Return #116 continued, and the battlefield roared with chaos. Smoke and dust swirled around Evan as he faced the corrupted knight. Each swing of the knight's jagged sword sent shockwaves through the air, and every step Evan took had to be precise, calculated, and perfectly timed.
He had observed, adapted, and survived countless loops, but this was unlike anything he had ever encountered. The corrupted knight was a force of nature, every movement lethal and unpredictable.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTHEvan's heart pounded, but he forced his mind into sharp focus. He remembered Sereth's words:
Patience. Observation. Adaptation.
He had waited, watched, and learned the knight's rhythm. And now, the opening he had noticed earlier had returned—a fraction of a second when the knight overextended.
Evan's body moved on instinct, a fluid combination of the skills he had unlocked.
[Skill Check: Predictive Reaction — Success]
[Skill Check: Adaptive Footwork — Success]
[Skill Check: Survival Instinct — Success]
He lunged, sword slicing toward the joint in the knight's armor. Sparks flew. Metal screeched. The knight staggered, one boot scraping against the cobblestones.
The battlefield seemed to hush around them. Even the wind held its breath.
Evan stepped back, blade at the ready. He had done it. He had made the first strike.
THE KICKBACKBut the corrupted knight was far from finished. He spun, black-and-red armor gleaming in the sunlight, and struck back with brutal precision. Evan barely deflected the blow, feeling the force travel up his arms and torso. Pain flared, but he didn't falter.
Every loop had taught him one lesson above all others: pain was a teacher, not a master.
The knight's eyes glowed brighter, a deep crimson now mixing with the darkness. He laughed, a sound that reverberated through the battlefield like rolling iron.
"You… fight differently," the knight said, voice like grinding gears. "You've learned from death itself."
"Yes," Evan said, gritting his teeth. "And I will keep learning."
THE OBSERVER'S PRESENCEFrom the treeline, Sereth watched silently, golden eyes piercing through the smoke and chaos.
Interesting, they murmured. The host is adapting faster than expected. Perhaps he truly is different.
Evan did not notice the observer now. All his focus was on the corrupted knight, whose attacks became a blur of black and red.
He ducked, rolled, leapt, and countered—every move precise. For the first time in the loops, he felt like a step ahead, not behind.
The villagers around the battlefield were screaming, ducking for cover, and fleeing, but Evan moved like a shadow through the chaos.
THE STRATEGIC RETREATEvan realized something crucial: the corrupted knight was testing him. Every swing, every feint, every thrust was designed to probe, to measure, to see how far Evan had come.
He needed to conserve energy and force the knight into mistakes.
Evan sidestepped, ducking under a massive downward strike. He rolled behind a toppled cart and assessed the knight's pattern.
The knight's movements were powerful, but predictable if observed carefully. Evan noticed the subtle shift in weight before every swing, the way the left shoulder tensed slightly before an overhand strike, the way the blade's momentum slowed for just a heartbeat before it accelerated again.
Evan grinned beneath his sweat-streaked face.
I see you now.
THE COUNTERATTACKHe moved. Step, pivot, dodge, counter.
The knight struck again, and Evan sidestepped, letting the massive sword cut through air. He rolled under the arc and brought his sword up, striking at a weak joint in the knight's armor. Sparks erupted. The knight faltered.
"Enough games," the knight growled, voice trembling with an unnatural energy. "I will end you!"
Evan's muscles tensed. He knew this strike would be the deadliest so far. He had one chance. One opening.
[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED]Skill: Tactical Analysis (C)
Effect: Predicts enemy strategy and reveals optimal openings during combat.
Source: Observation of superior opponents under lethal conditions.
Evan felt the skill activate instantly. Patterns became clear. Weak spots revealed themselves. A strategy emerged in his mind.
He wasn't just reacting anymore. He was controlling the flow.
THE FIRST VICTORYThe knight swung again, a devastating strike aimed at Evan's chest. Evan sidestepped, twisting, and then leapt onto the knight's side. His blade found a gap in the armor near the shoulder. Sparks flew, and the knight stumbled, armor cracking under the impact.
The corrupted knight roared in fury, staggering backward.
Evan's heart raced. For the first time, he had landed a significant hit. He hadn't just survived; he had wounded the enemy.
The battlefield seemed to explode around them. Soldiers screamed, horses bolted, smoke filled the air—but Evan remained focused.
He looked toward the treeline. Sereth's golden eyes gleamed with approval.
Perhaps he is ready, the observer whispered to themselves.
THE AFTERMATH OF THE STRIKEThe knight steadied, recovering from the blow. His movements were slower now, more deliberate, but no less dangerous.
"You…" the knight hissed, blood seeping from the armor gap. "You are not like the others. You survive… and fight… differently…"
Evan's chest heaved. Sweat and blood mixed, dripping down his arms. Pain screamed through him, but he smiled. He had survived, adapted, and struck.
The villagers dared to cheer faintly from a distance, but Evan ignored them. The corrupted knight was still a threat. One mistake could be fatal.
He adjusted his stance, preparing for the next wave.
THE GOLDEN EYES SPEAK AGAINSereth's voice whispered from the shadows, carried by the wind.
Remember, Thorn. Observation alone is not enough. Adaptation must become instinct. Survival must become will. And victory… will demand sacrifice.
Evan clenched his teeth. "I am ready. I can endure. I will survive."
He looked at the knight. The enemy still radiated power, darkness, and hatred—but Evan was no longer the same boy who had fled the battlefield a hundred times.
He was a warrior forged by returns, sharpened by failure, and tempered by the lessons of death itself.
And he was just getting started.