Chapter 2: Beyond Time—Death, Again and Again
Planet: Blue Star | Timeline: The Regression Loop
Arthur Thorne was no ordinary human. He had lived this life before. In his first life, he had died right here, in the cold labs of the GeneX Corporation. The doctors had simply marked his file as "Subject Failed." His body was tossed like garbage into a deep pit, soil piling over him until the light vanished, and Arthur was buried deep within the crust of the planet.
One Hundred Years Later — Planet Blue Star
A massive mining corporation was excavating the region. Suddenly, the drills stopped. "Sir... there's something here!"
When the earth was cleared, they found a miracle: a human body, perfectly preserved. Not a trace of decay. But there was no life.
He was taken to Electric City, the technological capital of terra. In a desperate experiment, the entire city's energy was channeled into a single point.
⚡⚡⚡
A massive electrical surge jolted Arthur's frame. His chest heaved, taking its first breath in a century. Arthur Thorne was alive again.
But he was broken. The Gene-X serum had acted like a slow poison. He never became a "Gene Warrior," but he found a friend—the only person who treated him like a human. They would sit in silence. Arthur rarely spoke, but when he did, his words were profound.
"You're not alone," his friend would say. "As long as I'm here."
Arthur would only nod. He knew that the things he had lost—his mother's tired but warm smile and his sister's voice calling "Big brother, come home soon"—could never be returned by time.
The Ancient Ruins of the Gods
When the Ruins of the Sovereigns were discovered, Arthur's friend was terrified. "Arthur, promise me you won't take risks. What if I lose you?"
Arthur looked him in the eyes for the first time. "I am already lost. I just want to go back."
In the Ghost Mountains, where ancient divinity and forbidden technology met, Arthur found a device capable of Temporal Transfer (Regression). The chance of success was less than 1%.
"Arthur, don't do it!" his friend pleaded.
"If I don't try... the regret will kill me anyway," Arthur replied.
The machine activated. Light exploded. Space-time shuddered. He succeeded—but the timing was off. He intended to return to his childhood five years before the tragedy. Instead, he opened his eyes to find himself back in the GeneX Laboratory.
Only two days had passed since his injection. In a few hours, the "Primordial Slumber" would take over. He had a small window of consciousness.
A surge of fury erupted within him. "I'm back HERE again?!" He calmed himself. A strange, divine scent filled his nose, clearing his mind. He realized he was strapped to a bed, surrounded by machines and glass walls. "I have to get out now, or history will repeat itself."
The Feign of Death
Arthur knew he couldn't break the restraints with raw strength. He used an ancient breathing technique he had learned in his future life—a method to mimic death by stopping the heart for three minutes.
His heartbeat slowed... faded... stopped.
A technician rushed to Dr. Vamus. "Sir! Subject A1 is flatlining!"
Vamus rushed in, sighed in disappointment, and ordered: "Dump the corpse in the sewers and clean the room. Move to Subject C3."
The guards unstrapped Arthur and loaded him onto a stretcher. They didn't notice his finger twitch.
As they reached a secluded hallway, Arthur exploded into action. He lunged, grabbing one guard's throat and delivering a bone-shattering punch.
"Subject A1 is alive! He's out of control! Send back—"
Arthur didn't let the second guard finish. With a roar of rage, he snapped the man's neck.
He limped toward Dr. Vamus's office and found a Black Dagger displayed as an ornament. It looked ancient, humming with a faint energy.
Five guards surrounded him. "Drop the knife, or death will be a mercy you won't get."
"Talk less, die more," Arthur hissed.
Despite his weak body, his movements were precise. He slashed, stabbed, and dodged. Blood splattered across his face. But his injured leg betrayed him. He tripped, and a guard kicked him in the ribs.
Suddenly, his senses screamed—Danger!
BANG!
Dr. Vamus stood at the door with a black pistol. The bullet tore through Arthur's shoulder. He fell, the black dagger sliding from his grip.
A guard picked up the dagger. Arthur felt a cold despair. Is history unchangeable? Am I truly this cursed?
The guard plunged the black blade directly into Arthur's heart.
Arthur's eyes turned blood-red. As the cold steel entered his chest, he saw his mother's face. He heard his sister's voice.
"Brother..."
The world faded to grey. His breathing slowed. His final thought was a desperate plea to the universe:
"Just... one... more... time..."