Hours had passed with guards giving me confused looks.
I launched into a series of cartwheels, handstands, and backflips, my movements fluid and controlled thanks to hours of practice. The guards, instead of being taken aback, watched with an unnervingly detached curiosity. Their hands rested lightly on their sword hilts, but their stances were relaxed, their expressions unreadable behind their helmets. These were seasoned soldiers, veterans of countless battles and countless interrogations. They weren't easily fooled.
"He's communicating," one of the mind-slaves stated flatly, his voice devoid of inflection. "Nonverbal cues, exaggerated movements. It's a common communication tactic in certain cultures."
The other guards nodded in agreement. 'Moron'Jin tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I've seen this before. Back on that jungle world we conquered last year. Their shamans used to do this kinda stuff to talk before we slaughtered ‘em."
'Jungle world?’' I continued my exaggerated movements as my heart pounded in my chest. Sancta’s words echoed in my mind: “They use it to fuel their endless wars, to enslave entire worlds.” I'd known, on an intellectual level, that the Kondur Empire's reach extended far beyond their own world, but hearing it confirmed so casually, so matter-of-factly, was a chilling reminder of the scope of their depravity.
Still, this wasn't entirely unexpected. My whole plan of acting bizarre had been built on the assumption that they might encounter beings from worlds with different forms of communication. It was just… unsettling to have my hypothesis confirmed so blatantly.
"He might be trying to tell us something important," one of the guards said, his voice laced with a hint of concern. "Maybe he needs something. Food, water… a blanket?"
"A blanket?" Another guard snorted. "Yeah, right. Maybe he wants us to offer up our firstborn to his dancing gods."
"Silence!" Dodon's voice, sharp and authoritative, cut through the chatter. He fixed me with a cold stare. "Enough of this nonsense! We don't have time to call for an interpreter. Bring him to the orb to see if he’s even worth it!"
The guards moved with practiced efficiency, their hands gripping my arms, their movements swift and controlled. There was no hesitation this time, no uncertainty. They believed, without a doubt, that I was trying to communicate, and their response was to shut it down, to assert their dominance.
'Time's up,' I thought, abandoning my acrobatic display. The hours I'd spent honing my skills and pushing my body to its limits had yielded impressive results.
Exercise (Body) is now level 22!
Exercise (Stretching) is now level 18!
Minor Acrobatics (Body) is now level 8!
But all the strength and agility in the world wouldn't save me from the orb. It was time to end this loop, to gather another blessing, and to refine my strategy.
As the guards approached, their faces grim, their hands reaching for me, I decided to go out with a bang. I lunged at the nearest guard, my fist cocked, my muscles coiled like a spring.
'Let's see if I can at least land one good punch before they turn me into a pincushion.'
The world dissolved into a symphony of pain as their blades found their mark. But in the midst of the agony, a flicker of satisfaction. I'd connected. My fist had slammed into one of the guards, a solid hit that sent a jolt of pain up my arm.
Pain Tolerance (Body) is now level 20!
Brawling (Body/Combat) is now level 10!
Then, darkness. And the familiar scent of ozone.
'Time for the next round' I thought as my consciousness snapped back into focus as the summoning chamber materialized around me. 'Time to see what new toys I have to play with.'
I let the guards manhandle me, my body going limp. Resistance was futile, and I had more important things to focus on.
'Blessing Inventory.'
New Unlocked Blessing Available:
Combat Skill Aptitude (Passive) (x4): Increases the rate at which you gain experience in all Combat Skills by x4. Increases Combat Skill Endurance by x4.
'Now that's what I'm talking about,' I thought, a predatory grin spreading across my face. 'But patience, Raymond, patience. You're not ready for a head-on assault. Not yet.'
Escape first, combat later. That was the plan. At least for now.
As they dragged me towards the cell, I took the opportunity to gather some intel while trying to be quiet and trying to to draw attention to said being-quiet..
'Divine Identification.'
One by one, I scanned the guards, their information flashing across my vision in a stream of blue text. Names, alignments, skills, snippets of their thoughts—each scan added another piece to the puzzle, helping me to understand my enemies, their strengths, their weaknesses.
Silent Walking (Body/Subterfuge) is now level 21!
I almost missed the notification, my attention focused on the guard in front of me. He was a hulking brute, his armor dented and scarred, his face hidden behind a thick, iron beard.
Name: Gorgoth
...
Brawling Level: 38
Swordsmanship Level: 42
...
On his way to being promoted to-
'Not someone I want to tangle with,' I thought, a shiver running down my spine.
I shifted my attention to the next guard, a younger man with nervous eyes and a trembling hand.
Name: Valen
...
Brawling Level: 12
Swordsmanship Level: 9
...
Valen is terrified. He doesn't want to be here. He wants to go home to his family.
'Another victim,' I thought, a wave of sympathy washing over me. 'There are so many of them.'
The last guard I scanned before we reached the orb chamber was a woman, her face obscured by a featureless helmet.
Your Blessing: Divine Identification has increased in level! Obfuscation can be pierced in a more productive way, and more information will be revealed.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
'About time,' I thought, a surge of satisfaction washing over me. Every improvement, every step forward, no matter how small, fueled my hope.
I turned my attention to Dodon, eager to test out the enhanced capabilities of my ability.
'Divine Identification.'
Name: Imperial Exec̶u̶t̶o̶r̶ ̶Dodon
Moral Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Titles: I̶m̶p̶e̶r̶i̶a̶l̶ ̶E̶x̶e̶c̶u̶t̶o̶r̶,̶ ̶M̶a̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶M̶a̶s̶s̶a̶c̶r̶e̶,̶ ̶P̶a̶r̶a̶m̶o̶u̶n̶t̶ ̶E̶v̶i̶l̶,̶ ̶O̶n̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶2̶0̶ ̶P̶e̶r̶p̶e̶r̶a̶t̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶6̶ ̶G̶r̶e̶a̶t̶ ̶M̶a̶s̶s̶a̶c̶r̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶I̶n̶n̶o̶c̶e̶n̶t̶, Compulsive Liar
Danger Level: ██████████
The information flickered before my eyes, a jumble of fragmented text and pulsing black squares. The only thing that stood out, clear and unwavering, was the final title: Compulsive Liar.
'Huh,' I thought, my eyebrows raising in mild surprise. 'That's... weird.'
A mental shrug. At this point, weird was the norm. I'd died seven times in a row, been dragged through this twisted funhouse of a world, and forced to listen to Dodon's monotone pronouncements about strangeness. A glitching title and an unreadable Danger Level barely even registered on the scale of bizarre anymore.
'Add it to the to-do list,' I thought, filing the anomaly away for future investigation. 'Right now, I've got bigger fish to fry.'
I let the guards shove me toward the orb, my mind already racing ahead, planning my next move. This loop was a bust, but every death was a lesson, every reset a chance to refine my strategy.
This time, I was going to focus on escape. No more pointless provocations, no more attention-grabbing antics. Just quiet observation, methodical planning, and maybe a little light sabotage when no one was looking.
These assholes thought they had me trapped. They had no idea what they were dealing with.
—
'It turns out that I, in fact, had no idea what I was dealing with.'
I scowled at the crudely drawn red middle finger emblazoned on the freshly revealed section of wall. "Nice try, slave," the accompanying inscription mocked, the letters scrawled in what looked like dried blood.
Hours of painstaking work after the two guards had gone to sleep, carefully chipping away at the mortar, moving with the agonizing slowness of a snail in a tar pit, all for… this.
'Back to the drawing board,' I thought, dusting off my hands and suppressing a surge of frustrated anger. Sneaking wasn’t the answer apparently.
The soft thud of approaching footsteps sent a jolt of adrenaline through me.
'No time to waste.'
I dove under the rickety cot, my heart pounding against my ribs. The rough wooden slats pressed against my back, the musty scent of old straw filling my nostrils.
Weak Stealth (Body/Subterfuge) is now level 2.
Weak Stealth (Body/Subterfuge) is now level 3.
Weak Stealth (Body/Subterfuge) is now level 4.
The notifications blinked into existence, a welcome distraction from the rising tide of panic. Each tick of the system clock, each increment in my skill level, brought a sliver of reassurance.
Weak Stealth (Body/Subterfuge) is now level 13.
The scrape of metal on stone told me they were entering my cell.
'Damn,' I thought, my muscles tensing. 'Time to go out swinging.'
They yanked me from my hiding place, their grips rough, their faces grim. I didn't resist. Instead, I met their gaze with a defiant smirk.
"Nice of you to drop by," I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. "I Was starting to feel a little lonely here."
They didn't respond. They never did. Just shoved me towards the orb chamber, their movements as predictable and impersonal as machines.
As they reached for the orb, I decided to make a statement. One last act of defiance before the inevitable reset.
I lashed out, my fist connecting with one of the guard's fists as they also tried to punch at the same time. The impact sent a jolt of pain up my arm, but I ignored it, fueled by a surge of adrenaline and a desperate need to prove, if only to myself, that I wasn't entirely powerless.
The metal dented slightly beneath my knuckles. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
Brawling (Body/Combat) is now level 16!
Then, the world exploded into a symphony of pain. Six blades found their mark, their movements swift and precise, honed by years of training and fueled by a cold, impersonal brutality.
Pain Tolerance (Body) is now level 25!
The last thing I saw was the flash of steel as Dodon's sword severed my head from my body.
'Well,' I thought, my consciousness fading into darkness. 'That was… Not fun.'
—
"Strange," Dodon's voice droned, the sound washing over me like a wave of stale air.
I didn't even bother looking at him. My gaze was fixed on the far wall, on the crudely drawn middle finger that mocked my futile efforts.
'Subterfuge is a dead end,' I thought, my mind already racing ahead, formulating a new plan. 'If that wall was my only chance at a stealthy escape, and it's clearly a trap… then there's no point in going for it.'
'Blessing Inventory.'
New Unlocked Blessing Available:
Blacksmithing Aptitude (Passive) (x6): Increases the rate at which you gain experience in all Blacksmithing Skills by x6.
'Blacksmithing?' I scoffed, dismissing it without a second thought. 'Yeah, that's gonna be real useful in a concrete cell.'
I slotted the Combat Skill Aptitude blessing, replacing the now-useless Subterfuge Skill Aptitude.
Blessings:
Permanent Blessings (2/2):
Divine Identification (Locked In)
Authority of the Time Loop (Locked In)
Temporary Blessing Slots (3/3):
Body Skill Gain Multiplier (Passive) (x3)
Movement Skill Aptitude (Passive) (x3)
Combat Skill Aptitude (Passive) (x4)
'Time to become a weapon,' I thought, a grim determination settling over me.
But brute force wasn't enough. I needed more than just strength and endurance. I needed to learn how to move, how to anticipate attacks, how to slip through the gaps in their defenses.
I watched the guards, their movements a blur of practiced efficiency. They moved with a confidence, a lethal grace, that sent a shiver down my spine.
'Divine Identification.'
Name: Gorgoth
...
Danger Level: Extremely Dangerous
Name: Valen
...
Danger level: Very Hard
Each guard I scanned had a similar assessment: incredibly difficult to fight at all.
Even Dodon, with his glitching titles and unreadable danger level, had an assessment of 'Impossible' for fighting.
'Impossible,' I thought, a spark of doubt flickering within me. 'Is he really that untouchable? Or is it his compulsive liar title?'
The guards closed in, their hands reaching for me, their expressions grim. This dance was becoming all too familiar.
'Time to change the tune,' I thought, my muscles coiling like springs.
As they moved to grab me, I weaved, ducked, and bobbed, my body instinctively responding to the threat. It was clumsy, awkward, but I felt a glimmer of something… potential.
Weak Dodge (Movement/Body/Combat/Mind)(-1 Evol) is now level 1!
Weak Dodge (Movement/Body/Combat/Mind)(-1 Evol) is now level 2!
Weak Dodge (Movement/Body/Combat/Mind)(-1 Evol) is now level 3!
Weak Dodge (Movement/Body/Combat/Mind)(-1 Evol) is now level 4!
Skill Evolved! Weak Dodge (Movement/Body/Combat/Mind)(-1 Evol) has evolved into Dodge (Movement/Body/Combat/Mind)!
Dodge (Movement/Body/Combat/Mind) is now level 5!
The notifications flashed before my eyes, a surge of exhilaration coursing through me. I wasn’t just flailing anymore. I was learning, adapting, becoming something passable in combat.
And then, I saw my opening.
Dodon, momentarily distracted by my sudden burst of agility, had let his guard down. I seized the opportunity, my fist rocketing towards his jaw with all the force I could muster.
The impact was solid, a satisfying crunch of bone against metal. Dodon staggered back, his helmet twirling into the air as he fell to the ground, his pasty white skin bruised and red eyes wide with shock as his out-of-place dreadlocks stood out as they covered the front of his rage-filled expression.
CRITICAL SUCCESS! BLINDSIDE BONUS! FIRST STRIKE BONUS! UNDERDOG BONUS! LUCKY HIT BONUS!
Brawling (Body/Combat) is now level 37!
Divine identification then opened on its own.
Enemy obfuscation partially failed!
Imperial Exec̶u̶t̶o̶r̶ ̶D̶o̶d̶o̶n̶'s Dodon: Danger Level: High.
A surge of triumph, raw and exhilarating, washed over me. I'd done it. I'd actually hit him.
A cruel smirk twisted my lips. 'So much for 'Impossible,' I thought, savoring the moment of victory.
Pain Tolerance (Body) is now level 31!
It was short-lived, though. The other guards, their shock quickly replaced by rage, descended upon me like a pack of wolves.
The pain was pretty bad, but pain was temporary and eventually revenge would be forever.
Maybe.
'Next round is now, I guess,' I thought as I quickly bled out following which-,
---
My eyes snapped open to meet Dodon's confused gaze.
'Time to really get this party started.'