Return #116 surged forward. The battlefield was chaos incarnate. Smoke hung in the air like a suffocating shroud, screams of soldiers and the clash of steel reverberated across the valley. Evan Thorn's heart beat steadily, his focus sharper than ever.
He had survived the corrupted knight's initial onslaught. He had struck a meaningful blow. Yet the fight was far from over.
And Evan could feel it.
The knight had not even begun to unleash his true power.
THE TIDE SHIFTSThe corrupted knight took a step back, armor glinting darkly in the sun. A strange energy pulsed around him, the black-and-red aura intensifying. The wind seemed to bend around him, carrying whispers of malice and death.
Evan narrowed his eyes. He could see the battlefield differently now. Not just as chaos, but as patterns—weak points, opportunities, dangers. The knight was adapting, and he had to adapt faster.
He ducked under a swinging sword, rolled across scorched earth, and struck another enemy soldier to clear his path. Each movement was precise, instinctual.
The villagers and soldiers around him were terrified but inspired. Some watched him like a ghost, dancing through death itself.
Evan knew the truth: this battle was no longer about survival alone. Every movement, every strike, would teach him the next lesson.
THE CORRUPTED KNIGHT'S FORMThe knight raised his massive sword overhead. Black energy crackled across its jagged edges, dark sparks dancing in the sunlight.
Evan felt the air tighten. The temperature dropped unnaturally. Even the birds had vanished, leaving the battlefield in an eerie, oppressive silence.
The knight struck. Not a single swing, but a shockwave that tore across the field, flattening tents, splintering carts, and sending soldiers flying.
Evan rolled behind a toppled wall, sweat dripping into his eyes. He had never seen such power—not in any loop, not in any simulation.
This… is the real fight, Evan thought.
THE SYSTEM INTERVENESA sudden blue shimmer appeared in front of him.
[SYSTEM ALERT]Return #116 — Critical Threat Detected
Corrupted Knight: True Form Activated
Warning Level: HIGH
Panels flashed across Evan's vision.
[NEW OBJECTIVE UNLOCKED]Survive the corrupted knight's true form until further strategy is determined.
Evan exhaled. This was new. The System had never directly warned him like this before. Not a hint. Not a tip. A direct statement: survive.
He gritted his teeth. Survival was the first step. Victory would follow—but only if he endured this trial.
THE FIRST LESSON OF THE TRUE FORMThe corrupted knight advanced, sword dripping with black energy. Every step shook the ground. His armor glowed as if powered by some ancient, dark magic.
Evan's mind raced. He had Predictive Reaction, Adaptive Footwork, Survival Instinct, and now Tactical Analysis. But these skills had limits. The knight's sheer destructive force could break any pattern, overwhelm instinct alone.
He ducked, dodged, and rolled—but he noticed a flicker in the knight's movements. Every swing, no matter how fast or powerful, had a subtle rhythm. A pulse. A gap.
Observation. That was his first lesson: even in overwhelming power, there was pattern.
Evan adjusted his stance, readying himself to strike at the precise moment.
THE DANCE INTENSIFIESThe knight struck again. Black energy surged, cutting the air. Evan barely dodged, feeling heat and force brush past his skin. He countered with a slash, aiming at the joint near the knight's elbow. Sparks erupted, but the armor held.
The knight's roar echoed across the valley. "You… persist… human!"
"Yes," Evan gritted out. "Because I survive!"
Evan's sword flashed again. He feinted, rolled, struck, all while moving around the battlefield like a shadow. Soldiers scrambled for cover, amazed at his precision.
Every second is a lesson, Evan thought. Every movement counts.
He had survived countless loops, and now, the corrupted knight's true form tested every skill he had learned.
THE GOLDEN-EYED OBSERVER'S ADVICEFrom the treeline, Sereth watched. Golden eyes glimmered like molten sunlight through the smoke.
Observe. Adapt. Anticipate. Push beyond instinct, they whispered.
Evan heard it—not as a voice, but as a guidance threading through his awareness. He realized Sereth's presence was more than observation; it was an invisible mentor, pushing him to see beyond raw power.
Evan adjusted his grip. He no longer reacted. He planned, weaving movement and observation into a single, continuous flow.
THE FIRST BREAKThe knight's massive sword swung down again. Evan ducked, rolled, and slid under the swing. His tactical analysis revealed the gap: the knight's left leg shifted slightly off-balance after a full strike.
He struck. Metal screamed. Sparks flew. The knight faltered. A faint hiss escaped from beneath the helm.
It was the first time Evan had seen the knight stumble under his attacks.
But the knight's red-black aura flared violently. A pulse of energy blasted across the field, throwing Evan backward. Dust and debris clouded his vision. Pain shot through his side as he rolled to safety.
The knight is stronger than ever… Evan thought, gritting his teeth. I need more than skill. I need strategy.
THE STRATEGY OF SURVIVALEvan's mind raced. The knight's true form could overpower brute force. But the knight's attacks, though devastating, were predictable in pattern. Observation was key.
He moved to higher ground—a small mound that gave him a better angle. From there, he could watch the knight's movements more clearly, anticipate swings, and plan his next strike.
The villagers cheered from a distance, but Evan ignored them. Victory was still uncertain. Death lingered on every swing. Every misstep could end everything.
He breathed deeply. Patience. Observation. Adaptation.
THE EDGE OF DEATHThe corrupted knight raised his sword high. Black energy crackled, forming jagged spikes around the blade. A shockwave surged. Evan felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.
This was no longer a fight; this was a trial of endurance. Survival alone was difficult enough—but Evan had learned through countless returns that endurance came from willpower.
He steadied himself, muscles coiled, mind sharp.
And then, he ran forward.
Dodging, rolling, slashing. Observation and reaction fused. Tactical analysis revealed the knight's next strike—too slow, too deliberate. He exploited the gap. Another strike landed on the armor joint. Sparks and blood. The knight staggered.
Evan's grin widened beneath sweat and grime.
I am learning. I am surviving. I am adapting.
THE GOLDEN EYES GLIMMERSereth's golden eyes watched, glowing brighter as Evan danced through chaos and death.
He is not broken. He adapts. He survives. Perhaps… he is ready for what comes next.
Evan did not see them leave, not completely. Their presence remained, an invisible thread guiding him toward understanding, survival, and mastery.
THE TURNING POINTThe corrupted knight roared, swinging with massive force. Evan ducked, rolled, and struck again—this time aiming higher, at the shoulder plate. Sparks flew. The knight's armor cracked slightly. He faltered, one knee grazing the earth.
For the first time, Evan felt hope.
Not arrogance. Not certainty. But hope.
He had survived the knight's true form… and he had inflicted real damage.
But the fight was far from over.
And deep in his heart, Evan knew: tomorrow would demand even more.