Players, what are they?

They are puppets, at least in the grander scheme of things. They are meant to entrain, struggle, and die for their world. Luna does all of this and more.

Siri: "Wow, this is… stupid."

Luna: "Don't worry about it. Once I give you the signal, please activate it."

Siri: "Fine, better let me play with your PS5 later, okay?"

Luna: "Whatever you say."

Luna was about to fall from the ledge of a ten-story building; it would have been an awful game over even for her. She smiles and activates her skill: [Mask of Avarice]. Feeling the wind hit her face, Luna smiles. Before she jumps off the building, she tells Siri one last thing.

Luna: "Remember, I'm going by X right now!"

Then, after those words, she spins and dives down the building. She won't die here. Why? Because she has a plan for all of this. After repeating the same day ten times, she knows how things will go; let's go by some of her failed attempts.

Loop 1: She died from an explosion caused by Eva and the Demon General fighting.

Loop 3: Luna goes through the dungeon and is killed by Eva herself. She was tortured for ten minutes straight, and after the final bone snapped, she died.

Loop 6: She drowned to death as a monster wrapped its tail around her neck, killing her in three minutes as it twisted her head 180.

Loop 7: She killed herself because she arrived at the dungeon thirty minutes earlier than expected.

As she's falling, she thinks of other solutions. She didn't know Eva was a demon at first. Initially, her mind thought she was an Oni. Funny enough, that was until the 3rd loop. Now that he has enough information about what she's like, at least the basics.

Luna: "SAVE ME!!"

A lightning bolt came in and caught her. Right before landing on the hard floor, she was thankful Siri was kind enough to see her at the last minute. On the other hand, Siri is upset now that her sister is dealing with her creative process. However, by the looks of it, Luna has an idea.

Luna: "You're in contact with them, no?"

Siri: "Yes."

Siri gets her phone and begins a call. As she leaves the scene, Siri feels her hair turning white.

Siri: "You're going through floor 7 today."

Exactly how Luna planned.

October 1st, 2030. 9:00 am.

A cunning voice once told Luna that this is when the first signs of the world will manifest. Of course, Luna believes it. First and foremost, Luna is a player. Like it or not, she has to play according to the script.

[The Serpent of Light shakes her head.]

"Come on, cut me some slack." She sighs. The stress of going through this day more than once is already getting to her. Although her goal is to stop the end of the world, in a dramatic irony, Luna is one of them. That's something that will never change. However, because of her ability, it gets harder to classify her. That's what makes it interesting to her. She's a walking gamble to the stars above.

"What should I do? Can't just walk in there and say, 'Everyone! A Demon General is going to destroy this whole area! Run!' they didn't believe me in my fifth loop. Ugh, I'm getting mad thinking about it."

She has time—lots of it, actually. The Demon General will be summoned at 4:40 pm. Again and again, a vein can be felt throbbing.

Ten times, she's repeated October 1st. Ate the same food. Drank the same coffee. Luna woke up at the same time every time she tried. The only difference is her deaths.

Luna: "I guess it's time to play a jackass again."

Funny enough, many people will say she's suited for it. Her skill [Mask of Avarice] is made for these types of stunts. It's an invisible mask that hides her face more so. It erases the existence of her face in the memories of the living.

Without this skill, her whole plan would have fallen apart.

She's at the city's center; you can find trading centers, shops, eggkeepers, painters, and musicians. It's more of an arts and crafts project than anything else. Reminds her of one of those main hubs in a Monster Hunter title. Skyscrapers are covered with natural greenery, flowers, and fruits growing on business rooftops. Some street and tree vines are growing through the cracks, so it's nice to see kids jumping over them. One tripped, and Luna snickered. "I hate doing this."

Luna ordered her sister to let her do her job, even if it was stupid. Also, one important thing: don't tell the Guilds of her plan. She has to catch the attention of a particular demon today.

Boom!

She snaps her fingers, and a building collapses.

"Didn't think slight terrorism would be on my to-do list." She's making sure not to harm anyone; she's just causing a small scene. She blew up the largest building in the area with the help of one individual. Someone who will always be there for her. A woman her age stands right next to Luna. Her long white hair is in a ponytail, fitting for the scenario they're in. She has nothing more but some pajamas and sandals on for extra measure. Even with this, she still looks beautiful.

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???: "This is rather cruel, no?"

Luna: "Blah blah, no one is dead yet, right?"

"How are you the same person?" Reeva thinks this as she sighs. She is Luna's only ally and will stay no matter the atrocities they commit. That's the person she is.

Reeva: "Your plan is so stupid...I hope you know I'm kicking your ass when we get home."

Luna: "Go ahead and try; I like that."

Reeva: "Never mind."

Luna, no. X takes a deep breath and taps her foot. Reeva then suddenly turns into a perfectly made longsword. She spun it and decided to continue forward.

The persona of X shall commit the crimes, not her.

"I have my answer now."

After ten loops, she got her answer. With her X name, she will cause as much destruction as possible while keeping it to a minimum for the public's safety. The moment they have reports of a madman going through the city's center, the Guilds will send some men. That's also something she took into account—however, one thing. The Guild located in the Green Zone is the Dragons Den, and based on information from the last loops, they'll come 20 minutes later. So, she thought of something she also learned from these past mistakes. "I can use X to make them appear earlier." That's true, she can.

She goes through more of the city, destroying some smaller buildings and ensuring kids run away until the process begins again.

To go back earlier, Luna knows some signs of the world's end. She doesn't know 100% of all the details. These are just utterly vague explanations, all except three.

"A demon shall appear on the first day."

That demon is Eva.

"A soldier from the depths of hell full of loyalty will answer its summons."

This corresponds to the Demon General.

"Finally, it's you, Luna."

Such words were passed down. However, Luna still doesn't realize why she's the final sign. Even with her powers, she can save it—that's what she's been doing for the last year. The irony of her involvement doesn't click with her yet.

That's why her actions, without knowing it, will trigger fate once again; what's the point of gathering all these players here if there is no Demon General? Anyone would ask themselves this if they were in Luna's shoes. Being surrounded by players from all angles, all different classes as well. "I'm sorry. I hate doing this." She wasn't lying; these words came from her heart. It doesn't excuse everything she's about to do.

The time is 9:40 am.

Luna: "My name is X! Remember it!"

She cuts her fingers off and draws blood from it. They all charge at her. All she does is run and spray her blood in specific directions. One of them is about to hit her with their sword, and it's about to land, yet a shield made out of their shadows appears to block the attack.

[Blessing of Shadows.]

Luna: "Too bad; I hope you can forgive me, though."

Luna kicked them once without realizing it and shattered the poor player's ribcage. Now that they're all here. She shall begin.

Luna smiles as she begins to pour mana.

They're going to move until they feel a sharp pain.

Luna used the blood from her fingers to draw a specific circle. No one can tell what it was since it was too quick. Subsequently, Luna can hear someone deep inside her soul laugh.

[Several gods are surprised by your action.]

[A couple of God's call you insane!]

[One of them grabs popcorn.]

This circle was the same one the hooded figure used to summon it. Luna learned to engrave it in her consciousness for this very moment. She will summon it herself.

Luna: "Your master commands you."

The air around them turns stiff. An outburst of mana can be felt, but what's interesting about this situation is the number of sacrifices that will be made. It's unfortunate, but it has to be done. Unlike the hooded figure, Luna didn't plan to die here. Since she isn't affected by this, she can only hear them scream.

The laughter in her soul keeps going. That's okay because this is the way X will do things. The third sign of the world ending appeared before her just like that.

Under the mask, her eyes didn't look fearful; they looked like a gambler. Luna links a message to another of her associates: Siri.

Thirty minutes away from the Demon General summon.

Eva was running towards the scene. She didn't know how, but it appeared to be a Demon General. She was sure it wouldn't appear now. "Fuck, fuck!" Eva has just returned to this world; she doesn't want it to end. Once a Demon General is summoned, it can summon the Demon King it's assigned with. That's a reality she can't let happen.

She's still wearing a shirt from the money of the players she killed when she arrived. Why is this important? Because of what she's going to do next. She looked at their items for anything decent and found a potion. "This is fine for now!"

Her father still haunts her, even in a time of peace. Suppose she was fast enough to get servants. What the hell would change? The mana around her turns stiff, and then, like a gift from the gods, a barrier is formed where all the deduction is happening. Confidently, it reaches where she is at.

Eva is confused. It's all timed perfectly.

Without a shred of doubt, this was someone's doing. Even trapping the people here.

9:50 am.

Eva: "I guess I have to get serious, huh?"

She sees people walking by and signs. All of a sudden, spears of blood stabbed everyone in the area. Enough to keep them alive for the sole reason of her existence. With this, she begins her torture. As she's breaking their bones, she hears someone laughing a little. Eva looks around and spots a girl wearing a black hat and a hoodie with a particular sense of color. It was like someone sprayed on it, yet it matched her. The light and dark mix of purple of her hair somehow matches her brown skin.

???: "Don't ya have some class? Or do demons not know how to control their urges?"

Eva: "...."

She didn't know what to say; she was going to make a retort until the girl said something.

???: "Ay, mind if I'm your servant? Or are slots taken up?"

This was another part of Luna's plan.

***

It took ten loops.

Ten deaths.

That's all it took for her to make such a stupid plan. It shouldn't work at all and isn't tied with any sense of sanity or logic. She can admit that, but her pride tells her another story. She can make it work and will because it's her doing it. She's the one going through the loops. She's the one dying. All of this is because Luna is the only one who can make such an outrageous plan without the company of any reasoning or morals.

But she can do it.

Luna: "Let's do this one last try!"

She rushes at the Demon General, but it blocks her sword strike. Luna smiles at this.

To fear death means you value life. To fear death means you're alive. To fear death means you are human.

Nevertheless, Luna doesn't fear it right now. She will win in the end.

That's why she's a Regressor.

The power to change fate can only be used by a certain few.

Luna: "The world favors me after all."

Demon General: "GRKRAAAA!"

The second and third signs of the world's end finally clash in their duel.

[The Serpent of Light smiles in your struggle.]