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 – 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 – 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 – once, twice, thrice – 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 afflicted by Fear. 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 – 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 – 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. Déjà vu rang in my mind, but I chose to ignore it and keep moving.

  Then, it happened.

  The Déjà vu System displayed the most horrifying message I could’ve ever imagined.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  [Déjà 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 – 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.

  Déjà vu rang in my ears again, more urgently this time. Something bad was going to happen.

  I stopped ignoring, instead focusing 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 – twenty percent a hunch, eighty percent Déjà vu. I activated Fearsome Aura, releasing a roar, hoping it would inflict Fear on whatever Déjà 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.

  Déjà 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 moments 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 – 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 – a gust of wind.

  I reacted too late. The mutt 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 – there’s that – 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 – the rubble and debris flying, slamming against the walls – 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.

  [Déjà 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]