100 ways to kill you.

Chapter 4 : "The Demon's Question"

Back in the shadowy expanse of the Hell Pit, Elena faced Azazel, the architect of her dark pact. The reality of her situation was beginning to sink in – she was about to embark on a quest unlike any she had ever known, armed with a supernatural power granted by a demon.

Azazel's form loomed before her, an amalgamation of shadows that twisted and writhed with every word he spoke. "Elena, you stand at the threshold of your hundred attempts. Before you proceed, tell me: how do you plan to approach this endeavor? The rules of the mortal realm are bent, not broken, in your favor."

Elena, still grappling with the surreal nature of her situation, hesitated. "I... I don't know where to begin. How does one plan for something like this? What limitations do I face in this... altered state?"

The demon's chuckle was a sound that seemed to stir the very air of the Hell Pit. "Your physical form in the mortal realm will be as real as a shadow. You can observe, influence, but cannot physically interact. Your actions must lead Jin-Ho to his demise, but indirectly. And remember, each failure will return you here, to start anew."

Elena processed this information, the wheels in her mind turning. "So, I must be a catalyst, a push towards his end, but not the direct cause."

"Precisely," Azazel replied, his eyes gleaming with an unholy light. "You have the unique opportunity to influence events, to create situations that lead to Jin-Ho's downfall. But the final act cannot be by your hand."

She nodded slowly, her mind racing with possibilities. "And what of Jin-Ho's perception? Will he be aware of my presence?"

Azazel's smile widened. "He will sense something, a shadow of his past, perhaps. But he will not see you, not in the form you once held. You will be a whisper, a chill down his spine, an unexplainable sense of dread."

Elena felt a mix of empowerment and trepidation. The task ahead was daunting, a game of shadows and subtleties. She had to be strategic, using her new-found abilities to manipulate circumstances without revealing her presence.

"And what of time? If I am returned here upon each failure, does time reset in the mortal world?" Elena inquired, trying to grasp the rules of this supernatural game.

"In your perception, yes," Azazel explained. "Each return here will be as if no time has passed in the mortal realm since your last attempt. Time for you is now a loop, bound to your mission."

Elena took a moment to let this sink in. Each attempt was an opportunity, a chance to learn and adapt her strategy. She would need to be observant, patient, and cunning.

"One more thing, Azazel," Elena added, her resolve hardening. "If, in my attempts, I come to harm, what then?"

The demon's gaze was unyielding. "Physical harm will not befall you in your shadow form. But be wary, Elena. The toll of this endeavor is not just physical. The burden of your quest, the weight of your vengeance, will test more than just your resolve."

Elena understood the unspoken warning. This journey was not just a physical one; it was a battle of wills, a test of her very spirit.

With a final nod to Azazel, Elena prepared to return to the mortal realm. Her first attempt awaited her, the first move in a complex game of retribution. Armed with her ghostly powers and driven by a deep-seated desire for justice, she was ready to begin.

The Hell Pit faded away, and Elena found herself enveloped in the swirling vortex once more, the gateway to her hundred attempts. As she emerged in the mortal realm, a sense of purpose filled her. The gamble had begun, and she was the player in a game that spanned the realms of the living and the dead.