《Do You Ever Get That Feeling of Deja Vu? [LitRPG Time Loop With a Twist]》 Glossary System Messages:
Color Meaning
Red Danger Messages
Yellow Warning Messages
Green Positive Messages
Blue Core System''s messages or menus
Purple Deja vu System''s messages or menus
Monsters:
Name Level XP Is Boss?
Arachnid Mother 85 X
Blood Wraith 90
Dark Hunter 65
Gaelith of Tepan 100 ?
Gaelith''s Darkness 135 X
Grave Mole 80 544
High Priestess of Axul 110 X
Mole King X
Pack Leader 75 X
Priestess of Axul 98
Razor Basilisk X
Razor Serpent 85 544
Undead Archer 40 34
Undead General Kaelstrife 75 494 X
Undead Warrior 40 34
Undead Wolf 70 318
Void Spider 65 294
Skills/Spells:
Name Description Minimal Requirement Level Scaling Cooldown Current Known Holders
Afterimage Create an afterimage of yourself, retracing your past selves¡¯ movements for a brief duration. Deja vu System skill Duration of the afterimage is prolonged 10 minutes Aidan Dar
Arcane Burst Powerful blast of magic Intelligence - 40 Higher Intelligence increases casting range and damage, and lowers cooldown Stephan Lorren
Battle Cry Enhance your Strength by 20% for 1 minute Strength - 15 Higher Strength increases the duration and buff 1 hour Aidan Dar
Binding Force Single-target rooting spell Mage class AND Intelligence - 25 Higher Intelligence makes the root stronger and last longer 30 seconds Stephan Lorren
Blade Rush Quick dash to close the distance between the user and their target Agility - 10 Higher Agility increases casting range 1 second Aidan Dar, Yana, Goren Shein, Lady Mikaela
Bladesurge Unique Skill for Nightfall: Enhances the sword''s stats by 20% for two minutes Weapon-unique skill None 10 minutes Aidan Dar
Blue Rose Thorn Paralysis skill unique to high-level Rogues Rogue class AND level - 75 None 1 minute Goren Shein
Blurstrike Strike all enemies in your line of sight in a blur of motion, becoming untargetable during the attack for 3 whole seconds Agility - 25 Higher Agility increases damage and the length of the attack 1 hour Aidan Dar
Checkpoint Sets a temporal anchor point, allowing you to revert to this moment upon death with memories of the current loop intact (single use per loop). Deja vu System skill Increases the time allowed between setting the temporal anchor point and your death 1 use per loop Aidan Dar
Dash Step Quick dash a short distance Agility - 7 None 1 second Aidan Dar
Deja vu Passive skill. Triggers faint recollections of past loops, increasing awareness of events that have happened. Deja vu System skill Increases the frequency of D¨¦j¨¤ vu None Aidan Dar
Distance Gauge Allows to sense presence of nearby allies/enemies Endurance - 10 Higher Endurance increases the range of the skill None Yana, Aidan Dar
Echo Sense Passive skill. Allows to hear echoes from past loops such as conversations and etcetera. Deja vu System skill The Echoes will become clearer and more frequent None Aidan Dar
Explosive Strike Unique Skill for Silverfang: Charging the weapon and striking the ground results in an explosion, causing AOE damage around you. Weapon-unique skill None 10 seconds Undead General Kaelstrife, Aidan Dar
Fearsome Aura Activate an intimidating aura that has a probabilty to inflict Fear on enemies who are lower leveled than you Strength - 15 Higher Strength increases probabilty of inflicting Fear 5 minutes Aidan Dar
Fireball Call a small ball of fire that does weak damage Intelligence - 7 Higher Intelligence increases damage and lowers mana cost None, but cost mana each second it''s active. Aidan Dar
Fire Burst Become a massive fire explosion. Health drops to 0% after use. Can be revived by Healer class. Strength - 25 AND Intelligence - 12 AND Elemental Affinity - Fire Higher Intelligence and Strength increase range and damage Yana
Flame Sword Envelops you weapon with fire, adding burning damage Intelligence - 7 Higher Intelligence increases damage and lowers mana cost None, but cost mana each second it''s active. Aidan Dar, Yana
Flight Defy gravity and fly for 3 seconds Intelligence - 17 AND Elemental Affinity - Air Higher Intelligence increases duration of flight Level 1: 1 minute Level 2: ? Level 3: ? Aidan Dar
Horizon Perform a horizontal slash with your weapon of choice to unleash a destructive wave of wind capable of AOE damage Intelligence - 12 AND Elemental Affinity - Air Higher Intelligence increases casting range damage. Skill leveling in magic tree lowers cooldown and improves the skill. Level 1: 10 minutes Level 2: 5 minutes Level 3: 2 minutes Aidan Dar
Inferno Burst Create a fire explosion Intelligence - 12 AND Elemental Affinity - Fire Higher Intelligence increases casting range and damage. Skill leveling in magic tree lowers cooldown and improves the skill. Yana
Kinetic Shift Agility-based skills now cost stamina instead of mana as a default Endurance - 10 AND Agility - 25 None None Aidan Dar
Luminous Slash Unique Skill for Nightfall: creates two crescent-shaped projectiles that deal damage Weapon-unique skill None 5 minutes Aidan Dar
Mirror Leveling Passive skill. For each level you gain in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System, you receive an additional skill point to allocate into your Core System. Deja vu System skill None None Aidan Dar
Moon Barrier Unique Skill for Nightfall: creates a barrier around the user for 30 seconds Weapon-unique skill None Aidan Dar
Muscle Memory Passive skill. Your body becomes attuned to enemies¡¯ attack patterns from past loops, often reacting instinctively during combat. Deja vu System skill None None Aidan Dar
Overlord Unique Skill for Silverfang: Enhances Silverfang¡¯s stats and buffs by 30%. When lower than 50% HP, this effect is increased to 50%. Effect continues until victory or death Weapon-unique skill None 30 minutes Undead General Kaelstrife, Aidan Dar
Second Wind Replenish Stamina bar upon depletion once Endurance - 10 None 2 hours Aidan Dar
Shadow Step Quick dash to close the distance between the user and their target in which the user is invulnerable to damage Agility - 30 AND Strength - 30 Higher Agility and Strength increase range and lower cooldown Lady Mikaela
Shield Breaker Your attacks can overcome enemies¡¯ shields for a short duration Strength - 15 Higher Strength increases damage and lowers cooldown 2 minutes Aidan Dar
Temporal Trace Allows vision of the Time Plane, and the ability to mark a specific location on it visible only to you, remains between loops unless removed. Deja vu System skill Increases the number of possible marks available in each loop None Aidan Dar
Time Delay Swing Unique Skill for Nightfall: doubles the damage of a hit by applying a second, delayed, swing Weapon-unique skill None 2 minutes Aidan Dar
Unyielding Charge Unique Skill for Silverfang: Channel energy into the glaive for 5 seconds before launching in a straight line, becoming unstoppable. Deals massive damage to enemies in its path, knocking them back. Guaranteed Critical Hit if lands. Weapon-unique skill None 5 minutes Undead General Kaelstrife, Aidan Dar
Wind Arrow Release long-ranged wind arrows capable of AOE damage when charged. Charge duration - 5 seconds.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Intelligence - 14 AND Elemental Affinity - Air Higher Intelligence increases damage and lowers charge suration. Skill leveling in magic tree lowers cooldown and improves the skill. Level 1: Regular - 1 second, Charged - 30 seconds Level 2: Regular - 0.3 second, Charged - 20 seconds Level 3: ? Aidan Dar
Wind Blast Release a small blast of condensed wind capable of inflicting a Stun. Intelligence - 12 AND Elemental Affinity - Air Higher Intelligence increases damage and stun probability. Skill leveling in magic tree lowers cooldown and improves the skill. Level 1: 10 seconds Level 2: 3 seconds Level 3: ? Aidan Dar
Wind Fortification Negates fatal damage once by fortifying the body with wind magic. Intelligence - 15 AND Elemental Affinity - Air None Level 1: 3 hours Level 2: 1 hour Level 3: ? Aidan Dar
Wind Rush A gust of wind guides you and enhances your movement for the next 2 minutes. Can stack with other dodge/evasion skills. Intelligence - 12 AND Elemental Affinity - Air Higher Intelligence increases evasion. Skill leveling in magic tree lowers cooldown, increases length of use, and improves the skill. Level 1: 5 minutes Level 2: 2 minutes Level 3: None, but costs mana for each second active Aidan Dar
Wind Wall Create a wind barrier that blocks incoming projectiles Intelligence - 14 AND Elemental Affinity - Air Skill leveling in magic tree lowers cooldown and improves the skill. Level 1: 5 minutes Level 2: 3 minutes Level 3: 1 minute Aidan Dar
Items/Weapons:
Item Effect
Aegis Staff Magical staff. Belongs to Stephan Lorren. Level ?.
Apparition Oil Oil for weapon coating. Guarantees hits on Apparition-type monsters
Astral Spear A spear. Belongs to Christian Renner. Level 90.
Bandages Recovers 10% Health
Blackberries Recovers 5% Health
Convergence Powerful sword weapon. Looted by Goren
Darkness Bound A prison long broken, but not lost
Ember Flask A fiery flask that explodes on impact, dealing fire damage
Gethril Root Removes Poisoning status
Golden Bow Powerful bow weapon. Looted by Goren
Heartspore Tonic Restores 10% HP per minute for three minutes
Holy Fire Bomb Creates an explosion of Holy Fire. Useful against wraiths and undead with a high chance to land a stun
Ironbark Brew Increases Durability by 20%
Lesser Health Potion Recovers 20% Health
Lesser Mana Elixir Recovers 20% Mana
Lesser Stamina Elixir Recovers 15% Stamina
Lumindew Provides night vision for 30 minutes
Nightfall Aidan''s sword. Level 50.
Oblivion Orb Powerful Staff. Looted by Goren
Oil Flask A flask that hold Oil
Silverfang Kaelstrife''s glaive.
Skyroot Powder Increases Stamina regeneration by 10%
Spark Bomb Creates electrical explosion with 50% chance of a stun for 5 seconds on afflicted targets
The General''s Resolve Grants 3 skill points
The Stinger Golden Spear. Belongs to Lady Mikaela. Level ?.
Torch Enchanted Torch that provides light in a short radius
Trap Detection Kit Enchanted mechanism that detects traps in a designated area
Water Flask Restores 10% Health AND 10% Mana AND 10% Stamina
Warding Medallion Unique Rogue-item. Allows to see the unseen
Weapon Repair Kit Restores weapon''s Durability
Characters:
Name Level Class Subclass Role
Aidan Dar 50 Spellsword Arcane Duelist The protagonist. Member of Christian Renner''s guild
Alfred Jones Original holder of Convergence
Aric Kelltins 87 Vanguard Ironclad A tank. Famous adventurer. Guild member of ''Burning Suns''.
Balthor One of Chronos'' helpers
Bernard Warden One of the adventurers participating in the quest. Joins Aidan and Yana after the Priestesses of Axul attack.
Christian Renner 37 Aidan''s guild master
Chronos God of Time
Dalton 65 Rogue Same guild as Goren. Replaces Goren on Aidan''s team 4.
Dina 55 Enchantress Team 4''s support mage. Part of Aidan''s initial party at the beginning of the quest.
Diona One of the priestesses of Axul (appears in memory fragment)
Dolos Embodiment of Deception
Evangelina Volker Goren''s guild master''s right-hand woman
Erebus Embodiment of Darkness
Gaelith of Tepan / Gaelith Alloraine A legendary knight in life and a vessel of Erebus in death
Goren Shein 57 Rogue Shadowstalker Team 4''s Rogue. Part of Aidan''s initial party at the beginning of the quest. Seems stronger than his level suggests.
Henry 52 Mage Team 4''s offensive mage. Guild member of ''Ironfall Vanguard''. Jax''s apprentice. Part of Aidan''s initial party at the beginning of the quest.
Jax of Belenia 65 Mage Team 4''s offensive mage. Guild member of ''Ironfall Vanguard''. Part of Aidan''s initial party at the beginning of the quest.
Karl Kaelstrife General of Tepan 1000 years ago. Gaelith''s best friend.
King Edmund the Third The king who betrayed Gaelith in life
Lady Mikaela 100 One of the two strongest adventurers in the kingdom. Guild master of ''Burning Suns''
Lena 58 Cleric Lifeweaver Team 4''s healer. Part of Aidan''s initial party at the beginning of the quest.
Lysandra The High Priestess of Axul
Melissa 59 Enchantress One of the adventurers participating in the quest. Joins Aidan and Yana after Grave Moles attack.
Pix One of Chronos'' helpers
Stephan Lorren 100 Mage One of the two strongest adventurers in the kingdom. Guild master of ''Ironfall Vanguard''
Tagan Mage Arcantor One of the adventurers participating in the quest. Joins Aidan and Yana after the Priestesses of Axul attack.
Waylan 55 Warden Runehammer Team 4''s tank. Part of Aidan''s initial party at the beginning of the quest.
Yana 70 Aidan childhood friend. Guild member of ''Burning Suns''
Yvon Leskins 92 Ranger Guild member of ''Burning Suns''. Original holder of Golden Bow
Chapter 1: How It Ends Chapter 1: How It Ends: I sprinted through the narrow stone corridor as fast as I could. The torchlights flickered against the walls as my heart raced, threatening to burst out of my chest. [Stamina: 25% - Movement Speed reduced by 10%] Behind me, the shriek of that monstrosity echoed, getting closer with each passing second. [Condition Applied: Fear lvl.2 ¨C Agility reduced by 10%. Stamina Drain increased by 10%] ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake...¡± I muttered under my breath, pushing myself even harder. The end of the corridor split into two directions ¨C left and right. I retraced our steps, remembering I needed to go left, so without slowing down, I stumbled against the wall, using it to redirect myself left. I had to reach Yana quickly, and together we¡¯d get out of this shitty dungeon. The Tomb of Gaelith was a set-up! A plain set-up! And those bastards left us weaklings behind once they realized that even they were under-leveled for it. I tried to calm my nerves by thinking about Yana. It¡¯s funny - throughout my entire life, she was always the one rescuing my ass, but now I was going to be the one saving hers. Yeah, yeah, that¡¯s how it¡¯s going to go. I¡¯ll grab her, and we¡¯ll run. Enough people had already died here today, but not us. No. We¡¯ll escape, and I¡¯ll finally tell her how I¡¯ve always felt about her. After today, I won¡¯t take anything for granted anymore. [Stamina: 20% - Reaching Critical Level. Movement Speed reduced by 15%] Not good. I¡¯ll never reach her alive like this. I opened my inventory screen. [Inventory] My eyes darted over the list, sweat dripping down my forehead. It wasn¡¯t much, but it would have to do. [Select: Lesser Stamina Elixir] The vial with the yellow liquid materialized in my hand. I uncorked it and gulped it down in one go. [Lesser Stamina Elixir Consumed: Stamina Restored by 15%] [Status Effect: Fear lvl.2 ¨C All Item Effectiveness reduced by 30%] [Actual Stamina Restored: 10.5%] [Stamina: 30.5%] What do you mean, effectiveness reduced because of fear? I¡¯m not even that scared! I started laughing nervously ¨C my usual defense mechanism when things got too tense. Well, at least I¡¯m out of the active debuff zone. I took a sharp right, then a left, and continued forward for two more minutes until I finally reached Yana. Among the bodies of those snake creatures - she sat on the ground, her back against the wall, her sword driven into the ground as she remained alert. She was clad in her light, red-colored armor. Her long red hair was tied into a single braid behind her back, and her face looked tired, exhausted, dark veins visible on her pale skin ¨C evidence of the poisoning she suffered when we fought the snake creatures that attacked us in this chamber. She had been grazed by a snake¡¯s fang and poisoned, and with no antidotes or any way to go back - the tunnels we came through had collapsed - I had left her here and ventured deeper with the remaining adventurers, desperately hoping to find an antidote. But that was a mistake... ¡°Aidan.¡± She called out when she saw me, her voice both relieved and strained. ¡°Good. You¡¯re alive.¡± ¡°We need to get out of here now.¡± I said immediately as I rushed to her side. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°I feel like shit.¡± She chuckled, even though it was obvious she was in pain. I smiled weakly at her, trying to keep morale up. ¡°I¡¯m gonna lift you up, okay?¡± She nodded nervously. I sighed as I lifted her onto my back, feeling her weight settle as I adjusted my grip. [Weight Load: +70 kg] [Condition Applied: Encumbered ¨C Movement Speed reduced by 30%. Stamina Drain increased by 20%] ¡°Did you gain some weight recently?¡± I joked, trying to keep my mind off the monster that could reach us at any minute.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Ha, ha. Very funny.¡± Yana replied. ¡°Where are the others?¡± I swallowed hard ¡°There are no others. I¡¯m the only one who made it back.¡± I began walking toward the collapsed tunnels, not sure why, perhaps hoping we missed something. I just knew we had to get away from here. It can¡¯t end like this. ¡°What did you find there?¡± she asked, her voice tense. ¡°It ¨C ¡° I began, but was immediately interrupted by the shriek of the monster that had gruesomely slaughtered our two remaining companions. A primal fear gripped me now, and my body trembled, but I kept moving, even though with all the debuffs, it was just a few short steps at a time. [Condition Applied: Fear lvl.4 ¨C Agility reduced by 40%. Stamina Drain increased by 40%] ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Yana muttered quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± I admitted, my voice shaky. ¡°It was dark, so I didn¡¯t quite catch what it was, but Yan, there¡¯s a glitch in the system or something...¡± ¡°A glitch?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I continued. ¡°Its level was 134.¡± We stayed silent for a moment before she spoke. ¡°If we weren¡¯t so deep in shit right now, I¡¯d think you were pulling my leg.¡± She was right, of course. Everyone knew that level 100 was the highest any human or monster could reach. And even then, only a select few could ever reach it. ¡°That changes a lot...¡± Yana muttered. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± ¡°Where are you even going?¡± she suddenly asked. ¡°The tunnels collapsed.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± I said, a little sharper than I meant to. ¡°But there has to be some other way to escape this place.¡± ¡°I highly doubt that, Aidan.¡± She countered softly, her voice filled with doubt. ¡°You don¡¯t know that.¡± I forced a laugh, trying to shake off the rising tension. ¡°I¡¯ll get us out of here, you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Aidan, we won¡¯t make it out of here.¡± She said quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± I shot back. ¡°But we ¨C ¡° she started, but I interrupted her, turning my head slightly in frustration. ¡°Would you stop it already?¡± I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. ¡°I just don¡¯t want us to die here!¡± Her silence hung in the air for a moment before she spoke again, her tone softer, and warmer. ¡°I know, Aidan.¡± She replied. ¡°I don¡¯t want us to die here either, but...I activated Distance Gauge a second ago and...it¡¯s close. Too close. Even if there was some other way out of here, you¡¯re encumbered carrying me. With the rest of your debuffs, you¡¯re barely moving.¡± I clenched my jaw, knowing where this conversation was headed. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say what you¡¯re about to say now.¡± I warned her, my voice hard, but full of fear. ¡°Then I won¡¯t say it.¡± She paused, her breath hitching slightly. ¡°But you know I¡¯m right.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± I retorted, my voice firm. ¡°Stop playing the hero all the time. We¡¯ll escape together.¡± She sighed heavily, the sound filled with regret. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aidan. For bringing you here. You wanted nothing to do with it, and I dragged you here for my own selfish reasons.¡± I shook my head, though she probably couldn¡¯t see it. ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault. It was my decision to join you.¡± Her voice cracked, and I could hear her choking back sobs. ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault. I killed you.¡± Tears stung my eyes as I heard her words. ¡°No, Yan. You didn¡¯t. I wanted to be here at this quest. I wanted to be here with you.¡± ¡°What?¡± she asked, her voice breaking as the sobs took over. I took a deep, shaky breath, realizing now was the last time I could come clean. ¡°Yan, I love you.¡± I admitted, my voice trembling with fear. ¡°I always did. I wanted to stay by your side forever, but I stopped leveling up ages ago, and I didn¡¯t want to hold you back, so I decided to move aside. When you knocked on my door and asked me to join you on this quest, I felt relieved. Relived that you actually still wanted me by your side.¡± ¡°Aidan¡­¡± she whispered, her voice tense. ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± I said, my words rushing out. ¡°I love you, I love you, I love you!¡± There was an awkward silence before she answered, sobbing. ¡°I love you too! Ever since you climbed that tall oak tree in old Jacob¡¯s farm when we were kids! I¡¯d loved you all this time!¡± My heart twisted painfully at her words. The feelings had been mutual all along, and I had been afraid for no reason. Tears streamed down my face as the weight of all those lost years hit me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it took me so long!¡± I cried. But before I could say more, the shriek echoed again. [Condition Applied: Fear lvl.5 ¨C Max Fear level. Paralysis inflicted. Agility reduced by 100%.] I froze in place, completely paralyzed. My body refused to respond. The monster was upon us. It loomed before us, seemingly made of darkness itself. Its form was mostly humanoid, but twisted - giant teeth gnashed from an empty face, and its legs morphed into writhing, dark appendages, whole lot of them. It¡¯s title and level appeared above it: Gaelith¡¯s Darkness, level 135. It was one level higher than the last time I saw it, just a few minutes ago. ¡°One hundred thirty-four, you said?¡± Yana asked, her voice trembling. ¡°Did he level up by killing Tagan and Bernard?¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°Seems so...¡± ¡°Take me down, Aidan.¡± Yana said, her voice steadying. ¡°Let¡¯s make a last stand.¡± Realizing she was right, I carefully lowered Yana to the ground. She struggled to stand beside me, barely keeping her balance. [Weight Load: -70 kg] [Condition Applied: No Longer Encumbered] ¡°Stand behind me, Aidan.¡± she whispered, her voice shaking but determined. ¡°No, you¡¯re poisoned.¡± I protested, stepping forward to shield her. She placed a trembling hand on my shoulder, stopping me. ¡°I¡¯m still the higher-level here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± I shot back, refusing to let her take the lead. But before I could say more, she pulled me into a deep, desperate kiss. Her lips were soft against mine, and for a fleeting moment, everything else faded away. ¡°I love you.¡± she whispered as she pulled back, tears streaming down her cheeks. Then, she shoved me backward. ¡°Please, survive.¡± ¡°Fireburst!¡± she called out, her voice strong despite her tears, summoning that spell. My heart dropped ¨C there was nothing I could do. It was a suicide spell usen only when a healer was near to immediately revive you. A massive explosion that would kill her. She had told me about it not long ago, explaining how she unlocked it in the fire magic skill tree, swearing she¡¯d never use it unless things really went south. And now...here it was. When she shoved me, I stumbled backward and slipped over a small ledge, dropping a few feet down. I landed hard, the impact jolting my body, but managed to look up and see the explosion erupt above me. My breath and tears caught in my throat as the sheer force of it shook the ground underneath me. The earth crumbled around me, and I was swallowed by the collapsing terrain. I didn¡¯t even black out through it all. I wish I had. I landed on a lower level - an unexplored one beneath the dungeon. Crushed down by the stones that landed on me, the pain overwhelming as my body was pinned beneath the rubble. [Health:6% - Reaching Critical Level - Please Consume a Healing Potion] [Status Ailment: Bleeding - Health drain at 1% per 5 seconds] She didn¡¯t mean it, I knew that. Yana thought she could save me, but here I was, dying slowly under the rubble of the explosion she had created. I looked around and realized I was alone. Yana¡¯s body...I wasn¡¯t sure what had happened to it after she used Fireburst. Her corpse was nowhere to be seen. Well, at least she probably took out that horrendous abomination...I hoped, even though it was highly unlikely. The answer came soon enough as the monsters¡¯s shriek echoed once more. [Condition Applied: Fear lvl.5 ¨C Max Fear level. Paralysis inflicted. Agility reduced by 100%.] It appeared before me, materializing out of the darkness, completely unscathed. Yana¡¯s gamble had failed¡­ ¡°Well, just get it over it...¡± I whispered, my voice weak and pained. But then, rage surged through me as I thought about Yana. She was dead, and I¡¯d wasted my entire life without ever telling her how I felt until it was too late. Our first kiss was our last. My whisper suddenly turned into a furious shout. ¡°Kill me ¨C ¡° I couldn¡¯t even finish my words. The creature¡¯s appendages solidified and pierced my already broken body. I gasped as the searing pain hit, feeling my life slip away. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] Chapter 2: How It Begins Chapter 2: How It Begins: [Loop Count: 2] I woke up to the sound of the system message. Loop count...2? What the hell is this? Was my system glitching? I stared on the message, until it quickly disappeared. I opened up my status menu just to make sure everything was normal. [Status Menu] The Loop Count: 2 was nowhere to be seen. Everything else seemed normal. So, it was a glitch, I guess... Shaking off the strange thoughts, I reminded myself that Yana would come to pick me up soon enough. There wasn¡¯t any time to waste ¨C it was my first serious quest in two years since I stepped down from serious adventuring. A large-scale quest targeting an abandoned dungeon called - the Tomb of Gaelith. And for some reason, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something wasn¡¯t right. Something told me to stop us, to stay inside and never leave the house, but I couldn¡¯t understand that feeling at the time... *** I stepped down from serious adventuring two years ago. I always enjoyed the profession and the freedom it provided, but once I leveled up to 50 and the system announced I had maxed out, I realized I would never reach the heights I once foolishly dreamed about. The System worked in ways no one could truly understand. Every person had a unique maximum level they could reach which was unknown to them, with the highest recorded level being 100 ¨C a feat achieved by only a select few adventurers in the entire world. Two of them were in the Tepan Kingdom, my kingdom. Considering I hit my ceiling at the very young age of twenty-one, I just stopped grinding so hard and turned my attention to smaller quests like escorting merchant caravans, hunting down low-tier monsters threatening the village I now lived in, or gathering herbs for local alchemists. These types of quests helped me at least make a living, as I was pretty much average at everything else I did. Another reason for stepping down was Yana. She was my childhood friend and lifelong crush. We¡¯d been adventuring together ever since we got our adventurer¡¯s license when we were teens. But while I stopped leveling up, she didn¡¯t. And since I didn¡¯t want to hold her back, I moved away from the city to a small village ¨C Sandrest, it was called. If I hadn¡¯t, she would¡¯ve stuck with me out of obligation, feeling she would betray our friendship if she didn¡¯t. She never adventured without me in the past. It was painful for me as well, but it had to be done. And eventually, it worked in her favor too. In her last letter, she wrote that she had reached level 70 and was still leveling up. Perhaps she would be one of those handful of adventurers to reach the highest level of 100. Either way, she was already ranking pretty high compared to the rest of the kingdom. Then, after two years of my ¡°humble¡± life as a small-time adventurer, Yana knocked on my door, surprising the hell out of me. Apparently, there was a large quest the kingdom was sponsoring, sending its greatest adventurers to lead. They set a quota of a hundred adventurers to participate, all of them had to be level 50 or above. The destination of the expedition? The Tomb of Gaelith. As soon as I heard the name, a shiver ran down my spine. Now, to explain why Gaelith brought such a reaction from me - and anyone else, for that matter - I would have to take you back about a thousand years. Back then, Gaelith was a knight and a great hero, betrayed by the king of Tepan himself. The king wrongly accused him of treason and ordered his execution. Gaelith, being the honorable man he was, accepted his fate without fighting back. Before he was executed, he uttered these final words: ¡°I have given everything I had for this kingdom, and yet it has turned its back on me. Now, heed my words: when the truth of my innocence comes to light, and regret and shame fill your heart, the land where my body is buried shall suffer as I have suffered. It will rot, and wild animals and beasts unlike any you¡¯ve ever seen will overrun it, exacting my revenge upon anyone who dares set foot there. And you, dear king? Your legacy shall crumble, just as I have fallen unjustly. Once you realize your mistake, you won¡¯t be king for long.¡± Or something along those lines. The king, still convinced that Gaelith was guilty but fearful that his words might become a curse, ordered that Gaelith¡¯s body be placed in an abandoned underground tomb near the village of Moonvale, rather than buried in the earth. He thought this would outsmart the possible curse. The best part? The king eventually learned that Gaelith was innocent. In a desperate attempt to make amends, he sent many treasures to the tomb, hoping to appease Gaelith¡¯s spirit. But no one who ventured into the tomb ever returned. Over time, the tomb was sealed entirely and declared a Level 100 Dungeon. And Gaelith¡¯s curse did come true - well, at least half of it. Since no one ever returned alive from the tomb, it¡¯s impossible to know what really lurks there or whether it¡¯s truly rotting inside, but the king in question, Edmund the Third, was usurped by his own cousin a year after discovering Gaelith¡¯s innocence. Turns out it was his cousin who he should¡¯ve been worrying about all along, not his most loyal knight. ¡°Why in the world would the kingdom decide to explore this dungeon again after so many years? And send a hundred adventurers, no less?¡± I had asked Yana at the time, and she simply gestured with her fingers the universal sign for money, while having a goofy smile on her face. ¡°They say King Edmund the Third commanded half of his treasury to be brought inside Gaelith¡¯s tomb, as a token of apology.¡± Yana paused, nodding slowly. ¡°And that¡¯s quite a lot, Aidan.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s a Level 100 Dungeon. What are they thinking, setting the entry bar so low at 50?¡± I asked, genuinely confused. ¡°Well actually Lady Mikaela already ventured inside the first levels of the tomb and reported back.¡± Yana replied. ¡°She said that the monsters she encountered were nothing serious, and extremely low-leveled. Now, there¡¯s no reason to believe that¡¯s the case all the way down to the lowest level where Gaelith¡¯s body was put to rest, but she thinks that low-leveled adventurers ¨C from level 50 to 65, like you - could help clear the first levels and keep the higher-level adventurers rested and prepared for the dangers in the depths.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Recognizing the opportunity to tease her, I spoke. ¡°So, you¡¯re basically just calling for me to be your meat shield? Gotcha.¡± ¡°Oh, no, no, no! That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± she retorted, na?ve as ever, before her expression suddenly turned a weird combination of shy and serious, making something in my heart twist. ¡°We just haven¡¯t adventured for so long, and now there¡¯s finally an opportunity, and I just thought¡­¡± ¡°I was joking, Yan.¡± I said immediately, my heart racing. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll go.¡± Her eyes lit up in excitement. ¡°You mean it?¡± I nodded, though inside I was asking myself the same question. Well, it was too late to back down now. The way she looked at me right now had reignited all my feelings for her. And now here I was. The big day. I got out of bed and prepared some breakfast for myself: a simple toast with peanut butter and jam, just like Mom always used to make, and a cup of green tea. Then I donned my lightweight armor ¨C a simple black chestplate over a plain tunic, fitted leather bracers, and worn but sturdy trousers. [Durability Increased by 10%] [Agility Increased by 10%] After that, I grabbed my sword, Nightfall, from under my bed, and secured the scabbard above my left hip. [Weapon Equipped: Nightfall. Agility Scaling: C] [Agility Increased by 10%] [Critical Hit Chance Increased by 10%] It gleamed in my hand, imbued with magic. Both the blade and the handle were crafted from the same silvery metal. The blade was slender and slightly curved, long enough to strike at a distance but also perfect for close ranged precise strikes, complimenting my agility-focused build. It was the last valuable thing I¡¯d ever gotten out of a quest, right before I leveled up for the last time. Needless to say, Nightfall was both a good and a bad memory. Yana arrived late as usual, punctuality was always her weakness, and we set off to the Tomb of Gaelith. *** ¡°And anyways, so this level 63 Bloodwretch just ambushes us out of nowhere, and no one hears him coming because he had some stealth skill activated. No one, but Lady Mikaela.¡± Yana paused for a second to take a breather in her story about her last quest, where she accompanied her guild master ¨C Lady Mikaela, one of the two level 100 adventurers in the Tepan kingdom. ¡°She just darted from her spot instantly using Shadow Step and impaled it to death with one move. Gods, I¡¯m not doing it justice describing it half-assedly like this. It was just...wow. It was wow, Aidan! Wow!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, chill, you little fangirl.¡± I chuckled, focusing on our path. We still had a bit of time until we reached the tomb. She smiled shyly. ¡°Sorry, I got a little bit carried away. It¡¯s just she¡¯s so...she¡¯s so...¡± ¡°Wow?¡± I completed her words. She laughed. ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°How¡¯s life in her guild treating you anyway?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. ¡°You don¡¯t write much about your other guild members.¡± Yana shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s really not much to say about the rest, honestly. They¡¯re all decent fellas, some more than others. But Lady Mikaela is everything you¡¯d want in an adventurer: strong, compassionate, fearless, and a great leader. She asked me to join her on quests plenty of times in the past month. I think she likes me.¡± I smiled at her words. ¡°Good. You deserve the recognition.¡± ¡°Thanks, Aidan.¡± She replied, looking away. There was an awkward silence between us until she spoke. ¡°What about you? You barely even answer my letters. How¡¯s your guild master? What was his name? Something with a C....¡± ¡°Christian.¡± I replied, chuckling at the thought of the man. ¡°Christian! That¡¯s right!¡± Yana snapped her fingers before laughing too. ¡°Did he give you permission to leave for this quest?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°He did, actually.¡± You see, Christian Renner was indeed my guild master, and to participate in any quest outside of the ones the guild provided me with, I¡¯d need his permission. The thing was, we were the only two members of the only adventuring guild in Sandrest - and he was only level 37. ¡°Why won¡¯t you just take over the guild?¡± she asked, her laugh subsiding but still smiling. ¡°You¡¯re higher level than him...¡± ¡°And deal with all the paperwork? No, thank you.¡± I raised an eyebrow at her, chuckling again. ¡°Besides, Christian¡¯s doing a fine job as guild master.¡± ¡°You can always return to the city, you know?¡± Yana said suddenly. ¡°You always refer to level 50 as low, but it¡¯s fairly decent. And you¡¯d have a lot more job opportunities there.¡± ¡°I actually enjoy the countryside.¡± I lied, a fake smile on my face. ¡°Do you now?¡± Yana asked, and I was pretty sure she rolled her eyes, though I only caught the gesture out of the corner of my eye. ¡°Yeah.¡± I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s peaceful.¡± She muttered something under her breath, too low for me to catch. ¡°What was that?¡± I asked. She shook her head. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± She replied before pointing forward. ¡°Look, we¡¯re already close.¡± I looked ahead, and in the distance, I could see the tomb - probably just ten minutes away. The entrance was massive. I¡¯ve already seen the tomb from afar a number of times as it was fairly close to Sandrest, but this was the first time the doors were unlocked, wide open, darkness oozing from inside. The last bit sent a shiver down my spine. We could also make out a large group of people gathered outside the entrance - the other ninety-eight adventurers on this quest. We walked the rest of the way mostly in silence. One we reached the group of gathered adventurers, I was gutted to see I was the only level 50 among us - the lowest level out of everyone gathered here. Judging by a quick glance, it seemed that most of those present were level 65 or lower, with only around a third being higher than that. Towering above all were, of course, Lady Mikaela and the second level 100 adventurer in the kingdom ¨C Stephan Lorren, guild master of Ironfall Vanguard. They seemed to be discussing something, likely the raid¡¯s plan. Lady Mikaela noticed Yana fairly quickly and called out to her. ¡°Yana, my darling! How are you?¡± Yana rushed off to her guild master, while I felt a bit awkward following her, so I stayed with the rest of the adventurers, giving friendly glances and nods to those who made eye contact with me. Some of them returned the gesture, while others rolled their eyes. Assholes. Then, unexpectedly, I saw Yana with Lady Mikaela in tow making their way toward me, and I immediately became anxious. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re the Aidan dear Yana can¡¯t stop talking about.¡± The great adventurer addressed me, reaching her hand out. Lady Mikaela was clad in medium armor, a mix of polished steel and reinforced leather that covered her entire body. Her chestplate gleamed, and her gauntlets and greaves were intricately designed. She wore a long, flowing cloak fastened to her shoulders, the deep crimson complimenting her short blond hair. In her hand, she carried a golden spear, her famous legendary weapon ¨C The Stinger. Her green eyes seemed to shine as if she was assessing me. I coughed out nervously, steadying myself before taking her hand and shaking it. ¡°Oh, I doubt she talks about me that much, Lady Mikaela.¡± She dismissed my words with a wave of her hand, then wrapped her other arm around Yana, pulling her closer. ¡°Nonsense, she can¡¯t stop bringing you into conversations one way or another.¡± Yana, seemingly blushing, whispered to her guild master. ¡°M¡¯lady, please, you¡¯re embarrassing me.¡± My heart raced, and Lady Mikaela chuckled. ¡°I like him.¡± She told Yana. ¡°Seems like a good-hearted person, and well-mannered to boot.¡± I coughed again at the compliment, smiling awkwardly. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Well, Aidan, I didn¡¯t come here only for pleasantries. You¡¯ll be in squad number four.¡± Lady Mikaela shifted the subject suddenly. I raised an eyebrow, and before I could say anything, she continued. ¡°I believe Yana already told you I explored the first levels of the tomb?¡± she asked. ¡°She did.¡± I nodded, exchanging a glance with Yana. ¡°That tomb is a maze, so Lorren and I decided to divide the lower-leveled adventurers into balanced squads of seven to make sure we¡¯re covering all our bases and exploring each level thoroughly.¡± She explained. ¡°Sound good.¡± I admitted, recalling the many stories I¡¯d heard of unbalanced parties stumbling into dangers they weren¡¯t suited to handle, eventually falling despite being high-leveled enough to deal with. ¡°It was Lorren¡¯s idea, really.¡± She said, gesturing with her head toward her counterpart near the tomb¡¯s entrance. I exchanged another glance with Yana, who seemed as disappointed as I was. This wasn¡¯t what I imagined when she said we¡¯d finally get a chance to go on a quest together like old times, yet it made sense. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about level disparity.¡± Lady Mikaela added, perhaps thinking that¡¯s what was bothering me. ¡°The highest level in your squad will be Jax, a level 65 mage, who is also the squad¡¯s leader. The rest are all fifty-something.¡± I nodded, and she turned away, leaving us. ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t know they were going to split us, Aidan.¡± Yana whispered to me. I believed her. She wouldn¡¯t lie about something like that. Before I could say anything on the matter, Stephan Lorren called everyone over. ¡°Gather around, everyone, we¡¯re about to enter.¡± Chapter 3: Introductions, Introductions, Introductions… Chapter 3: Introductions, Introductions, Introductions¡­: Stephan Lorren was a tall man in his forties, with short black hair, and similarly black eyes. Unlike many mages, he wore formal attire ¨C an elegant, tailored coat made of dark velvet. His black trousers were tucked in sturdy boots, and a deep blue sash wrapped around his waist, holding the coat in place. In his hand, he carried an equally tall, polished staff made of some dark metal, with a purple crystal embedded at the top ¨C the Aegis Staff. Lady Mikaela¡¯s voice followed his, clearly more charismatic, setting everyone to attention. ¡°Listen here!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± He nodded to her before he addressed the crowd. ¡°Now that everyone is here, let me brief you shortly on how it¡¯s gonna go.¡± He paused. ¡°As you know, this expedition is sponsored by the Kingdom. Our primary objective is to retrieve the treasures King Edmund the Third foolishly offered Gaelith¡¯s spirit as an offering of atonement. These treasures are invaluable, both historically and financially, and their retrieval is paramount to the kingdom¡¯s interests.¡± He glanced over the crowd before continuing. ¡°Payment will be disbursed directly by the kingdom upon successful completion. All participants will receive compensation, with bonuses awarded based on individual contributions, as well as hazard pay. However, and I can¡¯t stress this enough ¨C payment will be issued only upon your safe return. We are not here for glory, so none of you should play the hero. We¡¯d like every one of you to return alive and well, so your mission is to follow the orders given without fault.¡± His voice grew firmer. ¡°Remember, Lady Mikaela and I are leading this raid. We are both more than capable of handling any threats that may arise, no matter their severity - our levels are evidence of that. So, again, don¡¯t play the hero. Just fall back when needed.¡± Suddenly, that feeling hit me again. A feeling that something was wrong. It was almost like I had already been here, standing in this exact spot, listening to this exact speech. But how? And why would I feel that? Stephan Lorren continued. ¡°We¡¯ll begin with the lower-level squads leading the way through the first levels of the tomb. Report back after each cleared chamber. Once you encounter high-level enemies, fall back and report to us. The tomb is ancient and dangerous, but with coordination and discipline, we can and will complete this mission safely. The first ones in the history of our kingdom to do so. Any questions?¡± No one dared to speak, so he nodded. ¡°Then, now, it¡¯s time to begin. Squad leaders, please step forward and gather your team members by the squad number you were assigned. Time is of the essence.¡± As he finished, my heart raced non-stop, and I couldn¡¯t understand why. *** ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± I snapped at Jax once the danger was behind us. He had once again unleashed his offensive spells at the group of Undead Warriors that attacked us, completely heedless of me and Waylan, our squad¡¯s tank. ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon.¡± Jax dismissed me with a wave of his hand, his expression the very definition of arrogance. ¡°Worst case, our lovely healer here ¨C Lena ¨C would¡¯ve taken care of you.¡± ¡°Are you stupid?¡± I asked, dumbfounded, ready to beat the living shit out of him, despite him being fifteen levels stronger than me. He rolled his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t want to hear that from a puny level 50 who stopped leveling up.¡± Anger boiled within me, and I wanted to retaliate, but Waylan put a hand on my shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s not worth it.¡± He whispered to me. He was right, and I exhaled heavily, trying to calm myself. ¡°Look around their corpses. See if there¡¯s any good loot.¡± Jax commanded us, though none of us were eager to follow due to his rotten personality. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that skill called?¡± Waylan addressed me suddenly. ¡°The one where your sword strikes twice at once?¡± I glanced at him. Despite his menacing size and heavy armor, he seemed like a gentle person. He had a buzzcut, his head nearly shaved, and he wielded a massive war-hammer slung across his back, its head covered with some magical runes, and a large shield. He was level 55 Warden, with the Runehammer subclass. ¡°It¡¯s called Time Delay Swing.¡± I replied, looking at Nightfall in my hand. ¡°It¡¯s the sword¡¯s unique skill.¡± ¡°Nice.¡± Waylan smiled. ¡°And very useful in one-on-ones.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± I nodded. ¡°You did good there as well.¡± He thumped his chest proudly. ¡°I¡¯m here for our squad. Count on me to tank everything.¡± I chuckled at his confidence. It was nice to see that at least someone here had motivation. I had seemingly lost mine when I realized Yana stayed behind with the higher-level adventurers, and I probably wouldn¡¯t even see her until the end of the quest. Our party, with the arrogant Jax at the helm, had been assigned this area of the first floor of the tomb ¨C a chamber that split into three additional ones. We already cleared one of them. Lena, our healer, walked over and joined me and Waylan. She had long brown hair that she wore in a ponytail, with sharp green eyes. Dressed in a simple grey robe, and holding a wooden staff, she looked every bit like the traditional healer even though she seemed pretty young. She was a level 58 Cleric, in the Lifeweaver subclass. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t stand that guy.¡± She said quietly, pointing her head toward Jax. She rolled her eyes. ¡°I thought we¡¯d be working with Lady Mikaela or Lorren, and not...this! He¡¯s so obnoxious!¡± Waylan nodded. ¡°I wish they¡¯d compensate us for having to follow him.¡± I glanced at Jax. Next to him, clearly trying to get in his good graces, were his apprentice, Henry, a level 52 Magus, and Dina, a level 55 Enchanteress. They were following him around, constantly asking him questions, feeding his ego, as if he were the most experienced mage they¡¯d ever met. I mean, hello? He¡¯s just level 65! You literally just met Stephan Lorren ¨C a level 100 mage! The last member of our squad was Goren, a level 57 Rogue, who specialized in the Shadowstalker subclass. He was dressed in dark, lightweight armor, blending in with the shadows of the tomb¡¯s walls. His short, messy black hair and blue eyes gave him a unique presence. He was intimidating, but at the same time there was something charming about him as well. Two daggers hung from his belt. He kept to himself and didn¡¯t talk much. Even now, he found a secluded spot and sat silently, his eyes scanning the area and us. ¡°Chop, chop, fellas. Move faster.¡± Jax called out to us as we searched through the remains of the undead we had slain. ¡°We still have two more chambers to clear.¡± ¡°Oh, shut it already, you twat!¡± Lena couldn¡¯t take it any longer.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Jax raised an eyebrow, sounding offended. His apprentice, Henry, quickly jumped forward to defend his mentor¡¯s honor. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak to Master Jax that way, you filthy casual!¡± ¡°Filthy casual?!¡± Lena spat, her face growing red. ¡°Listen here, kiddo - does your mom know you¡¯re skipping school to be here?¡± ¡°You bitch, my mom¡¯s dead!¡± Henry spat back, and Lena¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°The one time I try to insult someone through their parents...¡± she muttered under her breath, loud enough for only me and Waylan to hear. For some reason, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I had already heard her say that, even though we¡¯d just met this morning. ¡°You better keep your tongue in check, miss healer.¡± Jax addressed her. ¡°It¡¯s only thanks to me we¡¯re progressing so smoothly. You should be thankful.¡± ¡°Thankful?!¡± Lena rolled her eyes. ¡°How much more annoying can you be?¡± ¡°Can we all try to get along?¡± Dina intervened quietly, but her voice was ignored by all. Surprisingly, it was Goren who brought everyone to attention, his voice as chilling as his demeanor, fitting for a Rogue. ¡°You¡¯re all annoying. Shut the hell up already and let¡¯s continue to the next chamber.¡± He stood up and began making his way to the second chamber we needed to explore. ¡°Wait.¡± Jax called after him, running to catch up before turning to us. ¡°C¡¯mon, follow me, your leader.¡± Waylan, Lena, and I exchanged glances and rolled our eyes almost in unison before reluctantly following everyone to the next area. *** The third, and last, chamber provided us with very little resistance as well ¨C more Undead Warriors and Undead Archers, the highest being level 40. It was lower than all of us, but the fact that a simple Undead Warrior on the first level of the dungeon was level 40 felt ominous. What did that mean for the dangers waiting deeper inside? Perhaps some of the earlier criticism had made Jax more considerate, as this time he hadn¡¯t endangered any of us and only fired at the enemy when we were clear of his area-of-effect spells. The remains of the undead held no valuable loot. I picked up some Bandages and stuffed them into my inventory, wondering why a skeleton even had bandages in the first place. [Item Acquired: Bandages (Consumable) ¨C Added to Inventory #1] Inventory #1? Since when was my inventory followed by a number? ¡°No treasures here either, huh?¡± Jax said, sounding disappointed, but then immediately shifting his tone as if he had expected this all along. ¡°Well, that¡¯s to be expected.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the undead¡¯s attire worry any of you?¡± Lena asked suddenly. ¡°Hmm?¡± Jax questioned out loud. ¡°Look at them.¡± Lena pointed at the remains. ¡°There are some clear changes to what we¡¯re used to seeing, but those are clearly Tepan soldier¡¯s uniforms. These were Tepan soldiers.¡± Henry rolled his eyes, clearly still holding a grudge against Lena. ¡°Of course they¡¯re Tepan soldiers. Don¡¯t you know the history of the place? Those are probably the soldiers King Edmund sent here to deliver the treasures.¡± Lena raised her hands. ¡°That much is clear, idiot. I was referring to the fact that they¡¯re undead now.¡± Jax shrugged. ¡°It only means that Gaelith, the very obvious boss of this dungeon, is a necromancer. But that¡¯s nothing we low-level folk need to worry about. I assume Master Lorren and Lady Mikaela will handle it either way.¡± ¡°True.¡± Waylan agreed before asking Jax. ¡°Do we head back now?¡± Jax nodded. ¡°Seems so. We¡¯ve finished this part of the exploration. Let¡¯s see what the leaders have to say.¡± We turned to leave, but then Goren called out to me. ¡°Hey, Spellsword.¡± At first, I wasn¡¯t sure he was talking to me, but I was the only Spellsword in our party. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Take this.¡± He said, extending his hand, holding an item. I accepted it and added it to my inventory. [Item Acquired: Blackberries (Consumable) ¨C Added to Inventory #1] ¡°Blackberries?¡± I asked, confused. He nodded. ¡°Might be useful to you.¡± I chuckled. ¡°It that a joke? I wasn¡¯t expecting a rogue of all people to joke like this.¡± ¡°Just take it and shut up.¡± He replied coldly, walking past me. ¡°You might need them later.¡± Might need them later? What does that even mean? They¡¯re just blackberries. And again, the #1 next to my inventory? Since when were inventories numbered? I decided to open my inventory to check. [Inventory #1] Here it is again. The #1. Do I have a second inventory all of a sudden? I tried to inspect it further, but nothing came up. I kept looking through the menu, trying to figure out what was going on. Until I finally noticed it. When I managed to navigate to another screen in the system, it showed: [I@ve$%^ry #2] The letters in the title looked weird, but then, as I focused more, the title itself looked familiar enough to understand. I could swear it said Inventory #2, but I couldn¡¯t access it or store anything inside. Either way, it seemed empty. It was weird...I¡¯d never had a second inventory before, and as far as I knew, no one did. Before I could contemplate it any further, Waylan called out to me. ¡°Hey Aidan, are you coming?¡± His voice startled me, but I nodded. ¡°Yeah...yeah.¡± *** We returned to the entrance of the tomb where the high-leveled adventurers were waiting. Yana noticed me and rushed to my side. ¡°How was it?¡± she sounded nervous. I smiled weakly. ¡°That Jax is a pain in the ass.¡± She laughed, and I continued. ¡°But other than that, it wasn¡¯t too challenging.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Yana sighed in relief. ¡°Hey.¡± I called out to her, my mind still bothered by the inventory issue. ¡°Is your inventory numbered?¡± ¡°What?¡± she asked, visibly confused by the question. I sighed, realizing how it must have sounded, but I had to know. This unsettling feeling that something bad was going to happen had followed me since morning, and now this weird second inventory? It felt a bit overwhelming... ¡°Is it numbered?¡± I asked again, feeling slightly embarrassed. ¡°Like, does it just say ¡®Inventory¡¯, or is it followed by a number?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a weird question to ask...¡± Yana replied, eyeing me curiously. ¡°I know how it sounds.¡± I replied, running a hand through my hair. ¡°But can you check quickly? Please?¡± She nodded. I couldn¡¯t see her system, since it wasn¡¯t possible to view anyone else¡¯s, but she responded fairly quickly. ¡°It just says ¡®Inventory¡¯, like it usually does.¡± She said, and a shiver ran down my spine. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± I ran my hand across my face, realizing that even if I told her I had a second inventory, I¡¯d just sound crazy. Since I couldn¡¯t even access it, and showing it to her - or anyone else - was impossible. ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± I replied. ¡°Forget I asked anything.¡± Meanwhile, I could hear Jax finishing his report to Stephan Lorren and Lady Mikaela. ¡°The chamber we explored branched into three others. We explored them all under my esteemed guidance. We only encountered undead, all of them level 40, and we dealt with them efficiently. Unfortunately, no treasures were found.¡± Jax spoke in a formal tone, clearly trying to impress the higher-ups. ¡°Level 40 unndead...¡± Lorren rubbed his chin before turning to Lady Mikaela. ¡°When you explored these levels, didn¡¯t you say you were attacked by level 20 Crypt Spiders and Dust Wraiths? Level 40 undead sounds quite different than what you encountered.¡± ¡°Are you calling me a liar?¡± Lady Mikaela asked, seemingly offended. Stephan Lorren raised his hands in an apologizing manner. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. What I meant is that the dungeon seems to have changed its adversaries since your exploration. I can¡¯t recall that happening in my entire career.¡± Lady Mikaela exhaled. ¡°True.¡± She turned to Jax. ¡°Are you sure about their level?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I stepped in. ¡°They were all level 40.¡± Jax looked at me, his expression dismissive, clearly irritated by my interruption. Lady Mikaela nodded. ¡°Peculiar indeed. An adjusting dungeon...that¡¯s a first.¡± Stephan Lorren seemed deep in thought before speaking. ¡°Should we call it off?¡± But before Lady Mikaela could answer, a low-leveled adventurer from one of the other parties came running from inside the dungeon, calling out for help. ¡°Help us!¡± It was a male healer I¡¯d seen at the entrance. He was bleeding heavily and barely managed to make his way to us. ¡°Help!¡± he cried out before collapsing, and suddenly the entrance to the tomb closed, locking us all inside. Chapter 4: A Warm Welcome Chapter 4: A Warm Welcome: The poor healer was less than informative about what he and his party had faced, but through his mumbling, it was clear that the rest of his party had been killed. By who? No idea. He wasn¡¯t able to say before passing out. ¡°Take care of him, quickly.¡± Stephan Lorren called out to a level 77 healer from his guild, a young man with blonde hair. He then turned to Lady Mikaela. ¡°I think we should definitely back down now. I don¡¯t like this.¡± ¡°I know, Lorren.¡± Lady Mikaela replied through gritted teeth, before pointing some of her guild members, including Yana, at the entrance. ¡°Blast this door. We need an exit.¡± They attempted to bring it down, but the stone door remained steady, resisting any physical or magical damage, clearly enchanted by powerful magic. Stephan Lorren looked concerned and shouted at Lady Mikaela. ¡°You said you managed to leave without a problem last time!¡± ¡°I did!¡± she snapped back. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this before!¡± The tension between the two great adventurers was palpable, but Yana, surprisingly, was the one to ease it. ¡°Please, don¡¯t fight.¡± She said, her voice pleading. ¡°The situation is already problematic enough.¡± They exchanged glances and seemed to agree, taking deep breaths and choosing not to escalate the situation further. Then, a chilling voice, seemingly coming from everywhere, echoed through the tomb, addressing us. ¡°I am Gaelith of Tepan, once the Crown¡¯s Champion, First Knight of the Kingdom, and the Blade of Honor. My name was known across the land for valor and strength, for victories on the battlefield that brought glory to Tepan. Yet I was betrayed. Betrayed by a coward king who unjustly accused me of treason and condemned me to death. ¡°You dare enter this tomb seeking the treasures that pitiful king sent to buy my forgiveness? Shameful. My forgiveness is forever beyond purchase, for my soul is bound to hatred, and my wrath will never fade. As I promised back then, no one who steps within my domain will leave it alive. Your fates are sealed. Those who have come before you have fallen, and so shall you.¡± He paused briefly, before finishing his terrifying introduction with a greeting and a fatal threat. ¡°Welcome adventurers. This is where you die.¡± The atmosphere in the tomb shifted instantly at Gaelith¡¯s words. Fear gripped everyone, especially the lower-level adventurers as they exchanged nervous glances, some of them clearly trembling. Even I did. The veterans among us, and the higher-leveled adventurers, seemed more composed, but even they wore grim expressions. Whispers broke out in the crowd. Some muttered prayers, others cursed under their breath. The younger adventurers, barely teens, seemed frozen in place. Others, like Jax, tried to maintain their bravado, but even he appeared more rattled than usual, his cocky demeanor faltering. My heart raced at Gaelith¡¯s words, and I quickly searched for Yana. This was the exact opposite of what I¡¯d imagined this quest to be. No one who steps within my domain will leave it alive? He sure sounded menacing about that... Lady Mikaela¡¯s voice cut through the panic, authoritative and steady. ¡°Calm down, everyone! We¡¯ll all make it out of here alive! Lorren and I will make sure of it! Just follow us and trust our commands.¡± Her words seemed to provide some relief as many adventurers calmed down. Stephan Lorren, however, seemed unsure at first, his face tense. But after a moment, he nodded. ¡°Yes. Follow me and Mikaela. There will be an exit out of here. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± He then turned to the entrance of the tomb, his brow furrowed as he began to inspect the magic that kept it sealed. ¡°Let me analyze the entrance here for now.¡± But while everyone seemed to agree this was the right approach to secure our escape, Gaelith clearly had other plans. A bone-chilling howl echoed from deep within the tomb, followed by more guttural, unnatural howls that made my blood run cold. Then we saw them. An incredibly large pack of wolves charged at us from the depth of the tomb, but those were no ordinary wolves. Their eyes were milk-white and vacant, their bodies torn and mangled, yet their corpses rushed at us. ¡°They¡¯re undead.¡± Someone whispered beside me. They weren¡¯t just fodder, either ¨C each Undead Wolf was level 70, and the head of the of pack, their leader, a massive undead wolf, its name Pack Leader, snarled at us, its level reading 75. ¡°Prepare yourselves!¡± Lady Mikaela commanded, her voice cutting through the rising panic. Everyone seemed to get a hold of themselves, hastily preparing their weapons and spells. ¡°I¡¯m here, Aidan.¡± Yana whispered to me, her voice as tense and nervous as I¡¯d ever heard it. *** The aftermath of the battle was bloody. The undead wolves didn¡¯t just attack like ordinary beasts ¨C they possessed sound wave attacks ¨C high pitched, disorienting blasts ¨C which left several adventurers stunned and unable to react in time. Combined with their sheer numbers, the pack was overwhelming. At least seventeen adventurers had fallen here, with tens of others injured. I stood among the survivors, panting, blood smeared across my chestplate. Yana and I had managed to take down one of the undead wolves together, though it had been far from easy. The creature lunged at me, its rotting teeth aiming for my throat. Luckily, my agility stats were high enough to dodge. I swung Nightfall, cutting through its side, hoping it would leave some damage, but it barely slowed him down or reduced any of its HP. Yana, standing beside me, thrust her sword into its side, activating one of her fire spells giving me just enough time to finish it off with a well-timed Time Delay Swing. We exchanged a quick, breathless glance, both of us shaken but alive.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Not far from us, Lady Mikaela had just slain the Pack Leader. The massive undead wolf was a beast unlike any of the others. It moved faster, hit harder, and fought unlike anything a regular level 75 beast would. Lady Mikaela was a level 100 adventurer, yet the wolf¡¯s strength far exceeded what all of us had expected from its level. She managed to bring it down eventually, but it wasn¡¯t as easy as anyone would¡¯ve expected for an adventurer of her stature. ¡°Damn it.¡± She muttered under her breath, her eyes lingering on the corpses of the fallen adventurers. It was clear she felt responsible for their deaths. Then, her gaze shifted sharply to Stephan Lorren, who hadn¡¯t lifted a finger during this entire fight. ¡°Lorren!¡± she shouted, her voice booming loud throughout the antechamber. ¡°You better have a good reason for not helping!¡± The mage turned to her, his expression calm and collected, almost dismissive of the tension. ¡°I was analyzing the entrance.¡± He replied coolly. ¡°This dungeon is clearly not normal. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.¡± Lady Mikaela¡¯s nostrils flared as she breathed angrily. ¡°And I hope you found something, or else the blood of these adventurers is on your hands!¡± He cleared his throat, unfazed. ¡°Of course I did.¡± His response surprised not only her, but the rest of us as well. He continued. ¡°I can open this door, but I¡¯ll need time. And I¡¯ll need everyone¡¯s help to cover me while I work through the enchantment.¡± Lady Mikaela shook her head, visibly angry with her counterpart, but she held her composure. ¡°How much time do you need?¡± Stephan Lorren shrugged, nonchalant. ¡°As much as you can give me.¡± His reactions were annoying, but I knew he was probably our only way out. Lady Mikaela seemingly understood that as well. She closed her eyes, shook her head aggressively, then turned to the rest of the adventurers, her voice firm and commanding. ¡°You heard the mage!¡± she began. ¡°We are going to hold this position while he works on the enchantment. I will organize our defense into two groups. The first one, higher-leveled, will stand deeper in the tomb - our first line of defense, ready to repel any further attacks from the tomb¡¯s beasts. The second group, lower-leveled, will form a perimeter around Lorren, ensuring he is undisturbed while he focuses on unlocking the door.¡± Her eyes swept over the crowd, then her tone softened slightly. ¡°I understand that some of you may be frightened. This situation is far from what any of us expected, and I do not blame anyone who feels unsure of continuing. If any of you wish to sit this out, now is the time to say so. I need to know immediately, so we can adjust our strategy accordingly.¡± She paused, waiting for a response, her gaze filled with both authority and compassion. ¡°But know this: if you choose to stand with us, I expect your full commitment. Together, we will make it through this!¡± As Lady Mikaela¡¯s words echoed through the chamber, I could see some of the adventurers, shaken and pale, quietly step back toward the walls, visibly too terrified to continue. One young adventurer, probably no older than eighteen, slumped against the wall, her eyes wide with fear. ¡°I...I can¡¯t. I didn¡¯t sign up for this.¡± Her voice trembled as she stared at the corpses of the fallen. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die...¡± Another, middle-aged man clutching a shield, sat beside her, his face blank in shock. ¡°I thought we were here for an easy treasure. Not...whatever this is!¡± But there were those who supported Mikaela. ¡°We can¡¯t give up now!¡± called out a towering warrior, his armor still slick with blood. ¡°Lady Mikaela is right - stand strong or we die here!¡± Others seemed empowered by his words. ¡°We¡¯ve got this!¡± one shouted, clapping his friend on the shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll get through this!¡± Despite the motivational cries, my heart sank as I turned to Yana, hoping she would take this chance to step back with me. The wolves had been too strong. I had wanted nothing but for both of us to sit this one out. But her face was set with determination. She was part of Lady Mikaela¡¯s guild, and the loyalty showed as she stepped forward, her sword at the ready. ¡°I can¡¯t sit this one out, Aidan.¡± She said softly, glancing at me. ¡°Lady Mikaela needs me.¡± I swallowed hard. I should¡¯ve known better. Yana was always the brave one. And now, with her standing strong, I couldn¡¯t leave her. ¡°I¡¯ll stand with you.¡± I said as my grip tightened around Nightfall, moving into position by her side. Even though my instincts screamed to retreat, I couldn¡¯t leave her. We replenished our health using the potions provided by Lady Mikaela¡¯s guild and were resting in the middle of the antechamber, then awaited another attack from the enemy while Stephan Lorren continued working on the enchantment at the entrance. Yet no one came for us. After a short while, Lady Mikaela addressed the mage. ¡°No one¡¯s coming, Lorren.¡± He spoke without turning to us. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make much sense.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lady Mikaela replied. ¡°But it¡¯s good - you have time, then.¡± Minutes passed in tense silence, and then Stephan Lorren suddenly cursed. ¡°Shit!¡± He turned to us, his expression grim. ¡°This door needs a Keystone.¡± ¡°A Keystone?¡± Lady Mikaela frowned. ¡°Oh, gods...¡± Stephan Lorren sighed. ¡°There¡¯s a Keystone somewhere within the dungeon ¨C likely deeper inside. Without it, this door can¡¯t be reopened. The enchantment is designed to seal us in unless the Keystone is retrieved.¡± ¡°This didn¡¯t happen when I was here alone...¡± Lady Mikaela muttered softly, covering her face with her hand. She took a deep breath and then regained her composure, turning to us with a focused look. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to waste.¡± She said firmly. ¡°We¡¯ll split into two search parties, seven members each, level 80 and higher. I will lead the first, and Lorren will lead the second. Our goal is to find the Keystone that will unlock the door. We¡¯ll need to move fast and cover as much ground as possible.¡± She paused, glancing over the rest of us. ¡°The rest of you will stay behind and guard this location. I¡¯m leaving you in the hands of Aric Kelltins, one of my finest.¡± She pointed at the man in question. ¡°Level 87 Vanguard in the Ironclad subclass.¡± Aric, a towering fellow clad in heavy plate armor, stepped forward. A massive war-axe and a shield hung across his back. His had short-cropped brown hair, and a serious gaze. I heard about him before. One of Lady Mikaela¡¯s strongest guild members. ¡°Aric will stay here and defend this position. Those who are staying, you¡¯re under his command while Lorren and I are gone. Trust him and keep this area secure.¡± She glanced around, her voice full of confidence. Then, most of the high-leveled adventurers, led by Stephan Lorren and Lady Mikaela, ventured deeper into the tomb, where they would eventually split into two groups. Meanwhile, Aric Kelltins, took charge of those of us who remained, arranging un into a defensive formation that covered all potential angles of attack. The tanks - himself and Waylan included - were placed at the outermost line of defense. Behind them, he positioned the melee fighters ¨C including Yana and Goren ¨C ready to assist the tanks if enemies breached the frontline. Further back, he placed all the ranged fighters, Jax and Henry among them, allowing them to strike from a safe distance. The healers and utility mages, including Lena and Dina, were positioned in the center, shielded by the outer lines, healing the injured adventurers. Protected and ready to provide support. As for me, Kelltins seemed unsure of where to place someone as low-level as I am. Ultimately, he positioned me and two other level 52 warriors beside the healers, acting as the final line of defense for them. Those who were too scared to take part were reluctantly positioned near the entrance, their will to fight non-existent. Initially, I didn¡¯t mind being placed with the healers, but when Yana was put in the front lines, I couldn¡¯t stand the idea of being this far back. Everything was going from bad to worse. Again, this weird feeling as if I already lived through this washed over me, and I couldn¡¯t stop throwing glances at the ground for some reason. ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Kelltins shouted, likely trying to raise our morale. ¡°I have vast experience in adventuring, and from what I¡¯ve seen, monsters usually target the highest-leveled adventurers first, so we should be safe while the guild masters take care of things.¡± Most people breathed a sigh of relief, but it only took a few minutes to prove him wrong as this dungeon continued defying all logic. Out of nowhere, large, twisted versions of moles burst through the earth using their oversized claws, shattering our entire formation. Their decaying skin exposed gnarled teeth, and their eyes were the same milk-white color as the undead wolves. Their names appeared as Grave Moles, followed by a terrifying level 80. They aimed for the healers, appearing beneath us. When the front lines noticed and tried to retreat to help, they were immediately ambushed by spider monsters that emerged from within the tomb. With enemies closing in from both sides, all hell broke loose. Chapter 5: Betrayal Chapter 5: Betrayal: ¡°Keep running!¡± Yana shouted behind me as we sprinted frantically from the Grave Moles and the Void Spiders chasing us. After our formation was easily broken by the monsters and Aric Kelltins was killed, everyone scattered in panic, fleeing for their lives. Many more adventurers were killed back there in the antechamber, and those who remained had escaped through the many corridors that branched off from the antechamber. I heard Yana shout, ¡°Inferno Burst!¡± and a deafening explosion shook the corridor behind us. The ground quaked as the ceiling began collapsing with a thunderous roar. We barely managed to dive into a chamber before the ceiling caved in. Panting and disoriented, yet glad to see Yana beside me, I glanced around. Four other adventurers were with us, including Jax, Lena, and Henry. We all took a moment to catch our breath and regain our senses. Everything had happened so quickly. Too quickly. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Yana whispered as she sat on the ground beside me. ¡°Yeah.¡± I nodded, still breathing heavily. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She replied, exhaling lightly. ¡°You got me worried there...with the moles.¡± I let out a short, nervous laugh, remembering how one of the Grave Moles had almost taken my head off with its claw. ¡°Yeah, I guess it was blind or something.¡± I joked. Yana bit her lip, trying to stifle a laugh. ¡°God, I missed this...¡± she murmured, but then her expression turned serious. ¡°I just wish we weren¡¯t in this shitty situation.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but agree - silently. ¡°What now, Master Jax?¡± Henry asked loud enough for all of us to hear, his eyes wide and pleading. ¡°How are we supposed to survive this?¡± Jax¡¯s gaze darted around, reflecting the fear that gripped him, before he stammered. ¡°I ¨C I ¨C We...We need to find the guild masters.¡± ¡°But how?¡± Henry¡¯s voice grew tense and desperate, his hands clutching Jax¡¯s shoulders as if he was trying to shake the answer out of him. Jax shrugged him off. ¡°Give me a minute, Henry!¡± His eyes scanned our faces and levels frantically until they landed on Yana. ¡°You¡¯re the highest level here. Lead us to your guild master!¡± Yana raised an eyebrow. If there was one thing I knew she hated, it was people - especially those like Jax - trying to order her around. Yet, surprisingly, she kept her composure and stepped into the role of the party leader. ¡°I will. Prepare yourselves. We¡¯ll head out soon.¡± ¡°No, no, no!¡± A woman - a level 59 Enchantress - shook her head violently. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere!¡± ¡°Then stay here and die for all we care!¡± Jax spat out harshly. ¡°Take it easy, mage guy. You¡¯re just as scared as she is.¡± Yana countered, rising to her feet. She turned to the woman, her voice gentler. ¡°Your name is Melissa, right? I heard it earlier.¡± Melissa nodded nervously as Yana approached her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯re all scared. But if we want to survive, we need to move. Staying here isn¡¯t an option. The Grave Moles can likely dig through the collapsed corridor as well.¡± I watched from the sidelines, stunned by the maturity and compassion Yana showed. These two years apart had changed her for the better. Good. Good... Yana then turned to the rest of us. ¡°Quickly, state your names and classes. I need to know what we¡¯re working with so I can organize an effective formation.¡± *** The formation Yana chose and the orders she gave us proved to be highly effective. We managed to navigate through various peculiar chambers and cryptic corridors, descending deeper into the tomb and encountering more Undead Warriors along the way. They were the same level 40 we encountered earlier, making even someone like me useful in the skirmishes. I was even able to loot some stuff along the way. Not something incredible, but still better than nothing... [Item Acquired: Lesser Health Potion ¨C Added to Inventory #1] [Item Acquired: Gold Coins x15 ¨C Added to Inventory #1] Everyone pulled their weight and, seemingly against all odds, we survived - until we finally ran into Lady Mikaela and her high-level party. However, the group was half the size it had been when they initially left. The Lady herself looked like she¡¯d been through several gruelling fights, her armor dented in a few spots and smeared with blood. ¡°Yana?¡± she called out when she saw us, her voice filled with surprise. ¡°Darling, what are you doing here?¡± Yana hurried to her guild master¡¯s side, quickly explaining everything that had happened while the rest of us hung back, feeling a wave of relief wash over us. With Lady Mikaela¡¯s presence, we felt a measure of safety ¨C protected by someone truly powerful. ¡°Kelltins...is dead?¡± Lady Mikaela whispered in disbelief as Yana finished her briefing. Jax, showing zero tact, jumped into their conversation. ¡°Lady Mikaela, what about the rest of your party? I remember you and Master Lorren leaving with way more adventurers.¡± She shook her head, avoiding eye contact. ¡°They¡¯re dead. A group of Level 90 Blood Wraiths ambushed us two chambers ago.¡± ¡°No way...¡± Jax murmured, his face paling. The he exploded, his voice cracking under the strain. ¡°But we¡¯re only what? Five levels deep inside the tomb? Isn¡¯t this place supposed to have thirty-something levels? You¡¯re telling me they had level 90 monsters on the fifth level already?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lady Mikaela replied calmly. Jax couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer and unleashed his frustration. ¡°What are we even doing here? Why were we invited into this death trap? It¡¯s your fault! You clearly didn¡¯t scout it properly if this is what we¡¯re up against!¡± Yana quickly intervened, stepping between them. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to Lady Mikaela like that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Yana. Let him vent.¡± Lady Mikaela said, keeping her calm. Jax pointed at Henry, who stood trembling at the back of the chamber. ¡°I have a responsibility here! I¡¯m supposed to protect him ¨C my apprentice. I brought him along believing it would be a great opportunity, not a death sentence!¡± his voice shook with guilt and anger. ¡°What am I supposed to do now?¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. I probably wouldn¡¯t have said it out loud like he did, but he was right. I trusted the level 100 adventurers with all my heart, and the trust was clearly misplaced. ¡°Are you finished?¡± Lady Mikaela asked softly. ¡°I understand how you feel. I had a similar responsibility to the ninety-nine adventurers who joined me here today, and now we¡¯ll be lucky if even a third of them make it out alive.¡± She paused, her gaze steely. ¡°All of this is my fault, and I¡¯ll pay the price when we get out of here. But rest assured - we will get out of here. I¡¯ll see to that.¡± Jax lowered his head and sighed deeply. ¡°Please tell me that you at least found the Keystone...¡± Everyone braced for a grim response, but Lady Mikaela reignited the fire in our spirits. ¡°Lorren did.¡± She said, her voice firm. ¡°He contacted me using one of his magical projections. We were on our way to meet him just before you arrived.¡± Faces lit up as hope returned, and people began looking at Lady Mikaela and her party like they were our saviors. All except for me. I couldn¡¯t shake that gnawing feeling that something far worse was going to happen. *** We reunited with Stephan Lorren and his party a few chambers away from where we had met Lady Mikaela, still on the fifth level of the tomb. The mage¡¯s group was even smaller than Lady Mikaela¡¯s with only two adventurers beside him. All in all, there were thirteen of us gathered in the chamber. Lorren held the shining Keystone in his hand, but his expression was anything but triumphant. His gaze swept over us low-leveled adventurers. ¡°Let me guess, you were attacked after we left?¡± Jax rushed to his guild master¡¯s side. ¡°Yes, Master Lorren. It¡¯s fair to assume everyone else is dead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fair to assume.¡± Yana cut in sharply. ¡°We don¡¯t know that for sure. Some could¡¯ve survived and still be out there - just like we did.¡± ¡°If you want to go look for them, be my guest.¡± Jax shot back. His comment angered Yana, and Lady Mikaela stepped in to back her up. ¡°Lorren, speak some sense into your guild member.¡± Her voice turning more commanding. ¡°We won¡¯t be leaving anyone behind. Is that clear?¡± Stephan Lorren remained silent for a moment before he nodded slowly. ¡°Of course.¡± Lady Mikaela turned to address everyone in the room. ¡°Rest and prepare. We¡¯ll head for the entrance in five.¡± Taking advantage of the first relatively calm moment we¡¯d had since before the Grave Moles attacked, I wandered around the chamber, further from the rest of the remaining adventurers, examining the strange murals on the walls. They were similar in style to the one we saw on our way to Lady Mikaela. One image, in particular, caught my attention. It depicted a woman in a colorful dress and a helm adorned with what looked like two large stag horns. Four other figures, dressed in simple white robes, encircled her, each holding a torch. Curious, I ran my hand along the wall to brush away the dust that had settled, revealing the continuation of the scene - or rather, a new image that showed the next part of whatever ritual the first one depicted. In this image, the woman was seemingly hovering above the ground, while the figures in white stood behind her. Before her were new figures, draped in green, kneeling in submission. What a strange mural for a tomb... I wanted to see the next part of the sequence, but sadly, the mural was broken, the next piece lying shattered on the ground. ¡°Aidan, are you ready?¡± Yana called from behind me. ¡°Stay near me, okay?¡± I knew she meant well, but getting treated like a child was infuriating. ¡°Sure.¡± I replied simply, keeping my anger inside. It seemed like she wanted to say something more, but then her expression suddenly shifted. ¡°Wait, is it just me, or did it suddenly turn cold?¡± I quickly realized she was right as my system window flashed up with a message. [Condition Applied: Freeze lvl.1 ¨C Movement Speed reduced by 10%.] Everyone else seemed to get the same notification, as evidenced by their confused murmurs and worried expressions. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Stephan Lorren muttered, and the answer revealed itself almost immediately. A figure of a woman, appearing from thin air, descended from the ceiling, levitating in the mid-air. She wore a helm adorned with stag horns ¨C the same I¡¯d seen on the mural, her robes decayed and tattered, revealing patches of rotting skin underneath. Above her head, her name appeared: Priestess of Axul, level 98. Axul? That name... Before we could even process the threat, she raised her skeletal arms as if preparing to cast a spell, but Stephan Lorren didn¡¯t waste a second. He raised his staff and shouted, ¡°Arcane Burst!¡± A searing blast of magic shot from his staff and struck the monster head-on, seemingly obliterating her to dust. Some people began cheering, momentarily relieved that the mage had dispatched of such a powerful foe so effortlessly. ¡°Nice job, Lorren.¡± Lady Mikaela complimented. But the celebration died instantly. [Status Effect: Freeze lvl.5 ¨C Max Freeze level. You are Frozen in place. Movement Speed reduced by 100%. Agility reduced by 100%. Unable to move or take any physical actions for 25 seconds] Within seconds we were encased in ice up to our necks, completely immobilized. Then, a group of five more level 98 Priestess of Axul materialized before us and hovered above us next to the ceiling, channelling some combined spell. Yana, having progressed down the Fire Magic branch of her skill tree, used her Freeze Resistance to shatter the ice encasing her. A few others, including Stephan Lorren and Lady Mikaela, managed to break free as well, unleashing their magic in a counterattack, accompanied by another Arcane Burst from the guild master. But this time, some sort of invisible barrier protected the priestesses, shielding them as they continued to channel their combined spell. The air around them swirled ominously, as if something big was about to be unleashed. ¡°Quickly, come to me if you want to live!¡± Stephan Lorren shouted to those who were free. ¡°Damn it!¡± Yana cursed, turning back to me. She raised her hand, using her fire magic to melt the ice that held me in place, but it didn¡¯t seem to work. ¡°Lorren, I said we¡¯re not leaving anyone behind!¡± Lady Mikaela snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish Mikaela, we don¡¯t have time! They¡¯ll finish their channeling in a few seconds, and who knows what will happen? With what we¡¯ve seen from this dungeon so far, I can¡¯t guarantee my barriers will hold!¡± Lady Mikaela visibly struggled with the decision, and my heart sank as I realized they were going to leave us frozen ones on the other side of the room behind. But at the same time, a part of me felt relieved - at least Yana wouldn¡¯t die here. ¡°Yana!¡± Lady Mikaela called out, her voice strained. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you have to leave your friend behind and come with me!¡± ¡°No!¡± Yana shouted back, still desperately trying to free me. ¡°Yana, go!¡± I urged her, panic rising in my chest. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Leave me!¡± She turned to me, fury in her eyes for even suggesting that. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you behind again!¡± ¡°Yana!¡± Lady Mikaela shouted again, more insistent. ¡°No!¡± Yana refused, shaking her head. Realizing there was only a second left before the spell would be unleashed, Stephan Lorren activated his teleportation magic, vanishing along with Lady Mikaela and the others, leaving me, Yana, and three other frozen adventurers behind. The Priestesses of Axul seemed to complete their channel, and Yana turned to face them, bracing herself, activating her barrier magic. But then something unexpected happened. The priestesses simply dispersed, vanishing into thin air the same as they appeared. The ice around us melted away, and then a cold, echoing laugh filled the chamber ¨C a twisted laugh that belonged to none other than Gaelith. ¡°Your leaders betrayed you.¡± His voice echoed, tinged of amusement. ¡°Just like my king betrayed me.¡± He paused, letting the words sink in. ¡°But don¡¯t worry - they won¡¯t escape. You¡¯re all my prisoners now.¡± As he finished, a violent tremor suddenly rocked the chamber, and I feared we would be buried alive. But just as quickly as it started, the quake stopped, and to my surprise, the chamber remained intact. [Condition applied: You are no longer Frozen. Movement Speed restored. Agility restored] ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, Aidan.¡± Yana ducked beside me, helping me to my feet. But it wasn¡¯t that easy. Nothing was in this cursed place. We looked around the chamber with the other three adventurers, only to realize that all of the corridors had completely collapsed. *** ¡°I can¡¯t believe they left us behind!¡± Melissa cried out as we searched for an exit. ¡°They didn¡¯t have a choice¡­¡± a burly man, another survivor, sighed deeply, only for his friend, a tall mage, to snap at him. ¡°What do you mean they didn¡¯t have a choice? Those bastards brought us here and then abandoned us!¡± he growled, his voice filled with anger. He wasn¡¯t wrong. They had brought us here, promising one thing, but they were clearly unprepared for everything that followed. Yana was visibly on edge, and I could tell she was fuming at Lady Mikaela for leaving us behind. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± I whispered to her, but she just shook her head, her expression tight, and I decided to drop it. In one corner of the chamber, we stumbled upon some oddly shaped tunnel, assuming the Grave Moles had dug it. With no other way to escape ¨C using explosive magic might bring the ceiling and the upper levels down on us - we decided to venture through the tunnels instead, with Yana leading as the highest-leveled adventurer among us. The paths seemed to lead ever downward, and after about twenty minutes of descent, we found ourselves in another extremely large chamber, the size of a wheat field. To my surprise, there was Goren, sitting in center of it, calmly sharpening his blade with a whetstone. He was the epitome of calmness. Chapter 6: The God of Time Likes Golf Chapter 6: The God of Time Likes Golf: ¡°Goren?¡± I asked, baffled at how he ended up here. ¡°Oh, good, you made it.¡± He glanced up briefly to acknowledge me before returning to his task. ¡°A friend of yours?¡± Yana whispered. I shook my head. ¡°Not exactly. He was in my party when we cleared the chambers on the first level.¡± I then turned back to him. ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡°How did you get here?¡± he fired back calmly, still focusing on the rhythmic motion of sharpening his blade. I exchanged a puzzled look with Yana before pointing back to where we had just come from. ¡°Through the Grave Moles¡¯ tunnels.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s how I got here as well.¡± he replied flatly. His answer was vague, but since he wasn¡¯t exactly chatty before, when things were going relatively well, I decided to ignore him. Besides, there were a lot of similar tunnels here in this chamber, so his answer was still plausible. I was about to turn to Yana to discuss our next move when Goren spoke again, gesturing toward a dark corridor behind him. ¡°Down there, deep inside, is where they¡¯ve placed Gaelith¡¯s body - the boss room, if you prefer.¡± He paused, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. ¡°And most of the treasures. Some of them hadn¡¯t even made it all the way to his chamber.¡± A shiver ran down my spine. Had we really made our way to the lowest level of the tomb just by following those tunnels? ¡°And how would you know something like that?¡± the burly man asked, clearly skeptical of his knowledge. Goren just shrugged and flashed a lazy smile. ¡°Call it a hunch.¡± ¡°So, are you sharpening your sword to fight him? Gaelith?¡± Yana asked, sounding genuinely confused. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s the only way to get out of here.¡± Goren nodded confidently as he finished honing the blade, eyeing it with satisfaction. The burly man chuckled nervously at his words, likely unsure whether he was joking ¨C or just insane. Me? I wasn¡¯t sure what to think of him. Before the conversation could go any further, a low hissing sound reverberated around us, echoing of the chamber walls. Goren was the first to rise to his feet, holding his sword at the ready. ¡°Need to deal with the snakes first.¡± We all exchanged bewildered glances, usure of the meaning of his words, before giant snakes, named Razor Serpents, leveled at 85, slithered out of the tunnels, encircling us. Each was the size of a grown man, their scales, partly decaying, were jagged and visibly sharp, bristling like knives. If they coiled around you, you wouldn¡¯t just be crushed ¨C you¡¯d be shredded. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be happening! Why are there so many of them?¡± Goren shouted, his voice tinged with panic. ¡°I was so close!¡± ¡°Will you shut up and focus on the enemies?¡± The tall mage yelled at him as we all moved instinctively, standing back-to-back, surrounded by the writhing creatures. Then, they struck. *** Goren was a mystery. I don¡¯t know how he made our systems glitch, but he was definitely not a level 57 rogue. While the rest of us struggled to just dodge the serpent¡¯s attacks, barely inflicting damage to them ¨C except for Yana, who seemed to hurt them the most - Goren moved with a speed and precision I¡¯d never seen in my life. Using skills that I never even heard about, he tore through most of the monsters effortlessly. But just as we thought that victory was ours, a new Razor Serpent lunged out from a nearby tunnel, coiling around Goren in an instant and yanking him inside before any of us could react. Then all of the tunnels collapsed instantly and there was nothing we could do to save him. All Goren managed to do was scream two chilling words that made little sense: ¡°Not again!¡± Looks like we¡¯ll never find out what it meant, or how he was so powerful despite his relatively low level. Melissa didn¡¯t make it either - squeezed and shredded to death by one of the serpents. What remained of her body was barely recognizable. ¡°Poor girl.¡± The burly man whispered. But my main concern was Yana. During the fight, she had jumped in to protect my flank, and one of the serpents managed to graze her arm with its fangs. Now she was suffering from a Poisoned status ailment, and none of us had any antidote to give her. She sat with her back against the wall, clearly in pain, her breathing labored, barely able to move as I knelt beside here, whispering empty, comforting words. Eventually the tall mage suggested a desperate idea, recalling what Goren had said earlier. If some of the treasures hadn¡¯t made it all the way to Gaelith¡¯s chamber, perhaps there was something useful hidden there ¨C a cure, an antidote, anything that might help. It was a stretch, and I knew it. But it was the only chance I had to save her. Damn it, why am I so weak and useless?! Reluctant to leave her behind, but knowing that she couldn¡¯t come with us in her condition, I realized I had no other choice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find something that¡¯ll help you.¡± I told her, then forced a smile as I tried to lighten the mood with a nervous joke. ¡°Just promise you won¡¯t die before I get back, okay?¡± She huffed softly, a tiny smile on her lips as she placed a hand on my cheek and looked into my eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t. Just promise me you¡¯ll come back, okay?¡± I held her hand between my cheek and fingers, nodding. ¡°I promise.¡± But promises meant little in a place like this.
We ventured deeper. Encountered Gaelith¡¯s Darkness, Level 135. I ran for my life. I confessed. She felt the same. But her sacrifice was in vain. I died.
*** Then, surprisingly, I woke up. I was laying on a lawn, the grass underneath me soft, and the sun shining brightly overhead. My first instinct was to reach for my body, my crushed and stabbed body, but I had no injuries and felt no pain. Baffled, I sat up, expecting to see the wounds the monster left, but there was none. I died, didn¡¯t I? So how was I alive? Or¡­maybe I wasn¡¯t alive. Was this the afterlife? I tried to summon my system, but the interface didn¡¯t appear. No familiar window or messages. I blinked, confused. Had I lost access to my system altogether? Looking around, I saw a middle-aged man standing a short distance away. He had a neatly trimmed beard and wore the strangest clothing I¡¯d ever seen: a bright red cap, a short-sleeved shirt, and absurdly plain trousers that cut off above the knees. He seemed completely at ease as he swung a slender club-like weapon at a small white ball on the ground. The moment the club struck, the ball arced gracefully through the air before disappearing. What kind of strange weapon was that? And why was he aiming it at this ball? The ball suddenly retraced its arc and returned to the ground next to his foot, and he adjusted his stance before striking it again. The moment the strange club connected with the ball, his expression soured. ¡°No. Not quite right.¡± He muttered under his breath, loud enough for me to hear. I stood up and, seeing how he was the only person around, called out. ¡°Hey, excuse me. Is this the afterlife?¡± The man turned to face me, a wise and tired smile spreading across his face. ¡°Oh, Aidan, it¡¯s good to see you.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°You¡­you know me?¡± ¡°Of course. I know everything and everyone.¡± He replied as he clapped his hands, and suddenly, a small glass table with two matching white leather chairs appeared beside him. He settled into one of the seats and gestured to the empty one. ¡°Come. Join me. Tea, perhaps?¡± he added, gesturing toward a teapot that materialized on the table.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. My mind spun with questions, and I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I was indeed dead - this man wasn¡¯t just a man, but likely the Creator himself. Reluctantly, I took the offered chair, still uncertain. ¡°Tea?¡± he repeated. ¡°No, thank you.¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°So, I am dead, then?¡± I murmured in disbelief, my voice trailing off as I glanced around, still struggling to comprehend why the afterlife looked like this and where was everyone else. Where was Yana? But his response made my confusion deepen. ¡°Well, it depends on how you look at it. But generally speaking, no. You¡¯re not quite dead yet. That¡¯s why you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Where is here, exactly?¡± I asked, completely lost. ¡°Here is¡­here.¡± He replied, a mischievous grin on his lips. But as my confused expression remained, he sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t keep up this ¡®wise old man¡¯ act.¡± Then, he turned to me. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± He clapped his hands, and his form instantly shifted before my eyes ¨C he now looked much younger, with dark, messy hair, two piercings above his right eyebrow, and a rebellious gaze in his eyes. His attire remained the same, clashing awkwardly with his new appearance. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± He stretched out, putting his feet up on the table and crossing them casually. ¡°Damn it, Boss.¡± A feminine, disembodied high-pitched voice echoed around us. ¡°I lost the bet against Balthor.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve known better, Pix.¡± A deep, disembodied masculine voice replied. ¡°Master doesn¡¯t enjoy acting.¡± ¡°Yeah, but Master can succeed at whatever he does, so I always believed in him.¡± Pix said, clearly frustrated. The young man before me sighed, looking exasperated. ¡°Flattery won¡¯t get you anywhere, Pix. I¡¯m still mad about your mishap.¡± ¡°But it was an honest mistake, Boss!¡± Pix¡¯s voice pleaded, almost whining. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The young man¡¯s eyes flickered over to me. ¡°Aidan here died a useless death because of you.¡± Confused and overwhelmed by everything happening around me, I blurted out. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I really do apologize, Aidan. It wasn¡¯t supposed to happen like this. Pix is usually a lot more professional. But give her some tequila and she goes wild.¡± He said, shaking his head. ¡°Tequilla?¡± I repeated, unfamiliar with the word. ¡°Yeah¡­it¡¯s a¡­it¡¯s from a different¡­¡± he paused, seeming to think better of it. ¡°On second thought, never mind. I shouldn¡¯t tell you that.¡± He cleared his throat, then swung his feet off the table and leaned forward. ¡°You see, you were supposed to appear here after your first death in that tomb. That¡¯s the mishap I was referring to.¡± ¡°My first death?¡± I asked, my heart pounding. ¡°What do you mean, my first death?¡± My voice tightened as I struggled to understand his words. ¡°Who are you, exactly?¡± He smiled at the question. ¡°Me? I¡¯m the Lord of Time, the Keeper of Eternities, the Watchful Eye, the Ageless Wisdom, and many more.¡± He said, each title making his smile widen even more. ¡°But you can call me by my first name - Chronos.¡± He snapped his fingers, and the sun above our heads sped through its arc, disappearing below the horizon and giving way to the moon. Then, he snapped again, and time itself seemed to stutter ¨C the sun and moon cycling in opposite directions before everything came to a sudden, abrupt halt. ¡°Okay.¡± I replied simply, struggling to process the revelation. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have a lot of questions.¡± Chronos said with a casual wave of his hand. ¡°But time is of the essence, and unfortunately, we don¡¯t have much of it, so I¡¯ll be brief: The evil force of darkness, Erebus, has returned, blah-blah-blah, wants to devour your world, blah-blah-blah, I need to stop it but can¡¯t intervene directly, blah-blah-blah, and that¡¯s where you come in.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blinked, completely bewildered. Chronos rolled his eyes. ¡°Where did I lose you?¡± ¡°Where?¡± I repeated, staring at him blankly. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand a word you just said!¡± ¡°I swear it never gets easier¡­¡± He sighed deeply, then turned his head and called out. ¡°Balthor. Pix.¡± The deep, masculine voice from before spoke. ¡°Erebus is the embodiment of darkness itself. Once every millennium, he awakens from his slumber, attempting to consume worlds. Unfortunately for you, Aidan Dar, he chose yours this time - setting his early presence in the Tomb of Gaelith.¡± The high-pitched, feminine voice continued immediately. ¡°Master Chronos is charged with the task of stopping Erebus each time, but he cannot interfere directly for reasons your mere mortal mind can never comprehend. That¡¯s why he selects a pawn ¨C ¡° she stopped herself and quickly corrected. ¡°Champion, I mean Champion - of his own, to act in his stead. Guiding and helping him along the way, of course.¡± ¡°Does it make more sense now?¡± Chronos leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and cradling his head in his hands. ¡°This¡­This is a lot to take in at once.¡± I admitted, feeling utterly overwhelmed. ¡°How can I even do that? I mean, I¡¯m dead. That creature killed me.¡± ¡°Except, as I said earlier, you aren¡¯t quite dead yet.¡± Chronos replied, smiling weakly. ¡°I¡¯ve placed you in a time loop. Each time you¡¯d die in that tomb, you¡¯ll reawaken at the start of that day.¡± ¡°A time loop¡­¡± I muttered under my breath, struggling to comprehend what he was telling me. ¡°Do I at least get some say in all of this?¡± ¡°No.¡± Balthor and Pix answered in unison. ¡°Sorry.¡± Chronos gave a weak smile. ¡°You¡¯re the best and only choice.¡± ¡°Me? What?¡± I asked, confused out of my mind. ¡°I¡¯m so weak. There¡¯s no way I can do it. Why not someone like Lady Mikaela or Stephan Lorren?¡± ¡°They¡¯re the obvious choices, aren¡¯t they?¡± Chronos leaned back in the chair. ¡°And that¡¯s exactly why it can¡¯t be them. I need a silent player to pull this off. In short, I need someone like you.¡± ¡°A silent player?¡± I echoed. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m weak. That monster inside¡­it was level 135! How can it level up beyond 100?¡± ¡°The simple answer to that would be Erebus.¡± Chronos replied with a shrug. ¡°He enhances the strength of every monster in that tomb.¡± I remained silent, images of all that had happened flashing before my eyes. ¡°I barely held my own in there. Scratch that - I didn¡¯t. I was saved all along, and then¡­then she died¡­because of me.¡± My heart ached, the pain of Yana¡¯s death still fresh. She could¡¯ve survived if she had left with Lady Mikaela, but she stayed¡­she stayed for me and died because of it. ¡°Love is a beautiful thing.¡± Chronos¡¯ voice softened, his smile turning melancholic. ¡°Use it as motivation to succeed. Keep Yana alive.¡± Then he flicked his fingers, and a small orb of light shot from his hand and connected with my chest. ¡°And of course, I¡¯m not sending you back completely unprepared. Check your system now.¡± I opened my system¡¯s interface. Status Menu appeared as usual, listing the same stats I already knew I had. ¡°I don¡¯t see a difference.¡± ¡°Look closer.¡± Chronos prompted with a knowing smile. Hesitating, I focused on the menu. A subtle arrow glimmered in the corner of the display, directing me to swipe left. I followed the prompt mentally, and a new window expanded before me. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 1] [Loop Count: 2] [Experience Points (XP): 760 / 1000] 1. D¨¦j¨¤ vu ¨C Lvl.1 / 10 Passive skill. Triggers faint recollections of past loops, increasing awareness of events that have happened. 2. Afterimage ¨C Lvl.0 / 10 Creates an afterimage of yourself, retracing your past selves¡¯ movements for a brief duration. Cooldown: 10 minutes. 3. Temporal Trace ¨C Lvl.0 / 10 Allows vision of the Time Plane, and the ability to mark a specific location on it visible only to you, remains between loops unless removed. 4. Echo Sense ¨C Lvl.0 / 10 Passive skill. Allows to hear echoes from past loops such as conversations and etcetera. 5. Checkpoint ¨C Lvl.0 / 10 Sets a temporal anchor point, allowing you to revert to this moment upon death with memories of the current loop intact (single use per loop). The skill list extended further, but every additional ability had its name hidden and locked, marked with a small, silver padlock icon. A notification blinked when I attempted to interact with one of them. [Level up existing skills to unlock] ¡°D¨¦j¨¤ vu?¡± I repeated, attempting a pronunciation of the unfamiliar word. Chronos nodded approvingly. ¡°Your pronunciation is close enough. It¡¯s French for ¡®already seen¡¯.¡± ¡°French?¡± I echoed, now confused even more. Chronos released a short laugh. ¡°Yeah¡­It¡¯s a language from a different world.¡± His expression shifted, growing more serious. ¡°Anyway, you asked about your first death earlier, right? Let me explain: So far, you¡¯ve already died twice. You should¡¯ve appeared here after your first death, but because of Pix, you didn¡¯t. So, you¡¯ve repeated the exact same actions in both runs.¡± ¡°I already said I was sorry!¡± Pix echoed, the tone of her voice apologetical. ¡°The Loop Count!¡± I suddenly remembered the system¡¯s message when I woke up today. ¡°Indeed.¡± Chronos nodded. ¡°It¡¯s just one of the many features in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system. It keeps track of how many times you¡¯ve relived the loop.¡± ¡°But¡­I didn¡¯t remember the first death.¡± I said, bewildered. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s designed that way on purpose.¡± Chronos replied. ¡°But if I¡¯m unable to retain the memories of my previous deaths, how can I make any progress?¡± I asked, still not understanding. ¡°I can¡¯t let you keep your memories directly without Erebus suspecting something and trying to kill you immediately. He is not entirely affected by the loop. If you progress too quickly, he¡¯ll suspect you¡¯re my champion.¡± Chronos replied. ¡°We¡¯ll need to do it slowly. You¡¯ve read the descriptions of the skills in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system. They¡¯ll help you retain memory in more subtle, unsuspecting ways. It¡¯ll be tough, of course, but I chose you for a reason - and it wasn¡¯t for your good looks.¡± I nodded slowly, unsure of what in the world he meant, and went over the skills descriptions again. ¡°Granted, you only have one of them leveled up at the moment, and even this one is quite weak and limited for now.¡± Chronos continued. ¡°But you¡¯ve already felt it, didn¡¯t you? The feeling that something was off?¡± Me heart began to race. ¡°So that what it was...D¨¦j¨¤ vu.¡± Chronos nodded. ¡°As you farm more XP and invest points in the skills, they¡¯ll improve significantly, making your life ¨C and memory retention ¨C much easier, without alerting Erebus to the fact that you¡¯re my champion.¡± ¡°How do I level them up?¡± I asked. ¡°The same way you always did.¡± Chronos replied. ¡°Just like you allocated points in your regular system to improve your base skills until you maxed out and stopped gaining XP, now you¡¯ll start earning it again. Allocate it wisely, invest in the skills that¡¯ll help you the most.¡± ¡°You also have the second inventory.¡± Pix chimed in. ¡°Oh, right! Almost forgot about that.¡± Chronos said with a hint of nervousness. ¡°Your second inventory, which you already interacted with, is now fully operational. Items you store in Inventory #2 will remain there between loops. Use this concept wisely.¡± I nodded again, finally understanding the purpose of the second inventory after it had driven me nuts back in the tomb. ¡°One last thing,¡± Chronos suddenly added. ¡°You are to speak about your mission to no one.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m sure ¨C ¡° I tried to say but he interrupted me. ¡°Yana could help? Yes, she could.¡± He said, before his tone turned serious. ¡°Erebus is no joke. He has ears in every nook and cranny in that tomb. If you tell anyone about your new powers, he¡¯ll know and leave a mark, making your life a living hell with each loop. You¡¯ll have to do it alone.¡± I swallowed hard at his ominous words. ¡°When you wake up again, you¡¯ll remember most of this conversation.¡± Chronos pointed out. ¡°But, just like last time, you¡¯ll forget everything that happened to you in the second loop.¡± His tone shifted, becoming serious. ¡°Well, are you ready to return?¡± I coughed nervously. ¡°Ah¡­not really?¡± He shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°Too bad.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± I blurted out frantically. ¡°How do I even beat Erebus?¡± Chronos sighed. ¡°As you improve your skills and progress through the dungeon, we¡¯ll have more meetings like this. Everything will become clear in due time. For now, focus on getting stronger and learning more about the tomb and Gaelith himself and why Erebus chosen him as his first vessel of destruction.¡± Before I could say anything else, he snapped his fingers, and everything went black. Chapter 7: Level Up Chapter 7: Level Up: [Loop Count: 3] I woke up to the sound of the system message. The Loop Count message confirmed my meeting with Chronos wasn¡¯t a dream. Some parts of it were blurry in my mind, likely the parts when we talked about my previous deaths, as he did say that I would forget those. But one thing was certain: I was actually in a time loop. A time loop in which I couldn¡¯t remember my past lives. I opened up my status menu and saw the arrow pointing right. Switching to the new screen, I opened the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system and its skills. So far, I only had the titular skill that matched the system¡¯s name - the one which Chronos said translates to ¡®already seen¡¯ in some strange language called French. Then I glanced at the corner of the screen, at the XP bar. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 1] [Loop Count: 3] [Experience Points (XP): 760 / 1000] Chronos said he placed me in the loop after my first death. So that means I managed to gain all 760 XP points in a single run. This means that even if I repeat the same actions I took in my previous life, at some point during the day, I should reach level 2 in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system and be able to upgrade one of the skills. That being said, I don¡¯t even remember which actions I took in my last run. And it¡¯s not like I can just ignore my meeting with the God of Time. It¡¯s definitely going to affect the choices I make in this run, even if I don¡¯t want to. Okay, breathe, Aidan. Let¡¯s go over the skills again and see which ones might actually be beneficial to succeeding in this unforeseen task. Currently, I only have the D¨¦j¨¤ vu skill leveled up. Its description states that it triggers faint recollections of past loops, increasing awareness of events that have happened. Sounds useful enough. Since I won¡¯t be able to remember my previous runs, having these faint recollections might be the next best thing. And I can only assume this for now, but I bet that leveling it up will improve the quality and frequency of these glimpses. The most curious thing about it was the fact that it was a passive skill. Meaning it would activate on its own accord. This good be both good and bad. Depending on the situation. Next up, we have Afterimage. This skill supposedly allows me to summon an afterimage of my past self to see what actions and choices I made. It also sounds extremely useful - but the description was frustratingly vague. Too vague. What does brief duration mean? Ten minutes? A few seconds? And considering the fourth skill on the list, Echo Sense, which only allows me to hear conversations and voices from previous loops, I have a sinking feeling that Afterimage might be mute. Otherwise, why would Echo Sense even exist? The ten minute cooldown was also an issue. The third skill was Temporal Trace, which supposedly allows me to see and mark a specific location in the time plane. What does time plane even mean? And what kind of marks can I leave? Your guess is as good as mine. Again, another skill with a frustratingly vague description. But if I have to go with a hypothesis - the only thing I can really do at the moment - then this skill could be a way for me to leave detailed clues or warnings for my future self, which could prove useful depending on the type of marks I can leave. The fifth skill was Checkpoint, and it was probably the most useful one out of the five. I can only use it once per run at level 1, but it lets me retain the memories of that specific run. Instead of waking up in the next run disoriented and forgetting everything I learned, this skill gives me an additional chance to remember and progress during a specific run. I could even use it to farm more XP in fewer runs. Okay, it¡¯s decided. Checkpoint will be the first skill I level up. It¡¯s too good to pass up. ¡°The second inventory.¡± I whispered, recalling Chronos¡¯ words about it. I navigated through the system and opened its window. Inventory #2 was empty. According to what Chronos said, any items I store in Inventory #2 will remain there between loops. So, as far as I can tell, it gives me another opportunity to leave clues for myself. But considering the fact that my inability to retain memories is a defense mechanism designed to protect me from Erebus, what kind of clues can I even leave? I assume that creating notes that blatantly describe previous runs would be impossible. Still, I should at least test the limits. I have time until Yana comes to pick me up. I sat at the small table in my room, grabbing a pencil and a piece of paper. What should I write? Maybe¡­First level will have snail monsters. Beware and prepare with Salt Bombs. I carefully tried to add the note to Inventory #2. [Error: Picking up this item violates D¨¦j¨¤ vu System Protocol #2706. Item is restricted and classified] Ugh, figures¡­ Okay, what about something simpler? I scribbled on a different piece of paper: Take a left at the second corridor of the first level for good loot. I tried again to add the note. [Error: Picking up this item violates D¨¦j¨¤ vu System Protocol #3401. Item is restricted and classified] [Warning: Continued attempts to pick up this item will trigger a System Lockdown] ¡°Okay, okay, chill. No need to yell at me.¡± I muttered. So, leaving written notes was out of the question. I¡¯d expected as much. Leaving detailed messages would basically amount to retaining memories - something Chronos had warned me was strictly off-limits. I need a different approach to use the second inventory. Maybe leaving specific items and hoping my next self would get the hint?This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. For example, if I stored a Coagulation Elixir to stop bleeding, my next self would know there are enemies that inflict bleeding status effects and that he should prepare for that. Yeah, that sound smart. I can only hope I¡¯m smart enough to understand such hints. I took a deep breath and began preparing for Yana¡¯s arrival.
I donned my lightweight armor. Equipped Nightfall. Waited for Yana. She was late as usual. We set off to the Tomb of Gaelith.
*** On our way to the tomb, Yana was just finishing her story about her guild master¡¯s, Lady Mikaela, abilities. ¡°¡­She just darted from her spot instantly using Shadow Step and impaled it to death with one move. Gods, I¡¯m not doing it justice describing it half-assedly like this. It was just...wow. It was wow, Aidan! Wow!¡± But my mind was elsewhere. Loop Count: 3 ¨C it meant I¡¯d already died twice on this quest. But did Yana die as well? I had no memory of that, or even my own deaths. The conversation with Chronos and the revelation that we were dealing with the embodiment of Darkness itself, Erebus, still felt so surreal. But it had to be true. The D¨¦j¨¤ vu system was proof that I wasn¡¯t imagining things. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, A?¡± Yana asked suddenly. ¡°Hmm?¡± I raised my head, as if emerging from a trance. ¡°I¡¯ve been fangirling over Lady Mikaela for the past ten minutes, and you didn¡¯t even tease me about it once.¡± Yana chuckled softly. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. Everything¡¯s good.¡± I lied, knowing I couldn¡¯t tell her the truth about what was going on with me. If I did, Chronos said that Erebus would turn my life into a never-ending, repeating nightmare. ¡°It sure doesn¡¯t sound good¡­¡± Yana said, turning away from me. No, no, no - this isn¡¯t how it¡¯s supposed to go. The whole reason I agreed to join this quest was to reconnect with her. I can¡¯t let her think I¡¯m pushing her away. ¡°I¡¯m just nervous, is all.¡± I added quickly. Yana turned back to me, her expression softening into a gentle smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Lady Mikaela and Stephan Lorren are leading us. There¡¯s no way anything could go wrong.¡± She paused for a moment, then mumbled something under her breath ¨C so softly I couldn¡¯t make it out. ¡°What was that?¡± I asked. She shook her head. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± She replied before pointing forward. ¡°Look, we¡¯re already close.¡±
We reached the entrance. Exchanged pleasantries with Lady Mikaela. Divided into groups. I was in group 4. And then we entered the tomb.
*** Our group leader, a mage named Jax, led us to the corner of the antechamber on the first floor of the tomb. ¡°Okay, sidekicks, introduce yourselves.¡± He said, an arrogant smile playing on his lips. ¡°Excuse me?¡± a woman - judging by her robes, likely our healer - said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Sidekicks?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what you are.¡± A young man next to Jax, clearly his apprentice, interjected. ¡°I know you. You¡¯re Lena Lethen. A healer. Next.¡± A large man with a buzzcut and a war-hammer slung across his back sighed. ¡°My name is Waylan.¡± He bumped his chest with his right hand in a respectful manner. ¡°I¡¯ll be your tank.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Jax nodded. ¡°Our meat shield.¡± He then turned to me. ¡°And you?¡± I didn¡¯t like his attitude at all and wondered if my previous selves had done something about it, or if they just suffered through his arrogance in silence. ¡°Well?¡± he asked again, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m Aidan.¡± I introduced myself. ¡°I¡¯m a Spellsword. I¡¯ll act as the frontline with Waylan.¡± The tank nodded at me with a soft smile on his face. ¡°Great.¡± Jax¡¯s apprentice muttered, rolling his eyes. ¡°The weakest adventurer here just had to be in our team.¡± I wanted to retaliate, but Jax immediately shifted the focus of the conversation, addressing the second woman in our squad. ¡°And you are, young lady?¡± She smiled proudly. ¡°The name is Dina. I¡¯ll act as our support mage. It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Jax of Belenia.¡± Jax¡¯s smile widened. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about me, eh?¡± ¡°Is there someone who hasn¡¯t?¡± Dina asked, smiling flirtatiously. Me. I hadn¡¯t heard about him. Of course, I kept that thought to myself. ¡°My name is Henry.¡± Jax¡¯s apprentice interrupted, breaking the awkward silence his master and Dina had created with their lingering glances. ¡°I¡¯m a mage, same as Master Jax.¡± Jax finally turned to the last member of our squad. A rogue-assassin type, by the looks of him. He stood silently, leaning against the wall, his eyes darting around us but never settling on any of the squad members. ¡°And you are?¡± Jax asked. ¡°Why does it matter?¡± The rogue replied, his gaze still fixed on the ground. ¡°Building relationship is a must in this career.¡± Jax responded. The rogue sighed. ¡°The name is Goren. A Rogue. I¡¯ll act as secondary front line this time around.¡± I glanced at his status. Level 57. Decent enough, especially for a Rogue. Jax then cleared his throat and addressed us all, a cocky smile on his face. ¡°We¡¯ve been assigned to the northwest chamber of the first level. Follow my commands, and everything will be fine. Do a good job, and I might even put in a few good words with guild master Lorren.¡±
We cleared the chamber. It was filled with Undead Warriors. The chamber split into three additional ones. We cleared those as well.
*** After I killed the last of the undead warriors, the eighth one this morning, a system message popped up. [+34 XP] [Level Up! You have gained 1 Skill Point] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] My heart raced with excitement. Chronos said I would be able to gain XP and level up, and yet it felt so unreal to finally receive those XP gain messages. This was my first leveling up in years. Now I just needed to allocate this skill point to acquire the Checkpoint skill. I did so, and a new message appeared. [Skill acquired: Checkpoint lvl.1] [Next Level: lvl.2: Increases the time allowed between setting the temporal anchor point and your death to 1 hour] Wait, what?! There¡¯s a time aspect to this skill? Why didn¡¯t it say so in the description? So, if Checkpoint level 2 grants me a one-hour window, how long does Checkpoint level 1 give me? I opened the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system skills menu but it didn¡¯t specify. The only thing I could now was assume it¡¯s less than an hour. Significantly less to be on the safe side. But when and how should I use it for now? Did I just waste my first skill point for nothing? Who knows how many loops I¡¯ll have to go through to reach the next level¡­ Okay, breathe out. Everything¡¯s fine. I glanced at the corner of the screen. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 2] [Loop Count: 3] [Experience Points (XP): 32 / 1100] Okay, so it took me slightly more than one loop to level up once, which means I¡¯ll hit level 3 somewhere on my next loop. Unless¡­Unless I do something different this time. But how can I even know if I¡¯m doing something different? I was already consciously trying to land last hits on enemies whenever I could assuming the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system acted similarly to the Core System which rewarded more XP to those who dealt the final blow. But it was hard, and I barely secured any kills since Jax and Henry¡¯s careless magical strikes kept wiping most of the enemies before I could kill them. I sighed in disappointment, feeling like I¡¯d made a mistake by leveling up Checkpoint too rashly. Then that weird feeling struck me again - the unmistakable sensation of D¨¦j¨¤ vu. As Goren walked past me, ignoring me completely, something felt off. ¡°Goren?¡± I called out, confused. He stopped and turned around, a puzzled expression on his face. ¡°What?¡± I didn¡¯t even know what to say. Why did I stop him, really? Just as I was about to apologize, he spoke again, his voice tired. ¡°Right, right¡­my bad.¡± He extended his hand, holding out an item. I accepted it and added it to my inventory. [Item Acquired: Blackberries (Consumable) ¨C Added to Inventory #1] ¡°Blackberries?¡± I asked, confused. ¡°Yeah.¡± He nodded and turned away, leaving me standing there in stunned silence. I didn¡¯t even get the chance to make a joke about it. Chapter 8: Far Too Optimistic Chapter 8: Far Too Optimistic We returned to the main antechamber of the tomb, where Jax briefed the guild masters on our progress. We were the fourth group to finish our assigned section of the exploration. Lady Mikaela exhaled softly. ¡°Are you sure about their level?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes. The highest were level 40.¡± Jax said, while my mind remained occupied by thoughts of the Checkpoint skill. Should I use it now? Lady Mikaela nodded at Jax¡¯s words. ¡°Peculiar indeed. An adjusting dungeon...that¡¯s a first.¡± Stephan Lorren seemed deep in thought before speaking. ¡°Should we call it off?¡± But before Lady Mikaela could respond, a low-leveled adventurer from one of the other parties came stumbling from inside the dungeon, calling out for help. ¡°Help us!¡± he cried out. It was a male healer, of the Mystic class, bleeding heavily and barely managing to make his way to us. ¡°Help!¡± he cried out before collapsing, and suddenly the entrance to the tomb slammed shut, locking us all inside. My heart raced. Whatever happened to him and his party, now was the best moment to use the Checkpoint skill. I activated it. [Checkpoint Set: Your progress has been saved at this point in time. Use wisely ¨C current anchor will be lost upon death, or after thirty minutes. The earliest of the two.] So, level 1 Checkpoint gives you just thirty minutes¡­ I took a deep breath. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s going to challenge us.
We received a bone-chilling introduction from Gaelith himself - or his spirit, I suppose. Stephan Lorren focused on the entrance. Trying to unlock it. But then, the first wave of enemies came. A pack of undead wolves.
*** The pack was large. While Lady Mikaela focused on the Pack Leader, the rest of us were left to deal with the remaining wolves. Realizing the threat, I activated Bladesurge, enhancing Nightfall¡¯s stats for the next two minutes. Yana made her way to my side as the attack began, and together we faced one of the undead wolves. It lunged at me, but my agility stats were enough to keep me out of its reach and I rolled to the side, narrowly dodging its snapping jaws. Yana closed the distance with Blade Rush, moving like a blur, and swung her sword at the wolf. But the beast reacted swiftly, dodging the attack. Then, to our surprise, it let out a chilling howl, unleashing a sound wave attack at Yana. Her eyes widened, but she managed to use Dash Step to evade the attack just in time. Seizing the opportunity, I took advantage of the wolf¡¯s focus on Yana and rushed forward, swinging Nightfall with Time Delay Swing. The blade connected, but I barely made a dent in its HP despite the enhanced stats. Yana closed the distance again, unleashing Flame Arc, sending a blazing slash of fire at the wolf. But it dodged once more, and then dashed powerfully toward her, targeting her. It was clear the beast saw her as the primary threat and was determined to take her out first. While it was distracted, I attacked again from behind, but my strike was a lot weaker than Yana¡¯s. The wolf turned to face me with a snarl, giving Yana the perfect opening. She closed in with another Blade Rush. Her blade carving a deep gash across the wolf¡¯s side, taking away almost a third of its health in a single strike. Then, she concentrated, activating Blazing Dash, moving like a streak of fire as her sword cleaved through the beast¡¯s defenses, The wolf¡¯s HP dropped to a sliver, and I quickly followed up with another Time Delay Swing, making sure I get the kill and most of the XP. The blade connected, and the wolf staggered before collapsing, its HP bar finally hitting zero. [+318 XP] Only 318 XP? Unbelievable¡­way lower than I expected. ¡°It sure felt a lot stronger than a level 70. At the very least, HP and durability-wise. My attacks usually deal a lot more damage to enemies of similar level.¡± Yana exhaled, visibly exhausted. ¡°At least we got it.¡± I replied, equally winded, wondering if my previous selves managed to slay the wolf as well. I glanced at the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system menu. How much time do I have left until my Checkpoint expired? [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 2] [Loop Count: 3] [Experience Points (XP): 350 / 1100] [Checkpoint lvl. 1: Time left until Anchor expires ¨C 15 minutes and 23 seconds] Around fifteen minutes¡­ I bit my lip nervously. Should I use the remaining time to prepare? But what if no one attacks us during this time? If that happens, did this mean I would have to kill myself to trigger the skill¡¯s effect?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn¡¯t do that, could I? Even if I wouldn¡¯t remember it in the next loop, it felt¡­wrong. Would anyone in their right mind willingly end themselves, just to make progress? But if I didn¡¯t, I¡¯d lose this run¡¯s progress when I died.
Lorren couldn¡¯t open the entrance doors without a Keystone. The high-leveled adventurers, led by him and Lady Mikaela ventured deeper inside to retrieve it. Aric Kelltins, one of Lady Mikaela¡¯s finest, was left behind with the rest of us who were lower than level 75. He began setting our defense over the perimeter. Putting me next to the healers in the center of the formation.
*** The faint feeling of D¨¦j¨¤ vu struck me again, the passive skill sending a jolt of dread through me. Something bad was going to happen now - something involving the ground. But what? I clenched my teeth, wishing the damned skills in this new system were leveled up higher so I could actually understand what I was supposed to do. I glanced around for Yana. She was positioned in the front lines of the formation. ¡°If things go downhill, look for me.¡± She said before stepping away. ¡°I¡¯ll look for you too.¡± I nodded, forcing a weak smile. ¡°Just like the old times.¡± But that ominous feeling refused to leave me. It clawed at my chest, tightening my throat. Something was definitely about to go wrong. Aric Kelltins tried to raise our moral, claiming that dungeon monsters usually target the higher-leveled adventurers first, claiming we should be safe. But he was proven wrong, when the ground quaked beneath us. Large, twisted versions of moles burst through the earth with a horrific screech, using their oversized claws to shatter our entire formation. Their names appeared as Grave Moles, followed by a terrifying level 80. They emerged right beneath the healers. When the front lines noticed and tried to fall back to help, a wave of giant spider monsters appeared from within the tomb, cutting off their retreat. One of the Grave Moles lunged at Lena, its massive claws arcing toward her. Instinctively, I dove forward, shoving her aside at the very last second. The young healer standing behind her wasn¡¯t as fortunate ¨C he barely had time to scream before the monster¡¯s claws bisected him. ¡°T-Thank you.¡± Lena stammered, trembling as I helped her to her feet, blood splattering around us. I nodded as the chaos enveloped us. Some of the mages turned their strikes on the moles, trying to help us. ¡°Watch out!¡± someone shouted behind me. I spun around just in time to see a Grave Mole slam its claws against a blue barrier cast by Dina. It held for a moment, but then the monster¡¯s claws glowed a dark red, enhanced by some kind of magic. The next strike shattered the barrier like glass. I activated Luminous Slash, releasing crescent-shaped projectiles from Nightfall aimed at the creature. The glowing arc sliced through the air, but the Grave Mole effortlessly deflected it with its claws. Before we could react, another Grave Mole erupted from the ground beneath us. Its claws latched onto Dina¡¯s leg, severing it clean off in a single motion. She cried in agony as the creature dragged her down into the earth before we could even blink. ¡°Dina!¡± someone screamed, but she was gone, swallowed by the ground. Meanwhile, the first Grave Mole lunged at Lena and me. I raised Nightfall, bracing myself. Lena, paralyzed by shock, couldn¡¯t even move. Then Yana came out of nowhere, using Blazing Dash to slice through the Grave Mole¡¯s side. The fiery slash landed perfectly - a critical hit - but it only shaved off a quarter of its HP. ¡°Aidan, we need to run!¡± Yana shouted. I nodded, and we began our retreat toward the nearest corridor. But it wasn¡¯t so simple ¨C the Grave Moles were relentless, emerging from the ground beneath us. Huge claws continued bursting through the earth around us, trying to snatch us just like they did to Dina. At some point, Jax and Henry grouped with us, using their offensive spells to buy us more distance from the moles as we retreated. But then, the level 65 Void Spiders started dropping from the ceiling, ensnaring retreating adventurers in sticky webs, making them easy targets for the Grave Moles. It was chaotic. Everyone just falling left and right. As I retreated, the familiar sense of D¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over me. I asked myself if that was the same way things had played out in the previous runs? Running away protected by Yana, retreating, watching adventurers get slaughtered around me. Their terrified faces, their haunting screams, their desperate cries for help. Slowly, the feeling that I was repeating my previous selves¡¯ actions intensified. My future selves might not remember any of it, but we¡¯ll see the loop counter rising. Just the idea of living the same day over and over again, made me sick. I couldn¡¯t keep running. This needs to stop. I need to take control. This is what I¡¯ve been waiting for. A chance to prove I¡¯m not mediocre. I need to level up as fast as I can. Gritting my teeth, I stopped in my tracks and turned to face the Grave Mole. ¡°Aidan! What are you doing?¡± I heard Yana behind me, panic clear in her tone. I¡¯m sorry, Yan. But I have to do this. Ignoring her, I tightened my grip on Nighfall. I activated Luminous Slash again, following it up with my own Blade Rush and a Time Delay Swing. Hoping that all three skills together will overwhelm the monster and give me an opening to inflict some damage. But that didn¡¯t happen. Despite my efforts, I barely managed to scratch its health. Instead of overwhelming it, I only enraged it further. The Grave Mole suddenly moved with incredible speed, its huge claws cleaving through the air. One powerful swipe knocked Nightfall from my hand. The second pierced through my chest. ¡°Aidan!¡± Yana¡¯s scream echoed, distant and fading, as my vision blurred and everything began fading to black. I was far too optimistic¡­ [Health: 0% - You Have Died] [Checkpoint Level 1 activated: You will now reawaken at the anchor point] *** When my eyes opened again, the first thing I did was gasp for breath - gasp and clutch my chest, falling to my knees. The memories of mere seconds ago, when the Grave Mole¡¯s claw pierced right through me, overwhelmed me, and I began to hyperventilate. ¡°Aidan.¡± Yana ducked beside me, placing a steady hand on my back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The pain seemed to follow me back here, lingering in my chest as if it was still real. Yana¡¯s voice grew muffled, but I caught three words clearly: ¡°Take deep breaths.¡± I closed my eyes tightly, forcing myself to slow my breathing. Deep breaths, in and out. I counted each inhale and exhale, relaxing my muscles. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± I could hear Yana better now. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± It¡¯s just phantom pain. I¡¯m okay. I¡¯m here with Yana. I forced my focus back to the present, grounding myself in the touch of her hand on my back. Gradually, my breathing stabilized. ¡°Aidan, are you okay?¡± Yana asked, her voice filled with worry. I nodded, still on my knees, sweat dripping from my forehead. ¡°Thank the gods.¡± Yana sighed with relief. ¡°You scared me half to death!¡± But my mind was somewhere else entirely¡­I just died. The Grave Mole landed a single attack on me, and it was enough to kill me instantly. I¡¯m that weak, huh? But since I¡¯m here now, aware of everything that happened, that means¡­It worked! The Checkpoint skill had actually worked! Any doubts I may have had about Chronos and his D¨¦j¨¤ vu System began crumbling away. But it if it worked, and I retained my current self¡¯s memories, then¡­the Undead Wolves should be attacking any moment now. Lady Mikaela¡¯s voice suddenly boomed, and I realized that in my hyperventilated state, I had missed Gaelith¡¯s chilling introduction. ¡°Calm down, everyone! We¡¯ll all make it out of here alive! Lorren and I will make sure of it! Just follow us and trust our commands.¡± She shouted. Stephan Lorren nodded, yet his expression was tense, just like last time. ¡°Yes. Follow me and Mikaela. There will be an exit out of here. I¡¯m sure of it. Let me analyze the entrance here for now.¡± Images of the slaughtered adventurers flashed before my eyes, sending a chill down my spine. I recalled how Lorren¡¯s reluctance to help against the wolves had cost seventeen adventurers their lives last time. ¡°No!¡± I shouted, stopping him in his tracks. ¡°You can do that later!¡± Everyone turned to stare at me suspiciously. ¡°How dare you speak to Master Lorren this way?!¡± Jax snapped, aiming his staff at me, fully willing and ready to obliterate me with his magic. Chapter 9: A Rogue and His God Chapter 9: A Rogue and His God ¡°One more step toward him, and I¡¯ll shove that staff up your ass!¡± Yana jumped between me and Jax, throwing a direct threat at the mage. Jax looked bewildered. Scratch that ¨C everyone did. But before things could escalate any further, a chilling howl echoed from the depths of the tomb, and the Undead Wolves appeared, right on cue. *** [+318 XP] The system message popped up after I finished the wolf again, recreating the exact same fight Yana and I had with it last time. Only this time a lot cleaner. I glanced at the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system menu. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 2] [Loop Count: 3] [Experience Points (XP): 668 / 1100] Halfway to the next level. Just need to avoid the Grave Moles this time. They¡¯re clearly too strong for me right now. There¡¯s no way I managed to fight them in my previous runs. But as my XP bar showed this morning, I likely scored some other kills after the wolves. This one gave me 318 XP, and each of the eight Undead Warriors I¡¯d slain earlier granted me 34 XP. That¡¯s 590 XP in total. Which means I earned an additional 170 XP before I died. And I¡¯m a hundred percent sure it wasn¡¯t from the Grave Moles. There¡¯s no way a single mole would give anything less than what the wolf did. I looked at the remnants of the battlefield. Stephan Lorren had once again decided to analyze the locked entrance of the tomb instead of actively participating in the fight, leading to the same seventeen adventurers losing their lives - again. Once the battle ended, Lady Mikaela paced furiously toward him. ¡°Lorren!¡± she shouted, her voice booming just like it did last time. ¡°You better have a good reason for not helping!¡± The mage turned to her, his expression calm, completely dismissive of the tension. ¡°I was analyzing the entrance.¡± He replied nonchalantly. ¡°This dungeon is clearly not normal. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Did you have to do it while we were getting attacked?¡± I interjected, making sure everyone knew I was placing the blame squarely on him. He raised his eyebrow at me, his gaze condescending. ¡°And who are you, exactly?¡± Before I could answer, Lady Mikaela interrupted. ¡°He¡¯s right! You should¡¯ve helped first!¡± ¡°What do you think I was doing, if not helping?¡± he snapped back. ¡°Getting out of here should be our top priority, and if figuring out a way for us to escape isn¡¯t considered ¡®helping¡¯, then I don¡¯t know what is!¡± he paused, his eyes flaring with anger. ¡°Or do you, Mikaela, or this guy¡± - he gestured sharply toward me - ¡°think you can unlock powerful magical enchantments on your own?¡± Lady Mikaela¡¯s rage seemed to cool slightly. ¡°Still ¨C ¡° ¡°Still what? Still what, Mikaela?¡± Lorren cut her off, his voice tense. ¡°Do I need to remind you that you are the reason we¡¯re in this mess in the first place? The blood of those adventurers is on your hands alone!¡± His words visibly shook her, and Aric Kelltins stepped forward, clearly intending to defend his guild master¡¯s honor. ¡°Master Lorren, I was here with Lady Mikaela when we explored the dungeon for the first time. I guarantee you that what she says is true. We didn¡¯t encounter such strong enemies during our initial exploration.¡± Stephan Lorren sighed heavily before replying. ¡°I apologize, Mikaela. Let¡¯s just focus on the doors.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but notice how insincere his apology sounded. Lady Mikaela seemed to collect herself. ¡°I hope you found something useful.¡± He nodded. ¡°Of course I did. I can open this door, but I¡¯ll need time. Everyone needs to cover me while I work through the enchantment.¡± Lady Mikaela shook her head, visibly angry with him, but she kept her composure. ¡°How much time do you need?¡± Stephan Lorren shrugged, utterly indifferent. ¡°As much as you can give me.¡± ¡°No! What the hell?¡± I burst out, surprising even myself. It was my first time meeting the legendary Stephan Lorren, and I couldn¡¯t believe he was such a manipulative liar. He was at fault for not helping during the battle, and now, after shifting the blame to Lady Mikaela, he was trying to play the role of the savior. He probably already knew the door needed a Keystone to open. Lorren¡¯s gaze turned to me, blazing with fury. The stone on top of his staff glowed yellow, and suddenly I was bound by invisible chains, completely immobilized. [Condition Applied: Rooted by ¡°Binding Force¡± used by Stephan Lorren]This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Then, the stone shifted to a purple hue, and an ethereal blade of the same color materialized beside my neck. ¡°You clearly have something personal against me.¡± Lorren said through gritted teeth. ¡°Are you here to kill me? Who sent you?¡± ¡°Kill you? Are you insane?¡± I retorted, wincing as the chains tightened pressure around me, constricting painfully. Yana stepped forward, starring Lorren straight in the eye. ¡°Release him now!¡± He rolled his eyes at her demand. ¡°Stay out of this.¡± But Yana didn¡¯t move an inch. Lady Mikaela interjected sharply. And in our favor. ¡°Release him this moment, Lorren. You¡¯re acting like a lunatic. I doubt anyone would send a level 50 Spellsword to assassinate you.¡± His face twisted at her words, and I felt the chains¡¯ pressure around my body spike before they abruptly vanished, releasing me of Lorren¡¯s hold. [Condition Applied: No Longer Rooted] ¡°Count yourself lucky, and don¡¯t ever cross me again.¡± His words were like ice. ¡°That freaking asshole.¡± Yana muttered, helping me to my feet. Then she caught my gaze. ¡°But you have to tell me what¡¯s going on with you. You¡¯re acting weird.¡± I knew I couldn¡¯t tell her the truth¡­but maybe, if I found a roundabout to go about it, it would be okay? ¡°Follow me.¡± I said, pulling her to the side, away from prying ears, while Lady Mikaela organized the defensive formation next to the entrance, giving Stephan Lorren the time he ¡°needed¡±. No threats were going to appear for the time being, so I knew we weren¡¯t really needed. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± she asked once we were far enough from everyone else. ¡°Promise not to think I¡¯m crazy?¡± I asked, adding a weak, sheepish smile. She nodded, her expression serious. ¡°I promise.¡± ¡°And promise you won¡¯t press for answers if I tell you I can¡¯t explain something?¡± She hesitated, her gaze steady, before nodding slowly. ¡°I promise. I trust you.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Listen, don¡¯t ask me how I know this, but in a few minutes, when Stephan Lorren says he needs a Keystone to open the doors, he and Mikaela will leave with the high-leveled adventurers, leaving us weaklings with Kelltins behind as easy prey for some nasty and extremely strong Grave Moles and Void Spiders. Many adventurers will die here.¡± Yana stared at me, confused, but still seemed to consider my words seriously. Good ¨C this was more than I could have hoped for. ¡°Aidan¡­¡± she whispered, her brow furrowing. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to say. If you somehow learned about this, then we need to warn the others.¡± She turned to leave, and I grabbed her hand. ¡°No, we can¡¯t.¡± She looked back at me, puzzled. ¡°What do you mean, we can¡¯t?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t explain why.¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°Just trust me when I say we can¡¯t. It might¡­change things too much.¡± ¡°Change things too much? What does that even mean?¡± she asked. I hesitated, my mind racing. Should I tell her more? But then, recalling Chronos¡¯ words, I decided against it. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡± I murmured. ¡°Aidan¡­¡± she said softly. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about trust.¡± I replied quickly. ¡°The fact that I¡¯m even telling you this much proves that I trust you. I just¡­can¡¯t say more. Please, trust me on this.¡± She sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°No. Promise me you won¡¯t tell this to a soul.¡± I pressed. ¡°Okay, okay, I promise.¡± She finally relented. ¡°What do we do, then?¡± I froze. I hadn¡¯t expected her to accept my words so easily, and I didn¡¯t have a plan. Yet. I just wanted her to know so she¡¯d be wary and safe. She took my silence as an answer. ¡°So, your suggestion is to let things play out, even though we know what¡¯s going to happen? Why even share this information with me if we¡¯re not going to do anything and you don¡¯t even have a plan?¡± She turned away abruptly and left. ¡°Yana, wait.¡± I called after her, but she didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Great¡­¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°Spellsword.¡± A familiar voice whispered from behind me. Confused, I turned to see Goren, appearing from my shadow on the wall, his expression uncharacteristically alight. ¡°How the hell did you learn what¡¯s going to happen?¡± I stepped back, suddenly unsettled by his presence. ¡°Why were you spying on us?¡± He shook his head, dismissing my question. ¡°No, no, don¡¯t act like you¡¯re normal. You¡¯re not. And we both know it.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± I said and turned to leave. ¡°You have the new system too, don¡¯t you?¡± he said, stopping me in my tracks, sending a chill down my spine. His laugh followed soon after. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you act differently, so I guess you got it fairly recently, huh?¡± I turned to face him, my heart pounding. ¡°You have it as well?¡± He nodded, his grin widening so much it seemed like the corners of his lips might reach his ears. ¡°How many times did you¡­you know¡­die?¡± I asked hesitantly, realizing it wasn¡¯t the easiest question to ask. ¡°Fifty-eight times.¡± He replied quickly, still grinning. ¡°But who cares about that? Did Dolos set you up for this?¡± ¡°Dolos?¡± I asked, confused. He nodded, pointing upward. ¡°God.¡± I shook my head. Unless Dolos was an alias Chronos used, it wasn¡¯t him. ¡°Interesting.¡± Goren said, rubbing his chin and pacing back and forth. ¡°It means there¡¯s another god at play here.¡± ¡°Another god?¡± I asked, feigning ignorance. ¡°Yes.¡± He replied. ¡°What was his name? The one who gave you your new powers?¡± I hesitated, unsure whether I should tell the truth. Eventually, I opted to lie. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some guy with a metallic club. He didn¡¯t exactly introduce himself.¡± ¡°Makes sense. Dolos is a piece of shit too.¡± Goren nodded, then his face suddenly lit up again. ¡°This changes everything! This specific run was hard on me. I was already sick and tired of dying and reviving. Seemingly making no progress. I grow stronger each time, but this shitty dungeon started shifting itself lately, like it¡¯s preparing for me, making my knowledge from past runs worthless.¡± I let his words sink in. One thing was clear from his words - his system was leveled up enough for him to retain his memories. He continued. ¡°But you¡¯re here now all of a sudden! That¡¯s gotta be the key to our victory. Yes, that¡¯s it. That¡¯s the will of Dolos.¡± ¡°The will of Dolos¡­¡± I echoed. This bit made him sound like a religious fanatic. But who ¨C or what - was Dolos? He nodded ecstatically. ¡°How about we team up? I¡¯ll help you level up faster, and then we can take down Gaelith together and become the heroes of Tepan. The king might even grant us titles for bringing him so much gold!¡± ¡°Take down Gaelith together?¡± I asked, dumbfounded. ¡°I literally just got one-shotted by a Grave Mole.¡± ¡°So what?¡± he shrugged. ¡°It only happened ¡®cause you¡¯re crazy under-leveled.¡± ¡°No offense, man, but you¡¯re just a level 57 Rogue. I¡¯ve seen you fight. You¡¯re good - likely stronger than me - but not enough to beat the monsters here, let alone the boss.¡± Goren chuckled. ¡°What you¡¯ve seen so far is a fraction of what I¡¯m capable of thanks to the new system. You haven¡¯t even scratched the surface of what it can do, so you don¡¯t understand yet. Give it some time, and you¡¯ll be slaying these Grave Moles left, right, center.¡± He extended his hand for a shake. ¡°Let me help you.¡± It was strange. Even though I should probably accept any help I could get, I couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy feeling I got when I looked at Goren. Something was off about him, so I hesitated to take his hand. He smirked. ¡°What? My class got you all riled up?¡± He lowered his hand. ¡°You¡¯ll agree to team up eventually, but until then, it looks like I¡¯ll just have to earn your trust.¡± He began strolling back to the others, his hands clasped behind his head as if he were lounging in a field. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my eye on you from now on.¡± Chapter 10: Dark Hunters Chapter 10: Dark Hunters Once we returned to the others, Stephan Lorren was just finishing his announcement that a Keystone was required to open the tomb¡¯s entrance. The calmness in which he spoke frustrated me. The man was a manipulator and a liar. Yana immediately glanced in my direction, likely realizing that what I had said was true. She seemed to freeze when Lady Mikaela addressed the crowd, saying exactly what I said she would. ¡°We¡¯ll split into two search parties, seven members each, level 75 and higher. I will lead the first, and Lorren will lead the second. We need to find the damned Keystone that will unlock this door.¡± She exclaimed, before turning to her trusted tank. ¡°Everyone else will stay behind and guard this location. Aric Kelltins, one of my finest, will serve as your leader in our absence. Any questions?¡± ¡°Lady Mikaela¡­¡± Yana suddenly whispered, addressing her guild master, and I immediately realized something was wrong. She hadn¡¯t done this last time. ¡°Yes, Yana?¡± Lady Mikaela replied. I shot a questioning glance at Yana, hoping she wasn¡¯t about to reveal what I had specifically asked her to keep secret. She met my gaze and seemed uncomfortable, her eyes darting around before she spoke, her voice low, barely above a whisper. ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t split up.¡± ¡°What do you mean, dear?¡± Mikaela said, confused. Yana shot another glance at me, looking as if she were asking for forgiveness, then spoke. ¡°You and Master Lorren both said it. This dungeon is different than anything you¡¯ve ever encountered. If it¡¯s somehow changing and adjusting, then perhaps splitting up here is not the right move. Maybe that¡¯s what Gaelith is waiting for.¡± Lady Mikaela seemed thoughtful at her words, while Lorren just outright disagreed. ¡°First of all, Gaelith is dead and has been for a very long time. Whoever spoke to us before was just a monster of some kind. And secondly, what else can we do, girl? The Keystone is necessary, and given the possible dangers ahead, it makes no sense to take low-leveled adventurers with us.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Aric Kelltins interjected. ¡°Also, dungeon monsters usually go for the high-leveled threats first, that¡¯s likely why the wolves came all the way here to the main antechamber. Everyone who stays here should be relatively safe.¡± He couldn¡¯t be more wrong¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Goren whispered beside me, and I only now noticed he had been standing next to me. ¡°I tried warning them too, but it never works. It¡¯s like they¡¯re desperate to split and die. This part plays out the same regardless.¡± But apparently, Yana¡¯s warnings had more effect than he anticipated. Perhaps because of her close relationship with her guild master. ¡°What do you suggest, Yana?¡± Mikaela asked, sounding genuinely interested in her opinion. My heart raced. She had already said too much. What was going to happen now? Chronos had warned me not to tell anyone anything. ¡°Yana.¡± I said simply, my voice tense, grabbing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Maybe one party would be enough.¡± Yana suggested, drawing the focus back to her. ¡°At least at first. If we see that no one attacks us, we¡¯ll send another search party.¡± Lady Mikaela smiled softly and nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize someone as fearless as you could be afraid as well.¡± Yana looked embarrassed, her gaze dropping to the ground. Lorren sighed. ¡°It¡¯s your call, Mikaela.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Lady Mikaela nodded again, then turned to her counterpart. ¡°Lorren, you¡¯ll lead the first party. You have much more experience finding Keystones than I am.¡± He nodded without much enthusiasm. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°That never happened before, I assume?¡± I whispered to Goren, whose grin widened just as it had earlier. ¡°No.¡± he chuckled. ¡°This is interesting.¡± Stephan Lorren left with six other adventurers while the rest of us remained near the entrance. After a brief conversation with Lady Mikaela, Yana made her way toward me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aidan. I had to.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to. You chose to.¡± I said, my heart still pounding with worry over the possible repercussions of what she did. What I did. ¡°How can you say that?¡± she replied, sounding offended. ¡°You said people were going to die. Once everything played out exactly as you warned me, I knew I had to do something.¡± ¡°But I asked you not to tell anyone.¡± I countered. ¡°You promised me. Who knows what¡¯s going to happen now?¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen now? What do you mean?¡± she asked, clearly trying to pull more details from me. I sighed. ¡°I told you, I can¡¯t tell you that.¡± She stood her ground, her tone firm. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll answer your question. What¡¯s going to happen now is that the adventurers you said would die will stay alive, because Lady Mikaela and the others will be here to protect them. To protect us.¡± ¡°You always do this.¡± I said sharply. ¡°You always try to play the hero. Why couldn¡¯t you just do what I asked?¡± Her expression turned to anger. ¡°I always do that, huh? Then maybe you should¡¯ve known better than to tell me if ¡®I¡¯m always trying to play the hero¡¯.¡± Without another word, she turned and left, her footsteps quick and frustrated, leaving me standing there, angry at myself mostly. Maybe I¡¯d been too harsh¡­ ¡°Lovers¡¯ quarrels¡­ugh.¡± Goren muttered behind me. ¡°You really need to stop listening in on my private conversations.¡± I turned to him, making sure my tone clearly conveyed just how unhappy I was with him. He smirked. ¡°Oh c¡¯mon. You¡¯re clearly going to die this run, too. And next run, she won¡¯t remember anything. So, no harm done, really.¡± The problem is that I won¡¯t remember it either. But as much as I wanted to argue with him, there was some truth to his words He continued. ¡°If I told you half the things I did once I realized no one would remember anything anyway, you would think I¡¯m insane.¡± His words were unsettling, but before I could question him about them, a strange sound echoed from within the tomb - fast, sharp whistles. At first, everyone assumed the whistles were coming from Stephan Lorren and his group, but that theory quickly fell apart as the sound became more constant, almost like it was some conversation. One whistle speaks, then a few others respond. The whistling grew louder with each passing second, sounding everywhere around us, but no one appeared. ¡°Stay on the ready!¡± Lady Mikaela¡¯s voice cut through the air, getting everyone focused on the possible threat. ¡°What is that? Who¡¯s making these whistles?¡± I whispered to Goren, my unease growing with each whistle. ¡°No clue what they are but stay sharp.¡± He replied, unsheathing his daggers. ¡°They¡¯re around us.¡± ¡°Around us?¡± A chill ran down my spine. ¡°What do you mean, around us? You¡¯re saying you can see the whistlers?¡± He nodded, his expression suddenly serious, though a small, unsettling smile tugged at the corner of his lips. ¡°Nasty motherfuckers.¡± Other rogues seemed to notice the threat as well, or at least sense it better than the rest. ¡°Use echolocation skills!¡± one of them shouted. ¡°They have some sort of camouflage skill.¡± A sharp whistle sounded from the area where Yana stood, followed by the terrified screams of adventurers and blood flying around. My heart raced as I sprinted in that direction, toward Yana, but before I could make more than a few steps, I was yanked backward. I felt a gust of wind shot past right in front of me. Something - some body, invisible to the naked eye ¨C had shot right by me. I turned to see Goren. If he hadn¡¯t pulled me back, the creature would have pierced straight through me. He gave me a weak smile, almost as if reminding me of the alliance he had offered. ¡°Step aside!¡± Lady Mikaela¡¯s voice thundered as she rushed toward the adventurers under attack by the unseen threat. She activated one of her skills and, with incredible speed, lunged forward, her spear aiming at what appeared to be thin air. But her weapon met something. And with a sickening thud, dark blood splattered through the air. Suddenly, the creature became visible ¨C skewered on Lady Mikaela¡¯s spear. It resembled a large dog, but its skin was pitch black and looked almost leather-like. Its head was an odd cylinder, with a single large red eye, and four large knives at the end. Above its corpse, the system revealed its name: Dark Hunter, Level 65. ¡°Snap out of it already! Wake up!¡± Lady Mikaela shouted at the high-leveled adventurers. ¡°You can take them down as well!¡± Her harsh words seemed to ignite something in them, as they began finding their rhythm, landing strikes on the camouflaged Dark Hunters. ¡°Mages! Enchanters! Raise your barriers! Protect your comrades!¡± Mikaela commanded, her voice slicing through the panic, pulling everyone, including some low-leveled adventurers, into action. ¡°Over here!¡± Dina shouted beside me, raising her staff and manifesting a large protective barrier around herself and some other adventurers. But I didn¡¯t want to stay under her protection. I needed to find Yana. The area where she¡¯d been seemed overrun with these creatures, but there were so many people there, I couldn¡¯t see her. I rushed toward where I last saw her, heart pounding. I had no skills to see the camouflaged Dark Hunters, but I could hear their whistles and the chaos around me. Battles took place everywhere, ensued by adventurers who could locate them. To my side I saw Goren. He moved swiftly, a blur of daggers and deadly precision, cutting down two creatures in one single motion, making their dead bodies appear from thin air. Then, he suddenly dodged and reached forward as if catching something, after which he slammed something invisible to the ground. Another Dark Hunter appeared, bleeding heavily, suspended by its leg in Goren¡¯s hand as he drove a dagger to its gut. His speed was beyond what his level suggested - perhaps he hadn¡¯t been exaggerating when he said he believed we could take down Gaelith. Then, a sharp, deafening whistle tore through the air. I clamped my hands over my ears, my heart racing. ¡°No!¡± Lady Mikaela shouted, and I saw her lunging and cutting down another creature in the distance, seemingly the last of them. Then, a sudden silence settled over the area. When I finally reached them, my heart sank. Lady Mikaela knelt on the ground, cradling Yana in her arms. Blood was pouring from Yana¡¯s neck, her eyes shocked, fearful and full of pain. ¡°Healer!¡± Mikaela screamed, and one of her men rushed over. He knelt beside them, attempting to cast a healing spell, but as soon as his hands glowed with magic, they were repelled violently. His hands turned black, charred, and he was flung backward by an invisible force. The healer, now injured himself, gasped for breath, calling for help. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Lady Mikaela muttered, her voice breaking. She tried to cast some spell too, but as soon as she noticed the invisible force again, she stopped. Seeing Yana dying in front of me made my legs buckle. I dropped to my knees, feeling my heart shattering. ¡°No ¡­¡± I muttered, tears streaming down my cheeks, then my voice grew louder. ¡°No, no, no¡­this wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this!¡± I did this. I crawled to her, my hands shaking as I cradled her form in my arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, child.¡± Lady Mikaela whispered as she wiped away her own tears, then turned to me and offered an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aidan. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t protect her.¡± I couldn¡¯t care less about what she had to say. Yana was dying¡­ I held her, my right hand on the nasty wound the Dark Hunters had left on her neck, trying to stop the bleeding. As if that would help¡­ Yana couldn¡¯t speak. She couldn¡¯t utter even a single word. Her breath was shallow, her life slipping away. But then she suddenly smiled ¨C a weak, faint, fragile smile. Enough to break me completely. And then, in my arms, she died. Chapter 11: Consequences Chapter 11: Consequences ¡°You realize you look very silly right now, right?¡± Goren asked as he stood beside me. I was still holding Yana in my arms, barely able to comprehend that she was truly gone. The weight of it crushed me. This had happened because of me. These Dark Hunters ¨C none of this would¡¯ve happened if I hadn¡¯t changed the future by warning her. Goren knelt beside me when I didn¡¯t respond. ¡°What aren¡¯t you getting? None of this matters. You¡¯ll die, and when you wake up, she¡¯ll be alive again. You know that, so stop with this self-pitying bullshit!¡± Slowly, I raised my head and met his gaze, still numb. He stood up, rolling his eyes. ¡°Mikaela and her lackeys went inside. I assume the Grave Moles will attack us soon. Are you finally ready to level up?¡± I looked down at Yana¡¯s still body again, ignoring him completely. Seeing her like this just made me want to give up. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re pathetic.¡± Goren snapped, frustration fiiling his voice as he turned his back to me. ¡°When you finally stop wallowing and realize the power you now hold, come find me.¡± With that, he left me alone. I didn¡¯t want to fight. She was dead, and it was because of me. Yes, everything will reset after I die, and none of this would matter. Hell, I wouldn¡¯t even remember it was my fault. The one silver lining of this cursed system. But that didn¡¯t change the fact that right now, right at this moment, in this run, she was gone. I killed her. Nothing I say or do from here would undo that. An even deeper realization suddenly struck me. The Dark Hunters had appeared mostly in this area of the antechamber, where Yana was. Could it be that they were targeting her? What if they were hunting her because she was the one who changed the course of things? Was this what Chronos had warned me about? He said that if I told anyone, Erebus would know and make my life a living hell. Does that mean that Erebus will just target and kill Yana again and again in every run from now on? A cold shiver ran down my spine at the thought. I couldn¡¯t let that happen. Stuck in this time loop, there was only one way to make sure Yana¡¯s death wouldn¡¯t become a permanent reality, and that was to level up, get stronger, and defeat Erebus. I looked at Yana¡¯s peaceful form in my arms, the knot in my chest tightening as I whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure it never happens again.¡± Gently, I laid her on the ground beside the other fallen adventurers, my heart heavy. Then, without looking back, I made my way toward Goren, determined to make the most out of the time I still had left in this run. Goren''s assumptions were correct. The Grave Moles and Void Spiders made their appearance once again. We fought. There was no point in running away, not with what I knew. Goren even helped me land the last hit on one of the Grave Moles, letting me gain the full XP from the kill, despite the fact I barely did anything to help. [+544 XP] [Level Up! You have gained 1 Skill Point] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] I had no time to choose as the fight continued. Eventually, they overwhelmed us. Despite my efforts, one of Void Spiders ensnared me with its webs and a Grave Mole landed a killing blow. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] *** When I woke up in my bed, I realized the Loop Count message didn¡¯t appear. Even weirder than that, I still had all my memories intact. Just as I was about to question this strange predicament, I noticed a figure seated at the desk next to my bed. Chronos. He was wearing a long black leather coat over a white shirt, and boots with some of the thickest soles I''ve ever seen, his feet casually propped on the desk. His long coat hung loosely behind him, the fringes swaying slightly as he rocked back in the chair. ¡°Good morning.¡± He greeted me, though his expression was anything but greeting. ¡°Good ¨C ¡° I started to reply, but he aggressively swung his feet off the desk and turned toward me, leaning in as he spoke, cutting me off. ¡°What did I tell you about talking to anyone about this?¡± His voice was sharp, emphatic. I couldn¡¯t respond. I had nothing to say in my defense. I just averted my gaze, feeling the weight of the accusation. ¡°You even asked, and I explicitly told you to not to tell Yana.¡± He continued, his tone harsh and unforgiving. ¡°Yet you did it anyway. Do you think I¡¯m joking? That I exaggerated the stakes and the dangers?¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°No, I just ¨C ¡° ¡°You just decided to ignore my warning!¡± he interrupted, is voice rising with anger. There was a brief pause, but the tension in the room was palpable, making my skin crawl. ¡°Now,¡± Chronos said in a lower, grim tone, ¡°there will be a price to pay. Your friend is marked by Erebus.¡± My heart sank as I realized my earlier fears might come true and Erebus will now kill Yana purposefully in each run. I raised my eyes to meet his. ¡°Marked?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chronos said, his voice heavy as he averted his gaze. ¡°Those Dark Hunters of his¡­They are his direct agents. He sends them whenever he senses a disturbance - something that my sovereignty over time might produce. He now suspects that she¡¯s my champion, and he¡¯ll likely keep a close eye on her in future runs.¡± ¡°Her?¡± I asked, confused and terrified. ¡°But I was the one who told her! Why didn¡¯t he mark me instead?¡± Chronos sighed in frustration. ¡°Because you¡¯re a washed-up adventurer who maxed out at level 50 , Aidan! Erebus doesn¡¯t believe I¡¯d choose someone like you to represent me. You¡¯re too weak to even be considered a threat. Your friend, on the other hand, is strong and has incredible potential. She¡¯s a legitimate candidate in his eyes.¡± I shook my head in disbelief. By telling Yana what I knew, I hadn¡¯t just gotten her killed ¨C I¡¯d dragged her into this mess, making her an easy target for the embodiment of Darkness. But something still didn¡¯t add up. ¡°What about Goren?¡± I asked, my mind spinning. "He seems to be part of it as well." "He doesn''t matter." Chronos replied sharply, waving his hand in dismissal. ¡°Who is Dolos?¡± I asked. Chronos¡¯ face twisted in disgust at the mention of the name. ¡°Don¡¯t ever mention this name near me again.¡± ¡°Who is he?¡± I pressed, unwilling to let it go. ¡°A thorn in my side, and that¡¯s all you need to know.¡± Chronos replied, his tone bitter. ¡°Avoid Goren at all costs. He might seem like he¡¯s helping you now, but you cannot trust him.¡± ¡°You have to tell me more ¨C ¡° ¡°And you had to listen to me!¡± Chronos snapped, cutting me off. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare come to me with demands after you broke the one simple rule I gave you.¡± I sighed heavily, my guilt weighing me down. ¡°You¡¯re right. Seeing her die, right in my arms¡­That was punishment enough.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t.¡± Chronos shot back coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve only made this whole ordeal harder for yourself - and us! We can¡¯t afford to lose here. Do you even understand what¡¯s at stake?¡± I clenched my fists, my heart sinking deeper. Chronos continued. ¡°You don¡¯t get to choose your next skill upgrade. I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± With a snap of his fingers, a system message popped up. [Skill acquired: Temporal Trace lvl.1] [Next Level: lvl.2: Increases the number of possible marks available in each loop to 2] ¡°Temporal Trace?¡± I asked, confused. ¡°Why this one?¡± ¡°So, you can see things the way I see them - and understand the consequences of your mistakes first-hand.¡± His response was cryptic, and his mood clearly wasn¡¯t open to more questioning, so I decided not to push further. Chronos¡¯ gaze darkened as he spoke again. ¡°You will also remember her death.¡± A shiver ran down my spine. I had hoped I would forget it. ¡°But you said I can¡¯t keep my memories between loops.¡± I pointed out, trying to remind him of the rules he¡¯d set for the system, hoping he might change his mind. ¡°I did.¡± He said, his voice firm. ¡°But you need to remember this - to make sure you don¡¯t repeat the same mistakes again. And to remember what you¡¯re fighting for.¡± The young man stood up, his presence looming. ¡°Now, go and fix this. I chose you for a reason, and I¡¯m still waiting for you to prove me right.¡± Before I could respond, he snapped his fingers again, and everything went black. *** [Loop Count: 4] I woke up with my conversation with Chronos still ringing in my ears. He was so angry¡­I didn¡¯t ask to be part of this. I was literally forced into it! Why did he have such high expectations of me? The rest of my memories were gone. The only things that remained, beside both of my conversations with Chronos, were Yana¡¯s death and the fact that it was my fault. The image of her peaceful form, that weak, fragile smile on her face - it haunted my mind. I found myself tearing up. I couldn¡¯t let that happen again. Whatever happens this time, and in any future loops, I won¡¯t get her involved in any of this. I¡¯ll make Erebus realize he was wrong - that she wasn¡¯t part of this ¨C and he¡¯ll leave her alone. Another memory that remained were two names ¨C Goren, and Dolos. I could only recall that they had something to do with this time loop game. I glanced at the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system screen to see where I stood. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 3] [Loop Count: 4] [Experience Points (XP): 112 / 1200] I had a long way to go until I reached the next level. I wondered if it was possible to do it in a single loop, using the Checkpoint skill again, of course. A knock on the door startled me. Looking at the clock on the wall, I realized it was probably Yana. I¡¯d wasted the entire morning lost in mourning and guilt. Yana. I rushed eagerly to the door and opened it quickly. There she stood. Her long red hair was tied back in a single braid, her freckled face showing mild surprise. Her red lightweight armor hugged her frame, and instantly I remembered why she chose that color. ¡°So the enemies won¡¯t see me bleed.¡± She once said. It sounded so foolish and pretentious, I couldn¡¯t stop laughing at her, and eventually she gave in and we laughed at this together. But there was something more there. The effect of the Temporal Trace skill - what Chronos wanted me to see. A dark aura surrounded Yana, so dark it was almost tangible. Above her head, a message was displayed: [This unit is marked by Darkness] My hearts pounded as I understood the gravity of my mistake. That¡¯s what being marked by Erebus meant. If he and his minions could see this aura around her, just like I could, she was going to be a prime target for them. ¡°Aidan?¡± she asked, confused. ¡°Why are you not ready yet?¡± Ignoring her question - and the stench of Darkness clinging to her - I pulled her into a tight hug, the memory of holding her lifeless body flooding back, bringing tears to my eyes again. ¡°Aidan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, even more bewildered. I knew I could never tell her about any of this - ever again. It was my burden to bear. I had to protect her, no matter the cost. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± I lied, holding her even tighter. ¡°I missed you.¡± She hesitated, then hugged me back. For a brief moment, I felt peace. Chapter 12: Ancient Art Chapter 12: Ancient Art
We walked to Gaelith¡¯s Tomb together. Yana left to speak with Lady Mikaela. I remained alone.
A Rogue approached me. He wore sleek, black leather armor, the kind that allowed for swift, silent movements. Twin daggers were holstered on a belt that crossed his torso diagonally, and a short sword rested on his hip. His hair and eyes were black as well, but what struck me most was his expression ¨C familiar, as if he knew me ¨C despite the fact that I had never seen this man before in my life. Something else stood about him. The same dark aura that surrounded Yana clung to him and a message: [This unit is marked by Darkness] He stopped next to me, speaking casually. ¡°I was thinking for this run, we could just rush at the Undead Wolves. You¡¯ll probably die, but I¡¯ll help you score as many kills as possible before that. I¡¯m already pretty high myself, so I need you to level up faster.¡± My heart pounded. His words - it almost sounded like he knew about the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system. I remembered the name Goren from my conversation with Chronos and how he warned me about him and¡­a Dolos? Whoever that was...I couldn¡¯t exactly recall the guy or what he had done, just that he also possessed the new system. With Chronos already mad at me, I knew I should follow his advice - for now. ¡°Goren?¡± I asked casually, trying to confirm if he was the one I needed to be wary of. He looked confused. ¡°Yeah?¡± That confirmed it. I wondered why he was speaking so freely with me. Did his system not reset his memories between loops? He clearly remembered me¡­was he already high-level enough to retain his memories completely? Did he think I remembered him? ¡°Let¡¯s see how it goes.¡± I said, still thinking of how I could keep him away from me without making an outright enemy out of him, and without revealing the fact that I had no idea who he was. ¡°You already know how it goes.¡± He replied, then added. ¡°But you¡¯re still untrusting, I see¡­¡± ¡°Can you blame me?¡± I asked, feigning surprise, not having a clue what he was referring to. He tsked loudly before speaking again. ¡°Well, see you in team four.¡± Then he turned and left. ***
After an introduction from Stephan Lorren, we split into teams. I was in team four. We cleared the chamber. It was filled with Undead Warriors. The chamber split into three additional ones. We cleared those as well.
[D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 3] [Loop Count: 4] [Experience Points (XP): 384 / 1200] I was still very far from the next level. Goren had mentioned some Undead Wolves earlier. I briefly considered asking him about them but quickly decided against it. I had already ignored Cronos¡¯ warnings once, and now Yana was marked. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Goren said from behind me. Speak of the devil. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I asked as I saw him reach out his hand. ¡°Pick it up and find out.¡± He replied, sounding a bit impatient. [Item Acquired: Gethril Root (Consumable) ¨C Added to Inventory #1] ¡°Gethril Root?¡± I asked, confused. ¡°Is there any poisoning I should be wary of?¡± He looked at me, dumbfounded for a moment, then his eyes lit up. ¡°Ha, very funny. You know, your sense of humor is starting to grow on me.¡± He walked on ahead, following Jax and the others, while I trailed behind, thinking about the item he¡¯d just given me. An anti-poisoning consumable¡­Did that mean we were about to face enemies that could inflict poison? But wolves don¡¯t usually inflict poison¡­ Maybe I should move it to my second inventory, just in case I didn¡¯t survive long enough to use it in this run. Goren lived in his own timeline, and maybe next time he wouldn¡¯t hand me this item. But having it in my second inventory will give me a heads-up about what was coming as soon as I woke up at the start of the next run. But how do I even move it there? I opened Inventory #1 and hovered over the new item. [Selected Item: Gethril Root (Consumable) x1] [Options: Use / Details / Discard / Transfer / Move] A Move option, which had never been there before, was now available. I selected it, and the system updated. [Transfer Complete: Gethril Root (Consumable) has been moved to Inventory #2]This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. This was fairly easy. Now, I just need to hope that future me will understand the message I left here. ***
We were locked inside the tomb. Just like Goren said, Undead Wolves attacked us, and I used Checkpoint before the battle. I kept my distance from Goren, slew one wolf, and stayed alive. Our leaders ventured further into the tomb. Aric Kelltins was left behind with us.
The uneasy feeling of D¨¦j¨¤ vu surfaced again, and I couldn¡¯t stop glancing at the ground, as if expecting danger to come from there. ¡°Kinda sucks you didn¡¯t come with me when the wolves attacked.¡± Goren said behind me, once again showing his ability to sneak up on me completely undetected. During the fight with the wolves, he showed exceptional strength, far beyond what I expected from someone of his level. I shrugged. ¡°Well, it was a dicey situation.¡± ¡°Dicey for someone who didn¡¯t know it was coming - not for us.¡± I cleared my throat, maintaining my knowing fa?ade. ¡°I wanted to stay with my friend.¡± ¡°Yana, right?¡± he asked, his tone shifting to something darker, sending a shiver down my spine. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I nodded, turning to face him with a serious expression. If Chronos had warned me to avoid this man at all costs, then I had to be wary about the ways he could harm me - or worse, Yana. He chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t get so riled up now. We have a battle upon us soon.¡± His words confirmed what the D¨¦j¨¤ vu skill was warning me about, but I couldn¡¯t act surprised in front of him, so I kept my cool, simply nodding. Meanwhile, Aric Kelltins called for everyone¡¯s attention to discuss strategies. I though I¡¯d use this moment to end this interaction with Goren and return to Yana¡¯s side, but the man was relentless, likely because he¡¯d experienced Kelltins¡¯ speeches many times before. ¡°Ignore him. He¡¯s of no use to us.¡± He put a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Tell me, how much XP do you have left until your next level up?¡± I glanced at the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system¡¯s screen. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 3] [Loop Count: 4] [Experience Points (XP): 702 / 1200] ¡°Slightly less than five hundred.¡± I replied. His smile widened. ¡°Do you remember how much XP a single Grave Mole is worth?¡± Grave Moles? Was that the name of the creatures that were going to attack us? ¡°No.¡± I replied. This answer seemed like the safest bet. I remained silent, expecting him to continue, which he did. ¡°Five hundred and forty-four, spellsword. You need to keep track of this shit." he sighed. "That should be enough to level you up, right?¡± I nodded slowly, realizing what he was about to suggest. ¡°Ignore Kelltins¡¯ nonsensical strategies. We both know he¡¯s the first one to die anyway. Instead, stick with me - I¡¯ll help you land a kill on one of them again. Hell, I¡¯ll even help you get two, so you¡¯ll be set up for the next level as well.¡± Why was he so desperate to team up with me? I understood we somehow shared a similar fate, but his attempts to help kept coming across as creepy, especially with Erebus¡¯ mark surrounding him. And yet, accepting his help would let me level up faster¡­ No. I couldn¡¯t trust him. Not after what Chronos said. Not after I¡¯d already failed Yana. ¡°Let¡¯s see how it goes.¡± I replied. He chuckled and rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve already used that excuse.¡± ¡°Did I?¡± I said casually, removing his hand from my shoulder. I walked past him to join Yana, hearing him mumble something inaudible behind me. ***
Goren was right again. Aric Kelltins was the first to die. I stayed close to Yana as we escaped the main antechamber. She collapsed the corridor behind us. The survivors who followed us appointed her as party leader as we set out to find the guild masters.
[Checkpoint: Anchor had expired] This was the message the system displayed once we finally had a breather after the corridor collapsed. Checkpoint was now greyed out, and I realized the system considered the anchor setup as the skill¡¯s use, not the actual revival, which might or might not happen. We continued through the dark corridors of the tomb with Melissa, an enchanter, guiding us with basic illumination magic. Jax and Henry covered our rear, using fire magic to light the back of our formation. Every now and then, we encountered Undead Warriors, whom we managed to deal with fairly easily. I was able to kill some of them, gaining 170 XP points in the process. They also dropped a healing potion and fifteen gold coins, which I stored in my second inventory, figuring it was best to keep them safe there, so they won¡¯t get lost once I die. Who knows? If I die enough times, those fifteen coins might eventually amass into a thousand five hundred in the second inventory, making me rich. Sorta. Some of the corridors we passed had murals on them, but whenever I stopped to look, my companions - Yana included - nudged me to hurry. Their concerns were legitimate, of course - the Grave Moles could easily dig their way to our location, so staying in one place for too long was dangerous. And yet, I recalled Chronos¡¯ words: he told me I needed to learn more about the tomb and Gaelith himself, and studying the murals might help with that. ¡°Oh, would you quit stopping already?¡± Jax snapped after I paused again. ¡°Look at this.¡± I said, bewildered, as I pointed to the wall on our left. There, a large horizontal mural stretched across the entire corridor wall. It seemed that everyone else had just noticed it too, and they were drawn to the image, which was difficult to interpret. It looked like a sea or an ocean, yet in some places, dark spikes rose from the so-called sea. In the center of the mural - and of the corridor - was a red circle. A sun? What did this almost tranquil image have to do with this cursed place? ¡°Hey, Melissa, could you please light the upper part of the wall?¡± I asked, hoping to see the murals darkened parts as well. ¡°It all pretty and everything, but we¡¯re literally wasting our time here.¡± Jax complained again. ¡°We¡¯re not in a museum! Do I need to remind everyone that we¡¯re in grave danger right now?¡± ¡°I hate to agree with him, Aidan, but he¡¯s right.¡± Yana added. ¡°It would¡¯ve been nice to stay and look at it more but it''s simply too dangerous.¡± I nodded, disappointed but understanding their concern. I knew that once I died, nothing that happened here would matter, but still, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to disregard these people¡¯s lives. ¡°What do you know about this place anyway? I mean before Gaelith was brought here.¡± I asked Yana, genuinely curious as we resumed walking. ¡°Not much, really.¡± Yana replied. ¡°I think the Axul tribe lived here in Moonvale at the time. They were fairly secretive and secluded but also respected by the royalty of their time. Maybe they buried their own here.¡± I heard of the Axul tribe once. They were thought to be heavy believers in the old gods of the world, but instead of preaching it, they chose a secluded lifestyle in closed villages. ¡°Oh, stop spouting nonsense.¡± Jax cut in. ¡°Axul weren¡¯t a tribe. They were a goddamned sect, and they weren¡¯t respected ¨C they were feared.¡± ¡°You sound like you know a lot about that ¡®goddamned sect¡¯. I wonder why...¡± Lena jabbed at him. ¡°Of course I do, but I don¡¯t expect a novice, uneducated healer like you to understand why.¡± He shot back, his tone sharp. We continued down the corridor until we reached an intersection. To the right, a path lay shrouded in complete darkness. The one on the left was also dark, but at a quick glance, it seemed the mural continued down that corridor, leaving me both intrigued and curious. ¡°We need to take a right here, Aidan.¡± Yana said, pointing to the right path. ¡°I can feel human presence there.¡± I nodded, but before following her, I activated the Temporal Trace skill for the first time, attempting to leave a mark, hoping that my future self - the one who¡¯d grow tired of the constant resurrections and remaining completely in the dark - would take notice, ignore everyone else, and just explore this corridor instead. I wasn¡¯t yet that version of myself. I focused on the floor next to the left corridor. [Temporal Trace: A mark has been set] A small, glowing orb remained on the ground. Judging by everyone¡¯s lack of reaction, it was clear I was the only one who could see it. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As I followed Yana, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the mural and what the sun and ocean could signify for the Axul. Chapter 13: First Seeds of Darkness Chapter 13: First Seeds of Darkness
We reunited with Mikaela, then with Lorren. We were attacked by the Priestesses of Axul. We were abandoned by the guild masters. But we were spared ¨C purposefully. At least for now¡­
¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, Aidan.¡± Yana reached out a helping hand, but my mind was somewhere else. ¡°This mural.¡± I said, pointing at it behind me. ¡°What do you think it means?¡± Yana put her hands on her hips and looked at it, visibly unimpressed. ¡°Oh, another one of these. Never took you for an art enthusiast, Aidan.¡± I rolled my eyes and stood up. ¡°Look at the images. The woman in the middle is one of those that attacked us just now. And there¡¯s some kind of ritual there, but it¡¯s incomplete.¡± I pointed at the colorful pieces of stone next to the wall. ¡°The next image - it¡¯s broken.¡± Yana sighed. ¡°Aidan, be real with me. How is that supposed to help us in our predicament?¡± Sorry, I can¡¯t tell you. I chuckled. ¡°You know me - I always turn to jokes in tense situations. Humor me¡­please?¡± Her expression softened. She even smiled weakly before looking at the mural. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°So, any thoughts?¡± I asked, hoping to get some useful insights from her. Once I die, I¡¯ll forget everything I learned here, but it¡¯s still better than just moving forward blindly and stupidly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but you''re right - it¡¯s definitely one of those Priestesses of Axul.¡± She confirmed my words, carefully analyzing the images. ¡°The white-dressed fellas are standing behind her in the second image, so I guess it means they follow her, or maybe the priestess protects them? But the ones in green are kneeling before her - are they on her side too?¡± ¡°But who are they?¡± I wondered aloud. Yana shook her head, looking back at me. ¡°I have no idea what I just saw, Aidan. Sorry.¡± I sighed. I¡¯m not sure what I was hoping to understand from this mural. ¡°Sorry to ruin your art appreciation moment, but I have bad news.¡± A burly man - another adventurer left behind ¨C said as he approached us. ¡°All of the corridors leading out of this chamber have collapsed. The only way out is through these strange-looking tunnels.¡± ¡°Strange-looking tunnels?¡± Yana echoed, and we both followed him to his friend, a tall mage standing beside Melissa. ¡°Were those dug up by the Grave Moles?¡± I asked, confused. ¡°And if so, when? We didn¡¯t see any Grave Moles here.¡± ¡°Perhaps they dug them before our arrival.¡± The tall mage suggested. ¡°They might have an entire ecosystem here. If Gaelith¡¯s curse really came true word-to-word, it¡¯s highly plausible.¡± Yana nodded. ¡°This might be our way out.¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Melissa squeaked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to become food for the Grave Moles!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t stay here either.¡± Yana replied. ¡°I can¡¯t promise there¡¯s an exit on the other end, but I¡¯m certain staying here would only result in our deaths.¡± *** ¡°Goren¡­¡± I muttered under my breath as we reached the end of the tunnel, where an extremely large chamber awaited us, with Goren sitting in the middle of it, sharpening his blade with a whetstone. ¡°You know him?¡± Yana asked me, whispering. I nodded, keeping my answer brief. ¡°He was with me in team four. Stay careful around him.¡± Yana nodded back, and we carefully approached him. ¡°Where¡¯s everyone else? There¡¯s no way you made it here alone.¡± the burly man beside us asked Goren. ¡°You know what¡¯s wild, Spellsword?¡± Goren addressed me, ignoring the man¡¯s question, still focused on his blade. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You always managed to find your way here. Even before you got the new system.¡± Confused looks appeared on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°New system? What is he talking about, Aidan?¡± Yana asked. I shook my head and tried to sound convincing. ¡°I don¡¯t know. This guy is crazy.¡± Goren continued, seemingly ignoring our conversation completely. ¡°I had to die thirty-three times before I made it to this area of the tomb. Originally, I died to the Undead Wolves.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Yana shot me another glance, visibly asking ¡®What the hell is he talking about?¡¯ but I knew I couldn¡¯t tell her, so I just shrugged and pulled her to the side, away from him. ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you.¡± Goren spoke again, stopping us in our tracks. ¡°We are going to get attacked any moment now.¡± His comment got everyone on edge. Melissa spoke up, her tone as nervous as ever. ¡°By whom?¡± ¡°And how would you know that?¡± the tall mage added, surprised. Goren ignored them again, addressing me once more. ¡°But you should already know that, right?¡± Yana glanced at me nervously again, but I didn¡¯t even know what to say. I had no idea what he was talking about. I¡¯d only been acting like I knew so far, just so he wouldn¡¯t think he had an advantage over me, but now it seemed like he was on to me. I looked him straight in the eyes, my gaze serious. ¡°What do you want?¡± He smiled, revealing a set of white teeth. ¡°What I already told you! I want ¨C ¡° ¡°Hey, don¡¯t ignore me!¡± The tall mage furiously cut him off. Goren turned to him, the dark aura surrounding him growing more intense, speaking in the most chilling tone I had ever heard. ¡°Cut me off one more time, and I¡¯ll cut your throat.¡± Despite being seven levels higher than Goren, the mage stepped back, his eyes wide with fear. Goren turned back to me. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you, but you won¡¯t let me, and because of that I¡­¡± he trailed off before continuing. ¡°I can¡¯t finish this. And I¡¯m so, so tired already.¡± Everyone¡¯s gaze was on me. It seemed like there was a general consensus that Goren was insane, so they expected me to provide an answer for his behavior, as if I was his friend or something, but again, I didn¡¯t know what to say. Chronos told me to stay away from him. He continued, his tone growing serious. ¡°What do I need to do to get you on my side?¡± ¡°We¡¯re already on the same side.¡± I tried to cool things down. He rolled his eyes. ¡°You know what I mean.¡± ¡°What the hell is going on, Aidan?¡± Yana whispered beside me. But before I could respond, our conversation was cut short by loud hissing sounds. *** Goren had cut down most of the Razor Serpents that attacked us, with only a few taken out by Yana and the mage. A wild moment occurred when after the end of the battle, an additional serpent appeared out of one of the tunnels and tried to grab Goren, but he moved as fast as lightning, as if expecting the attack. He dodged the creature¡¯s strike with an acrobatic backflip before cutting through its metallic skin and eventually pinning it to the ground with his sword on less than 5% of its HP. ¡°Take the last hit.¡± He told me. Still reluctant to accept his help, I hesitated, and this time he shouted. ¡°Kill it!¡± Setting my hesitations aside and realizing I needed as much XP as I could get to progress and protect Yana, I stepped forward, striking the serpent down with a Time Delay Swing with Nightfall. [+544 XP] [Level Up! You have gained 1 Skill Point] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] I decided to wait with the skill choice, as it seemed like the wrong time. Melissa had been crushed to death by one of the Razor Serpents that had coiled around her. Everyone but Goren stood around her corpse ¨C or rather, what was left of it. ¡°Such a shame.¡± The burly man said, letting out a sigh. ¡°Damn it.¡± Yana muttered, seemingly blaming herself for not saving her. I was glad Yana wasn¡¯t injured. There was a moment where one of the serpents attacked me from behind and almost landed its fangs on me. She seemed to be on her way to help me, but before she could, Goren appeared out of nowhere and saved me. It left me bewildered. He was clearly not stable, but he had been very helpful so far. Why did Chronos tell me to stay away from him? ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± Goren said suddenly, cutting the mournful moment short. ¡°Continue where?¡± Yana asked sharply. She had much less patience for Goren than I did. Before he could answer, she shook her head. ¡°Scratch that. I want to know how a low-level rogue like you managed to slay those level 80 monsters without breaking a sweat.¡± He looked at her, then at me, then back at her, his expression almost bored. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you want.¡± He turned and continued toward the only corridor ahead. ¡°You can follow me or stay here if you want, Spellsword. I don¡¯t expect to defeat Gaelith on this run, but we might learn something useful.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± The burly man called out after him. ¡°I¡¯ll join you too, but let¡¯s at least build a cairn for the girl.¡± ¡°First of all, I don¡¯t need you. I only need him.¡± Goren replied without turning back. ¡°And secondly, why would you build a cairn for her? None of this matters anyway.¡± ¡°This guy gives me the chills, Aidan. You were right when you said we should be careful around him.¡± Yana whispered to me. ¡°But I don¡¯t understand his obsession with you.¡± I shrugged, feigning innocence. ¡°I have no clue as well.¡± While internally, I contemplated if I should just join Goren. He was right in a sense - none of this matters as I¡¯m clearly not strong enough to clear this dungeon yet. I will die sooner rather than later. Eventually, I decided to stay by Yana¡¯s side. Together with our two companions, we built a cairn for Melissa. Even though it was a bit late, we also introduced ourselves. The tall mage¡¯s name was Tagan. He was an offensive mage from the Arcantor class. And the burly man was Bernard. Like Waylan, he was a tank from the Warden class. I also used the moment of silence to consider which skill to level up. Checkpoint was clearly my strongest asset, but since the skill¡¯s next level only extended the anchor¡¯s duration to an hour, it wasn¡¯t worth upgrading right now. I needed something that would help me regain some of my memories between the loops. Looking at the two skills I hadn¡¯t leveled up yet, I realized one of them would have to be my choice. Afterimage would let me see an afterimage of my previous selves, allowing me to learn the actions I took in previous runs. But since the skill lacked a more detailed description, I assumed that, like Checkpoint, it probably had a lot of restrictions that I¡¯d only learn about after leveling it up. Echo Sense, on the other hand, would allow me to hear past loops. Considering Goren was already starting to catch on to my lies, having the possibility of hearing our past conversations with Echo Sense might help me keep my fa?ade going while avoiding him as much as possible. Plus, it was a passive skill, so I wouldn¡¯t have to think about when to activate it. Alright, it¡¯s decided. [Skill acquired: Echo Sense lvl.1] [Next Level: lvl.2: The echoes will become clearer and more frequent] Clearer? How would they sound now? Great¡­I should¡¯ve guesses this skill would also be practically useless at first¡­ After a few minutes, realizing we had no other options, we decided to head down the dark corridor Goren had taken half an hour ago. The floor was covered in a dark mist that felt almost tangible. We found Goren¡¯s corpse peeking out from under the strange mist shortly after we entered, and then something attacked us, moving so fast I couldn¡¯t even register it. But I could tell it was something truly evil. ¡°Watch out, Aidan!¡± Yana¡¯s scream was the last thing I heard. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] Chapter 14: Breakfast at Christian’s Chapter 14: Breakfast at Christian¡¯s [Loop Count: 5] I woke up with the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system¡¯s message hovering above me. I¡¯d already died four times, yet I had no memory of any of those times...It was a curse and a blessing all at the same time. I glanced at the system menu. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 4] [Loop Count: 5] [Experience Points (XP): 216 / 1300] ¡°¡­inventory¡­¡± I suddenly heard. I jumped from the bed, looking around, searching for the source of the voice but couldn¡¯t find anything. Then, the realization finally hit me. Echo Sense. The voice I heard was from a previous run of mine. Likely my own. It was barely audible, which made sense considering the low level of the skill at the moment, but I had definitely said Inventory. Instinctively, I opened my second inventory. [Inventory #2] Interesting¡­It looks like my past self had left me a weak healing potion, some spare change, and a Gethril Root? Gethril Root was an anti-poisoning consumable. Was this my way of warning myself about enemies who could inflict poison? Yes. That¡¯s definitely something I would do. Where did I get it, though? Did I find it along the way during the quest? Had someone given it to me? I couldn¡¯t remember how any of the items in my second inventory made it there. One thing I did know was that before we leave, I should pay a visit to a friend. ***
Yana came to pick me up. Before we made our way to Gaelith¡¯s Tomb, I decided to take a detour and visit Christian ¨C my guildmaster.
¡°Explain again why we need to visit Christian?¡± Yana asked as we walked toward the westernmost house in Sandrest, Christian¡¯s house, and my guild¡¯s base of operations. I instantly recalled how Yana used to tease me about Christian being my guild master, as he was a¡­unique person, and couldn¡¯t help but crack a laugh. ¡°I need some items. I feel like I¡¯m going on this quest naked.¡± ¡°Items? What, like healing potions and stuff?¡± Yana asked, confused. ¡°I thought I already told you my guild provides all of these as the main organizers of the quest.¡± She did tell me about this, and normally I would¡¯ve agreed with her, but finding a single Gethril Root in my inventory got me thinking: if the items Yana¡¯s guild provides are as abundant as she makes it sound, why did my previous self only get one single Gethril Root from there? It would¡¯ve made more sense to take at least two. The simplest answer to that would be that I never got it from there. Which raises a different question: why not? Did they not have a Gethril Root in the stash? Highly unlikely on a quest of such magnitude. Did they not bring enough of it? Again, unlikely. Did I take only one? No way, I¡¯m way too greedy, and a hoarder to boot. Does the quest become so dicey at some point that we lose access to the stash? Now, that¡¯s the most likely answer. And if that¡¯s the case, where did I get it from? Christian himself could¡¯ve been a possible option. I might¡¯ve begun the previous runs by visiting him as well. Except that likely wasn¡¯t the case. Think about it: I only got the urge to visit him after I found the Gethril Root in the second inventory. Let¡¯s say I got it from Christian in the previous run. For me to visit him in the previous run, I had to find the Gethril Root in my inventory that morning as well, and so on in a crazy game of what came first: the chicken or the egg? In my case, it was the chicken, a.k.a. the tomb. I could¡¯ve visited Christian in previous runs. And the items I¡¯d gotten from him might¡¯ve proved useless, and maybe all of this was just a waste of time. But something was telling me that this was the first time I came here since I got stuck in this time loop. Or maybe I should call it the lack of something? I had no sense of D¨¦j¨¤ vu. Not even the slightest nudge inside during our walk here and conversation. ¡°You told me.¡± I nodded and replied simply. ¡°But I¡¯d rather have some of my own stuff on me.¡± She looked thoughtful. ¡°I don¡¯t remember you being so paranoid.¡± I had died four times already, and I didn¡¯t feel like I¡¯d gotten any closer to ending this time loop. Of course I¡¯m paranoid, Yana. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with being prepared.¡± I protested, trying to keep my tone light to make her think I was just joking, even though I wasn¡¯t. ¡°If you say so.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just worried we¡¯re gonna be late. Lady Mikaela really likes me, and I don¡¯t want to ruin the good impression I¡¯ve made.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°We won¡¯t be late, I promise. I¡¯ll race you there.¡± I reassured her just as we reached Christian¡¯s door. She smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer.¡± I smiled back and knocked on the door, hoping Christian was awake. The door creaked open almost immediately, revealing Christian in a set of pink pajamas, his dark hair messy as if he had just woken up, and a mug with pitch-black coffee in his right hand. He looked at me, his expression tired, annoyed, and disgusted all at the same time. ¡°What did you do?¡± he asked before I could even greet him, his voice as tired as he looked. I exchanged a glance with Yana before raising an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Last time I checked, this was my house, not the Tomb of Gaelith.¡± He said as he sipped on the coffee, keeping eye contact with me. ¡°How about a good morning first, Chris?¡± I said, smiling at him. He sighed. ¡°Good morning, Aidan.¡± He took another sip of the coffee. ¡°So? Did they disqualify you or something? Should I prepare a formal apology letter and get ready for a bunch of bureaucratic paperwork?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± I protested. ¡°When did I ever make any trouble for you?¡± He raised both eyebrows in surprise, a stark contrast to his tired look. ¡°Oh, I can think of at least twenty times just from the top of my mind.¡± Yana chuckled at his words and turned away so I couldn''t see her laughing at me. Before I could retaliate, a young boy, Christian¡¯s eldest, approached the door and tugged on his father¡¯s shirt. ¡°Dad, can you help me lace my boots? Also, mom told me to call you.¡± He then noticed Yana and me. ¡°Oh, hey.¡± We smiled and waved to him. "Hey." ¡°Tell her I have guests.¡± Christian said. ¡°And you already know how to tie your own boots, Landon.¡± The kid sighed before leaving. ¡°Whatever.¡± ¡°Kids these days¡­¡± Christian sighed and sipped more of his coffee, then turned to us, specifically to Yana. Meeting his gaze, Yana attempted an introduction. ¡°Hello, my name is ¨C ¡° ¡°Yana.¡± He cut her off. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You know?¡± she asked, confused. ¡°How?¡± ¡°This guy.¡± He replied, pointing his mug at me. ¡°Or I might be psychic. Whichever answer you prefer¡­¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Landon called from inside. ¡°Mom said come over right now!¡± ¡°Tell her I have guests!¡± he shouted back. ¡°I did!¡± the boy replied. ¡°She said she doesn¡¯t care!¡± Christian sighed and rolled his eyes. ¡°Tell her it¡¯s Aidan!¡± There was a brief silence before we heard Landon again. ¡°She said that as long as it¡¯s Aidan, then it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t come right away.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Christian shouted back before turning to us, muttering under his breath. ¡°Figures,¡± and taking another sip from his mug. I exchanged another glance with Yana, who seemed on the verge of bursting out laughing. As for me? It was just another day at Christian¡¯s. I have no idea why his wife liked me so much. ¡°So, why are you here?¡± Christian asked, stepping outside and closing the door behind him. I cleared my throat, carefully formulating my next words. The last thing I wanted was Yana suspecting that I was hiding something. ¡°Call it cold feet, but I woke up feeling totally underprepared for this quest, so I¡¯d like to take some items from the guild¡¯s stock.¡± I said. ¡°Aren¡¯t the Burning Suns providing everything for this quest?¡± he asked, looking at Yana. ¡°We are.¡± Yana replied, straightening her posture. Christian turned to me. ¡°So¡­?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯d rather have my own stuff.¡± I replied. Christian raised an eyebrow, turning to Yana again. When she shrugged, he turned back to me. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Has overpreparing ever hurt anyone?¡± I asked, trying to sound genuine. ¡°Well, no¡­¡± Christian replied. ¡°But I was kinda hoping to win on two fronts here: get paid for your participation in the quest and also not waste anything from our own stock.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Well, sorry to break your dreams, Christian, but here I am.¡± He narrowed his gaze at me. ¡°Well, as the only active member in our guild, you¡¯re the only one using this stuff anyway.¡± He sighed, gesturing for us to follow him. ¡°Come on.¡± He led us to the small storage shed left of the house, muttered the enchantment that kept it locked, then pried the rusty door open and pointed inside. ¡°Go crazy, kid.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait here. Get ready for our race and all that.¡± Yana said, smiling at me. ¡°It¡¯s not going to help you win.¡± I chuckled before entering the shed. To say this shed was a huge pile of mess would be true, but it would also understate its charm. ¡®It¡¯s an organized mess,¡¯ as Christian always called it, and over time, I¡¯d really come to see it that way. The bottom shelf on the left side was lined with dozens of small vials containing liquids of different colors: red, blue, and yellow, in no particular order. I grabbed a few of each and added them to my second inventory. [Item Acquired: Lesser Health Potion x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Lesser Mana Elixir x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Lesser Stamina Elixir x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] The shelf just above it held a variety of consumables: Emberleaf Extract for fire resistance, Lumindew for night vision, Skyroot powder for quicker stamina regeneration, and many others, including some Gehtril Roots. Unsure of what else we might encounter in that tomb, I debated what to take, knowing that taking too many items might confuse my future selves. More Gethril Roots seemed like a safe bet, considering the clue I left myself, so I took two of those. [Item Acquired: Gethril Root (Consumable) x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] But what else? I needed something useful that wouldn¡¯t mislead me¡­I sighed, grabbing a few different items, hoping they would be enough. [Item Acquired: Lumindew (Consumable) x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Skyroot Powder (Consumable) x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Ironbark Brew (Consumable) x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Heartspore Tonic (Consumable) x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] I also grabbed a few offensive items as well. I had no idea what we were about to face, but some fiery explosives can definitely help. [Item Acquired: Ember Flask x3 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Oil Flask x2 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Spark Bomb x3 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] Turning to the right side of the shed, to the mess of weapons strewn across the shelves, I wondered if there was anything here that I could take. There was a bit of everything there, though most of the gear was unimpressive and better suited to adventurers much weaker than even me. Yet, in the middle of it all, leaning against the shelves like a broom, almost comically, was the Astral Spear - our guild¡¯s greatest possession. It could only be wielded by someone at least level 90 and had belonged to Christian¡¯s grandfather, a legendary adventurer in his own right. Many times, I¡¯d dreamed of wielding this weapon. I¡¯d even trained and fought with a spear in the past before I obtained Nightfall and switched to the sword. But this spear was far beyond my reach. Forty levels too far. I smiled weakly at it and sighed. Then, I took a deep breath and sprinted outside the shed, shouting. ¡°Last one to the tomb owes the other lunch!¡± ¡°You dirty little cheat!¡± I heard Yana yell, her footsteps quickening behind me. Chapter 15: The Fall Into… Chapter 15: The Fall Into¡­ . . . We¡¯ve barely survived the Grave Moles¡¯ deadly attack, escaping down the nearest corridor. Yana collapsed it behind us to buy us enough time to flee. ¡°Maybe you were right when you decided to stop at Christian¡¯s this morning.¡± Yana whispered to me as we progressed through the dimly lit corridors. ¡°Did you pick up anything useful from that shed?¡± Did I feel validated for going to Christian this morning? No, at least not yet. None of the items I took had been of any use against the Undead Wolves or the Grave Moles and Void Spiders. Did I leave the Gethril Root in my second inventory because of the Void Spiders, or are we going to encounter another enemy with poisoning abilities? That guy Goren, the one Chronos warned me about, had been pestering me the entire morning. I evaded him as much as I could, trying to use Echo Sense to hear my past conversations with him, but the echoes were so faint and indistinguishable, they barely helped. Still, I believed I¡¯d managed to fool him well enough that he didn¡¯t suspect I didn¡¯t remember him. Erebus'' mark on him was a lot more intense than on Yana. Checkpoint¡¯s anchor had been wasted on me this run. I¡¯d set the anchor right before the wolves attacked, and it expired a few minutes ago, right before we killed a few Undead Warriors. I thought about attacking the Grave Moles, utilizing Checkpoint to reawaken, but I just couldn¡¯t leave Yana¡¯s side. The memory of her dead body in my arms, the only one I retained from my previous runs, continued haunting me. I glanced at the system menu. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 4] [Loop Count: 5] [Experience Points (XP): 976 / 1300] I was fairly close to the next level. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Yana asked, and I realized I hadn¡¯t answered her question. ¡°Oh, yeah, yeah. Sorry. Just a bit overwhelmed.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± I glanced at her and gave her a reassuring smile, only to notice a large mural behind her, stretching across the entire wall. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± . . . Once we reached an intersection at the end of the corridor, I noticed a glowing orb on the ground next to left turn. At first, I almost spoke up to ask the group about it, but as I focused on it, the familiar interface of the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system appeared. [Temporal Trace Mark #1] It displayed above the glowing orb, and I realized I was the only one who could see it. ¡°What are you looking at, Aidan?¡± I heard Yana say behind me. ¡°We need to take a right here. I sensed people that way.¡± I left this mark for myself using Temporal Trace, likely intending to investigate the continuation of the mural in the left corridor. Had I taken the left turn in any of the previous runs? Or would this be the first time? ¡°Aidan?¡± Yana called my name, confused by my unresponsiveness. ¡°Oh, just leave him behind.¡± Jax snapped, moving forward down the right corridor. ¡°Wait for me, Master Jax.¡± Henry called after him. ¡°I want to take a left here.¡± I said calmly, aware of how it was going to sound. Yana¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why? I told you, I sensed people down the right corridor. It¡¯s likely Lady Mikaela. I sense nothing down the left one.¡± ¡°Also, we shouldn¡¯t split up.¡± Lena added, pointing toward the right corridor where Jax and Henry had already disappeared into the darkness. Melissa stood behind Yana, remaining silent but clearly ready to stick with Yana until we were safe. I pondered what to do. Yana was probably right. But she didn¡¯t understand the predicament we were in ¨C I was in ¨C and I couldn¡¯t tell her. I had to move forward. I had to level up. But being unable to retain my memories was slowing my progress so much. What choice did I make here last time? I tried focusing on past echoes using Echo Sense, but the only thing I could hear was: ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go¡­¡±. It was the clearest echo I¡¯d heard so far, yet it could mean anything - and at the same time, it meant nothing. Surprisingly, Goren¡¯s words from morning came into mind: ¡°None of this matters.¡± I sighed, shaking my head. ¡°I¡¯m taking a left here, Yana.¡± She watched me for a long moment, and I was afraid she¡¯d protest, but her response surprised me. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll come with.¡± She then turned to Lena and Melissa, pointing toward the right corridor. ¡°Continue down this corridor together, please.¡± But I didn¡¯t want Yana to join me. I mean, I did, but I couldn¡¯t let her come with me. I¡¯d already made a mistake that now left her marked by Erebus ¨C a mistake Chronos was kind enough to never let me forget. I didn¡¯t know what awaited me in this left corridor, but following me would only endanger Yana further. I couldn¡¯t agree to that. The Grave Moles were already targeting her more than any other adventurer earlier.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Yan, you should escort them to Lady Mikaela.¡± I said, trying to make sense. ¡°Think about it: Lena is a healer, and Melissa is an enchanter. With Jax and Henry already ahead, no one will protect them if anything happens along the way.¡± ¡°And leave you behind in exchange? No chance.¡± Yana replied, her tone firm. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± I lied. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy enough to go in alone. Not after everything we¡¯ve seen.¡± Yana seemed thoughtful, and I used the opportunity to press on. ¡°I¡¯ll just analyze the mural until you get back.¡± ¡°What if you get attacked? By the Grave Moles or worse?¡± she fired back. ¡°Then I¡¯ll run down the right corridor, and you¡¯ll meet me halfway and save me.¡± I felt awful for using her heroic character to manipulate her, but it seemed to be working. Forgive me Yana, but this is for your own good. Melissa was the final nail in the coffin. ¡°Please, Lady Yana, I don¡¯t want to die.¡± She said, beginning to cry. Yana shook her head and took a deep breath, turning to me. ¡°Okay. But don¡¯t you dare take even one step down this left corridor without me, got it?¡± I nodded, smiling weakly. ¡°I promise.¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± She told Melissa and Lena, leading them down the right corridor and leaving me alone at the intersection. Once they were far enough that I couldn¡¯t even hear their footsteps, I turned to the left corridor and took a step forward. Before I could even light a fire, the ground gave way beneath me. My feet slipped, and I was yanked down into the darkness. It wasn¡¯t a straightforward free fall but more of a relentless, bumpy tumble. Mud slicked under me, rocks jabbed into my ribs, and the path twisted and curved in unexpected ways. I scrambled to slow myself down, grasping at the walls and even the ground beneath me, but all I managed was to scrape the palms of my hands at the rough terrain. The tunnel suddenly took a sharp turn, and I was smacked against a wall with my shoulder. Hard. I winced, but there was no time to dwell on it as the tunnel grew even steeper. Reacting quickly, I unsheathed Nightfall and drove it into the ground, attempting to halt my descent. I only managed to slow down a little. Eventually, the ground leveled out, and I skidded to a full stop. I lay back, catching my breath, my body screaming with pain. [Health:36% - Consume a Healing Potion] I took a deep breath, relieved I didn¡¯t have any lasting status effects like bleeding. I selected three lesser healing potions from my second inventory and consumed them, feeling much better. [Item Consumed: Lesser Healing Potion x3] [Health: 96%] Once the immediate problem was out of the way, I realized I was sitting on the cold, muddy ground, surrounded by complete darkness. It was so dark I couldn¡¯t even see my own body. But then I recalled the Lumindew I¡¯d picked from Christian today. [Item Consumed: Lumindew x1] [Night Vision activated. Duration: 30 minutes. Visual range enhanced in low-light areas] With my vision now adjusted to the dark surroundings, my heart sank. I realized I was at the bottom of a large pit, and the walls around me were draped with thick, dense, sticky webs stretching over the walls and the ground itself. Spider webs ¨C huge ones. Big enough to house those giant monstrosities that attacked us in the main antechamber. I glanced up and caught sight of tunnels set high in the walls, likely used by the spiders to traverse the tomb. The hole through which I¡¯d fallen was nowhere to be seen, as if it had closed itself after spitting me out. Yet there was a larger hole there ¨C the size of two carriages at least. Around me, there were no corridors, tunnels, or anything else - just a pit. A pit full of webs and the promise of death once its inhabitants returned home. ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± I muttered under my breath. Was this how I was going to die? By becoming spider food at the bottom of some dark, forgotten pit? Panic washed over me at the thought. I tried using some of my offensive spells on the walls, but nothing left even a scratch. I paced around the room, my mind racing as I thought about what I could do. The Lumindew¡¯s effect would also end in around twenty-five minutes. Good thing I had two. I needed a plan for when the spiders returned. I opened up my second inventory to see what I could use. [Inventory #2] I¡¯d already accepted the fact that I was going to die here. Each Void Spider was level 65. They were fifteen levels stronger than me, but not entirely out of reach. The problem was, given the setup of this place, they¡¯d likely overrun me by sheer numbers. Before I die, I need to take as many of them with me to the grave as possible, to gain maximum XP from this encounter. The Ember Flasks could help with their numbers - an area-of-effect fiery explosion that could damage a lot of them at once. Combined with the Oil Flasks, I would also be able to make the fire damage last for longer, sapping away their health slowly. I just needed to draw them all together. Insect-type monsters usually had a weakness to fire damage. This idea had to work. I¡¯d also have to evade a lot. Thankfully, I had twenty points in Agility, so while level 50 was as mediocre as it gets, having that many points in agility was still considered quite good. Based on what I¡¯d seen when the Void Spiders attacked us in the main antechamber, they moved quickly and also possessed ranged attacks. I¡¯d use Skyroot Powder for increased stamina regeneration, so I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about getting tired throughout the fight. And I¡¯d take an Ironbark Brew to increase my durability by 20% and minimize the damage I¡¯d take, as given the level differences, each attack they landed would likely reduce my HP to lower than 20%. I only had one healing potion left ¨C two, if I counted the one in my original inventory ¨C not enough. The Heartspore Tonic would also be beneficial. I''ll consume it once I get injured, it will restore 10% HP per minute to increase my sustain. I¡¯d also need to use the second Lumindew when the first one¡¯s effect ran out, as the effect couldn¡¯t be stacked. Other than that, I¡¯d activate Bladesurge to enhance Nightfall¡¯s stats, and use Dash Step and Blade Rush for quick evasions, with some basic, weak fire spells to boost my damage slightly and capitalize on the insects¡¯ weakness. All in all, this would drain a lot of mana, so I¡¯d have to keep an eye on my mana bar and use a mana elixir when it got too low. I took a deep breath. This was going to be a challenge unlike anything I¡¯d ever faced before. Originally, I just wanted to continue exploring the mural, but this unexpected turn of events posed an interesting opportunity. I commenced my final preparations. Not long after, a faint sound reached my ears ¨C a soft, rhythmic scraping that echoed down from the tunnels above. It grew louder with each passing moment. The scrape of countless legs against stone, the hiss of bodies brushing against webs. My skin prickled, my heartbeat quickened, and soon enough they were here. Chapter 16: …The Pit Chapter 16: ¡­The Pit The Void Spiders attacked the moment they appeared from the tunnels, firing their web projectiles at me. Webbing splattered against the stone walls behind me as I ducked and dodged. They didn¡¯t relent, shooting another wave of webs in my direction, forcing me to roll sideways and nearly lose my footing. They continued to pour out from the tunnels above, wave after wave. Their bodies were sleek and glossy, each half the size of an average human, with white fangs that signaled danger. Their sounds filled the chamber ¨C high-pitched screeches and chittering clicks. And there were so many of them, like the tomb itself was alive, vomiting them forth through these tunnels. Perhaps I was too bold, thinking I could take them¡­How many could I actually kill before they completely overwhelmed me? Would I even be able to kill one? I darted left, then right, just barely staying ahead of their shots. And then, when I thought things were already hard enough, I saw them start to shift. The front wave crawled down the walls. One by one, they reached the ground, fangs bared, their predatory eyes trained on me as they began to close in. There was a dozen of them on the ground, scattering around me like an ambush. I had to keep moving, dodging the web projectiles from the wall spiders and avoiding the ground spiders from tightening their circle. I activated Flame Sword, engulfing Nightfall in flames to keep the spiders at bay. The fire made them wary, and they hesitated just long enough. I used Dash Step, feeling the surge of momentum as I dashed sideways, just a millisecond faster than their projectiles and clawed strikes. The skill¡¯s relatively low cooldown and stamina cost allowed me to spam it a few times in succession, keeping ahead of their attacks. The pressure kept mounting as a second wave of spiders reached the ground, quickly closing in. I used Blade Rush ¨C normally an offensive skill to close the distance between me and an enemy ¨C but here, I used it defensively, dodging an incoming web shot while also landing a swift strike on the targeted Void Spider with a Time Delay Swing-imbued Nightfall. It barely made any damage, but that was fine as I wasn¡¯t expecting to kill it with my sword ¨C I just wanted to keep them moving how I wanted. Using Dash Step and Blade Rush in tandem, aware of their cooldowns, I darted between the spiders, each strike and dash pulling them closer together. The heat from my flaming sword scorched the webs around me, adding a faint smell of burning silk. Finally, I¡¯d managed to pull them into a tight cluster. I used Dash Step again to gain distance and attempted to select Ember Flask from the inventory, but as I did, I realized my right leg wouldn¡¯t budge. [Condition Applied: Rooted by ¡°Spider Silk¡±] I glanced down, dread twisting in my gut. One of the web projectiles had hit, wrapping around my ankle and gluing me to the ground. I brought the flaming Nightfall toward the web binding my ankle, knowing that I¡¯d risk damaging myself in the process, but I had to be mana efficient. Using another fire spell while Flame Sword was still active and draining my mana would be foolish. The flames crackled, but the webbing was dense, burning far too slowly for the time I had. The spiders, of course, didn¡¯t wait for me to break free. Those on the walls lined up for more shots at my immobilized self. One projectile flew toward me, and I twisted just in time, narrowly dodging it. Another followed right after, and I ducked to evade it, my foot still trapped. As the number of projectiles grew and the ground spiders closed in, I knew I had to use my last line of defense. I activated Moon Barrier. Tiny, shimmering hexagons unfolded around me, forming a protective shield. I breathed out in relief as the barrier held steady against the barrage of incoming web projectiles and the lunges of the ground spiders, who were attempting to bring it down. I knew the barrier wouldn¡¯t hold forever - it was my strongest defensive spell, courtesy of Nightfall, but with a long cooldown and a max duration of just thirty seconds. Nightfall¡¯s flames continued burning through the web, but time was running out. The spiders crept around me, fangs and claws poised, their screeches growing more haunting and chilling with each moment. Meanwhile, the system didn¡¯t care about all that, bluntly reminding me that things could only get worse in this place. [Mana: 19% - Recommended to Consume a Mana Elixir] Damn. I could feel Flame Sword draining my mana, but I couldn¡¯t afford to drop it yet. I opened the second inventory and selected the two remaining Lesser Mana Elixirs. [Item Consumed: Lesser Mana Elixir x2] [Mana: 59%] Then another message flashed my vision. [Night Vision: Lumindew Effect Expiring. Time Remaining: 00:00:59] Great. The last thing I needed was to lose vision right as I fought for my life in a sea of spiders. I quickly selected the last Lumindew from my second inventory and consumed it, refreshing the night vision effect for another thirty minutes. [Item Consumed: Lumindew x1] [Night Vision activated. Duration: 30 minutes. Visual range enhanced in low-light areas]Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Finally, the last stubborn threads of the web around my ankle burned away, and I pulled my leg free, wincing at the faint scorch on my boot. [Condition Applied: No Longer Rooted] [Health: 91%] Looking around, I realized just how tight the circle around me had grown. There were now around fifty Void Spiders on the ground, piling on top of each other, all hungry and eager to bare their fangs at me. I glanced at Moon Barrier¡¯s timer. [Moon Barrier: Time Remaining: 00:00:06] With six second left before my last line of defense fell and the spiders overwhelmed me, my mind raced for a solution. Even if I died, I¡¯d wake up again - but then all of this would be for nothing. I¡¯d forget about ever visiting here, repeating the same fight the next time I find myself in this pit. I had to make this count! A plan formed in my mind, and I watched the timer tick down, knowing timing would be crucial. 3 2 1 ¨C The barrier shattered, scattering like pieces of glass under the spiders¡¯ claws. In the same instant, I activated Blade Rush, targeting the furthest spider I could reach within the skill¡¯s casting range, just enough to get me past the horde that formed around me. My body surged forward, crossing the distance immediately, leaving the spiders behind me grasping at thin air. Appearing next to my target, I didn¡¯t stick around for long. I spotted another spider further away, aimed, and used Blade Rush again, closing the distance with another dash. I repeated it once more, targeting a relatively isolated spider on the far side. This time, I circled around the monster using Dash Step, evading its claws and the web projectiles flying at me from the walls. I slid around behind the spider, gaining enough distance to assess the entire pit from my new position. The scene gave me goosebumps. The spiders moved toward me, more spilling from the walls, even the one behind me. There wasn¡¯t really a safe place for me in this pit, and I knew that even this relatively peaceful moment will be short-lived. But this was it - the best shot I¡¯d get to take as many of them with me as possible. I selected the Oil and Ember Flasks from my second inventory, and the glassy flasks manifested in my hands. With an accurate and trained motion, I threw both at the oncoming horde, watching it sail over the closest spiders and land in the densest point. The Ember Flask burst on impact, combining with the oil from the Oil Flask to enhance the explosion. A wave of fire rolled across the ground, engulfing the closest spiders in flames. The blast scattered some while leaving others writhing, their bodies charring in the heat, covered by burning oil. Yet the explosion didn¡¯t kill any of them. Those hit directly took the most damage, dropping to around 70% of their HP, yet the burning damage continued ticking. The ones in the outer ring remained mostly healthy, with around 90% of their HP. Others didn¡¯t seem affected by the blast at all, but at the very least I could see them slow their advance. I opened my inventory again, about to grab the second Ember and Oil Flasks, hoping it would bring me closer to finish the job. But then, a sudden weight slammed into my back, and sharp fangs sank into my shoulder, sending a wave of pain through my body. [Health: 16% - Reaching Critical Level - Please Consume a Healing Potion] [Status Effect: Poisoned - Health drain at 1% per 5 seconds] I gritted my teeth, fighting off the spider that clung to my back and throwing it off me. But the damage was done. My head spun as the poison took effect. I knew I needed to remove the poisoning with the Gethril Root, or take the Heartspore Tonic to neutralize the damage over time, but the spiders were too close. The one that had just bitten me was already preparing for another lunge. I tried to activate Blade Rush to escape, but the system flashed a terrifying message. [Insufficient Mana for Blade Rush] I gritted my teeth, resorting to Dash Step instead, darting a short distance back, then again a few more times, nearly running out of mana completely. But I had gained some distance, likely enough time to select and use only one or two items before they killed me. Passing on the Gethril Root, I selected another Ember Flask and Oil Flask, aimed them at the mass of spiders I¡¯d struck before, and hurled it forward. But my arms had weakened from the poison, and the throw ended up falling just too short. The flask exploded with a burst of flame, but the spiders I¡¯d hoped to hit were only in the outer ring of the blast, their HP bars dropping from around 60% to around 40%. It wasn¡¯t enough. [Health: 8% - Reaching Critical Level - Please Consume a Healing Potion] The message reminded me of my dire situation, but I knew I had no time to waste. I just needed to use the last Ember Flask. Sadly, it wouldn''t be enhanced with an Oil Flask as I ran out of those, but it would have to suffice. I attempted to select it from my inventory, but one of the spiders lunged at me, and I rolled to the side, cutting my item selection short. The swarm of Void Spiders encircled me, and I realized this was the end. A grand attempt that was going to end up fruitless. The worst part was that I wouldn¡¯t remember any of it, so I wouldn¡¯t be able to adjust for my next run and would likely repeat the same fight, ending up with nothing to show for it. Stuck in this endless loop. Damn it! Then, just as the swarm was about to devour me, a piercing screech echoed through the pit. The sound reverberated off the walls, sending a chill down my spine. The spiders around me halted and immediately went silent, and only now did I truly realize how much noise they had been making. They stood there calmly and simply waited, their legs twitching. I followed their gaze to the largest tunnel above us, where a dark, monstrous shape was descending, moving with slow, deliberate movements. The creature¡¯s massive body filled a sixth of the entire pit, at least fifty times larger than any of the Void Spiders. Its name and level appeared above it: Arachnid Mother, Level 85. Realizing I was about to become their mother¡¯s meal, I didn¡¯t waste a second. An Ember Flask would do no damage to her, but I could still take out her nasty little children. I used this moment to select the last flask from my inventory before quickly hurling it toward the spidery mass in the center of the pit, exploding on impact. The XP gain messages popped up milliseconds before Arachnid Mother bit my head off. [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [Level Up! You have gained 1 Skill Point] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [Level Up! You have gained 1 Skill Point] [2 Skill Points Available: Choose a skill to level up] [Health: 0% - You Have Died] Chapter 17: A New Hope Chapter 17: A New Hope [Loop Count: 6] I woke up to the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system¡¯s message, slowly realizing I had died five times already, wondering if the deaths were at least different each time. I quickly glanced at the system¡¯s menu to see where I stood. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 6] [Loop Count: 6] [Experience Points (XP): 40 / 2000] [2 Skill Points Available: Choose a skill to level up] Two skill points available? There is no way I wouldn¡¯t have leveled up a skill when I had the opportunity, so does that mean I leveled up twice before I died last run? What the hell did I even do?! No matter how hard I tried to recall what happened to me in my last run, nothing came up, as expected. But there was no point crying over it. I should focus on allocating the two skill points I now have. The only skill in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system I hadn¡¯t leveled up yet was Afterimage, and as it happens, it was exactly the skill that would likely help me the most right now. The only way for me to understand what exactly I did in my last run to level up twice, and replicate those decisions, is to actually see an afterimage of myself. Perhaps I took a different turn somewhere. Perhaps I followed someone I didn¡¯t before. The only way I¡¯d know is with Afterimage, though it was likely not going to be that useful at its first level. [Skill acquired: Afterimage lvl.1] [Next Level: lvl.2: Duration of the afterimage is prolonged to 10 seconds] Great¡­ Well, if the next level brings the afterimage to ten seconds, then it¡¯s fair to assume the current level¡¯s afterimage lasts five. It¡¯s not much, and I still have to choose the right moment to activate the skill, but it¡¯s better than nothing. Then a new message pooped up. [A New Skill Available: Mirror Leveling] A new skill? I navigated to the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system¡¯s skills screen, only to realize that the sixth skill on the list, one of those that were greyed out and locked before, was now visible. 6. Mirror Leveling ¨C Lvl.0 / 1 Passive skill. For each level you gain in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System, you receive an additional point to allocate into your Core System. Is this actually real? Are my eyes deceiving me, or does this new skill offers to enhance my core stats? My heart raced with excitement at the possibility. I was already level 6 in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system, which means that leveling up Mirror Leveling would grant me six additional skill points to allocate in my Core System. I leveled it up quickly without another thought. [Skill acquired: Mirror Leveling lvl.1 - MAX] [6 Points Available: Choose a stat to level up] My heart was already racing. Now, seeing this message for the first time in two years, it felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. A goofy smiled appeared on my face ¨C a smile I just couldn¡¯t shake. ¡°Yes!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs. I was finally getting somewhere. Even if I couldn¡¯t remember what I did in previous runs, as long as I kept leveling up in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system, eventually I¡¯d reach a high enough level to be able to finish all of this on my own. Now, what should I level up? When I began adventuring, I decided to go for an Agility-focused build, making sure that every stat I leveled up, every piece of armor I donned, every weapon I wielded, would enhance this build. It complimented my subclass - Arcane Duelist - a subclass specialized in one-on-one combat. Should I keep the same approach, or is it time to shift my focus onto something else? My Intelligence stat was fairly low, especially for a Spellsword. The class is basically a combination of a warrior and a mage, but while my warrior skills were decent for my level, my mage skills left much to be desired. I never focused on the Intelligence stat early on, always believing I¡¯d have time to level it up later, not knowing that level 50 was my personal cap. Since my Intelligence stat only had nine points, I never even progressed far enough in my Magic Skill Tree. I had only a few very basic, and very weak skills from each element that were given at the Tree¡¯s first milestone. I never picked an elemental affinity and had almost no resistance to any sort of damage or conditions. I basically relied on my high Agility to evade, but if I ever got caught, I was doomed. That was when Yana usually jumped in to save me. And after a bunch of those saves, I realized I couldn¡¯t stand by her side anymore. But now, I could. I allocated the six skill points quickly and confirmed the selection. Weirdly enough, my level hadn¡¯t changed ¨C I was still the same level 50 Aidan Dar. Even the stats remained the same, with the only change being that now the extra skill points appeared in parentheses. [Status Menu] But the stats had improved. I could tell when the Core System popped up the next message for reaching twelve points in the Intelligence stat.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. [Intelligence ¨C 2nd Milestone Reached] [Choose Elemental Affinity:] [Fire] [Water] [Air] [Earth] After choosing an affinity, the basic skills of the elements that weren¡¯t chosen will stay at their base level and will only scale with my general level and Intelligence stat. While the chosen element will present a unique Magic Tree with new skills to level up. I wondered which one to choose. Each Elemental Affinity was strong in its own right. There wasn¡¯t a single one that was considered overpowered. Yana chose fire, and it proved successful for her, but her build was more strength-focused, using fire magic to enhance the power and damage of her attacks. And she wasn¡¯t a Spellsword. Considering I hadn¡¯t used any of the skill points I received from Mirror Leveling on my strongest stat, I knew what I had to pick. I hovered over the third option and selected it. [You have chosen Air as your Elemental Affinity. Confirm your choice.] [Confirm / Decline] I confirmed the selection, and another message directed me toward the Spellsword¡¯s Air Magic Skill Tree, presenting me with three new, already unlocked skills. [Spellsword / Arcane Duelist] [Air Magic Skill Tree] 1. Wind Rush ¨C Lvl.1 / 3 ¨C [0/5000XP] A gust of wind guides you and enhances your evasions for the next two minutes. Can stack with other dodge/evasion skills. Cooldown: 5 minutes. 2. Wind Blast ¨C Lvl.1 / 3 ¨C [0/5000XP] Release a small blast of condensed wind capable of inflicting a Stun. Cooldown: 20 seconds. 3. Horizon ¨C Lvl.1 / 3 ¨C [0/5000XP] Perform a horizontal slash with your weapon of choice to unleash a destructive wave of wind capable of AOE damage. Cooldown: 10 minutes. There were more skills after those three, but they were greyed out and unreadable. I knew they would unlock once I leveled up the first three and continued investing more points into the Intelligence stat. The progression through the skills themselves was different from leveling up stats, or the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system¡¯s skills. To level up skills from the Magic Skill Trees you had to gain XP through completion of quests and slaying of monsters. Here, I needed five thousand XP to upgrade each of the skills. It was quite a lot, considering I had to die five times to gain about as much XP, based on the XP required to progress to the seventh level of the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system. But it was a start, giving me a new hope for what lay ahead. ¡°¡­inventory¡­¡± I suddenly heard an echo thanks to the Echo Sense skill. My own. Navigating to my second inventory on a whim, I found quite a lot of items there. The array of items made no sense to me. Outside the Gethril Roots, which implied we¡¯d encounter poison-inflicting enemies, it didn¡¯t seem like I was preparing for anything specific ¨C just for an all-out battle. Assuming I got all these items from the stash provided by Yana¡¯s guild, I prepared breakfast and waited for Yana. Once she arrived, we made our way to Gaelith¡¯s tomb. *** . . . The fact that adventurers¡¯ stats were hidden from each other was both good and bad. On the one hand, you could only assume some stats based on others¡¯ class, subclass, and level, so you never actually knew the strength of your comrade or opponent until they revealed it to you. On the other hand, they could only assume some stats based on your class, subclass, and level, so they never actually knew your strength until you revealed it to them. That¡¯s why I knew there was no risk revealing my newly acquired air magic skills to others, as they couldn¡¯t actually tell how many points I had in Intelligence to suspect something was off with me. In other words, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily question the fact that a level 50 adventurer was both advanced in Intelligence and Agility. The logical explanation they¡¯d probably come up with is that I invested all my points in those two stats, leaving myself ¡°naked¡± in the other three. The only person who would notice the difference was Yana. She was also likely to ask questions about it ¨C questions I couldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t want to answer. I knew I had to be wary around her and avoid using air magic. I felt bold ever since the moment I allocated those six points today and charged at the Undead Warriors that attacked us when we cleared our designated chambers, managing to slay ten of them, earning 340 XP in total. We finished clearing the last chamber, and Jax ordered us to follow him and return to the main antechamber. That rogue, Goren, approached me again. ¡°Stop. Let¡¯s talk.¡± It was the second time he¡¯d approached me today. The first was at the entrance, where he acted like he knew me. Recalling Chronos¡¯ words and connecting the dots, I knew I had to keep my distance from him, but he was unrelenting. It was hard keeping up my fa?ade around him, pretending like I remembered him. I knew that at some point he¡¯d figure me out. And unlike me, he actually had access to all of his memories from each of his runs. He would remember that I didn¡¯t remember him. I sighed as he closed the distance. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°¡­blackberries¡­¡± I heard an Echo and did my best to keep my face straight, avoiding any reaction that might draw Goren¡¯s suspicion. ¡°Not gonna lie, you¡¯re kinda annoying me, Spellsword.¡± He said, looking angry. ¡°What?¡± I asked, sounding as innocent as I could, even though I knew why he felt that way. My previous selves were likely ignoring him as well. ¡°You know what!¡± He shouted, then pushed me with his hands. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± I regained my balance, raising an eyebrow at him. ¡°What¡¯s my problem? You¡¯re the one who just pushed me.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re a nasty fuck!¡± he snapped at me. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you, and you keep pushing me away. I want to end this, don¡¯t you understand?¡± ¡°I want to end this as well.¡± I replied, keeping my tone neutral. ¡°You¡¯re clearly not!¡± Goren replied, fuming, the darkness around him growing in size. ¡°Listen,¡± I tried to calm him, ¡°I just want to stick to my friend, that¡¯s all. Don¡¯t take it personally. We¡¯re still on the same side.¡± He suddenly scanned me intently with his gaze, a confused look on his face. He took a deep breath, seemingly regaining his calmness. ¡°Do you remember what I gave you here last time?¡± he asked simply. It was a test, and my mind ran over the items in my second inventory, trying to recall what he could¡¯ve given me. Then, I remembered the Echo I heard just a minute ago. ¡°Blackberries.¡± I replied, hoping it was the right answer. He smirked, then nodded and just left me behind. ¡°¡­your sense of humor is starting to grow on me¡­¡± I heard another Echo, this time Goren¡¯s. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that was the wrong answer. Chapter 18: A New Enemy Chapter 18: A New Enemy . . . ¡°Aidan, we need to take a right here.¡± Yana repeated. ¡°I can sense people down there.¡± But Yana couldn¡¯t see the Temporal Trace mark I left for myself next to the left corridor, making me question what I did in my previous run. Did I turn left despite Yana¡¯s words, or did I surrender to peer pressure and go right? Now would be a good moment to use Afterimage, but everyone was watching me, so I knew I had to do it quickly. I activated Afterimage, and there it appeared ¨C a ghostly version of myself. The problem was that it stood in place, right next to me, just opening its mouth as if talking to someone, likely to Yana, yet no sound came out. Then, after five seconds, it disappeared, and I learned nothing of my previous self¡¯s adventure. Curse this annoying D¨¦j¨¤ vu System! ¡°Aidan?¡± Yana asked, looking surprised and a bit worried. ¡°Oh, just leave him here.¡± Jax snapped and went down the right corridor, Henry following closely behind. I shook my head, disappointed at my inability to utilize the System. I had already wasted Checkpoint earlier, and now Afterimage as well. ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming¡­¡± I told Yana, and we all continued down the right corridor. . . . Seeing Goren as we exited the Grave Moles¡¯ tunnels sent a shiver down my spine. He was sharpening his sword with a whetstone. It was already surprising to see him reach this deep into the tomb seemingly on his own, but it was also unsettling ¨C especially after our last conversation, after which I didn¡¯t see him until now - not during the wolves¡¯ attack, nor the Grave Moles¡¯. ¡°You¡¯re finally here.¡± He said, his gaze never leaving the blade. Everyone shared confused glances, wondering who he was referring to, but I knew he was talking to me. Goosebumps prickled my skin. ¡°How did you make it here on your own?¡± Tagan asked, but Goren ignored him. Goren lifted his gaze from the sword, meeting mine. ¡°How did I make it here, Spellsword?¡± Yana glanced at me and whispered. ¡°What does he want, Aidan? Do you know him?¡± ¡°Stay alert.¡± I whispered back simply, Chronos¡¯ warning echoing in my mind. ¡°I heard what you whispered there.¡± He said, grinning. ¡°Answer the question, Spellsword.¡± ¡°What do you want, Goren?¡± I asked, trying to diffuse the situation. ¡°What I want - or rather, what I wanted - was for us to team up.¡± He said, the grin still intact. ¡°It was that simple.¡± His expression turned angry, his voice flaring. ¡°And yet you fucked it up!¡± Everyone glanced at me again, and I just shrugged, turning back to Goren. ¡°We¡¯re on the same side.¡± ¡°See! This! This here is the problem!¡± Goren snapped, pointing at me. ¡°Your answers were always so, so vague, but only this run did I finally understand why.¡± Then, his grin returned. ¡°You don¡¯t remember anything, do you?¡± A chill ran down my spine. Goren continued. ¡°It was so clear and yet I ¨C ¡° Tagan interrupted him. ¡°Hey, I asked you a question ¨C ¡° But before Tagan could finish his words, he was already dead. It was almost like Goren teleported right next to him, slicing his throat with one sharp movement of his dagger. ¡°Told you what would happen if you interrupted me again.¡± Goren said chillingly. Tagan¡¯s body dropped to the floor, and all of us raised our weapons instinctively. ¡°Goren, what the hell?¡± I managed to mumble as my heart raced like crazy. It was the first time in my life I¡¯d seen an adventurer kill another one like this. ¡°None of this matters.¡± Goren said, seemingly to himself, his grin widening. Bernard, seeing his friend murdered right in front of his eyes, charged at Goren with his weapon. Yana tried to stop him, but he didn¡¯t listen. Goren weaved under Bernard¡¯s greatsword, and with two swift movements, cut each of his tendons, dropping the tank to his knees. Then, without any wasted movements, Goren equipped his sword from thin air, summoning it from his inventory, beheading the man with a spin move. Melissa screamed in fear and turned to run back into the tunnel we came from. Goren looked like he wasn¡¯t having any of it. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± He said, replacing his sword with a golden bow instantly, and aiming it at the fleeing Melissa. He released an arrow, but Yana intercepted it, blocking the projectile with her sword, allowing Melissa to disappear into the tunnel behind us. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this.¡± Yana threatened, her voice filled with rage. Goren, still smiling, ignored her and turned to me. ¡°I wasted so much time helping you, thinking it would help me in the long run, but at the end of the day, you¡¯re as useless as all of them. Without your memories, you¡¯re useless!¡± he shouted, then laughed darkly. Yana didn¡¯t waste a second. Taking advantage of Goren¡¯s lack of concentration, she activated Blade Rush. Her figure blurring as she surged toward him, her sword aimed right at his chest.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. But Goren wasn¡¯t caught off guard ¨C not even close. With a single, fluid motion, he materialized his sword, raising it to intercept her attack. The clash of their blades rang like thunder, raising a cloud of dust around them. Sparks flew as Goren stood rooted in place, completely unfazed, grinning maniacally. Yana, however, strained against him. It was like she was pressing against a mountain. Then, without a single word, he moved. His body dissolved into dark mist, dissipating like smoke, leaving Yana swinging at empty air. ¡°Behind you!¡± I shouted, but the words barely left my mouth before he reappeared right behind her, his back to her. With a casual flick of his wrist, he drove the pommel of his sword into her back with incredible force, sending her hurtling forward. Yana¡¯s body slammed into the stone wall ahead, the impact cracking it. Dust and debris rained down as she crumpled to the ground. My heart sank as I saw Yana getting thrown like that. Goren¡¯s movements were unlike anything a level 57 Rogue could ever dream of achieving. He was far stronger than his level suggested, likely hiding his true level, just like my new level was hidden. But while I was level 56 now, what level was he? ¡°Now, you¡¯ll pay, Spellsword.¡± He said, his gaze locking onto mine. He laughed again, sharing another unsettling detail about himself. ¡°Those aren¡¯t the first adventurers I¡¯ve killed, by the way.¡± He pointed at Tagan¡¯s and Bernard¡¯s bodies. ¡°At some point in this time loop, I figured I might as well kill some of the adventurers to see how much XP I¡¯d gain. I knew they wouldn¡¯t stay dead-dead since my eventual death would reset the timeline, so there was no downside to it. Sadly, they didn¡¯t give much XP. It seems my System decided killing adventurers isn¡¯t worth the hassle.¡± ¡°And yet, you¡¯re doing it now.¡± I said, aiming Nightfall at him. He laughed darkly. ¡°That¡¯s true, but it¡¯s all your fault.¡± He pointed at the wall where Yana lay motionless. ¡°I¡¯m going to have fun killing her in front of your eyes before I kill you. Consider it my revenge for your lies and wasting my time.¡± The dark aura around him suddenly grew larger than ever before, writhing like it was alive. I tightened my grip on Nightfall and shot a quick glance at Yana, hoping she was alive. Then I turned back to Goren, meeting his terrifying gaze. ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt her.¡± ¡°Like you have a choice.¡± He replied, following up with a chuckle. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the fear building up inside me as I activated Wind Rush for the first time. I felt the magic flood my entire body, my movements becoming lighter. Next, I activated Bladesurge, watching Nightfall glow faintly. Goren seemed too strong for the likes of current me, but I knew I had to fight back to protect Yana. With Blade Rush, I launched myself at him, the combined force of Wind Rush propelling me faster than I¡¯d ever moved before. I kept my gaze fixed on him ¨C his smirk, his wild eyes, and the living darkness that surrounded him. I brought Nightfall down in an arc, aiming right for his side, hoping the enhanced blade would leave a dent. But just as I thought I had him, the blade cut through nothing but air. Goren dissolved into the mist again. My heart sank when I heard his voice ¨C calm, cold, and insane ¨C from the other end of the chamber, where Yana was. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I?¡± he said, standing over Yana¡¯s prone body. He crouched slightly, casually reaching his hand out to grab her head. ¡°Killing her in front of you will only make my revenge a lot sweeter.¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t you dare touch her!¡± I shouted, running towards them, my legs moving on their own. But Goren didn¡¯t wait. He lifted Yana¡¯s limp body by the head as if she weighed nothing. I barely had time to register the movement before he hurled her straight at me. She collided with me full force. I managed to catch her, but we still went down hard. Nightfall slipped from my grasp, clattering away across the floor. I cradled Yana in my arms. ¡°Yana?¡± I called, my voice trembling. Her face was pale, but she was breathing. At least she was still alive. ¡°Wake up!¡± I shook her gently. ¡°Come on, I need you!¡± my voice cracked. Goren¡¯s voice was low as he approached us, mocking me. ¡°You think she¡¯ll make a difference? That low-leveled girl? Don¡¯t insult me, Spellsword.¡± He continued his slow approach, his boots echoing against the chamber¡¯s walls. ¡°You¡­you are unforgivable, and I¡¯ll make sure you understand that before the end.¡± I ignored him, focusing on Yana. I selected a Lesser Health Potion from my inventory, and it materialized in my hand. I popped the cork and forced the liquid into Yana¡¯s mouth. She coughed weakly, the potion doing its work. Her eyelids fluttered, and I felt relief wash over me. Her voice was hoarse, her expression pained. ¡°What¡­happened? Where is ¨C ¡° ¡°We don¡¯t have time.¡± I cut her off. ¡°He¡¯s coming. But together, we can ¨C ¡° ¡°No!¡± she snapped, her voice suddenly stronger as she balanced herself on the floor. ¡°No, listen to me. Run away from here as fast as you can. I¡¯ll hold him off.¡± She gripped my arm weakly, her eyes darting toward Goren, who was still approaching, his grin wide and unhinged. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the hell is wrong with him, but he¡¯s clearly not level 57. He¡¯ll kill you, Aidan!¡± I shook my head, anger rising within me at her constant heroic attitude. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid! I¡¯m not leaving you behind! We can take him down together.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± She dismissed my words. ¡°He¡¯s far too strong. I¡¯m higher level than you. Trust me when I say that you need to leave. Now.¡± Before I could respond, Goren¡¯s laugh cut through. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s rich.¡± He sneered, amused. ¡°You? Hold me off? I already slew your Lady Mikaela once. What can you do that she couldn¡¯t?¡± Me heart sank even deeper. If he was telling the truth, then current Goren was stronger than a level 100 adventurer, likely the strongest adventurer to walk the earth. Yana glared at him, confused by his words, and he continued. ¡°Either way, your planned sacrifice is pointless. I¡¯ll kill him anyway, right after I rip you apart.¡± Yana jumped to her feet, extending her hands, summoning the flames of her fire magic. With a shout, she unleashed a fiery blast toward Goren. Goren stood there, welcoming the fire with a smile. But then, his smile suddenly faltered, his eyes widening as if he¡¯d just had an epiphany. The fire blast hit him directly, but as the flames dissipated, Goren stood there, entirely unfazed, his smirk returning. ¡°Interesting.¡± He muttered, brushing off imaginary ash from his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve just realized something¡­incredible, Spellsword. Something I need to test.¡± ¡°Stay back!¡± Yana shouted, another flame gathering in her hands. Goren raised a hand as if to calm her. ¡°Ah, Yana, I was having so much fun. I really was. I wanted to prolong this, to make your boyfriend over there suffer as much as possible.¡± His grin widened as his gaze shifted to me. ¡°But alas, I¡¯ve got to end this quickly now.¡± Before I could even process what he meant, he dissolved into dark mist again. Then, an arm coiled around my throat from behind, strong, cutting off my air. I struggled, but the hold was unyielding. [Condition Applied: Suffocation by Goren Shein. Health drain at 5% per 10 seconds] ¡°Shh, shh,¡± Goren whispered in my ear, his voice soft. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Just relax.¡± I fought harder, trying to summon my magic, but I couldn¡¯t do anything. When I thought about how Yana would likely help me right now, Goren forcibly twisted my body towards where she stood. My heart stopped. Her body hit the ground. Cuts crisscrossed her form, blood pouring from every gash, forming a crimson pool beneath her. Her lifeless eyes stared back at me blankly. She was dead. Again. I wanted to scream her name, but Goren¡¯s grip tightened, choking any sound from my throat. Panic enveloped me while tears blurred my vision. ¡°Ah, don¡¯t be so heartbroken.¡± Goren murmured. ¡°It¡¯s not like this is the first time. She¡¯ll be fine in the next run. At least, until I¡¯ll come along again.¡± He leaned even closer. ¡°That¡¯s what I realized just now. Normal adventurers¡­they¡¯re worthless to me. Basically no XP. But you¡­¡± he chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re like me. Trapped in this loop. I bet you¡¯ll give me so much XP for this kill.¡± I struggled harder, but his grip only tightened, making my vision darken. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re not as useless as I thought.¡± He mused. ¡°If my hypothesis is correct, you might actually be good for something. My own personal farming mob.¡± [Health: 49%] His arm crushed against my neck, the pressure unbearable. ¡°And the best part?¡± he whispered, following with a chuckle. ¡°When you wake up in the next run¡­you won¡¯t remember any of this.¡± A chill ran down my spine at his final words, realizing the horrifying truth behind them. The last thing I heard was the crack of my neck before everything went dark. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] Chapter 19: Prey Chapter 19: Prey [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 6] [Loop Count: 7] [Experience Points (XP): 936 / 2000] . . . Yana and I reached the entrance of the tomb. Noticing her guild master, she immediately went to speak with her, leaving me alone as I knew no one else beside her among the other adventurers gathered for the quest. I tried to look friendly, but no one dared approach the lowly level 50 Spellsword. Or so I thought¡­ ¡°Hey, excuse me.¡± I heard someone call to me from behind. Turning around, I saw a man with black, lightweight armor - a level 57 Rogue. An aura of darkness, similar to Yana¡¯s - yet significantly larger, surrounded him. ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked warily, watching the dark aura around him twist and writhe, as if it was alive. He smiled softly, quite uncharacteristic for a Rogue, and quite the opposite of the initial feeling of dread he invoked in me. ¡°I just saw you standing there alone, and well¡­I¡¯m alone as well, so I figured we could share each other¡¯s company before they let us inside.¡± Despite his friendly appearance and words, I couldn¡¯t shake the odd feeling I was getting from this man. It was as if my entire existence was telling me to back away from him. I glanced in Yana¡¯s direction, but she was still speaking to Lady Mikaela. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not here alone, actually. My friend is here as well.¡± I said, hoping the fact that I was here with someone would make him back off, realizing I wouldn¡¯t be an easy target in case he was planning to rob me or something. Rogues weren¡¯t exactly known for their kindness and friendliness. ¡°Oh, the red-haired woman over there with Lady Mikaela?¡± the Rogue asked, the soft smile never leaving his lips. I nodded slowly, still getting the creeps from him. ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous, I must say.¡± He said before tapping me on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re quite the lucky guy.¡± ¡°¡­for this run, we¡­¡± I suddenly heard an Echo, the voice eerily similar to this man¡¯s. He was talking about runs. Did he¡­did he know about the time loop? But who was he? My last conversation with Chronos suddenly popped into my mind. Goren! But the moment I realized who he was, it was too late. [Condition Applied: Paralysis by ¡°Blue Rose Thorn¡± by Goren Shein] ¡°Hey, Spellsword. How¡¯s it going? You missed me?¡± Goren leaned in and whispered. Then he laughed softly, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and bringing my paralyzed self closer to him. ¡°What am I saying? Of course not. You don¡¯t even remember me.¡± I tried to speak, but the paralysis he inflicted on me denied me even that. ¡°Still, it¡¯s interesting.¡± He mused. ¡°Despite your memory loss problem, you still somehow managed to understand something was off. I wonder how¡­Are your survival instincts just that good?¡± He forcefully moved my head in Yana¡¯s direction. She was still engrossed in her conversation with Lady Mikaela, not paying attention to us. ¡°Before I kill you,¡± Goren said, his grin widening, ¡°I¡¯ll kill her again.¡± Again?! ¡°I¡¯ll kill her again and let you watch. Right. From. This. Spot.¡± He chuckled darkly. Everything inside me twisted. I tried to break free, but I couldn¡¯t. None of my stats were high enough to counter his paralysis. Yana finally turned toward us, and Goren waved to her, a smile on his face, his arm still wrapped around my shoulder as if we were the best of friends. ¡°Smile at her, Spellsword.¡± That dirty piece of shit! Chronos was right to warn me about him, but how could I even prepare for something like this? His memories from his previous runs were likely intact. He knew me and waited for me to arrive to make his move. We hadn¡¯t even begun the quest yet, and here he was, already holding me in the palm of his hand. Yana noticed something was off - I could see it in her expression - but Goren didn¡¯t wait. ¡°Stay here.¡± He whispered, giving me one final smile before he made his way toward Yana.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I wanted to scream for her to run, but no voice came out. He killed her right in front of my eyes. Right in front of everyone¡¯s eyes. Then, when a commotion began and he was targeted by every other adventurer in the vicinity, he shifted his focus to me. Throwing his dagger, landing it perfectly in my head. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] *** I woke up on a grass field, immediately reaching to the side of my head where Goren had struck me with his dagger. My heart raced with fear, and I had to take deep breaths to calm down. Goren! That bastard¡­we hadn¡¯t even entered the tomb yet, and he had already attacked me, making Chronos¡¯ prior warning useless. It seemed like Goren knew I wouldn¡¯t be able to remember him and capitalized on that to kill me quickly, acting all friendly to make me drop my guard. But why? What does he want? Wait¡­why can I remember how he killed me? I focused on my surroundings, and everything came into place. I was in Chronos¡¯ domain. This time, Chronos wasn¡¯t swinging that weird metallic club of his at a ball. Instead, he was seated next to the glass table. The moment I noticed him, he was already pointing at the chair opposite him. ¡°Sit.¡± I stood up and joined him at the table, sighing heavily as I sat down. ¡°I told you to keep your distance from him.¡± Chronos began, his tone low. He didn¡¯t even bother making eye contact, his focus instead was fixed on the horizon. ¡°What?¡± I snapped, my frustration boiling over. ¡°What do you mean ¡®keep your distance from him¡¯? The motherfucker killed me five minutes after I arrived! I didn¡¯t even have a chance to react!¡± Chronos turned to me instantly, finally meeting my gaze. The intensity of his glare was enough to make me shift nervously in my seat. It looked like he was about to snap, but instead he took a deep breath before speaking again, this time in a clearly forced calm that made him sound even more intimidating. ¡°Your current self didn¡¯t have the chance to react. Your past selves had plenty of opportunities to push him away. Instead, they gave him just enough to feed his obsession with you until you reached this sorry point.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t even ¨C ¡° ¡°Remember what your past selves did?¡± he cut me off, completing my words. ¡°So. Fucking. What? They''re still you, dumbass! Don¡¯t try to shake off the responsibility!¡± he leaned forward, slamming his hand on the glass table, cracking it on impact. Then, he made a spinning motion with his finger and the crack reversed itself and disappeared. I sighed again, realizing he was right. Whatever I did in my past runs, it had been enough to let this Goren get close to me. Close enough to learn everything he needed to kill me without breaking a sweat. ¡°Still,¡± I muttered, my eyes darting to the ground to avoid Chronos¡¯ glare, ¡°you could¡¯ve at least left his image in my mind. You warned me about him, but without knowing what he looks like, I can¡¯t exactly ¨C ¡° ¡°Does the dark aura around him and the message that he¡¯s marked not scream enough of a warning for you to get it?¡± Chronos said, sounding exasperated. I swallowed hard. Of course, I was stupid for not reacting the moment I saw Goren¡¯s dark aura. But even if I had¡­ ¡°He would¡¯ve still killed me.¡± I replied quietly. ¡°He was way too strong. Even if I reacted quicker to his presence, nothing would¡¯ve changed.¡± Chronos leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. ¡°This is probably the first time today you¡¯ve said something right.¡± He rolled his eyes before continuing. ¡°Either way, it¡¯s your fault it got to this point. In previous runs, he offered you kills, and you took them, despite my warning for you to stay away from him. You fed his ego and his hopes until it finally exploded.¡± I shook my head slowly. I couldn¡¯t remember any of what he¡¯d described, but Chronos had no reason to lie. And, knowing myself, it was painfully likely that I had done exactly what he said - accepted Goren¡¯s help, all for the sake of leveling up faster. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right. I can¡¯t remember any of it, but¡­I guess you¡¯re right.¡± I admitted after a short pause. Then, lifting my gaze to Chronos, I tried to muster some confidence. ¡°But I¡¯m sure I can turn things around. I¡¯m finally leveling up for real. Eventually, I¡¯ll gain enough XP to ¨C ¡° ¡°He killed you eight times already, Aidan.¡± Chronos interrupted, his tone cold, sending an icy chill down my spine. ¡°W-what?¡± I stammered, fear suddenly gripping my chest at the unsettling revelation. Chronos leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Your last seven deaths were by his hand. Each time, right next to the tomb¡¯s entrance, before the quest even started.¡± He paused, giving his words a moment to sink inside my terrified mind. ¡°He¡¯s killed you eight times in total.¡± My heartbeat quickened, and my breathing grew shallow. I couldn¡¯t believe his words. Eight times? My mind raced. I glanced at the D¨¦j¨¤ vu system menu. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 6] [Loop Count: 14] [Experience Points (XP): 936 / 2000] I clenched my fists. Is he saying I¡¯ve been stuck at the same level for seven runs already because Goren kills me before I can gain a single XP? When I woke up this morning, I wondered why I was still only level 6 despite dying fourteen times already. It seemed odd, but without memories of my previous runs, I just assumed I¡¯d hit some serious hurdle. Turns out, that hurdle was a psychotic Rogue, dead set on killing me over and over again. ¡°Look at this.¡± Chronos said before reaching out and touching my forehead with his index finger. An overwhelming flood of memories crashed into my mind. Goren. It was all Goren. I saw him killing me and Yana in eight different ways. He laughed each time, his twisted smile haunting. He was enjoying every moment of it, every second he made me suffer. The memories invoked a physical pain as well ¨C sharp, burning, aching - as if my body remembered every wound, every injury, every lost limb. I gasped and dropped from the chair, clutching my chest, struggling to breathe. ¡°Relax.¡± Chronos commanded, snapping his fingers. A soothing wave of calmness suddenly washed over me, dulling my panic. I looked up at him, my voice trembling. ¡°Why is he doing this? Why does he kill me every time? What did I even do to him?¡± Chronos sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose as if the answer he was about to give was unsettling even to him. ¡°His System is¡­different than the one I gave you. Sickly enough, it rewards him for killing you specifically. He confirmed that the first time he killed you, and now he can¡¯t get enough of it.¡± I felt the knot in my chest tighten. ¡°What can I do?¡± My voice cracked. ¡°If he keeps killing me like this, I¡¯ll never progress. I can¡¯t ¨C ¡° ¡°I know.¡± Chronos said, his voice firm, cutting me off. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re here now.¡± My panic attack ceased immediately as I watched him. He gestured for me to return to my seat. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± I asked with urgency right as I sank back onto the chair. Chronos¡¯ expression darkened, his shoulders slumped, his looked disgusted. ¡°We need to strike the problem right at its heart.¡± ¡°How do we do that?¡± Chronos let out a long, reluctant sigh, rising from his chair slowly. His face twisted with the same disgust from before, but this time mixed with visible disappointment. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually saying this,¡± he muttered, his voice bitter, ¡°but¡­we need to visit that bastard Dolos.¡± "Whaaaaat?!" Balthor and Pix called out in unison. Chapter 20: Where Deception Resides Chapter 20: Where Deception Resides ¡°Three rules before we go in.¡± Chronos said sharply, snapping his fingers. A large portal materialized before us, red and swirling. I nodded, though doubts lingered in my mind. Who was Dolos? Chronos didn¡¯t even let me ask this one simple question? ¡°Rule number one,¡± he began, his tone serious, ¡°don¡¯t get lost inside. Follow me, and don¡¯t stop, no matter what you see. Regardless of what it is, it will be a trap. In Dolos¡¯ domain, everything is a trap. If he offers you a chair ¨C you decline. If he offers you a drink ¨C you decline. If he offers you anything else, you?¡± ¡°Decline?¡± ¡°Good.¡± he replied, continuing immediately, not leaving me a moment to ask him the question that bothered me. ¡°Rule number two: do not make eye contact with Dolos or any of his creations for more than a second. I can¡¯t stress this enough. As a general rule of thumb, I¡¯d advise you not to make eye contact with anyone there at all. Not even me. Got it?¡± I nodded hesitantly. ¡°But who is ¨C ¡° ¡°Good.¡± He interrupted, speaking over my question. ¡°Rule number three, and the most important: be wary of his words and do not let him get to you. Words are his strongest weapon, so no matter how much he tries to rile you up, and trust me he will try, don¡¯t give him a reaction. We¡¯re there for swift negotiations, and any emotional outburst from you would weaken our position. Remember: the sooner we¡¯re out of there, the better. Understand?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I said, nodding. ¡°But ¨C ¡° ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go.¡± He turned abruptly toward the portal, but I wasn¡¯t about to follow him blindly. ¡°Wait, wait, wait.¡± I called, my voice likely sharper than it should¡¯ve been. He spun around, exasperation clear on his face. ¡°What?¡± I blinked, surprised that he actually stopped this time, and I finally had his attention. I seized the opportunity. ¡°You already mentioned Dolos before, but¡­who is he, really? And why are you so nervous about him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s an evil spirit, a fiend, a devil. He¡¯s the embodiment of Deception.¡± He said, each word filled with disdain. ¡°He fooled me once and I was left with no choice but let him participate in my battle against Erebus.¡± Chronos sighed heavily. ¡°The problem is that he doesn¡¯t care about defeating Erebus. The only thing he desires is to beat me.¡± ¡°Beat you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chronos nodded. ¡°Just like you are my champion, Goren is his.¡± *** The portal disappeared behind us as we exited it. I scanned our surroundings, half-expecting to see pools of molten lava and people being tortured by crimson-skinned imps. But that wasn¡¯t the case. In fact, it was the complete opposite. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of wildflowers and freshly tilled soil. A peaceful countryside stretched out before us, like something you¡¯d find on the outskirts of Tepan. Rolling green hills, endless fields, and a quaint farmhouse nestled in the distance painted an idyllic picture. ¡°Stick close.¡± Chronos muttered, taking the first step forward. I nodded, falling into step behind him, my mind repeating the first rule he set: Don¡¯t stop. No matter what. It was hard to believe all of this was fake or a trap. At first glance, I couldn¡¯t see how it could be. The place stirred a tranquil feeling inside me, the kind I hadn¡¯t felt in years. The sun seemed to hang forever in the most perfect position in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. And even the birds chirped melodiously everywhere around us. ¡°This place is a lie.¡± Chronos whispered, cutting through my thoughts. His voice was sharp, snapping me back to reality. ¡°Just like its master.¡± I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus. Chronos knew better than I did who we were dealing with. If he said it was a lie, then it likely was. Ahead of us, near the farmhouse, a figure appeared. It was an old man, stooped with age, his long white beard flowing down his chest. He wore a wide straw hat and carried a rake over his right shoulder. His face looked tired, but his eyes seemed to sparkle with joy once he saw us. He waved enthusiastically. ¡°Well, well,¡± the old man called out, his voice warm and inviting. ¡°If it isn¡¯t my dear, dear friend Chronos! You¡¯ve come a long way! Did you miss me that much?¡± ¡°No.¡± Chronos replied coldly. ¡°You know why we¡¯re here.¡± The old man turned to me, his smile widening unnaturally. ¡°Ah, yes, of course. Our dear Aidan over there, or should I say ¨C ¡° he paused, his voice seamlessly shifting into Goren¡¯s. ¡°Spellsword.¡± It sent a chill down my spine and resurfaced the memories of all my deaths at the hands of the powerful Rogue. My fists clenched, my jaw tightened. I wanted to react, almost instinctively, but I recalled Chronos¡¯ third rule: Don¡¯t give him a reaction. It wasn¡¯t easy to keep my cool, but I managed to do it. ¡°No reaction?¡± Dolos said, sounding disappointed. Then, his form shifted right before our eyes. The old farmer was gone, replaced by a young prince draped in luxurious robes. It happened so seamlessly it seemed as if he had always looked that way. I dropped my gaze immediately, careful not to meet his eyes. Chronos¡¯ second rule was clear in that regard. As I stared at ground, I realized it wasn''t soil we were standing on, it was something living - it had a pulse, which I could feel through my feet. ¡°Consider this a first and last warning, Dolos.¡± Chronos growled, his cold voice showing some fire. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about trying something.¡± Dolos sighed theatrically, his form shifting again, this time into a woman with a crown of flowers in her hair and a sweet, melodic voice. ¡°Always so serious, Chronos. You¡¯ve never been any fun.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°And whose fault is that?¡± Chronos replied, his tone carrying an edge. The woman smiled sweetly, then burst into laughing. What should¡¯ve been a joyful sound sent a shiver down my spine. It was an evil laugh. My gaze flicked up to the flowers in her crown, realizing they were moving. They writhed like tiny snakes tangled together. I slowly understood what Chronos meant when he said everything here was fake. Then, Dolos¡¯ form shifted again. He was now an old woman, her skin carrying a darker hue, resembling of people from lands far away. She leaned on a crooked staff, her grin revealing missing teeth. ¡°Oh, Chronos.¡± she crooned, her voice mocking. ¡°You mean to tell me you¡¯re still not over that one time?¡± How long has it been? A Millennia?¡± she chuckled dryly, a haunting sound. ¡°I already apologized!¡± Chronos¡¯ jaw tightened, his expression darkening. When he spoke, his tone was colder than I¡¯d ever heard it. ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive you for that. Nor will I ever forget.¡± "That''s rich coming from you..." The old woman cackled, her laughter echoing around us unnaturally.vShe turned her gaze to me, her grin widening. ¡°Tell me, Aidan, has he told you the story? About us? About what I did? About why he''s so mad at me?¡± At first, I froze, but then immediately looked away, refusing to respond. Even so, my mind raced with questions about their exchange. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Chronos snapped. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need to know, and we¡¯re done wasting time here. Let¡¯s get to the point.¡± The old woman pouted exaggeratedly as her form began to shift. This time, she shrank, her features turning to those of a young boy, no older than eight. His hair was messy, filled with dirt, and he wore cheap, patched-up clothes. Despite his child-like appearance, his eyes were gleaming with knowledge and something¡­else. I again quickly turned away, making sure not to look at him for more than a second at a time. ¡°Very well.¡± The boy said, clapping his hands together. A triangular table materialized out of thin air between us, its dark wood so polished, I could see my own reflection in it like it was a mirror. Three chairs appeared, one on each side of the table. Dolos gestured toward them. ¡°Let¡¯s get comfortable, shall we?¡± Chronos didn¡¯t move, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. I remembered his earlier warning: Decline the chair. I remained standing as well, following his lead. ¡°Suit yourselves. I¡¯ll take the best seat, then.¡± The boy said cheerfully, hopping onto the table. He sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees, grinning. He tilted his head, feigning innocence. ¡°C¡¯mon, Chronos. Let¡¯s see if we can strike a deal like we did last time, eh?¡± Chronos shifted slightly, his hands twitching as though he was on the verge of punching the child. But he stopped himself, even though his fury was clear for all to see. Dolos¡¯ grin widened. ¡°It worked well for you last time, didn¡¯t it, Chronos?¡± ¡°This time won¡¯t be like last time.¡± Chronos said firmly. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Dolos said, clearly amused. I watched their exchange silently, the tension almost palpable. I made a mental note to ask Chronos about their relationship and the incident they kept referring to in more detail, though I already knew how that would go. Chronos, much like his D¨¦j¨¤ vu System, wasn¡¯t exactly forthcoming about anything. Chronos took a step forward, his arms still crossed. ¡°Your champion ¨C Goren ¨C has been murdering mine at the start of the loop for sevens runs straight. It¡¯s clear he won¡¯t stop on his own.¡± The child laughed. ¡°Seven already? My boy doesn¡¯t rest.¡± ¡°Stop him.¡± Chronos demanded, his tone commanding, making Dolos¡¯ grin falter for a moment. But then the child released a soft chuckle, shaking his head. ¡°You must be forgetting your own rules, Chronos. We can¡¯t intervene in what our champions do. You wrote that rule yourself, didn¡¯t you? If you want Goren to stop, you know the answer: your little champion here ¨C ¡° he gestured lazily toward me without even glancing ¨C ¡°will have to fight back and kill him.¡± As if I can. I don¡¯t know how many runs Goren had already gone through, but he was far too strong for me to handle at the moment, or in the near future. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple, and you know it.¡± Chronos said sharply, almost frustrated. ¡°The D¨¦j¨¤ vu System has its limitations early on, and Goren abuses that fact to gain the upper hand easily.¡± Dolos burst into laughter, his form shifting again. He was still a young child, though now a girl. ¡°Oh, the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System¡­¡± she said, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. ¡°It¡¯s so stupid! What kind of a system doesn¡¯t even let its users retain their memories between runs without grinding levels first? It¡¯s not a system ¨C it¡¯s an elaborate torture device! Poor Aidan...¡± I felt my cheeks burn, anger boiling inside me. Dolos was right but hearing him mock the system so openly made me want to defend it. Or at least defend myself for having to endure it. Chronos didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°It worked so far. Thus, it¡¯s not as stupid as you think.¡± Then, he suddenly smiled. ¡°Meanwhile, your champions always meet the same fate.¡± The girl shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°I don¡¯t care what end they meet, really. I¡¯m only in it to beat you.¡± ¡°Of course you wouldn¡¯t care. When did you ever care about anyone but yourself?¡± Chronos threw a jab at him, for the first time since our arrival. ¡°The universe itself is at stake and you treat this all like a game, like you always do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Never cared much about the universe. May it explode already. I just want to have as much fun as possible until that happens.¡± The girl grinned, seemingly unfazed by his words. ¡°But regardless, I don¡¯t see any reason to stop Goren. Killing Aidan gives him a wealth of XP, doesn¡¯t it? It¡¯s helping him level up faster and preparing him for Gaelith. Why would I take that away from him?¡± she tilted her head innocently. ¡°Now, of course, I could make him stop. But¡­¡± her grin widened. ¡°What are you willing to offer me in return?¡± Watching their back-and-forth, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling I was just a pawn in something far bigger than what I¡¯ve initially imagined. But what could I even do about it? These were literal gods, while I was just human. ¡°What do you want in return?¡± Chronos turned the question to Dolos. ¡°I want Pix.¡± Dolos fired back almost instantly. ¡°Her voice is so squeaky and annoying. It needs to go.¡± Pix? Chronos¡¯ helper? Really? Chronos didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Absolutely not. Both Pix and Balthor are off the table. Find something else.¡± Dolos¡¯ form shifted again, turning into a young woman with pale skin, jet-black hair that matched her otherworldly outfit, dark eyeliner framing piercing eyes, and a bored expression. Then, she pouted. ¡°Well, that¡¯s disappointing. Guess we won¡¯t be striking a deal after all.¡± I glanced at Chronos, wondering if he¡¯d back down, but his cold stare never wavered. ¡°Don¡¯t insult me. I know you¡¯ve waited for this moment. I know you¡¯ve been hoping things turn out exactly as they have, with Goren killing Aidan over and over. You wanted this negotiation to happen.¡± He took another step forward, towering over Dolos. ¡°Do you really think I believe its Pix you want?¡± The woman¡¯s bored expression remained, but she nodded. ¡°You know me too well, dear friend.¡± She uncrossed her legs, then crossed them again, this time with her left atop her right. ¡°Fine. You want to know what I really want?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± She leaned forward, clasping her hands under her chin, ¡°That incident you¡¯re still so bitter about¡­we both lost that time because our champions reached the finish line together. And then, well¡­we know what happened¡­¡± They both lost? ¡°Get to the point.¡± Chronos snapped. The woman suddenly smiled. ¡°This time, I¡¯m offering to end it sooner.¡± Chronos¡¯ eyes narrowed. ¡°Explain.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll force Goren to stop killing your precious Aidan.¡± She said, her tone almost reasonable. ¡°But¡­in fifty runs, when Aidan reaches his 64th loop, he and Goren will face off. One on one. A final, deadly battle. No interruptions. No interference. The winner gets to continue the game.¡± She let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. ¡°And the loser? Well, the loser won¡¯t respawn. Ever. Not in the loop, not in time, not in existence itself. Deleted.¡± My breath caught in my throat. Deleted? The very idea sent a chill down my spine. Surely, Chronos would decline, right? Then why did he look like he was considering it?! ¡°We both know you have the power to do so.¡± Dolos added. ¡°But the same rules remain: You can¡¯t intervene, no tweaking his little system, no giving him any¡­unfair advantages. Your champion fights with what he has. Just like Goren will.¡± I wanted to shout, to scream at Chronos to refuse. Fifty runs weren¡¯t nearly enough time for me to catch up to Goren. He was already clearly so far ahead. When Chronos finally spoke, I felt my knees tremble. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°What?!¡± I snapped and spoke for the first time since we got here. They both ignored me and shook hands, sealing the agreement. Chapter 21: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Chapter 21: A Wolf in Sheep¡¯s Clothing Chronos made sure I¡¯d remember our meeting with Dolos and the deal he agreed to on my behalf. When I pointed out that if everything he said about Dolos was true, we couldn¡¯t trust him to hold up his end of the deal, Chronos explained that their handshake was a godly pact. And that Dolos had to honor it, or there would be consequences. When I argued that Goren might not even listen to Dolos and could keep killing me, Chronos replied that there was no doubt in his mind that Goren would comply, that he wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse Dolos¡¯ request. When I confessed there was no way in hell I could catch up to Goren in just fifty runs - that I was already a goner ¨C Chronos simply said I needed to find a way, that we couldn¡¯t afford another failure. Another? It felt like he was referring to something that happened before me. When I asked what he meant by that, and about his history with Dolos, Chronos just snapped his fingers and sent me back to reality. *** [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 6] [Loop Count: 15] [Experience Points (XP): 936 / 2000] . . . ¡°Hey, Spellsword.¡± I heard from behind me as I waited for Yana to return from her conversation with Lady Mikaela. Chronos couldn¡¯t let me remember his face - that would count as intervening, which was against the vague rules he and Dolos had set up - but I knew it was Goren. The ways he had murdered me escaped my memory, leaving only the knowledge that he¡¯d killed me eight times. The dark aura around him was enough to put me on edge, my hand instinctively reaching for Nightfall. ¡°Whoa, whoa, relax.¡± He said, laughing at my reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± I hissed. ¡°Looks like you remember me this time. Interesting.¡± He said, sounding thoughtful. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m here to say my goodbyes - for now.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe my ears. What was he up to? ¡°Goodbyes?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He nodded, sounding almost disappointed. ¡°As much as I enjoyed killing you and leveling up, Dolos forbade me from doing it again - for the time being, anyway. Apparently, I¡¯m not to supposed to intervene with your attempts to level up. So, I figured I might as well join a different team altogether, so our paths won¡¯t even cross until they need to.¡± ¡°Different team?¡± I asked, confused. He looked surprised at first, then chuckled. ¡°Looks like you still don¡¯t remember everything.¡± He paused, turning away and giving me a wave. ¡°Level up and get strong, Spellsword. I wonder how much XP I¡¯ll get from killing you once we finally face off. For one last time.¡± ***
We split into teams and entered the tomb. I was on team four. Goren was not.
¡°You can''t do that.¡± Jax told the Rogue in our team once he realized the man¡¯s name didn¡¯t match the one he was given. ¡°You can¡¯t just decide to switch teams because your guild member asked you to. The guild masters put great consideration into ¨C ¡° ¡°Shut up.¡± The level 65 Rogue, Dalton, a short, middle-aged man with messy brown hair, interrupted, rolling his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll do whatever we want.¡± Jax was taken aback but quickly regained his composure. ¡°Do you even know who you¡¯re speaking to? I can disqualify your entire guild from this quest with one word to Master Lorren.¡± Dalton chuckled, gesturing toward the corridor leading to the main antechamber. ¡°Then, do it.¡± ¡°You think I won¡¯t?¡± Jax raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t.¡± Dalton replied. ¡°I¡¯ve read the official papers regarding this quest. The one-hundred-adventurer quota is mandatory for it to proceed. Disqualify my guild, and you¡¯re left with ninety-two. Maybe then you can march up to your ¡®Master Lorren¡¯ and explain that you were the reason the quest fell apart.¡± He placed a hand on Jax¡¯s shoulder condescendingly, smirking. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get going, eh, leader?¡± Seeing how obnoxious Jax was, everyone but Henry and Dina reacted with a smile. *** Dalton wasn¡¯t a man of action ¨C or rather, he didn¡¯t actively participate in the clearing of the chambers. He simply followed us from behind, issuing warnings, pointers, and strategic advice. All of it came in a measured tone, like that of a teacher genuinely concerned about everyone¡¯s progress. And despite being a Rogue - a class that usually evoked dread and contempt - the party seemed to gravitate toward his guidance. Well, everyone except Jax and me. But while Jax refused to play along because he had effectively lost his position as party leader ¨C even young Henry, Jax¡¯s apprentice, seemed to follow Dalton ¨C I couldn¡¯t bring myself to trust him, no matter what he said or did. He was from the same guild as Goren. And I¡¯d be damned if I ever trusted a guild member of the man who had already murdered me eight times. Knowing that time was of the essence for me, I often broke away from our formation, rolling on my own to land as many kills as I could on the Undead Warriors while practicing my air magic in the process. Eventually, I gained a total of 510 XP from this section of the tomb. Fifty runs might sound like a lot, but if Goren was strong enough to warrant Chronos¡¯ intervention, it meant I needed to gain as much XP as possible. Not just to defeat Erebus and escape this time loop, but to actually stay alive. To do that, I had to be bold. Bold, but not stupid. There was no point in fighting impossible enemies if I was still under leveled, but slaying these undead, for example, was a piece of cake. Even though each only gave a measly 34 XP, it would eventually add up to something significant.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. We had just finished clearing the last chamber and were about to return when Dalton called out to me. ¡°You¡¯ve got a reckless fighting style, son. There are no consequences when the enemies are as weak as those undead, but don¡¯t make a habit of it, okay?¡± I glanced at him, then around us. I wasn¡¯t comfortable with staying one-on-one with him. Goren might¡¯ve sent him to kill me ¨C a loophole in our agreement with Dolos. The rest of our party had already exited this chamber, so I decided to ignore him and walk away. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± he called after me, but I kept moving, unwilling to respond. ¡°Wait,¡± he called again, quickening his pace behind me, unrelenting. ¡°Oh, for the love of God, can you wait for a moment? I want to ask you something.¡± For reasons I couldn¡¯t explain, I decided to stop and hear him out. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I wanted to ask you something about Goren.¡± Dalton said. ¡°Ask me about Goren?¡± I echoed, confused. ¡°Isn¡¯t he from your guild?¡± ¡°He is.¡± Dalton nodded, a weak smile tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°He¡¯s a good lad.¡± A good lad? The person who murdered me eight times for fun and levels is a good lad? Dalton must have noticed my expression because he quickly added. ¡°I see you don¡¯t share the sentiment.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± I replied sharply, already turning to leave. ¡°Please, wait.¡± Dalton said, stopping me with a hand on my shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you two know each other or what Goren did to earn your hate, but believe me when I say you¡¯ve likely just misunderstood him.¡± ¡°Misunderstood him?¡± I repeated, raising both eyebrows. ¡°That guy ¨C ¡° I stopped myself before saying something I shouldn¡¯t. ¡°He¡¯s just terrible at conveying his thoughts and emotions.¡± Dalton explained, sounding completely oblivious to the reality of the situation. ¡°I¡¯ve known him for a few years now. Everything he¡¯s done for our guild was to make enough money to pay for his mother¡¯s medical bills and to look after his younger brother. A person like that can¡¯t be bad, can they?¡± I rolled my eyes. I didn¡¯t want to listen to this nonsense. ¡°If you want to ask something, then do it already.¡± I said impatiently. ¡°Well, I sort of already got the answer.¡± Dalton rubbed the back of his head, a disappointed expression on his face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You see, I don¡¯t think I ever saw Goren with a friend. He¡¯s a lone wolf. But when he came up to me this morning and asked me to switch teams with him and to watch over an Aidan, I was pleasantly surprised.¡± Dalton paused, his tone softening. ¡°Not only did he have a friend, but he was worried about him - despite their differences ¨C and asked me to look out for him.¡± Dalton sighed heavily before continuing. ¡°I guess what I¡¯m trying to say is¡­try to forgive him and understand where he¡¯s coming from. He¡¯s had a difficult life, but he clearly values you as a friend.¡± I couldn¡¯t help it - a small chuckle escaped me, quickly growing into laughter. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s rich.¡± Dalton stared at me, confused and bewildered. It was only then that I realized he was likely serious ¨C that this wasn¡¯t some act Goren had set him up for - which somehow made me laugh even harder. ¡°Did I say something funny?¡± Dalton asked, looking genuinely perplexed. I wiped a tear from my eye, still chuckling, before turning to leave. ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ***
Sealed inside by Gaelith. The Wolves attacked ¨C [+318 XP] The Moles attacked ¨C We escaped. Checkpoint was wasted. Killed some more Undead on our way ¨C [+238 XP] ¨C Leveled Up.
[D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 7] [Loop Count: 15] [Experience Points (XP): 2 / 2500] Before choosing a skill and a stat to level up, I tricked Yana, sending her down the right corridor at an intersection to escort Melissa and Lena. When Checkpoint was wasted, it felt like the weight of the world crashed down on me. I was going to face Goren in fifty runs, with my entire existence on the line - whatever that entailed - and here I was, wasting my strongest skill on nothing. This failure, coupled with seeing the mark I¡¯d left for myself, was enough to make me refuse to follow Yana and seek my own solutions. Of course, she never wanted to leave my side, which made tricking her necessary. I glanced at the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System¡¯s skills. Each of them had a single point, and now I had to decide which one to prioritize ¨C where my attention should go early on. I couldn¡¯t repeat the same mistake I made with my Intelligence stat in the Core System. Checkpoint was the strongest and most useful skill, obviously. But judging by my current run, I was likely wasting it too often, setting the anchor but failing to use it. If I wanted to improve my decision-making and retain at least some clues from my previous runs, there was only one choice: D¨¦j¨¤ vu. [Skill Upgraded: D¨¦j¨¤ vu lvl.2] [Next Level: lvl.3: Increases the frequency and clarity of D¨¦j¨¤ vu even more] Good¡­I think. For the stat, I decided to allocate the additional point to Endurance, bringing it to a total of 8. My main thought was simple: increase my stamina to compliment my Agility. I turned toward the left corridor to explore the continuation of the mural when I suddenly froze. My heart began racing, and my gaze instinctively dropped to the ground as if danger was lurking there ¨C D¨¦j¨¤ vu level 2 at work. I decided to activate Afterimage, hoping to see what D¨¦j¨¤ vu was trying to warn me about. The ghostly version of myself walked forward and then¡­it fell. It was as if the ground swallowed me. A trap! From a distance, I carefully scanned the ground where my afterimage had stepped before plummeting into the unknown, taking care not to enter the corridor myself. It looked perfectly normal ¨C nothing out of place. Realizing the trap¡¯s mechanism must be well-hidden, I rifled through my inventory and selected a Trap Detection Kit. I hadn¡¯t used one in ages, but its description had stuck with me: A single-use tool, disposable but invaluable when walking into the unknown. The kit materialized in my hand ¨C a small, circular device made of metal, fitting perfectly into my palm. Its surface was covered with faintly glowing magical runes. Following the instructions I remembered, I set the kit down just at the edge of the corridor and activated it. The runes brightened, and a soft hum filled the air as blue lights spread out of the device, sweeping slowly across the floor, walls, and ceiling inside the corridor. Then, the lights stopped, locking onto three distinct spots with beams of red light. The main one targeted a plate on the ground ¨C stepping on it would likely collapse the floor. The other two beams, one on each wall, revealed slits housing hidden crossbows, likely designed to fire at anything moving while the trap reset. ¡°Lovely.¡± I muttered, watching as the device dimmed and crumbled, just like it was advertised. I drew Nightfall, and used Luminous Slash, sending two crescents at the hidden crossbows, shattering them both, hoping I hadn¡¯t made too much noise. With that taken care of, I stepped inside, moving around the pressure plate on the floor. The floor crackled under my steps, but nothing happened. I turned to the wall, examining the continuation of the mural, but most of it was faded or chipped away. I wanted to equip my torch to see it better, but then a low, guttural sound stopped me ¨C a faint grunt, coming from the far end of the corridor. My grip on Nightfall tightened instinctively. At first, all I could make out was a shadowed figure stepping out from the darkness. I thought it might be an adventurer ¨C another survivor of the Grave Moles¡¯ slaughter who had somehow made it this far. But as the figure moved closer, I realized how wrong I was. It was clad in medium-weight armor, but nothing like the standard fare of knights I¡¯d seen before. The armor was blackened and twisted, with spikes jutting from its pauldrons and helmet. An engraving of an X glowed with a sickly green hue on its breastplate. In its hand was a glaive, matching the same eerie green, its end resting on the ground. But it wasn¡¯t just the armor that unsettled me ¨C it was the man inside. His flesh pale and rotting. His eyes milky white. He reminded me of the Undead Warriors we stumbled upon so far. Yet, he was different as well. Above his head, a name and level showed: Undead General Kaelstrife ¨C Level 75. Wait a minute¡­THE General Kaelstrife?? The one from the history books? As I stared, he lowered his helmet¡¯s visor, revealing a skull that sent shivers down my spine. I barely had time to react as his glaive sliced through the air, coming straight at me. Chapter 22: General Kaelstrife Chapter 22: General Kaelstrife I didn¡¯t even have time to wonder if this was the General Kaelstrife who brought countless glories to Tepan on the battlefield a thousand years ago. All my focus was on dodging. He continued slicing through the air with his glaive in wide arcs, from wall to wall. I wish I''ve had a moment to use some of the items in my second inventory - Skyroot Powder for enhanced stamina regeneration, in particular - but Kaelstrife left me constantly occupied. I threw myself backward, using Dash Step several times in rapid succession to evade his strikes, but the pressure was relentless. He moved unnervingly fast for someone ¨C or something ¨C that was supposed to be dead. His armor clinked faintly with each step, the sound filling the corridor. Then, he suddenly stepped back and lowered his stance, his glaive pointed directly at me. The green light along the glaive flared brighter and began crackling. He was charging an attack, and whatever it was, I didn¡¯t want to find out how it worked. But escape was problematic. The narrow corridor hemmed me in, and turning to run would only leave my back wide open. In short, dodging might be nearly impossible in this confined space. Determined to cancel his attack, I decided to use Horizon for the first time. I swung Nightfall horizontally and it released a crescent-shaped wind strike, aimed directly at Kaelstrife. It was as wide as the corridor, chipping some of the bricks on the walls as it flew forward. But once it hit him, it barely did anything. A bit of Kaelstrife''s HP dropped, but he was still channeling his ability. With no other choice left, I activated Moon Barrier, gripping Nightfall tightly. The barrier materialized around me instantly. Meanwhile, Kaelstrife¡¯s glaive burned even brighter before he lunged, turning into a blur of motion, the tip of his glaive leading the charge, leaving a streak of green light in its wake. The impact was devastating. The glaive struck the barrier, and the force of the collision reverberated across the corridor, cracking the walls and the ground around it. The floor beneath me trembled, fractures spidering out in every direction and I questioned whether Moon Barrier could even withstand the assault as Kaelstrife¡¯s wasn¡¯t done ¨C he kept pressing forward, seemingly pouring even more power into his charged attack. The answer came quickly as the barrier crackled, fissures spreading across its shimmering surface like splintering glass. I didn¡¯t have time to hesitate. Activating Wind Rush a millisecond before the barrier shattered, I leapt, air magic propelling me higher - just over Kaelstrife¡¯s charging form beneath me. The ground splintered further in his wake as he barreled forward, nearly reaching the end of the corridor from which I had originally entered. I landed in a crouch, Nightfall in hand, and scrambled backward, trying to create space. But he recovered too quickly. He adjusted his stance and then launched himself toward me, his armored body soaring through the air. The motion was so sudden that instinct and Wind Rush took over. I dropped and rolled beneath him, bracing for a devastating follow-up ¨C but it didn¡¯t come. Rising to my feet, I glanced back at him, confused. He had landed near the far end of the corridor, close to where I¡¯d first seen him, and turned to face me again, his glaive at the ready. I was surprised at first, but then, looking past him, it clicked. Whatever lay beyond him, shrouded in the darkness at the far end of the corridor, was something he had to guard. And the only way to find out what it was would be to get past him. Easier said than done. I¡¯d already told myself that fighting impossible enemies shouldn¡¯t be my priority. The only likely outcome would be death and a wasted run, bringing me closer to my inevitable confrontation with Goren. Then, an idea popped into my mind. I didn¡¯t have to fight him¡­ I glanced back at the pressure tile on the floor. If I could lure him into stepping on it, he¡¯d plummet into the trap, leaving the coast clear for me to investigate whatever he was guarding ¨C likely something that would help me defeat Gaelith and Erebus. I glanced at Kaelstrife, but he wasn¡¯t charging at me this time. He stood close to the area he was guarding, as if waiting for me to make the first move. He wasn¡¯t going to come unless I forced him. I sighed, knowing I had only a minute left on Wind Rush. I couldn¡¯t afford to waste another second waiting for him. I moved forward quickly, Nightfall aimed at him. As soon as I got close enough, Kaelstrife reacted, his glaive slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade as it smashed into the stone floor beside me, leaving a visible crack. He advanced, swinging his glaive again in a precise diagonal arc. I used Dash Step, evading the attack as I retreated a few paces. Step by step, Kaelstrife followed, his attacks unrelenting and his combos eerily precise. But I managed to stay ahead, locked in a constant state of dodging. The continuous use of Dash Step was taking its toll on my mana bar, and the system was kind enough to remind me of that. [Mana: 39%]This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Another notification followed. [Wind Rush Expiring. Time Remaining: 00:00:24] Twenty-four seconds left. Not much, but the pressure tile was right behind me now. Kaelstrife raised his glaive and lunged at me with another roar. This is it. I backflipped, my heart racing as I avoided the tile, using the last burst of Wind Rush to propel me higher and farther. A rush of air seemed to physically carry me just beyond the trapdoor as Kaelstrife¡¯s boots and glaive hit the ground. There was a sharp, mechanical click, followed by the groaning sound of stone grinding against stone. The ground beneath him gave way, the trapdoor collapsing beneath him, and then he dropped, vanishing into the darkness below. The trapdoor slammed shut, sealing the pit once more. I stood there, panting and clutching Nightfall, adrenaline still coursing through my veins as I tried to catch my breath. It worked! It actually worked! I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes. Carefully, I stepped around the pressure tile and moved forward. The corridor was dead silent, the only sound being the soft thud of my boots against the stone floor. Was that really the legendary General Karl Kaelstrife? And if it was, how had he ended up here as an Undead, guarding¡­what? Had his king sent him to deliver the treasures to Gaelith? But that wasn¡¯t what history taught us. History claimed Kaelstrife died an honorable death on the battlefield, fighting the usurper. I glanced ahead toward the end of the corridor, anticipation building within me. Whatever he had been protecting had to be significant. Maybe something ¨C A sound cut through my thoughts. The groan of strained metal grinding against stone. I froze, every sense sharpening. The sound was coming from beneath me. ¡°No way¡­¡± I whispered as the noise grew louder, like something massive was forcing its way upward. My grip on Nightfall tightened as I slowly backed away. Then, the ground beneath the trapdoor exploded. Stone fragments shot outward as Kaelstrife erupted from the floor, his glaive leading the way. The force of his emergence sent a shockwave through the corridor, knocking me backward. Momentum carried me into a roll, and I quickly pushed myself back to my feet. I stared at him as he stood there, menacingly, his glaive aimed directly at me. His stance shifted, lowering himself as his glaive began charging up the same attack form before. Moon Barrier was still on cooldown. What could I ¨C A fiery explosion slammed into Kaelstrife¡¯s back, sending him staggering forward and breaking his charge. His health bar dropped too ¨C about a fifth gone from the unexpected attack. I blinked in surprise, glancing past him to see Yana, her sword ablaze with her fire magic. She returned. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she called, sounding worried. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± I managed, a weak smile tugging at my lips. ¡°Just in time, as always.¡± Her gaze shifted to Kaelstrife, narrowing as she read the name. ¡°Kaelstrife? Like the general?¡± I only managed to throw back a simple ¡°Yeah,¡± as Kaelstrife recovered and lunged at me, his glaive slicing through the air with terrifying speed. I wanted to dodge, but Wind Rush was on cooldown, and without it, I doubted I could. Desperate, I activated Bladesurge, hoping the enhanced stats on Nightfall would be enough to block the incoming damage. They weren¡¯t. The impact sent a shockwave through my body, the sheer force throwing me backward into the wall. [Health: 64%] A third of my HP gone in a single strike ¨C even with the block. That¡¯s why I hated blocking. But there was no doubt that without it, I¡¯d already be dead. He closed in on me again, but Yana darted toward him with Blade Rush. Her sword struck first, glowing with fire, but he turned just in time to parry her strike and counter with the other end of his weapon. Yana recovered quickly, and they exchanged blows in rapid succession. Yana¡¯s strikes, infused with bursts of magic, scorched Kaelstrife¡¯s armor. She was faster, reducing his health to half, and for a moment, it seemed like she might gain the upper hand. But then Kaelstrife roared, his body radiating the all-too-familiar darkness. Suddenly, his movements became faster, his attacks stronger. He began incorporating new moves, spinning his glaive quickly, striking with both ends. Yana blocked as best as she could, but his blows were too powerful, still dealing damage. I knew I had to do something. I couldn¡¯t watch her get killed. Not again. Not if I could do something about it. I didn¡¯t want her to get involved in this, but there was nothing to do about it now. I quickly opened my second inventory, selecting a Spark Bomb. The item description flashed in my mind: 50% chance to stun afflicted targets for 5 seconds. ¡°Yana, dodge!¡± I shouted, lobbing two bombs toward Kaelstrife in succession to increase the odds of a stun. She leapt back just as the bombs erupted in bursts of lightning, jolting Kaelstrife. His health bar dipped to around a third, but to my dismay, the stun didn¡¯t take. He turned, his eyes glowing red through his visor as he targeted me. ¡°Damn.¡± I muttered, just barely dodging with Dash Step. But he followed up immediately, his glaive coming straight at me. I braced for death. But the blow never landed. Yana darted in, her sword intercepting the glaive with a metallic clang. ¡°Go!¡± she shouted, straining under the weight of the strike. I didn¡¯t hesitate. Using Dash Step to gain distance, I selected my last Spark Bomb and hurled it at Kaelstrife, warning Yana again. She rolled out of the way as the bomb hit its mark. My heart pounded as I wondered what are the odds of a stun failing three times in a row. But this time, the lightning enveloping Kaelstrife triggered the desired effect. His movements stopped, and we both knew this was our chance, the understanding between us silent. I activated Flame Sword and rushed him with Blade Rush, enhancing the attack with a Time Delay Swing, dealing some nice damage with the guaranteed critical hits. Sparks flew as Yana unleashed a flurry of her own strikes, her sword glowing as she landed her blows, and we brought him down on his knees. Kelstrife¡¯s HP bar dropped rapidly until it reached 0%. I stepped back, my breathing heavy, sweat dripping down my forehead as I stared at his still form. I hoped that I landed the last hit, but it was too close to tell. Either way, for some reason the system notification didn¡¯t appear for neither of us it seemed. Before we could question it, a scream escaped Kaelstrife¡¯s mouth ¨C a sound so distorted and inhuman it made my skin crawl. Then, the aura of darkness around him seemed to come alive, growing and writhing around his body violently. ¡°Step back.¡± Yana said sharply, grabbing my arm and pulling me away. We watched as the darkness stopped growing and instead, Kaelstrife¡¯s entire body ignited on fire. But not just regular fire ¨C it was dark fire. Above him, the text changed: Dark Undead General Kaelstrife ¨C Level ??? His health bar regenerated in an instant, filling to 100% as his body grew larger, his armor shifting and warping. Before we could react, he rose to his feet, his glaive blazing with the same dark fire that consumed him. With a roar, he drove the blade into the ground, summoning a massive explosion of dark fire around him. We flung backwards, engulfed in dark flames, dying instantly. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] Chapter 23: A Deadline Chapter 23: A Deadline ¡°You¡¯re finally showing some progress.¡± I heard Chronos¡¯ voice as I woke up. My surroundings came into focus as I sat up. I was in an open space with a smooth wooden floor marked by strange white lines arranged in patterns I couldn¡¯t understand. Elevated hoops with woven nets hanging below them were positioned at either end of the room. I was near one of them, and not far from me stood Chronos, an orange ball in his hands. He bounced it against the floor once, the sound echoing through the empty space around us. Then again. And again. The rhythmic thuds made my already aching head throb worse as memories of Kaelstrife reanimating and obliterating me and Yana with a single attack came flooding back. Chronos stopped bouncing the ball and, with a flick of his wrist, launched it toward the hoop. It struck the rim and ricocheted to the side, but before it could hit the ground, Chronos raised his hand. The ball reversed its trajectory, retracing its path, hitting the rim again before landing neatly back in his hands. I stared at him, not sure what to feel, think, or what he was even talking about. Progress? What progress? ¡°What¡­what?¡± was the only thing I managed to say, frustrated and irritated. Chronos didn¡¯t answer right away. He tossed the ball once in the air first and caught it with ease. ¡°You¡¯re upset,¡± he said, not looking at me. ¡°Understandable.¡± The audacity¡­ ¡°Upset?¡± I echoed, my voice rising as I scrambled to my feet. ¡°You put my entire existence on the line - erasure from existence - and now you want to talk about progress?¡± Chronos shrugged, angering me further. ¡°It¡¯s not that big of a deal. If you fail to defeat Erebus, you¡¯ll cease to exist anyway.¡± His words hit me like a punch, dragging me back to why all this had started. ¡°Sure, but at least against Erebus, I didn¡¯t have a deadline hanging over my head. Now, I¡¯m only forty-nine loops away from being erased.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not entirely true.¡± Chronos replied matter-of-factly. ¡°There¡¯s a deadline against Erebus too. I just didn¡¯t tell you before because I didn¡¯t want to add more pressure.¡± I felt like my blood turned cold. ¡°What? How long were you planning to keep this a secret?¡± ¡°For as long as I thought necessary.¡± He said flatly. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to know. Besides, you were progressing well enough - until Goren started farming you.¡± I stared at him in disbelief, slowly realizing how grave my situation was. ¡°How¡­how much time do I have?¡± ¡°Against Erebus? 66th run will be your last.¡± Chronos replied, his expression serious. Then, his lips curved into a smile. ¡°But if you finish him before that, you won¡¯t have to face a certain someone, if you know what I mean¡­¡± My mind quickly connected the dots. There was loophole ¨C one in our favor? ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you thought about this before agreeing to the deal with Dolos¡­¡± ¡°You clearly underestimate the young master, Mr. Dar.¡± Balthor¡¯s voice was loud. ¡°You need to trust him more. He knows what he¡¯s doing!¡± Pix¡¯s high-pitched voice chimed in. Chronos chuckled, tossing the ball into the air and catching it on his index finger, spinning it lazily. ¡°Of course I thought about it. Dolos has no idea how many loops the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System allows each millenia since the setting changes every time. I assume fifty was a wild guess on his part, not knowing that in total it¡¯s fairly close to this cycle¡¯s maximum.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait.¡± I blurted out, struggling to keep up. ¡°Why 66? Is it even possible for me to get strong enough to defeat Erebus in such a short timeframe?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not short.¡± Chronos fired back, displeasure visible on his face. ¡°The system determines the maximal number of runs needed for the task. Now, that doesn¡¯t guarantee success within those runs, but at the same time, it also doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll actually need all of them. In the past, I had champions who completed their task thirty, sometimes even forty runs early.¡± He paused before continuing. ¡°As for strength, it¡¯s true that one can overpower Erebus after enough loops, but this is not the only way to beat him. The champions I mentioned, those who managed to complete the task earlier than predicted, managed to do it thanks to their wits.¡± I took a deep breath. It was reassuring. The only good news in a while¡­ ¡°So you¡¯re saying I could end this nightmare before the 64th run and avoid the fight with Goren altogether¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying.¡± Chronos replied, clearly satisfied with himself. ¡°Though I expect Dolos to intervene somehow ¨C within the rules, of course. He wouldn¡¯t be the God of Deception if he didn¡¯t, but for now, I¡¯d say we have the upper hand.¡± Things slowly started making more sense, but I was still afraid. ¡°And you think 66 runs is enough for me? I¡¯m already a quarter in with nothing to show for it.¡± Chronos shook his head. ¡°No, no. You¡¯re fine. You reached the right place this run. You won¡¯t remember that you did when you wake up, but I trust you¡¯ll get back there again on your own. You just need to get past Kaelstrife. Whatever he¡¯s guarding in that room will get you closer to achieving our goal.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. My heart raced at his suggestion. ¡°If you know that, can¡¯t you just tell me what¡¯s in there?¡± Chronos frowned. ¡°Sadly, no. I told you from the start - I can¡¯t intervene in what you do. And now, after the godly pact with Dolos, my hands are even more tied. You¡¯ll have to take out Kaelstrife to find out.¡± I laughed bitterly. ¡°Right. Just get past him. Like that¡¯s so easy. Did you miss the part where he reanimated and killed us with one attack?¡± Chronos nodded. ¡°Erebus¡¯ direct intervention. Because of Yana.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± ¡°You remember she¡¯s marked, right?¡± Chronos raised a rhetorical question. ¡°Being marked by Erebus means constant surveillance. When she helped you defeat Kaelstrife, Erebus intervened to stop her. You were just collateral damage.¡± My confused expression prompted him to continue. ¡°The marked ones are suspected of being my champions. Anything they do is monitored by Erebus and he stops them when he feels like it. If Yana wasn¡¯t there, you would¡¯ve died to Kaelstrife, but in the wild chance you somehow defeated him on your own, he wouldn¡¯t have reanimated.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± I muttered under my breath, the pieces fitting together. Yana¡¯s mark wasn¡¯t just a curse attracting the dungeon¡¯s monsters ¨C it was a beacon to Erebus himself. The implications settled in. I needed to stay away from her as much as possible ¨C not just for my safety, and the success of this mission, but for hers too. From Goren as well. Not just because he wanted to farm me, but because his progress was likely already halted by Erebus. ¡°Your eyes tell me you understand now.¡± Chronos said, a genuine smile on his face. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to Dolos¡¯ deal if I thought the terms were against us. Noticed how I said us? Because we¡¯re in this together. Your failure is my failure.¡± Pix chimed in again. ¡°Master is always so kind.¡± Chronos rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m still angry, Pix.¡± Then, he tossed the ball at me. ¡°Catch.¡± I caught it, feeling its rubbery texture. An earlier question was still haunting me. ¡°Will you tell me about the incident Dolos mentioned?¡± Chronos¡¯ expression soured but he didn¡¯t look angry like last time. ¡°I will.¡± He replied. ¡°But not right now.¡± It wasn¡¯t the answer I wanted, but it seemed like we were making some progress, so I decided to let it be, turning to the second question that bothered me. ¡°How does Erebus decide who to mark?¡± Chronos chuckled, his spirits visibly lifting. ¡°Wow, this is a serious question. To answer this, I¡¯ll need to dive into advanced physics and statistics. We don¡¯t have enough time for this now, but maybe next time?¡± I raised an eyebrow but nodded. At least he didn¡¯t outright refuse. ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer.¡± Chronos smiled and pointed to the hoop beside us. ¡°Take a shot. It¡¯s called basketball. It¡¯s fun.¡± I shrugged, and decided to play along, bouncing the ball a few times like he had earlier. ¡°You¡¯re a natural.¡± He commented, looking amused. I nodded, satisfied with myself. ¡°Quick hands.¡± Chronos laughed. ¡°You damn agility-build users.¡± I launched the ball toward the hoop. It arced gracefully, swishing through the net as everything went dark. *** [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 7] [Loop Count: 16] [Experience Points (XP): 2 / 2500] I woke up with my conversation with Chronos still lingering in my mind. The important parts - the ones where we discussed my last run - were missing. But one thing was clear: I had done something right, and Chronos seemed satisfied with my progress. I also recalled the true meaning of Erebus¡¯ mark on Yana and Goren. I needed to make sure I avoided Yana as much as possible. The idea of pushing her away pained me - this entire quest was supposed to be about reconnecting with her and adventuring together like we used to. But I knew there was no other choice. His words about the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System stuck with me. Sixty-six runs. That was the maximum number of runs allowed for me. And yet, it was possible to defeat Erebus much earlier than that and avoid the confrontation with Goren. He also said that the key wasn¡¯t strength. Meaning, I needed to use my brain to figure out how. Now, if only I could remember what I did last time¡­Easier said than done. ¡°¡­inventory¡­¡± I heard an Echo and instinctively navigated to my second inventory. The array of items was overwhelming, and I couldn¡¯t tell what past me was trying to warn me about - if he even was ¨C or if he was just preparing for everything. The only clue was the Gethril Roots. I was about to close the inventory and get ready for Yana¡¯s arrival when a sudden thought hit me. Of course I couldn¡¯t learn anything new from the second inventory when it was cluttered with all these items. It was too much, and my past selves likely felt the same for gods-know-how-many runs now. But moving everything to the first inventory would just end up with the items ¡°disappearing¡± for good as at the start of the loop ¨C the moment when I wake up ¨C they¡¯re not there. Instead of going along with the loop as I likely had before, I needed to return the second inventory¡¯s original purpose: a tool for communicating with my future selves. But how could I do that? Was the only way really just to move them to the first inventory and call it a day? But if I did that, how can I be sure I would pick them up in the next run? They might be useful and I¡¯m not exactly in a position to pass on anything that could potentially help me. Surprisingly, my thoughts turned to Christian. Maybe the items in the second inventory were from him originally. Either way, I could always start each run restocking at our guild. I just needed to make sure that at the beginning of each loop, in the morning, I would make that a priority. But how, Aidan? How?! Think, damn it! Then, a thought crossed my mind. I glanced at the Temporal Trace skill. It showed: 1/1 marks set. That meant I had already left a mark for myself somewhere ¨C probably in the dungeon. I wonder if I can¡­ [Temporal Trace Lvl.1: Remove all marks?] [YES / NO] Hoping I wasn¡¯t about to remove anything important, I selected YES. [Temporal Trace Lvl.1: All marks removed] Taking a deep breath, I walked over to the kitchen table, a place I was certain to visit at the start of each run while preparing breakfast. On the table lay several documents regarding the quest to Gaelith¡¯s Tomb ¨C papers Christian had passed to me to help me get ready. One of the documents was Christian¡¯s official approval of my participation in the quest. And at the bottom of the page was his signature. I focused on the signature and activated Temporal Trace, leaving a glowing orb exactly on top of it. [Temporal Trace: A mark has been set] Good. Even future me wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to miss such a clear clue. As for now, I moved all the items I had in the second inventory to the first one, leaving behind only the Gethril Roots and coins. Then, feeling more confident than ever, I waited for Yana. Once she arrived, we headed to Christian to stock up before beginning the quest. Chapter 24: Solo Chapter 24: Solo
We stocked up at Christian''s, then raced to the tomb. We split into teams and entered. I was on team four. We cleared the three chambers that were designated for us. Moving faster than ever, I slayed 18 Undead Warriors, earning 612 XP.
We made our way back to the main antechamber, with me trailing behind. Dalton, apparently Goren¡¯s replacement, said something amusing ¨C that Goren was actually a good guy. Good one. Feeling uncomfortable with Dalton walking behind me, I stopped, opening my inventory, pretending to check something. [Inventory #1] Then, I moved to my second inventory. [Inventory #2] As I¡¯d hoped, he decided to move ahead. ¡°Don¡¯t fall behind.¡± Dalton warned. ¡°We might¡¯ve cleared this area, but who knows what else this dungeon has in store for us.¡± I nodded quickly, eager to get rid of him. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be right there. Just need to check some of my items.¡± He shrugged, then continued forward, and I was left alone in the first chamber we¡¯d cleared. Good. In truth, I wanted to be left alone. During our walk to the tomb, a plan had solidified in my mind - to explore it by myself. And now was the best opportunity to do this. And I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out. Assuming most of my runs likely follow a similar path, with only minor changes here and there, as I¡¯m unlikely to take any irrational decisions that go against my own better judgement, the most logical explanation for Chronos being satisfied with my progress would be that I did something completely out of character ¨C something Aidan Dar wouldn¡¯t normally even think about doing. Returning to the main antechamber to report? I likely did that every run. Following Yana constantly? Most likely. But going deeper into the tomb for solo exploration? Ding, ding, ding! That¡¯s definitely not something I¡¯d do. And if Chronos was finally happy, it was likely because I did something unpredictable like this and learned something important. Now, I just needed to repeat that. Also, Yana had always been my anchor in all of this. My past selves had probably clung to her, wanting to keep her safe, haunted by her death and our fault in it. But now, knowing her mark was also a beacon for Erebus, I had no choice ¨C I had to stay away from her. I needed to finish this on my own. We will reconnect after I succeed. After all of this is over. When that happens, hopefully, I¡¯d get to keep the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System and continue leveling up. Then, we could start adventuring together again. I could stand as her equal ¨C not just as a partner, but¡­maybe something more. Exiting the chamber, I returned to the first level¡¯s main corridor. If I continued left, I would reach the main antechamber, the guild masters, and Yana. But if I turned right and pressed on, I¡¯d pass the chambers the other teams were exploring. And if I kept going even deeper, I¡¯d supposedly reach the stairs leading to the second level. This was my last chance to change my mind, but my resolve was firm. I took a deep breath and turned right. Worst case scenario ¨C I¡¯ll die and wake up again. *** [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 7] [Loop Count: 16] [Experience Points (XP): 614 / 2500] As I reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped onto the second level, I realized I couldn¡¯t see a damn thing. The darkness wasn¡¯t welcoming - not at all. I suddenly appreciated how much light Dina, our team¡¯s enchantress, had provided during our exploration of the first level. Without her, the shadows felt a lot more suffocating.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I wondered if I should use the Lumindew I¡¯d picked from Christian this morning or simply rely on a torch. After a moment of consideration, I chose the latter, deciding to save my consumables for later. [Select: Torch] The enchanted torch materialized in my right hand and lit up instantly. The light it cast, however, was underwhelming ¨C barely illuminating a step and a half all directions. Still, it was enough to get a sense of the likely layout of the second level as I moved cautiously forward. This level seemed similar to the first: a long, dark, and wide corridor stretching ahead, with multiple open chambers branching off on either side. The main difference was likely the staircase. On this level, the stairs to the third level would probably be at the other end, directly opposite to where I was now. This crisscross design likely continued on each level all the way down to Gaelith¡¯s chamber. Before taking another step, I decided to activate Checkpoint. This level was unexplored, and the odds of stumbling upon enemies were high. [Checkpoint Set: Your progress has been saved at this point in time] [Checkpoint lvl. 1: Time left until Anchor expires ¨C 29:59] Torch in hand, I walked as carefully and silently as I could, unsure of who ¨C or what ¨C might be lurking in those chambers. More Undead like those we encountered earlier would be welcomed ¨C free XP, but anything stronger might prove too dangerous and just waste Checkpoint. Reaching the first chamber, I paused to listen for any noise inside. Hearing none, I slowly peeked around the corner. The immediate area was empty, so I stepped inside. After a quick inspection, I confirmed the chamber was completely empty. Even the walls were bare, lacking the patterns and small images that adorned those on the first level. However, there was a corridor branching off, similar to how the chamber we explored earlier led to an additional three. I decided to move forward, wondering if this was the same choice I made in my previous run, reluctant to use Afterimage so early considering its ten minutes cooldown. I was glad I didn¡¯t since the corridor ended in a dead end. A large stone door blocked the way, but it wasn¡¯t just an ordinary stone door. In the center, slightly protruding, was a golden circle with a hand-shaped engraving. Beneath it was an inscription written in ancient Tepanese - a language I had luckily studied in school for extra credit. Though it was very rusty, I managed to read the engraved inscription: [Come forth, child of Axul] What an odd inscription for a tomb¡­Who even brings children to a tomb in the first place? But all jokes aside, my Intelligence stat was now high enough to discern that the golden circle was enchanted. Combined with the inscription, it likely meant only someone with Axul blood could open the door. Axul¡­I ran through what little I knew about them. The Axul were a deeply traditional people who remained faithful to their belief in the old gods ¨C the Creator and the Destroyer ¨C while the rest of the kingdom, and the world, moved on, embracing new religions and philosophies. They accepted the changes around them without preaching, choosing to live in seclusion in villages such as this, Moonvale. Eventually ¨C and no one really knows how ¨C their people, and their beliefs ¨C vanished. But this was a tomb. Why was there an enchanted door here? Had someone important to them been interred behind it? A shaman, perhaps ¨C or whatever religious role they had in their society? But if it was someone so significant, why inter them on such a high level when the tomb supposedly extended down for over thirty levels? I sighed, my Intelligence not yet high enough to bypass the enchantment. Disenchantment magic required at least 20 points in Intelligence, and I was still eight points off from that threshold. Not wanting to waste Checkpoint, I turned around and resumed exploring, hoping that a future version of me would be able to enter this chamber and answer my questions. Then, a tremor shook the corridor. *** The tremor was brief, likely not an earthquake. I was about to return to the corridor when I heard rhythmic thudding echoing from outside. I tensed, and instinctively backed away, pressing myself against the wall. Turning off my torch, I quickly consumed a Lumindew. [Item Consumed: Lumindew x1] [Night Vision activated. Duration: 30 minutes. Visual range enhanced in low-light areas] As my vision adjusted, I froze. A pack of large wolves with milky white eyes tore through the corridor outside. Undead Wolves, level 70. Dozens of them barreled forward, moving ferociously like mindless beasts. I held my breath, hoping they wouldn¡¯t notice me. But one of them - likely the last in the pack ¨C suddenly stopped at the entrance to the chamber. Its nose twitched as it sniffed the air, then it slowly stepped inside. There was no doubt in my mind ¨C it had sensed me. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I was twelve levels behind it, but I still fancied my chances. Slowly, I unsheathed Nightfall, preparing myself for the fight. ¡°Let¡¯s dance, motherfucker.¡± I muttered under my breath. Then, two more entered the chamber. You''ve got to be kidding me¡­ *** With Checkpoint doing its job, I reawakened next to the staircase, immediately clutching my neck, struggling to breathe. The damn wolves had torn me to pieces! The finishing blow was one of their maws clamping down on my neck. But I hadn¡¯t gone out without a fight. I managed to take one of them with me, expending an ember flask, and oil flask, and enough mana to force me to use two mana elixirs. But hey, 318 XP is 318 XP. Now, knowing what was coming, I had a choice: I could hide in that chamber and set up a trap for the three wolves, or I could just try progressing forward, skipping the dead-end chamber this time. What had past me done? I decided against using Afterimage again. I wasn¡¯t even sure how it would work after Checkpoint activated. Would I see an afterimage of myself before the Checkpoint or after? It was too risky to waste it here - it could still be useful to me in this run. There was no guarantee I wouldn¡¯t stumble into the entire pack if I decided to move forward. It was safer to wait them out. Besides, those three wolves were worth almost a thousand XP together - I couldn¡¯t pass on that. I rushed to the first chamber, lighting my way with the torch, knowing it would be empty, and began preparing my trap. The plan was simple: I¡¯d place the oil and ember flasks on the floor where the wolves had stood before they attacked me. When they entered, I¡¯d call a Fireball, my base-level fire magic spell that does practically no damage, at the flasks to create an explosion. The blast likely wouldn¡¯t kill them, but it would chip away enough of their HP for me to finish them off. I¡¯d use their initial confusion after the explosion to hit them with Spark Bombs - all three, just to ensure the stun landed. Then, I¡¯d finish them off with Horizon, taking advantage of the guaranteed critical hit on stunned targets. Will it work? God, I hope so. *** [+318 XP] [+318 XP] [+318 XP] I sighed with relief, adrenaline still rushing through my body. It had all happened so quickly, but I¡¯d managed to follow my plan perfectly. The ability to actually remember what had happened in a previous run and prepare for it was incredible - I couldn¡¯t even put it into words. Why did the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System had to make everything so challenging? Well, no use to cry about it now. Chronos had promised to explain everything in detail the next time we met. Until then, I¡¯d have to trust his claim that forgetting everything between loops was necessary. I was also glad the explosions hadn¡¯t attracted the entire pack. I assumed they were busy attacking everyone in the main antechamber. I hoped Yana was okay¡­ I glanced at the system, satisfied with the progress toward my next level. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 7] [Loop Count: 16] [Experience Points (XP): 1886 / 2500] I gained 1884 XP in this run, and I still felt good to be going - ready to gain even more. Exiting the chamber, I continued forward, the night vision from the Lumindew showing the way. I passed a few more empty chambers before reaching an intersection ¨C another difference from the layout of the first level. Unsure which way to pick, I finally decided to use Afterimage. I activated the skill, but instead of an afterimage, a message popped up. [There is no afterimage to run in this area] What? Was this my first time here?? Chapter 25: The High Priestess Chapter 25: The High Priestess What the hell did I do last time to make Chronos so satisfied? It clearly wasn¡¯t exploring the tomb on my own, as Afterimage revealed moments ago. I sighed and pressed forward, eventually reaching a staircase descending to the third level. Lumindew¡¯s effect was about to run out, so I consumed my last one, slowly realizing that in thirty minutes, when the night vision wore off, I¡¯d only have my torch to rely on. And that could lead to all sorts of problems¡­ Taking the stairs down, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease. Aside from that large pack of Undead Wolves, and five Undead Warriors guarding the staircase, I hadn¡¯t encountered any monsters. On the one hand, it was good - I had more freedom to explore. Chronos had said I needed to learn more about the tomb and Gaelith, and that defeating Erebus before my final, 66th run was possible through wit. That likely meant exploration here would lead me to something big. On the other hand, I needed more XP. As the third level revealed itself to me, I realized it was nothing like the first two. The ceiling was astonishingly high, and the staircase opened directly into a massive chamber ¨C easily the size of the entire floor of the previous level. Large stone pillars supported the ceiling, though they appeared more decorative than functional ¨C perhaps they were both. Red, worn-out, and torn fabrics hung from the tops of the pillars all the way to the floor, giving the space a ceremonial feeling. From my elevated point on the stairs, the floor of the chamber was fully visible. It showcased a sprawling mural, covered in a thick layer of dust, both beautiful and unsettling: a large tree, its branches empty ¨C almost skeletal, its roots rotting. Farther ahead was an elevated stage. A pipe organ, broken, rusty, and forgotten, stood on top of it adjacent to the wall. To the left of the stage was an open chamber. What did any of this have to do with this tomb? Were the Axul also praying here? Was this even a tomb to begin with? As I reached the bottom of the staircase, I noticed the dust-covered floor wasn¡¯t as dusty as I thought. It was filled with footsteps belonging to a set of very large feet. The floor was full of them, so it was hard to conclude anything from them. No one should¡¯ve ventured to this level yet¡­Was it someone from Lady Mikaela¡¯s party from her first exploration of the tomb? Yeah, that was probably the case. The footsteps, even though large, were still very much human-like. I glanced toward the stage and suddenly noticed something glowing at its center. Intrigued, I moved closer, passing the entire chamber in about ten minutes. As I was approaching the stage, I slowly realized it was much taller than I had initially thought it was. With no stairs or ladder in sight, I had to do a muscle-up to climb on top. Once on the platform, I walked toward the glow, discovering it was coming from a helm with two large stag horns. While the helm itself piqued my curiosity, it was the glow that truly caught my attention ¨C it seemed to be interacting with the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System. [Temporal Trace: Time Plane Memory #1 - Available] What does that even mean? Only one way to find out. I reached out and touched the helm. The moment my hand made contact, a surge of energy flooded my mind. Images from an ancient past began painting themselves in my mind¡¯s eye. *** [Time Plane Memory #1] A tall woman dressed in a green ceremonial dress gently laid the stag-horned helm on a pedestal, resting it on a red cushion. The luxurious room she was in looked like a combination of an office and a trophy room, though the peculiar helm appeared to be the only ¡°trophy¡± it contained. The woman was stunning, with rich, dark hair flowing freely down her back and nearly flawless olive-hued skin. Her light green eyes were likely capable of captivating anyone who looked at her. ¡°High Priestess Lysandra,¡± a younger woman called as she entered the room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you so late, but I felt like I had no choice.¡± Lysandra, still facing the pedestal, rolled her eyes subtly before turning around. She gestured toward the couch to her left. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dear Diona. Please, tell me what¡¯s troubling you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the upcoming ritual, m¡¯lady.¡± Diona said as she sat down, her voice trembling. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound disrespectful or undermine your authority as High Priestess, especially since I¡¯m only a lowly third-circle Priestess, but¡­it doesn¡¯t sit quite right with me.¡± Lysandra nodded understandingly, her piercing gaze fixed on Diona as if she was trying to burn a hole inside her. Then, she sat on the couch beside the younger woman and took her hand gently in her own. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dear Diona. I know how faithful you are. I know you wouldn¡¯t try to undermine me.¡± Lysandra said with a calming smile ¨C a smile that seemed to ease some of Diona¡¯s visible tension. Lysandra continued, her voice smooth yet inquisitive. ¡°We¡¯ve already discussed the ritual at length plenty of times. Why don¡¯t you tell me exactly what¡¯s bothering you about it? Is it your role in it?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Diona said hesitantly, her voice wavering before gaining confidence. ¡°But it¡¯s not just that.¡± ¡°Then, what is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an eleventh-generation Axul, m¡¯lady.¡± Diona began. ¡°My parents taught me everything I know about our ways. When I was chosen by you to become a Priestess, they said it was the best day of their lives.¡± ¡°I assume there¡¯s a point to this exposition, dear Diona.¡± Lysandra remarked coldly. ¡°Of course, m¡¯lady, forgive me for trailing off.¡± Diona replied nervously. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is that my parents taught me to worship the Creator for the beauty of life but also to honor the Destroyer for allowing us to truly appreciate it. For something to be created, something must first be destroyed.¡± she paused, seemingly hesitating before she finally spoke. ¡°The ritual we¡¯re about to perform¡­I can¡¯t shake the feeling that it leans heavily into just one of those ends.¡± Lysandra shrugged, her expression unchanging. ¡°And why is that a problem?¡± ¡°Then you don¡¯t deny it!¡± Diona blurted out, her voice clearly louder than intended as Lysandra¡¯s icy gaze froze her in place, making her shrink back. ¡°I suggest you remember who you¡¯re speaking to, Diona.¡± Lysandra said, her grip on Diona¡¯s hand tightening. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you this time, but next time, you can expect punishment.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, m¡¯lady.¡± Diona murmured, lowering her gaze to the floor. ¡°As for your concerns,¡± Lysandra continued smoothly. ¡°You are correct. The ritual we are about to perform will honor the Destroyer alone because that is what is needed of us.¡± Diona swallowed hard. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, m¡¯lady.¡± Lysandra¡¯s expression softened to a smile as she gently rubbed Diona¡¯s hand. ¡°The world has shifted, Diona. We can all see it. Magic is now accessible to almost everyone through this¡­System, as they call it. People no longer worship the powers that have ruled the world for so long. In the past, the balance you spoke of was maintained by everyone, but now, most people only choose to celebrate life. They fail to understand that to truly appreciate life, one must also honor its end ¨C and the end of all things. Our goal is to restore that lost balance. That is the purpose of this ritual.¡± Diona¡¯s eyes brightened with relief. ¡°Oh, so that is the reason.¡± She said, sighing. ¡°Thank you, High Priestess Lysandra, for clearing this lowly Priestess¡¯ worries. I feel so embarrassed for even questioning our motives.¡± Lysandra smiled softly as she stood, lightly pulling Diona to her feet as well. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, child. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I must attend to my night routine before bed.¡± ¡°Oh, of course, High Priestess Lysandra.¡± Diona said apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for taking up your time.¡± With that, Diona left, leaving Lysandra alone in the room. The High Priestess approached the desk, pulling open the second drawer. Form it, she retrieved a dark stone, no larger than her palm. She held it close to her ear and smiled. ¡°I can hear you, Mighty Erebus.¡± She whispered. ¡°All is progressing as you commanded.¡± [Time Plane Memory #1 ¨C END] *** I never came out of a trance before, but if I did, it would probably feel something like this. What the hell even was that? It was a memory ¨C a memory attached to this stag-horned helm. It seems that by touching it, I activated Temporal Trace and its ability to show me the time plane ¨C still not sure what that meant. The experience was so vivid, as if I were there myself, observing everything from the helm¡¯s perspective. A chill ran down my spine as I recalled the end of the memory. Erebus. The High Priestess of Axul had spoken to that dark stone and referred to it as Mighty Erebus. So, there was a connection between the Axul and Erebus, or at the very least a connection between their leader and Erebus. The High Priestess had disguised Erebus¡¯ will as something the world needed. Perhaps Erebus hadn¡¯t chosen this place by chance. But so many questions remained unanswered: What was the ritual the two women spoke of? It was clearly tied to Erebus, but what kind of ritual was it? What did Erebus want from the Axul and the Priestess? Was it the reason the Axul suddenly disappeared from the world? And why Gaelith? How did the legendary knight, who spent all his life in the capital or on the battlefields, get mixed up in all of this? How did he end up as Erebus¡¯ vessel of destruction? Was simply placing his body here enough for Erebus to take over one of humanity¡¯s strongest and supposedly purest? My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a system message. [Item Acquired: Time Plane Memory #1 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] I stared at the message in disbelief. What? I opened my second inventory. [Inventory #2] There it was. The memory. I selected it, and it immediately replayed in my mind. Me heart raced. If I kept this in my second inventory, would I be able to play it again at the start of my next run? Could I finally preserve some memories even after my death? It seemed likely. The items in the second inventory supposedly remained the same as they were at the end of the previous run. But I¡¯d only know for sure after I died. Unfortunately ¨C or maybe fortunately ¨C I didn¡¯t have to wait long. Faint footsteps behind me made me spin around, only to see a tall, walking corpse of a woman: High Priestess of Axul, lvl.110. Her face covered by her long black, messy hair. She raised her hand, and with a snap of her fingers, froze me to death. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] *** [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 7] [Loop Count: 17] [Experience Points (XP): 2,056 / 2,500]
I woke up. An Echo directed me to my second inventory. A Temporal Trace mark suggested the items were from Christian. But one item stood out, unlike anything I¡¯d ever seen before ¨C Time Plane Memory #1. When I selected it, I caught a glimpse of the past, raising more questions than answers.
As I struggled to remember how I¡¯d obtained this peculiar item, a curious message appeared. Changing the rules of the game as I¡¯ve known them. [New Quest Available: Memories From the Past] [Collect the 5 Time Plane Memory Fragments] [Current Status: 1 / 5] [Reward: 75,000 XP] A quest? Since when did quests grant XP? And 75,000 XP no less? But that wasn¡¯t all. Not yet. ***
Before the quest, we stopped at Christian¡¯s. During the quest, we cleared three chambers. I leveled up.
[D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 8] [Loop Count: 17] [Experience Points (XP): 168 / 3,000] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] We were on our way back to the main antechamber when I began contemplating which skill to upgrade. Considering my past self had placed the only Temporal Trace mark I had on Christian¡¯s signature, it was clear I needed at least one more. If I¡¯d had another mark, surely I would¡¯ve left it to guide myself back to wherever I¡¯d found the Time Plane Memory fragment in the previous run. [Skill Upgraded: Temporal Trace lvl.2] [Next Level: lvl.3: Increases the number of possible marks available in each loop to 3] With that out of the way, I allocated the additional point to my Endurance stat, bringing it to 9 - just one point short of its first milestone. Then, another message popped up. One that was awfully similar to the one that appeared this morning. [New Quest Available: The Dead Should Stay Dead] [Slay 100 Undead Warriors or Undead Archers] [Current Status: 18 / 100] [Reward: 5,000 XP] Another quest? And I¡¯d already completed a fifth of it. All I had to do was slay more Undead. Easy enough. Five thousand XP would be enough to level up once and also be halfway to the next level. It seemed the Time Plane Memory I found had activated something in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System, triggering an update. This was the second quest I¡¯d received, and there would likely be more. Suddenly, 66 runs felt like more time than I might actually need. Chapter 26: Future Me Chapter 26: Future Me [+318 XP] [Quest Completed: All Dogs Go to Heaven #2] [+10,000 XP] [Level Up! You have gained 1 Skill Point] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] [New Quest Available: All Dogs Go to Heaven #3] [Slay 200 Undead Wolves] [Current Status: 90 / 200] [Reward: 15,000 XP] The messages flashed in quick succession as I drove Nightfall into the last of the Undead Wolves, pinning it to the floor of the second level¡¯s corridor. Through careful planning and trickery I''ve managed to slay most of the pack. The rest continued their advance to the upper level. But the Pack Leader had returned to check on his crew. If his eyes weren¡¯t the undead milky white, I would¡¯ve sworn he was furious. Sadly, Checkpoint had already been used. He¡¯d killed me earlier, activating my second run within this loop. I wondered if I¡¯d ever managed to kill him in any previous loops. It seemed unlikely, even now that I was close to his level. I was already low on health, mana, and items, and I knew I wasn¡¯t going to win this fight. But I¡¯d give it everything I had. Hopefully, in my next runs, D¨¦j¨¤ vu and Muscle Memory will remind me enough of his attack patterns to give me an edge. I exhaled sharply, steadying myself before letting out a battle cry and rushing him head-on. Dying again. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] *** [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 22] [Loop Count: 36] [Experience Points (XP): 3,176 / 17,000] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] I jumped out of bed the moment I woke up. ¡°The second inventory.¡± I heard an Echo of my own voice, loud and clear. Good. Echo Sense level 3 was finally proving to be reliable, the sound quality of the Echo sharp and unmistakable. I browsed through my second inventory and found the Time Plane Memory fragment there, replaying what my previous self had discovered. Sadly, seeing how the related quest showed that I had only found one of them, it was clear I was progressing very slowly. Reaching level 22 in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System meant I was now level 72 compared to other adventurers. Still, that wasn¡¯t enough to be classified as a high-level adventurer, so there wasn¡¯t much to be proud of yet - especially considering I was only 28 runs away from facing Goren and seemingly making no progress in defeating Gaelith and Erebus. I hadn¡¯t even seen Chronos since that odd meeting where he introduced me to...basketball, it was called? Anyway, that was nearly 20 runs ago! Was I not progressing well enough to warrant another meeting? I sighed heavily, navigating to the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System¡¯s skill menu to decide where to allocate my skill point. 1. D¨¦j¨¤ vu ¨C Lvl.6 / 10 Passive skill. Triggers faint recollections of past loops, increasing awareness of events that have happened. 2. Afterimage ¨C Lvl.3 / 10 Creates an afterimage of yourself, retracing your past selves¡¯ movements for a brief duration. 3. Temporal Trace ¨C Lvl.3 / 10 Allows vision of the Time Plane, and the ability to mark a specific location on it visible only to you. Remains between loops unless removed. 4. Echo Sense ¨C Lvl.3 / 10 Passive skill. Allows to hear echoes from past loops such as conversations and etcetera. 5. Checkpoint ¨C Lvl.2 / 10 Sets a temporal anchor point, allowing you to revert to this moment upon death with memories of the current loop intact (single use per loop). 6. Mirror Leveling ¨C Lvl.1 / 1 - MAX Passive skill. For each level you gain in the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System, you receive an additional skill point to allocate into your Core System. 7. Muscle Memory ¨C Lvl.3 / 3 - MAX Passive skill. Your body becomes attuned to enemies¡¯ attack patterns from past loops, often reacting instinctively during combat. I was content with the current level of most skills, so, like my previous self decided many runs ago, I allocated the additional point to D¨¦j¨¤ vu, raising it to 7. [Skill Upgraded: D¨¦j¨¤ vu lvl.7] [Next Level: lvl.8: Increases the frequency of D¨¦j¨¤ vu even more. The recollections become clearer and more precise] With that done, I turned to my Core System. [Status Menu] The progression through my stats did not only make me stronger and more resilient, but it also unlocked new skills along the way. For example:Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. 10 points in Endurance unlocked Distance Gauge, allowing me to sense the presence of enemies and allies nearby, and Second Wind, a passive skill that could replenish stamina upon depletion once. It had a long cooldown, but it was still incredibly useful ¨C at least on paper. Together with the 10 points in Endurance, my 25 points in Agility unlocked Kinetic Shift, which made all my Agility-based skills, like Dash Step and Blade Rush, cost stamina instead of mana, with really low costs. The gem, however, was Blur Strike, unlocked at 25 Agility. It allowed me to strike all enemies in my line of sight in a blur of motion, making me untargetable during the attack for 3 whole seconds. I couldn¡¯t know if I tried it in previous runs, but I could likely combine it with Time Delay Swing for extra damage. Either way, Muscle Memory should take over and remind me of what I''ve tried before. Next milestone under the Intelligence stat was 20, if I remembered correctly, so I allocated the extra point there, raising it to 17. [Air Magic Skill Tree: New skills available] Excited, I quickly navigated to my Air Magic Skill Tree. [Spellsword / Arcane Duelist] [Air Magic Skill Tree] 1. Wind Rush ¨C Lvl.3 / 3 ¨C [MAX] A gust of wind guides you and enhances your movement for the next two minutes. Can stack with other dodge/evasion skills. Cooldown: None. Effect ends upon mana depletion. 2. Wind Blast ¨C Lvl.2 / 3 ¨C [20,636/15,000XP] ¨C Upgrade Available Release a small, short-ranged blast of condensed wind capable of inflicting a Stun. Cooldown: 3 seconds. 3. Horizon ¨C Lvl.3 / 3 ¨C [MAX] Perform a horizontal slash with your weapon of choice to unleash a destructive wave of wind capable of AOE damage. Cooldown: 2 minutes. 4. Wind Wall ¨C Lvl.2 / 3 ¨C [20,636/20,000XP] ¨C Upgrade Available Create a wind barrier that blocks incoming projectiles. Cooldown: 3 minutes. 5. Wind Arrow ¨C Lvl.2 / 3 ¨C [20,636/20,000XP] ¨C Upgrade Available Release long-ranged wind arrows capable of AOE damage when charged. Cooldown: Regular ¨C 0.3 second. Charged ¨C 20 seconds. Charge duration ¨C 5 seconds. 6. Wind Fortification ¨C Lvl.2 / 3 ¨C [20,636/30,000XP] Negates fatal damage once by fortifying the body with wind magic. Cooldown: 1 hour. 7. Burning Damage Resistance ¨C Lvl.1 / 1 ¨C [MAX] - NEW! You are resistant to burning damage. 8. Flight ¨C Lvl.1 / 3 ¨C [20,636/15,000XP] ¨C Upgrade Available - NEW! Defy gravity and fly for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute. Flight? Under normal circumstances, I would¡¯ve leveled it up immediately, but considering the entire quest took place inside an underground tomb, I doubted it would be useful. The base version should be enough for now. Instead, I decided to maximize Wind Wall, lowering its cooldown to one minute and giving myself an additional reliable, defensive option alongside Nightfall¡¯s Moon Barrier. Burning Damage Resistance, on the other hand, could prove extremely useful. I was interrupted by a knock on the door. ¡°Aidan?¡± Yana¡¯s voice came from outside. Startled, I realized I¡¯d spent the entire morning leveling up. *** ¡°How are you so fast?¡± Yana exhaled as we finished our race, stopping not too far away from the tomb. We raced all the way here from Christian¡¯s and I had won by a landslide. Not surprising, considering her build was more Strength and Intelligence-oriented, whereas Agility had always been my forte - now even more so than before. ¡°I was always faster than you.¡± I said dismissively, hoping I didn¡¯t overdo it and make her suspect anything. I¡¯d already decided she was staying out of this until the very end. I won¡¯t let her die again. ¡°Yeah, but not that fast!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯re way faster than some of the guys in my guild.¡± ¡°And they¡¯re probably way stronger than me and have flashier magic,¡± I countered, trying to temper her excitement. ¡°It all balances out.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I guess so¡­It¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve adventured together, I guess I forgot how fast you were.¡± I nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s probably it.¡± ¡°How many points do you even have in Agility?¡± ¡°Twenty.¡± I replied quickly. Technically, it wasn¡¯t a complete lie. She seemed thoughtful at my answer but didn¡¯t press further. Instead, she nodded, and we continued toward the tomb. ¡°¡­us¡± An Echo of Yana¡¯s voice suddenly sounded in my ears, faint and indistinguishable. Guess Echo Sense wasn¡¯t as reliable as I thought it was this morning¡­ I couldn¡¯t make out the rest of her words, but it left me wondering. ***
Split into teams. Cleared the chambers ¨C [+680 XP] Killed two Undead Wolves without using air magic ¨C [+636 XP] Evaded the Grave Moles with Yana. Killed more Undead ¨C [+578 XP] Noticing the mark I had left for myself, I tricked Yana to escort Melissa and Lena.
I stared intently at the dark corridor to my left, D¨¦j¨¤ vu quite literally screaming at me. My gaze dropped to the floor ¨C the first danger it was warning me about. Activating Afterimage, I watched a ghostly version of myself fire Luminous Slashes at the walls inside, then carefully maneuver around something on the floor. Traps... But the tingling sensation from D¨¦j¨¤ vu didn¡¯t fade. There was something else at the end of the corridor ¨C something that filled me with a deeper dread. Someone. Lumindew had a relatively short range ¨C it wouldn¡¯t help me see that far into the corridor from this position. There were no other options left. I didn¡¯t have that many runs left in this time loop, and I needed to make each loop count. Adjusting myself at the corridor¡¯s entrance, careful not to step inside, I brought my hands together and summoned air magic. Slowly, I drew my right hand back, pulling a Charged Wind Arrow, aiming it toward the corridor¡¯s end. ¡°Let¡¯s see you jump scare me now.¡± I muttered under my breath. I released the Charged Wind Arrow, watching it fly forward until it struck the corridor¡¯s end and exploded on impact. Dust and rubble filled the air, followed by a guttural scream. A green glow became visible through the haze, but it didn¡¯t move closer. Realizing I would have to enter the corridor, I turned my attention to the traps. Destroying the crossbows hidden in the walls, just as my afterimage had, I cleared the way. Then, I stepped inside, jumping over the spot my afterimage had carefully avoided. I moved forward until I met my adversary: Undead General Kaelstrife. A tenth of his HP was already gone, courtesy of my Charged Wind Arrow. The name was familiar from history books, but the figure before me was no hero ¨C it was a monster. A twisted version of the legendary general who shouldn¡¯t have been here. I wondered how many of my deaths had been by his hands. Then, he attacked, his glaive slicing through the air. I activated Wind Rush. Now, in its final version, I could use it continuously until I ran out of mana. With no cooldown as well. I combined it with Dash Step, circling Kaelstrife quickly and striking his back. The hit was clean but Nightfall barely left any damage. It suddenly hit me how I needed a stronger weapon. My current gear couldn¡¯t keep up with my improved stats. Kaelstrife, however, didn¡¯t care about my predicament. He turned to me, his glaive slashing with precision. Muscle Memory took over, and I evaded his strikes instinctively, circling him again before unleashing Wind Blast straight at his face. The blast landed perfectly, stunning him. Seizing the opportunity, I stepped back and unleashed Horizon. The wave of destructive wind tore through the corridor, damaging the murals I¡¯d hoped to study. But somehow, I didn¡¯t care. It was as if D¨¦j¨¤ vu assured me that killing Kaelstrife was more important. Horizon struck the stunned Kaelstrife, resulting in a critical hit that dropped his HP to 70%. I immediately closed the gap between us with Blade Rush, dodging his incoming counterattack with Dash Step, thanks to Muscle Memory, landing more hits, and slowly chipping away at his health. Then, he suddenly leapt backward, lowering his stance. He pointed his glaive forward and it began glowing with that sickly green light. D¨¦j¨¤ vu warned me. He was charging an attack. ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t.¡± I muttered, selecting a Spark Bomb from my second inventory and hurling it at him. Luck was on my side ¨C a stun landed, canceling his charge. I capitalized on the moment, landing several critical hits and reducing his HP to half. But then he roared, the green glow on his glaive and chest intensifying. His movements suddenly grew faster, his attacks stronger. Muscle Memory didn¡¯t take over. This was new. Excitement surged through me, and I stepped back defensively, preparing to meet his onslaught. Then, I heard it. The sound of a mechanical clink, followed by the groaning of stone grinding against stone. My heart sank. I¡¯d accidently stepped on a pressure tile. The ground beneath me gave way as Kaelstrife lunged and we both plummeted into the darkness below. I panicked. [Checkpoint Set: Your progress has been saved at this point in time] [Checkpoint lvl. 2: Time left until Anchor expires ¨C 59:59] Chapter 27: This Just Keeps Getting Better Chapter 27: This Just Keeps Getting Better This was not how I planned things to go. Kaelstrife and I were tumbling down a steep, jagged tunnel. The walls were unforgiving, scraping against my armor and bruising everything else. I grunted with each impact, bouncing off the terrain like a sack of potatoes. Meanwhile, Kaelstrife seemed very composed for someone in freefall. Of course he was - he was already dead! No fear, no pain, no dread. And, apparently, no patience. His glaive burned with that sickly green glow as he swung at me mid-fall. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± I shouted, raising Nightfall in a desperate block, enhancing it with Bladesurge. The impact reverberated through my arms, the force of the strike driving me harder into the rocky walls. My back slammed awkwardly against the jagged terrain. [Health: 86%] I hoped ¨C prayed ¨C that Kaelstrife would just quit after one swing, but no. He kept coming at me, mostly missing me, but mounting up the pressure. Realizing I couldn¡¯t block him without taking damage, I opted for plan B. I quickly drove Nightfall into the uneven terrain. The blade screeched against the stone, slowing my descent just enough. It wasn¡¯t perfect ¨C I still felt like a tone skipping down a cliff ¨C but it worked. My fall was under control. I peeked below, catching a faint glimpse of Kaelstrife disappearing into the darkness, his glowing glaive vanishing further down. For a brief moment, I dared to wish that fall damage might kill him. Then, D¨¦j¨¤ vu screamed in my mind, following up with a chill down my spine. I rummaged through my second inventory and grabbed Lumindew, consuming it instantly. [Item Consumed: Lumindew x1] [Night Vision activated. Duration: 30 minutes. Visual range enhanced in low-light areas] I looked down again ¨C and there he was! Kaelstrife had jammed his glaive into the rocky terrain, similar to what I was doing, the only difference being that he remained suspended. His helmet tilted upward, waiting for me to reach him. ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t!¡± I shouted. I yanked Nightfall free and let it fall toward Kaelstrife. He raised his gauntlet to intercept my falling sword, but Nightfall was just a distraction. He caught the blade ¨C only to receive both my feet smashing into his face. The force knocked him loose, and he plummeted downward, releasing his glaive. Meanwhile, I caught hold of the suspended glaive and balanced myself on top of it. I aimed downward, unleashing a barrage of Wind Arrows at his falling figure, speeding up his fall. He crashed against the ground underneath with a loud thud, and I realized we¡¯d reached the end of the tunnel and our fall. He was still alive. Of course he was. And I couldn¡¯t waste time. I needed to finish the job or find a way out down there. I yanked his glaive from the rock and activated Flight, descending downward slowly. It was my first time using Flight, and I never could¡¯ve imagined that flying would be so¡­exhilarating! The air pushed gently against my body as I descended, every movement smooth and controlled. It was easier than I expected. My boots touched the ground softly just as the skill ended. I glanced at the glaive in my hand, its weight surprisingly comfortable. The balance was perfect, the long blade gleaming faintly with its eerie green energy. Polearms weren¡¯t new to me ¨C I¡¯d trained with spears in the past, even used one before I got Nightfall ¨C and as I adjusted my grip, an unexpected familiarity washed over me. ¡°Might not be too bad¡­¡± I muttered, giving it a quick spin. With my new stats, this could be a good weapon to shift to. I wondered what the level requirement for it might be. My thoughts shifted as I looked around. The floor was littered with thick, sticky webs. My stomach turned when I realized I was likely in the Void Spiders¡¯ den. D¨¦j¨¤ vu tugged at my senses, and I followed the feeling, my gaze drifting upward. Dozens of small tunnels filled the ceiling. I could easily imagine those nasty spiders crawling right through them, descending on me. But my attention was drawn to one massive tunnel above the others. I didn¡¯t need D¨¦j¨¤ vu to tell me that whatever came from there would be the real threat. The sound of scraping metal pulled my attention back to the immediate danger ¨C Undead General Kaelstrife. Less than a fifth of his HP remained. He pushed himself to his feet, his skull visor fixed on me. I tightened my grip on his glaive, but it was pointless. The weapon tore itself free from my grasp, glowing green as it shot through the air and returned to Kaelstrife¡¯s outstretched hand. He caught it, spun it once, and slammed the blade against the ground with a deafening sound, cracking the stone beneath him. Where¡¯s Nightfall?! I scanned the ground frantically, until I spotted it a few feet away. I wanted to get it, but Kaelstrife didn¡¯t want me to. He lunged, his glaive aimed directly at me. I barely had time to react, activating Wind Rush just in time, before throwing myself to the side with Dash Step. But Kaelstrife didn¡¯t stop. He swung again, forcing me to chain Dash Steps to stay ahead of his strikes. Slowly, I closed the distance to Nightfall, grabbing its hilt just as an eerie sound echoed through the pit ¨C a chittering, clicking noise that made my skin crawl.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The Void Spiders were coming home. Kaelstrife seized on my distraction, swinging his glaive. I dodged at the last second, but the glaive hit the ground, resulting in a shockwave that sent me hurtling backward. Pain shot through my body as I hit the ground with incredible force. [Health: 44%] I scrambled to my feet, rummaging through my inventory to grab a health potion, but white projectiles streaked toward me from above. I thrusted my hand forward, summoning Wind Wall. A gust of wind solidified in front of me, intercepting the webs before they hit me. Kaelstrife wanted a piece as well. He charged forward, cutting through the wall of wind, his glaive leading the way. I barely dodged his attack with Dash Step, his blade missing me by inches as he flew past me. Meanwhile, the first wave of Void Spiders reached the ground. They swarmed around Kaelstrife but showed no hostility toward him. Instead, they seemed to prepare a joint attack against me. Of course. This just keeps getting better. They rushed me all at once, and I raised Nightfall, unleashing Horizon. The powerful wave of wind exploded outward, scattering the spiders, but Kaelstrife cut through it effortlessly with his glaive, continuing his approach. More spiders poured into the pit, their number multiplying by the second. From above, they continued launching their webs at me, forcing me into a state of constant dodging, draining more and more stamina. [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] I ducked, rolled, and dodged, killing spiders along the way, but they just kept coming. I needed a plan. I likely wouldn¡¯t survive this, but if I could take Kaelstrife out before that, I could at least respawn at my anchor point with the XP, and some possible loot. Blur Strike. I gripped Nightfall tightly, a plan materializing in my mind. I dodged backward, getting as much distance from Kaelstrife as I could. Then, I adjusted my position to align with the Undead General and as many Void Spiders as possible in my field of vision. The wall spiders loomed above me, still shooting their sticky webs, threatening to cancel the skill¡¯s charge if I attempted it now. I needed time. I activated Moon Barrier. The ever-trusty shield forming itself around me, absorbing the projectiles as I began to charge Blur Strike. Seeing how I unlocked this skill during the time loop and had no memory of using it in my previous runs, my heart raced like crazy when the world around me suddenly slowed, as I took aim on every enemy within range. Then, I moved, swinging Nightfall, striking each target multiple times as I combined the attack with Time Delay Swings. [+294 XP] [+294 XP] It felt like time around had frozen. [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] There was no sound except my breath. [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] They were all just stuck in place. [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] Kaelstrife¡¯s towering form remained glued to the floor, his glowing glaive motionless. The attack ended as abruptly as it began, and the world suddenly snapped back into motion. I turned to assess the damage. Most of the ground spiders were dead, but Kaelstrife? He was still standing! His HP bar was reduced to the thinnest sliver. His armor was shattered, his body hunched over, but he refused to fall. He raised his glaive weakly, but I didn¡¯t give him the chance. ¡°Die already!¡± I shouted, closing the distance with Blade Rush and driving Nightfall through the cracks in his armor, deep into his gut. His glowing eyes flickered, then dimmed, and his body dropped to its knees as I yanked the sword from his body. Then, something unexpected happened. Kaelstrife¡¯s terrifying armor began to splinter and fall away, revealing a gleaming suit of knightly armor beneath. His skull visor dissipated into dust, exposing his face. And it wasn¡¯t Undead. It was human. I stared, stunned, as the man beneath the armor slowly raised his head. His face was weathered but dignified, his eyes holding a quiet strength. He suddenly met my gaze, and, to my utter disbelief, he smiled weakly. ¡°Thank you.¡± He whispered softly. Before I could react, his entire body began to glow with a golden light. The radiance grew until it became blinding, and then he was gone. No corpse, no nothing ¨C just gone. [Undead General Kaelstrife - Defeated] [+494 XP] I stood frozen. Never in my life had I seen anything like that. A monster ¨C could I even call him that ¨C thanking me? And then vanishing like some spirit released from its torment? My mind raced with questions but there was no time to dwell on those. I summoned Wind Wall, blocking incoming projectiles from the Void Spiders as I made my way toward where Kaelstife had fallen ¨C he¡¯d dropped something. I rushed forward, knowing I only had seconds before the endless wave of spiders was upon me. I reached for the loot ¨C three items that glowed faintly. First was the glaive. Great. Second was a crumpled note, glowing a faint purple, which I had no time to read at the moment. Third was a glowing blue orb. I didn¡¯t know what it was, but I wasn¡¯t leaving it behind of all things. As I stuffed the items into my second inventory, a bone-chilling scream tore through the pit. My heart stopped as I looked up. Descending from the large tunnel above was the mother of these not-so-little bastards: Arachnid Mother. I didn¡¯t have time to react. She struck with terrifying speed, her massive legs slamming into the ground around me. I barely registered the impact before everything went black. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] [Checkpoint Level 2 activated: You will now reawaken at the anchor point] *** ¡°What the - ?!¡± I shouted, realizing I was falling again. The trap door. The tumble. My brain kicked into overdrive as I instinctively threw out my hands. My fingers caught the rough edge of the hole, and I held on with every ounce of strength I had, but I was still slipping. Yet my mind reacted quickly. I activated Flight, levitating upward until I was outside of the hole completely. Then, I navigated to the floor, landing with a soft thud. I collapsed onto my back, mentally exhausted, still in shock at what had just happened. Kaelstrife wasn¡¯t here. Normally, enemies I killed before a Checkpoint respawn would be alive again. But now, nothing. I let out a breathless laugh, my heart still racing. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± I muttered to myself, a grin spreading across my face. A new quest popped up. [New Quest Available: Charlotte''s Nemesis #1] [Slay 100 Void Spiders] [Current Status: 17 / 100] [Reward: 7,500 XP] Who the hell is Charlotte? Chapter 28: Brothers Chapter 28: Brothers The first thing I did after I rose to my feet was check Kaelstrife¡¯s glaive in my inventory. Its name stood out immediately: Silverfang. The level requirement? 70 ¨C a lot stronger than Nightfall. I glanced down at the trusty sword still in my hand. One of my worst and best memories. Nightfall had been with me for a long while, even before this bizarre predicament. I¡¯m sure it served me even better during my 36 runs so far. Too bad I couldn¡¯t remember them. Still. Progress was progress. I needed this. I equipped Silverfang. [Weapon Equipped: Silverfang. Agility Scaling: B. Strength Scaling: B] [Agility Increased by 20%] [Strength Increased by 20%] [Critical Hit Chance Increased by 25%] Wow, three buffs. Just the 20% boost to Agility alone brought me up to 30 points. It also had three unique skills. [Silverfang: Overlord ¨C Enhances Silverfang¡¯s stats and buffs by 30%. When lower than 50% HP, this effect is increased to 50%. Effect continues until victory or death. Cooldown ¨C 30 minutes] Basically, a better version of Nightfall¡¯s Bladesurge. This thing¡¯s a monster. [Silverfang: Explosive Strike ¨C Charging Silverfang and striking the ground results in an explosion, causing AOE damage around you. Cooldown ¨C 10 seconds] So, that¡¯s what he used against me in the spider pit. The pit made me recall that monster...The memory of Arachnid Mother sent shivers down my spine. It was something I didn¡¯t want to encounter again anytime soon. I couldn¡¯t believe I was actually saying this but I¡¯m glad that the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System would make me forget her. The last skill was Unyielding Charge. [Silverfang: Unyielding Charge ¨C Channel energy into the glaive for 5 seconds before launching in a straight line, becoming unstoppable. Deals massive damage to enemies in its path, knocking them back. Guaranteed Critical Hit if lands. Cooldown - 5 minutes] Was that the charged attack Kaelstrife tried to use? Good thing I stopped him with the Spark Bomb. A guaranteed Critical Hit with massive damage? I¡¯m glad the glaive was now mine. I inspected it in my hands. It looked different now ¨C cleaner, even noble. It was nothing like it looked in Kaelstrife¡¯s hands ¨C a lot less¡­evil. The pole was forged from gleaming gold, the metallic surface smooth and polished. At the top, a large, straight dark-silver blade jutted out, glowing with purple energy. Different than the sickly green glow it had before. I gave it a few experimental spins. It felt good in my hands. Memories of training with polearms in the past resurfaced, and I felt excited to use one again after so long. Then, I rummaged through the second inventory to check the other two items Kaelstrife had dropped when he died. The glowing orb caught my attention first. It was named: The General¡¯s Resolve. The description was cryptic as well: a fragment of the inspiration that rallied his armies to defy odds and rise victorious. What¡¯s the worst that can happen? [Select: The General¡¯s Resolve] The orb materialized in my hand, its glow intensifying until it burned brighter, blinding me. When my vision returned, the system displayed an unexpected message. [The General¡¯s Resolve: You have gained 3 Skill Points] ¡°What the¡­¡± I muttered, stunned. I¡¯d never heard of items that granted stat points before. Then again, I¡¯d also never heard of quests granting XP, or a certain peculiar D¨¦j¨¤ vu System that rewrites the rules of reality. I took a deep breath. What should I level up? Using all three points to max out D¨¦j¨¤ vu was tempting. The skill had been incredibly useful this run, and the thought of having the clearest recollections in future loops was promising. I upgraded it once. [Skill Upgraded: D¨¦j¨¤ vu lvl.8] [Next Level: lvl.9: Increases the frequency and clarity of D¨¦j¨¤ vu even more. The recollections become clearer and more precise] Satisfied, I attempted to upgrade it again, but the system had other plans. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu: Cannot upgrade to lvl.9 as requirements not met] [Requirements: Temporal Trace Level 10] I groaned. So not only does this system erase my memory between each loop under the pretense of keeping me under Erebus¡¯ radar, but it also forces me to upgrade skills I was perfectly content with. ¡°Oh, fuck it¡­¡± [Skill Upgraded: Temporal Trace lvl.5] [Next Level: lvl.6: You¡¯ll be able to see the Time Plane completely. Number of maximal marks: 10] The Time Plane completely? What...Again, more questions than answers¡­ With those upgrades done, I turned to my Core System. Thanks to Mirror Leveling, I had three additional points to allocate. Putting all three into Intelligence would bring me to the next milestone. But my new weapon, Silverfang, had hybrid scaling in both Agility and Strength. Investing in those stats would unlock its potential. I was also one point away from the Strength stat¡¯s second milestone.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Yana ¨C and practically everyone else ¨C had mentioned the second Strength milestone was where the stat really started to shine. The first milestone had been underwhelming, but maybe this one would finally deliver. I decided to allocate two points into Intelligence, bringing it to 19, and the last point into Strength, unlocking the second milestone. [Strength ¨C 2nd Milestone Reached] [Strength: New Skills Available] [Shield Breaker ¨C Your attacks can overcome enemies¡¯ shields for a short duration. Cooldown ¨C 2 minutes] [Battle Cry ¨C Enhance your Strength by 20% for 1 minute. Cooldown: 1 hour] [Fearsome Aura ¨C Activate an intimidating aura that is able to inflict Fear on enemies who are lower leveled than you. Cooldown ¨C 5 minutes] I tilted my head. It was still pretty underwhelming. Useful, but underwhelming. Shaking off my disappointment, I reached for the last item Kaelstrife had dropped ¨C the crumpled note. Just as I was about to open it, the glowing purple light around the note pulsed, and a system message appeared. [Temporal Trace: Time Plane Memory #3 - Available] Another memory. Here we go. *** [Time Plane Memory #3] A young Karl Kaelstrife stood on the edge of a balcony, the goblet of wine in his hand barely touched. Below, the palace ground stretched out under the soft glow of moonlight. The noise and chatter from the grand hall behind him made his stomach turn and he sought a moment of serenity ¨C a moment he found on this balcony. He adjusted the collar of his formal tunic ¨C a deep ceremonial black adorned with golden insignias on the shoulders ¨C and shifted his weight uncomfortably. He still felt so stiff and unnatural in it despite it being tailored specifically for him. ¡°Karl! There you are!¡± a familiar, hearty voice called out from behind. A voice he knew too well ¨C warm, lively, and full of strength. ¡°You just missed it! Canderan downed an entire barrel of mead in one go. I swear, the man¡¯s stomach is a bottomless void!¡± Kaelstrife didn¡¯t turn around. His gaze remained fixed on the city below. ¡°Canderan always does things like that.¡± He replied flatly, swirling the wine in his goblet. ¡°It¡¯s hardly amusing anymore.¡± There was a pause before the other man spoke. ¡°That wasn¡¯t even half a chuckle, my friend. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kaelstrife sighed, lowering the goblet and finally turning to face the speaker, who looked at him with quiet concern, his formal tunic hanging loosely over his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gaelith.¡± Kaelstrife said, his tone softening. He straightened, offering a faint, apologetic smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to ruin the mood. It¡¯s your night, after all.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Gaelith waved the apology off, stepping closer. His goblet clinked lightly against the stone railing as he set it down. ¡°If my best friend is unhappy, I can¡¯t be happy either. So, come on ¨C out with it. What¡¯s bothering you?¡± Kaelstrife sighed and turned back toward the city. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­Perhaps I¡¯m just nostalgic.¡± ¡°Nostalgic?¡± Kaelstrife nodded. ¡°Thinking about how far we¡¯ve come. Two street rats, barely scraping by, lifting coins and loaves of bread to survive. Then suddenly we¡¯re caught, facing an impossible choice.¡± He let out a humorless chuckle. ¡°Rot in a cell or enlist in the army. And now look at us ¨C Brigadier General Karl Kaelstrife and you, Gaelith Alloraine.¡± He gestured toward his friend with a faint smile. ¡°Tonight, we¡¯re celebrating you - knighted by the king. Who would¡¯ve believed it?¡± Gaelith leaned on the railing beside him, tilting his head as he took a long sip of his wine. ¡°I would have. Always did. Those two boys had more fight in them than anyone else I knew.¡± Kaelstrife laughed, this time genuinely. ¡°Right¡­That must be why you were the one pushing for us to take the jail time instead of enlisting.¡± Gaelith grinned, raising his goblet in a mock salute. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. But you¡¯re the one who talked me out of it. Dragged me into the barracks and got us through that hell together.¡± He glanced at his friend, his expression softening. ¡°You turned my life around, Karl. You¡¯ve been a better friend than I probably deserved. And I¡¯d like to think I¡¯ve been the same for you which is why I¡¯m asking again ¨C what¡¯s really bothering you? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s nostalgia. It¡¯s clearly not.¡± Kaelstrife tipped his head back, draining the goblet in one long gulp. He then turned to Gaelith, his shoulders relaxing slightly. ¡°You always did read me like an open book. Alright, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°Ever since the day we met, we¡¯ve been through everything together. We¡¯ve always had each other¡¯s backs. In my eyes, we¡¯re not just friends ¨C we¡¯re like brothers.¡± He paused, his fingers brushing the empty goblet. ¡°And now, for the first time since forever, we¡¯re going our separate ways. You¡¯ll stay here, serving the king directly as one of his knights, and I¡­¡± he trailed off, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m being sent north to continue the conquests.¡± Gaelith straightened, his expression serious. ¡°First of all, let¡¯s get one thing straight: we¡¯re not like brothers ¨C we are brothers. And nothing ¨C not time, distance, or duty ¨C will ever change that.¡± He clapped his friend on the shoulder. ¡°Sure, things might be different from now on. We won¡¯t be side by side every day like we¡¯ve been for years, but what kind of a bond would we have if it broke over this?¡± Kaelstrife smiled faintly at that, but it didn¡¯t seem genuine. He looked down at his goblet. ¡°It¡¯s not just that.¡± He suddenly said. ¡°What really bothers me is leaving you here alone, in the capital.¡± He met Gaelith¡¯s gaze. ¡°I know you as much as you know me. You¡¯re the most honorable man I know, but this place ¨C ¡° he gestured around him, his expression tinged with disgust. ¡°It¡¯s the complete opposite of you. It¡¯s a den of snakes filled with shady politics and backstabbing. They''re all on the same side, and yet they''re constantly scheming against each other. And I¡¯m worried that with me away, no one will have your back, brother.¡± Gaelith nodded, his face wearing a confident grin. ¡°I know this place is dangerous. But the way I see it, it¡¯s not too different from the battlefields we¡¯ve faced. The stage is different, but I¡¯ll learn, adapt, and stay one step ahead. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± His voice softened as he continued, trying to lift the mood. ¡°And next time we gather for a celebration, it¡¯ll be for you ¨C becoming the General of Tepan. Mark my words.¡± Kaelstrife exhaled slowly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°I trust you. Thank you, Gaelith.¡± He straightened, extending a hand toward his one and only friend. ¡°Or should I say, from this day on ¨C Gaelith of Tepan?¡± Gaelith grinned, taking Karl¡¯s hand before pulling him into a brotherly hug. ¡°It¡¯ll always be just Gaelith for you, brother.¡± [Time Plane Memory #3 ¨C END] *** [Item Acquired: Time Plane Memory #3 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Quest Updated: Memories From the Past] [Collect the 5 Time Plane Memory Fragments] [Current Status: 2 / 5] [Reward: 75,000 XP] I¡¯m not sure why, but my heart ached once the memory was over. It was almost like I could feel what Kaelstrife was feeling throughout their conversation. So, it was the General Kaelstrife¡­the one who was responsible of conquering most of the northern lands that now belong to Tepan. A younger version of him - still not the General. And he was here ¨C in this tomb. He didn¡¯t die on the battlefield. He died here and then turned into whatever it was I had faced. And Gaelith¡­he was there too. Both of them were friends ¨C brothers even. I felt their bond as if I was a part of it. Kaelstrife was right to worry, and Gaelith was backstabbed by his own king, eventually becoming what he is today ¨C a vengeful vessel of Darkness. I opened the note, realizing it was a letter sent by Gaelith to Kaelstrife, written years after that conversation I had just seen. Reading it only made my heart twist even harder.
Dear Karl, I write to you with a heavy heart, and I must begin by apologizing. I know you are entrenched in the campaign in the north, where your efforts are vital to Tepan¡¯s continued strength. To pull your attention away from such matters feels selfish, yet I find myself with no other choice. Forgive me for burdening you, but I have no one else I can trust. I have been accused of treason. The king himself has charged me with conspiring against him. The words still feel foreign as I write them ¨C falsehoods so vile that they sting my soul. I swear to you, Karl, upon my honor and the bond we share, that any accusations against me are completely false. I have no way to prove my claims, but I suspect Arcadius, the king¡¯s cousin, is the true conspirator and the one who set our liege against me. Everything had happened so fast, and now the trial has been set for the next fortnight. I have pleaded with the court for more time, but I was met with strong resistance. Even this letter ¨C which I¡¯m unsure will reach you in time, if ever ¨C was sent through friends and allies who still believe in my innocence. If it is possible, I beg you to come to the trial and help me defend my name. The words and presence of the General of Tepan might be exactly what will help me turn the tide and prove my loyalty. If this letter does not reach you in time, then I can only thank you, Karl, for everything. For your friendship, your loyalty, your brotherhood. No matter what happens, know that I cherished the bond we shared above all else. You were the reason I became a better man despite my bloodline and upbringing, and for that I will forever be grateful. May the gods watch over you, wherever you may be. Your brother always, Gaelith
Chapter 29: Gaelith of Tepan Chapter 29: Gaelith of Tepan I continued down the corridor, examining the mural to my left - or what was left of it - with the last minutes of Night Vision the Lumindew had provided me. What I had thought was the ocean in the previous corridor turned out to be something else. What exactly? I couldn¡¯t tell. But the blue-colored area continued until it reached a dark circle of some sort at the farthest end of the mural, near the chamber Kaelstrife had originally been standing in front of. What did it all mean? Could the dark circle represent Erebus, the embodiment of Darkness, or was I overthinking it? I already knew the High Priestess of Axul ¨C the spiritual leader of the people who had built this place ¨C had somehow contacted him, so it wasn¡¯t too much of a stretch as long as the tomb itself was built after the memory I had seen. But if I was right, why did they build a tomb to honor Erebus? What did the blue area in the mural represent? And was it flowing out of the dark circle or into it? Realizing I wouldn¡¯t understand much of it at the moment, I turned to the open chamber ahead. Not before using Distance Gauge to make sure there were no monsters inside, though. Once I knew the coast was clear, I stepped in. The chamber lit up as soon as I entered, the torches on the walls igniting in bursts of flame. It was relatively small, about the size of a single bedroom at an inn. A desk stood at the other end, with numerous books piled on top, all buried beneath a thick layer of dust. Two chairs sat on opposite sides of the desk, their fragile frames suggesting even the slightest pressure might break them. I approached the books first, hoping to find something useful, but none of them were. I mean, they were nameless and completely empty - like the kind of props you¡¯d see in a theater production. As I rounded the desk, it struck me how awfully familiar it looked. Then, it hit me: it was the same desk Lysandra, the High Priestess, had in her study room in the memory I¡¯d seen. Sitting down, I immediately reached for the lower drawer and pulled it out, and there it was ¨C or almost. The dark stone Lysandra had spoken to and referred to as Mighty Erebus was there, but it was broken ¨C split into two identical pieces, now gray rather than the black I¡¯d seen in the memory fragment. The system recognized the pieces as two distinct items: Darknessbound Core (Shard A) and Darknessbound Core (Shard B). Each shard bore the same description: A shard of a prison long broken, but not lost. A prison? Was this stone a prison that had once held Erebus before he was released into our world? When I brought the two pieces together, hoping they might magically reconnect, I realized I was wrong in my assessment earlier. There was another piece missing ¨C a third shard, about the size of a fingernail. I rummaged through the drawer to see if it was there, but it wasn¡¯t. Of course¡­nothing¡¯s ever easy. The third shard is probably kept by one of the monsters in the tomb, or by Gaelith himself. Yeah...it had to be. Nothing''s easy here. But thinking about it more, I came to the conclusion that it couldn¡¯t be in Gaelith¡¯s possession. Chronos had said it was possible to defeat Erebus early through wit alone ¨C likely referring to the Darknessbound Core. If a piece of it was protected by the dungeon¡¯s boss, then there¡¯d be no wit involved. I¡¯d have to fight him to get it, and if I could do that, I wouldn¡¯t actually need the core ¨C defeating Gaelith was supposed to defeat Erebus too...I think. I sighed, slipping the two shards into my second inventory. [Item Acquired: Key Item - Darknessbound Core (Shard A) ¨C Added to Inventory #2] [Item Acquired: Key Item - Darknessbound Core (Shard B) ¨C Added to Inventory #2] Key Item? Footsteps outside the chamber put me on high alert. I stood, ready to face another monster, but it was just Yana. She had returned. She sighed in relief when she saw me, though her expression quickly shifted to one of mild amusement as she raised her eyebrow at the sight of me behind the desk. ¡°I saw the destruction outside and was so worried, yet here you are.¡± She said, her expression slowly brightening. ¡°Just chilling.¡± I chuckled at her reaction. It was nice seeing her smile after I¡¯d been pushing her away all day. Just then the chair cracked under my weight, breaking into splinters, resulting in my rear meeting the stone floor. Yana burst into laughter, and I couldn¡¯t help but join her. *** We retraced the route Yana had taken when she escorted Melissa and Lena. Apparently, she was right ¨C Lady Mikaela and the search party she led were at the end of this corridor. Yana also told me that her guild master had insisted she not return for me, but she disobeyed, leading to a falling-out of sorts.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Where did you find that glaive?¡± Was the first question she asked me. I knew this question was coming, so I was ready with a lie, doing my best to sound natural. ¡°It was in that chamber where you found me.¡± ¡°It looks powerful.¡± She noted, watching it in my hand. ¡°Hard to believe it¡¯s a low-level weapon.¡± I stayed silent, hoping she would drop the subject so I wouldn¡¯t have to lie any further. But she didn¡¯t. ¡°Do you mind if I check it out?¡± she asked, smiling softly. When I saw that smile, I almost agreed, but I quickly regained my composure. If she got her hands on Silverfang, she¡¯d see the real level requirement for the weapon. That would lead to a whole new line of uncomfortable questions, forcing me to come up with even more lies. Instead of outright refusing, I tried to change the subject. ¡°Maybe later. Hey, uh, where are we going anyway?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, Lady Mikaela and the others have probably already left, right?¡± ¡°Well, yeah, probably.¡± She nodded. ¡°But it¡¯s not like we have anywhere else to go. This is the only route that isn¡¯t collapsed or a dead end.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I guess.¡± I said, though my mind was preoccupied. I knew I couldn¡¯t stay close to her ¨C she was marked. But at the same time, I couldn¡¯t just ditch her after she¡¯d gone against everyone to come back for me. My conscience wouldn¡¯t allow it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll make it out of here. I promise.¡± She said suddenly, making it even harder for me to even consider leaving her. And so, I didn¡¯t. We continued forward until Yana stopped us. ¡°This is where I last saw them.¡± She concentrated for a moment, then signaled toward a corridor to our right. ¡°I can¡¯t sense them with Distance Gauge, but I think they went that way to meet with Lorren and the Keystone he¡¯d found. At least, that¡¯s what makes the most sense to me.¡± She then pointed forward, to a different corridor. ¡°I¡¯m also pretty sure Lady Mikaela and the others came from that direction when we met them.¡± ¡°Then maybe we should retrace their steps, no?¡± I suggested. ¡°It should lead us back to the main antechamber eventually. Hopefully, when we get there, the doors will already be unlocked, and we can leave.¡± I¡¯d only said it to give us some semblance of a plan, but was it even possible to leave the tomb? What would even happen to me if I survived the day? Would I reset regardless? Yana shook her head quickly. ¡°Oh no, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s safe. Lady Mikaela said they encountered level 90 wraiths there. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Level 90 wraiths? I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much XP I¡¯d gain from slaying one¡­ ¡°So is going into unknown territory.¡± I countered, pointing toward the corridor she wanted us to take. ¡°Maybe, but I¡¯d rather do that and hope luck is on our side than go somewhere I know for sure danger awaits.¡± She disagreed. ¡°Yeah, but ¨C ¡° She cut me off. ¡°Aidan, please, stop. Don¡¯t make this harder¡­¡± she said, her voice weary as her gaze dropped to the ground. ¡°Yan?¡± I asked, worried. It wasn¡¯t like her to look this defeated. ¡°I¡¯m just exhausted¡­¡± she said, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°So many people have died here today¡­Good people¡­I should¡¯ve never brought you here.¡± I shook my head. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have known it would be like this.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe I couldn¡¯t have predicted all of this,¡± she gestured around us, ¡°but I had this off feeling that maybe it was too dangerous. Even for me. But I just¡­missed you. Missed you so much I couldn¡¯t stop to think about the risks.¡± My chest tightened, my heart skipped a beat. Could it be? ¡°Yan, I¡­¡± ¡°I was selfish.¡± She said, a single tear rushing down her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aidan.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be sorry about, Yan.¡± I said, waving off her apology. ¡°I made the decision to come here despite just barely making the cut. I did it because I missed you too.¡± She raised her eyes, and our gazes locked. The world around us seemed to fall silent. Her big green eyes softened as they met mine. If my heart had skipped a beat before, now it was making up for it by beating like crazy. I knew I should do the opposite ¨C that I needed to push her away as far as possible until I defeated Erebus ¨C but I couldn¡¯t deny my feelings. I already did for so long. Too long. I took a step closer. Our faces were inches apart. She didn¡¯t retreat. I raised my hand and brushed my fingers softly against her cheek. She didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, she reached up, gently clasping my hand between hers and holding it against her cheek. Time seemed to stop as I leaned in. I could suddenly see every detail of her face ¨C the blush on her freckled cheeks, her beautiful dimples, the way her lips parted slightly as if to say something, though no words came. And then, I kissed her. A rush of warmth enveloped me. Her lips were soft against mine, her touch so tender it gave me goosebumps. For the first time, the love I¡¯d carried for so long wasn¡¯t just mine alone. When we finally pulled back, I was breathless, my heart still racing. Our gazes remained locked. Swallowing hard, I said something I¡¯d wanted to say for a long time. ¡°Yan, I love you.¡± She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, a chilling voice cut through the air. ¡°I take no pleasure in this¡­¡± The voice was unmistakable. Gaelith. He emerged from the shadows of the corridor in front of us, cloaked entirely in a dark robe. His steps were calm, each one accompanied by a faint metallic clink. The hood of his robe obscured his body completely, even his face, but the system recognized him: Gaelith of Tepan, level 100. Behind him loomed two figures not less scarier than him - blood-red apparitions with glowing eyes: Blood Wraiths, each level 90. Gaelith stopped and drove his sword into the ground. The blade gleamed so brightly it was almost blinding. ¡°I am Gaelith of Tepan.¡± He began, his tone steady and authoritative. ¡°Your remaining comrades were slain by my blade. You are the last.¡± A shiver ran down my spine as Yana stepped in front of me. ¡°You shall fall as well.¡± He added. Surprisingly, his tone was devoid of malice. In an odd way, it almost sounded like a statement of duty. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± Yana shouted. Her sword was drawn, ready for battle. ¡°The king who betrayed you is long gone ¨C dead and usurped. Yet you continue killing anyone who steps into this tomb. Why?¡± Gaelith remained motionless, his hands resting holding the hilt of his blade, still embedded in the ground. He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he raised his hand. With a subtle gesture, he signaled the wraiths to attack. They stirred immediately, advancing toward us. I raised Silverfang, ready to fight for what I achieved in this loop. But just as we were prepared to meet the attack, Gaelith¡¯s voice pierced the air. ¡°Stop!¡± The wraiths froze, then retreated behind him. I exchanged a confused look with Yana before turning back to Gaelith. Though I couldn¡¯t see his face, I felt his attention was focused on the weapon in my hands - Kaelstrife¡¯s glaive. There was a long pause, the tension between is palpable. Then, Gaelith spoke. ¡°There¡¯s another one of you left.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blurted, glancing at Yana, but she seemed just as confused. Gaelith continued, his tone formal. ¡°I will deal with him first. You two¡­I will save for last. Enjoy each other''s company until then.¡± He turned and began walking away, the wraiths trailing behind him. As he moved, he spoke again. ¡°Consider this the least I can do¡­as my thanks for what you have done for him.¡± Chapter 30: Goren: A Glimpse into a Madmans Mind Chapter 30: Goren: A Glimpse into a Madman''s Mind ¡°None of this matters¡­¡± Goren whispered, reminding himself. He rummaged through his inventory and selected Blackberries. He chewed on some, not for the HP - he was full, but to calm his nerves. He sighed as he looted the Golden Bow from the adventurer he had just slain. Her name was Yvon Leskins, a level 92 Ranger from Mikaela¡¯s guild. He¡¯s killed her over and over for Dolos-knows-how-many runs now. It wasn¡¯t like he enjoyed it ¨C though he didn¡¯t mind killing anyone anymore since there were no consequences. He just had to¡­for the loot, of course. This time it took him a lot longer than usual as his thoughts constantly drifted away. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Spellsword¡¯s progress. Funny¡­he couldn¡¯t even remember his actual name. Each loop began with the same old weapons and armor he¡¯d originally had before the quest started, before Dolos had chosen him. It was a nuisance. He had already surpassed level 100 ¨C why wasn¡¯t there a skill that allowed him to keep the loot he¡¯d gained from previous runs? Or at the very least, why couldn¡¯t his inventory retain all of the items instead of resetting every time? Just a few items ¨C Key Items, as Dolos and the System referred to them ¨C remained between the runs. He assumed Dolos had done this on purpose, just to play with his mind. It was yet another reason to hate the bastard. A bastard he was, but Dolos had given him this chance - a chance to level up beyond his cap and do something great. To change his life. To help his family. And even save the world in the process. So, perhaps he wasn¡¯t all that bad. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Goren muttered under his breath as he rummaged through his inventory like he was doing a checklist. ¡°Sword?¡± He changed his voice to mimic Alfred Jones, the adventurer he¡¯d looted the sword from. ¡°Here!¡± He nodded, moving forward. ¡°Daggers?¡± He said, attempting to sound like his guild master¡¯s right-hand woman, Evangelina Volker, whom he¡¯d killed earlier to get them. ¡°Here!¡± his voice came out awkward. He laughed at the bad impression, then immediately facepalmed for laughing at his own jokes. Shaking his head, he proceeded. ¡°Bow is here, of course. Oblivion Orb?¡± He paused as if waiting for an answer. ¡°Oblivion Orb?¡± he repeated, but again, there was no response. ¡°Yup. That¡¯s what¡¯s missing.¡± He nodded to himself and looked around. ¡°I wasted too much time in this area.¡± The Oblivion Orb was a magical staff used by one of the high-level mages from Lorren¡¯s guild. It was an extremely useful weapon, making farming monsters easy thanks to its unique AOE spells. Why not Lorren¡¯s Aegis Staff or Mikaela¡¯s Stinger? He didn¡¯t want to bother fighting those guys. Goren might have been stronger than any adventurer in this dungeon, but that didn¡¯t mean Lorren and Mikaela weren¡¯t worthy foes. He¡¯d already fought them before and won - but it was never easy. And the rewards? Never impressive enough, or lasting, to justify the effort. Besides, whenever he killed them and looted their weapons and armor, a horde of high-level monsters would inevitably appear out of nowhere, taking advantage of his exhausted state to overwhelm and kill him. The loop would reset, taking away all the loot he¡¯d earned with blood, sweat, and tears. ¡°Curse you, Erebus!¡± Goren shouted, his voice echoing through the empty chamber. He still couldn¡¯t figure out how the dungeon kept changing and adapting to his every approach. It was becoming too tedious. Laughing at his own jokes was just the least of the mental cracks beginning to show. The constant call backs to some of his most painful and gruesome deaths were the most horrible thing. His thoughts drifted to his mother. She was supposed to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow. The healers said her condition had stabilized, and she could now transition to a home care plan. Finally, after five long years of being hospitalized, she would return home. All the money Goren had made adventuring over the past five years went toward his mother¡¯s medical bills. The rest? Caring for his little brother, Ben. With his mother ill and their father absent from their lives since forever, Goren had been the man of the house ¨C practically thrown into this role overnight. He shouldered too much responsibility from a very young age. Originally, he had hoped this quest would go smoothly. He¡¯d planned to get paid, buy his mother a ¡®welcome back¡¯ gift, and head to the hospital tomorrow to bring her home. With so many strong adventurers leading them, it felt like the most logical turn of events for their mission, despite the infamously dangerous dungeon. But for Goren, tomorrow never came. He was reliving this day for the 96th time. He had grown stronger than he ever could¡¯ve imagined, yet he still seemed so, so far away from clearing this dungeon. If only Spellsword wasn¡¯t such a liar¡­He and his idiotic System that wouldn''t let him retain his memories... Goren had honestly wanted them to join forces and progress together. He believed that sharing the same fate, they would be able to overcome the dungeon¡¯s constant adaptations. He had no ill intentions toward Spellsword at first, but then he forced his hand. And when Goren found a different use for him, Dolos intervened, stopping him abruptly and redirecting his focus for the time being, promising a face off against Spellsword sometime in the future. Dolos hadn¡¯t been able to explain directly ¨C it was against the unwritten rules or some bullshit like that ¨C but he hinted at an item Goren needed to obtain. Apparently, this item would ensure his fight against Spellsword happened as agreed: a battle where the winner would be rewarded with loads of XP, and the loser would be erased from existence.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Throughout all of this, Goren had tried to ease his guilt over killing adventurers by telling himself it didn¡¯t matter, that there were no consequences ¨C everything reset after he died. But deleting someone from existence? That was different. Even in the jobs he took on as a Rogue, he always made sure his clients weren''t aiming to abuse the rogue class for their own pure self gain. He really didn¡¯t want to erase Spellsword. But it was what their gods had agreed upon. Spellsword and he ¨C mere puppets in their hands. There was no going against their vision. There was no point in defying their will. Everything will play out the way they wanted regardless of the mortals¡¯ struggles, because they were gods, and that''s how gods operated. ¡°Fuuuuck¡­¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°What would Mom think?¡± He resolved that, when it came to that, he¡¯d make sure Spellsword had a fair sendoff. Erasure from existence was no joke. ¡°Will I forget him too?¡± Goren whispered, wondering how it would work. Then he shook his head. ¡°No, I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll probably be the only one to remember him. Someone has to. That would be the right thing to do.¡± Having decided on this, he wondered what his next steps in the current loop should be. He never trailed off for so long in any of the previous loops. ¡°What do I even do now¡­¡± he muttered to himself, quickly offering a suggestion. ¡°I could go to the wolves¡¯ lair ¨C it¡¯s not far.¡± Then he immediately dismissed the idea. ¡°No, don¡¯t do that. The item I need is definitely not there. And those wolves barely give any XP anymore. Waste of time.¡± ¡°Then what do you suggest?¡± he snapped at himself. Another idea popped into his mind. ¡°I could maybe go down that corridor over there and finally take out that Razor Basilisk. It probably won¡¯t give much XP either, but who knows? It might drop something good, like the Mole King did. Perhaps the item I am looking for.¡± He paused. ¡°Why am I talking to myself so much?¡± He shook his head, answering immediately. ¡°Because you have no friends, Goren. Nobody likes you. You have no one. You¡¯re alone.¡± ¡°That sucks.¡± He said grimly, nodding to himself. ¡°But it is the truth.¡± Then he wondered how many years of therapy it would take to undo the damage this time loop had done to his mind. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go kill the serpent¡­¡± he whispered, heading toward the chamber¡¯s exit. But before he could leave, he was attacked. Two Blood Wraiths appeared out of nowhere, flying at him with terrifying speed and growling menacingly. They struck him ¨C but his body dissolved into dark mist, reappearing at the far end of the chamber to create distance. Then, without hesitation, Goren drew the Golden Bow ¨C a useful weapon against the wraiths of this dungeon. He aimed upward and activated one of its unique abilities, raining golden arrows down on the wraiths. The arrows passed right through them, seemingly dealing no damage, but they triggered a trap ¨C suddenly turning larger and ensnaring the wraiths, holding them in place. Switching to the sword ¨C Convergence ¨C Goren activated its unique ability. He drove it into the ground, channeling his mana into the blade. A pillar of magic erupted from beneath the trapped wraiths, searing them. He pressed the sword even deeper, pouring more mana into the spell until the pillar expanded, obliterating the wraiths into dust. But it wasn¡¯t over. Two more Blood Wraiths appeared behind him and attacked immediately. He dodged quickly, abandoning Convergence and blinking far away, only to be met with dark lightning projectiles. He evaded those with acrobatic finesse, rummaging through his inventory mid-air to grab something. When he landed, the Blood Wraiths disappeared ¨C or rather turned invisible. Goren¡¯s Warding Medallion activated instantly, allowing him to see the apparitions through their veil of invisibility. One of them was right next to him when it came out of its invisibility and growled at Goren, attempting to inflict Fear. But Goren was unfazed ¨C his resistances were already high enough to not be afflicted by most status conditions. ¡°Was that supposed to scare me?¡± he laughed, dropping the item he picked from his inventory ¨C a Holy Fire Bomb. An useful item for battling wraiths and undead. The bomb detonated in a radiant explosion, damaging and stunning the Blood Wraith while leaving Goren unharmed. He drew the Golden Bow and shot the stunned monster at point-blank range, reducing it to dust. Meanwhile, the remaining wraith continued its approach toward Goren, joined by three more of its kind. Goren was bored. He sighed. ¡°I know I said I wanted something new, but this is getting boring again.¡± He muttered to himself. ¡°Just apply the oil and be done with it already.¡± He suggested to himself, and replied almost immediately. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± The wraiths attacked simultaneously, but Goren dissolved into mist once more, reappearing at the opposite end of the chamber. He quickly applied Apparition Oil to the daggers, ensuring every strike would land on the monsters. Then, he shot himself forward with terrifying speed, weaving effortlessly through the wraiths¡¯ attacks while landing multiple of his own on the tricky-to-hit enemies. He chipped at their HP quickly, without breaking too much sweat, until they were all dead. Well...deader. Finally, he turned his attention to the orchestrator of the attack: a shadowy figure lurking in the corner of the chamber, hiding under the veil of magic. His Warding Medallion had caught a glimpse of it when he was trying to pinpoint the invisible wraiths. ¡°C¡¯mon, don¡¯t be shy.¡± Goren called out. ¡°I know you¡¯re there.¡± It was the first time in those 96 loops, that Goren had encountered this person. Finally, something new. Goren was growing so tired of the monotony. ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± The figure remarked, still hiding in the shadows. ¡°No wonder he marked you.¡± "Marked?" Goren asked, confused. "What? When? How? By whom?" ¡°I¡¯ve said enough.¡± The figure responded. "Your master''s presence in you is strong, and so you shall die an agonizing death for serving him." Goren raised an eyebrow. ¡°I have no idea what you''re talking about, but step out already if you¡¯re so determined to kill me.¡± When the figure finally stepped forward, Goren couldn¡¯t believe his own eyes when he saw its face. ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­what are you - ¡± He couldn''t even finish his words before unimaginable pain shot through is body. Chapter 31: I Dont Understand Anything Anymore Chapter 31: I Don''t Understand Anything Anymore ¡°What the hell was that just now?¡± Yana asked shortly after Gaelith left. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he kill us?¡± I was in disbelief too, though I probably had a better idea of why he spared us ¨C for now. I¡¯d killed his friend. Well, more accurately, I¡¯d released him from being Undead. And Gaelith was¡­thankful for it? That didn¡¯t make any sense. If he was the dungeon¡¯s boss, couldn¡¯t he have released his friend on his own? Wasn¡¯t he the necromancer who brought him back as an Undead to begin with? ¡°Why did he mean, Aidan?¡± Yana asked suddenly. ¡°Why did he thank you?¡± I couldn¡¯t tell her the truth. I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Yan. I¡¯m as weirded out by it as you are.¡± ¡°Oh, cut the bullshit!¡± she snapped. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting differently since this morning. So much so that I don¡¯t even recognize you. And don''t even get me started on the Undead Wolves you''d slain way too casually for someone your level. You¡¯re clearly keeping something from me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hiding anything from you.¡± I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Why would you think that?¡± I felt disappointed in myself for lying to her, especially after the kiss we¡¯d shared. But I knew it was the only way to keep her safe. She shook her head slowly. ¡°The kiss just now¡­was it genuine, or were you just trying to shut me up and get me to agree with you?¡± No, no, no. Why would she think that? I was ruining this. One step forward and a hundred steps back. ¡°Of course it was genuine.¡± I replied, maybe with too much intensity. ¡°I¡¯ve loved you for so long, I¡¯m ashamed it took me so long to say it. Ever since we were kids, ever since I understood what love is ¨C scratch that, even before that.¡± Her expression softened and she looked both hurt and vulnerable, unlike anything I¡¯ve seen before. ¡°Aidan, we¡¯re in this together. We always were. And if this kiss meant to you as much as it did to me, then tell me the truth, and we¡¯ll work it out together. But if you¡¯re going to keep secrets, then this kiss was just that ¨C a kiss.¡± I hesitated, feeling torn. Should I tell her the truth? I¡¯d finally taken the step forward; we¡¯d kissed. But now she might just turn away and leave. And I knew that once I died, everything would reset. This conversation wouldn¡¯t happen. I¡¯d forget all about it ¨C all about our kiss. And that was exactly the problem. I didn¡¯t want it to end! I didn¡¯t want to forget how it felt! But I also couldn¡¯t bear to see her die again¡­ ¡°Yana¡­¡± I whispered, unable to meet her eyes. ¡°Nothing is happening. Everything is just so scary, I ¨C ¡° ¡°Oh, screw this shit.¡± She snapped, turning around and rushing toward the corridor to our right. ¡°Yana, wait!¡± I called after her, breaking into a run to follow. *** Yana didn¡¯t want to speak to me, but I wasn¡¯t about to leave her alone like this. And at the same time, despite her anger, it seemed she wasn¡¯t willing to leave me behind either. Or maybe I just wanted to believe that was the case. We eventually reached a dead end ¨C a collapsed chamber. Unable to clear the debris, we turned back and retraced our steps. We passed that one chamber that Lady Mikaela had warned Yana about and, after a long, silent walk that felt like an eternity, we returned to where it all started: the main antechamber on the ground level. It was a nightmarish sight, to say the least. Bodies were strewn everywhere ¨C dozens upon dozens of adventurers. Some were in pieces, others completely unrecognizable, all dead. Pools of blood covered the floor, accompanied by a strong metallic stench that was nauseating. But among all the bodies, two stood out the most: Lady Mikaela and Stephan Lorren. Looks like Gaelith was truthful when he said he killed everyone. They lay next to the massive stone doors that were still closed. In the end, they hadn¡¯t been able to open them despite obtaining the Keystone. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this¡­¡± Yana whispered as she rushed to her guild master¡¯s body. I followed her, watching as she knelt beside Lady Mikaela, a tear streaming down her face. They were clearly close, and I decided not to interfere with her grief. Instead, I turned my attention to Lorren¡¯s body, searching for the Keystone. I wasn¡¯t planning to leave the tomb ¨C I had a mission ¨C but maybe I could send Yana away, lock myself inside, and continue exploring on my own. I know it was stupid. It wouldn¡¯t actually save her. She was trapped in this loop just as I was. She just didn¡¯t know it. But still, the thought of saving her, even in some small and non-lasting way, eased my mind. It kept me going. I found the Keystone ¨C a shining key ¨C and brought it closer to the doors. Yet, nothing happened. ¡°Am I even doing this right?¡± I muttered, not sure if I was asking Yana or myself. Either way, she continued ignoring me. ¡°There was never any Keystone to begin with. A lie it was.¡± Gaelith¡¯s voice sounded behind us. We both turned quickly, raising our weapons. He was still cloaked in that dark robe, but this time, his sword was missing ¨C and so were his Blood Wraith bodyguards. He continued, his tone suddenly turning oddly emotional. ¡°No one can leave this place. Ever. And no one should have come. Why did you come? Why couldn¡¯t you leave this cursed place be, sealed and forgotten?¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. His words made little sense to me. He sounded hurt, almost regretful about killing us all. It didn¡¯t align with the ruthlessness we¡¯d seen from him until now ¨C his bone-chilling introduction, the monsters he¡¯d sent to kill us, the countless people he had already slaughtered. Both today and years before that. ¡°Oh, no!¡± Yana snapped at him. ¡°Don¡¯t turn this on us! You¡¯re the monster here!¡± ¡°I¡¯m the monster?¡± Gaelith almost sounded offended. ¡°You dare say this while you bear the mark of Darkness?¡± ¡°What?¡± Yana asked, bewildered. But I knew what he meant. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter." Gaelith muttered, almost to himself. "It needs to be done. By my hand and not his.¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Yana shouted at him, her voice trembling with fear, anger, and grief. Gaelith ignored her and seemed to turn to me, his glowing sword materializing in his hand from thin air. I was ready to fight back. To preserve this loop ¨C a loop where I made immense progress. But his next words surprised me so much, I was left completely out of it. ¡°Are you the one who will end this?¡± Before I could even wonder what he meant, he drove his sword into the ground. A blinding light engulfed us. This beautiful loop was over. I couldn¡¯t salvage it. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] *** I woke up lying on a familiar grassy field. Turning my head to the right, I saw Chronos seated at the table, sipping tea. He wasn¡¯t alone this time. To his right stood an aged butler, dressed in a uniform that seemed way too luxurious. His grey hair was tied neatly in a tail behind his head, and he stood at the ready, his eyes closed. To Chronos¡¯ left, a teenage girl sat cross-legged on the grass. Her hair was bright pink, styled in two pigtails, and her clothes were so vibrantly colorful that they hurt my eyes at first glance. In her hand, she held a small wooden paddle with an even smaller ball tethered to it by a thin string. She moved the paddle back and forth, likely trying to make the ball bounce consistently, but failing miserably. After so many loops, Chronos had finally invited me over. ¡°Tea, Mr. Dar?¡± The butler addressed me, his voice awfully similar to Balthor¡¯s. ¡°Balthor?¡± I asked, confused. ¡°You got that right!¡± the girl chimed in, her voice unmistakably Pix¡¯s. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Pix!¡± I stood up, still baffled. I¡¯d always thought they were just disembodied voices assisting Chronos with whatever it was he did. ¡°Never thought you had a corporeal form¡­¡± I muttered. ¡°They were always here. You just couldn¡¯t see them.¡± Chronos said as he finished his tea and placed the cup on a silver platter that suddenly materialized in Balthor¡¯s hands. ¡°Your Temporal Trace just wasn¡¯t leveled high enough before.¡± ¡°So ¨C ¡° ¡°Yeah.¡± Chronos cut me off. ¡°Everything is connected.¡± He studied me for a moment before rolling his eyes, grinning. ¡°Would you sit already? You¡¯re making me nervous standing there like that.¡± If he invited me again after so long, it either meant I was progressing well ¨C or the exact opposite. I forced a weak smile, eager to find out which one it was. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re doing good.¡± Chronos said, and I immediately sighed with relief. ¡°You even met the star of the show.¡± He added, likely referring to Gaelith. ¡°Good job, Mr. Dar.¡± Balthor said, nodding approvingly. ¡°Yup! Great job, Aidan!¡± Pix chimed in cheerfully. ¡°You understand now what I meant when I said it was possible to defeat Erebus forty runs earlier?¡± Chronos asked. I nodded, recalling what I¡¯d discovered this run. ¡°The Darknessbound Core¡­¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Chronos replied, his grin widening. ¡°There are a few more items that you''ll need for that, but it is possible to lock Erebus inside the Core again. Once you get all the necessary items, the two shards would connect and the prison would be usable again." ¡°You mean three shards, right?¡± His grin faltered. ¡°What?¡± I rummaged through my inventory and presented the two Darknessbound Core shards. Holding them close together, I showed him the tiny piece missing to make the stone whole. ¡°Ooh, that son of a bitch¡­¡± Chronos rubbed his eyes in frustration. ¡°What?¡± I asked, both confused and curious. ¡°It¡¯s Dolos! Of course, it¡¯s him.¡± Chronos snapped. ¡°We can¡¯t know for sure, young Master.¡± Balthor interjected calmly. ¡°He¡¯s bound by the same restrictions as you. He can¡¯t intervene in such a way.¡± ¡°Then who else could¡¯ve taken it, Balthor?¡± Chronos retorted, his impatience growing. ¡°How many times have we done this before? It¡¯s always the same. Always the same until this fucking time!¡± ¡°Can you finally explain what¡¯s going on?¡± I raised my voice, tired of being kept in the dark. Chronos turned his attention fully to me, seemingly appreciating my assertiveness. ¡°Listen,¡± he began. ¡°Whenever Erebus starts his shenanigans, it always begins with him escaping this prison.¡± He pointed to the shards in my hand. ¡°The Darknessbound Core always splits into two pieces. Each piece is guarded by a different monster ¨C Erebus¡¯ creations, of course. This time, for some unforeseen reason, it didn¡¯t. Both shards were kept in the same room. And since the System sensed both pieces in close proximity before the time loop was initiated, it determined fewer runs were necessary to complete the mission.¡± ¡°But it was wrong¡­¡± I muttered, starting to grasp the gravity of the situation. ¡°So, we were set up from almost the beginning?¡± ¡°No. The System cannot make mistakes.¡± Pix chimed in. ¡°Whoever took that piece ¨C ¡° ¡°Dolos.¡± Chronos interrupted sharply, correcting her. Pix nodded and continued. ¡°-likely done it fairly recently, just chipping away another piece from one of the shards. Key Items are not affected by the time loop.¡± ¡°He broke the rules.¡± Chronos growled. ¡°He¡¯ll pay. We¡¯ll nullify our entire deal with him.¡± ¡°I agree with Balthor, boss. I don¡¯t think it was him.¡± Pix said hesitantly, looking embarrassed. Chronos was fuming, but before he could explode, he took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, visibly calming himself. ¡°Yeah, you''re probably right. It¡¯s unlikely. The restrictions wouldn¡¯t have allowed it.¡± ¡°Then who took the extra piece?¡± I asked, as now we had no other suspects, and I was the one who was going to pay for this. Chronos rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ll need to check the timeline, but even when I find out, I won¡¯t be able to tell you. That would be intervening.¡± ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon!¡± I snapped, jumping from my chair. ¡°Someone cheats and screws me over, and you¡¯re telling me that helping me fix it is against the rules?¡± ¡°Until we understand exactly what happened, young Master would be putting himself at risk if he interfered.¡± Balthor explained patiently. I groaned, frustration boiling over. Why was everything so difficult all the time? I sank back into my seat slowly. ¡°You can still do this. You¡¯re a lot stronger now.¡± Chronos said, sounding encouraging. ¡°And the third shard is in the tomb. That much I can tell you. You just need to find it and the other necessary items." "What other items?" I asked, my patience running low. "That I can''t tell you." Chronos replied, and I was about to explode. ¡°What about Gaelith?¡± I asked impatiently. ¡°He just one-shotted us. I doubt he¡¯ll just let me imprison him even if I get everything.¡± ¡°Well, he - ¡± Chronos began, but was immediately cut off. "BOSS!" "Young Master!" Chronos raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, will you both chill? I was planning on making him forget this part.¡± He turned back to me. ¡°Anyway, they''re right. You¡¯ll have to figure that out too.¡± Anger welled up inside me at the constant secrets. The loss of progress. Not just with the mission, but with my personal progress. The kiss with Yana that I¡¯d forget once I woke up again. I finally exploded. ¡°Forget this, forget that! It¡¯s easy for you to say when you¡¯re not the one who¡¯s down there struggling to remember what he did last time! Explain to me once and for all why I need to forget everything every fucking loop!¡± The three of them exchanged glances, silent. Then Chronos smiled faintly. ¡°Very well.¡± He clapped his hands, and the surroundings shifted around us, transforming into what looked like an academy auditorium with a large stage and a lectern in its front. Chronos now wore a peculiar white robe, holding a wooden ruler, which he smacked against a blackboard to grab my attention. ¡°Good morning, students, and welcome to my class.¡± He announced with exaggerated enthusiasm. "¡¯Erebus for dummies¡¯." Chapter 32: Statistics 101 Chapter 32: Statistics 101 ¡°Yay!¡± Pix exclaimed, throwing away her paddle toy, and clapping her hands. ¡°Boss is giving another lecture!¡± ¡°This should be¡­interesting.¡± Balthor muttered, rolling his eyes. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve been working on my presentation skills, Balthor.¡± Chronos said defensively. ¡°I assure you, this time everything will go smoothly.¡± Balthor gave him a skeptical nod. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± He turned to me. ¡°Mr. Dar, we¡¯ll be handing out evaluation forms after the lecture. Make sure to grade Young Master¡¯s performance with utmost seriousness.¡± I nodded slowly, even though I had no idea what he was talking about. ¡°You asked for clarity about the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System¡¯s design ¨C specifically, why your memories do not persist between runs.¡± Chronos began, his voice echoing around the auditorium. ¡°To understand, you must grasp the nature of our enemy, Erebus.¡± I crossed my arms, leaning back in my seat. ¡°You told me the basics. You said he wakes up every millennia and tries to devour¡­everything. Right?¡± ¡°Correct. Almost.¡± Chronos said, nodding slightly. ¡°What you may not realize yet is the sheer scale of this endless war. It spans beyond your time ¨C and even your world.¡± ¡°Beyond my world?¡± I blinked, straightening up in the chair. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Chronos raised a hand and snapped his fingers. The blackboard behind him shimmered, and suddenly an image appeared ¨C a bustling cityscape unlike anything I had ever seen. Some structures belched smoke into the air, while strange contraptions on wheels moved along the streets that were guarded by...what even was that? Giant monsters made of metal? ¡°This is another world.¡± Chronos explained. ¡°Not quite like yours. A world powered by steam, fire, and machinery. Its people have built towering cities, their lives dictated by the elaborate mechanisms they constantly create and the relentless industry they power.¡± I stared at the moving image, mesmerized. ¡°What¡­what is that?¡± I¡¯d seen magical illusions before, but this felt different. It was too detailed to be something so simple. It was almost like a window to a different reality. Chronos snapped his fingers again, and the image changed. This time, the city was sleek and dark, its structures tall enough to pierce the clouds. Bright lights glimmered in countless windows, and the people there moved around with metals protruding from their bodies ¨C some had half their faces replaced with metal, while others had metallic limbs that transformed into blades, making them resemble praying mantises. ¡°This world,¡± Chronos continued, ¡°is dominated by glass, metal, and advanced technology. The people here have pushed the limits of their bodies and minds through these innovations, but at a heavy price.¡± I shook my head, overwhelmed. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m looking at. How can people live like that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same everywhere ¨C they adapt.¡± Chronos replied simply. ¡°Each world has its own rules. People either adapt, or they perish.¡± Before I could ask another question, he snapped his fingers again. The next image was odd as well. The city here had tall structures, just like the previous ones, but here they seemed to be made mostly of stone, like in my world. The people carried small, glowing objects in their hands ¨C somewhat reminding me of the System¡¯s screens, and what looked like massive carriages moved on wheels along paved roads. Compared to the other two, this world seemed pretty mundane. ¡°This world is closer to its natural state.¡± Chronos explained. ¡°Its people use no magic, nor do they have the technology of the previous one. Instead, they rely on ingenuity and tools to shape their lives. Despite lacking mana, they have created great wonders and achieved amazing accomplishments.¡± I stared at the image, struggling to process what he was showing me. ¡°This is¡­real?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chronos nodded. ¡°Just as real as your world.¡± I opened my mouth to protest, still in disbelief at it all, but then I remembered my first meeting with Chronos ¨C the many terms he mentioned, things I¡¯ve never heard of, that he claimed came from another world. D¨¦j¨¤ vu being the most memorable. ¡°Imagine your world as a single branch on a vast tree with endless branches. Each branch represents a different world. Some are similar to yours, while others are incredibly different.¡± Balthor interjected, his calm voice drawing my attention. ¡°Erebus is the blight who seeks to consume the tree itself.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Pix suddenly chimed in, grinning. ¡°And Master Chronos here is the gardener trying to keep the tree alive.¡± She paused, scratching her head. ¡°Wait, does that make us the gardening tools?¡± Balthor sighed. ¡°Not now, Pix.¡± I shook my head, trying to focus. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s say I believe all this. It¡¯s a lot to take in, but let¡¯s say it¡¯s true. What does that have to do with me forgetting everything?¡± Chronos snapped his fingers, and the blackboard returned to its original state. ¡°I¡¯ve given this introduction to help you understand that Erebus shares one crucial trait with me: he isn¡¯t confined to a single era or a single world. He is timeless. This means, like me, he is everywhere and nowhere all at once. And so, he can see all the loops you''ve had so far and remember them. But in his current state of power, he is extremely weakened and has a lot of disadvantages. In particular, the fact that he needs a vessel to see, but especially - the way he operates.¡± He paused, letting his words sink in. My heart skipped a beat as he turned to the blackboard. ¡°Now, to answer your question.¡± He drew a single line across the board with a piece of chalk. ¡°This is the baseline ¨C the original timeline. The one where you died before I chose and placed you in this time loop.¡± He added more lines beneath it, each one diverging slightly. ¡°These additional lines represent your subsequent loops. Some deviate only slightly from the baseline, with minor changes, while others diverge more significantly ¨C especially when you chose different paths in the tomb and encountered new clues and dangers.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. I nodded, following along so far. Chronos then added small arrows, each stretching from the baseline to any of the other lines. ¡°Erebus measures these deviations, calculating the variance.¡± ¡°Variance?¡± I frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°In mathematical terms, it¡¯s the degree of difference.¡± Balthor explained. Chronos nodded appreciatively. ¡°The more significant the changes, the greater the variance. When the variance surpasses the threshold Erebus has set, he begins searching for the source of the deviation.¡± Pix chimed in, now lying on the ground. ¡°And when he finds you, he marks you, tracks you, and messes with everything you¡¯re trying to do.¡± A chill ran down my spine. ¡°So, the memory loss¡­it¡¯s to keep me from making big changes?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Chronos confirmed. ¡°Without your memories, the changes you make are subtle enough to fall under Erebus¡¯ threshold. This allows you to grow stronger without drawing his gaze.¡± ¡°Wait a second.¡± I said, narrowing my eyes at him. ¡°How haven¡¯t I crossed the threshold yet? I mean, I just killed Kaelstrife. He didn¡¯t even respawn after I reawakened at Checkpoint. Surely, that¡¯s a big enough change to¡­¡± I stopped, the realization hitting. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me¡­don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s why Gaelith killed us. I¡¯m marked now, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°No.¡± Chronos shook his head. ¡°You''re not marked, and Erebus is not yet aware of you.¡± ¡°But Gaelith ¨C ¡° ¡°I cannot elaborate on Gaelith due to the rules.¡± Chronos interrupted, his tone firm. ¡°Suffice it to say, his actions were not because you crossed the threshold. You remain undetected.¡± ¡°But how?¡± I pressed. ¡°Kaelstrife was his friend, wasn¡¯t he? There¡¯s no way he won¡¯t remember me in the next run!¡± ¡°He won¡¯t remember you.¡± Chronos said. ¡°You¡¯ll have to trust me on this one. Eventually, you¡¯ll understand why on your own. But until then¡­¡± He tapped on the blackboard with the chalk. ¡°The reason you¡¯re still under Erebus¡¯ radar lies in his methodology ¨C the disadvantage I mentioned earlier.¡± He gestured to the additional lines he¡¯d drawn earlier. ¡°With each loop, Erebus gains another data point ¨C a new timeline to measure. While the first few loops may have been simple to compare to the original, your changes in those were fairly insignificant¡­apart from the one caused by Yana, for which she paid dearly.¡± My heart twisted at his mention of Yana. Chronos continued. ¡°But as more loops occur, the complexity of Erebus¡¯ task increases.¡± He drew a dashed line beneath the branching loops and labeled it ¡°Average¡±. ¡°At his current state, Erebus cannot compare each loop to the baseline in real time ¨C it¡¯s too much information for his weakened self. Instead, he calculates an average ¨C a constantly evolving measure that accounts for all the loops that happened thus far.¡± Pix hopped onto the lectern, dangling her legs as she added cheerfully. ¡°Think of it like trying to compare today¡¯s breakfast to the one you had a month ago, except you ate the same meal every morning, but slightly different.¡± Balthor picked up where she left off. ¡°Instead of going backwards day by day, and recalling every small change made each morning ¨C like swapping an apple for an orange, cow milk for goat milk, or oatmeal for another grain ¨C you simplify it. You ate a grain, a fruit, and some milk. That¡¯s the average Master Chronos refers to.¡± I nodded, their metaphor helping me grasp the concept. Chronos resumed. ¡°By comparing the latest loop to this evolving average, Erebus streamlines his analysis. It allows him to detect major changes without drowning in information. However, this method isn¡¯t precise and introduces a delay.¡± He pointed to one of the earlier loops. ¡°Every so often, Erebus does compare the latest loop to the baseline ¨C the original timeline ¨C but these checks are infrequent. Until such a comparison occurs, the evolving average keeps you under his threshold.¡± I stared at the lines, my thoughts racing. ¡°So¡­the more loops I go through, the more time it takes for Erebus to notice anything?¡± Chronos nodded. ¡°As the amount of information grows, the calculations become more complex. This buys you time to strengthen yourself ¨C to prepare for the moment he finally notices you. By then, you¡¯ll be too powerful for him to stop you.¡± I exhaled slowly. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that even though I killed Kaelstrife, this significant change gets blended into the Average because my earlier runs had little to no significant changes? That feels a bit like luck¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about luck. It¡¯s by design.¡± Chronos replied sharply. ¡°The memory loss ensures subtlety. It is not reliant on luck, despite how it may feel to you. The probability of remaining under Erebus¡¯ threshold with the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System is approximately 97.2%.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s¡­oddly specific.¡± ¡°Because it is precise.¡± Chronos said. ¡°In contrast, consider Dolos and Goren.¡± I tensed at the mention of those names, while Chronos continued. ¡°Goren retains all his memories between loops - every success, every failure. Do you understand what that means in the grand scheme of things?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°It means Goren crossed Erebus¡¯ threshold long ago.¡± Chronos continued. ¡°Erebus marked him and has been constantly adjusting the dungeon to counter him, ensuring Goren can never truly succeed.¡± Pix hopped off the lectern, her expression serious. ¡°Basically, poor Goren¡¯s stuck in a never-ending tug-of-war, and Erebus keeps pulling the rope further away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± I hesitated, unsure how to feel. Goren had killed me eight times for XP, yet hearing this, I felt bad for him. ¡°That¡¯s horrible. Why would Dolos design his System that way?¡± Chronos frowned. ¡°Because, as I¡¯ve told you before, Dolos doesn¡¯t care about defeating Erebus. Nor does he care about Goren¡¯s well-being. He only does this to create additional obstacles for me.¡± ¡°Why does he hate you so much?¡± I asked. ¡°It all feels a bit too personal.¡± Pix and Balthor exchanged a glance, seeming down. I realized the answer to that question wouldn¡¯t be simple. Chronos sighed heavily. ¡°It is¡­a difficult subject, but you deserve to know.¡± He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing slowly around the stage. ¡°Long ago, before Dolos became what he is now, he was one of my helpers. Like Pix and Balthor, he worked alongside me, aiding in the battle against Erebus.¡± I blinked, surprised by the revelation, but stayed silent, letting Chronos continue. ¡°He was brilliant at his job - balancing Balthor¡¯s wisdom with Pix¡¯s creativity. Together, they formed the perfect trinity of support, and we achieved great victories.¡± Pix stared at the floor, her usual grin turned upside down. Balthor, though harder to read, seemed noticeably tenser. ¡°But then,¡± Chronos continued, his voice becoming heavier, ¡°came a battle unlike any before. The champion I chose that time ¨C Arabella was her name ¨C was strong, brave, and selfless. So selfless that, when no other path to victory remained, she sacrificed herself to ensure Erebus was defeated and her world was saved.¡± I swallowed hard, hoping I won¡¯t meet the same fate. ¡°What happened to Dolos?¡± Chronos stopped pacing around and gazed upward, looking distant. ¡°Dolos did something he shouldn¡¯t have ¨C he fell in love with her.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Oh indeed.¡± Chronos said, nodding. ¡°After her death, he begged me to reverse time and bring her back. He pleaded, argued, even demanded. But I couldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because to rewind back such a fateful encounter would risk undoing her victory. If I brought her back, Erebus would rise again ¨C now fully aware of her capabilities and resolve. She wouldn¡¯t succeed a second time as he will be ready, and both her universe and she would be lost forever.¡± Pix spoke quietly. ¡°But Dolos didn¡¯t see it that way. All he saw was someone he loved who didn¡¯t need to die.¡± Chronos nodded. ¡°He couldn¡¯t accept my decision. Our arguments grew bitter, and eventually, he left. He traveled far ¨C through the realms of gods and demons alike ¨C searching for a way to bring her back. Many of those deities lied to him, promising what they couldn¡¯t deliver. He believed them anyway. Over time, it all consumed him, and he became what he is today¡­the very embodiment of the lies and deceit he''d endured.¡± ¡°And now,¡± Balthor finished grimly, ¡°his sole purpose is to make Young Master suffer. To hinder the champions he chooses. To disrupt our plans. To ensure that our victories come at the highest possible cost.¡± At the highest possible cost¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Chronos said, his voice turning gentler. ¡°If he interfered and took the third shard, then our contract with him is null and void. Either way, the Darknessbound Core is not the only way to defeat Erebus.¡± ¡°What was the incident you both kept referring to in his domain?¡± I asked, raising the question that had been nagging at me. Chronos¡¯ face soured. ¡°Next time.¡± He said curtly. Then he snapped his fingers, and everything went black. Chapter 33: Missing Chapter 33: Missing [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 22] [Loop Count: 37] [Experience Points (XP): 10,562 / 17,000] I woke up with the meeting with Chronos still running circles in my mind. Things were clearer now ¨C Erebus¡¯ methodology and how he chose who to mark. But I also understood that time was of the essence. Once Erebus caught wind of the change caused by Kaelstrife¡¯s death, he would search for me. I needed to find the third Darknessbound Core shard and lock him away before he did, because if I didn¡¯t, and instead I got marked, my progress would halt immediately. Wait a minute¡­Why can I remember that I defeated Kaelstrife? I quickly turned to the second inventory. There it was ¨C Silverfang! The glaive materialized in my hands as I was still in awe that I could recall the fight I went through to obtain it. Well, not entirely¡­some parts of the memory seemed to blur, especially the location of the battle. All I knew for sure was that there had been spiders involved. Large ones at that. The two Memory Fragments in my inventory caught my attention. I selected them, immediately unlocking and reliving the memories they held. Both provided more questions than answers, and I knew I had to find the rest of them if I wanted to understand anything. The third shard and the additional items Chronos said I needed to collect to lock up Erebus were hidden somewhere in the tomb, and only by understanding the truth behind it would I be able to find them. ***
Stocked up at Christian¡¯s. Reached the tomb. We had split into teams and then we realized someone in my team was missing.
¡°Who¡¯s missing, Fiona? I thought we counted a hundred before Lorren began his speech.¡± Lady Mikaela addressed a young woman next to her ¨C a level 82 Enchantress who seemed to be in charge of the logistics for the raid, judging by the stack of papers she was holding. ¡°I thought so too, m¡¯lady. Let me check.¡± Fiona replied, humming softly as she shuffled through the documents in her hands. Lady Mikaela nodded before turning to the crowd of adventurers that had now gathered around us, curious. She scanned their faces, looking for someone. ¡°Evangelina!¡± she called out. ¡°Were you prepared with substitutions for cases like this?¡± I asked Yana as we waited. ¡°Of course.¡± She replied confidently. ¡°Our guild provided ten possible substitutes. I think that Ironfall Vanguard also has some adventurers on standby.¡± ¡°Then it shouldn¡¯t be a problem even if they don¡¯t find the missing member.¡± I replied. ¡°Guess so.¡± Yana said with a shrug. ¡°Wrong. We¡¯re missing our Rogue.¡± My team¡¯s leader, a mage named Jax, interjected. ¡°So?¡± I asked, confused and irritated that he was eavesdropping on us. ¡°So not only are you weak, you¡¯re also ignorant, huh?¡± Jax scoffed, rolling his eyes with a look of disgust. ¡°The guild masters put a lot of thought into balancing the teams. Rogues are essential for their unique abilities. Without them, we¡¯d be in a disadvantage.¡± He turned to Yana. ¡°Ironfall Vanguard doesn¡¯t have Rogues in our ranks. I assume your guild doesn¡¯t either. That¡¯s why Silvercry were invited.¡± As Jax spoke, a woman draped in a sleek, black outfit approached Lady Mikaela. Twin daggers, both elegant and menacing, hung from a belt slung diagonally across her torso. She was a level 85 Rogue, and seemingly the on-field leader of Silvercry, the Rogue guild that had joined the quest today. ¡°Goren Shein from Silvercry is missing.¡± Fiona whispered to her guild master, her voice barely audible, as if afraid the approaching woman might overhear. The name sent a shiver down my spine. Goren, Dolos¡¯ champion, the man who had killed me repeatedly in this time loop, exploiting my memory loss each time, was supposed to be on my team? And now he was missing? Just after Chronos had suspected Dolos was behind the disappearance of the third shard of the Darknessbound Core? This couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. He had to be planning something. ¡°Goren is missing, I know.¡± The Rogue woman said as she reached Lady Mikaela. Her smug expression made Fiona shrink back. ¡°You knew he was missing and stayed quiet?¡± Lady Mikaela asked, her voice calm yet also judgmental. ¡°You¡¯re too experienced to be slacking like this, Evangelina.¡± ¡°Hardly.¡± Evangelina retorted with an exaggerated eye roll. ¡°Goren has¡­many responsibilities back at home. We assumed he was just running late because of them. You don¡¯t expect me to snitch on my people and risk them not getting paid fully over something so trivial, do you?¡± ¡°I expect transparency from you as one of the secondary leaders of this raid.¡± Lady Mikaela shot back, her gaze piercing. Evangelina rolled her eyes again, a smirk on her lips. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mikky. My bad, hon.¡± Lady Mikaela clearly didn¡¯t appreciate the nicknames but maintained her composure. ¡°We agreed with your boss that if anyone from your guild was missing, you¡¯d provide a substitute. We cannot compromise the balance of the teams.¡± Evangelina¡¯s smirk faded, replaced by a mock concern. ¡°Sadly, we don¡¯t have anyone to spare. Everyone, including Miss Belle, is assigned elsewhere. Goren was supposed to be here. We didn¡¯t anticipate this.¡± Lady Mikaela¡¯s irritation was evident, but before she could respond, Stephan Lorren stepped in. ¡°I don¡¯t like it anymore than you do, Mikaela.¡± He said, his tone tense. ¡°But we can¡¯t call off the raid over this. The King wouldn¡¯t care that Silvercry let us down. Sure, they¡¯d face sanctions for this blunder, but the King would still be furious if we failed to solve this problem on our own and proceed.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your suggestion, then, Lorren?¡± Lady Mikaela asked.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°With no other options, we¡¯ll have to assign one of the higher-level adventurers to team four. Meanwhile, we¡¯ll request a substitution from one of our guilds and wait for them to arrive. My teleportation magic would hasten their arrival.¡± Lorren proposed. Lady Mikaela frowned but eventually nodded. She turned to the high-leveled adventurers who were grouped together nearby. Her voice carried authority as she spoke to them. ¡°I understand this isn¡¯t an ideal situation, and I apologize for asking this. The low-leveled teams were meticulously balanced to ensure the successful clearance of the first levels of the tomb, but with the absence of a Rogue, we need to adapt. I must ask a volunteer among you to join team four. Your expertise will help mitigate the imbalance, and you would be greatly compensated for this, of course.¡± None seemed to be excited about the proposition. I mean, who would? The all came here for glory, not to kill low-level slimes. Yana looked ready to step forward, and I wasn¡¯t sure how I felt about that considering she was marked, but before she could, an unexpected voice cut through the murmurs. ¡°I¡¯ll join them.¡± Said Aric Kelltins, one of Lady Mikaela¡¯s strongest guild members, and a bit of a celebrity in his own right. ***
We entered the tomb. Cleared the chambers assigned to us ¨C [+680 XP]
Aric Kelltins was of the Vanguard class, stepping in as the second tank for our team. He was quite famous in our kingdom. Why? Well, that was simple: at just 24 years old, he had already reached level 87. For comparison, our two level 100 adventurers were in their late 30''s. Everyone in Tepan believed that, unless the System suddenly told Kelltins he had reached his cap, he would eventually become the youngest level 100 adventurer in history. He also sounded like a very down-to-earth person and even insisted Jax remain the team leader despite being 22 levels stronger than him. In battle, his taunting skills were invaluable, drawing the attention of the Undead that attacked us, allowing the rest of us to deal with them more efficiently. His presence surely made our progress incredibly easy. I was cautious, though. Kelltins¡¯ experience made me wary that he might notice something unusual about me. To avoid drawing his attention, I used my abilities sparingly, even if it meant fewer kills than I would have preferred. ¡°Great job, everyone!¡± He said as we made our way back to the antechamber. ¡°We handled these chambers well. I¡¯ll be sure to let Lady Mikaela know how exceptionally you¡¯ve all performed.¡± ¡°It was all because of you, Mr. Kelltins.¡± Lena, our healer, gushed, her admiration for him evident. ¡°Oh, nonsense.¡± He said, waving off the compliment. ¡°If anything, I probably slowed you down and made everyone work harder by conserving my energy for the depths of the tomb.¡± ¡°You¡¯re planning on joining the others in the lower levels later on?¡± Waylan asked, sounding surprised. ¡°I thought they were sending in a substitution.¡± ¡°They are.¡± Kelltins nodded. ¡°But that¡¯s just to meet the quota. I¡¯d be damned if I missed the rest of this raid. No offense to all of you.¡± ¡°None taken.¡± Henry said, looking a bit too starstruck. Their conversation was just background noise for me. My thoughts remained fixated on Goren. Where was he? What was he planning? The questions gnawed at the back of my mind, refusing to let go. Then, suddenly, a bone-chilling screech tore through the chamber, and three monstrous apparitions materialized from thin air ¨C Blood Wraiths, level 90. Waylan raised his shield instinctively. ¡°What the hell? Aren¡¯t those way too strong to be here?¡± Lena gasped, clutching her staff tightly. ¡°We can¡¯t¡­we can¡¯t fight those! They¡¯re too strong!¡± Jax and Henry exchanged uneasy glances, before the leader raised his staff and stepped in front of his apprentice. Meanwhile, Dina moved her staff quickly, conjuring a barrier around us, her eyes flicking nervously between the wraiths and Kelltins. ¡°Calm yourselves.¡± Kelltins commanded, his voice steady. He stepped forward, lifting his war axe. ¡°Follow my commands, and we¡¯ll get through this.¡± Waylan nodded, stepping up beside Kelltins to form the front line. I gripped Silverfang tightly, taking position just behind them. ¡°Waylan, with me.¡± Kelltins barked. ¡°We¡¯ll hold their attention. Lena ¨C stay close to the back and keep us standing. Dina ¨C focus on barriers and buffs. Jax, Henry, pour everything you got on the leftmost wraith. Aidan ¨C cover Dina and strike when you see an opening.¡± Everyone nodded, tension thick in the air. I decided to play along, careful not to reveal my true abilities just yet. The wraiths screeched again and surged forward. Kelltins and Waylan moved together, their shields raised, glowing with magic. They met the wraiths¡¯ attack head on, the impact echoing around the chamber. Behind us, Jax and Henry unleashed their magic on the leftmost Blood Wraith, forcing it to retreat, though the damage was frustratingly small. Dina¡¯s hands moved swiftly as she wove barriers around everyone, while Lena muttered healing spells to stabilize Kelltins and Waylan. The second wraith lunged at me, its claws shredding through Dina¡¯s barrier as it closed in. I dodged, sliding under its strike, and countered with a quick slash from Silverfang. The glaive¡¯s blade connected, but it went right through it, barely leaving any damage ¨C not because the weapon or I were weak, but because wraiths were notoriously difficult to hit effectively. The creature, now entirely focused on me, seemed angered. ¡°Fall back!¡± Dina shouted, her voice strained as she cast another barrier around me. ¡°Don¡¯t get caught alone!¡± I darted back toward the group, narrowly escaping another swipe of the wraith¡¯s claws. Meanwhile, Kelltins roared, his war axe suddenly radiating a brilliant light ¨C Holy Magic. He swung it with incredible force, cleaving into the first wraith. Its form flickered violently, but it managed to escape his follow-up strike. ¡°Keep it up!¡± Kelltins called out, his voice booming around us. ¡°Waylan, Dina ¨C watch my rear! Jax, Henry ¨C more pressure!¡± The mages doubled their efforts, their combined attacks battering the third wraith, keeping it occupied and unaware of the approaching Kelltins. He moved in and delivered a crushing blow with his glowing axe, dissipating the creature into mist. The second wraith returned its attention to me. I dodged a few times, countering with Silverfang, chipping away at it. Kelltins closed in from behind and brought his axe down at it. Not about to let him take this valuable XP away from me, I made sure the final blow was mine, slicing the wraith with a wide arc. [+798 XP] The last wraith returned for another round, diving toward us. Waylan intercepted it with his shield, grunting under the impact. ¡°Now!¡± he shouted, holding it in place. Dina cast another barrier around him as Kelltins stepped forward, his axe poised. ¡°Move, Waylan!¡± Waylan rolled aside just as Kelltins swung his weapon, shattering the wraith¡¯s form and dissolving it to mist. For a moment, no one spoke. We were all breathing heavily, the adrenaline slowly subsiding. A quest popped on my system screen. [New Quest Available: Ghostbusters #1] [Slay 50 Blood Wraiths] [Current Status: 1 / 50] [Reward: 15,000 XP] ¡°We¡­we actually did it.¡± Lena whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. Jax collapsed onto the ground, panting. Henry knelt beside him, checking on his mentor before turning to the rest of us. ¡°Thanks to Mr. Kelltins. That was insane!¡± Dina wiped sweat from her brow, smiling weakly. ¡°We had no business surviving that fight without casualties, but you made it work, Kelltins.¡± Waylan nodded as he got back to his feet. ¡°That was incredible leadership, Mr. Kelltins.¡± Lena stepped closer to Jax, weaving a soothing spell over him. ¡°I second that. Absolutely incredible!¡± I found myself nodding along. As much as I hated holding back, I couldn¡¯t deny Kelltins¡¯ impact on the group just now. He kept everyone steady and focused, ensuring his orders were minimal and to the point. In the end, everyone survived. Kelltins chuckled, as calm as ever. It was clear he was used to situations like these. ¡°Give yourselves some credit, folks. We pulled through together.¡± Despite the exhaustion, the mood lightened slightly. But one thing was still unclear¡­why were there level 90 monsters here? Didn¡¯t Lady Mikaela confirm the first levels only had weak monsters? Without the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System, I would¡¯ve been dead, restarting the loop. It seemed I wasn¡¯t the only one troubled by the question, but before anyone could voice their concerns, a low guttural growl echoed from beneath our feet. The deep sound sent vibrations through the stone floor. It was followed by a faint rumble, and somewhere far below, I could swear I heard something massive shifting. ¡°What was that?¡± Jax asked, his voice shaky. The ground trembled slightly. ¡°Everyone stay sharp.¡± Kelltins ordered, his tone rising. ¡°We ¨C ¡° The chamber shook violently, cutting him off. Cracks snaked across the ground. Before anyone could react, the floor gave way entirely. We fell, crashing into the floor below in varying states of pain. As we struggled to recover, another tremor struck, and this floor collapsed as well. We fell again, rubble and debris raining down on us. Chapter 34: Stingy Situation Chapter 34: Stingy Situation ¡°Aidan. Aidan! AIDAN!¡± Lena¡¯s frantic cries snapped me back into my senses. [Health:18% - Reaching Critical Level - Please Consume a Healing Potion] Pain radiated through every part of my body. I felt like I was broken everywhere. What the hell was that? Why did the ground suddenly collapse? ¡°Great, you¡¯re alive!¡± Lena exclaimed, kneeling beside me and weaving her healing magic with trembling hands. A warm sensation began to soothe my pain and I could see my HP slowly rising to acceptable levels. As my vision came into focus, I saw Dina standing behind Lena, her staff raised up high above her head. A massive barrier shimmered in the air, holding back tons of debris threatening to crush us. ¡°I can¡¯t hold on this much longer¡­¡± she warned, her voice strained and shaking. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kelltins approach. He knelt beside me. ¡°I¡¯ve got him.¡± Before I could respond, he lifted me onto his shoulder, equipping his shield in one fluid motion. He charged through the edge of the barrier, bashing debris aside as he cleared a path to safety. Lena followed closely behind, still healing me. Dina stumbled out last, letting the barrier drop as she collapsed onto the floor, completely drained. The debris crashed down behind her, raising a cloud of dust. Seeing that my health had rose up back to 50%, Lena rushed over to Dina¡¯s side. ¡°I¡¯m here, Dina!¡± She called out to her, quickly casting her magic on the injured Enchantress. Kelltins set me down gently. ¡°You good?¡± I nodded, as I rummaged through my inventory and picked two potions. ¡°Where¡¯s Waylan, Henry, and Jax?¡± [Item Consumed: Lesser Healing Potion x2] [Health: 90%] Kelltins exhaled heavily, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I didn¡¯t see them here. We dropped through six floors. They could¡¯ve gotten stuck on one of the upper ones.¡± ¡°We have to check.¡± I said, forcing myself to my feet. I climbed the mound of debris, peering upward through the gaping holes in the floors above. Kelltins wasn¡¯t exaggerating ¨C there were openings all the way up to the first level. I could faintly make out the distant ceiling far above. ¡°Waylan!¡± I shouted, my voice echoing around us. There was no response. Before I could call the rest, something bizarre happened. The debris beneath me began to shift, levitating slowly into the air. I scrambled back, nearly losing my footing as the rubble rose higher and higher, some of it to the floors above. Then, the holes started rebuilding themselves, the stone bricks locking together right in front of our eyes like nothing ever happened. If Diana didn''t use an illumination spell to light the chamber, we would remain in complete darkness. ¡°What the hell?¡± I muttered, staring in disbelief. But we didn¡¯t have time to discuss what just happened, as sharp, chittering noises came from behind us. We turned to see a swarm of massive scorpions emerging from the shadows. At least ten of them. Their bodies dark, their claws and tails made of gleaming metal. Their red eyes locked on us as they began approaching us slowly. Void Scorpions, level 70. ¡°Get ready!¡± Kelltins shouted, raising his shield. ¡°Focus on the ones in front!¡± The first three scorpions surged forward, their claws snapping at Kelltins, who met them head-on. His shield absorbed their strikes with loud clangs as I jumped in to help him, parrying some of the blows aimed at him. Behind us, Lena¡¯s voice was trembling. ¡°Dina, stay still! You¡¯re injured, and I can¡¯t heal you properly if you move too much.¡± Dina groaned, her breathing labored. ¡°I know, I know, but if I don¡¯t keep their buffs up ¨C and the lights ¨C we¡¯re all dead.¡± Suddenly, scorpions from the backline leapt over their frontline comrades, aiming directly for our backline. ¡°Watch out!¡± I shouted, spinning around. One scorpion¡¯s tail arced toward Dina, its stinger set for strike. I used Dash Step, closing the distance quickly, and blocked the attack just in time. The Void Scorpion hissed, recoiling slightly, but another was already rushing toward us. My mind raced. If these stingers carried poison ¨C and they probably did ¨C this could turn tricky. I couldn¡¯t afford to hold back anymore. I activated Wind Rush, moving faster now, and parried the second scorpion¡¯s strike with ease, feeling like everything was in slow motion. As the first one lunged again, I sidestepped and drove the glaive into its carapace, the sharp blade splitting it cleanly into two. [+318 XP] Another scorpion¡¯s tail whipped toward Lena, but I intercepted it mid-strike, severing it with a powerful swing. The creature recoiled, but their numbers kept growing. I glanced toward Kelltins, expecting him to help us, but he was locked in combat with three scorpions at the front, holding them off with his shield. He was managing, but just barely. Likely injured. He needed help, and I knew I had to work harder. I dodged another attack from one of the scorpions, and charged Silverfang at the same time. When the charge was over, I used Blade Rush to close the distance and used Silverfang¡¯s Explosive Strike. The glaive struck the scorpion with immense force, and the impact unleashed a powerful explosion, rippling outward and throwing off the adjacent scorpions at the walls. Behind me, I heard Dina¡¯s voice, shaky but determined. ¡°Buffing you now¡­keep going!¡± a faint hum, followed by a surge of energy washed over me. My body glowed faintly as she amplified my stats. I didn¡¯t waste a second. As one of the scorpions lunged, I sidestepped easily, without using any of my skills, and drove Silverfang through its head in a single motion. [+318 XP]This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Another prepared its tail to strike, but with the enhanced speed from Wind Rush and Dina¡¯s buff, I cleaved through it effortlessly. [+318 XP] The next scorpion fell to two precise strikes, its armored body splitting cleanly. [+318 XP] A fourth didn¡¯t even have time to react before Silverfang pierced through its head. [+318 XP] Breathing heavily, I turned toward the struggling Kelltins, who was still locked in a stalemate with the three scorpions. His shield held firm, but his movements were slower and less precise than earlier. Was he really injured? I assumed he was and was just hiding it for our sake. I rushed to his side, intercepting a tail strike aimed at him. With a twist of Silverfang, I deflected the blow and swung in a wide arc, activating Horizon. A powerful rush of wind surged forward, slamming the remaining scorpions and throwing them backward. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked, scanning him for visible injuries. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He replied curtly, raising his axe to finish off one of the scorpions. As the rest of the scorpions regained their footing, I moved in quickly, combining Wind Rush and Blade Rush to close the gap. Silverfang''s strikes were deadly, each cutting through their hardened carapaces. [+318 XP] [+318 XP] [+318 XP] [+318 XP] The final scorpion crumbled to the ground, and the golden aura around me flickered as Dina¡¯s buff faded. I exhaled sharply, relieved that the immediate danger was gone. A new quest popped as well. [New Quest Available: Scorpion King #1] [Slay 100 Void Scorpions] [Current Status: 9 / 100] [Reward: 10,000 XP] I turned to Kelltins again. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± He nodded, though his heave breathing suggested the opposite of his words. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be fine. Just need a moment to rest.¡± ¡°Aidan, that was amazing!¡± Lena called out, her eyes wide. ¡°You were moving so fast it didn¡¯t even seem like you were just level 50.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± I replied quickly, brushing off her praise. The last thing I needed was to draw unnecessary suspicion. ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Kelltins added suddenly, and a chill ran down my spine. ¡°I think you¡¯re the strongest level 50 I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± He gave a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad we had you here.¡± I forced a small laugh, exhaling in relief. Hoping he didn¡¯t suspect me of anything. *** [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 22] [Loop Count: 37] [Experience Points (XP): 14,902 / 17,000] We moved cautiously through the corridors of the sixth level, hoping the coast was clear. Meanwhile, Lean continued healing me, Kelltins, and Dina. ¡°No, but seriously, what was that, Aidan?¡± Dina asked, breaking the silence, while I silently wished she would drop the subject. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a level 50 move that fast.¡± ¡°I just spent a lot of points in Agility.¡± I said, scratching the back of my head awkwardly, hoping the explanation would satisfy her. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize the Agility stat was this busted.¡± Lena remarked thoughtfully. Will they drop this already?! Thankfully, Kelltins intervened, his commanding tone shifting the subject of the conversation. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s important. With only Aidan and me providing damage, it¡¯ll be tough to climb back to the main antechamber. We need to stay sharp and stick together.¡± Both Lena and Dina nodded in unison. ¡°Lead the way, Mr. Kelltins.¡± Kelltins nodded and proceeded forward, his shield raised. I couldn¡¯t help but notice his persistent limp, further convincing me that he was hiding an injury. I hoped Lena''s magic would completely heal him before we got attacked again. I tried to play an afterimage, but nothing appeared. [There is no afterimage to run in this area] Great...no afterimage means no D¨¦j¨¤ vu as well. It was my first time here and It had to be Goren''s doing. I''m not sure how yet, but it had to be him... ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll look for us?¡± Lena asked, her voice trembling. Kelltins sighed heavily, choosing the honest approach. ¡°I don¡¯t know. You all saw it...the holes we fell through sealed themselves. They might not even know we¡¯re down here. We just need to keep making our way up.¡± Lena and Dina exchanged nervous glances, and he noticed it. Kelltins spoke up again, this time with a bit more optimism, offering a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry. I''ll get us out of here alive. I promise." "We should look for the others as well." I said, believing that they could at least improve our chances of survival. I knew that regardless of what we''d face here, I''d survive by respawning in the next loop, but still, every loop was important and shouldn''t be wasted. Kelltins nodded. "You''re right. We won''t leave them behind. As I said, I''ll protect us all." Despite not knowing what he truly signed up for, his confidence was inspiring in a way. After a while of silent walking, we arrived at a chamber with a massive, peculiar mural etched into the wall. The image was difficult to decipher at first, but it seemed to resemble a tree. Four distinct levers rose from the ground, crafted from some dark stone. ¡°Do you think¡­we need to move them?¡± Lena asked hesitantly, her voice rising barely above a whisper. ¡°Like, to adjust the image or something?¡± Kelltins, seemingly intrigued by the puzzle, nodded after a moment of thought. ¡°Seems likely.¡± He replied, stepping closer to inspect the levers. ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can align the image.¡± ¡°Why, though?¡± Dina asked, exasperated. ¡°Let¡¯s just get the hell out of here.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know which dangers we¡¯ll face ahead.¡± Kelltins replied calmly. ¡°Maybe we can acquire something helpful from this.¡± Under his direction, we each toll a lever and carefully adjusted the position. Slowly, the mural began to make sense, until the full picture emerged: a large, aged tree, its roots rotting. ¡°Hmm¡­I wonder what it means.¡± Kelltins mused aloud, his brow furrowed in thought. But I knew exactly what it meant. Erebus. The completion of the puzzle caused a section of the wall to slide open. Without thinking twice, we proceeded inside. The darkness that greeted us was something out of a nightmare. Almost like the air itself was alive and wanted to kill me. ¡°Hey, Dina, can you light the place up?¡± I called out, my voice echoing everywhere around me. No answer. A shiver ran down my spine. I quickly consumed a Lumindew. [Item Consumed: Lumindew x1] [Night Vision activated. Duration: 30 minutes. Visual range enhanced in low-light areas] As my vision adjusted, I looked around, realizing I was alone. We had all entered together ¨C I was certain of it ¨C yet now I stood by myself. The wall through which we had entered was sealed tight, as if it had never opened. Sighing heavily, I forced myself to focus, wondering where I was and what happened to everyone else. I pressed forward into the corridor ahead. ¡°Guys?¡± I called, but again, no one answered. Thoughts of Goren resurfaced. Was this his doing? Or was I just paranoid? ¡°Goren!¡± I shouted, expecting to hear an answer, but none came. With frustration building inside me, I activated Distance Gauge, hoping to detect any nearby presence. But no presence was revealed. I was completely alone. ¡°What is going on?¡± I muttered under my breath, continuing cautiously down the corridor. Then I saw it ¨C a radiating light ahead. With no other path, I made my way toward it, the glow growing stronger with each step I took. As I approached, the source of the light became clearer. At first, it seemed like a massive artifact of some sort. Then it looked like a weapon. Finally, its shape resolved completely: a sword, radiating blinding light. But that wasn¡¯t all. A hooded figure held the sword with both arms ¨C leaning forward, almost hugging it. The figure was seated motionless on a large rock, draped in a dark robe, covered in layers of dust and encrustations, making me think it was a statue. As I wondered who it was, the figure suddenly stirred. The layers of encrustations cracked and splintered as it rose to its full height, dust billowing off it. The System reacted, recognizing him: Gaelith of Tepan, level 100. A shiver ran down my spine. Here he was. ¡°I am Gaelith of Tepan.¡± The figure said, its voice deep, inducing fear within me. ¡°Why have you come here?¡± Before I could react, his voice took a resolute tone, announcing my end. ¡°Now, I must kill you.¡± Chapter 35: A Fateful Encounter Chapter 35: A Fateful Encounter I prepared for a fight, but Gaelith just stood there, seemingly watching the glaive in my hands. What he said next left me so confused, I didn¡¯t even know how to react. ¡°Thank you.¡± He said and then exhaled heavily, turning away from me. ¡°You did something for him that I was too weak to do.¡± He paused for a moment, then added. ¡°Unless¡­you simply looted it from the one who actually killed him?¡± Kaelstrife, our fight, and the Memory Fragment of his younger days with Gaelith came rushing back. Their brotherly bond. Still, some things didn''t quite fit. ¡°No. I killed him.¡± I replied, my voice firm. ¡°He was an Undead, though.¡± ¡°I know. All the better.¡± Gaelith exhaled again, sounding relieved. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, how did it happen?¡± What does he mean by this? Was I really standing here, having a conversation with my soon-to-be killer? But then again, Chronos did tell me in our first meeting that I needed to learn more about Gaelith and the tomb. And here he was, the necromancer, Erebus¡¯ vessel, and he seemed¡­oddly talkative. After this encounter, I would undoubtedly be marked. If I¡¯m going to die here, I might as well get answers first. I¡¯ll forget them when I respawn, but perhaps something would remain. I sighed. Fine. Guess I¡¯m doing this after all¡­It''s not like I could fight him at my current level. ¡°Unfortunately, I can¡¯t recall our fight very well.¡± I admitted, trying to summon the memories of my battle with Kaelstrife, but they were blurry. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Gaelith replied calmly. ¡°As long as he met his end in a fair fight, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± He stepped away toward his rocky seat, sounding deep in thought. ¡°It didn¡¯t happen this time, did it?¡± A chill ran down my spine. I stayed silent. ¡°Yes¡­¡± he muttered, almost to himself as he lowered himself onto the rock. ¡°It happened before¡­it definitely happened before.¡± He knows. His words confirmed it. He even knew I was a looper. I was going to get marked now. There¡¯s no escaping it. ¡°Will you kill me now?¡± I asked, bracing myself. ¡°Not now.¡± he replied, his tone unexpectedly calm. ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind.¡± ¡°What?¡± I asked, completely in disbelief. ¡°I can¡¯t quite understand what¡¯s happening.¡± Gaelith said, his tone contemplative. ¡°But something¡­isn¡¯t right here. It¡¯s as though I¡¯m reliving this day, again and again. Many things are different, yet many are the same. But I don''t seem to recall them freely. I don¡¯t understand it¡­¡± What is going on? My confusion only deepened. This wasn¡¯t a behavior of someone under Erebus¡¯ control. Gaelith, the supposed vessel of Darkness, sounded lost. Confused. Reluctant. And yet he seemed aware of the loop, as if he was a looper like me. I dared to voice the question burning in my mind, feeling stupid for it as he was the literal monster who had killed so many adventurers during the thousand years he had haunted this place. ¡°Are you¡­not the vessel of Erebus?¡± Gaelith tilted his head slightly, his face still hidden, as though the name confused him. ¡°Is that the name he goes by?¡± he asked. ¡°The Axul simply referred to him as The Destroyer.¡± ¡°The ancient god?¡± I asked, recalling the little I knew of the Axul¡¯s beliefs. ¡°Yes.¡± Gaelith said simply. ¡°As for your question ¨C I am not. The only reason I am still here is to slow him down.¡± My mind reeled. ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± ¡°There is another.¡± Gaelith said, his voice becoming a strange mixture of regret and hatred. ¡°A different version of me.¡± ¡°A¡­different you?¡± I echoed, trying to grasp his meaning. ¡°Yes.¡± He said solemnly. ¡°Born of my darkest hatred and lowest emotions, given form by the one you call Erebus. It resides deep within the tomb, in the lowest level. It hunts anyone who steps inside the tomb. With every life it takes, it grows stronger. It cannot be killed ¨C trust me, I tried. At some point, I believe it¡¯ll grow strong enough to leave this place and destroy the outside world.¡± His voice suddenly darkened. ¡°And so I stop it the only way I can ¨C by killing anyone who enters before it does.¡± My thoughts raced. I had no reason to believe him, but if he wanted me dead, he could¡¯ve already killed me. He spoke of something far more terrifying ¨C a fragment of himself, twisted into an immortal force that grows stronger with each kill. And yet, the question remained: who was this person in front of me? ¡°Gaelith of Tepan was a legendary knight, wrongly convicted and executed a thousand years ago.¡± I told him. ¡°If you¡¯re not Erebus'' vessel, then how are you still here after all this time? You¡¯re clearly not a wraith, and you¡¯re far too¡­talkative to be undead.¡± ¡°Quite the observation, adventurer.¡± He remarked. ¡°Yet I don¡¯t owe you any explanation.¡± Anger flared within me, but I forced myself to stay calm. ¡°Why kill, then? Why not just help people escape? Or block the entrance entirely to prevent anyone from coming in?¡± ¡°Was the tomb not sealed for hundreds of years before you entered today?¡± he mused, brushing the dust of his dark robe to make his point clear. ¡°It was hundreds of years, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t answer the question.¡± ¡°Is there anything people can¡¯t do with magic these days?¡± he asked rhetorically, not waiting for a response. ¡°No matter what locks are placed, no matter the complexity of magic, someone eventually comes along who can break them.¡± ¡°Then help people escape! No one need to die here ¨C neither by your hand nor by...your other self!¡± ¡°If it were possible, I would have done so long ago.¡± He said quietly, sounding sorrowful. ¡°But it isn¡¯t. No one who enters this tomb may leave. That is the sad truth, and I am unable to change this fact.¡± I sighed, my frustration growing. ¡°What now?¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I¡¯m thinking. Eventually, I''d have to kill you all before he can, but for now...¡± He said thoughtfully. ¡°You are different as well.¡± ¡°Different?¡± ¡°Different.¡± He nodded. ¡°You killed Karl before, and yet you remember even now. You understand what I¡¯m talking about, don¡¯t you?¡± I hesitated, but eventually answered. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Gaelith said. ¡°Please, tell me more. Tell me what you know.¡± I wondered if I should tell him what I know. This could be a trap of some sort, but then, why would he even ask that to set a trap? Why kind of trap was this even? If he was on Erebus'' side, then he''d already know everything about the time loop and the war. Why would he even ask? On the other hand, Chronos already warned me of speaking about my mission to anyone. The one time I didn''t abide by that rule, Yana got killed - one of the only memries I still carried from my previous lives. "I can''t tell you." I replied. "I''m bound by an oath." ¡°I see¡­¡± Gaelith murmured thoughtfully. ¡°So this Chronos, a God of Time you say...he battles The Destroyer every thousand years?¡± Wait, what? "Forgive me. It was dishonorable by me." Gaelith said, sounding apologetical. "But I had to learn the truth, and your mind was...too loud." He could read minds? Surely, that doesn''t count as me breaking Chronos'' rule, right? ¡°That¡¯s what he told me.¡± I replied, seeing as there was no point in hiding it anymore. ¡°But this can¡¯t be.¡± Gaelith said. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why did he show his presence here a thousand years ago already?¡± The question caught me off guard. He wasn¡¯t just eavesdropping on my thoughts; he was dissecting them. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You claim that every thousand years, The Destroyer attacks a different world.¡± Gaelith said, voicing my thoughts. ¡°That would mean a thousand years ago, he should have been far away, locked in a battle with this God of Time of yours. And yet, he was already here. I know it as fact.¡± His words shook me as I understood what he meant. How could I have missed that? The memory fragment of the High Priestess of Axul showed her conversing with Erebus ¨C supposedly more than a thousand years ago - when the Axul still existed. But if Erebus was fighting Chronos in another world at that time, or was already defeated, how could he have already established a presence here back then? The realization was unnerving. This was something I¡¯d have to ask Chronos about the next time he calls me to his realm. It could be critical. ¡°You know it as fact?¡± I asked, curious about how Gaelith could be so certain. I knew why I was ¨C the Memory Fragment, but why was he? ¡°Yes.¡± He said simply, offering no elaboration despite my growing curiosity. ¡°Does he usually win?¡± Gaelith asked suddenly. ¡°This God of Time¡­will you both be able to end it once and for all?¡± I was so confused by him. Either way, this was a good question. Would I be able to stop Erebus? I hoped so. I had so much to fight for, but it wasn¡¯t that simple. I wasn¡¯t even close to ending this at the moment. Even when I found the Darknessbound Core, it was missing a third shard ¨C something Chronos had assured me had never happened before. ¡°I hope so¡­¡± I replied, uncertain. ¡°Hoping is good.¡± Gaelith said calmly. ¡°When humanity loses hope, that is when we truly perish.¡± He paused for a moment, his next words shocking me. ¡°Tell me what you need. I¡¯ll help.¡± Wait, what? I wasn¡¯t sure if I heard him correctly. He wanted to help me? I wasn¡¯t even sure yet that I believed him not being Erebus¡¯ vessel. Gaelith seemed to sense my doubt. ¡°You have no reason to trust me, I know. A minute ago, you believed me to be his vessel. Maybe you still think this way. I assure you I''m not. And that we seem to share a common purpose. This blight must be destroyed once and for all, and I¡¯m willing to pledge myself to that cause.¡± As I contemplated the truth of his words, I decided to test his intentions. ¡°Where are my comrades?¡± I demanded. ¡°If you truly want to help, prove it. Release them.¡± ¡°Release them?¡± Gaelith repeated, sounding confused. ¡°What comrades are you talking about?¡± Here it is. Now he was showing his true face. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t play dumb.¡± I snapped. ¡°I entered this chamber with three other adventurers, and now I¡¯m alone. Where are they?¡± ¡°I assure you, I had nothing to do with the disappearance of your comrades.¡± Gaelith replied, his voice calm. ¡°You¡¯ve awoke me when you stepped inside. As for anyone who may have followed you, I sense no one.¡± ¡°But that¡­that can¡¯t be.¡± I replied, uncertain of what was going on. He has to be lying, doesn¡¯t he? Before I could press further, a piercing sound filled the chamber ¨C high-pitched, like something slicing through the air. ¡°What is that?¡± I muttered, gripping Silverfang tightly, preparing for a fight. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re here for me. Again.¡± Gaelith said with a tired tone, rising slowly to his feet. He gestured for me to move. ¡°Step aside. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± For him? And who are they? I hesitated but did as he ordered, stepping back cautiously, yet still ready to fight if the need arose. The sound grew louder and clearer with each moment, and soon the source of noise appeared: monstrous flying creatures resembling enormous wasps, their translucent wings buzzing, their eyes bright red. They had long, metallic stingers that seemed as sharp as blades. Void Wasps, level 75. The first wave shot their sword-sized stingers toward us. Gaelith moved with incredible speed, intercepting their projectiles mid-air with his radiating sword. With a flash of movement, he blinked toward the creatures, cutting through them with a single precise strike each. More of them swarmed in, reinforcements pouring through the chamber. Their number grew overwhelming, and I was ready to join the fight, but Gaelith stopped me. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± he called out to me, his voice booming around us. My body reacted on its own, following his command. I closed my eyes shut and braced for an explosion or some kind of devastating impact. But no sound came. The buzzing suddenly stopped, though. When I opened my eyes, the Void Wasps were all dead, their burned bodies filling the floor. Gaelith stood in the center of the chamber, pulling his sword from the ground where he had likely driven it when I closed my eyes. The blade burned brightly as he rested it on his shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re in the clear for now.¡± He said, his tone calm. ¡°You said they were here for you?¡± I asked as I approached him cautiously. Reading about what he was capable of in history books was different than witnessing it with my own eyes. It only deepened my wariness of him. ¡°Yes.¡± He replied. ¡°The Destroyer has never been fond of my presence here. I interfere with his plans too much.¡± He turned to me, and for a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of his pale face beneath the shadow of his hood. The moment was fleeting, but it was enough to unsettle me even further. "This predicament is worrying, however." He continued, sounding worried. "This whole time loop provides him more opportunities to grow stronger. Instead of killing the same people once, he does it repeatedly." I was about to refute his word, to tell him that every time I die, the loop resets completely, but then it hit me - Chronos'' lecture. Chronos said that Erebus, similar to him, was out of time - not affected by the time loop. He might very well be growing stronger the same as I was. "I''ve likely killed the other adventurers that joined you many times already. I''d probably killed you as well...I just can''t remember it vividly..." he added, sounding like he was blaming himself. But he was probably right. I couldn''t know for sure, but I felt like he did kill me already. Maybe it was Deja vu reminding me... ¡°We¡¯ll find your comrades.¡± Gaelith suddenly said, his voice resolute. ¡°I¡¯ll help. Will you trust me after that?¡± I hesitated, still unsure what to make of it all. It all just sounded so bizarre. But so was everything else here. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± I admitted. ¡°But that would be a start.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Gaelith said simply, turning toward the entrance I had come through earlier. ¡°Follow.¡± The sealed entrance was now open, likely reopened to allow the Void Wasps to enter. We stepped into the puzzle chamber where we had aligned the levers to reveal Gaelith¡¯s hideout, and my heart sank. Lying on the stone floor were the bodies of Lena, Dina, and Kelltins, their lifeless figures marred by deep, jagged wounds. Each cut looked as though it had been inflicted by a massive blade, their blood pooling around them. ¡°Is it them?¡± Gaelith asked, his tone somber. I nodded grimly, stepping toward them. But before I could get any closer, Gaelith raised a hand to stop me. ¡°Stay put.¡± He warned. ¡°I sense something here.¡± His words sent my mind racing. Not taking any chances, I immediately activated Checkpoint. [Checkpoint Set: Your progress has been saved at this point in time] [Checkpoint lvl. 2: Time left until Anchor expires ¨C 59:59] With the safety net in place, I carefully stepped toward Lena¡¯s body, the most battered of the three. I knelt beside her, my heart pounding. But the moment I touched her, an explosion erupted, ripping me to shreds. The pain instantaneous and absolute. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] [Checkpoint Level 2 activated: You will now reawaken at the anchor point] Chapter 36: My Adventures with Gaelith Chapter 36: My Adventures with Gaelith As I reawakened with Checkpoint, my hands immediately flew to my face. I could still feel it ¨C the searing pain, the skin ripping apart. The memory of the explosion was so vivid it brought me to my knees, my mind convincing me the pain was still present. But it wasn¡¯t, and I forced myself to remember that. Taking deep, steadying breaths to bring myself back to my senses. ¡°What happened?¡± Gaelith asked, sounding confused yet keeping his distance. I shook my head, pushing the phantom pain aside and regaining my composure. ¡°The bodies¡­they¡¯re mined.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He replied, his radiating sword glowing brighter as he raised it above his head. ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡± I averted my gaze, staring at the walls. Bright illumination filled the room, followed by eerie, high-pitched groans. When it was safe, I turned to the source of the sound and saw them. Small grotesque creatures. They resembled small goblins, but their skin was slightly different than the norm. It was streaked with red-glowing, pulsating veins that ran up their disgusting bodies. Their eyes burned with the same ominous red. Boomspite Lichlings, level 60. The creatures moaned and cried, clawing their eyes, blinded by the luminosity Gaelith¡¯s blade had created. When I stood up and prepared to strike, their cries ceased, and they became alert. They skittered back toward the walls, disappearing into thin air. I brought my hands together and shot a Wind Arrow toward the last place I¡¯ve seen one of them, but it just hit the wall, sending up a cloud of dust and debris. ¡°Where are they?¡± I asked nervously. The vivid memory of my face exploding still haunted my mind and I wanted revenge. ¡°Gone. For now.¡± Gaelith replied, lowering his sword. ¡°What? Gone?¡± I repeated, in disbelief. ¡°Yes.¡± He said, nodding. ¡°They¡¯re a tricky bunch. They hide beneath a veil of invisibility, attacking when you least expect it. They know I never check the bodies, so it¡¯s been a long time since they tried something like this. You, on the other hand¡­an easier target.¡± he paused, his tone becoming thoughtful. ¡°I assume you knew the bodies were mined thanks to this God of Time of yours?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded. Gaelith exhaled heavily. ¡°I see. Well, I didn¡¯t expect to find your friends this soon, and¡­dead. I had hoped to gain your trust. What else can I do?¡± The answer came to me instantly - a perfect way to test his true intentions. But it was too risky to let him know I had it. ¡°What is this Darknessbound Core you just thought about?¡± he suddenly asked. ¡°Get out of my mind!¡± I snapped at him. ¡°Forgive me. I just want to help.¡± He sounded apologetical. ¡°Your oath forbids you from telling me, right? So, I find this method highly effective in keeping us both satisfied.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the problem here.¡± I retorted. He nodded. ¡°I understand and will refrain from doing so in the future. This Core, though?¡± I was still angry at how easily he had entered my mind, but the cat was out of the bag. I just needed to be careful with my thoughts around him from this point on. I pulled out the two shards in my possession, showing him the small gap where the missing piece would complete Erebus¡¯ confinement. Then, seeing how Gaelith already learned what it was by reading my mind, I decided to explain further ¨C where I found it, its purpose, its ability to imprison Erebus for at least the next millennium when he would become someone else¡¯s problem ¨C a different world''s problem. Gaelith observed the shards in silence. ¡°So, Karl was guarding these...¡± I nodded. ¡°Yes. I found it in the room he protected.¡± Gaelith sighed heavily. ¡°That makes sense. The Destroyer knew I couldn¡¯t face Karl, so he hid something so vital there.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°I can find the missing piece.¡± I blinked in surprise. ¡°You can?¡± He nodded. ¡°May I?¡± Before I could answer, he drove his sword into the ground. Only now did I realize he carried no scabbard for it. Gaelith stepped forward, taking the shards from my hands with care. As he took them, I saw his hands, covered by his knightly gauntlets. He held one shard in each hand before muttering something in a language I recognized as ancient Tepanese, but his voice was barely audible, so I couldn¡¯t quite catch the words. Soon, the shards began to levitate, spinning slowly above his hands. After a second, the shards dropped back into his gauntlets. What did he even do? He wasn¡¯t known to possess any magic outside of the combat type. He extended them back to me. ¡°Follow.¡± He ordered simply, retrieving his sword and resting it against his shoulder as he began to walk, exiting the chamber and continuing inside the corridor. *** I wished we could¡¯ve done something for the bodies of Lena, Dina, and Kelltins, but with the magical mines embedded in them, it was impossible. I didn¡¯t possess the type of magic needed to safely disarm them.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Before leaving, I placed a marker from Temporal Trace on the puzzle wall, ensuring my future self would know this place was important. [Temporal Trace: A mark has been set] We progressed through three more floors, descending deeper and deeper into the tomb in search of the third shard. Along the way, I used another Lumindew ¨C Gaelith¡¯s radiating sword could only illuminate so much without turning you blind. I was running low on the night vision consumable, though. Only two were left for this run unless I found more. We fought more Void Scorpions, Void Spiders, and the occasional Void Wasps that joined the party. The fights proved to be easier than expected. I wish I could say it was thanks to me, but it was due to Gaelith¡¯s incredible strength. He allowed me to take most of the kills after I explained my need for XP, understanding without qualms. By the time we slew the last monster in the vicinity, I had gained 5,236 XP, enough to level up. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System: Level 23] [Loop Count: 37] [Experience Points (XP): 3,138 / 18,500] [Skill Point Available: Choose a skill to level up] A new quest appeared as well. [New Quest Available: To Bee or Not to Bee #1] [Slay 100 Void Wasps] [Current Status: 5 / 100] [Reward: 7,500 XP] Great. Another one. I allocated my skill point to Temporal Trace. [Skill Upgraded: Temporal Trace lvl.6] [Next Level: lvl.7: Time Plane becomes clearer to the naked eye. Number of maximal marks: 15] Next, I allocated the additional stat point to Intelligence, bringing it 20. [Intelligence ¨C 3rd Milestone Reached] [Intelligence Damage Scaling Increased by 15%] [Disenchantment Magic Available] Nice. Disenchantment magic is always useful. I wish I had it before we left the guys'' bodies, so I could¡¯ve tried to disarm those magical mines... The scaling was also great. The damage stats on the Core System worked in such a way that each adventurer had unique damage scaling based on their class and subclass. For example, as a Spellsword in the Arcane Duelist subclass, my damage scaled with both my Agility and Intelligence stats. With the scaling increased, my magic damage just became significantly stronger. I was curious to see exactly how much it had increased. That¡¯s why weapons and armor were important additions to one¡¯s kit. They enhanced your stats, which, in turn, boosted your damage outputs ¨C or defensive capabilities, in case you belonged to one of the more durable classes and were leveling up your Durability. The next milestone for Agility ¨C and its corresponding update in damage scaling ¨C would appear at 30 points. I was still five points off, but that should probably be my next goal. As we walked through the corridor of the tenth level, I glanced at Gaelith. A riddle he was. ¡°How did you do that? With the shards, I mean.¡± I asked, breaking the silence. ¡°Scratch that ¨C what was that? What kind of magic did you use?¡± ¡°You better off not knowing.¡± He replied flatly, moving forward. ¡°But I do want to know.¡± I pressed. He stopped in his tracks, replying coldly. ¡°Some secrets I will take with me to the grave. This is one of them. I ask you to respect that.¡± I sighed, letting the matter drop. For now, his promise to lead me to the third shard was enough. I just hoped it wasn¡¯t a trap. ¡°What can you tell me about this place?¡± I asked, trying a different angle. ¡°Seeing how you claim you¡¯ve been here for the past thousand years, slowing Erebus¡¯ progress, you must have learned a lot.¡± Gaelith replied fairly quickly. ¡°First thing to know ¨C it isn¡¯t a tomb. Not in the traditional sense.¡± I blinked. ¡°What? Of course it is. There were plenty of loculi on the first level.¡± I pointed around us. ¡°And here as well.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah?¡± Gaelith asked, his tone almost mocking. ¡°How much attention did you pay to them? Did you try reading the names on their plaques?¡± ¡°Well, I¡­¡± I trailed off, trying to recall. We were a bit occupied fighting off the undead and what not to notice much about the plaques. Perhaps previous me had more time to investigate this, but I had no recollection of that. ¡°Here.¡± Gaelith said, motioning toward a side chamber. He stepped inside confidently. Still wary of his intentions, I activated Distance Gauge to scan the area. It turned out to be clean, but the gauge detected movement behind us. ¡°There¡¯s someone behind us.¡± I muttered. ¡°I know. It¡¯s the lichlings. Ignore them for now.¡± Gaelith replied, pointing his radiating sword toward a loculus, illuminating a plaque. ¡°Read this.¡± I looked at it as I approached his side, seeing clear letters, not sure what his point was. When I was about to tell him that, I suddenly realized what he meant. The words on the plaque weren¡¯t there anymore. Nothing was written on it. ¡°Illusion magic?¡± I asked, puzzled. ¡°Yes. The Axul kind.¡± Gaelith replied. ¡°It¡¯s a simple illusion. From a distance, the plaques appear normal. But when you focus on them ¨C provided you''re skilled enough in magic ¨C you see through it. The Axul¡¯s illusion magic was unmatched in my time. That¡¯s why they remained hidden for as long as they did.¡± ¡°I always thought the Axul were secluded by choice.¡± I said, still staring at blank plaque. ¡°Are you saying they were hiding?¡± ¡°In a way.¡± Gaelith replied thoughtfully. ¡°People were always curious about them, and the Axul weren¡¯t exactly a trustworthy bunch either. But that¡¯s a different story.¡± ¡°Different? How?¡° ¡°Yes.¡° He nodded. ¡°You see, the Axuls were the first humans to wield magic. The System appeared much later, granting magic to all of humanity under mysterious circumstances. But the Axul predates it. Their magic was¡­different. Non-System reliant. That made for a tense era to live in.¡° The Axuls were the first to wield magic? But how come no one teaches us that? The history books tend to brush over the Axul fairly quickly. Yet, why would Gaelith lie about this? ¡°So, what could they do?¡° I asked curiously. ¡°With their non-System reliant magic?¡± ¡°Many things, and that¡¯s all I can say.¡± he replied flatly. I decided to shift the subject, but still stay on the loculi. ¡°So, are they all empty, then?¡° ¡°No.¡± Gaelith replied. ¡°Each and every one of them used to hold a person. But not anymore.¡± His vague, contradictory answer left me puzzled, but he refused to elaborate further, walking away. Though, as he stepped away, something else caught my eye. One of the plaques was shining with a purple hue. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I muttered instinctively, making Gaelith stop in his tracks. "What?" he asked, but I ignored him for the moment. I stepped toward the plaque, and the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System reacted. [Temporal Trace: Vestige of Time #1 - Available] What¡¯s that? Is it similar to the memory fragments I had already collected in the previous loops? I reached out and touched the plaque, entering another memory - one about a child possessing great magic and a promise for the future. Chapter 37: A Promise for the Future Chapter 37: A Promise for the Future [Vestige of Time #1] ¡°Watch here, Noctyra.¡± A middle-aged man said, pointing to a plaque beside a loculus in a dark chamber. In one hand, he held a glowing orb of light, and in his other, the hand of a small child ¨C likely no older than five ¨C whose bald head and neutral attire made it difficult to determine their gender. Despite their young age, the child stood silently, their focus absolute. The man continued. ¡°This is your ancestor of old.¡± He gestured to the plaque with reverence. ¡°Jutta the Wise. He was an admirable man. One of the main reasons our people thrived and prospered. When I was your age, your grandfather brought me here to introduce me to him, and now it is your turn to greet him.¡± This child nodded and bowed respectfully. ¡°Hello, Ancestor Jutta. My name is Noctyra.¡± ¡°Good, my little star.¡± The man said warmly, lifting the child into his arms and hugging them playfully. ¡°There''s only me and you left now, but remember, we cannot turn away from who we are. Our ancestors live through us.¡± Noctyra nodded again, their voice unusually thoughtful for someone so young. ¡°I know, Papa. You¡¯ve told me that before.¡± ¡°And you listened, I see.¡± The man replied, his smile softening as he kissed the child on the cheek. The child¡¯s face lit up with joy, returning his smile with a happy one of their own. ¡°Of course I did.¡± Noctyra replied confidently. ¡°Our people were the pillars of humanity. They should be respected.¡± ¡°My, my,¡± the man said, his smile growing warmer. ¡°My child is a genius ¨C and with all the proper manners to boot. If only the rest of the world had seen it that way as well.¡± ¡°The rest are stupid.¡± Noctyra said, showing her tongue, and the man laughed. ¡°You are the pride of our people.¡± He said. ¡°And a little joker.¡± The child smiled warmly. ¡°Mama told me we need to respect our past.¡± The man nodded, his expression channeling warmth. ¡°Your mother is a wise woman. She¡¯s not one of us, but she¡¯s far better than the rest. At least she respects our place in humanity¡¯s history.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m only half you¡­¡± the child said, thoughtful and worried. ¡°There are no halves.¡± The man said firmly, shaking his head but still smiling. ¡°If even a single drop of Axul blood runs in your veins, then you are Axul. There¡¯s no question about that. And today, we¡¯ll prove it to Ancestor Jutta and the rest of our people.¡± ¡°How will we do that?¡± the child asked curiously. ¡°It should be simple for someone as talented as you, my little star.¡± The man said, his expression turning serious. ¡°This place will challenge you, and if you stand firm, you will be rewarded.¡± ¡°How will I be challenged?¡± Noctyra pressed, their curiosity growing. ¡°This, I cannot say, my love.¡± The man replied, shaking his head. But his smile remained. ¡°Just remember the prophecies, my little star. Remember what your name means. You are the chosen. The pinnacle of the Axul. The one who will make our ancestors¡¯ dream come true. Our promise for the future. Any challenge you face here is nothing compared to what you can do. Remember that when you fight. Remember that when you move forward. You can do it all. You are Axul.¡± Before the child could respond, the man placed his hand gently over their face, whispering an incantation that sent them into a deep, peaceful sleep. Lowering the child to the ground, tears streamed down his face. He planted one last kiss on their forehead, his voice trembling as he whispered. ¡°I know you can do it.¡± Then, without a word, he turned and left. The child lay alone in the dark chamber, undisturbed, until they woke up. Waking up wasn¡¯t smooth. Noctyra stirred, their sense sluggish, struggling to understand where their father disappeared to. The disorientation didn¡¯t last long ¨C before they could fully comprehend their surroundings, a massive scorpion had made its way to them, its metallic tail ready for a strike. Noctyra instinctively stumbled backward, creating some distance, but the monster lashed out. They rolled to the side just in time, the scorpion¡¯s stinger slamming into the wall, leaving a deep crack where they had been moment ago. Despite the danger, Noctyra¡¯s heart remained steady. They knew it was part of the challenge their father had spoken about since the day they were born. Raising their left hand, an idea coming to them, they focused intently, calling out their magic. The scorpion struck again, but this time, its tail froze mid-air, as if an invisible force held it in place, protecting Noctyra. Beads of sweat formed on Noctyra¡¯s brow as they visibly struggled to maintain their hold. Then, with a sweeping motion of their hand, they sent the scorpion flying against the chamber wall. Noctyra exhaled in relief, watching the creature crash against the wall. But the reprieve was short-lived ¨C the scorpion rose again, shaking off the damage and preparing for another attack. Closing their eyes for a brief moment, Noctyra took a deep breath, recalling their father¡¯s teachings. They centered themselves, connecting to the magical circles within ¨C the unique power that existed only in the Axul. Raising both hands, they focused their will. The scorpion not only halted its advance, but its body also trembled as its eyes glowed red. Slowly, it lowered its tail and bowed to Noctyra. ¡°Good job, little friend.¡± Noctyra said, a small smile forming as they approached the subdued monster. Climbing on its back, they patted the hardened carapace. ¡°Now, lead me out of here.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The scorpion obeyed without hesitation, carrying the child on its back out of the chamber and into the corridor outside. ¡°Papa?¡± Noctyra called out into the empty halls, but there was no response. They knew they had to keep moving. On the way down with their father, they had counted ten floors to descent. Now, they just needed to climb them back up. Noctyra¡¯s heart remained resolute ¨C this was all just part of the challenge their father prepared them for. On their way up, riding atop the scorpion, Noctyra encountered countless threats ¨C spider monsters, wasp monsters, wraiths, wolves, and the undead. Yet none of these creatures worried them. With a simple flick of their hand, the monsters lost their free will, bowing to Noctyra¡¯s command. One by one, they joined the growing procession, following the child and their loyal pet scorpion. Some even turned against their own kind to protect the Axul heir. Noctyra saw them not as threats but as friends, their young heart swelling with pride and joy at the odd yet loyal companions they had amassed. By the time they reached the first level of the tomb, their following had grown into a fearsome army of creatures - enough to raid entire villages, all moving in unison to safeguard the young Axul. Emerging from the depths, Noctyra saw their father pacing back and forth nervously, his steps finally faltering when he caught sight of his child riding the scorpion and followed by the monstrous horde. ¡°Look, Papa!¡± Noctyra called out, their voice echoing in excitement. ¡°I made friends!¡± The man froze, his expression shifting into one of awe. Tears streamed down his face as he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by what he was seeing. ¡°My little star!¡± he cried, choking with emotion. ¡°You are Axul, through and through. Our ancestors must be proud at such feat!¡± Noctyra hopped off the scorpions¡¯ back and rushed toward their father, throwing their arms around him in a warm embrace. ¡°Papa, I called this one Stinger.¡± They said proudly, pointing at the scorpion that had carried them all the way. ¡°Oh, my sweet little child.¡± The father whispered, wiping his tears of joy and relief. ¡°I knew you would make it. I knew you were the one to carry the Axul¡¯s hopes into this world. The one to bring the world into darkness. You are the Axul!¡± Then, to Noctyra¡¯s surprise, the man bowed before them, lowering himself entirely to the ground. ¡°Papa?¡± Noctyra¡¯s voice sounded confused. [Vestige of Time #1 ¨C END] *** [Item Acquired: Vestige of Time #1 ¨C Added to Inventory #2] What was that? No update for the quest popped up, so this wasn¡¯t part of the ¡®Memories of the Past¡¯ quest. Either way, the memory was unsettling. The man mentioned that they were the last Axul, meaning it must''ve happened after the Axul had vanished. Yet, he addressed this specific loculus as...Jutta? But I thought no one was buried here. At least according to Gaelith. I glanced toward the wall and there it was - the crack the scorpion had left when it attacked the child. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Gaelith asked suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. ¡°You just froze there for a second.¡± ¡°Noctyra¡­¡± I murmured, the name lingering on my tongue. Gaelith visibly stiffened, the reaction subtle but not something I could miss. I turned to him. ¡°Does that ring a bell?¡± He shook his head, though his posture betrayed him. ¡°It doesn''t." ¡°Really?¡± I asked, my frustration growing. ¡°You just got uncomfortable now, and I saw it. You clearly know something. With all your knowledge of the Axul, you must know something about this name.¡± Gaelith sighed heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± he said flatly. ¡°I only know what it means in the Axul¡¯s ancient tongue.¡± ¡°And what is that?¡± ¡°Dark hope.¡± A shiver ran down my spine. Whatever his words truly meant, they unsettled me. "They controlled the monsters..." I muttered under my breath, at awe by the fact that a five-year-old child had managed to control an entire army of monsters. I immediately glanced at Gaelith. Strangely enough, something about him made D¨¦j¨¤ vu tick off suddenly, but I couldn''t put my finger on what it was. ¡°The thing you¡¯re looking for is there.¡± Gaelith gestured for me to follow, clearly eager to drop the subject. I trailed behind him, my mind racing with questions I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready to hear answered. We walked in silence, moving to the end of the corridor. Just before the stairs leading down, we came upon an entrance to another chamber. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Gaelith said confidently, pointing inside. ¡°The missing shard is here.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going in first.¡± I said firmly. ¡°After you.¡± He nodded without complaint and stepped in ahead of me. Before I followed, I wondered if we¡¯d find Goren there. Was this all a trap he created after stealing the third shard? The collapsing and rebuilding floors earlier seemed far too convenient to be a coincidence. Who was this Noctyra? How were they connected to the mystery of this tomb? I ran a quick check before following Gaelith. [There is no afterimage to run in this area] Again, no afterimages, confirming it was my first time on this level as well. Well, if it¡¯s Goren, I¡¯ll have to face him. Despite the clear power difference I could recall we had. I stepped inside. Gaelith stood motionless, looking forward. Following his line of sight, I froze. In the center of the chamber hung a chained man. Each of his limbs was restrained by long chains, glowing with a green hue. Two chains anchored him to the floor, while two others pulled him to the ceiling, suspending him in mid-air. Something else was connected to him as well ¨C a black conduit, piercing his gut. The other end of the conduit led to a large glass vessel, slowly filling it with a dark liquid, drop by drop. At first, I thought it was blood, but it was far too dark ¨C like liquid shadows. As I focused on the man, the D¨¦j¨¤ vu System reacted. Temporal Trace¡¯s upgraded level identified him: Goren Shein, level 113. ¡°Goren?¡° The man suddenly lifted his head, his face battered and bleeding. When his eyes met mine, he smiled ¨C a smug that didn''t fit his current predicament. ¡°Oh, Spellsword, my hero.¡± He said mockingly. ¡°I wondered if you¡¯d come to save me.¡± ¡°You know him?¡± Gaelith asked, his tone neutral. I nodded. ¡°Sort of.¡± ¡°Wait, Gaelith?¡± Goren¡¯s eyes flickered to the figure beside me, his surprise apparent. ¡°But you¡¯re¡­you¡¯re nothing like the one from the depths¡­¡± His words confirmed Gaelith¡¯s earlier claims of another version of himself. Or was this a part of a more elaborate trap? ¡°What happened to you?¡± I asked, confused. ¡°What does it look like?¡± he snapped, sounding both pained and frustrated. ¡°I got caught! Now release me.¡± ¡°But you were missing at the start of the day.¡± I countered, stepping carefully toward the glowing chains, still unsure how I felt about all this. ¡°Way before they unsealed the tomb and we entered.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I was caught before that.¡± He retorted, sighing heavily. The slight movement made the conduit in his gut hurt him even more. ¡°Now, can you at least get that shitty thing out of me? For fuck¡¯s sake!¡± ¡°Before?¡± ¡°Yes, before!¡± Goren snapped again, wincing hard. ¡°In the previous loop.¡± ¡°But¡­it should reset.¡± I muttered, suspicion growing. ¡°I don¡¯t know how he did it.¡± Goren said, his voice more urgent now. ¡°But somehow, I didn¡¯t respawn back at home like usual. I respawned here. Like this. Now, please, for the love of God, get me down!¡± ¡°He?¡± I pressed, but before I could get an answer, a sharp whistle cut through the air. My instincts hit, the result of all of those points spent in Agility, and activating Wind Rush I dodged a projectile flying toward me. I turned toward the attacker, who slowly reappeared from thin-air as if shedding camouflage. My eyes widened in surprise as I saw him. ¡°You just refuse to die, huh?¡± said Aric Kelltins, an annoyed grin spreading across his face. Chapter 38: The Last of the Axul Chapter 38: The Last of the Axul ¡°Kelltins¡­?¡± I muttered in disbelief. ¡°But you were¡­¡± ¡°Dead?¡± he mused, grinning. ¡°Was I? Was it even my body you saw? Or was it perhaps Waylan¡¯s, with a small touch of my magic?¡± ¡°You see, Spellsword,¡± Goren called weakly from behind me, his voice still pained. ¡°Kelltins over there got so tired of dying to the Void Spiders every fucking run, sucking off his Lady Mikaela, that he suddenly grew a pair and became aware of the time loop. Because why not, right?¡± Dying to the Void Spiders? None of this rang a bell to me. Kelltins'' expression turned to disgust as he shot a glare at Goren. ¡°You continue to show your ignorance, Rogue. Stay quiet while the grownups talk.¡± He flicked his wrist and suddenly a binding appeared around Goren¡¯s mouth, silencing him. Then, he turned back to me. ¡°All you had to do was die, Aidan. Why was that so hard for you?¡± he shook his head violently, frustration stretched on his face. ¡°Hand me the Core willingly. You will still die, but at least I¡¯ll spare you the suffering.¡± He knew about the Darknessbound Core. But who was he, really? ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± I muttered, the pieces not fitting inside my mind. ¡°You¡¯re a looper as well?¡± Kelltins chuckled, shaking his head, his voice filled with contempt. ¡°No. Profane of you to even suggest I would serve your lowly God of Time. I serve only one lord, The true one: The Destroyer ¨C Lord Erebus.¡± A chill ran down my spine, colder than anything I had ever felt before in my life. He knew about Chronos. But more than that, he was a human ¨C a living, breathing person ¨C serving the very embodiment of Darkness, the entity intent on devouring our world. It defied all logic, all instinct. Why would anyone alive side with Erebus? Considering the High Priestess of Axul conversed with the prisoned Erebus in the memory I had seen, its all seemed like a common theme for the Axul, apparently. ¡°Are you even listening to yourself?¡± I shot back, my voice rising. ¡°Erebus is set to devour our world, and you worship him? Are you out of your damn mind?¡± Kelltins'' grin widened. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand. None of you can.¡± Suddenly, the distant memory I had seen moments ago flashed vividly in my mind again ¨C The Axul child riding the scorpion to escape this god-forsaken tomb. ¡°You¡¯re Noctyra?¡± I asked, unsure, yet somehow expecting a positive answer. His eyes widened in surprise, but his expression quickly twisted into one of disgust. ¡°How the hell do you know my real name?¡± It was him. The child was him. And suddenly everything made sense ¨C he controlled the wraiths that attacked us, and then the scorpions. He was never injured ¨C he faked it. He wanted to kill us. And he did¡­ ¡°You killed Lena and Dina¡­¡± I whispered, the realization hitting. ¡°And Waylan, and Jax, and Henry!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject, you fool!¡± Kelltins snapped, his voice filled with rage. ¡°Answer the question. How do you know my Axul name?¡± Before I could respond, he raised his hand, and an invisible force seized me, suffocating me with crushing pressure. I clawed at my throat, gasping for air as the unseen grip tightened. [Condition Applied: Suffocation by ¡°Axul Might¡± used by Aric Kelltins] Gaelith acted immediately. He lunged forward, swinging his radiant sword through the air. A colossal ghostly arm materialized where it had been attached to my chest, writhing as it tried to maintain its hold. The radiant blade struck, shattering the arm into glowing fragments, releasing me from the pain. [Condition Applied: No Longer Suffocated] I collapsed to my knees, choking and gasping for air, but things were clearer now. ¡°You are Axul¡­¡± Gaelith whispered, his voice low yet heavy. Kelltins grinned, his arms rising to his sides. ¡°I¡¯m not just any Axul, fool.¡± His voice rising with fervor. ¡°I represent something far greater. I am the will of a people long gone. I am their hope. Their promise. Their future ¨C and their present. I am the last of them. I am Noctyra. I AM Axul.¡± A chill ran down my spine. The Axul still existed, and Kelltins, of all people, was the last of them¡­ I recalled the words his father had spoken to him in the memory, how he had prepared him for something greater - for this - from a very young age, despite the naivety he had shown by befriending monsters. Deep inside I wanted to believe Aric Kelltins was a real person and not just a facade, so I tried talking to him. "I can''t pretend to understand what you went through." I said, trying to reason with him. "But you always have your own choice. You don''t need to follow the life others had dictated for you." He smirked, shaking his head. "Choice is an illusion. A luxury neither a mere mortal like you nor an Axul like me possesses. The only once who have it are the Gods." Goren shifted in his restraints as if trying to speak, which made Noctyra smile. "See? The Rogue gets it." he said, before his expression turned serious. "Do you even know what''s it like to be the last of your people? Can you even fathom the responsibility I bear for my people? After my father died, there was no one left but me. But they all died so I could complete our bloodline''s ultimate goal - the complete awakening of Lord Erebus. And so I will."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°You were brainwashed from a young age.¡± Gaelith said, his voice steady. ¡°Step aside. It is not too late for you.¡± Noctyra chuckled darkly, a mocking sound. ¡°Oh, look who¡¯s talking ¨C the oh-so-great knight who refused my Lord for so long. Don¡¯t worry, dear Gaelith. I¡¯ve got you both right where I wanted you.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked as I rose to my feet, the pain subsiding. This was a trap ¨C but not one set by Goren or Gaelith. It was set by one of humanity¡¯s strongest, most promising adventurers. ¡°I wanted two things,¡± Noctyra began, his tone smug as he clarified his motives. ¡°First: to find the damn looper that was a thorn in my Lord¡¯s side.¡± From his pocket, he pulled out a tiny, nail-sized piece of a gray stone ¨C the third shard needed to complete the Core. ¡°It was you¡­¡± I muttered, still unsure of how he did it if he wasn¡¯t a looper. He laughed. ¡°I came here today to unleash my Lord upon this world. To fulfill my destiny. To fulfill the Axul¡¯s prophecies. But your meddling God of Time just had to intervene ¨C just like the prophecies foretold.¡± He paused for a moment, the mention of Chronos making him visibly angrier. ¡°Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t able to sense the time loop. But as I relived this day again and again, slaying the same monsters again and again, I slowly began to see its shape. Then, I was finally able to sense it entirely.¡± ¡°But how?¡± I repeated, still confused by it all. How could someone recognize a time loop without being chosen by Chronos, like I was ¨C or Dolos, like Goren? Was the Axul¡¯s magic that strong? Was it so strong to make them understand they were trapped in a time loop? ¡°Simple.¡± Noctyra said, his gaze flicking to Goren who writhed in his chains, his mouth bound, his dark aura writhing wildly around him, his muffled curses likely directed at Noctyra. ¡°I never died to some Void Spiders. Pathetic of you to think that, Rogue.¡± Noctyra explained matter-of-factly. ¡°It was always a trick ¨C an illusion to let me leave and roam the tomb freely. With each beast I killed here, and consumed, I gained glimpses of my reality ¨C of the time loop. It was faint at first, like a shadow in the corner of my mind, but it grew stronger. Slowly, I became attuned to it, as expected of a true Axul, able to see it as my Lord can. It took 35 repeats of this day, but on the 36th, I finally achieved full awareness, and all the missing memories my past selves experienced.¡± He gestured to the large glass vessel under Goren, where the scary black liquid steadily filled the container. ¡°All thanks to this.¡± Noctyra said, his tone reverent. ¡°Something only the Axul can wield ¨C the Essence of Darkness.¡± The Essence of Darkness? What the hell even was that? My confusion must have been obvious, as Noctyra smirked and continued. ¡°Your fellow looper here was marked by my Lord.¡± He said, gesturing toward Goren. ¡°Similar to the monsters in this tomb, yet different. He carried, unbeknownst to him, the Essence of Darkness. That¡¯s why I¡­¡± Noctyra chuckled. ¡°Had to milk him for it.¡± Goren thrashed in his chains, his muffled curses growing louder, though they couldn¡¯t escape the binding covering his mouth. I was shocked by the revelation. Someone was strong enough to grasp the time loop after continuous repeats because of this¡­dark liquid? ¡°Why not just take the entire Core for yourself?¡± I asked, still extremely confused. ¡°Why only take a tiny piece?¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Noctyra scoffed, his mocking tone already getting on my nerves. ¡°Then how would I get rid of you? How would I get rid of the champions of my Lord¡¯s greatest enemy? It was a trap to draw you out. I needed the extra shard to find the one who would collect the other two ¨C the other looper ¨C you!¡± His smug expression deepened as he continued. ¡°The Rogue was easy to catch, an overconfident fool, but you? That¡¯s a whole different thing. Admittedly, I was surprised when you turned out to be the lowest-leveled adventurer here. But it makes sense. My Lord¡¯s archenemy couldn¡¯t be foolish or predictable, or else why would he be the archenemy? Choosing the weakest one around was the smartest choice, I assume.¡± My heart raced at his words. He knew way too much. So, so much. Every step was planned and calculated. He might¡¯ve not expected the time loop, but he got attuned to it. He managed to overcome it. I glanced at Gaelith, who remained silent beside me. Noctyra had referred to him as part of the plan, but what did he mean? What could he even do as an Axul? Gaelith seemed to know a lot about them, and he had said their magic was ¡®different¡¯. But how different? What did he even mean? ¡°Well, now you have me and the Darknessbound Core here.¡± I said, testing the waters. ¡°But how do you expect to deal with him?¡± I gestured toward Gaelith. The level 100 legendary knight, who surprisingly actually seemed to be on my side, despite everything I believed, was my best bet. ¡°That¡¯s the easy part.¡± Noctyra replied with a low chuckle, his cocky attitude on full display. ¡°You see, I needed him here. My Lord requires him to unleash his wrath upon this world. For reasons unknown to me, he is his true vessel. And I¡¯m going to deliver him on a silver platter.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± Gaelith said, his voice calm yet full of confidence. ¡°I have fought your Lord for the last thousand years, and I won¡¯t fall to him now.¡± He raised his radiant sword, preparing for a fight. ¡°Please, back down.¡± Noctyra¡¯s grin widened as he grabbed his war axe from his back, smashing its head into the ground with a thunderous roar. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been preparing for this day my entire life, foolish knight.¡± He said, his tone filled with eerie excitement. ¡°Trust me, I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡± I glanced at Gaelith, then back at Noctyra, surprised he was willing to take us both on. Gaelith alone should be more than enough to defeat him. With my help, it should be an easy win. ¡°How do you expect to fight us both on your own?¡± I asked, though I was nervous of the upcoming answer. It was like D¨¦j¨¤ vu was reminding me that nothing was easy in this tomb. ¡°Alone?¡± Kelltins ¨C Noctyra ¨C mused, his grin widening. ¡°Who said I was alone?¡± Then, he raised his hand, and the ground trembled beneath us. Something was coming. Something big. ¡°Get ready.¡± Gaelith whispered, and my grip around Silverfang tightened, expecting the worst. But nothing could have prepared me for what came next. The wall to our side suddenly collapsed with a deafening crash. I barely managed to escape the incoming rubble, using Dash Step to evade the falling stones. Dust filled the air, obscuring our vision. When the dust cloud settled, my heart raced at the sight of the enormous monster before us. A massive scorpion, nearly as tall as the ceiling, emerged. Its body was covered in metal plates that clinked with every movement. The System recognized it immediately: Stinger, level 85. Stinger¡­was this the same scorpion Noctyra had ridden to escape the tomb as a child? Could that not-so-small, loyal creature have grown into this towering abomination? Its eyes lacked the glowing red that followed all the monsters I had stumbled upon in this run. Could Stinger be acting of its own free will? How the hell did he grow up to become so large and a friend of a human? Noctyra rushed to the scorpion¡¯s side, climbing onto its armored back with practiced control. He rested a hand on the creature¡¯s plated head, his voice low and¡­respectful? ¡°My dear Stinger.¡± He said as he brought his head closer to it, touching it with his forehead. Then, the colossal scorpion let out a sharp, piercing screech ¨C a sound that sent shivers down my spine and echoed through the chamber. Its tail arched high, its massive stinger dripping with venom as it turned its attention to me and Gaelith. Noctyra climbed the beast and grinned from atop of it, his eyes blazing with delight. ¡°Now, prepare to fall to the heir of the pillars of humanity. The last of the Axul!¡± The system suddenly changed its recognition of Kelltins. Now it named him differently: Noctyra, the Last Axul, level 87. Then, he and his scorpion companion attacked in unison. Chapter 39: The Essence of Darkness Chapter 39: The Essence of Darkness Noctyra, riding atop his monstrous scorpion, Stinger, gazed down at me and Gaelith. His grin stretched wide as the pair attacked. Gaelith dodged effortlessly with a blink, while I tried to conserve my stamina and deemed a roll to be enough ¨C which it was. At least that¡¯s what I thought¡­ The ground trembled beneath Stinger¡¯s massive legs as they barreled past me. While I managed to dodge Noctyra¡¯s strike, before I could fully recover, the scorpion¡¯s tail lashed out. I had no choice but to block, raising Silverfang to intercept the strike. The impact shook me, forcing me to slide backward across the chamber floor, falling down to 91% HP. Noctyra and Stinger circled back, preparing for another attack. The last Axul¡¯s grin suddenly grew wider. As if on cue, Stinger¡¯s tail began to glow red. My instincts told me to retreat, but Gaelith stepped forward, ready to meet the attack head on. I hesitated, but eventually decided to stay by his side¡­that was also a mistake. The scorpion''s tail flew forward, striking rapidly. Gaelith dodged everything with a combination of blinks and quick sidesteps, while he seemed to search for an opening to attack. But I wasn¡¯t as fast ¨C or as skilled. The tail¡¯s barrage was overwhelming, and even when it missed, the impact shook the ground beside me violently, throwing off my footing. Then, a sudden strike came from an odd angle, and I had no choice but to block again. Silverfang absorbed the blow, but the sheer force of the attack rattled my arms, sending me sliding backward and further dipping my HP bar to 77%. Gaelith seemed to use me as bait or something. The moment I performed this block, he blinked to the side, slipping into the duo¡¯s blind spot. In one swift motion, he lunged toward Stinger¡¯s only unarmored area ¨C its eyes. The attack was almost perfectly timed. Almost. Noctyra seemed to expect something like that. He reacted instantly, leaping from Stinger¡¯s back with his war axe raised high. The weapon arced toward the approaching Gaelith, forcing him to abandon his strike and dodge before he could harm the scorpion. Noctyra¡¯s axe smashed into the ground where Gaelith had just stood, sending shards of stone flying. Gaelith reacted immediately, aiming a strike at Noctyra¡¯s exposed side, but Stinger intervened. The scorpion used its claws to shield its master before launching its tail at Gaelith. Seeing an opportunity, I activated Blade Rush, closing the distance between myself and Noctyra. I thrust Silverfang forward, aiming to impale him, but he reacted quickly. Pulling his war axe from the ground, he deflected my strike with ease. Then, he roared, creating a sound wave which hit me head-on, sending me flying backward and crashing against the ground, dropping my HP to 64%. My coordination with Gaelith was severely lacking, and out of the two of us, I was the one punished for it. Luckily, Gaelith seemed to notice this too. ¡°Follow my lead!¡± He called out. Without waiting for my reply, he charged directly at Noctyra and Stinger, taking the offensive. I followed, breaking into stride behind him, consuming two healing potions. [Item Consumed: Lesser Healing Potion x2] [Health: 100%] Only two remained. ¡°The glaive has a charging attack, is it not?¡± Gaelith said as we ran. He was likely referring to Silverfang¡¯s Unyielding Charge. It wasn¡¯t surprising that he knew about it ¨C this weapon had once belonged to his closest friend. I nodded. ¡°Then aim it at him and start charging.¡± He instructed. ¡°Like they¡¯d let me charge it.¡± I retorted, glancing at Noctyra and Stinger. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you enough time. Just ignore everything and keep going, no matter what happens.¡± I hesitated but decided to trust him. I skidded to a halt, lowering my stance and beginning to charge Unyielding Charge. ¡°Fools!¡± Noctyra shouted, his war axe suddenly transforming into a mage¡¯s staff. ¡°Witness real magic!¡± He can transform his weapon? But that won¡¯t change the damage scaling his class binds him to. Unless¡­unless he can shift between classes as well? He held the staff above his head, and a swirling, dark cloud materialized above us. Bolts of lightning crackled within the cloud, and sharp icicles began raining down alongside the thunderous strikes. If I died here, Noctyra wouldn¡¯t just gain the two shards of the Darknessbound Core ¨C I would also be marked, even if not in the same way as Erebus leaves his marks. He might just kill me over and over in subsequent loops, capitalizing on my amnesia, just like Goren did before that. I was about to run away, but I gritted my teeth and held firm, Gaelith¡¯s words ringing in my mind. I stayed focused on charging the ability, praying that the knight would come through. And he did. Gaelith stopped just in the middle between me and the deadly duo, driving his radiating blade into the ground just as the storm unleashed its fury on us. Before the lightning bolts and icicles could hit us, they dissipated into harmless mist. Even the storm cloud above dissolved into nothingness. Somehow, Gaelith cancelled the Axul¡¯s magic. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Noctyra stammered, he waved his staff, but it did nothing. His face bore the most confused expression I¡¯d ever seen, but I had no time to relish the moment. The charge was complete. With Silverfang in my hands, Unyielding Charge launched me forward like an arrow. Gaelith sidestepped smoothly as I hurtled past him and toward Noctyra, the glaive leading the way. Stinger stepped forward, its massive claws ready to defend its master. For a moment, my confidence wavered ¨C but I decided to keep trusting Gaelith. He had to have another trick up his sleeve. And rest assured, he did. Out of thin air to their right, Gaelith reappeared on Stinger¡¯s flank. His sword was still embedded in the ground where he had left it. Now, he clashed his gauntlets at each other. The impact ignited them with the same radiant energy as his sword. Then, he immediately charged Stinger, evading a strike of its tail before slamming his fist into the scorpion¡¯s side. The force of the attack sent the monster flying to the far end of the room, crashing against the wall.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Noctyra, shocked and unguarded, turned his gaze back to me ¨C but it was too late. Silverfang pierced his chest plate with incredible force. The armor blocked the strike at first, but then it shattered into fragments, and the impact hurled him backward, slamming him into the wall behind. The crash dropped debris and rubble on top of him, plummeting his HP bar further down to around a third. ¡°You¡­dirty¡­little¡­¡± Noctyra struggled to speak as he stood up, his voice strained as he coughed violently, blood escaping his mouth. ¡°How could you?¡± ¡°Stop this already.¡± Gaelith said, his voice turning somber, almost pleading. ¡°Don¡¯t. You. Dare.¡± Noctyra muttered, his voice full of pain. Seeing his resolve, I stepped forward, ready to deliver the decisive blows and end this ¨C at least for this loop. But before I could take another, a loud crash echoed behind us. The injured Stinger had risen again, its massive tail slammed against Gaelith¡¯s sword that was still embedded in the ground. The impact dislodged the weapon, sending it skidding across the chamber floor. When we turned back to Noctyra, he wasn¡¯t there. ¡°You of all people¡­¡± he whispered from the far side of the chamber, as he was struggling against a wall, using it to steady himself. Suddenly his gaze steadied with newfound resolve. "Unbelievable..." Then, he suddenly straightened his posture and raised his arms to his sides, and a sickly green glow surrounded them ¨C the same one from the chains that held Goren. His lips moved in a quiet incantation, something I couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Get ready.¡± Gaelith whispered, his tone resolute. I understood what he meant almost immediately. A sound emanated from outside the chamber ¨C an eerie combination of buzzing, clittering, and the groaning moans of the undead. The noise grew louder with each moment, until a wave of monsters poured into the room. Void Wasps, Void Spiders, Void Scorpions, Undead Wolves, and Undead Warriors and Archers. Their glowing red eyes fixed on us as they swarmed in, filling the chamber with an overwhelming horde. ¡°Can you cancel his magic again?¡± I asked Gaelith, my voice urgent. ¡°Not right now.¡± Gaelith replied. ¡°We just need to take him out. Cover me while I finish this.¡± The monsters charged all at once, a tide of claws, fangs, stingers, and venom. Listening to Gaelith, I met the first wave head-on. Gaelith moved immediately as well, picking up his radiant sword from the ground, cutting down clusters of monsters with a single strike. He moved insanely fast, dodging every attack that came his way, while leaving no enemy alive. I activated Wind Rush, the surge of air propelling me forward. A Void Scorpion lunged at me, but I sidestepped with Dash Step, driving the glaive into its head with an Explosive Strike, knocking back nearby monsters. [+318 XP] A swarm of Void Wasps descended, firing their stingers at me. I raised Wind Wall, deflecting their projectiles, and seized the chance to strike back. I swung Silverfang in a wide arc, unleashing Horizon. The wind attack tore through the swarm, sending their broken bodies crashing to the ground, allowing me to close the distance with Blade Rush and finish them off. [+494 XP] [+494 XP] [+494 XP] [+494 XP] [+494 XP] ¡°Behind you!¡± Gaelith¡¯s voice rang out. I spun just in time to block the strike of an Undead Warrior and an immediate follow up of an Undead Wolf lunging at me. I cut through the Undead effortlessly, and then used Blade Rush to slay the wolf. [+34 XP] [+318 XP] Despite our efforts, the monsters kept coming. I glanced at Goren, considering freeing him to boost our fighting chances. But he seemed too injured to be of actual help. Either way, the sheer number of enemies made it impossible to reach him with ease. Them and the injured Stinger, who returned to the fray, but couldn¡¯t move quite the same as before. Instead of attacking, it carried itself slowly around the chamber. I really wasn''t sure what it was doing. Meanwhile, Noctyra vanished, his form blending into the background with the same camouflage he¡¯d used before. Another scorpion charged at me, followed closely by an Undead Wolf. I managed to block the scorpion¡¯s stinger, hitting him away, but the wolf¡¯s teeth had sank into my shoulder, tearing through my flesh and taking out a third of my HP. Grunting, I knocked the wolf off with Silverfang and drove the blade into its head as it hit the ground. [+318 XP] Not too far away, Noctyra reappeared. Gaelith had found him, their blades meeting with a thunderous clash of metal. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, throwing nearby monsters off their feet. Noctyra tried to disappear again, but Gaelith seemed to be able to sense his movements, dragging him back from his hiding. ¡°Stop with this nonsense.¡± I wanted to help, to end this faster, but the swarm was already recovering. Raising Wind Wall again, I blocked the incoming projectiles and charged Blur Strike. When the skill was ready, I unleashed its explosive wrath, tearing through the monsters in my way. Some died instantly, while others fell to the ground, surviving on a sliver of HP. [+318 XP] [+318 XP] [+34 XP] [+34 XP] [+34 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+34 XP] [+494 XP] [+494 XP] [+494 XP] The opening I created allowed Gaelith to disarm Noctyra, knocking the shape-shifting weapon from his hands. With his radiant sword pressed against Noctyra¡¯s neck, Gaelith spoke with a commanding tone. ¡°Surrender. Call off the monsters. It¡¯s still not too late for you.¡± But Noctyra only chuckled. His hands flew forward, grabbing Gaelith¡¯s blade by the edge. The radiant light clearly wasn¡¯t just for show as it seared his hands, smoke rising from the point of contact. Noctyra winced in pain, but pushed through it as if it didn¡¯t matter. Gaelith reacted quickly, headbutting him, forcing him to release the blade. Then, without hesitation, Gaelith drove his sword into his gut. Noctyra groaned, blood pouring from his mouth as Gaelith pulled the blade free. Stumbling backward, Noctyra clutched his gaping wound. The monsters froze suddenly, their glowing red eyes fading. Without Noctyra¡¯s control, they seemed to regain their independence, their eyes not glowing anymore ¨C but their hostility remained. Gaelith stepped in front of me quickly, slamming his sword into the ground. A wall of radiant light erupted, holding the monsters at bay and protecting us. When we turned back to Noctyra, he was carried by the limping Stinger toward the glass vessel beneath the suspended Goren, who shifted in place, trying to catch our attention. ¡°It seems¡­there¡¯s no¡­other¡­way.¡± Noctyra rasped, his voice weak before turning to Stinger. ¡°Thank you, my friend.¡± Stinger dropped him into the dark liquid before we could stop them, submerging Noctyra entirely. The liquid began to bubble and churn, boiling violently. Then, arms ¨C dark and grotesque ¨C rose from the depths, one after another. Four of them in total. Dark smoke poured from the vessel, obscuring the center of the chamber. With a deafening explosion, the glass shattered, sending shard flying. As the smoke cleared, a figure emerged. But it wasn¡¯t Kelltins or Noctyra anymore, The being stood tall, its body dark like a shadow. Four arms, each wielding a blade made of a night sky, stretched outward. Dark Axul, level 111. ¡°I am one with Erebus now.¡± The creature muttered, its voice no longer resembling a human¡¯s. Chapter 40: Gaeliths Darkness Chapter 40: Gaelith''s Darkness Dark Axul let out a chilling screech, making the air itself tremble. Even the surrounding monsters froze in place. While I was greeted by an annoying System message that accompanied the chill that ran down my spine. [Condition Applied: Fear lvl.5 ¨C Max Fear level. Paralysis inflicted. Agility reduced by 100%.] Great. Just when I thought I was getting stronger¡­ Me legs refused to move. Even my hands were trembling, Silverfang feeling too heavy suddenly. Gaelith, however, stood firm. His sword glowed even brighter as if it was reacting to the creature¡¯s darkness, trying to illuminate it away. ¡°You¡¯re too far gone.¡± He told the creature, his voice steady. ¡°I must take you down now.¡± Dark Axul responded with an unsettling growl. A sound that was likely a mix of laughter and countless sharp knives scraping against the floor together. He raised two of his shadowy arms, and the air around him darkened as a vortex formed. Nearby monsters ¨C both dead and alive ¨C were drawn into the swirling mass. Their bodies twisted until they were consumed by the growing energy. Between his other pair of hands, a massive dark orb began to take shape. Gaelith moved immediately, charging forward with his sword. But before he could reach Dark Axul, a shadowy barrier materialized, rippling like liquid darkness and blocking his path. The knight smashed his sword against it, but the barrier held firm, refusing to break. I could only watch, still paralyzed, as the dark orb between the creature¡¯s hands continued growing. Then, once he deemed it large enough, he hurled it directly at us. ¡°Move!¡± I shouted to Gaelith. ¡°It¡¯s fine if I die ¨C I¡¯ll just reset.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish.¡± Gaelith responded, his voice calm but resolute. There was a strange hint of optimism in his tone that caught me off guard. ¡°I¡¯ve yet to prove my usefulness to you and your God of Time.¡± He raised his radiant blade high, and light poured from it, surrounding and enveloping us in a protective barrier. The dark orb collided with the radiant barrier, and the resulting explosion was unlike anything I¡¯d seen - or heard - before. Light and Darkness clashed, sending shockwaves tearing through the chamber. The ground itself cracked beneath us, and the deafening roar made my ears ring. My heart froze as the barrier began to fracture, cracks of darkness spreading across its surface. Gaelith strained, his body visibly trembling to hold it intact. Then, with a shattering sound, the barrier collapsed, and the orb continued its trajectory toward us. Gaelith jumped forward without hesitation, placing himself directly between me and the dark orb, and blocked it with his sword. The explosion engulfed him as he absorbed the impact, protecting me. ¡°What are you doing¡­¡± I barely managed to whisper, finally coming out of the Fear condition. [Condition applied: You are no longer Feared. Movement Speed restored. Agility restored] As the dust settled, Gaelith was still standing. His HP bar dropped to roughly 50%, but he remained strong. The dark robe that he was wearing all this time was gone, burned away by the explosion. Beneath it, clad in his legendary armor was a young man with short dark hair ¨C his youthful face seemingly untouched by the passage of time. It was the same face I had seen in the memory of him and Kaelstrife, from a thousand years ago. Somehow, Gaelith hadn¡¯t aged a day. He turned to me, his armor slightly fractured, giving me a reassuring nod. ¡°I promised to help you, didn¡¯t I?¡± I appreciated Gaelith¡¯s sacrifice ¨C of course, I did ¨C but he really didn¡¯t need to go that far. ¡°I told you, I would just reset¡­Look how injured you are right now.¡± I said, sounding exasperated despite trying not to. He straightened his posture, and suddenly, a soft glow surrounded him. His HP bar began to fill itself steadily. Dark Axul, of course, didn¡¯t wait. The shadowy figure lunged toward us, all four of his arms swinging cosmic blades at Gaelith. The knight dodged skilfully, and then, in one swift motion, he swung his radiant sword twice in quick succession. Dark Axul blocked the first strike with all four of his blades, but the second strike broke through, sending him hurtling into the wall behind him, crashing it completely. How the hell was this floor yet to collapse? As Gaelith seized the moment to continue healing himself, the surrounding monsters seemed to be under a trance, not attacking us, just¡­standing there. Even Stinger remained unresponsive. ¡°You don''t seem to consider the possible reality of your situation.¡± Gaelith said. ¡°Of the time loop, I mean.¡± ¡°And you do?¡± I shot back, surprised by his words. ¡°You literally learned about it a few hours ago from me!¡± ¡°Perhaps, perhaps not.¡± He countered oddly, his voice growing firmer. ¡°What do you think happens to our world each time you die? What do you think your reset actually does?¡± I was about to answer until I realized...I didn¡¯t have a clue. I had never actually asked Chronos about this. And if I did, he probably made me forget it. So, I just took the reset for granted - everything goes back in time as if it never happened. Gaelith continued, sounding slightly frustrated. ¡°Do you think this particular world where things happened in this particular way, and we met, would just cease to exist after you die? Revert back to its original state? What if it doesn¡¯t, and I¡¯m left here to fight this on my own?¡± he sighed heavily, turning visibly calmer. ¡°I might be wrong ¨C I can¡¯t pretend to understand all of it. But I do understand some things. One of them knowing what¡¯s right and what¡¯s wrong. Treat every loop and its people with the outmost respect, Aidan Dar. Fight for it like it¡¯s the last one, because for some of us, it might just be that.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. I stood there, stunned in silence, his words sinking deeper. I immediately wondered how many Yanas out there had to watch me die. How many of them experienced being left behind by me, before dying to Erebus and his monsters all on their own? Did they feel left out? Betrayed? The thought was unsettling. Gaelith knocked me out of my thoughts, signaling with his head toward a mountain of rubble and chains at the far end of the chamber. ¡°Help your friend over there. We might need more manpower.¡± I nodded, rushing over to Goren. Wait, help Goren? Am I crazy? I have higher odds of being killed by him than by Dark Axul! And still, something gnawed at me. Perhaps Gaelith¡¯s words made me too emotional than I¡¯d care to admit. Maybe Goren would appreciate it. Maybe he¡¯d help. He has to! I ducked down, spotting Goren¡¯s hand sticking out from under the rubble. I hesitated once more but eventually gave in and began clearing away the debris. In the distance, Dark Axul stirred, rising from the wreckage of the wall, his HP mostly intact. He lunged at the now-fully-healed Gaelith, his four arms swinging together, accompanied by a barrage of magical projectiles. Gaelith met the assault with his sword, clashing against the cosmic blades while dodging the magical strikes. The chamber erupted with blinding flashes at each collision of their weapons. Each strike sent shockwaves rippling through the air, vibrations so intense I felt them over at the other end of the chamber. Sparks from the impact ignited small explosions, consuming the nearby monsters that had remained on standby. Despite the level disparity, Gaelith matched every strike. But I wasn''t sure if he had what it takes to win all on his own. Meanwhile, I finally unearthed Goren. He was barely conscious, his body battered and bloodied, but he was alive. His HP bar was as low as 5%. ¡°Wake up! He needs our help.¡± I shouted, grasping the chains binding his arms and legs, inspecting if they could be broken with magic or Silverfang. Goren¡¯s eyelids fluttered open, his voice weak and raspy. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t.¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯m too injured. This loop was a fucking waste¡­fucking Kelltins...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll shove some healing potions down your throat, and you¡¯ll be good to go.¡± I said urgently, striking the first chain. It broke easily under Silverfang''s power. ¡°It won¡¯t matter.¡± Goren coughed, his voice bitter. ¡°Kelltins¡¯ magic ¨C it made me respawn here, but it left me empty. All my possessions¡­gone for this loop. A total waste, I tell you. You¡¯re better of killing me, really.¡± I stared at him, anger boiling inside me. I couldn¡¯t for the life of me remember him from the previous loops ¨C it was practically the first time I¡¯d seen the guy ¨C but I knew who he was. That he had killed me eight times for fun and XP. And now he had the audacity to give up? ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± I snapped, yanking the conduit from his gut in one sharp pull. He screamed in pain. ¡°You motherfucker! I''ll ¨C ¡° ¡°You don¡¯t get to sit there and play the victim!¡± I cut him off, furious. ¡°You killed me eight times. For shits and giggles. And despite that, I¡¯m helping you. So get your ass up and help us, because I don¡¯t have time for your bullshit!¡± Goren¡¯s eyes widened slightly, surprise replacing the pain he felt moments ago. For a moment, he said nothing as I broke the second chain. Then, he smirked. ¡°Maybe I misjudged you.¡± He murmured. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re not useless.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t care what you think about me.¡± I shot back, breaking the third chain. ¡°Just help god damn it.¡± He nodded weakly, the smirk fading. ¡°I¡¯ll repay you for this.¡± I broke the final chain and handed him the last two healing potions I had, stepping back to let him recover. But as I turned to check on Gaelith, a sharp tug on my arm stopped me. I spun around to see Goren gripping my arm tightly, Silverfang buried deep in his chest. ¡°Goren, what the fuck?!¡± I shouted, stunned. His HP bar vanished completely as he fell to his knees, his voice barely audible. ¡°I¡¯ll find you¡­at the star...of the next...loop¡­¡± [+0 XP] I stared in disbelief as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground. ¡°What the fuck, Goren¡­¡± But the sounds of battle snapped me back to reality. I had no time to process what just happened. Instead, I turned and rushed to Gaelith¡¯s side, Silverfang in hand. He was doing better than I expected. Each strike of his radiant sword caused Dark Axul to stagger slightly, his HP bar dipping lower and lower. He was dealing a lot more damage than before. But just when I thought it was winnable, Dark Axul unleashed another ear-piercing roar, his shadowy form releasing a wave of darkness that rippled outward. The force knocked Gaelith back, his boots skidding against the floor until he stopped just beside me. Gaelith steadied himself and turned to me. ¡°Your friend ¨C what of him?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t make it.¡± I replied, leaving out the crucial details. Gaelith simply nodded, his expression neutral. ¡°Then it¡¯s up to us.¡± Meanwhile, Dark Axul summoned another vortex. Some of the remaining monsters were pulled into the swirling mass of Darkness, regenerating his HP back to 100%. ¡°What the - ?¡± I began, but there was no time to finish. Dark Axul swung all four cosmic blades in wide arcs, releasing dark crescents that hurled toward us. Not trusting Wind Wall to save me, I used Wind Rush and chained together a series of Dash Steps, narrowly evading the crescents as they slammed into the ground. But the explosions that followed sent me sprawling. My body hit the stone floor hard as my HP settled on 33%. My health potions¡­I gave them to Goren¡­ Fuck you, Goren!!! Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to my knees, trying to select a different healing consumable, but Dark Axul already shifted toward me, his four blades raised for a finishing strike. Gaelith¡¯s radiant sword intercepted just in time. Sparks and shadows erupted from the point of impact as Gaelith held his ground, giving me enough time to get on my feet. Was Gaelith right? What would happen to the Darknessbound Core if I died here? Would Dark Axul just pick it up like a simple piece of loot, making me lose it in the next run? Or will the world actually reset at that moment? Gripping Silverfang tightly, a thought crossed my mind: fight all out. I couldn¡¯t know for sure what would happen and there was no point crying about it. Perhaps Gaelith¡¯s earlier words had stirred something within me ¨C a recklessness I couldn¡¯t suppress. Normally, I wouldn''t stand a chance against someone as strong as Dark Axul. But with some buffs, and a legendary knight by my side, we might actually be able to pull this off. Either way, I just needed to do enough to stir the fight in our favor. I activated Overlord, recalling the glaive¡¯s buff ability grew stronger when my HP dropped below 50%. Silverfang began to glow with a purple aura. Not stopping there, I activated Battle Cry to boost my Strength stat for the next minute. Those two together already pushed me over level 100. At least for the next minute. With my body and weapon brimming with power, I charged forward, darting around Dark Axul and attacking his rear. He was quick to react, sending two of his arms to block me, but it didn¡¯t matter ¨C I had shifted the momentum. Gaelith seized the opening, attacking even faster. For a moment, we were in perfect sync ¨C Gaelith and I blocked, dodged, and attacked in complete understanding, getting closer to victory. Whenever Dark Axul attempted to gain distance to use his magic, or knock us back, Gaelith struck him down, not even giving him a chance to use the idle monsters around to heal up again. But then it came ¨C a deafening screech that pierced the air, echoing everywhere around us. This time, it wasn¡¯t Dark Axul, and D¨¦j¨¤ vu made sure I¡¯d know that for sure. I''d faced it before. Definitely. [Condition Applied: Fear lvl.5 ¨C Max Fear level. Paralysis inflicted. Agility reduced by 100%.] Can¡¯t. Move. Again. ¡°He¡¯s here¡­¡± Gaelith whispered, sounding defeated. A different creature entered the broken chamber. It looked similar to Dark Axul and yet it was also different. It was more evil, more sinister. Seemingly made of darkness itself. Its form was mostly humanoid, but twisted - giant teeth gnashed from an empty face, and its legs morphed into writhing, dark appendages, whole lot of them. It¡¯s title and level appeared above it: Gaelith¡¯s Darkness, level 154. D¨¦j¨¤ vu screamed in my mind. This was it. Erebus. Chapter 41: Avoid the Mark Chapter 41: Avoid the Mark Gaelith¡¯s Darkness approached slowly. My mind raced wildly. Not only would this thing kill me within the next few minutes ¨C it would definitely mark me for future loops, too. Chronos had spoken about Erebus as a weakened foe, but nothing about him looked weak to me. He said that Erebus had to compare timelines, search for deviations and variances and whatnot, but none of that mattered now. When the embodiment of Darkness sees you with its own dark eyes, there¡¯s no escaping the detection. Gaelith broke free from the invisible force that held him and stepped forward, his expression calm despite the odds. He approached my paralyzed form and pushed his radiant sword toward me. ¡°It belongs to you now.¡± He said with a steady voice. I was confused, but his reassuring nod compelled me to take it, so I allowed my hand to close around the sword¡¯s hilt. [Weapon Equipped: Sword of Radiance. Agility Scaling: S. Strength Scaling: S. Intelligence Scaling: S] [Sword of Radiance: Not allowed to use weapon. Level requirement: 100] ¡°Good.¡± He whispered despite my obvious inability to wield it properly, only deepening my confusion. Before I could say anything, he took the sword back and drove it into the ground in front of me. Then, he walked past it, placing himself between me and the advancing Darkness. ¡°The sword will keep you hidden from him.¡± He whispered as he walked. ¡°Just like it hid me all this time. When the chance arises, take it and get away.¡± I wanted to protest, but again, something in his voice and mannerism just silenced me. I was afraid to disagree even if it was the right thing to do. If the sword had protected him all this time, what would happen to him now that it¡¯s gone? Darkness screeched as it clearly recognized Gaelith. Though it looked nothing like the legendary knight, it was born from him ¨C from his dark emotions. Dark Axul stepped forward to greet his lord, with Stinger close behind. Then, they both bowed. ¡°My Lord, you sensed us.¡± Dark Axul muttered in his beast-like voice. ¡°These are my sacrifices for you.¡± Gaelith¡¯s Darkness seemed to watch silently, its eyeless form not exactly readable. Then, without warning, it raised one of its appendages, which shot forward and pierced Stinger through the eye. Dark Axul was visibly surprised by the turn of events. Maybe it was a faint trace of the man it once was? But whatever humanity was left in him was weak and faint, as he remained silent, watching Gaelith¡¯s Darkness devour his supposed friend. The scorpion dissolved into the Darkness, its essence absorbed. Gaelith¡¯s Darkness, Level 155. ¡°Get ready to run.¡± Gaelith whispered so only I could hear. Dark Axul¡¯s voice trembled unnaturally as he spoke again. ¡°The true vessel and the looper are yours, my Lord.¡± Gaelith turned to Dark Axul. "You are a fool to think Darkness cares about you." And right on cue, Gaelith¡¯s Darkness, seemingly unable to comprehend the idea of allies, struck again. Its appendages solidified mid-air and pierced Dark Axul before he could react, releasing one last cry that sounded like Noctyra before it was consumed. Gaelith¡¯s Darkness, Level 157. I swallowed hard, my heart racing. Gaelith¡¯s worries suddenly made so much sense. I had judged him when he admitted to killing adventurers. With this rapid leveling, perhaps it was for the better to die by Gaelith¡¯s hand and not like this. Also, does Chronos expect me to face this? It was more than twice my current level! Then, the Darkness turned its attention to Gaelith. ¡°Long time no see, filth.¡± The knight muttered before he dropped to one knee and punched the ground ¨C once, twice, thrice ¨C each strike shattering the ground further. When his dark mirror lunged forward to attack, its appendages reaching for him, he punched the ground one final time. The floor beneath us shattered, and as he launched himself headlong into the Darkness, the ground gave way beneath me. [Condition applied: You are no longer Feared. Movement Speed restored. Agility restored] I fell through the crumbling floor, crashing down heavily onto the hard ground below, barely escaping the falling debris. I breathed heavily, surviving on 8% HP. Before I could even process how terrible this entire situation was, a sound erupted from above ¨C a scream so terrifying it froze my blood. It was Gaelith¡¯s voice, fused with the dark vessel¡¯s terrifying screech. I need to get the hell away from here. I picked up the Sword of Radiance from the ground and moved it to my second inventory. [Transfer Complete: Sword of Radiance (Weapon) has been moved to Inventory #2] Then, I selected a Heartspore Tonic, downing it quickly, feeling my HP regenerate slowly. I stumbled out of the chamber, using the walls for support. Luckily, the chamber and corridor were empty of monsters ¨C all of them had likely joined Noctyra¡¯s call earlier. I pushed forward down the corridor, each step heavy, my heart racing at everything that happened. Where am I going? Can I even escape? Erebus would surely hunt me down now to finish the job. All of this was true, but I knew I couldn¡¯t afford to stop. Strange whistling sounds echoed behind me. D¨¦j¨¤ vu rang in my mind, but I chose to ignore it and keep moving. Then, it happened. The D¨¦j¨¤ vu System displayed the most horrifying message I could¡¯ve ever imagined.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System Alert] [Darkness Ascension Imminent] [Countdown to the End of the World: 00:19:59] [System will collapse after this event] The End of the World¡­? Fuck, fuck, FUCK! NO! They system will collapse? Does that mean¡­no more time loop? Panic flooded me. I needed to die quickly ¨C reset before it was too late. But there was no one around to kill me. No enemies. No monsters. No one but¡­myself. As my mind raced, contemplating the unthinkable, pondering if I could even take my own life, leaning toward the positive answer, yet still unsure, the whistles intensified. D¨¦j¨¤ vu rang in my ears again, more urgently this time. Something bad was going to happen. I stopped ignoring, focusing instead on the sounds. It sounded from behind me, yet I saw nothing. Even Distance Gauge wasn¡¯t picking any presence. Heart pounding, I acted on instinct ¨C twenty percent a hunch, eighty percent D¨¦j¨¤ vu. I activated Fearsome Aura, releasing a roar, hoping it would inflict Fear on whatever D¨¦j¨¤ vu was warning me about. And. It. Worked. The Fear status connected on the closest ones, revealing five creatures that emerged from a camouflage. They resembled large dogs, but their skin was pitch black and looked almost like leather. Their head was a metallic cylinder, with a single large red eye, and four large knives at the end. Above their heads, the system revealed their names: Dark Hunter, Level 65. D¨¦j¨¤ vu connected the dots in my mind with terrifying clarity - this is how Erebus marks people. I couldn¡¯t allow myself to die to them. And killing myself when they were nearby wouldn¡¯t work either. My death wouldn¡¯t be instantaneous, and they¡¯d still get a chance to mark me. Fighting them was pointless. The Fear status won¡¯t last long enough, and while I¡¯m stronger, their invisibility is a pain in the ass. It doesn¡¯t matter how many of them I would kill. One hit. That¡¯s all they needed. One hit, and I¡¯m marked, carrying Erebus¡¯ mark into the next loop. This loop was doomed already, with the End of the World looming in less than twenty minutes. But the future could still be salvaged. I just needed to escape, and then die. By my own hand and on my own terms. I had to get away. Turning sharply, I broke into a sprint, activating Wind Rush to push myself faster. Behind me, the eerie whistles resumed. A few moment later, being chased down in the corridor, a whistle pierced the air behind me, and I ducked instinctively, keeping my pace. I sensed a heavy body soaring over my head, and with a swift swing of Silverfang, I hit it. [+294 XP] But the bastards were gaining, their claws scraping against the stone floor behind. My mind raced as I scanned the corridor ahead. A narrow passage loomed to my left. A choke point. Perfect. I veered sharply, barely avoiding a lunge as one of them smashed into the wall as I entered the narrow corridor. I gritted my teeth, still too far from comfort. I spotted five of them earlier when I used Fearsome Aura. That meant at least three were still after me. The current corridor stretched for too long ¨C they¡¯d catch me before I reached the turn. Thinking fast, I pulled an Oil flask and an Ember Flask from my inventory. I hurled the Oil flask ahead, creating a slick puddle. Then, as I jumped over it, I dropped the Ember Flask. The fiery concoction exploded, igniting the oil, triggering a reaction that roared behind me. [+294 XP] [+294 XP] [+294 XP] I skidded to a halt, panting, my ears ringing. Is that it? Am I finally alone? Silence. I clutched Silverfang in my hand, preparing myself to do the unthinkable. But then I felt it ¨C a gust of wind. I reacted too late. The mut came into view mid-air, its knives-covered head grazing my left hand as it streaked past me. I stumbled back, staring in horror as some shadowy liquid filled the wound. [You¡¯ll be marked by Darkness] No. I can¡¯t let this happen. This message just confirmed what I needed to know. With a roar, I raised Silverfang and brought it down my own left arm, as high as possible, making sure the mark didn¡¯t spread to the rest of my body yet. Pain exploded through me as the blade severed it cleanly at the shoulder and blood came out rushing like out of a waterfall. The limb fell to the ground, enveloped in a dark aura, similar to Goren¡¯s, but the rest of me was seemingly untouched. The situation itself became more dire, though. [Health:10% - Reaching Critical Level - Please Consume a Healing Potion] [Status Ailment: Bleeding - Health drain at 1% per 5 seconds] I screamed in pain as I dropped Silverfang and clutched the stump instinctively. The bleeding should kill me ¨C there¡¯s that ¨C but it wasn¡¯t that simple. The last Dark Hunter, the one that grazed me, was still alive and hiding here. It was likely the one that crashed against the wall. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t get the XP message for slaying it. I couldn¡¯t die with it nearby. He might mark me a second before I passed on. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself to my knees, grabbing Silverfang again. My vision blurred from blood loss, but I had to push through. I couldn¡¯t die yet. So much depended on me... ¡°Come out!¡± I shouted hoarsely. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this!¡± It didn¡¯t. Of course it wouldn¡¯t. Why risk itself when it could just wait me out? Fine. I¡¯ll drag you out myself, then. Gripping SIlverfang tightly with my one arm, I slammed it into the ground, activating Explosive strike. The impact was greater than I¡¯d hoped for in my current state ¨C the rubble and debris flying, slamming against the walls ¨C and the Dark Hunter. Its camouflage faltered for just a moment, but it was more than enough for me. With a surge of adrenaline, I hurled Silverfang with all my might. The glaive flew through the air with the force of an arrow, impaling the creature and pinning it to the wall. [+294 XP] I fell back, resting my head against the stone wall, panting as relief washed over me. I checked my status. [Health:4% - Reaching Critical Level - Please Consume a Healing Potion] [Status Ailment: Bleeding - Health drain at 1% per 5 seconds] Then, I turned to the apocalyptic timer. [D¨¦j¨¤ vu System Alert] [Darkness Ascension Imminent] [Countdown to the End of the World: 00:13:46] [System will collapse after this event] Not much time left, but I made it. Bleeding out wasn¡¯t an option. If another Dark Hunter suddenly appears, I¡¯d be doomed. Scratch that - the world would be. Reaching out, I recalled Silverfang to my hand, just as I¡¯d seen Kaelstrife do in our fight. It worked, the glaive flew back to me. A lump formed in my throat, tears welling in my eyes again. ¡°Damn it.¡± I whispered, my voice cracking. ¡°Damn it all¡­¡± [Warning! Stop!] I ignored the message. Taking a deep breath, I raised the glaive¡¯s blade to my throat, clenched my jaw, tears streaming freely now as I let out one final roar. Then, with all the force I could muster, I drove the blade in. [Health: 0% - You Have Died] Chapter 42: Blight Chapter 42: Blight I was woken up by a cough coming from beside me ¨C a pained cough. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a familiar grassy field. Chronos sat cross-legged next to me, looking¡­frail. He was paler than I remembered him. My hand instinctively went to my throat ¨C the place where I¡¯d driven Silverfang. My breath hitched, and tears threatened to spill as the memory hit me. I¡¯d actually done it¡­ But another thought pierced my mind immediately, sharper than the glaive. ¡°Am I marked?¡± I asked nervously, sitting up abruptly. ¡°Did he mark me?¡± Chronos shook his head, not meeting my gaze. His eyes were distant. ¡°No.¡± he said softly. ¡°You made it in time.¡± He coughed again, shuddering slightly. Is he sick? Could he even get sick? Relieved, I let out a deep breath and lay back on the grass, staring up at the sky. But the relief was momentary. Memories of Kelltins ¨C Noctyra ¨C rushed back, and my heart raced again. ¡°Kelltins!¡± I sat up again, panic gripping me. ¡°He knows! He¡¯s an Axul! He¡¯s aware of the time loop!¡± Chronos didn¡¯t even flinch. His calmness only made me angrier. ¡°You just survived the End of the World, Aidan.¡± Chronos said, his tone maddeningly tranquil. ¡°Allow yourself a moment to relax.¡± Relax? Relax?! You¡¯re the one who shoved me into this mess! ¡°Don¡¯t tell me to relax!¡± I snapped, my voice rising. ¡°Not after what just happened!¡± ¡°It was tough, I know ¨C ¡° ¡°How would you know?¡± I cut him off, anger boiling inside me. ¡°You¡¯re not human. You¡¯re a god! You can¡¯t die. Definitely can¡¯t and won¡¯t kill yourself either!¡± Chronos nodded slightly, still looking distant. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± He coughed again. ¡°Did you know you¡¯re only my second champion to¡­off themselves?¡± His words only infuriated me more, the casual delivery making it worse. But I was so drained to lash out further. Instead, I sighed heavily, letting the anger drain away. ¡°Go on,¡± I muttered bitterly. ¡°Tell me how terrible I am. How I¡¯m useless. How I¡¯m barely making any progress. How previous champs aced their tasks forty runs early. That¡¯s what you always do. Just get it over with and send me back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry you had to do it, Aidan. I¡¯m¡­so¡­so¡­sorry¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± My head whipped around to look at him, just to see him collapsing backward. It was as if his body had given out, and now, he just lay there, motionless. ¡°Whoa, whoa¡­¡± I scrambled to my feet, rushing to his side. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Chronos?¡± I hesitated, unsure if I could touch him. Eventually, I reached out and shook him gently. ¡°Hey, wake up!¡± Still, no reply. He wasn¡¯t even breathing ¨C but maybe that was normal for him. I mean, he is a god. Do gods even need to breath? What the hell am I supposed to do? Where are Pix and Balthor? ¡°Balthor!¡± I called out desperately. ¡°Pix!¡± No answer. Where are they, for fuck¡¯s sake?! I glanced around only to see the endless green field stretching in all directions. There was nothing out here but grass. Even the usual glass table and chairs were nowhere to be seen. At a loss, I turned back to Chronos and shook him again, harder this time. He remained unresponsive. Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s dead¡­well, not on my watch! Clenching my jaw, I knelt beside him and pressed my hands to his chest, attempting to perform a resuscitation. I felt ridiculous ¨C he might not even have a physical heart. Still, I had to try. ¡°Come on¡­¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°You can¡¯t die. You¡¯re a freaking god!¡± ¡°Can you relax? I even got the spicy kimchi flavored ones he likes so much.¡± The high-pitched, cheerful voice made me jump. I spun around to see Pix and Balthor stepping out of a glowing portal behind me. They were carrying strange, translucent bags filled with colorful boxes. Relief surged through me, and I didn¡¯t waste a second. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with Chronos!¡± I shouted. ¡°He needs help!¡± They seemed to only notice us now, immediately dropping their strange bags and rushing over. Balthor slid toward us, grabbing Chronos¡¯ limp body and rising to his feet in one smooth motion. Meanwhile, Pix¡¯s hands began to glow with a faint purple hue. She made some intricate gestures with her hands, and suddenly, the ground trembled. A large stone vessel filled with shimmering water rose before us ¨C a tub? Balthor carried Chronos to it, lowering him gently into the glowing liquid. Once Chronos was submerged up to his chest, Balthor carefully removed his shirt, revealing a lot of tattoos and something unsettling ¨C a ghastly wound around his ribs, pulsing with the unmistakable Darkness. The water reacted instantly, bubbling violently around the wound as though it had been heated. The liquid glowed brighter, seemingly attacking the Darkness, which writhed like it was alive. Chronos suddenly let out a pained sigh, his face relaxing slightly, but his eyes remained closed as he stayed unconscious. The wound, though less severe, was still very much infected with Darkness. Balthor sighed, sounding relieved. ¡°We made it in time¡­¡± ¡°What the hell happened?¡± I asked, my voice tight. ¡°He was talking one moment, and then he just collapsed.¡± Balthor was about to reply, but Pix suddenly grabbed my shoulders, forcefully turning me to face her. Her playful expression was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Tell us what happened in the last loop.¡± She demanded, her tone firm. ¡°We need to know, Aidan. Every detail, please.¡± Balthor stepped closer, nodding. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time the Young Master got tainted by Erebus¡¯ blight, but¡­it¡¯s the first time we weren¡¯t here when it happened. We need to understand what exactly led to this.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Please, Aidan.¡± Pix¡¯s voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°Start from the moment Noctyra called Stinger.¡± Seeing them both like this ¨C especially Pix ¨C was disarming. I realized how much Chronos meant to them. I recalled his last words to me before he fainted ¨C that he was sorry. Suddenly, I couldn¡¯t be angry at him anymore ¨C at him, or at his ridiculous System. I nodded and began recounting everything that had happened after we defeated the duo: Dark Axul, Goren, and how Gaelith¡¯s Darkness consumed Noctyra, Stinger, and likely Gaelith himself when he bought time for me to escape. I described the chilling End of the World timer, and my escape from the Dark Hunters to avoid being marked, skipping the part where I offed myself, and finally, the brief exchange I¡¯d had with Chronos before he collapsed. As I finished, Balthor muttered under his breath. ¡°Seems like he knew exactly when to send us off¡­¡± ¡°But, why?!¡± Pix suddenly shouted. ¡°If he knew the blight was going to get more severe, he could¡¯ve asked us to prepare the Essence of Time for him earlier ¨C like he always does! I just don¡¯t understand¡­¡± The Essence of Time? Was it similar to Erebus¡¯ Essence of Darkness? Balthor sighed deeply, his tone heavy. ¡°We can¡¯t always understand the godly machinations going inside the Young Master¡¯s mind, Pix. We¡¯re only human...¡± ¡°I know, I know, but ¨C ¡° ¡°What did you just say?¡± I interrupted, his comment catching me off guard. ¡°You both are human?¡± Balthor smiled weakly while Pix seemed to ignore the exchange, walking over to the resting Chronos. ¡°Well,¡± Balthor said softly, ¡°I suppose we¡¯re not anymore. But we were. Once. Really not sure what we are now.¡± My confused expression prompted him to continue, looking reminiscent, as though he was recalling something from a lifetime ago. ¡°We were once just like you, Mr. Dar. Champions chosen by a God of Time we didn¡¯t even know existed. Thrown into a timeless war against a foe we wished didn¡¯t exist. Fighting to save a world that felt too big to be saved by just one person.¡± My chest tightened as I listened. ¡°How did you end up here, then?¡± I asked, genuinely surprised. I wished I knew about it earlier. It probably wouldn¡¯t have changed much, but still¡­I would¡¯ve liked to know that Balthor and Pix once shared a similar fate. Balthor smiled softly, though his aged eyes seemed sad. ¡°After I saved my world, there really wasn¡¯t much left for me to do. My family had died long before it all happened, and I didn¡¯t have friends ¨C real friends. When it was all over ¨C when I saved the world ¨C no one even knew about it. There were no parties, no celebrations. Life just¡­went on. Like nothing had ever threatened it in the first place. And I was fine with it. I didn¡¯t do it to be celebrated¡­¡± He paused, rubbing his chin. ¡°That was when Master Chronos and his brilliant assistant, Dolos, offered me to join them ¨C to continue fighting, but this time, for something bigger than just my own world.¡± Dolos¡­that¡¯s right¡­he was once on Chronos¡¯ side. He turned his head slightly toward Pix, who still hadn¡¯t spoken and was just sitting next to Chronos. ¡°Pix¡¯s story is hers to tell, and she¡¯ll share it if she decided she wants to. But you can assume it¡¯s not much different than mine.¡± He took a deep breath, before continuing. ¡°And so, here we were: two humans, from completely different worlds, helping a god save worlds we once could only dreamed of.¡± The weight of his words settled in slowly. Similar to Balthor, I didn¡¯t care about rewards or celebrations. As long as I managed to save everyone ¨C to save Yana ¨C that¡¯s all that mattered. And yet, a different kind of heaviness remained. The weight of everything I was going through slowly crushed me and my spirit. It was something I realized I might have to carry alone for eternity. had to carry on my own. If I succeeded, if I saved the world, who could I even tell? Who would understand what I had endured, the things I¡¯d done? The memory of Silverfang at my throat resurfaced. Who could ever comprehend that I¡¯d been driven to kill myself just to keep fighting? The ache in my heart deepened. ¡°He gave you a purpose¡­¡± I muttered under my breath, almost to myself, as I pieced together everything Balthor had said, understanding Chronos better. Blathor¡¯s expression was warm, his nod slow. ¡°He did.¡± His gaze drifted toward Chronos and Pix, his voice steady. ¡°And we¡¯ll forever e loyal to him for that¡­¡± Chronos was an actual pain in the ass most of the time ¨C for me, at least. But listening to Balthor, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how he might not have been as bad as I thought¡­ ¡°How did that blight appear?¡± I asked, curious. ¡°I get that it probably has to do with Erebus practically ending the world in this loop, but still¡­will he get better once I start the next run?¡± Balthor shook his head grimly. ¡°Young Master will start feeling better soon, but I¡¯m afraid the blight won¡¯t disappear entirely until Erebus is defeated and your world is saved.¡± His expression turned grave. ¡°Each of the loops you¡¯ve lived through exists as its own, separate world, Mr. Dar. They continue to exist even after you ¨C or Mr. Shein ¨C are gone. Meaning Erebus has already succeeded in his plans thirty-seven times.¡± My heart sank at his words. Gaelith was right¡­the resets didn¡¯t cancel what happened, they just send me to a new version of my world. ¡°And that¡¯s why¡­that¡¯s why he got sick?¡± My voice trembled as I pieced it together. ¡°Because we lost thirty-seven times?¡± Balthor nodded. ¡°Yes, each loss makes the blight worse. But don¡¯t blame yourself. The Young Master understands the risks perfectly. He knows no one can defeat Erebus on their first try. He¡¯s been trying to defeat him for good for eternities now. He knows how impossible the task is and willingly carries the blight for the sake of his champions.¡± He paused, turning to look at Chronos. ¡°The important thing to remember, Mr. Dar, is that you only need to defeat Erebus once. When you do, all your previous timelines ¨C the loops where Erebus won ¨C will also be cleansed of the blight. Your world will truly be saved, and Master Chronos will be fully healed. That¡¯s the truth of our war against the embodiment of Darkness.¡± The realization solidified in my mind: I wasn¡¯t just saving my world ¨C I was saving my previous selves¡¯ worlds as well. Each version of me had died to bring me here, leaving their world without an Aidan Dar. But their sacrifice wasn¡¯t meaningless, and it was up to me to ensure that. The Aidan Dar who had to kill himself in this loop didn¡¯t do it for nothing. I had to make it worthwhile. ¡°Are you ready to return, Mr. Dar?¡± Balthor asked calmly. ¡°You can do that, too?¡± I asked, surprised. ¡°I thought that was a Chronos thing.¡± He nodded. ¡°Master Chronos shared some of his powers with us. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t be much help, would we?¡± My mind raced, replaying everything that had happened this loop ¨C too much, really. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready yet.¡± I admitted. ¡°Erebus had seen me. Chronos said I wasn¡¯t marked, but surely that¡¯s just a technicality, right?¡± ¡°You said Gaelith gave you his sword, right?¡± Pix spoke up for the first time in a while, her tone serious. I nodded, still unsure of the significance of the Sword of Radiance in my inventory. ¡°I can¡¯t even use it, though. I¡¯m too under-leveled for it.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter right now. It¡¯s one of the Key Items in the tomb ¨C one of the items you were meant to find.¡± Pix explained, her voice carrying the same seriousness. ¡°Gaelith used it to stay hidden from Erebus for the past thousand years. He gave it to you because he knew it would keep you hidden from Darkness, too.¡± I slowly realized why Gaelith was so intent on transferring the sword to me the second Gaelith¡¯s Darkness had entered the chamber. I still couldn¡¯t believe he did that for me ¨C for someone who won¡¯t even remember him in the next loop. What will it mean for next loop¡¯s Gaelith? If the sword is a Key Item, he won¡¯t have it in any of the next loops. How will he stay hidden? He survived for a thousand years ¨C I still don¡¯t know how ¨C but without the sword¡­what will he do? I could only hope he knew what he was doing¡­ My mind shifted to a different problem. ¡°Noctyra¡­¡± Balthor nodded grimly, understanding my worries, but offered a possible solution. ¡°He was marked by Erebus when Darkness consumed him. He should carry a dark aura, similar to Goren¡¯s or Yana¡¯s.¡± I was about to retort, but surprisingly, Pix stepped in to support me. Wait, what? ¡°No. We¡¯ll let him remember him.¡± She suddenly said, her tone sharp as she touched Chronos¡¯ forehead, as if checking for a fever. ¡°What?¡± Balthor and I asked in unison. ¡°Think about it, Balthor.¡± Pix continued. ¡°Noctyra isn¡¯t like Goren. The latter is just an ass, but he¡¯s still technically on our side. The former, on the other hand, serves Erebus directly. In the next loop, he could mark an unknowing Aidan right at the entrance to the tomb, making his boss¡¯ job easier. Wiping off Aidan¡¯s memories completely would just fuck him over¡­¡± Balthor frowned, clearly torn. ¡°Still, it would be going against Young Master¡¯s rules. I¡¯m not comfortable making such decisions while he¡¯s unconscious.¡± ¡°The rules don¡¯t apply to us.¡± Pix shook her head. ¡°Besides, don¡¯t you remember what he always says?¡± Balthor sighed. ¡°I trust you both more than I trust myself.¡± Pix nodded. Balthor gave a small smile and turned to me. ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll ensure you retain all your memories of Aric Kelltins ¨C also known as Noctyra ¨C when you wake up.¡± My heart raced at the pleasant turn of events. With this, I might have a chance. ¡°What about Gaelith? Can¡¯t I keep those memories too?¡± Balthor chuckled softly, reminding me of his master. ¡°Mr. Dar, you¡¯re pushing your luck. Be grateful for what you¡¯ve got.¡± He patted my shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again once the Young Master is back on his feet.¡± Figures. Before I could say anything else, the world around me turned black.