"I immediately aimed at her, knowing something was off," Endel began.
"…Tried to start a conversation, and that's when you made a mistake," Endel 3 interjected. "In that state, you behaved strangely, even ignoring your…"
"…No, not just our mental instability. But that doesn't matter now."
"…You're right. So let's continue. Later, when she said her parents were killed, you, like any normal person, began to doubt. Doubt that people could turn into monsters in just a few days after the apocalypse started. Especially when she spoke softly, gently, with a smile…"
"…Yes. Her words sent chills down my spine. And this is where the strangest part begins. Although I was angry, most of these emotions seemed…"
"…Suddenly and artificially placed inside you," continued Endel 3. "Horror and rage. The emotions were intense, but you didn't lose your mind. On the contrary — you calmly asked why Richard killed them. And you heard the answer: 'for weakness.' And that's when the second moment began. Your unusual rage and horror disappeared instantly."
"…After that, I began to feel distrust, fear, and pity for her. Even though she looked frightening and strange, especially against what Richard had done, she obeyed him…"
"…And instead of thinking about that, you got distracted by nonsense. Seriously — you started speculating that there could be only one army in the city, or why you should suspect James. To me, we had no reason for that," Endel 3 sharply criticized.
Endel just sighed heavily, realizing his illogical behavior.
"…You're right. And now it feels like I was deliberately distracted. Especially when she said that Richard kills soldiers."
"…The third moment. You stopped seeing her as dangerous. And then everything began to take a strange turn. You learned her name, found out a few things. You wanted to know more — and that's when it began. Remember?"
---
"I'm waiting."
"For what exactly?"
"For people like you."
"Why?" Endel asked shortly.
"When you decide that I can be trusted. When you pity me, like a soldier yesterday. The ones I led to my uncle, the cop," she said with an indifferent tone.
Endel tensed. His heart pounded so hard it echoed in his temples. He didn't know whether it was the truth or another trap. Yet, instead of hatred, he felt pity.
---
"…I realized I felt pity for her," Endel admitted. "But this feeling was abnormal. After all, soldiers essentially died because of her."
"…Yes and no. Pity vanished instantly again. Continuing this strange conversation, she managed to shake you. Especially when she said you were curious to know what happened."
"…And the fourth moment arrives. The most important one."
"…You're right. This became your death. At the moment you decided to follow her. You knew it was a trap. You felt it. But you went anyway. And you reached the house where Richard was."
"…There, you immediately realized he was a psychopath. At that moment, Alice stood behind the door, listening to the conversation."
"…Yes. And when he approached the end, she came in and admitted she lied. That's when you got carried away. You mean, you started believing someone in half an hour? Especially such a girl?"
"…The fifth moment. And the final one."
"…Unfortunately, yes. That was the end. You died. She told you directly: a strange phrase, 'You are not a hero.' And it knocked you off your knees. Inside, you had already begun to believe that you had become the main hero. The one who gained the power of regression. And that's why you confidently went to check. Thought: 'If I died twice, I'll die a third time.' But thinking like that is wrong. It's a one-way path."
"…And when she spoke again, you were already practically dead. What about Richard? That's simple — just a manipulator/psychopath."
There's no point in reasoning further. Let's summarize.
First — you were skillfully manipulated, implanted with different emotions, exploiting your emotional and mental instability.
Second — because of that same instability, you believed you could change something only with the power of regression. And blindly followed her.
Third — your reasoning was partially correct, but most of the time you were drowning in emotions.
"…I wanted to add something else…"
Suddenly, Endel collapsed from the couch he was sitting on. A wild pain pierced his head. Hundreds of needles seemed to stab his brain.
His face contorted in agonizing spasms. He tried not to scream, but the cries escaped anyway.
The acceleration of thoughts stopped.
It lasted several minutes until the pain subsided. Panting heavily, with tears in his eyes, Endel lay on the cold terrace floor.
"Now we know the skill has a side effect," Endel 3 muttered. "I don't feel it because I'm not connected to the body. But you must be more careful."
Endel stared blankly at the ceiling, still in shock.
"Pull yourself together. The apocalypse is near. There's no time to lie around. You need to prepare."
"Yes… you're right," he whispered, his face distorted.
Struggling to his feet, Endel walked weakly to the shower. Cold water quickly brought him back to his senses. His thoughts began to align.
Returning to his room, he reopened the interface. This time it had changed, showing far more details.
[System Status]
Name: Endel Astralius
Dark Arcana: Return to the Beginning (3rd Regression)
Title: none
Sponsor: none
Lineage: none
User Rank: F-
Talent: ∞
Strength: F-
Agility: F+
Speed: F
Endurance: F
Magic: E
Aura: none
Spiritual Power: E+
Mental Strength: F+ (exhaustion)
Innate Ability: none
Skills:
[Berserk (C-rank)] — sealed
[Healing (E-rank)] — sealed
[Alter-Ego (Unique Skill, F-rank)]
Note: Ant
Endel quietly looked at the status, not understanding why there was more information now. In the first two deaths, it had been completely different. Even an hour ago, it looked the same as in the first and second regressions.
"Maybe the system finally launched correctly? 'Ant'?" Endel 3 read oddly.
"Perhaps. No warnings either. But there's a strange note…"
"Indeed."
The cold shower helped him gather himself, and Endel realized he had been overreacting to everything.
"No, everything's fine. You're a regular 17-year-old. Just like me," Endel 3 smirked.
"What do we do? Only twenty minutes until the apocalypse."
"Why ask if you already know?"
"You're right…"
Endel immediately called Carlos and Layna, asking them to come to him. Then he called his parents, instructing them not to go outside under any circumstances.
He wasn't worried about his father: he worked as a guard in an underground power station. Unless portals appeared there — he'd be fine. His mother was a doctor at a private hospital. There was security and even a small NGF squad.
Although he knew from James' account that the 76th army had been wiped out in a few minutes, he tried not to panic.
He spoke calmly, confidently. And so his parents, reluctantly, agreed.
Finally, he went down to the first floor, to the hall.
Then he noticed a note on the hologram:
"If you woke up, breakfast is in the fridge."
Endel's heart warmed from the care. Such small things, yet so comforting.
"From memory, I can tell this attempt is different," Endel 3 said with interest.
Although he shared Endel's memory, now, as a separate personality, he would have his own memory, independent from the current Endel. He would forever remain Endel 3.
This regression was unfolding differently. The first time, he hadn't been home for two days. Now he lived as if nothing had happened.
He went to school. Behaved the same as before receiving [Dark Arcana: Return to the Beginning].
That is — like in the zero attempt.
Endel lingered by the fridge, staring at the note absentmindedly. These simple words — "if you woke up, breakfast is in the fridge" — struck him in the heart. He suddenly understood: if he lost them, he'd lose everything.
"I have no right," he said quietly to himself.
"Right to what?" Endel 3 asked.
"I have no right to fail again. I can't just survive alone. If my parents, Carlos, Layna aren't with me… then what's the point of living?"
Endel 3 was silent for a moment, as if weighing the words.
"Beautiful words. But do you understand what they mean? To protect them, you'll have to change. Become stronger not just in words, but in deeds. Not only physically. You're too weak in spirit. You break when your emotions are manipulated."
Endel nodded, accepting the reproach.
"I know. That's why I've decided. I don't want to be the boy who drowns in pity, anger, and fear anymore. I will become strong. Strong in body, to endure combat. Strong in mind, to resist others' tricks. Strong in heart, to never betray those I love."
Endel 3 smirked.
"And what if they die anyway?"
Endel froze. The words hit like a knife. A wave of terror rose inside, but he straightened and clenched his fists.
"Then I will still live. But live to take revenge, so their deaths won't be in vain. I won't let myself become a monster. Even if I'm alone."
"Finally, you sound like someone ready for the apocalypse," Endel 3 smirked. "Just remember: strength without reason is rage, and reason without strength is useless. You must forge yourself into a weapon. But now you have a goal. For it, you can walk this path."
Endel took a deep breath, feeling something new arise in his chest — determination, hard as steel.
"Then this will be my beginning. My goal. I will survive. And I will do everything so they survive."
The hologram blinked, as if confirming his words. Eighteen minutes remained until the apocalypse.