Chapter 23

Genji had faced death repeatedly in his attempts to defeat Copperhand and his henchmen. Despite using his ability to die and go back in time, he could never manage to beat them all. Viper, especially, proved to be the most dangerous adversary.

The thought of capturing Copperhand had crossed his mind before, but it was easier said than done. Time and time again, Copperhand seemed to anticipate his every move, making it almost impossible to gain the upper hand.

But this time, after enduring numerous deaths, Genji had finally succeeded in capturing him. The toll on his mind and spirit was immeasurable, but he pushed through, knowing that this was the moment he had been waiting for.

As Genji aimed the knife at Copperhand's throat, he knew that this was his chance to change everything. Failure was not an option – not after all the sacrifices he had made.

Copperhand's remaining henchmen came to a halt, their eyes fixed on Genji as he held a knife to their boss's throat. The warehouse fell into an eerie silence, the tension thick in the air. Viper spoke up, his voice steady but laced with caution. "Hold on, we won't make a move. Just let him go," he said, signaling to the others to kneel in submission.

Amidst the victorious cheers of Genji's team, Dare, Pip, and the others celebrated their triumph over Copperhand's henchmen. Joy and relief washed over them, grateful they no longer had to face the ruthless adversaries. However, not everyone shared in the jubilation. The orange-haired woman, Tick, glared at them with murderous intent, her eyes burning with malice as she bared her fangs.

"If only the boss didn't get captured, I would have ripped you all to shreds!" she seethed, venom dripping from her words.

Dare's expression hardened, and he wasn't about to let Tick's threats go unanswered. He stepped forward, his fists clenched, and delivered a powerful punch, silencing her for the moment.

"You've lost, Tick. We're in control," Dare declared firmly, making it clear that their victory was absolute.

As Dare's punch barely left a mark on Tick, she defiantly lifted her head and glared back at him, her murderous intent still burning in her eyes. Dare quickly backed up, realizing the harsh reality. *We really didn't stand a chance,* he thought, feeling defeated by the overwhelming power of their adversaries.

Genji had warned them about this, and while Dare knew he was no match for any of them, he had hoped that their combined efforts would yield better results. But the truth stared back at him – they were outclassed in every way.

Doubt crept into his mind as he wondered what would have happened if Genji hadn't meticulously planned the entire thing. It was Genji's foresight that had led them to this moment of victory, capturing Copperhand, but the reality of their powerlessness against his henchmen weighed heavily on Dare's heart.

Ripper then slammed Copperhand onto the ground, eliciting a grunt of pain from the crime lord. Viper's eyes flashed with anger as he yelled, "Hey, what the fuck are you doing!"

Viper understood the precariousness of the situation, knowing that any rash action could endanger Copperhand's life. He fought to control his emotions, holding back from charging at Ripper and Genji, knowing that safeguarding Copperhand's safety was his top priority.

Genji took charge, his voice resolute and commanding. "Use the ropes to tie them up!" he directed with unwavering focus. Each member of the team swiftly moved into action, efficiently binding Copperhand's henchmen, ensuring they were securely restrained.

Meanwhile, Ripper, having successfully subdued Copperhand, couldn't help but gloat in his triumph. With a smirk, he taunted, "Looks like I won, mate," relishing the moment as he stood over the defeated crime lord.

With the captives now under control, Genji lined them up in a row, ensuring their helplessness. Standing tall and composed, surrounded by his comrades, he felt a sense of accomplishment that his long-planned mission had come to fruition. The time loop had tested him repeatedly, but it was finally time to end it.

Copperhand lay on the ground, blood seeping from his wound, yet he ignored the pain as he locked eyes with Genji, his expression surprisingly composed. "Now what?" he asked, his voice strained.

Genji's irritation flared up; he couldn't comprehend how Copperhand remained so collected even in this dire situation. "What do you mean, 'now what'?" he retorted, frustration evident in his voice. He had expected fear or desperation in Copperhand's eyes, but instead, there was an unsettling calmness.

"You took me down. Now what are you going to do?" Copperhand insisted, his voice unwavering.

Caught off guard by the question, Genji hesitated for a moment. In his relentless pursuit of revenge, he hadn't considered what he would do once he achieved his goal. Now, with Copperhand at his mercy, he felt a mix of conflicting emotions. The weight of the moment left him uncertain and searching for the right words to respond to Copperhand's challenge.

Genji had been asking himself this question ever since he arrived in this world – a world filled with nothing but pain, unfairness, and injustice. He hated everything about it, loathed most of its inhabitants, and now the one he despised the most posed the question to him. Well, he knew the answer all too well.

As Genji knelt down to Copperhand's level, he met the man's gaze. "Unlike you, I won't lose," he declared firmly.

Copperhand's lips curled into a sinister smile, looking into Genji's eyes that mirrored his own. In that moment, he saw a reflection of himself, a kindred spirit who had suffered and struggled just like he had. *Just like me.*

But before any deeper thoughts could form, a sudden, sharp pain pierced through his neck. Genji's revenge was finally complete, but as he looked down at the lifeless body of the man he had come to kill, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The cycle of death and violence that had consumed him long ago back in his first death.

Before any of Copperhand's henchmen could react, Genji coldly ordered his own men, "End them." There was no hesitation or remorse in his voice as he gave the command. His companions swiftly took care of the incapacitated henchmen, leaving the once-feared group lifeless on the floor.

Ripper, having noticed the stark change in Genji, couldn't help but question him, "Mate, it was just yesterday when you could barely kill. What happened?" He was taken aback by Genji's newfound ruthlessness.

Genji glanced back at Ripper, his lifeless eyes locking onto his friend. There was a chilling emptiness in his gaze, a void where his old self seemed to have vanished. He didn't respond to Ripper's inquiry, instead turning away without a word and leaving the warehouse.

Genji walked away from the warehouse, the weight of Copperhand's death heavy on his shoulders. He couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness, the void left by his relentless pursuit of revenge. As he contemplated his future in this unfamiliar world, he felt a strange sense of detachment. Nothing in this world was worth saving, he thought, and he couldn't fathom why he was brought here in the first place.

With Copperhand dead, a power vacuum was created, and Genji realized that someone would have to take his place. The thought crossed his mind – who better than the man who had killed him? A chilling determination settled within him, pushing him forward. He was ready to embrace this new role, no matter the cost.

It didn't matter to Genji who he had to kill or what he had to do. All that mattered now was securing his position, building a life for himself in this strange and merciless world. He was prepared to walk a dark path, destroying anyone who dared to stand in his way.

With a dark determination burning within him, Genji vowed to use his ability without hesitation. He saw his ability to reset time and relive moments as a powerful tool to manipulate events in his favor. If his own death could serve a purpose, he would not hesitate to make that sacrifice. From this moment on, he resolved to build something even greater than Copperhand's empire, something that would dwarf everything the crime lord had ever achieved.

The Shadow Baron's reign was marked by ruthless ambition and a willingness to sacrifice anything, even his own life, to achieve his desires. Over the next two years, he built a vast criminal empire, leaving a trail of destruction and fear in his wake. Some, like Pip, couldn't bear to be a part of his dark path and distanced themselves from him.

But to The Shadow Baron, her departures meant nothing. He had become a force to be reckoned with, feared by all who crossed his path. He didn't hesitate to use his unique ability to his advantage, manipulating time to his will and eliminating any obstacles in his way.

...And now, after all this time, he was finally dying. Finally, his pain was coming to an end. The life he led was the worst, and his final death was going to be the best thing that ever happened to him. As his life and soul came to an end, he wondered if his mother ever looked for him.

End of ARC 2