Broken Dreams

Chapter 13.2

「I long for rest, for peace to find me,

So weary, my soul aches with the weight of this.

Each breath is a burden, each step a chain,

And I beg, I plead—just let it end.」

「This weariness consumes me, leaves me hollow,

I can no longer fight, I can no longer follow.

End the storm, let the silence be near,

For I am too tired to feel anything but fear. 」

「Just... end this already, this endless fight!」

The forest was dark and sprawling, the air cool and thick with the scent of damp earth. I stood in the middle of it, catching my breath, a dull ache throbbing in every limb. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been running—maybe two hours? Or maybe more. Time was a fickle thing in this endless cycle, slipping in and out of my grasp. I had killed the guards back there, one after another, with a ferocity that even surprised me. I remembered each one, remembered the sensation of each blow, every strike that sent them down, their bodies falling lifeless behind me. Yet, here I was, stuck in the middle of nowhere, staring into the depths of a forest that seemed to stretch on forever.

I felt… empty. Or maybe it was exhaustion, or just a momentary lapse in the strange purpose that had been driving me this whole time. The air felt thick, pressing down on me like an invisible weight, and I dragged myself forward, deeper into the forest, hoping for—well, I didn’t know what I was hoping for. Just… something.

As I moved, the silence around me felt strange, almost unnatural, like the world was holding its breath. The trees cast long shadows across my path, their branches stretching out like skeletal arms, reaching for something they’d never grasp. My footsteps were muffled against the forest floor, each step sinking into the damp soil, and for a moment, it felt like I was the only thing alive here.

That’s when I saw it.

A creature—no, a deer—standing in the clearing ahead, its body shimmering faintly in the moonlight that seeped through the canopy. It wasn’t like any animal I’d ever seen. Its fur glistened with blue crystals, delicate yet somehow menacing, growing out of its sides and back in intricate patterns that caught the light. And its antlers—its antlers looked as though they were made of metal, something silver and strange, and they floated just above its head, suspended by some magic I couldn’t comprehend.

I blinked, half-convinced I was imagining it, but the creature was real, its gaze fixed on me with an unsettling intensity. I couldn’t look away. I had seen so many things in this cycle, died so many deaths, but this was… different. Strange, yet oddly beautiful. For a second, I wondered if this was some kind of sign, a break in the cycle, an omen that things were changing.

Then it moved, its body tensing as it lowered its head. Before I could even process what was happening, it lunged at me, faster than anything I’d ever encountered, its crystalline body glinting in the dark. I barely had time to take a breath, let alone react, before it drove its head into my abdomen.

Pain. A sharp, blinding pain that tore through me like a knife, spreading out from where its antlers met my flesh. I gasped, choking on the sudden agony, feeling the life drain from me as the forest spun around me.

And then—

Reset.

I was back. Back at the execution ground, lying on the same cold stone with the same sky above me. The knight was there, the witch was there, and the crowd—God, that infernal crowd, their hateful voices like a thousand knives in my mind.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”,I screamed. The sound tore from me before I could stop it, a raw, guttural scream that held every ounce of anger, frustration, and hopelessness I’d been bottling up. My vision blurred as I sprang to my feet, fists clenched so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. I didn’t care anymore. I didn’t care about the knight, the witch, the endless cycle. I just wanted out, and I was willing to tear through anything—or anyone—in my path.

Ignoring the knight’s outstretched hand and the witch’s incantation, I broke into a dead sprint, barreling past them without a second thought. I heard their shouts, felt the familiar tingle of magic in the air, but I didn’t stop. Not this time. I was done with this—done with them, with everything. But my escape was cut short as an invisible force crushed down on me, the weight of gravity itself pressing me into the earth until I could barely breathe. The witch’s magic, a curse that twisted around me, dragged me down, down—

And then—

Reset.

I felt the cold stone beneath me again, and this time, there was no scream, no rage. Just a dull emptiness, like the last remnants of hope had been stripped from my soul. I stared up at the sky, my mind blank, my body feeling like a husk. How many times had it been? Ten resets? Twenty? A hundred? I couldn’t remember anymore. Everything blurred together in a haze of death and rebirth, a ceaseless cycle that was slowly eating away at my sanity.

I got up. This time, there was no plan, no purpose. Just a hollow determination that drove me forward. I grabbed the sword lying at the edge of the courtyard and lunged at the knight, pushing him aside with a force that sent him sprawling. My own strength surprised me, but I barely registered it. With a flick of my wrist, I sent a crimson and black shockwave spiraling toward him and the witch, the force of it knocking them both back.

I moved without thought, without hesitation, my mind a blur as I tore through the guards, stole the swordmaster’s blade, grabbed the witch’s wand, and dashed into the forest once more. Each step felt heavier than the last, my limbs protesting with every movement, but I forced myself onward, driven by a desperation I couldn’t name.

Back in the forest, I staggered forward, the exhaustion pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake. My vision swam, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. But I kept moving, my steps slow, unsteady, like a man teetering on the edge of collapse.

And then I saw it again—the deer, standing in the clearing as though waiting for me, its crystalline body gleaming under the faint starlight. I felt a pang of something—fear, awe, maybe a mix of both—but I didn’t have the strength to stop, didn’t have the energy to care.

“Come on then,” I muttered, my voice hoarse, barely a whisper. “Let’s get this over with.”

The deer lunged, its movements a blur, and I barely managed to raise the sword in defense. Its head slammed into me again, the impact sending me staggering back, but this time, I didn’t fall. I gritted my teeth, pushed back against the pain, and swung the sword with all the strength I could muster. The blade connected, glancing off one of the crystals with a harsh *clang* that reverberated through the clearing.

The deer backed up, its gaze fixed on me with a strange intelligence, a silent challenge. I felt a surge of defiance, a flicker of something fierce, and I tightened my grip on the sword, squaring my stance as I prepared for its next attack.

But before I could react, the ground beneath me began to shift, the earth twisting and buckling as an unseen force pressed down on me, pinning me in place. Gravity magic, the witch’s cursed magic, binding me once again, forcing me down.

I struggled, my vision blurring, my mind fighting against the inevitable, but it was no use. The weight was too much, the exhaustion too overwhelming, and as my knees buckled, my body collapsing to the ground, I felt the world slipping away.

Reset.

Back on the stone. Back in the cycle. I felt a flicker of rage, but it was dulled now, lost beneath layers of exhaustion and hopelessness. My eyes felt heavy, my limbs like lead as I pulled myself up one more time. I couldn’t stop. Not yet.

I dashed forward, my body moving on instinct, grabbing the sword once more. The knight was in my path, but I didn’t even glance at him. With a single swing, I sent a shockwave tearing through him, the force of it pushing him and the witch back, scattering them like leaves in a storm.

Without a second thought, I tore the swordmaster’s blade from his side, seized the witch’s wand, and dashed off again, back into the forest, each step dragging me closer to the edge of collapse. I didn’t know what drove me, didn’t know why I kept running, kept fighting. But something deep within me refused to give up, a fierce, stubborn will that kept pushing me forward.

As I stumbled through the forest, the memories blurred, each death, each reset blending together in a whirlwind of pain and fury.

✧

The forest stretched endlessly around me, a maze of trees and shadows that felt more like a cage than a refuge. My breaths came out ragged, shallow gasps that barely filled my lungs. Each step was a struggle, my legs trembling under the weight of exhaustion.

“Ha… ho… ha…”

The sound of my own breathing grated against my ears, but I couldn’t stop. If I stopped, I’d think. And if I thought, I’d remember. I didn’t want to remember. Not the guards, not the witch, not the swordmaster—especially not the feeling of dying over and over again. My body felt as though it had been broken and stitched back together too many times, each cycle leaving me a little more hollow.

The underbrush snagged at my hoodie, branches scratching at my face, but I kept going. My vision blurred, the trees merging into shapeless forms. I couldn’t tell if it was exhaustion or my mind breaking again. Maybe both. I didn’t care anymore. I just needed to keep moving. One step. Then another.

The ground beneath me felt uneven, roots jutting out like traps, but I didn’t bother avoiding them. My body was too slow, too tired. I tripped and fell hard against the dirt, the impact jarring my already battered frame. For a moment, I stayed there, face pressed into the ground, the scent of earth and decay filling my nose.

Maybe I should just stay here.

The thought was almost comforting. Just lie here and let the world pass me by. But I knew better. Even if I wanted to stop, the cycle wouldn’t let me. It never let me. With a groan, I pushed myself up, my arms trembling as I got back on my feet.

I couldn’t stop. Not yet.

As I trudged forward, something glimmered in the distance. A lake. The sight of it made my chest tighten, not with fear, but with a strange, aching sense of relief. Water. Still, peaceful water. My steps quickened—if you could call my dragging pace quick—until I reached the edge of the lake.

It was beautiful. Too beautiful. The kind of beauty that made your heart hurt because you knew it didn’t belong in a world like this. The lake was vast and serene, the water so clear I could see the stones at the bottom. The surface reflected the sky above, a soft tapestry of blues and purples that seemed almost too perfect. Around it, the trees parted as if paying homage to its quiet majesty.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring. My legs felt like they might give out, and my head swam with dizziness, but I couldn’t look away. The exhaustion that had weighed me down felt lighter somehow, as if the lake was pulling it from me.

I made my way to a tree near the water’s edge, its bark rough against my back as I leaned against it. My knees buckled, and I slid down until I was sitting on the ground, my legs stretched out before me.

The air here was different. Cool, clean. It didn’t carry the stench of blood or magic. It was quiet, save for the gentle lapping of water against the shore. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I could breathe.

I let my head fall back against the tree trunk and closed my eyes.

“I’m so tired…” I murmured, the words barely audible. My throat felt raw, my voice hoarse. It wasn’t just my body that was tired—it was everything. My mind, my soul, if I even had one left.

The memories of the cycle clawed at the edges of my thoughts, but I shoved them away. I didn’t want to think about the knights or the swordmaster or the witch’s chanting. I didn’t want to remember the guards I killed, their faces frozen in shock as my blade cut them down. I didn’t want to remember the crushing weight of magic that snuffed out my life like it was nothing.

But the memories came anyway, unrelenting. They always did.

The knight’s words echoed in my mind. “Raven Nightshade, I acknowledge you.” That name—*his* name—felt foreign and familiar all at once. Was it my name now? Or was I just borrowing it, like I borrowed his body?

I clenched my fists, the rough fabric of my hoodie brushing against my palms. I didn’t want to think about it. About him. About me. About how all of this was happening because I’d been too weak to stop it.

My eyes burned, and I realized with a start that tears were falling. I hadn’t even noticed them. I wiped at them with the back of my hand, but they wouldn’t stop.

“Why…?” The word slipped out before I could stop it. My voice cracked, filled with a raw, broken desperation that I hated hearing.

Why was this happening to me? Why couldn’t I just… stay dead? Why did I keep resetting, over and over, no matter how much it hurt? Was there a reason? A purpose? Or was I just some cruel joke to whatever force was pulling the strings?

I pressed my palms against my face, my fingers digging into my temples. My mind felt like it was unraveling, each thought pulling me further into a spiral I couldn’t escape. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t have the strength.

The exhaustion was winning. My body felt heavier with each passing second, my limbs like lead. I let my hands fall to my sides, my head tilting back again to rest against the tree. My eyes fluttered open for a moment, the lake’s tranquil surface filling my vision.

It was so quiet here. So peaceful. Maybe, just for a little while, I could let myself rest.

The thought was almost enough to make me smile. Almost.

I closed my eyes again, my breathing slowing. The weight of everything—my body, my mind, the endless cycle—it all seemed to fade as sleep began to pull me under.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I flet peace.

The first thing I felt when I woke up was the cold, biting rain on my skin. It soaked through my clothes, leaving me shivering, but somehow, the discomfort felt distant, like my body had stopped caring about it. I opened my eyes to a ruined city—again. This decaying, empty place was already familiar, but there was no relief in that. Only a numb acceptance, a bone-deep weariness that weighed down every thought, every step.

I took a few steps, wandering through the endless maze of broken buildings and empty streets, rain dripping off ledges, pooling in cracks. At some point, I realized I was whispering to myself, “This is just a dream, just a dream,” but the words didn’t mean anything anymore. I was so tired of lying to myself.

That’s when I saw it—the rabbit. Small, white, and delicate, with red eyes that practically glowed. My heart stuttered. Instantly, I felt that old, sick fear crawl up my spine. I didn’t think, didn’t hesitate—I swung, my fist smashing into its small body and sending it skittering across the pavement. The hit felt good, for a moment—like a brief spark of control. But that feeling vanished the second I saw more of them. Hundreds of tiny red eyes blinked at me from the shadows. I froze. They leapt, and I couldn’t move fast enough.

I swung at them with everything I had. My fists ached from the impact, my knuckles stinging as I beat them back. But there were too many. Always too many. Claws raked across my skin, tearing into me with a precision that felt impossible for something so small. I could feel myself breaking—bone by bone, bit by bit, until I was nothing but a pulpy mess of flesh and pain.

And then nothing. Cold, endless black.

When I opened my eyes, I was back by the lake.

For a moment, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. My chest felt like it was caving in, and I clutched at the fabric of my hoodie, gripping it tight, as if that could hold me together. I’d just been torn apart, piece by piece, but here I was, whole and breathing again. I tried to tell myself it hadn’t been real, but the memory of that pain—the claws digging in, the teeth ripping through me—was so vivid it left me shaking.

I hugged my knees to my chest and buried my face in my arms, trying to block out everything, trying to forget the nightmare that never seemed to end. I was so tired. So, so tired. I wanted to give up, to close my eyes and never wake up again. But I knew I’d have to. Eventually, the exhaustion would pull me under, and I’d be back in that city, back in the rain, facing those eyes again.

I didn’t want to sleep, but I couldn’t stop it. My body felt like lead, my mind a haze of pain and exhaustion. Slowly, I drifted off, and when I opened my eyes, the ruined city waited for me.

The rabbits came again. I fought them off, screaming as I swung, my fists connecting with fur and bone. This time, I killed more of them. I could feel their bodies shattering beneath my blows, the sick crunch of bone beneath my hands. But they kept coming. The pain started all over again, sharper than before, and it didn’t stop until I was gone, pulled under by the darkness once more.

When I woke up by the lake again, I couldn’t even scream. I could barely breathe, the memory of those claws still fresh, my skin prickling as if they were still there, digging into me. I wanted to run, to hide, but there was nowhere to go. Nowhere to escape from the nightmare waiting for me each time I closed my eyes.

It didn’t matter if I kept telling myself it was just a dream. The pain was too real. It sliced through me, relentless and cruel, and left me broken, piece by piece.

I tried to sleep again, hoping that maybe this time I wouldn’t have to return to that place. But the second I closed my eyes, the ruined city took shape around me, just as broken and empty as before. And the rabbits came. I killed a few, feeling a small surge of control each time, but it never lasted. They overwhelmed me, tore me apart, and I died all over again, drowning in that unbearable agony.

And then, I was back at the lake.

I stared at the water, feeling the tears welling up before I even realized I was crying. I didn’t want to—didn’t want to give in. But the tears kept coming, hot and painful, blurring my vision as I hugged my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth.

“I can’t,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, choked with sobs. “I can’t do this anymore.”

But it didn’t matter if I couldn’t. The nightmare would come again. I knew that. I’d have to face the rabbits, the endless pain, the relentless, crushing fear. I would keep dying, keep suffering, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears came, sharp and hot, spilling over like they had a mind of their own. I pressed my forehead against my knees, curling into myself, trying to make it all go away. Every breath felt ragged, like it might tear me apart from the inside. I wasn’t strong anymore. I was just...tired.

“I don’t want this,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I don’t want to go back there. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

But saying it didn’t make it true. I still knew, deep down, that eventually, I’d fall asleep again, and then I’d be back in that nightmare—the ruined city, the rain, the red-eyed rabbits. And they’d come, and I’d die, and it would all start again. No matter how hard I tried to hold onto my sanity, piece by piece, it was slipping away. I was slipping away.

I hugged myself tighter, rocking slightly as if I could hold everything together just a little bit longer. My mind was spiraling with thoughts I couldn’t stop. The memories of pain, of claws raking over my skin, of my own screams as I was torn apart over and over... it was all I could think about. All I could feel.

My breathing was shallow, almost panicked. I was beyond exhausted. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt rested, the last time I’d felt anything other than fear and pain. There was a part of me that wanted to just stay here by the lake, to let the soft sounds of water and wind wash over me until I disappeared into the quiet.

But I knew that wasn’t how this worked. I’d tried staying awake before, tried to avoid the sleep that would pull me back into the nightmare, but it always won in the end. My body would give in, my eyes would close, and then—then I’d be back there, facing them all over again.

“I don’t want to do this…” I whispered again, barely hearing my own voice. “I’m so tired. I don’t want to…”

But eventually, even with all the resistance left in me, my eyes grew heavy, my body gave in to the inevitable. My vision blurred, the lake fading away as sleep took over. And then—

I was back.

The rain poured down, chilling me to the bone. The city was there, its broken buildings looming around me, shadows stretching long and dark across the cracked pavement. My heart raced. The familiar dread pooled in my stomach, sick and heavy. I knew they’d be coming—the rabbits, with their crimson eyes and razor-sharp claws.

I clenched my fists, feeling the trembling in my bones. This time, though, I was determined to do something different. I was beyond fighting with my bare hands. It wasn’t enough, and I knew it.

The memory came to me in flashes—how I’d seen the witch back at the execution ground summon her magic. The way she chanted, the way the magic circle formed around her, how the energy crackled in the air. If I could remember that, if I could see it clearly enough… maybe I could replicate it.

I took a deep breath, the rain pelting down harder around me, and tried to focus on the steps, one by one.

First, memorize it. I pictured the spell in my mind—the witch’s voice as she chanted, the pattern of the magic circle, the way the energy gathered around her hands. I could see it clearly, like it was right in front of me.

Next, visualize it. I raised my hand, as she had, and let the images fill my mind, every detail precise and perfect. My heartbeat quickened, pulsing in my veins as I concentrated. Then I whispered the chant, the words falling from my lips like I’d known them all along.

Finally, imagine it. I could almost feel the energy gathering around me, like heat building in the cold rain. The air thickened, vibrating with power, and then, slowly, a glowing magic circle took shape before me, bright against the darkness. The sight was surreal, as if I’d stepped into someone else’s body, wielding something far beyond myself.

I took a deep breath, then shouted with all the strength I had left, “Astral Flame!”

Blue fire erupted from the circle, crackling with an intense heat, and shot forward like a tidal wave of flame. The shockwave knocked me backward, but I barely felt it—I was too focused on the sight of the fire as it tore through the rabbits, scattering them like leaves in the wind. The light of the flames illuminated the broken city, casting shadows that danced and twisted, and for a moment, I felt a strange, fierce joy. I was fighting back.

But as the fire died down, so did my strength. My vision blurred, and I stumbled, barely able to keep my balance. The spell had drained me; I could feel it deep in my bones, my energy halved in an instant. Just lifting my arms felt like trying to move through thick mud.

But the rabbits—they were gone. Their charred bodies lay scattered across the ground, lifeless. For once, I’d actually won.

A weak laugh bubbled up from my throat as I fell to my knees, exhausted but feeling the smallest flicker of hope. Maybe—maybe I could actually do this. Maybe I could finally find a way out.

But the exhaustion took over, like a wave crashing over me, and I collapsed to the ground, barely able to keep my eyes open. The rain kept falling, cold and relentless, but I didn’t care. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt the smallest hint of relief, of something close to victory.

I collapsed onto the cracked pavement, my body trembling, the rain soaking through my clothes. Every breath felt like it burned, my lungs raw and aching. The magic had taken everything from me—my stamina, my strength, my will to even stand. I closed my eyes, just for a moment, letting the rain wash over me. Maybe I could finally rest. Maybe this time, nothing would come.

Five minutes. That was all I needed. Five minutes to breathe, to remind myself I was still alive, even in this hellish dream. The city was eerily quiet, save for the patter of rain on broken concrete. My mind was a swirling haze, teetering between the sharp memory of the fight and the numb void of exhaustion.

Then the ground shook.

A deep, guttural roar ripped through the silence, sending a shiver down my spine. My eyes snapped open, panic already clawing its way into my chest. The air grew heavy, oppressive, like the atmosphere itself was pressing down on me.

In the distance, beyond the jagged ruins of a crumbled skyscraper, something moved. No, not moved—approached A massive, hulking shadow loomed in the rain, its presence suffocating. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my body refused to obey, too drained to even stand.

The creature stepped into view, and my breath caught in my throat.

It was a dragon, but unlike any dragon I could have imagined. Its body was sleek and serpentine, covered in scales that shimmered like liquid obsidian, reflecting flashes of lightning in the stormy sky. Jagged purple crystals jutted out along its spine and tail, glowing faintly like embers in the darkness. Its eyes were hollow voids, glowing faintly with a malevolent violet light. Two sets of leathery wings extended from its back, their membranes tattered but somehow still imposing.

It opened its maw, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and let out another ear-splitting roar. The sound reverberated through my chest, shaking the very earth beneath me. With a single beat of its massive wings, it rose into the air, the force of it sending rubble flying in all directions.

I tried to move, to crawl, to do anything—but my body wouldn’t listen. I was frozen, paralyzed by fear and exhaustion as the dragon descended, landing with a thunderous crash that sent a shockwave through the ground. Buildings crumbled under the force, debris raining down around me.

Its gaze locked onto me, and I knew, in that moment, I was already dead.

The dragon inhaled deeply, the crystals along its spine glowing brighter, and then it unleashed a torrent of flames. They weren’t ordinary flames—they were purple, dark and unnatural, and they consumed everything in their path. The heat was unbearable, the fire tearing through the air like a living thing.

The flames reached me, and all I could do was scream as they engulfed me, the pain searing through every nerve in my body. And then—

I woke up.

The lake was there again. The soft lapping of water, the cool breeze, the gentle rustling of trees. But it offered no comfort. My breaths were ragged, my chest heaving as if I’d just sprinted for miles. The memory of the flames lingered, vivid and cruel, as if they’d followed me back here.

I couldn’t do this anymore. My body screamed for rest, my mind for reprieve, but neither were granted. I didn’t have the luxury of giving up. I let out a hollow laugh, bitter and broken, and slumped back against the tree.

Sleep came again, inevitable and unkind.

The city greeted me once more, its ruins stretching endlessly into the horizon. The rain was heavier this time, soaking me to the bone almost instantly. The sound of it pounding against the rubble was deafening, but I didn’t care. I knew what was coming.

The rabbits appeared, their crimson eyes glowing like tiny embers in the gloom. They emerged from the shadows, one by one, their twisted bodies hunched and unnerving. I didn’t hesitate this time. I didn’t let the fear take hold.

I raised my hand, forcing myself to focus through the haze of exhaustion. The steps played out in my mind—memorize, visualize, imagine. The magic circle formed before me, its glow casting eerie shadows across the rain-soaked ground.

“Astral Flame!” I shouted, my voice hoarse but resolute.

The blue flames burst forth, consuming the rabbits in a blazing wave. Their screeches pierced the air, short-lived as they were reduced to ash. The shockwave knocked me back again, but I managed to stay on my feet this time, barely.

When the flames died down, I took a shaky breath, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. I still had some energy left—a small reserve I hadn’t used before. Maybe I was getting better at this. Maybe—

The roar came again.

I froze, my blood turning to ice as the ground shook beneath me. The dragon emerged from the shadows, just as before, its towering form blotting out the stormy sky. Its violet crystals glowed ominously, casting an eerie light across the ruins.

I raised my hand again, the magic circle forming faster this time.

“Astral Flame!” I screamed, the flames roaring to life once more. The fire shot toward the dragon, a brilliant blue streak cutting through the rain. But when it struck the dragon’s obsidian scales, it fizzled out, like a matchstick against steel.

The dragon didn’t even flinch.

Its hollow eyes turned to me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. This wasn’t a fight. This was an execution.

The dragon inhaled deeply, the crystals along its spine glowing brighter, and then the flames came. I tried to run, to dodge, to do anything, but it was too fast, too overwhelming. The purple fire consumed me, the pain unbearable. I screamed, the sound torn from my throat as my body burned, and then—

I woke up.

The lake again. Always the lake. My body was trembling, my breaths shallow and uneven. The pain lingered, sharp and vivid, as if the flames had followed me here. I clutched at my chest, my fingers digging into the fabric of my hoodie.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. But the weight of it all—of dying, of failing, of fighting battles I couldn’t win—was crushing me.
The pain came out of nowhere, sharp and searing, like a blade stabbing into the very core of my being. It started in my right eye, an intense, blinding ache that forced me to clutch at my face. My breaths came in shallow gasps, my body curling instinctively as the sensation grew worse.

"*What the hell is this?*" I hissed through gritted teeth. I’d endured so much—burned alive, torn apart by rabbits, skewered by knights—and yet this pain was on an entirely different level. It wasn’t just physical; it felt deeper, as though it were cutting into my soul.

I staggered to my feet, swaying as the world blurred around me. The forest, the lake, everything seemed distant, the edges of my vision darkening like a narrowing tunnel. My left eye still saw clearly, but my right eye… it felt like it was on fire.

“Why... why does it hurt this much?” I murmured, stumbling forward. I’d been through so much already. I thought I was used to pain, numb to it even. But this… this was unbearable. My legs carried me unsteadily to the water’s edge, as though I was drawn there by something beyond my control.

The lake stretched out before me, calm and serene, its surface shimmering in the pale light of the moon. I dropped to my knees at the shoreline, my heart pounding as I leaned forward, desperate to see what was happening to me.

The reflection stared back at me, rain-soaked and battered, my silver-white hair clinging to my forehead. My left eye, tired but familiar, glowed faintly with its blue hue. But my right eye—my right eye wasn’t mine anymore.

Its iris had changed, replaced by a swirling, intricate pattern of gold. The design was mesmerizing and unnerving all at once—a perfect golden clock, with tiny gears and markings spinning within its depths. It looked alive, as though it were ticking down to something I couldn’t understand.

I recoiled, falling back onto the damp grass. My chest heaved as I stared at the water in disbelief, my reflection still clear as day. My fingers trembled as I touched my right eye, half-expecting the pattern to fade or shatter like some cruel illusion. But it didn’t.

The clock kept turning, its golden glow faint but steady.
✧

[True Genocide system]

[Sudden Quest:Reach a new save point]
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[Completed!]

[Rewards Received]
[Checking Rewards....]
[Displaying Rewards...]

[Please chose two....

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
▷Eye of chrono
▷Mentality +1,000
▷All stats ×100
▷Omnipotent Focus and learning
▷Omniscient Viewpoint
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
....]

[Ceil is choosing the best reward out of five..
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
▶Eye of chrono
▷Mentality +1,000
▷All stats ×100
▶Omnipotent Focus and learning
▷Omniscient Viewpoint
.....]
[Displaying the rewards detail.....]

【Eye of Time】
—Details
「A ancient eye of a ancient 『Creator 』who was lost in the 『index』.」
—Abilities
『 Kōhaishita sekai no yume』 

「👍✌☠🕯❄ 👎☼☜✌💣」

『Locked』

『Locked』

『Locked』

『Locked』