Loser

Reyan was in complete shock.

"Huh? My bags? Where are my bags?"

He frantically searched for them, but they were nowhere to be found. The only thing on his shoulder was his office bag—nothing else. A wave of panic started to creep in.

"So? How many more chances do I have left?... How many times have I died already? Four? No... Five?"

He swallowed hard, his throat dry.

"What do I do now? He's always two steps ahead of me… If I make another plan and he shows up with a gun this time, then what? What the hell can I even do? There's no chance of winning… I'm just fooling myself thinking I can fight back."

His head lowered, and with slow, defeated steps, he started walking toward the stairs.

Muttering to himself, he let out a bitter laugh.

"Yeah… What else can I do? After all, I'm just a human. Weak… A coward… Useless... If only I had done something meaningful in my life, at least I wouldn't feel so pathetic while dying."

He stepped down the stairs.

"How old am I again?... Oh right, 21... I'll turn 22 in two months… But will I even make it to my 22nd birthday?"

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"What am I even saying? I probably won't even see tomorrow..."

He slumped down on the steps.

"I wonder… What's everyone else doing right now? Are they happy? Who knows…? Man, I really am an idiot…"

A hollow smile formed on his lips.

"Just let this loop end already... So I can finally go to heaven... or maybe hell."

His eyes lifted toward the night sky. The moon was glowing brightly, casting an eerie light over everything.

"Wow... It's beautiful..."

He sighed.

"So… even you're watching me die, huh? Well, at least someone is."

He sat there, staring at the moon, lost in thought.

Then—

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Footsteps.

Loud. Slow. Heavy.

Faceless was coming down the stairs.

And in his hands—an axe.

He raised it high.

SLASH!

The blade cleaved straight into Reyan's skull—

RE-SET.

---

Reyan found himself standing outside his apartment again.

Motionless.

Expressionless.

Then, without warning—

SWOOSH!

An arrow shot straight through his forehead.

RE-SET.

---

This time, his office bag was gone too.

He stood frozen in the same spot.

Faceless appeared again, now wielding a katana.

SLASH!

Reyan's head separated cleanly from his body.

RE-SET.

---

And again.

Reyan remained standing.

But something had changed.

His eyes were dull. Lifeless.

It was as if he had completely given up.

There was no resistance left in him. No will to fight.

He simply stood there, waiting to die.

Faceless arrived. This time, he carried a spear.

Without hesitation—

SHUNK!

The blade pierced straight through Reyan's chest.

RE-SET.

---

But this time—

Reyan wasn't outside his apartment.

He spawned inside.

Near his bed.

His head was down, his back facing the door.

For a long time, he didn't move.

Then—

CRASH!

The door burst open.

Faceless stepped in, holding a massive kanabo—a heavy, spiked club.

Reyan didn't react.

He didn't even flinch.

Faceless swung—

And SMASH!

The kanabo crushed Reyan's skull.

RE-SET.

Die.

RE-SET.

Die.

RE-SET.

Die.

RE-SET.

Die.

---

This time, Reyan wasn't wearing his office clothes anymore.

A simple white t-shirt.

Black lower.

Barefoot.

He finally muttered to himself—

"How many times have I died?… How many more times will I have to die?"

Then—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A loud pounding on the door.

His eyes snapped open.

His body stiffened.

Faceless had arrived.

This time, he was carrying a rope.

Reyan stepped back. His breath quickened.

He stumbled.

Fell.

Faceless reached him in an instant—

And wrapped the rope around his neck.

Reyan gasped, his hands clawing at the rope, trying to break free.

But the grip was too tight.

Faceless dragged him.

Down the stairs.

Across the pavement.

Reyan thrashed.

His fingers scraped against the ground, desperate.

His face turned red.

His vision blurred.

His lungs screamed for air—

Then—

Everything stopped.

RE-SET.

---

Reyan dropped to his knees.

Gasping.

Desperate.

His hands clutched his throat.

His breathing was so ragged, so loud, it echoed all the way to the balcony.

For a long time, he just sat there.

Then, shakily, he brought his hands together.

Closed his eyes.

And began to pray.

"...God… I know you're watching me. If I've done anything wrong… please forgive me. Treat all my mistakes as those of a foolish child and forget them..."

His voice cracked.

"I can't take this anymore... Please... just end it. Give me an easy death... I beg you..."

Tears streamed down his face.

He sniffled.

And whispered,

"After I die… please take care of my parents… They have no one else but me... Please..."

His sobs grew louder.

He pressed his hands together tighter.

Eyes shut.

And then—

A shadow began to rise from his body.

A dark presence.

Something twisted.

Something wrong.

It took shape—

A massive, black figure.

Its form was eerie, unnatural—like strands of darkness woven together, shifting and writhing as if it were barely holding itself together.

Its limbs stretched unnaturally, ending in long, claw-like fingers that seemed to reach for something unseen.

Dark fluid dripped from its body, pooling onto the floor.

It was something that should not exist.

Something that belonged to a world beyond human comprehension.

It loomed behind Reyan.

And then—

A voice.

Cold.

Mocking.

"Loser... You... are... a... loser...