When dawn arrived, a loud shout suddenly echoed from outside.
"I've found it! I've found the solution!"
"What did you find, my Lord?" the Record Keeper asked.
The Lord of the Underworld did not reply. Instead, he hurried toward the grand chamber he had assigned to Arahan.
But the moment he stepped inside, he froze.
His precious celestial maidens were asleep, resting peacefully in Arahan's arms, their garments scattered carelessly around them.
On his own bed, he saw the many golden blood were scattered. Seeing this, Yamraj felt a sting of pain in his heart.
He had kept these celestial maidens for dance and entertainment, planning to personally enjoy their company on a special occasion.
But now, in the process of appeasing this human, their untouched innocence had already been claimed. The Celestial Maidens' ripe fruit were savoured by this human.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to ignore everything he had just seen. This was not the priority. He turned his gaze toward Arahan.
"Human… after much effort, I have found a solution."
"Then speak, my Lord. Tell me quickly," Arahan replied eagerly.
"The solution is this: there are many parallel worlds connected to Earth. In each of those worlds, there exists another version of you, same name, same face, but living a completely different life."
"The moment you enter that body, your soul will merge with his. Because, in essence… you are both one."
"Now tell me, do you agree? If you do, I will send you."
"What is there to think about?" Arahan said without hesitation. "I just need a body to live."
"Very well."
The Lord of the Underworld stood up and led Arahan into another grand chamber. Inside, a massive glowing screen floated in the air. With a wave of his hand, the Lord activated it.
An image appeared of another man.
It has the same face as Arahan, but dressed like royalty. Surrounded by many guards, sitting inside a palace
"Human," the Lord said, "this is a king from a tribal empire in China. If you wish, I can send you into his body."
"Wait," Arahan replied quickly. "First, I want to test this body."
"Very well. As you wish."
A faint smirk appeared on the Lord's face. In the next moment, he pushed Arahan forward.
Everything blurred, and in an instant, Arahan's consciousness entered the body of the king.
When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in a vast royal courtyard.
Soldiers were practicing swordsmanship with sharp, disciplined movements.
He was looking at them, when a bell rang, and a royal maid approached him respectfully.
"My King… Lady Queen summoned you."
The maid led him toward what looked like a royal pond.
Four beautiful attendants arrived and stepped into the water with him, they removed their dresses and stayed in their undergarments..
Arahan felt excited.
He thought, 'I have already enjoyed in Underworld, and again here, I going to enjoyed the Celestial Maidens, I am going to fuck this beautiful maids.'
But no matter how much he tried to get closer to them, he felt nothing.
Literally without any reaction, he looked at his downside, and realized quickly, "This king… is impotent."
"Lord! Pull me up right now!" Arahan shouted angrily.
In the next moment, the Lord of the Underworld pulled him back out.
As soon as he returned, Arahan shot him an annoyed look.
"You threw me onto the cricket field… but where was the bat? Was I supposed to play with nothing?"
"So many balls were coming my way, and I couldn't do anything!"
The Record Keeper stepped closer, curiosity evident in his eyes.
"What was wrong with that king? His body seemed strong and perfectly fit."
Arahan replied bluntly, "He was missing something essential. Without it, what's the point?"
"What do you mean?"
"Even if everything else is perfect… without the main tool, nothing works."
The Record Keeper blinked, slightly confused.
"Then… try another one," he said after a moment. "In another parallel world, there is a version of you born in Africa. You may attempt that body as well."
Arahan smirked. "I love Africans."
The next instant, he was sent in again.
This time, he found himself inside a military tent, dressed in combat gear. Around him were explosives and weapons.
Four women were giving him a body massage. This time, at least he wasn't impotent.
But suddenly, gunshots echoed outside. The women panicked and began running.
"What happened?" Arahan asked.
"Military coming!" one of them replied.
"Why?"
"You're a terrorist!"
"What?!" Arahan shouted.
Before anything else could happen, Hades pulled him back up again.
Arahan glared furiously, "This time you made me a terrorist?!"
"It's alright, child. Try one more," the Lord of the Underworld said calmly.
"No more trials," Arahan snapped. "Just make sure this one has everything in place… and tell me his full story."
"Very well," the Lord replied. He raised his hand and activated another screen.
"This… is a boy from a small rural town in America."
"His name… is Arahan."
After hearing the entire story of this new Arahan's life, he finally spoke.
"Fine. I'll go. But you wasted my time and destroyed my perfectly good life. Who is going to compensate for that?" Arahan demanded.
"I will compensate you, child," the Lord of the Underworld said. "But remember, I only have authority over death."
"Then don't take my death at all," Arahan shot back immediately. "What's even the point of dying? Just let me live."
"That is not possible. It is against the laws," the Lord said firmly.
"Oh, now you're talking about laws?" Arahan's voice rose. "Where were those laws when you took me before my time?"
The Record Keeper leaned closer and whispered, "My Lord, grant him some assurances and resolve this matter. It would be in our best interest."
The Lord of the Underworld paused, then nodded slowly. His gaze returned to Arahan.
"Very well. I can grant you protection from death, once. The first time you die, you will return."
Arahan frowned. "Once? What am I supposed to do with just one? If I fall from a roof, it's gone. If a speeding car hits me, it's gone."
"Give me more than that. I want protection from a hundred deaths. And this body must be free of disease. If my limbs are broken or even severed, they must fully heal. And if I wish… anyone I touch should be cured of their illness."
"No, child. That is not possible," the Lord of the Underworld replied. "I can grant you three deaths and immunity from disease."
"No, no, no," Arahan shook his head. "If not a hundred, then at least fifty. And full recovery from injuries is a must. Broken or severed limbs must heal. And fine, if I can't heal others, then at least give me the strength of ten men."
"I cannot grant such strength," the Lord said firmly. "I can give you five deaths, immunity from disease, and complete recovery from broken limbs."
"No, no, no."
The negotiation continued, back and forth. Neither side is willing to yield.
Finally, the Lord of the Underworld spoke.
"Ten deaths," he declared. "A disease-free body. Any broken limbs will heal completely. And if a severed limb is reattached in time, it will restore itself perfectly."
Arahan narrowed his eyes. He did not agree immediately.
"I want it recorded," he said. "Properly."
The Lord paused for a moment… then nodded.
A massive ancient ledger appeared before them, the Book of Life and Death.
The terms were written into it.
Arahan stepped forward and signed his name.
The Lord of the Underworld signed next.
The moment the ink settled, a radiant seal appeared over the agreement.
Once recorded in the Book of Death and Life, not even Zeus or any god of Olympus could alter it.
Then the Lord spoke again, his tone turning serious. "There is one condition."
Arahan frowned. "What condition?"
"Once you enter the new body and accept this compensation… you will forget everything."
"Your previous life. Your death. This realm. Me. The Record Keeper. All of it."
Arahan fell silent.
"If you retain the memory of this realm, it will disturb the balance of the worlds," the Lord continued. "Such knowledge cannot remain among the living."
The Record Keeper added calmly, "You will live as that person completely. No memory of this agreement. No awareness of your former self."
Arahan clenched his fists. "So I'll just… forget all of this?"
"Yes," the Lord replied. "The protection will remain. The agreement will remain. But your memories will not."
There was a long pause. Then Arahan took a slow breath and said firmly, "Fine. I just need to live."
The Lord of the Underworld nodded. "So be it."
The screen before them began to glow. The image of the boy from a small rural town in California appeared once more.
"This… is your next life."
Arahan stepped forward. Light surged, the chamber was flooded with a blinding radiance.
And as it consumed him, his memories began to fade. He forgot everything about the Underworld, his previous life, his death, everything.
And in the very next instant, he was gone.