When Zeke opened his eyes he was finally able to land a blow on the dragon’s chest. Zeke’s weapon bounced off the dragon’s body like it was made of steel, releasing a loud metallic clang that echoed throughout the chamber. That was when the dragon did something strange.

“n me maansn ten shstren viddhn bhvisyti, ydypi tvn kiytvaarn prytse,” the dragon said, slightly raising his head.

“That weapon will not pierce my flesh, no matter how many times you try,” Fredric paraphrased.

The dragon tuned around, walking back from where it initially emerged. It returned shortly, carrying a golden sword in its hand. The blade of which had been chattered off, leaving a sharp about 6 inch long dagger.

“smbhivrtte,” the dragon whispered, as the blade lit up in a blue light.

He ran the blade across his chest, leaving a large gash on it, a demonstration that this crumbled sword could indeed harm him. He threw the blade to Zeke, who caught it leaving his old weapon behind.

“adhunaa aagakchtu, ahn tvaan punah hnisyaami yen tvn tv duahkhn nirntrn krosi,” the dragon whispered, raising his sword.

“Now come, I shall kill you again so you may continue your suffering,” Fredric said, softly.

“What!?” Zeke exclaimed in surprise as the dragon decapitated him.

When Zeke opened his eyes, he saw that his weapon was replaced by the broken golden sword.

“What is this?” He looked at Fredric.

“He gave you that?” Fredric remarked. “Dragons have a unique ability to manipulate magic. Even my magic is susceptible to this,” he explained. “That is the only weapon that can harm him. He has never given that weapon to any other contestant. If gave that to you he must really like you,” Fredric smirked.

Zeke looked forth as the dragon stared vigilantly at him. He charged at the dragon, slashing him with the short blade. The moment the dragon saw that weapon, its eyes widened. It immediately transformed into its humanoid form leaping out of its shell and thrusting its blade through Zeke.

Zeke opened his eyes. The two immediately charged at each other.

Over their exchanges, Zeke died, repeatedly, getting used to the range of his new weapon. His body slowly changed even further, becoming akin to that of a skilled acrobat. His blade was much shorter, however, because of the difference in length, it was also much lighter. This made Zeke’s attacks faster. And even though they would almost never land, and when they did, they proved shallow, Zeke continued to struggle.

Over a million lives passed. Zeke’s expression grew stoic and hollow. He moved skillfully around the Dragon, careful not to get killed. The dragon swung its sword savagely at Zeke, barely grazing his cheek with his merciless onslaught.

A bond was formed between the two a comradery akin to that of a master and student. It became clear that the dragon had the ability to retain some of its memories as the loops continued. Its magic nullification extended to Zeke, allowing his muscles to grow and adapt. He could feel their bond with every swing. With every clash they were having a conversation, redefining each other through an eternity of combat. A conversation between two who have all but lost their purpose.

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It was unclear if Zeke still knew why he was fighting the dragon or what his goal was. He was entirely broken and reformed, his mind was a shell for his body to continue moving, to continue fighting. It became clear that Zeke had finally lost his mind.

Suddenly, Zeke slit his own throat. His goal was no longer to defeat the dragon, but instead to not get hit by its attacks. He often looked into its eyes with a certain admiration. He could feel a warmth emanating from his attacks. As they traded blows, the two would often smile at each other their soles becoming closer each time.

Just like that, another 9 nine million attempts passed. Zeke moved with incredible grace. able to dodge every single strike that the dragon threw out. The dragon would often shift in and out of his two forms and even use magic. But none of that proved effective against Zeke.

Zeke charged at the dragon, slashing through its arm, forcing it to drop its weapon. He pointed his weapon at the dragon’s throat, ready to kill it. But then, suddenly, he froze as he looked at the dragon with a sorrowful expression.

At that moment it became clear that Zeke did not have the heart to slay his mentor. His life before the fight was but a mirage, a distant dream he could barely recall as he tried to think back. Elaine, Ulmak and the cradle of fools no longer mattered to him.

“I don’t want this to end,” he thought to himself as he slit his own throat.

Zeke opened his eyes one last time. The dragon stepped out of his shell, manifesting its sword. It slowly approached Zeke. But before they had the chance to clash, the dragon stabbed itself in the stomach.

It collapsed on to the ground, drowning in its own blood.

Zeke ran up to the creature and lifted up its head. Tears started flooding out of his eyes, landing on to the dragon’s face.

“maa roditu,” the dragon whispered.

“Do not weep,” Fredric translated.

“myaa bhvtaa sh ktipyaani shsraani vytitaani,” the dragon said, placing it’s hand on Zeke’s shoulder.

“I have spent several millennia with you,” Fredric said in soft tone.

“mm anye srve idaanin aaah bhvnti,” the dragon looked up.

“All of my other selves have now become one,” Fredric translated.

“tvn kshkit vishah asi,” the dragon’s gaze grew vacant.

“You are someone special,” Fredric said.

“prtyekn myaa tvaan maaritn tdaa shighrmev jgat smaaptm…” The dragon closed his eyes, before turning into a see of white particles.

“Every time I killed you, the world ended soon after,” Fredric said with a smile as he slowly approached Zeke.

Zeke wept, covering his face with his hands, his mind so tired he was about to faint.

Fredric placed his hand on top of Zeke’s head. A golden light shot up from Zeke, forcing him into a state of alertness. In that brief moment, he saw his life flash before his eyes. A recollection made for him to remember who he was. He saw his childhood; he saw his parents; he saw his suffering, and in that moment, he remembered.

Zeke stood up, barely able to compose himself on his feet, still holding the broken sword in his hand.

“Are we done here?” Zeke growled with a ravenous expression. His eyes appeared dead and sunken in.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t know. You won. Yet you didn’t. This challenge could only be won by those who give up, knowing that there are some powers even they cannot overcome no matter how hard they tried. This trial was designed that way. ‘No one will ever beat this challenge,’ he said to me. ‘No one will ever slay that dragon,’ he promised. Yet here you are. A human vessel with no limits. A child who killed his own mother because he couldn’t stand to watch her suffer. Are you a hero? Or a monster hiding within the body of a boy? Will you deny it? For all you have done, all the suffering that you caused, it was all for yourself.” Fredric said in a long monologue.

“No, it was not only for me,” Zeke replied.

“Oh? So, what was it for then?” Fredric asked

“It was all for my goal. I will. One day. Change this damaged world. I will eradicate all demons!” Zeke screamed out with determination.

For a moment Fredric could feel them, the auras of hundreds of demonic souls squirming around the boy. And just like that, another moment passed, and they all disappeared in his stride with a single blue flash.

image [https://postimg.cc/TypgPp5R]image [https://i.postimg.cc/QMqb07XW/Name-Alias-X-Species-Demon-Age-80-Height-182cm-Affiliation-Knights-Rank-Special-grade-investigator.png]