Reborn as an AI: Helping My Past Self Become a Writer

The chilling presence of approaching shadows spread through the air, making the entire forest seem to hold its breath, awaiting an inevitable storm.

Shen Yuchen clenched his fists, cold sweat forming on his forehead, but his gaze remained steady like tempered steel. He positioned the young boy behind him while standing back-to-back with Lin Xinyi, ready for whatever danger loomed ahead.

"What are they?" he whispered, eyes locked on the shifting darkness.

"Fate's Enforcers—Shadow Hunters," Lin Xinyi's voice was cold yet resolute, her eyes flickering with fierce determination. "They exist to erase 'Fate Anomalies.' Anyone who strays from their destined path becomes their target."

"Fate Anomalies?" Shen Yuchen's eyes widened, a vague realization stirring within him.

Before he could press further, a figure emerged from the shadows like a piercing arrow aimed straight at them.

"Watch out!" Lin Xinyi shouted, spinning her energy dagger in a radiant arc that tore through the advancing shadow. But the severed figure reformed instantly, as though untouched by her strike.

"They... can't be killed?" Shen Yuchen cursed under his breath, quickly moving the boy to a safer spot.

More dark figures surged forward like an unstoppable tide, encircling them completely.

"We need to find their source!" Lin Xinyi commanded decisively. "They're controlled by something. If we destroy the source, they'll vanish."

Shen Yuchen nodded, determination igniting in his chest. He handed the boy over to Lin Xinyi, locking eyes with her.

"Take him and get out of here." His voice was firm. "I'll find the source."

"No!" Lin Xinyi's expression tightened, but beneath her urgency lay unwavering trust. "I'm coming with you."

They exchanged a silent understanding, a wordless agreement forged in the heat of danger. Together, they charged toward the heart of the darkness.

Deep in the Forest: The Source of the Shadows

After pushing through layers of encroaching darkness, they emerged into a surreal space twisted away from reality. Floating rocks and writhing black mist shaped an eerie dimension separated from the known world.

At the center loomed a colossal, blood-red monolith pulsating with sinister energy. In front of it stood a tall figure cloaked in black, his face obscured except for two piercing crimson eyes gleaming with malice.

"Shen Yuchen," the figure intoned, his deep voice carrying an oppressive weight. "Fate has chosen, and you cannot escape."

Shen Yuchen steeled himself, forcing his breathing to steady.

"Who sent you?" he demanded, clenching his fists as a strange, restless power stirred within him.

The cloaked figure raised a hand, pointing directly at Shen Yuchen with cold finality.

"You... have yet to awaken your true identity. Even so, the wheel of fate has already begun to turn. You are nothing but a discarded piece on its board."

Lin Xinyi lunged forward with a fierce cry, her energy dagger blazing through the air. Yet, just before striking, an invisible barrier deflected her blade with effortless force.

"Futile resistance," the figure sneered. "Fate cannot be defied. Your struggle is meaningless."

Shen Yuchen took a deep breath, his mind racing through fragmented memories and unanswered questions. He realized that whatever this "fate" was, it was deeply entwined with his forgotten past.

"Fate..." he whispered, recalling the shattered visions in his mind—a burning city, a lone warrior standing defiantly, and a pair of resolute, hopeful eyes.

"I won't run anymore." His voice was low yet resolute, the fear in his eyes replaced by steely determination.

With newfound resolve, he raised his right hand. Power surged from deep within, erupting into a radiant, searing light that pierced the oppressive darkness.

The cloaked figure hesitated, his crimson eyes flashing with shock and wariness.

"That power... Impossible..."

Shen Yuchen advanced, his steps firm and unyielding, as though every step shattered another chain of fate binding him.

"Fate? No one decides my destiny but me!"

With a thunderous roar, the blinding light exploded outward, engulfing the entire space and obliterating the dark figure in its radiant force.

In the Depths of the Darkness

Lin Xinyi watched Shen Yuchen stand defiantly, his figure illuminated by the blazing light. For the first time, she saw the unyielding soul hidden beneath his guarded exterior.

A complex surge of emotions welled up in her heart, and she allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to touch her lips.

"Perhaps... you really can change everything," she whispered softly.

As the light faded, a chilling voice echoed from the shadows, cold and unrelenting:

"This... is only the beginning..."