The Loop Begins
The world dissolved into a cacophony of screams and the sickening crunch of metal. One moment, Kaito was browsing manga at a crowded bookstore in Tokyo, the next, he was sprawled on cold cobblestones, the air thick with the stench of blood and burning wood. Disoriented and dazed, he pushed himself up, his hands scraping against rough stone. He tasted blood, his own, warm and metallic on his tongue.
"What the–" he choked out, his voice lost in the pandemonium.
His eyes widened in horror as he took in the scene around him: a medieval town engulfed in flames, panicked villagers fleeing from shadowy figures wielding swords and torches. Women screamed, children cried, and the air vibrated with the clash of steel and the crackle of fire. It was like stepping into a nightmare, a scene ripped from some historical drama, except this was terrifyingly real.
Before Kaito could even process what he was seeing, a searing pain exploded in his chest. He looked down to see a blood-soaked blade protruding from his chest, the cold steel a stark contrast to the burning chaos around him. His breath hitched in his throat, a strangled gasp escaping his lips. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real.
Darkness closed in, and Kaito's consciousness faded. But instead of oblivion, he found himself jolted back to the familiar fluorescent lights of the bookstore, the smell of old paper and the murmur of turning pages a jarring contrast to the horrific scene he'd just witnessed.
Confusion and disbelief warred within him. Had it all been a dream? A hallucination? He frantically glanced down at his chest, expecting to see a gaping wound, but there was nothing. No blood, no pain, just the soft cotton of his shirt.
Then, he saw it. A translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes, the words stark and ominous against the backdrop of shelves overflowing with books.
[Death Confirmed]
Cause of Death: Stab wound to the chest.
Time of Death: Unknown
Location: Aethelhum
Resurrection Point Set.
Returning to the designated checkpoint.
The world shimmered, and Kaito found himself back in the burning village, the screams and the stench of blood assaulting his senses once more.
This time, however, he was prepared. He knew what was coming. He was no longer the clueless bystander, thrown into a terrifying new reality. He was... a player in a twisted game.
He scrambled to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had no weapons, no armor, only the knowledge of what was about to happen. He dodged a charging figure, narrowly avoiding a sword that would have cleaved him in two. His heart hammered in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
He scrambled to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had no weapons, no armor, only the knowledge of what was about to happen. He dodged a charging figure, narrowly avoiding a sword that would have cleaved him in two. His heart hammered in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
He sprinted through the chaos, his mind racing. He had to find a way to survive, to escape this nightmare. But where could he go? What could he do? He was just a normal guy from Tokyo, with no special skills or training. How was he supposed to survive in this brutal, blood-soaked world?
As he rounded a corner, he collided with someone, a soft gasp echoing in his ears. He looked up to see a woman with eyes like emeralds and hair like spun fire, her expression a mixture of fear and defiance. She was the woman from the weapons stall, the one he'd noticed before everything went to hell.
Before he could speak, a shadowy figure emerged from the alleyway, its sword raised high. Kaito reacted instinctively, shoving the woman aside and taking the blow himself. He knew what was coming, the searing pain, the encroaching darkness… but this time, there was a strange sense of detachment. He knew he would be back. He knew he had another chance.
[Death Confirmed]
Cause of Death: Stab wound to the abdomen.
Time of Death: Unknown
Location: Aethelhum
Returning to the designated checkpoint.
The world shimmered once more, and Kaito found himself back at the beginning of the loop, the screams and the flames a grim reminder of the challenge ahead. Why me? he thought, his fists clenching. Why am I here? And how do I get out of this? He had a long way to go, but he was no longer a helpless victim. He was a player in a deadly game, and he was determined to not only survive, but to understand the rules and ultimately, break free. He had to. For himself, and for the fiery-haired woman whose life he seemed inexplicably tied to.