The dim glow of the training room illuminated Zack's figure as he stood alone, gripping his spear tightly. The early morning silence was broken only by the faint hum of the holographic projectors flickering to life. Around him, shimmering apparitions of Rank S monsters began to materialize—terrifying, towering beasts with razor-sharp claws, elemental powers, and an aura that could paralyze an ordinary person with fear. Yet Zack stood unfazed.
He adjusted his grip on the spear, his expression cold and unyielding. His muscles, honed over countless lifetimes, moved with practiced precision as he readied himself for the battle ahead.
With a deep breath, Zack muttered to himself, "It still isn't enough."
The first monster lunged at him, a serpent-like creature with scales that glowed like molten lava. Its hiss reverberated through the room as it snapped its massive jaws at Zack. He sidestepped effortlessly, spinning his spear in a blur of motion before driving it into the beast's side. The holographic serpent dissipated with a distorted shriek, only for two more monsters to take its place.
A hulking golem of jagged ice charged forward, swinging its crystalline fist down in an attempt to crush Zack. Simultaneously, a phantom-like wraith darted toward him, its ethereal blade aiming for his chest.
Zack moved like water, fluid and precise. He rolled under the golem's attack, his spear slicing through the wraith in one swift motion. Before the golem could react, he leaped onto its back, driving his spear into the base of its neck. The massive construct shattered into fragments of light, leaving Zack standing alone once more.
But the holograms kept coming.
A chimera, a phoenix, a shadow beast—one after another, they emerged, each stronger and more relentless than the last. Zack fought them all, his spear a blur as he parried, dodged, and struck with deadly accuracy. His movements were calculated, almost mechanical, as if every step and strike had been rehearsed countless times.
And, in truth, they had.
Each monster before him was nothing new. Zack had fought them all in previous lives, in different places and under different circumstances. He knew their patterns, their weaknesses, and their strengths. Yet despite his overwhelming knowledge and experience, a thought lingered in his mind:
"It's not enough. It's never enough."
He could feel it deep in his bones. No matter how strong he became, no matter how many monsters he defeated, there was always something stronger. Something more terrifying. The Apostles were proof of that.
The Apostle of Envy had nearly defeated him, and that was the second weakest of the five. The memory of its many faces twisting in rage as it screamed its jealousy haunted him. Zack clenched his teeth, his spear slicing through the air as he decapitated another holographic monster.
He paused for a moment, sweat dripping from his brow, his chest heaving. The projector flickered, summoning another monster—a gargantuan wolf with burning crimson eyes. Zack didn't wait for it to attack. He lunged forward, his spear piercing the beast's heart in a single motion. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
The room fell silent once more, save for Zack's ragged breathing. He lowered his spear, gripping it tightly as he stared at the empty space where the hologram had stood.
"Even with all this…" he muttered, his voice barely audible, "even after hundreds, thousands, millions of lives… I'm still not strong enough."
His thoughts turned to the Apostles once more.
The Apostle of Despair—the strongest among them, its presence alone was enough to break the will of even the most steadfast warriors. Its overwhelming power loomed in Zack's mind like a shadow, a reminder of his own insignificance.
The Apostle of Wrath—the embodiment of fury, a relentless force of destruction that had torn entire armies apart in previous timelines. Zack had faced it before, only to be utterly crushed by its unyielding rage.
The Apostle of Fear—while the weakest of the five, it had a unique ability to exploit its opponent's deepest fears, paralyzing them with terror. Zack had long since stopped being affected by fear, but even so, he knew the Apostle's cunning made it dangerous.
And then there was the Apostle of Envy. Its words still echoed in his mind: "Why are you so perfect? I'm so jealous of you!" The memory of their battle was fresh, the wounds it inflicted still aching.
Zack's grip on his spear tightened. He had spent lifetimes preparing for these battles, growing stronger with each reincarnation, yet it always felt like he was running in place. No matter how much his strength increased, it never seemed to be enough.
He glanced around the empty training room, ensuring once more that no one was watching. His rapid growth in strength was unnatural—something no one else in the Academy could understand. To the world, he was just an unawakened Rank E student, a weakling with no mana to his name.
But Zack knew the truth.
His strength was the result of countless lives, each one adding to his physical prowess. His muscles, once lean and untrained, now carried the weight of a hundred million battles. His body, though appearing young, was forged in the crucible of pain and death.
Yet, for all his strength, for all his experience, it still wasn't enough to overcome the Apostles.
Zack slammed the butt of his spear against the floor, the sharp sound echoing through the room. He wasn't strong enough. He couldn't defeat the Apostles. He couldn't save his parents. He couldn't escape the Eternal Return.
The thought filled him with a quiet rage, not directed at anyone or anything but himself. He was tired—so, so tired—but he couldn't stop. He couldn't give up. Not yet.
"I'll keep going," he muttered, his voice firm despite the weariness in his eyes. "Even if it's pointless. Even if it doesn't change anything. I'll keep fighting."
With that, Zack activated the projector once more. A new set of Rank S monsters materialized before him, their snarls echoing through the room.
Zack raised his spear, his expression cold and determined. The training would continue. It had to.
Because even if it wasn't enough, it was all he had.