-Interlude: It Generally Bears Repeating-
General Bears Varus, his crimson armor gleaming under the harsh lights of the war room, towered over the assembled figures like a predator surveying its prey. His gaze, cold and calculating, was fixed on the holographic map of Dunn, its intricate details projected across the polished obsidian table.
"Report," he growled, his voice a low rumble that echoed through the chamber.
A Magi-scientist, his face pale and drawn beneath the stark white light of his lab coat, stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly as he adjusted his spectacles. "General, we've detected a… a temporal anomaly. Originating from one of the human lord summoning chambers."
Varus's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "Which facility?"
"It's… difficult to pinpoint, sir. The energy signature is… chaotic. It appears to be emanating from either facility 254 or 255, but the sheer volume of temporal energy is causing a… an overlap."
Varus slammed his fist on the table, the obsidian surface cracking beneath the force of the blow. "Explain."
The Magi-scientist flinched, his voice barely a whisper. "The energy is… accelerating. It's like a wave, consuming everything in its path. Every ten seconds, more of the planet… disappears."
The other Magi-scientists, their faces a mixture of fear and morbid fascination, watched as the holographic sphere representing Dunn flickered and distorted. Swaths of the planet winked out of existence, replaced by a swirling vortex of temporal energy that pulsed with an ominous, sickly green light.
"How long?" Varus demanded, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down the spines of the assembled scientists.
The head scientist, his face ashen, swallowed hard. "At the current rate of acceleration, sir… seven seconds."
A beat of silence. Then, Varus erupted.
"Seven seconds?!" He roared, his voice a thunderclap that shook the very foundations of the war room. "You incompetent fools! You had one job! To monitor the summoning chambers! And you failed!"
His hand flashed towards his side, drawing his sword in a single, fluid motion. The blade, forged from the heart of a dying star, blazed with a cold, white fire.
The scientists screamed, their pleas for mercy drowned out by Varus's enraged bellow. He moved like a whirlwind of death, his blade a blur of silver, his anger a tangible force that filled the chamber.
One by one, he leaped between them and cut them down, their blood splattering across the obsidian table before they could even register the movements he made. Where the general passed bodies hit the floor in pieces as the holographic sphere flickered when parts of the scientists passed through, staining the holographic map of Dunn with a gruesome crimson.
As the final scientist fell, his lifeblood gushing from a gaping wound in his chest, the swirling vortex of temporal energy reached the war room.
Varus, his face contorted in a mask of rage and despair, raised his blade to the heavens, his final words a defiant curse against the encroaching oblivion. “DAMN YOU ALL!”
Then, the wave of time energy consumed everything, leaving behind only silence and the faint scent of ozone that did not belong in a timeless void.
-Raymond Draws-
"Strange," Dodon muttered, his gaze sweeping over me with a mixture of boredom and disdain.
I flinched, shrinking back against the wall of the summoning chamber, my eyes wide with feigned terror. "Please," I whimpered, my voice trembling convincingly. "Don't hurt me! I'll do anything you want!"
'Just get me to the damn cell, you overcompensating jackass,' I thought, my internal monologue a stark contrast to my outward display of fear. It was almost too easy to play the terrified prisoner. After all, what did death matter when it was just a temporary inconvenience?
Acting (Mind/Subterfuge/Body) is now level 41!
Lying (Mind/Subterfuge) is now level 21!
CRITICAL SUCCESS! INTERNAL DISSONANCE BONUS!
The notifications blinked into existence, a silent confirmation of my success. The system, it seemed, recognized the absurdity of my performance, the stark contrast between my internal state and my outward actions.
Dodon, thankfully, remained oblivious. He waved a dismissive hand, his attention already shifting to more important matters. "Take him to the cell. No use keeping an eye on him as someone so weak. Even if he might be unpredictable."
'Unpredictable, huh?' I thought, suppressing a smirk as McMoron Jinjin the stupid grabbed my arm and hauled me out of the chamber. 'That's one way to put it.'
The walk to the cell was a blur of thoughts and plans. I kept my gaze downcast, my shoulders slumped, playing the part of the defeated prisoner. But my mind was already racing ahead, analyzing my options, searching for weaknesses, formulating a new plan.
The heavy clang of the cell door echoed behind me, a welcome sound this time. I was alone, at least for now, free to explore the limits of my abilities and to push myself further.
'What am I missing?' I thought, scanning my mental skill board. My combat skills were steadily improving, my pain tolerance was through the roof, and I could dodge like a caffeinated squirrel. But something felt… off.
My gaze snagged on a cluster of low-level skills, all marked with the "Stretching" category.
'Stretching?' I frowned. 'Why are these so pathetically weak?'
It wasn't that I'd been neglecting them. It was more that I hadn't seen the point. Stretching seemed so… mundane, so irrelevant compared to the life-or-death struggle I was facing.
'Divine Identification.'
On a whim, I focused on the word "Stretching" in the menu, expecting nothing more than a generic description.
Stretching: A category of skills that enhance flexibility, balance, and smoothness of movement.
'Huh,' I thought, my eyebrows raising in surprise. 'Maybe there's more to this than I thought.'
I waited until Jin was distracted, his attention focused on a particularly juicy-looking scab on his forearm, then I started moving. Slowly, deliberately, I went through the half-remembered yoga poses I'd gleaned from years of watching late-night infomercials and the class I barely half paid attention to that my at the time girlfriend forced me to go to.
It was awkward at first, my stiff muscles protesting, my joints creaking like rusty hinges. But as the hours passed, something shifted. My movements became more fluid, my breath more even, my mind quieting as I focused on the subtle interplay of muscle and bone.
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Half-Remembered Yoga (-2 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now level 16!
Half-Remembered Yoga (-2 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now level 17!
Half-Remembered Yoga (-2 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now level 18!
Half-Remembered Yoga (-2 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now level 19!
Half-Remembered Yoga (-2 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) Is now Bad Yoga (-1 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) level 1!
Bad Yoga (-1 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now level 1!
Bad Yoga (-1 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now level 2!
Flexible Body (1 Evol)(Body/Stretching/Movement) is now level 1!
Meditation (Mind) is now level 10!
Bad Yoga (-1 Evol) (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now Actual Yoga:Earth (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) level 1!
Three hours of focused effort, and I'd not only evolved my pathetic excuse for yoga into something resembling actual skill, but I'd also unlocked a new level of mental clarity.
'Interesting,' I thought, a slow smile spreading across my face. 'Very interesting.'
This time loop, I had a feeling things were going to be… different.
A wave of dizziness washed over me, a familiar sensation that accompanied skill evolutions.
'Wait a minute,' I thought, a flicker of realization sparking in my mind. 'I haven't even checked my blessing inventory in this loop.'
'Blessing Inventory.'
New Unlocked Blessing Available:
Resistance Aptitude (Passive) (x5): Increases the rate at which you gain experience in all Resistance Skills by x5. Increases Resistance Skill Effectiveness by x5.
'Well, well, well,' I thought, my eyes widening with interest. 'This could be useful.'
My gaze drifted towards the cell door, towards the slumbering form of 'Moron'—Jin. A plan began to form, a reckless, potentially suicidal plan that sent a thrill of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
'Time to test the limits of this new blessing.'
I focused on the Resistance Aptitude blessing, mentally dragging it towards the Body Skill Gain Multiplier slot.
Error: Blessings can only be swapped within the first 10 minutes of a loop.
'Damn it,' I thought, suppressing a surge of frustration. 'So much for a quick and messy escape.'
I wasn't even sure if I was strong enough to tear the bars off the cell yet. Best to play it safe, at least for now.
'Patience, Raymond,' I reminded myself. 'Patience and planning.'
I settled back into my training routine, my focus shifting from escape to skill development. I cycled through pushups, squats, yoga poses, and silent walking drills, pushing my body to its limits, exploiting every advantage the system offered.
The hours blurred into a monotonous rhythm of exertion and exhaustion. But with each bead of sweat, each aching muscle, each ping of the system announcing another incremental increase in my skills, I felt a growing sense of control, of power.
Thirty hours of relentless training, fueled by a potent cocktail of adrenaline, stubbornness, and a deep-seated desire to break free from this cage.
Exercise (Body) is now level 84!
Flexible Body (1 Evol)(Body/Stretching/Movement) is now level 14!
Silent Walking (Body/Subterfuge) is now level 33!
Weak Stealth (Body/Subterfuge) is now level 25!
Martial Arts (1 Evol)(Body/Combat/Mind/Movement) is now level 23!
Exhaustion Resistance (Sleep) is now level 20!
Exhaustion Resistance (Physical) is now level 53!
Pain Tolerance (Body) is now level 51!
Minor Acrobatics (Body) is now level 40!
Breakdancing (Body/Performance) is now level 42!
Actual Yoga:Earth (Body/Mind/Stretching/Movement) is now level 13!
Ballet (Body/Performance) is now level 35!
Dancing (Body/Performance) is now level 59!
Evasion (1 Evol)(Movement/Body/Combat/Mind/Dexterity) is now level 17!
Barehanded Parry (Combat/Body/Dexterity) is now level 20!
Combat Endurance (Body/Combat) is now level 19!
Counter (Combat/Body/Mind) is now level 22!
The cell door clanged open, breaking the monotony. Dodon stood in the doorway, his expression a mask of bored contempt.
"You," he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain. "We for—"
"Forgot to check my blessing, Move. I get it, you piece of shit." I finished for him, my voice flat and emotionless.
Taunt (Mind)(Active) is now level 23
Dodon tensed and visibly tensed, stepping closer, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword hilt.
'Wrong move, asshole.'
I didn't wait for him to draw his weapon. My fist shot out, a blur of motion honed by hours of practice and fueled by a surge of adrenaline and a cold, calculating fury.
The impact was sickeningly satisfying. Bone crunched, metal buckled, and Dodon crumpled to the floor, his head a mangled mess.
I didn't hesitate. I was already moving, my body a weapon honed by death and rebirth. I crossed the distance to Jin in a heartbeat, my hand snapping out, my fingers closing around his throat with bone-crushing force.
A sharp twist, a sickening crack, and the guard slumped to the floor, his eyes wide and lifeless.
'Time to explore,' I thought, a predatory grin spreading across my face. 'And maybe… redecorate a little.'
The thought, dark and tinged with a hint of manic glee, made me pause.
'Am I going insane?' I wondered, a flicker of unease passing through me.
Then I shrugged, dismissing the thought. 'Probably. But hey, who isn't a little crazy in this place?'
After all, sanity was a luxury I couldn't afford. Not anymore.
I took a step towards the outside of the open cell door, my senses on high alert, my mind already pondering ways to escape.
A chiming sound of jingling bells rang through my head.
Favored Enemy Killed: Empire (Weakest) 2/500
I paused, the unexpected notification echoing in my mind.
'Well, well, well,' I thought, a slow grin spreading across my face. 'Looks like Sancta had a few tricks up her sleeve after all.'
The thought of the goddess, her weary face, her desperate plea for help, sent a pang of guilt through me. I'd been so focused on my own survival, on the immediate threat of the guards, that I'd almost forgotten about the bigger picture, about the reason I was trapped in this endless cycle of death and rebirth.
'To save her world,' I reminded myself, my grip tightening on the hilt of Jin's discarded sword. 'To break this empire, piece by piece.'
And apparently, killing Empire goons came with perks.
'Two down, four hundred and ninety-eight to go,' I thought, my gaze drifting towards the notification. 'I wonder what happens when I hit five hundred? A new blessing? A skill boost? A divine high five?'
The possibilities were intriguing, but a flicker of unease tempered my anticipation.
'Weakest,' I muttered, the word leaving a sour taste in my mouth. I'd just killed two guards, one with a well-placed punch, the other with a swift snap of his neck. It felt… easy. Too easy.
After the shit they put me through to enable me to kill them that easily or at all, however...
And if these were the weakest the Empire had to offer…
I shuddered, a cold dread settling in my gut. I had a long, long way to go.
I stepped out of the cell, my eyes scanning the corridor. It was empty, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the lingering scent of ozone. I started walking, my hand trailing along the wall, my fingers digging into the rough mortar between the stones.
As I walked, I carved a groove into the stone, a thin, jagged line.
I then shoved my whole hand into the stone, carving a large groove into the hall to mark my passage.
'One step at a time, Raymond,' I thought, my gaze fixed on the path ahead. 'One step at a time.'
A sudden thought, unexpected and audacious, flashed through my mind.
'Maybe…' I whispered, my voice barely audible above the rhythmic thud of my footsteps. 'Maybe one day, I can bring her back.'
Sancta. The goddess who had given me this chance, this curse, this burden. She was gone, her essence fading, her power dwindling.
But what if… what if I could find a way to reverse the process of her dissipation, to restore her to her former glory?
It was a long shot, a fool's hope, perhaps. But in this world, where death was a revolving door- at least for me, and reality itself seemed to bend to the whims of a system, anything was possible.
I continued walking, my hand carving its path through the stone, my mind racing with possibilities, my heart filled with a newfound determination.
I had a world to save. And a goddess to avenge.
Then, maybe I could revive her as thanks for giving me a fighting chance.