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

The blinding light forced Shen Yuchen to shield his eyes as he stumbled out of the tunnel. Fresh air hit him, sharp and refreshing, as if pulling him out of the suffocating darkness he had just escaped. His chest heaved, his heart still pounding—half from exertion, half from the lingering terror.

Turning back, he glanced at the tunnel's gaping mouth, dark and endless, like a predator waiting to swallow him whole. A chill ran down his spine, and he quickly turned away, his gaze falling on the scene ahead.

What lay before him was a vast forest, trees towering into the sky, their dense canopies painting the world in hues of green and gold. The sky above was alive with shifting colors, a surreal blend of light and shadow, as if hinting at the existence of another world.

Buzz—

His phone vibrated again, the faint glow of its screen revealing another message:

"You're safe for now. Keep moving."

Shen Yuchen frowned, his mind unable to shake the eerie events from the tunnel. The voice claiming to be "him" had saved his life, but who—or what—was it? And why did it feel so intimate, so painfully familiar?

Before he could make sense of it, the underbrush ahead rustled sharply. He froze, his body instinctively tensing as he stepped back. His grip tightened on the phone, his eyes fixed on the bushes, heart racing with dread.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice wavering despite his attempt to sound firm.

The rustling grew louder. Footsteps, light yet deliberate, approached from the thicket. His mind raced with possibilities—wild animals, the ominous pursuers, or something far worse.

Suddenly, a figure emerged, staggering out of the foliage.

It was a young woman.

Even in her disheveled state, her beauty was striking. Her face, pale from exhaustion, was framed by jet-black hair that cascaded down her shoulders in wild tangles. Her arched brows were slightly furrowed, giving her an air of defiance. Despite the fear and fatigue etched across her delicate features, her deep, almond-shaped eyes burned with a fierce determination.

She was dressed in a tattered gray jacket, its sleeves torn to reveal her slender yet muscular arms. Dirt and scratches marred her skin, but they only accentuated the impression of someone who had fought hard to survive.

Yet it was her left arm that drew Shen Yuchen's attention—a deep wound ran along its length, blood seeping through a hastily wrapped cloth. The makeshift bandage was tied tightly, evidence of her resilience and resourcefulness.

Her breathing was ragged, her chest rising and falling as she clutched her side, but her gaze remained sharp, scanning her surroundings like a cornered animal.

"Please… help me!" she gasped, collapsing toward Shen Yuchen, her voice trembling with desperation and urgency, as though he was her last chance at salvation.

Shen Yuchen rushed to catch her, easing her down against a nearby tree. "Are you okay? What happened?" he asked, his words coming in a flurry.

"They're… coming…" she whispered, barely able to speak. "We have to… run…"

Before Shen Yuchen could process her words, his phone vibrated again. Dread gripped him as he glanced at the screen.

"Danger approaching. Prepare to fight or flee."

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He looked down at the woman's blood-streaked face, her wide eyes filled with terror.

"Who's after you?" he demanded, his voice low but urgent. "What's going on?"

She shuddered, her lips barely moving as she whispered, "The Hunters… they never stop…"

The words sent a chill through him. Then, from deep within the forest, a rhythmic sound began to rise—the heavy, deliberate footsteps of a group marching with purpose. Precise and relentless, the sound grew louder, closer.

The phone vibrated once more.

"Trust me. Follow my instructions if you want to survive."

Shen Yuchen's heart raced as he considered his options—or lack thereof. Whatever force was guiding him through the phone had already saved him once. He had no choice but to trust it again.

He turned to the woman, gripping her uninjured arm. "We need to move. Can you walk?"

She nodded weakly, her expression resolute despite her fragile state.

"Good," he said firmly. "Stay close to me."

Together, they plunged into the dense forest, the canopy overhead casting eerie shadows across their path. The footsteps behind them grew louder, unyielding, like the march of death itself.

The phone buzzed again.

"Turn left. Stay silent."

Shen Yuchen obeyed without hesitation, pulling the woman with him as they veered onto a narrower, hidden trail. They pressed forward, careful not to make a sound.

Moments later, figures clad in black combat gear emerged on the main trail they had just abandoned. The pursuers moved with unnerving precision, their faces blank, their movements mechanical. They seemed more like machines than humans, their every step calculated, their purpose unwavering.

Shen Yuchen held his breath, his back pressed against a tree. Beside him, the woman trembled, her eyes wide with fear.

The group passed without noticing them, but the phone buzzed again, its glow cutting through the dim forest light.

"The danger isn't over. They know you're here."

A cold sweat broke out on Shen Yuchen's forehead as he tightened his grip on the device. His mind spun with questions, but now was not the time for answers. The only certainty was that the hunt was far from over.