle in its cruelty. "I will send you to a realm where a more efficient and powerful energy awaits. You may find the strength you seek if you follow the path I have chosen—or you may perish the moment you cross over. Perhaps you will remain trapped forever between worlds. But fear not; I have chosen a guardian to watch over you until you come of age. Seek the seeker in the new realm, and they will guide you back to this world." The hymn took on an almost maternal tone. "I wish you good fortune in this new adventure."
Raghavendra stabbed his sword into the ground, using it as a crutch to stay upright. "Wait!" he growled through gritted teeth. "Who are you? Why must I die for this? I have so many questions!"
The void began to expand, tendrils of darkness reaching for him like hungry serpents. "All will be revealed when you are reborn," the stone replied, its voice now tinged with disappointment. "You have been neglecting your duties to protect these dungeons. Consider this a lesson in responsibility—your blessing does not come without a price."
As the darkness began to envelop him, Raghavendra couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Of all the dangerous things I've faced in Rudra Vyuh," he muttered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, "being done in by a chatty rock has to be the most embarrassing. Ra's going to have a field day with this one. I can already hear him: 'The mighty werewolf, felled by geological formation.' I'll never hear the end of it in my next life." The void swallowed his last words, along with any trace that he had ever existed in that blood-soaked chamber.
In the silence that followed, only the stone remained, its surface once again unremarkable—save for the faintest trace of a smile.
As he plummeted into the abyss, his magnificent white form began to disperse—not in death, but in a familiar transition he'd experienced four times before. His physical form dissolved into motes of light, yet his consciousness remained intact, floating in the void.
A brilliant white light pierced the darkness from above. A knowing smile crossed his fading features. "Here we go again."
The transition was instant—darkness to light, cold to warmth, power to helplessness. His new eyes slowly opened to a world of sleek surfaces and soft blue light. Holographic paintings danced on the walls, depicting scenes he couldn't quite comprehend.
A robotic voice, somehow both clinical and gentle, announced: "Delivery complete. Congratulations on your new born baby. His vitals are abnormally high. Demon genes detected, unnatural infant, advising report to authorities immediately."
Raegan was born as a humanoid demon infant with his snow-white hair and crimson eyes, surrounded by a pool of purple silvery mana.
A gentle voice next to him responded, "Override protocols, do not report, ignore abnormalities, strictly apply the same commands in future".
The robotic voice deepened with a red glow, "Overriding protocols, files archived to private, command approved by Doctor Chen, securing data protection… Initialising… Success, No Information available on the Infant born to Doctor Chen, would you like to name the Infant 36850501 from Private facility registered to Doctor Chen 005?
Dr Chen responded with a weak voice, "Yes, give me a few minutes, start Infant secure protocols".
He felt mechanical hands—gentle despite their artificial nature—wrapping him in what appeared to be leather but felt unlike any hide he'd known. The material was plush, adaptive, almost alive against his new skin.
His warrior's mind, intact despite the rebirth, raced with questions. 'How far ahead have I reincarnated? Is this even Earth?' The technology surrounding him was beyond anything he'd seen in his previous lives.
Then, a face entered his field of vision—a woman's face, kind and beautiful, her eyes filled with a love that transcended any technology. "Welcome to the world, Raegan," she said, her voice carrying the timeless warmth of motherhood. "You have a beautiful face, my son."
The Robotic voice responded, "Registering the infant's name,'RAEGAN'... Registration complete, information secured, only the name is allowed for public records".
In that moment, despite the strange surroundings and the memories of his past lives still swirling in his consciousness, Raghavendra—now Raegan—felt an unexpected peace. This new world, with its mix of advanced technology and human warmth, would be the battlefield for his fifth attempt. But first, he would need to understand it.
'Well, this is new,' Raegan thought, staring at the holographic butterflies dancing above his crib. 'Usually it's a mud hut or a palace. But machine midwives? That's a first.'
The mechanical hands continued their efficient work, scanning and cleaning him with tools that looked like they were made of metal yet were gentle. One particular device made a cheerful 'boop' sound as it measured his temperature.
'I've fought Yetis, danced with Lord Shiva, and spent four lifetimes trying to kill an angry man, but this... this is weird, what sorcery is this.'
"Baby's cognitive responses are unusually advanced," the robotic voice announced. "Brain activity suggests full awareness."
'No kidding,' Raegan thought sarcastically. 'I've only had 5400 years of practice at being born.'
His new mother stroked his cheek, her touch a stark contrast to the mechanical hands. "He seems so alert," she marveled. "Look at how he's taking everything in!"
'Lady, you have no idea. By the way, what's that floating thing by your head? Is that... your pet or something? Great, even the baby servants in this realm are flying.'
The servant in question hovered closer, its lens focusing on his face. "Would you like me to begin early childhood development protocols, Ms. Chen?"
'Chen? Oh fantastic, fifth life and I'm finally Chinese. Maybe I'll get good at Science and Technology this time around. Though I suppose in 5400 years, racial demographics have probably shifted quite a bit.'
His mother laughed, "Not yet, NEO-7. Let him just be a baby for a moment."
'NEO-7? What happened to the first 6? Actually, never mind. I should probably start crying or something. That's what babies do, right?'
Just then, another robot rolled in, this one shaped like a sleek penguin. "Would the new mother like some refreshments? We have synthesized health drinks calibrated to postnatal nutritional needs."
'Synthesized drinks? What happened to good old-fashioned water? Though I suppose anything's better than that fermented yak milk from my third life. That stuff was rough.'
His mother smiled down at him again. "He hasn't cried once. Such a calm baby."
'Lady, after facing down 400 Yetis, a little thing like being born doesn't really rattle you. Though I do have questions about that leather wrap. Is this real leather or some future synthetic stuff? Because as someone who's spent multiple lives transforming into a wolf, I'm a bit particular about my animal products.'
The medical robot returned, projecting a holographic chart above his crib. "Remarkable. His physical development is accelerated. Muscle density and bone structure are significantly above normal parameters, Mana levels immeasurable."
'Ah, good to know some of the werewolf perks carried over. Though I wonder how that'll work in this... whatever world this is. Do they even have wolves here? Or did they get replaced by machine?' Also what in the Lord Shiva's name is Mana?
"Ms. Chen," the robot continued, "would you like to begin the standard genetic enhancement package? It's covered by your health plan."
'Genetic what now? Oh no. No, no, no. I've already got enough supernatural stuff going on without adding unnatural science to the mix. Though... I wonder if they have anything for enhanced smell? Being a werewolf with allergies in my second life was really inconvenient.'
As if reading his thoughts, his mother declined the enhancements. "No, thank you. He's perfect as he is."
'Thanks, mother. Though you might change your mind when I start teething. Werewolf fangs tend to be hard on cribs. Speaking of which, I should probably start figuring out how to control my transformations in this machine-heavy world. A wolf-baby showing up on those medical scans might be a bit hard to explain.'