Prologue: The Reset


    Kael gasped for breath as cold steel pierced his chest. Blood poured down his torn leather armor, pooling at his feet. The towering dungeon boss—a grotesque amalgamation of steel and shadows—loomed over him, its crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dark.


    [You have died.]


    [Initializing System Reset...]


    Kael’s vision blurred as a chilling numbness spread across his body. Death wasn’t new to him anymore. He had felt the bite of steel, the burn of flames, and the crushing weight of failure more times than he could count.


    But this time…this time it felt final.


    As his consciousness faded, the faint sound of laughter echoed in his ears—a cruel, mocking sound.


    Then, darkness.


    Kael’s eyes shot open, and he found himself staring at a cracked wooden ceiling. The scent of stale ale and damp wood filled his nostrils.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    He bolted upright, gasping for air.


    "The…The tavern?"


    Around him, the noisy chatter of adventurers filled the room. Sunlight streamed through dusty windows, casting long shadows across the uneven wooden floors.


    His trembling hands reached up to touch his chest. No wound. No blood.


    He was back. Again.


    [System Notice: Day 0 Reset Complete.]


    Kael buried his face in his hands, his breaths ragged and uneven. How many times had he returned to this exact moment? Ten? Fifty? A hundred?


    The bartender, a burly man with a permanent scowl, slammed a mug of ale onto the counter. "You gonna sit there all day, Kael?"


    Kael didn’t respond.


    He pushed himself to his feet and stumbled outside. The bustling city of Auren stretched before him—cobblestone streets packed with merchants, adventurers, and street performers. Overhead, the massive shadow of the Blackspire Dungeon loomed, a fortress-like tower that pierced the clouds.


    He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.


    I can’t keep doing this.


    But he knew he had no choice. Every reset brought him back to this exact moment—the same city, the same dungeon, the same inevitable death.


    But this time…this time he would break the cycle.


    Kael''s eyes narrowed as he stared up at the towering dungeon. Somewhere inside that cursed place was the key—the answer to his eternal prison.


    "No more hesitating," he whispered.


    A voice echoed in his head, cold and mechanical.


    [Welcome back, Regressor. Will you overcome the trial this time?]


    Kael exhaled slowly, a spark of determination igniting in his chest.


    "This time…I will win."