The classroom was unusually quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of the professor's voice. Zack sat near the back, his spear resting by his side, his attention elsewhere. The lecture about the history of heroes who had slain the great Black Dragon was interesting enough—if only he hadn't heard it a hundred times before, in a hundred different lifetimes.
The professor spoke passionately, detailing the bravery of the heroes who stood against the Black Dragon, their legendary battles, and the ultimate triumph that saved the world. Students murmured in awe as the professor went on about the sacrifices made, the glory earned, and the bonds forged in the heat of battle. But Zack's mind was far from the stories of heroes and dragons.
His eyes flickered to the window, where the bright sun illuminated the academy grounds. It was a peaceful, normal day, but for Zack, the date held a far more painful significance. Today was the day his parents had died. The memories of their death haunted him, replaying over and over in his mind. It had happened countless times—no matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried to change the outcome, he always failed.
Zack closed his eyes, blocking out the professor's voice as the familiar ache settled deep in his chest. His parents had visited him every year on this day. They'd always brought his favorite meal—his mother's homemade stew, his father's hearty laughter filling the air. But this year, the outcome would be the same. They would come, he would eat, and then they would die.
The thought twisted in his gut. No amount of strength, no skill with his spear, could change it. He could never save them. Not this time. Not any time.
Zack's hand clenched around the edge of his desk. He could feel the weight of the memories pressing down on him, suffocating him. The feeling of helplessness, the overwhelming knowledge that nothing would change, was a constant companion in this endless cycle of life and death.
As the professor continued speaking, his voice a dull hum in the background, Zack's thoughts wandered back to the idea that had been plaguing him for days—maybe even years. Was there truly no way to save them? Was he doomed to fail forever, to relive their death in countless variations? Was there no answer, no way out of the loop he found himself trapped in?
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. The question lingered, unanswered, as the bell rang to signal the end of the class.
The students filed out, laughing and chatting with one another, their voices fading into the distance. Zack didn't bother to join them. He had no interest in their conversations, their trivial worries. They couldn't understand the weight he carried, the scars that had etched themselves into his soul over countless lifetimes.
He stood up, gathering his things in silence, and made his way toward the door.
As he stepped into the hallway, a strange sensation prickled at the back of his neck—a familiar, unsettling presence. Zack's eyes narrowed as he turned his head to look toward the academy's courtyard. A portal had opened, swirling with dark, ominous energy. From it emerged an army of armored demons, their red and dark auras pulsing with a malevolent power. At the front of the group stood a massive figure—a towering demon with a massive sword, his armor gleaming in the dim light.
Herux, the first corps commander of the demon army.
Zack's pulse quickened, but his face remained expressionless. He had fought against Herux in his previous lives. He knew the demon's strength, knew the battlefield would be a bloodbath. But none of it mattered to him. The demons would come, they would fight, and then they would fall. The cycle would continue.
But this time was different.
Zack wasn't going to stay and fight.
He turned and walked in the opposite direction, moving quickly but calmly. His footsteps echoed in the hall as he made his way toward the academy's outer gates. Yurina, who had been waiting nearby, caught up to him.
"Senior Zack, where are you going?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity and concern.
"I'm taking a different path," Zack said, his voice flat.
Yurina hesitated but followed, sensing that something was off. As they walked, Aurelia, the princess of the Aether Empire, appeared at Yurina's side, her expression serious.
"Zack, wait!" Aurelia called, but Zack didn't pause.
They both noticed the tension in Zack's posture, the way he moved with an urgency that hinted at something far more dangerous than a simple skirmish with demons.
"What's going on?" Yurina asked again, glancing at Aurelia.
Before Aurelia could respond, the sound of clashing swords and the roar of the demon army reached their ears. The battle had begun, but Zack was already a distance away. He moved with purpose, stepping off the academy grounds and toward the wooded path that led to the secluded areas of the academy.
Yurina and Aurelia exchanged a brief look before deciding to follow him. They didn't know what to expect, but they knew they couldn't leave Zack alone—especially not when he was so distant, so detached.
As they trailed behind him, they saw the vast army of demons scattered across the field, their powerful figures fighting against the academy's defenses. The roar of battle filled the air, but Zack never slowed his pace.
They had almost lost sight of him when they rounded a bend in the path. The sounds of battle grew louder, but to their shock, when they turned the corner again, the entire demon army was lying dead on the ground, their armor cracked and broken, their bodies lifeless. The battlefield was eerily silent.
Yurina stared in disbelief. How had it happened?
Before they could even react, a single demon, its armor shattered and blood pouring from its wounds, crawled weakly toward Zack. But Zack was already standing over it, his spear held firmly in his hands. Without a word, he struck, plunging the spear through the demon's heart.
The creature's body convulsed once, then fell limp.
Yurina stood frozen, her heart racing. She had known Zack was strong. She had seen fragments of his memories, the pain he had endured, and the battles he had fought. But she never imagined he was this strong—strong enough to wipe out an entire army of demons without breaking a sweat.
With the demons vanquished, Zack turned and walked toward the evacuation area. Yurina and Aurelia exchanged another look, but neither of them spoke. They simply followed Zack in silence, their hearts heavy with confusion and worry.
The evacuation area was a large, open courtyard surrounded by temporary tents. People were rushing around, preparing to flee the academy, but Zack didn't stop. His eyes were locked on a specific tent near the center of the area.
As they approached, Yurina and Aurelia felt a chill run down their spines. They didn't know what Zack was feeling, but it was clear he was leading them somewhere he'd been before.
When they reached the tent, Zack stopped. His expression didn't change, but there was a heaviness in the air around him. He stepped inside, and Yurina and Aurelia followed.
The moment they entered, they saw them—Zack's parents.
Lying on a mat, their faces covered by towels, marking them as deceased. The scene was all too familiar to Zack. He had seen this countless times before, in every previous life. He had watched his parents die, tried and failed to save them over and over again.
He stared at them, his eyes empty of emotion.
Yurina's heart ached as she saw the familiar sadness in Zack's eyes, but he didn't show it. He had already accepted the outcome. He had already failed, and this was just another repeat of the cycle.
"Zack…" Yurina whispered softly, but Zack didn't respond.
He simply stood there, his gaze fixed on the bodies of his parents, his spear held loosely in his hand. The rain began to fall, softly at first, then harder, as if the heavens themselves wept for him.
But Zack didn't cry.
He couldn't. Not anymore.
He had already endured too much.
End of Chapter