May stood there, eyes locked on Chrono with a glare that radiated controlled rage. Blood streamed down her face—not hers—and the streaks glistened under the dim light. She bore no visible injuries. No limp, no bruises. Her body was completely unscathed, yet her gaze told the entire story without words.
She wanted Chrono dead.
Chrono flinched on the stretcher, his body twitching as he tried to move—but nothing worked. He was trapped in a useless, battered body, unable to even pretend to fight back. There was no plan clever enough, no trick fast enough. This time, he was truly at the mercy of May.
How…? How is she unscathed?
She flew through, like… fifty buildings!
"I'll admit, Zeph Chrono…" May's voice was low and frigid, every syllable dripping with certainty. "You got me with that move. But no matter—this ends now."
Her words slid into his spine like shards of ice. Chrono tried to shift, to escape—anything—but his body flat-out refused to obey.
"There's no point resisting, it's over now, Zeph."
She spun the knife casually around her fingers, as if rehearsing his execution, before crouching into a stance that promised lethal speed.
And then, in a blink, her back slammed into the floor.
The medic had tackled her—hands clamped like iron around her throat. The sudden hit had sent the knife spinning out of her hand.
He glanced over his shoulder. "Drive! Drive now! Get away, I'll hold her off!"
The driver turned, eyes wide and shaken.
"No… I can't just leave you here…" His voice was low, hollow.
"Are you an idiot!? She'll kill all of us if you don't drive! Escape with the patient, get as far away as you can!" The medic's voice was fierce, his grip on May tightening.
May's pale face twisted, her teeth gritted in effort as she clawed at his hands.
"After all," the medic growled, "I have to get rid of this monster… for killing my friend!"
May smirked despite the hold, her voice raspy but mocking. "Oh… you think you can kill me? I'd love to see you try."
"Get out of here, now!" the medic barked again.
The driver slammed his foot down, and the ambulance lurched forward violently.
Chrono forced himself up, dragging the rear door shut before collapsing onto his back from the acceleration.
"Hey, don't do anything reckless…" the driver muttered, his voice trembling.
Chrono braced himself against the wall, each step toward the front making the bleeding worse.
"I have… a request…" His voice was nearly a whisper.
"Hey, you shouldn't even be standing right now. If you die, this is meaningless."
"Hear me out… please."
A pause.
"…Alright. I'm listening."
Chrono smirked weakly. "Drive me home. I'll give you the directions."
Before the driver could even respond, a violent gust of wind blasted past the ambulance, kicking up a storm of dust. In the distance—silhouetted under the broken moonlight—was a figure holding a knife.
There was no mistaking it.
It was May.
You're kidding…
The driver swerved hard, but at their speed, the sudden movement sent the ambulance flipping onto its side. Metal screeched, glass shattered, and the vehicle slammed into a light post.
It wasn't fatal. Not yet. But survival didn't mean safety.
This isn't good… damn it…
Chrono forced the back door open, tumbling to the pavement. He motioned for the driver to follow—and he did—only for another burst of wind to whip past them, throwing dirt into the air.
A voice cut through the dust. "Y'know…" May emerged, swinging her knife lazily. "…I got realllly pissed when you dodged my rush."
She tilted her head. "You knew that if I moved at high speeds, turning would be impossible… so you predicted my path and dodged."
The knife spun in her hand, glinting dangerously. "But you said it yourself—the key to beating your opponent is adapting. In this case, I'm not adapting to you… I'm adapting to my speed."
Sweat slid down Chrono's bloodied temple as he watched her closely.
"Physics says I can't turn easily at high speed…" May's grin grew wider, more unhinged. "…but what if I just ignore physics entirely?"
Ignoring physics?
Leveling buildings is one thing… but ignoring physics itself?
What can't she do…?
"You'll be the first to see it, Zeph Chrono." She let out a sickening laugh, crouching low.
Her eyes darted to the driver. "And you… I haven't forgotten. I'll send you to hell like the rest of your buddies."
Chrono scanned frantically. Ten meters to his left—an alley. May was fifty meters away. To anyone else, that would be plenty of distance. But to May, it was nothing.
Think, damn it… think!
Even if he had a plan, his body was barely holding together.
"Here I coooome!" May's voice tore through the air as she exploded forward, a sonic boom shattering the stillness.
Chrono moved the instant she did—sure she'd fly past him. She did, but she instantly blurred back in front of him, her knife a streak of sound and steel.
She jabbed multiple knife stabs and slashes at him, each one breaking the sound barrier—but before any could land, the driver threw himself in front of Chrono, taking the hits instead.
"Run… get out of here…" His voice trembled as tears streaked down his cheeks.
Chrono didn't waste a second. He bolted into the alley.
"Tch, you annoying old man!" May's rage sharpened as she sliced his head clean off. In the blink of an eye, she was at the alley entrance.
She saw Chrono fleeing—and her smile returned. In less than a heartbeat, she was in front of him, the knife driving toward his face—
—but he had already moved. Dodged before her arm even completed the thrust.
Her eyes widened.
She struck again. And again. And again. Every attack missed—Chrono was already gone before her strikes even began.
May stepped back, planting her hands on her hips. "You talk about me not being human, but here you are dodging like my attacks are nothing. How?! How are you doing this!?"
Chrono smirked through ragged breaths, clutching his chest. "It's simple… If you're fighting something fast, you don't react when they attack—you react before they attack."
"Huh?"
"If you're faster than me, then reacting at the right moment won't work. So I dodge before the attack even starts."
"Don't give me that crap," May snapped, flashing her knife. "No matter how early you move, I should still outspeed you."
"I don't really know how it works," Chrono admitted, smirking faintly, "but it's working."
And then—his nose began to gush blood.
Huh…?
He coughed, blood spraying from his mouth, his body folding in on itself. Blood streamed from his eyes, warm and blinding.
"It seems your body's finally reached its limit…" May purred, her mocking tone sending ice through the air. She covered her mouth, letting out a laugh that made the blood in Chrono's veins feel colder than death.
May shrugged, her tone almost bored, but her grin vicious. "I meannnn, it was to be expected. Your regular human body couldn't keep up with your inhuman antics. Not to mention you're severely injured. It was suicide from the start! You were only delaying the inevitable!"
She let out another sickening laugh, the sound curling in the air like smoke, as she pointed her knife directly at Chrono.
Chrono collapsed to his knees, both hands clutching his face in sheer agony. Blood poured relentlessly from his eyes and nose, spraying against the ground in wet, crimson drops.
I can't see!
Damn it… she's gonna kill me.
I'm gonna die! I can't move, I can't do anything…
It's over…
It's over…
I'm gonna die.
He rolled onto the floor, writhing, screaming through clenched teeth as the bleeding intensified. His entire body felt like it was unraveling from the inside out. There was absolutely nothing he could do. No tricks. No hope. This was truly the end.
May's footsteps were slow, deliberate, every heel tap echoing with finality as she closed the distance. She chuckled under her breath the whole way.
She stopped over him and stooped low, dragging the flat of the knife lazily along his leg—not enough to cut, but enough to make him flinch.
"Look at youuuu. You really thought you had a chance, huh?" Her voice dripped with mock sympathy. "I pity you, really."
And then she drove the blade into his leg.
Chrono's scream ripped through the night, raw and unfiltered, as he tried desperately to crawl away. But she yanked him back by the hoodie, slamming him in place.
"You're so cute~! Trying to escape even though there's none." She tilted her head, almost admiring him. "I envy your resilience."
She yanked him closer until her lips brushed his ear. Her voice dropped to a whisper, slow and deliberate, while the cold steel traced along his neck.
"It must be rough going through this… you don't deserve it at all."
The knife pressed deeper, sharp enough now to draw a thin, burning line of blood.
"But I didn't deserve to die either! I was innocent, I didn't do anything! You damn monster!"
"You're wrong… I didn't ask to be a part of this challenge… I didn't ask for this book, I didn't ask for any of this." Chrono's voice trembled, low, but there was iron under the fear.
"…I didn't know that giving you the book would kill you. I wouldn't know. How is that my fault…?"
May scoffed, rolling her eyes like his words were gnats buzzing in her ear. "Excuses, excuses. You have a supernatural book and you just hand it to an innocent girl."
Chrono's teeth ground together, his gaze cutting sideways at her. "It made sense to hand the book to you! You made me look through the books you were reading, so it wouldn't make sense not to give it to you when you asked for it. That just wouldn't be fair!"
"Shut up! You really think I'm buying that!?"
"It's the truth!"
"No, I don't believe you! You're a cold-blooded murderer, that's what you are!" Her knife dug deeper into his neck, a second bead of blood rolling down his skin.
"Then… answer this. What did you see before you got beheaded?"
May's eyes widened—not in fear, but with the hollow recognition of something carved into her memory. Her breathing hitched for a fraction of a second before she stilled, like someone replaying a nightmare frame by frame.
"…What did I see…?" she echoed under her breath.
"Uh huh," Chrono urged.
Her face hardened. Her voice lost its mocking lilt, replaced by something ritualistic and cold.
"The Nocturne."
"The Nocturne…?" Chrono repeated, brow furrowed.
She nodded slowly, grimly. "The most trusted soldier—one of seven—for it."
When she says it, I'm assuming she's talking about the white figure. But why would something that can do anything need soldiers? There's seven of them too… do they all have different purposes, or do they all do the same thing?
"It's a shadow-forged soldier," May continued, her tone dipping into the rhythm of a half-remembered legend. "Carries a lance taller than a man. Its armor isn't metal—it's living darkness, shifting and swallowing light. And when it comes… the air drowns in gray fog so thick you can feel it crawl across your skin. You won't see it unless it allows you to. That's part of its covenant."
"And it works for the white figure?"
"It doesn't work. It serves." Her jaw tightened. "It was bound to that service long before we existed. The Nocturne enacts the will of the Keeper. It does the… unclean tasks. The ones that would fracture the Keeper's own hands to perform."
"Dirty work… like what exactly?"
She clicked her tongue, annoyed. "I don't know everything. Don't ask me questions I can't answer!" Her knife pressed harder against his throat.
Her breath came slow. "All I know is this—it's the enforcer of an old law: Anything that can die, will die." Her eyes locked onto his. "That's the Rule of Ending. In this context, it means anything that touches the book, that can die… will die."
"So the worthy are the exception."
Her lips curled in something like a smirk, but it was humorless. "Exactly. The worthy walk untouched—not because they're beyond death… but because death hasn't been called for them yet."
So it's kinda like the grim reaper.
"Alright then, answer this… if the Nocturne killed you, then why are you accusing me of being the murderer?" Chrono's voice dropped low, sharpened with anger.
May tilted her head, placing a finger thoughtfully on her mouth. "Why I'm accusing you? Hmmm?"
"Cut that out! And answer my question!"
"I'm not obligated to answer, Zeph Chronoooooo." She stretched his name mockingly, her laugh cold and deliberate.
Chrono's jaw tightened. The strain sent another warm gush of blood down his face.
"Buttttt, since you're so desperate, I'll tell you anyway."
She cleared her throat—pointlessly—just to irritate him. "Why I'm accusing you of killing me? Because you're a murderer."
"That doesn't answer anything…"
She rolled her eyes, her voice feigning playfulness. "Fine, I'll actually tell you."
Chrono's breathing quickened as he waited for her answer.
"I accused you of killing me… because you killed me." Her tone dropped. No playfulness. Just raw accusation.
"Huh? Cut it out with your jokes! Stop messing with me—"
"You are the Nocturne, Zeph…" She cut him off, her voice like a knife in itself.
His eyes widened, his chest locking mid-breath. "I'm the Nocturne? That doesn't make sense. How could I be the Nocturne?"
"I know what I saw, Zeph."
"That's ridiculous! Are you saying I was in two places at once!?"
"Yes." That single word sent an ice-cold shiver down his spine.
"That… that doesn't make any sense. How…?"
"There were two versions of you. Zeph Chrono, and the Nocturne Zeph. You appeared as the Nocturne and killed me! For what!? What did I ever do to you!?" Her temper cracked, the knife biting deeper into his neck.
"You're wrong. That wasn't me, I had no control over that!"
"Then tell me why! Why did it look like you, huh?! You killed me, murderer!"
The blade slashed across his neck in one clean motion.
Chrono's body hit the ground, shaking violently as blood poured without end.
"It was just like two years ago. Why? Why does everyone want to kill me!? Why!? For what!? For what!?"
He looked up at her in sheer horror, his hands uselessly clutching his torn throat.
"I'll end this. I'll end this all now. Just like how you killed me…" She crouched low, the knife poised at his neck. And with one swipe—
Everything went black.
---
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The loud, repeated sound of an alarm and the steady vibration of a phone on the bedside table broke the silence of the dimly lit room.
Chrono shot upright, screaming, clutching his chest as his breaths came in ragged bursts. His heart thundered against his ribs, sweat dripping down his face.
Did… did I just die?
Chrono touched his neck for any signs of injury, fingers grazing the skin as if expecting it to split open again—but there was nothing. Not a scratch, not even a tenderness in the flesh. He frantically patted his chest, his ribs, his leg, searching for some lingering pain, but there wasn't any.
Was that… all a dream?
Yeah… it had to be a bad dream—one that felt a little too real.
Or maybe… maybe it was a precognition?
Yeah, that's it… I'll just have to avoid the library.
Chrono sank back onto his bed, the mattress creaking under his weight, one arm flung over his forehead. His breathing slowly began to even out, though his heart still pulsed too fast for comfort. He refused to believe what had happened was real. It had to be foresight—or something close to it.
There's a theory I read about years ago.
The Laplace's Demon theory…
A hypothetical being that could know the exact position and momentum of every particle in the universe at any given moment. With that, it could predict the future with perfect accuracy… and recall the past with absolute certainty.
Basically, if I was Laplace's Demon, the laws of physics would hand me the future on a silver platter.
But there are holes in that logic…
If I could see the future, why would it stop at a certain point? And having that much information crammed into my brain at once would fry my mind like an overclocked processor. Not to mention—I can't recall past events with that kind of precision.
But…
There's just no way I died.
I refuse to believe it.
A dry, cracked chuckle slipped from his lips—the kind of laugh that belonged to someone balancing on the knife-edge between relief and madness.
Yeah, of course not. There's no way a human can level a building. There's no way a human can move that fast without the G-force tearing them apart. It's impossible…
Then… if it's not Laplace's Demon, it must be a precognition of some sort.
No—that would mean the events I saw can and will happen, provided I follow the same chain of actions. But the things I saw? They shouldn't even be possible.
So it can't be precognition.
Which means… it was all just a dream.
None of that actually happened.
A small, humorless chuckle escaped him again as he dragged his hand down his face. His eyes shifted toward the table—then froze.
The book was sitting right there.
The sight hit him like an electric jolt, erasing every theory in an instant. The book's presence was proof—irrefutable proof—that everything had happened.
You're kidding, right.
There's no way…
There's no way I died.
You're kidding. You're kidding, right?
He shot up from his bed, stumbling toward the table. His fingers trembled as he flipped the book open, eyes scanning the same alien symbols he'd painstakingly decoded before.
No…
It's real. It's actually real…
You're kidding…
I died? No—no, there's no way.
Chrono leaned heavily on the table, clutching at his hair, teeth grinding. He collapsed into the chair and stared blankly at the ceiling.
So May actually killed me… and I actually died that loop.
Damn it…
His hands dug into his hair again, but his gaze never left the ceiling.
So I'm actually in a challenge for seven days.
It's not made up. It's not a dream. It's not foresight. Everything that happened—happened.
But if someone like May wants my head… then what the hell am I supposed to do?
I can't outrun her. I can't overpower her. She's stronger, faster… better.
Damn it…
Am I just stuck in an infinite death loop?
The chair creaked as he swung it side to side, lost in thought. He didn't know what May's true motives were—whether she'd keep killing him, stop eventually, or if stepping into the library was the sole trigger. Questions he had no way of answering gnawed at him.
Is this all meaningless? Am I just going to be tortured until I break? What's the point of any of this?
Why—just why—did I touch the book?
It's not like I can just dust myself off and say, "I'm going to clear these challenges." I literally died.
I got killed.
And I don't know if it'll happen again. I don't know if May is out there right now, hunting me down.
So what am I supposed to do?
How do I know she isn't already on her way?
Chrono sighed and stopped swaying, his posture uneasy. His gaze shifted toward the book again, eyes narrowing.
But… I can't let this stop me. I have to keep some kind of optimism.
Even if I died, I'm alive right now. I have to figure something out.
It's just… May is the problem. How do I know she won't just kill me again?
Damn it…
Pushing himself up slowly, he walked to the door and stepped through, letting it click shut behind him.
There's no way to confirm it yet… but let's assume something.
Let's assume going to the library is the trigger.
For starters—her sudden personality shift happened only when I was in her presence. I was fine the entire day otherwise. So maybe… being around her is what changes her. In that case, I should be safe.
But let's say being in her presence doesn't trigger her personality shift, then there's one of two things that could happen. One, her personality is already shifted, but it still requires me to be in her presence to be perused. Two, she's actively hunting me right now. But that's only possible if she can loop too.
No way to know. All I know is I should avoid the library at all costs.
Chrono stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door softly behind him. He leaned against it, his thoughts sharpening.
My biggest question—what happened to the real May Jackson? Could be a split personality, but I doubt it. More likely… she's being controlled by the white figure. Or maybe she got replaced entirely.
Either way—touching the book is what caused it. And if the Nocturne's involved… no, that doesn't line up. She said "it" gave her power, and "it" is the white figure. So this is probably its doing.
But why? Is this some deliberate handicap against me? Or a punishment for letting someone unworthy touch the book?
Maybe it's both.
He twisted the faucet on, letting the stream of water run.
So I have to convince a thousand people I'm looping—while May could be out there, ready to kill me again.
Y'know what? Fine. Challenge accepted.
I will win, white figure.
If your plan is to hinder me, I'll counter it and beat you—no matter what.
---
Chrono arrived at school at roughly the same time as in the original loop. As he stepped onto campus, a sudden weight dropped onto his shoulder. He already knew who it was.
"Yo, wazzup Zeph?" Xander's voice was warm, his grin infectious.
That grin tugged at Chrono's lips despite himself. His eyes flickered wide for just a second before returning to normal. "Yo."
Xander arched a brow. "Huh? Are you really Zeph?"
Chrono's heart skipped. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"The real Zeph would say something like, 'You're way too happy. It's like 7 in the morning.' You're an impostor!" Xander declared playfully, loud enough to earn a few curious looks.
Chrono exhaled, relieved. "Oh… I'm in a good mood, I guess."
Xander narrowed his eyes. "Don't lie—you're pale. Like you've seen a ghost or something. You're definitely not fine."
I didn't see a ghost… I saw a demon.
"Yeah… I feel a little sick, I guess. Stayed up later than I should have."
"Oh, alright." Xander nodded toward the mass of students swarming in and out of the building. "We should head in before it's impossible to move."
"Alright." They walked together, slipping into the current of the crowd.
When they reached their usual split point, Xander peeled off to the right.
"See you at lunch, Zeph."
"See ya." Chrono gave a small wave, heading straight down the corridor.
This is the moment Talia should tap my back.
As he neared homeroom, he felt it—a light tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw her.
Talia stood there, eyes sparkling as always, her bright smile exactly where he remembered it.
"Zeph Chrono, right?"
She asked brightly, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Yeah, that's me… Talia Fenrow, right?"
"Wowww, you actually know my name? I must be, like, super popular now~"
She gave a soft giggle, clearly joking but also pleased.
Chrono turned to face her more fully.
"Do you need something?"
He asked curiously, raising a brow.
"Mhmm~ I kinda need a partner for the two-legged race on sports day,"
she said, drawing out her words like she was sweet-talking him,
"and I heard you were reeaally athletic~"
"Sure." Chrono said, his voice flat and without hesitation, the kind of answer that sounded like he'd already decided long before she even asked.
This took Talia back—her eyes widened, and for a split second, the ever-bubbly girl shrank into something smaller, her posture curling in as if she'd just been hit with a surprise she wasn't ready for.
"H-huh?"
"I'll do the race with you. You want a partner, right?"
"Well… yeah, but I didn't expect…" Talia's voice faltered into a breathy whisper, words dangling unfinished like she wasn't sure if she should say them aloud. "Nevermind that, I'm reaalllly glad you accepted so easily." She recovered quickly, a smile blooming back on her face, her tone lifting back to that familiar, airy warmth.
"Oh, and one thing."
Talia blinked, her glittering eyes locking on him again, curiosity dancing behind them. "Hm?"
"Do you know the café nearby? Jackson's Café?" Chrono asked, his tone casual but deliberate, crossing his arms and tilting his head as though testing her reaction.
Talia's eyes widened again—this time sharper, like a flash of lightning behind her gaze. It was the kind of look someone gave when you'd just peeled back a secret they didn't remember telling you. Her mouth parted slightly. "Uh, y-yeah I do… why?"
"Well, I'd like to head there after school and discuss plans. I thought you'd be interested in there too."
"How'd you kn–..." Talia's words broke off into a whisper, almost as if speaking any louder would give away more than she wanted. She looked at him in quiet awe, blinking once, twice, before nodding. "A-All right. Meet me at the gate after school." Her voice returned to its usual tone, but it carried a faint, trembling note she couldn't quite hide.
Chrono turned without another word, his stride steady, his face unreadable, continuing down the hallway toward his homeroom.
Talia is pretty vital to my plan B. I can't mess this up if I want it to work.
He let his eyes roam subtly, scanning the crowd, the lockers, the intersecting corridors—looking for the smallest ripple in the ordinary. But everything was exactly as it should be. The same faces, the same noises, the same lazy morning atmosphere.
Alright, everything is fine. Nothing out of the ordinary yet.
Does this confirm my theory of close proximity triggering May's personality?
It's hard to say, and it's pretty early to judge.
Chrono reached his homeroom door and lingered for a moment too long, as if caught in an invisible hesitation. A few students glanced his way, brows furrowed, before he finally stepped inside.
Next up is Iris.
Chrono sat down calmly this time around. He could feel the pressure of someone staring intently.
It was Iris
"Good morning, Zeph."
A calm yet icy voice cut through the air. Though her tone was composed, there was a noticeable edge to it.
"Morning."
Chrono responded evenly, keeping his face composed.
"I don't like your tone, Zeph."
She said plainly, folding her arms across her chest, eyes still fixed on him.
"My bad."
Chrono replied, confused but calm. Best to avoid provoking her further.
"I'm assuming this is about the assignment? Yeah, I did my part and printed it like you asked."
He reached into his bag and handed her the papers.
Iris accepted the sheets without a word and began reviewing them, her eyes scanning every line with almost surgical precision.
"…You're quite competent, Zeph. I'll give you that."
She finally said, reorganizing the papers neatly in front of her.
"I appreciate it."
Chrono replied with a slight smirk.
There was a pause before Chrono spoke up again.
"Say, Iris."
Iris cocked a brow, turning her head just enough to meet his gaze.
"What is it?"
"What would you do if you could loop the day?" Chrono asked, propping his cheek against his palm, studying her face like her answer actually mattered.
Iris sighed and looked away, the corner of her mouth twitching downward.
"It's far too early for your antics, Zeph. Looping the day isn't possible." Her tone was flat, dismissive—like she was brushing away an annoying fly.
"But let's say it was possible," Chrono pressed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What would you do?"
Iris finally turned back toward him, expression sharpened with irritation.
"If I could… start the day over," she said slowly, "I certainly wouldn't talk to you. That's what I'd do." Her arms folded across her chest, tone cutting.
Chrono let out a nervous chuckle, forcing a wry smile. "That's… harsh, but alright."
I dunno what I expected…
Before he could dwell on it, the classroom door creaked open.
Mr. Jones strolled in with his usual clipboard in hand, his voice carrying easily over the low hum of early morning chatter.
But something was off.
There was a student trailing behind him—a student he'd never seen in this class before.
Yet he'd definitely seen her somewhere else.
The girl turned her face toward him, and in that instant, Chrono's breath caught. Their eyes locked, and the noise of the classroom seemed to drain away until it was just the two of them.
May.
May Jackson.
In his class. Right now.
You're kidding me...