The scream of someone, full of pain and terror, echoed through the forest, bouncing off the trees. The lifeless bodies of my classmates lay scattered on the ground, their forms unrecognizable.

Some were missing their heads and hands, others their eyes.

Above us, birds that resembled vultures circled in the sky, circling high above like vultures waiting for the chance to feast on the corpses of my dead classmates.

The pressure the forest emitted was unbearable, a dense weight that made it nearly impossible to lift a leg. Yet, I kept running. When I first entered this forest in this other world, it was peaceful, almost beautiful. But now, it felt as if every tree and every creature was mocking us, laughing in a mournful way at our misery.

I ran on dirt stained with blood, hoping to find the source of the scream, somewhere deep in the forest.

I'd seen the death of too many people, some of them family, but I'd never witnessed anything like this.

My body felt like it was failing me. My strength was gone, my stamina depleted, yet I kept pushing forward, driven by the smallest hope.

My mind was clouded with memories of my classmates, of the time we spent together in this strange world. Never had I imagined I would be running, gasping for breath, crying endless tears.

Never had I imagined this.

My feet suddenly came to a halt, and my knees buckled, collapsing to the blood-soaked earth. My body trembled at the sight before me.

It was Shreya—my class president. The one screaming in terror and pain. She was burning alive.

She rolled desperately on the blood-stained ground, trying to extinguish the flames, but it was useless. Her hand covered her face, but the screams kept coming.

Her cries were so loud, so filled with agony, they could freeze even the hardest of hearts with fear.

I tried to move toward her, but my legs refused to obey. The forest's pressure had sapped my strength, and my body could no longer respond.

Even as my body betrayed me, my mind refused to relent.

I forced my hand forward, digging my fingernails into the rocky ground, and began crawling toward her.

With every inch, I had to retract my nails and dig them back into the earth, inching closer, agonizingly slow.

Even though she was no more than ten steps away, it felt as though she were an entire continent away from me.

I felt my blood vessels threatening to burst, my nails so loose they might tear off at any moment.

But I kept going.

Finally, when I reached her, I stretched out my hand and began focusing on water magic.

I never wanted to learn magic. I never thought I'd need to use it in a moment like this—but here I was, cursed by my own ignorance.

I only knew the basics of this magic, and it was all I had to save her.

The steps were simple: gather mana, focus on the form you want to use, then release it.

It took me a full minute just to get the water to form and release.

The water splashed over Shreya, dousing the flames. Her body stopped rolling, her screams quieted, and she gasped for air, her chest rising and falling in deep, frantic breaths.

Her body had been burned beyond recognition. Half of it had melted away. Even with the healing magic I knew, I understood: she wouldn't survive. Not like this.

I extended my hands, focused on the image of a healthy body, and began gathering my mana. This was the only healing magic I could do, a simple one. I focused all my remaining mana on her, hoping for the best.

A dim green light surrounded my fingers, and hers, as I worked. My body, still collapsed on the ground, prevented me from seeing much, but I noticed her skin beginning to regenerate.

It took what felt like hours, and by the time I was finished, my mana was completely drained.

Her skin was healed, but her organs—her internal injuries—remained beyond repair.

I sat back, exhausted, and looked at her face. The sight of her suffering, of her ruined body, made my heart twist in guilt and sorrow.

I gently placed her head on my lap, trying to make her as comfortable as possible, knowing this was more than she would have had on the bloody, rocky ground.

Though her skin had healed, her face was still missing an ear, her eyes, and her hair. The sight was horrific, but instead of fear, I felt overwhelmed by guilt and sadness.

I tried to speak, but no words came out. She spoke first.

Shreya: "...Is it you, Arian? You're here, right?"

Her voice trembled, slow and weak, but still clear enough to understand.

Arian: "Sobs. Yeah, it's me… the sarcastic guy…"

She chuckled faintly, despite the pain.

Shreya: "It's… what I used to call you… Heh… but I'm glad I got to know you better."

The first time we spoke was when we arrived in this world, and it was the same for all of us. I regretted being cold and sarcastic to them then… but it was too late now.

She placed her hand weakly on top of my head, and I could feel her energy fading.

Shreya: "Hey… I can feel it… Nyx's mana. She survived, just like she said…"

She turned her head toward the source of the mana, her breaths becoming shallow.

Shreya: "That… that's where she is. Go. Save her. You know… I can't make it… Please… save her…"

Her voice faltered with each word, and I could see her time was running out. But I couldn't accept that. I didn't want this. Not from the start.

Before I could say anything, a bright light enveloped her hand still resting on my head, and I felt a sudden surge of energy.

It was healing magic—something only a priest could perform. It was Shreya's power, a final act of compassion before her end.

Arian: "...What are you doing?! Don't! You're going to kill yourself!"

Shreya: "Shut up. Nobody wants to die… not even me… It's just… my last wish… save her… This is what Grandpa wanted me to understand…"

She coughed between words, hiccuping in a way that made it clear she was crying, though the tears were long gone.

Shreya: "You'll do it, right?"

Maybe I didn't want to. I wanted to save both of you... but…

Shreya: "Hehe… You don't want to hear the last command from your class president? I guess I'll die in vain…"

Damn it! She knows how to manipulate me!

The bright light faded, and I felt my fatigue and exhaustion lift. The energy returned, but my heart was still heavy.

I had no choice.

Arian: "...I'll do it. Don't curse me when you die, Shreya. Sleep peacefully."

She chuckled softly, her last words a faint, bitter smile.

Shreya: "I won't."

I took off my t-shirt and folded it, placing it beneath her head. I stood up, feeling the unbearable weight of the forest's pressure all around me.

I turned one last time to look at her.

Arian: "Goodbye then. If we make it back to Earth, we'll throw a party—"

Shreya: "—And we'll play a match of basketball and video games, okay?"

I smiled, nodding.

Arian: "You'll never change."

With that, I turned and began walking in the direction she had pointed. As I moved farther away, I heard what sounded like her crying.

Then, it stopped.

I didn't stop. I kept moving towards the direction she pointed, each step feeling heavier. It took me more than fifteen minutes to find anyone, but eventually, I did.

There she was—Nyx, the white-haired girl with the black eyes and memory loss. The one who wasn't even part of my class, yet I found her here, alone in the forest.

She was the kindest and most beautiful girl I had ever seen, but now, she was sitting against a tree, her body broken. Her hand was gone, and a massive hole was torn through her belly.

Without a second thought, I rushed to her. I didn't hesitate. I cast my healing magic immediately.

The amount of blood she had lost couldn't be fully recovered with my current skills, but the gaping wound was sealed. She was still breathing, her mana concealed within her, even in this state.

As the injury healed, she lifted her head and noticed me. Tears streamed down her face, falling in torrents, but there was a strange sense of satisfaction in her eyes—more than the fear of death.

Nyx: "...It's too late to celebrate, but never too late to enjoy it."

Her voice was quiet, trembling as she spoke, and the words felt heavy in the air between us. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable. I didn't know how to respond, and Celeste, still in shock, remained silent.

Arian: 'Let's run. I'll question her after.'

That seemed like the best course of action. So, without wasting another moment, I tried to lift her.

But her hand was gone. My healing magic could close the wound, but it couldn't bring back what was lost. If we survived, she would never have her hand again.

She was light, but the pressure from the forest weighed on me, making her feel heavier than she should be. My legs were already worn out, and I knew I couldn't afford to slow down. If I did, I might end up just like the others.

I didn't want her to die, not like this.

One step, two steps, three. My movements were slow, but I kept going.

The only sounds in the forest were my labored breaths and the soft sound of my footsteps on the dirt. Nyx's voice cut through the silence.

Nyx: "...It's when I'm about to die that I finally remember who I am. This isn't fair. This isn't fair…"

Her voice trembled with pain, but there was something else in it now—regret.

Arian: 'What is she saying?'

Nyx: "I finally remember who you are, why I know you, and who my family is…"

Arian: 'What is this? What is happening?'

Nyx: "You lied to me. You lied to all of us—you never showed anyone who you truly are. I... Still… really, really…"

Before she could finish, everything around me began to spin. The pressure, the weight of the world, vanished in an instant.

Nyx: "Noo! Bl–Arian! Who did this?!"

Celeste shouted something, but it didn't matter anymore. I realized what had just happened.

I—no, my head—fell to the ground. I saw my body lying lifeless beside me, and everything around me seemed so distant, so unreal.

I had died. Beheaded, but I couldn't see who had struck the final blow. I guess it didn't matter. My body was gone, and the voices of the people I cared about echoed in my mind.

'Let's play a match of basketball and video games together, right?'

A voice from someone on the verge of death, asking for a simple game.

Thanks captain.

A voice of a comrade, once cold but gentle when it mattered.

Idiotic pervert captain!

A voice I recognized, from the girl who was with that cold guy. Why did she call me a pervert tho?

It's really your parents' fault, son. We never really thought about you… We're so aahamed. We're sorry. Will you forgive your mom?

The voices of my parents, crying out as they bled.

Boy… We were under pressure, but it's our fault. Resent us as much as you want. Curse us. We can only repent by this. By you…

The cry of an old couple, coughing blood, reaching for someone they loved.

They were all gone. And now, I too was gone, lost in a white void, waiting for whatever would come next.

Arian: 'I want to laugh so badly, but unfortunately I am already dead.'

All seventeen years of my life, wasted. But what can I do now?

What can anyone do when they're already dead?

[You died]

***

Aren't you all a bit too confused? What happened to the classmates I mentioned earlier? And the one who killed us?

Do you mind if I throw in a twist? Well, it doesn't matter—I'll do it anyway.

To understand this twist, let's start at the beginning.

I am Arian. No family, no friends, just a peaceful 17-year-old, average student enjoying my break time at school when everything changed.

I was summoned to a foggy white void, where an angel awaited me.

She was a blonde, chibi-sized, talkative little thing. At first, I couldn't believe she was an angel. To prove it, she revealed everything about my past, my routines, my entire life, as if she had hacked into my personal history.

Well, even a stalker could do that, but still, I trusted her. After all, a stalker can't summon me to some random place or look like a floating blonde chibi.

Her purpose? To grant me three wishes that would help me survive in another world—a world just like the ones in fantasy light novels. You know, those typical isekai settings.

There were rules, though. The wishes couldn't be anything ridiculous. They had to fall within the angel's authority and show no signs of greed.

At first, I didn't understand that. I wanted to live a selfish life, where I could sleep all day and have others do all the work for me—my own personal "free laborers." I didn't want to be a hero, a villain, or anything else. I just wanted to fill my bucket list with things I hadn't done yet.

But, as you can guess, dreams don't come true if you're lazy and unproductive like me.

At first, I asked for strength, intelligence, and power—everything that would make me unstoppable. Of course, none of it was granted.

It took me 41 tries to get the right set of wishes, but even then, they still didn't seem like enough.

I had to suppress my greed and think carefully about my wishes. The final three were:

- Free Labor: It would create a person opposite to me, loyal and obedient, who would do my bidding.

- Uncountable Potential: My potential would be limitless, but not infinite. It would help me grow stronger.

- Jack of All Trades, Master of None: Originally, I asked to be the master of all trades, but she couldn't grant that. So, I became a jack of all trades—good at everything, but a master of none.

These wishes seemed like they could help me live the dream life I wanted—if I used them right.

Once granted, I learned that the other ten students from my class were also teleported to this new world. And, after that, the angel sent me there as well.

I found myself in a forest, where I discovered Celeste, the epitome of beauty, lying there—naked and unconscious.

I covered her with my shirt, which woke her up. I also had my backpack from our old world, and inside it, I found blood-stained clothes from someone I knew. I gave them to her, and as she dressed, I couldn't help but wonder about this strange new world.

She had no memories of who she was or anything about her past, so I named her Nyx, after her striking black eyes.

At first, I thought she was my first wish—Free Labor—but something felt off.

I told her that we had to find our classmates, and after a couple of hours, we finally did. They had all been granted wishes, but weirdly, they were teleported together in the void. The otakus in our group began explaining what kind of wishes would work best in this world.

Even though they were stronger than me, I wasn't worried. I planned to exploit their strengths to live a peaceful life.

One of my bucket list dreams popped into my head: Become the King of the World.

I figured I could make that happen here.

I began bonding with my classmates, trying to gain their trust, but without realizing it, I was getting attached to them. Of course, they preferred Nyx over me.

The one I grew closest to was Shreya, our class leader. We also had a Synergist in our class, Subh, who could manipulate matter. He created all sorts of useful items for us—sleeping bags, pots, plates—you name it. Nyx contributed by gathering edible mushrooms, roots, fruits, and vegetables along the way.

By the end of the day, we were surviving thanks to Subh's abilities, Nyx's natural instincts, and Kashish, another girl in our group who could cook incredible dishes from basic ingredients.

But then, as I slept, I dreamed of being in the void with two unknown figures cloaked in white. They warned me about the coming death of me and my classmates.

They offered me a deal: if I trusted them, they would grant me anything I wanted. But it seemed too good to be true, so I rejected them.

The next day, everyone, including me, died.

And that was my first death.

Now you're probably thinking, First death?

Are you a regressor?

Yup. I've died more than thirteen times in this forest, each death a different way. Every time, I failed to figure out who was killing us. And every time, I couldn't save anyone.

I never told anyone about the regressions, but those mysterious figures know what's going on. They know I can go back in time. I'm not sure if it's a curse or a blessing, but it feels like the angel is laughing at my fate.

Still, it feels like a blessing, too. Every time I die, I get another chance to save my classmates.

[Returning in 5 seconds…]

Well, here we go again. I'm going to be alive now.

[3 seconds…]

[2…]

[1…]

[Returned Successfully.]

I opened my eyes and found myself in my sleeping bag, snug and warm. Despite the comfort, the cold breeze outside seeped in, reminding me of the bleakness of my situation.

I hugged myself tighter, still trembling from my past life's experiences.

The silence of the forest was broken only by the distant calls of animals and the rustling of leaves.

This forest felt unusually peaceful today.

Arian: "I don't… want to do this anymore. I just want to sleep for years."

Tears fell from my eyes as I cried into my sleeping bag.

I knew that if I slept today, everything would repeat itself. And if I stayed awake, we'd still die.

To anyone suggesting I run away—well, I'd be the first to die, and then they'd follow.

I was like a bird trapped in a cage, with no way out unless I confronted the killer. But all I knew about the killer was that it could appear from any direction, using techniques that were invisible to the eye. It attacked with magic, and its pattern was chilling—removing limbs, eyes, or even entire body parts from its victims.

One thing was certain: this wasn't a mindless monster. It had a consciousness, a purpose.

A human? A high-ranking demon? Or some other high-ranking creature from this fantasy world? The possibilities haunted me.

Tomorrow, I would try again.

With that thought, I forced myself out of my sleeping bag, trying to control my sobbing.

The campfire was still crackling, and the others slept in a circle around it.

I moved away from them, determined to find monsters and train my skills.

Arian: "If possible, I'll try to master healing magic and elemental magic."

Sniffling, I imagined the fire in my eyes—burning with determination.

I grabbed my bag and marched into the dark forest.

'Who cares if I died fourteen times?! That damn creature got me good, but now I'll make it pay!'

With that thought in mind, I entered the forest, the dim moonlight casting eerie shadows all around me.

It didn't take long before I spotted a slime in the distance.

I quickly pulled out my bag, retrieving a cylindrical metal rod wrapped in black rubber. I clicked a button somewhere in the black rubber, and the metal extended into a four-foot rod, with a blade on its side.

This was one of my deadliest and proudest inventions: Gungnir.

"Here it is! My invention!" I said with excitement, though I kept my voice low.

It was for self-defense, obviously. Believe me, I'm smarter than I look.

I focused back on the slime and ran toward it, swinging the blade of Gungnir and cutting it in half with a swift strike.

The slime didn't move. It simply popped like a bubble. For a few moments, I stared into the forest, searching for another, but instead of another slime, the remnants of the first one decayed, leaving behind a shimmering stone.

Arian: "Is this what they call a mana core?"

I could sense the faint trace of mana within it, though the amount was so minuscule it might as well have been nothing—barely equivalent to a single spit. Still, I collected the mana core and continued on my way.

One by one, or sometimes in small packs, I encountered more slimes, each one easier to deal with than the last. I dispatched them effortlessly, utilizing a skill granted by my "Jack of all trades" wish.

[Mana Infusion]

It was simple: I just had to imagine the mana flowing into Gungnir. And then—bam! My weapon would become more durable and destructive.

***