The world had already ended.
The land stretched endlessly into a dead wasteland.
The ground was dry, cracked, and stained with old blood. Broken buildings stood like graves of a forgotten civilization.
Above the ruined world…
The moon was shattered.
Half of it was missing, and the remaining fragments floated in silence, glowing faintly in the dark sky.
Cold wind blew across the battlefield.
Skeletons covered the ground.
Hunters.
Soldiers.
Civilians.
Thousands of them.
At the center of this graveyard…
A mountain of corpses stood.
And sitting at the very top…
Was the last survivor.
Kael.
Twenty-nine years old.
Or at least… he used to be.
His body was destroyed.
One arm missing.
Left eye gone.
Deep wounds covering his entire body.
And through his chest…
A glowing spear pierced straight through him.
Blood slowly dripped down.
"Khh…"
He coughed weakly.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His breathing was unstable.
Every breath felt like his last.
Slowly…
He lifted his head.
And looked at the sky.
Seven massive glowing figures floated above the clouds.
They were enormous.
Beyond human understanding.
They were watching him.
Watching the last human alive.
Then—A voice echoed across the sky.
Cold.
Emotionless.
[Entertainment Over]
[Now… Die]
Kael's remaining eye trembled.
Then…
It burned with rage.
"...Entertainment?"
His voice was weak.
Broken.
"Our deaths…"
He coughed again.
Blood dropped onto the corpses beneath him.
"...were just entertainment for you?"
He tried to pull the spear from his chest.
His hand trembled.
But he had no strength left.
Then—A blue window appeared in front of him.
[NOTICE]
Host Life: 0.01%
Unique Trait: Fate Weaver
Accumulated Despair Detected
Try Again?
YES / NO
Kael stared at the screen.
Again…
Even after ninety-nine failures.
His hand slowly rose.
Covered in blood.
Shaking.
"This time…"
His voice was quiet.
But his eyes burned with hatred.
"...I won't become your entertainment."
He pressed— YES.
"I'm not saving this world anymore…"
A faint smile appeared.
"I'm destroying it."
"...I'll become your end."
Suddenly— A massive white light exploded.
Everything vanished.
The world disappeared.
[Loop 100 Activated]
[Timeline Reset]
"GASP!"
Kael's eyes snapped open.
He shot upright—
Then fell off the bed.
His breathing was unstable.
Cold sweat covered his body.
He grabbed his throat.
"Blargh—!"
He vomited on the floor.
His body trembled.
He quickly touched his chest.
No wound.
No spear.
Nothing.
"...The pain…"
"It's gone…"
He looked around.
Small room.
Old walls.
Cheap clothes.
Familiar smell.
His eyes widened.
"...Five years ago."
He slowly stood up.
Walked toward the mirror.
And froze.
A younger face stared back.
No scars.
No missing eye.
But his eyes…
They weren't young.
They were cold.
Tired.
Eyes of someone who had died many times.
"...Status."
A blue screen appeared.
Name: Kael
Class: None (Awakening Pending)
Rank: E-Potential
Title: Regressor (100th Loop)
Silence filled the room.
Kael closed the window.
Cold water splashed across his face.
He looked into the mirror again.
"99 times…"
"I tried to be a hero."
His expression slowly hardened.
"I tried to save everyone…"
"...thinking the gods would spare us."
He wiped his face.
Shadow covered half his face.
"But I was wrong."
His eyes turned cold.
"This time…"
"I'm becoming the villain."
Silence filled the room.
"Because in this story…"
"...only the villain breaks the gods' rules."
The city looked peaceful.
Morning sunlight spread across the streets. Cars moved normally. People walked to work. Students laughed as they crossed the road.
Everything looked normal.
Everything looked alive.
Kael walked quietly through the crowd, his hands inside his pockets.
But his eyes…
They were calm.
Too calm.
Because he knew.
In a few minutes…
Everything would change.
"Peaceful…"
He muttered softly.
"...too peaceful."
His gaze shifted upward.
A giant billboard stood above the street.
A handsome man wearing golden armor smiled confidently.
"Ryuzen — The Nation's Strongest Hunter"
A commercial advertisement.
People nearby were talking.
"I heard Ryuzen cleared an A-Rank dungeon yesterday."
"Alone too. That guy is insane."
"With him around, we're safe."
Kael stopped walking.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Ryuzen.
The Golden Hero.
The symbol of hope.
In the previous timeline…
Ryuzen had abandoned him.
Left him behind…
So he could survive.
"...Hero."
Kael turned away.
"You're just another survivor."
And survivors…
Were the most dangerous people.
A few minutes later, Kael reached the convenience store.
A small bell rang as he entered.
The familiar smell of instant noodles filled the air.
He walked behind the counter and wore his uniform.
Name Tag: Kael — Part Timer
"You're late again."
A cheerful voice came from the counter.
Kael froze.
Slowly…
He turned.
A boy sat behind the counter, eating chips casually.
Ren.
For a moment…
Kael didn't move.
A flash appeared in his mind.
Ren's body.
Covered in blood.
His arms cut off.
Dying in Kael's arms.
"...Kael?"
Ren waved his hand.
"Why are you staring like that?"
Kael clenched his fist.
His nails dug into his palm.
Five timelines.
Five times.
He failed to save Ren.
Because Ren…
Was weak.
Kael forced a smile.
"Sorry… missed the bus."
Ren laughed.
"You always miss something."
He stood up and placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"I skipped training today. Let's eat after shift."
Kael looked at him.
Alive.
Smiling.
Carefree.
"...Sure."
But inside…
His thoughts were cold.
'This time…'
'I'll make you stronger.'
Kael glanced at the clock.
10:58 AM
Two minutes left.
A customer entered the store.
A man in a suit.
Talking loudly on his phone.
"Yeah I'm coming! Traffic is terrible."
Kael watched silently.
Then…
He looked outside.
The sky.
It was slowly turning purple.
"...It's starting."
The customer slammed money on the counter.
"Hey, where's my change?"
Kael looked directly into his eyes.
Calm.
Emotionless.
"Keep it."
The customer frowned.
"What?"
"You'll need it…"
Kael spoke quietly.
"...in your next life."
The customer looked confused.
"What nonsense are you—"
Suddenly—
A loud ringing sound filled the city.
ZZZZZZZZT
The ground trembled.
Glass cracked.
KRRRRACK
Outside—
The air shattered.
Like glass breaking.
And then—
A massive red gate appeared in the middle of the street.
People froze.
"What is that?"
"Why didn't the sirens go off?"
Then—
Something stepped out.
An eight-foot tall monster.
Covered in scales.
Wearing armor.
Holding a massive bone sword.
Lizardman Champion.
It roared.
"ROOOOAAARRR!"
Chaos exploded instantly.
People screamed.
Cars crashed.
The suited customer ran.
Too late.
The Lizardman swung its sword.
One strike.
The man was cut in half.
Blood splashed across the store window.
Ren fell backward.
"W-What is that?!"
"Kael! We need to run!"
Kael calmly bent down.
He picked up a box cutter.
Click.
Click.
The blade extended.
Ren grabbed his arm.
"Are you crazy?! That's a monster!"
Kael walked toward the door.
His expression calm.
Outside…
Chaos filled the streets.
Kael tested the blade on his finger.
A drop of blood appeared.
"...Good enough."
Ren shouted.
"You're going to die!"
Kael stopped at the door.
Without turning back—
"Lock the door."
Ren froze.
"...What?"
Kael stepped outside.
The wind blew.
People screamed.
Cars burned.
And Kael…
Walked forward calmly.
His shadow stretched behind him.
Slowly…
It twisted.
Like something dark awakening.
Kael smiled faintly.
"Let the leveling begin."
Chapter 1 End