Chapter 4: Death Looped by a Mongolian Archer

Chapter 4: Death Looped by a Mongolian Archer

Isaac woke in a pile of brambles, his suit in tatters as he rolled from the overgrowth and drew his 1911 with an audible gasp.

“Mr. Ambrosia?! Lily!” Isaac shouted yet the only sounds that greeted him were the chirp of the forest and the high pitch whine of some kind of insect.

Damn! Damn it to hell you rat bastard! I still had questions! Isaac swore internally, eyes darting left and right at his unfamiliar surroundings.

At least, until his gaze picked up the plum of smoke in the distance that disappeared below the verdant ridgeline nearby.

Pushing past the oversized leaves and vines, the sight Isaac saw made his jaw drop.

New Orleans.

It was on fire. But not the city of stilts and poverty he knew, but a ruined vision of it beset by raging flames, crumbling skyscrapers, and iconic sights like the Greater New Orleans bridge split in half.

“No way…” Isaac muttered in disbelief before a massive shadow descended from above him.

Isaac flinched, ducking low, the image in his eyes reflecting a scaly creature with a green body and massive leathery wings soaring above him.

“What the-”

Then his heart sank, the color draining from his face as dozens more emerged from the clouds with their destination being one singular location.

New Orleans.

“Mom,” Isaac whispered, his feet rooted to the hillside, unable to look away from the view of two armies clashing at the outskirts of the city.

The hell? The hell do I even do?! How the hell am I supposed to get through that to get home?!

[User: Isaac Carter.]

[Registration Complete.]

[Training Wheel Program Active.]

[Good Evening Mr. Carter.]

Isaac flinched, the soft voice in his head that of a business-like woman that overlayed the text in his vision.

Huh? Who is this? What the-

[I am A.I.N.S, your Automated Intelligent Neural System and personal assistant. Mr. Emrys has co-opted your H.U.D implant to ensure a seamless transition from Gaia, to Syleria. I look forward to working with you Mr. Carter.]

“I…” Isaac's eye twitched, at a loss for what to do. “Wait, you're with Mr. Ambrosia, can you help me find my sister? She's ten years old, about four feet tall, brown hair, wearing all pink!”

[One Spell Point Available. Would you like to consume it to locate-]

“Yes! Do whatever you have to do to find my sister!” Isaac shouted.

[Understood.]

Something inside Isaac seemed to shift, like his organs were being rearranged by a firm hand that quickly began to cause him extreme discomfort to the point he grabbed his stomach.

[Compatible Spell located! Spell Mana Mark Acquired!]

[Tracing…]

Then, a pulse of invisible energy left Isaac's body, his sense of self seeming to appear as a birds-eye view over his body and the acres of trees surrounding him before he was suddenly back in his own head.

[MP Insufficient…]

“Ugh!” Isaac let out, falling to one knee, a headache taking him as his hand slapped against his head.

[Converting HP for MP use]

Suddenly, Isaac's body began to feel light weight, his consciousness waning for a moment with fatigue taking hold. Then he was airborne again, this time his aerial vision locking onto a small terrified girl dressed in pink wandering the forests.

[Lily Velvet Carter Located!]

[Quest Program Triggered!]

[Quest: Rescue Lily Carter!]

-[Reward: 100 EXP!]

Isaac winced at the words, doubling over as his consciousness returned to his body.

“Lily!” Isaac groaned, his hand latching onto a nearby tree to stabilize his body while his eyes gazed beyond the battlefield in the distance to the city beyond it.

He shook his head, his jaw clenching tightly, his mind, torn between trying to look for his sister or rushing home to his mother.

Try to find his sister, or try and save his mom?

Isaac knew the answer the moment the question was asked in his mind. His mother would never forgive him if he abandoned Lily and plus, he was her big brother, it was his-

“Huhk?”

[-30 HP!]

[-82HP]

[Error! Fatal damage sustained!]

Isaac looked down, his hands touching the arrowheads that stuck out of his chest. He tried to breathe, his mouth opening and closing only for nothing to come out.

“Ew dnuof eht rettops!” A foreign shout, Isaac's body hitting the grassy forest floor with a wet thump.

What… the hell?

Isaac's vision waned, his body twitching as strength fled him with his eyes locked onto hooves that exited from the bush.

“S’eh llits evila!”

“Bast…” Isaac let out, attempting to twist his head towards his killer only for his chest to hiccup and blood flow between his lips.

“Hsinif mih neht dna s’tel og!” Another voice, Isaac's eye finally locking onto the hulking mass of man wrapped in fur and carrying a bow that was aimed at his head.

“I-” Isaac began only for the archer to release his arrow and end Isaac's life.

[You have Died.]

***

Familiar words played in Isaac's vision as his consciousness flickered on.

[Welcome back, Mr. Carter.]

He lay there for a moment, at least until the pain in his left eye where the arrow entered dulled.

“So… this really isn't a dream,” Isaac muttered, watching as the green dragon flew overhead again.

[Correction: Database entry shows the creature observed isn't a dragon, but a Green Lesser Wyvern. A cousin to the Verdant Drakes.]

“Right… so you can read my thoughts. What are you? Some kind of super Pokedex or something?” Isaac muttered, calming his nerves, unsure whether to be offended about the invasion of privacy or happy that he had such a tool at his disposal.

[I am the repository of Mr. Emrys’ knowledge. Everything that he knew, I do as well.]

“What else can you do?” Isaac asked, eyeing the tree line, searching for the threat that would eventually come.

[I monitor your vitals, provide data, and keep a repository on all combat data accessible to you.]

Combat data?

Isaac furrowed his brow, his body still feeling fatigue despite “resetting”.

Is this my information?

Isaac blinked, his vision filled by a wall of information with the first thing he noticed was the skill being active despite dying.

He could feel it moving however, no doubt due to Lily being on the move.

Then his eye shifted to the curse of reversion, the only skill he had in all bold words.

[Correct. This is a synopsis of your body and your currently available skills and spells. To assist in your survival, a specific set of abilities have been chosen as a class preset. You may change these at a later time.] Ains explained as Isaac took a few moments to process the information in his face.

*Rustle*

Isaac unholstered his gun, staring at the treeline and rustling of bushes only for two blurs to appear.

Isaac ducked left, avoiding the first arrow only for the other to strike him in the throat.

[You are Dead.]

[Welcome back, Mr. Carter.]

Pausing, Isaac rubbed his throat as the green wyvern flew overhead.

“I take it… you're aware of everything that happens between each death?” Isaac asked, feeling his mark on Lily prick his mind.

[Correct. In order to ease the trauma of dying, I am equipped with such capability to assist in your continued well being.]

“Right…” Isaac clicked his teeth before rolling over and taking cover behind a nearby tree. He clutched his 1911 close, the silver sheen of the gun comforting him as he began counting down. “These guys who keep killing me. How are they finding me?”

[Perhaps it is due to your mana trace.]

“Perhaps?” Isaac said, wondering if he was getting used to the feeling of dying or if it were AINS interfering.

[The Mana Mark uses a good deal of your mana to remain active. If you would like, I could deactivate-]

“No,” Isaac said, steeling his resolve as he felt the mark move as Lily moved. “Just… start the countdown when I revert. I just have to-”

Two blurs again, this time Isaac ducking around the tree as loud thuds struck the thick brown trunk.

Isaac immediately returned fire, moving through the foliage, the bang of his firearm echoing into the treeline.

-[19 HP!]

“AHK?!” Isaac screamed, an arrow striking his knee and sending him tumbling into the ground.

Isaac sat up, firing his gun into the woods with a scream only for two arrows to embed themselves into his chest.

[You are Dead!]

The next life Isaac stayed low, counting down each second before the arrows appeared, however, just like the last, Isaac's life quickly ended with black-tipped arrows stuck in him.

[You are Dead!]

[Welcome Back Mr. Carter]

“Does your database have anything on what keeps killing me?!” Isaac hissed upon resetting.

[The warriors wear armor similar to ancient Mongolians from Gaia, but no database contains information regarding your assailants.]

“Great, Isaac muttered before another six lives passed, each one ending with the same effect, save for the last two where Isaac dodged the arrows to flee only to be beheaded by the swordsman.

[Welcome Back Mr. Carter.]

Finally Isaac regained consciousness, spinning to stand in the middle of the outcropping with gun in hand.

“Alright, Ains, read it back to me,” Isaac said, his body tensing, preparing for the arrows as he rubbed his neck. With no choice than to fight or die, Isaac preferred the former.

[Two soldiers. Each on horseback. Armored. One with a sword, another with a bow whose arrows can punch through trees. Five minutes until the first two arrows. Then two arrows every three to four seconds.] Ains reported back in Isaac's voice.

“Right.”

Then the arrows came, this time dodged by Isaac as his gun came up, firing three shots into the wilderness that were followed by a yelp.

Got ya. Isaac grinned but it wasn't over yet.

Next came the warrior with a viscous roar, the swordsman, coated in bronze and brown furs slashing a curved sword at Isaac only to miss as the latter ducked beneath the blade.

Four shots ranged out, Isaac backing away and hitting the magazine release on his gun as his assailant stumbled back but didn't fall.

“Tough bastard,” Isaac spat, reloading and firing again until the man dropped to his knees, clutching his chest with an incredulous look on his tan old face. “Piss off.”

*Bang!*