Chapter 17

Issac leaned back on the couch, his eyes tracing the contours of the ceiling as if searching for clarity in the shadows above. Since Jaren had cleansed him yesterday, a strange calmness had settled over his mind. His thoughts, once clouded by the ever-present haze of corruption, were now clearer than they had been in years—perhaps decades across his timelines.

The memories of his first and second lives began to flood back with precision and depth, pieces he hadn't fully grasped before. His time with Marcus stood out vividly. In his first life, everything had seemed so normal. He was a mid-tier C-Class Esper, living an ordinary life, climbing the ranks in a prominent guild. Marcus had been his best friend and teammate, always by his side in raids, in battles, and during downtime in the guild's lounge.

But now, as he thought about it, there had been something more to Marcus' role. Issac realized, "In that life, Marcus wasn't just my friend. He was probably allowed to approach and interact with me because I was living that 'normal' life, but he was also secretly protecting me, watching over me like a guardian."

He glanced over at Marcus, who was leaning forward, watching him cautiously. The air between them felt heavier with unspoken truths. "In the second life," Issac continued, his voice quieter now, "everything was different. My life was chaotic. I wasn't just fighting monsters; I was exposing corruption—tearing apart government facilities, destroying the people responsible for those horrific experiments. Marcus was still there… but only in the shadows. He wasn't allowed to approach me, not with how dangerous and rogue I had become. I was too much of a risk."

Jaren and General Zarek exchanged a glance, their postures tense as they absorbed his words. They had been watching the entire interaction with growing concern. The weight of Issac's experiences—multiple lives, corrupted timelines, and painful secrets—was becoming clearer, and it was impossible to ignore the gravity of it all.

Issac turned his gaze toward them. "I only just noticed all of this because, even though I've reset multiple times to the beginning, I've always carried corruption with me. The miasma never leaves me, even after I die and reset. This is the first time in... well, I don't even remember how long, that I've been free of it. Jaren's cleanse did something different this time."

The General, always calm and direct, leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "Corruption? Explain in detail, Issac. What exactly do you mean by that?"

Issac sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He glanced at Jaren before answering. "After I gained the ability to go back in time, every Guide's powers—powers that were supposed to heal, to soothe, to guide—felt like torture to me. Even the Guides with the most reputable, calming energies… their powers felt like razor blades slicing through my insides."

Jaren's eyes widened at the revelation, shock clear in his expression. Issac had never let anyone know this before. "I didn't realize it at first, but every time I reset, I brought the corruption with me—the miasma that seeped into me from the monsters, from the dungeons. It clung to my soul. And even though I kept running into you, Jaren, in previous timelines, I never let you or any other Guide help me. I couldn't stand the pain. So, I turned to machines. I used medical devices to heal instead. Cold, efficient, and… painless."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Issac's confession hanging over them. Jaren looked deeply affected, his hands clenched in his lap. "That's why you always kept your distance," he murmured. "I never understood why, but now it makes sense."

Issac nodded, meeting Jaren's gaze. "Yeah. This is the first time I've allowed anyone to guide me since... since before my first death. It's why everything's so clear now. For the first time, the corruption is gone."

General Zarek crossed his arms, his voice calm but carrying an underlying tension. "So you're saying the miasma from these monsters—this corruption—has been affecting you across all your timelines? And Jaren's cleanse... it's the first time you've felt free of it?"

Issac nodded. "That's right. I've been carrying it with me every time I died and came back. It twisted my senses, my perceptions. It made everything… harder. But Jaren's power—yesterday—was different. It actually felt… good. I've never experienced that with a Guide before."

Marcus, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, his voice steady but laced with concern. "So now that you're free of the corruption, what's next? You said this life is different. How do we move forward?"

Issac took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the question settle into him. "We plan. We take everything I've learned from these timelines, everything I've failed to do right, and we fix it. We need to stop the apocalypse that's coming, and we don't have much time."

Jaren's eyes met Issac's, a new resolve burning in them. "Then we do it together. No more secrets."

Issac nodded. "No more secrets."

----

Suddenly, a voice sliced through the thick tension in the room, making the group of four tense up instinctively.

"Finally! Now will you fucking stop ignoring me, you fucktard?!"

With a flick of its tail, a large black cat popped into existence, its form shimmering momentarily before solidifying. Its expressive face bore a distinctly human-like look of annoyance, enhanced by a kaleidoscope of purple lights flickering in its eyes. The unexpected appearance of the creature startled the group, and General Zarek instinctively shifted his posture, ready for a confrontation.

"What the fuck?" he exclaimed, his expression a mix of disbelief and aggression, poised as if he were about to attack this bizarre intruder.

The cat rolled its eyes, unimpressed. "Oh, keep your pants on, numbskull."

"Issac!" the cat exclaimed, addressing him directly.

Marcus looked at Issac, bewildered. "Do you know this weird talking cat?"

"Alfred?!" Issac exclaimed, the shock evident in his voice.

"Yep, that's right!" Alfred shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And you're a creeping stalker," he added, his eyes narrowing at Marcus, who flinched as if struck by the cat's words alone.

"Alfred, the cat?" Issac confirmed, trying to wrap his head around the situation.

"Indeed! I'm Issac's system that was assigned to him after his first death. But I was pretty much just a voice in his head until now." Alfred smirked, his expression playful. "Oh, guess what, loser? You've got a new ability now that you've purged all that corruption from your system."

"What's the new ability?" Issac asked, curiosity piqued despite the absurdity of talking to a cat.

With a snicker, Alfred replied, "Guess! Here's a hint: I just used that ability of yours to pop up, so now you can put a face to the voice."

Issac's complexion turned ashen, his eyes widening in realization. "There's only one ability that can do that… Creation?"

"BINGO!" Alfred shouted, executing a midair flip in celebration.

"Fuuuuuuuck," Jaren groaned, rubbing his temples in exasperation.

Alfred, still airborne, pivoted mid-flip to hover in front of Jaren's face. "And why are you complaining, human?"

With a nervous glance, Jaren's expression turned serious. "Because Issac now has a hundred-mile-wide target on his back," he explained, his voice laced with urgency. "The government's system probably picked up on his Creation ability, even though he couldn't access it before."

The reality of the situation hit Issac hard. Creation was a powerful and rare ability, one that could draw the attention of not just the government but also anyone looking to exploit such a gift. A mix of excitement and dread coursed through him as he considered the implications. He wasn't just a survivor anymore; he was now a beacon for every threat lurking in the shadows.

Alfred crossed his front paws, smirking. "Welcome to the big leagues, Issac. It's about time you made your mark."

As the tension in the room morphed into a new kind of urgency, the group realized they had to act fast. The stakes were higher than ever, and with Issac's newfound ability, they would need to be more vigilant than before. The balance of power had shifted, and now they were all in this together, whether they liked it or not.

------

The weight of Alfred's revelation hung heavy in the air, thick with unease as Issac processed the implications of his newfound ability. He felt the familiar pulse of anxiety creeping in, a tightness in his chest that he struggled to shake off. He'd faced death before, but this was different. It wasn't just his life on the line anymore; it was the safety of everyone he cared about.

"Look, Issac," Jaren interjected, his voice steady but laced with concern, "we need to figure out how to protect you. If the government knows about your Creation ability, they'll come for you. We have to anticipate their moves."

Alfred, still hovering in front of Jaren, flicked his tail dismissively. "That's not the only issue, human. Issac's abilities come with a price, and it's not just about dodging government agents. With Creation, he can alter reality itself, which is a double-edged sword."

Marcus, who had been silent until now, leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean by that? What's the downside?"

Alfred's expression shifted from playful to serious. "Creation isn't just a power; it's a responsibility. The more Issac uses it, the more he risks unbalancing the world around him. Not to mention the potential corruption that can resurface if he doesn't keep his emotions in check. And if he slips up, there could be catastrophic consequences."

"Great," Jaren said, his voice edged with frustration. "So we're in a situation where Issac is a target for the government, and he has to manage a power that could destroy everything if he misuses it. What's next, Alfred? What's our game plan?"

"First," Alfred said, addressing the group, "Issac needs to get a handle on his new ability. We can't have him losing control at the wrong moment. I'll help him train, but he has to be willing to listen."

Issac nodded, the gravity of Alfred's words resonating with him. "I get it. I have to learn to control it before I can use it effectively. But what about the government? They won't just sit back and wait while I figure things out."

"Right," Jaren replied, his brow furrowing as he strategized. "We need to go on the offensive. I can pull some strings to get us intel on their movements. If they're tracking you, we need to know how they're doing it and who's involved."

General Zarek, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. "I have connections within the military and government. We can gather intelligence, but we need to be discreet. Any sign of you, Issac, could lead them right to you."

"Yeah, but we can't hide forever," Marcus added, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "If they're tracking him, they'll know we're working together. We need to stay one step ahead."

"Then we need a decoy," Alfred suggested, his eyes glinting with mischief. "While we're training Issac, we can create distractions. I can create illusions or duplicates that can mislead them while Issac hones his powers."

"Wait, how does that work?" Issac asked, intrigued but uncertain.

Alfred grinned, the kaleidoscope of lights around his eyes swirling. "It's simple. I can project images and sounds, creating the illusion of multiple Issacs. While they're chasing shadows, you can work on your abilities without the constant threat of their gaze. It's a classic misdirection."

"Okay, that might buy us some time," Jaren conceded. "But we can't rely solely on distractions. We need a secure location where Issac can practice without fear of discovery."

General Zarek nodded thoughtfully. "I know a place—an old military facility that's been abandoned for years. It has secure rooms and ample space for training. It's off the grid, so we can keep Issac's training under wraps."

Issac took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. "Let's do it. I can't afford to wait around for them to come to us. I need to be ready."

As the group laid out their plan, a sense of purpose filled the room. The atmosphere was charged with urgency, but it was also laced with a new kind of hope. They were no longer just reacting; they were strategizing, preparing to fight back against the threats closing in on them.

Alfred floated closer to Issac, his expression softening slightly. "Remember, Issac, Creation isn't just about power. It's also about understanding your limits and the consequences of your actions. You have the potential to change everything, but you must learn to wield that potential wisely."

"I will," Issac promised, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders, but this time he felt ready to embrace it. "I won't let my past define my future. I'll control this power and use it to protect those I care about."

With a renewed sense of determination, the group finalized their plans, each member aware of the challenges that lay ahead. They were all in this together now, each playing a vital role in Issac's journey toward mastering his abilities and confronting the shadows of his past.

As they prepared to move out, Issac felt a flicker of excitement beneath the apprehension. This was his chance to forge a new path, one where he wouldn't just survive but thrive. And with allies like Jaren, Marcus, and the ever-unpredictable Alfred by his side, he knew he wasn't facing this battle alone.