School felt different the next day.
Whispers spread—
"Did you see what happened yesterday?"
"Kael fought that crazy boy!"
"You think he'll get expelled?"
Kael ignored them.
Human drama was irrelevant.
But the system chimed.
[Regressor Detected]
Kael froze.
A boy stood by the stairwell—lean, relaxed, humming a tune. His calm smile contrasted sharply with the aura of danger around him.
[Name: Jalen Kestro]
[Regression Count: 112]
[Title: The Endless Survivor]
[Timeline Behavior: Unpredictable. Has killed, saved, betrayed, allied. No consistent pattern.]
Kael approached slowly.
Jalen grinned.
"Morning, Kael Ardyn."
"You're not here to attack me?"
"Nope."
Jalen leaned against the wall. "I don't kill people unless I'm bored. Today feels like a peaceful day."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Why approach me?"
"Curiosity." Jalen tapped his head. "You have something… new. Something I've never seen before in any loop."
Kael's body tensed.
He couldn't reveal the Rewind God System.
Jalen shrugged.
"Relax. I'm not interested in fighting unless you start it."
He turned to leave—
Then paused.
"Oh, right. Erevan told me to give you a message."
Kael's blood chilled.
Jalen imitated Erevan's tone perfectly:
"Observe him. If he grows too fast, kill him."
Kael exhaled.
A test.
Jalen smirked.
"I'll be watching, Kael. Don't disappoint me."
He walked away casually, as if he hadn't just threatened Kael's life.
Kael's heart pounded—not in fear, but anticipation.
If Erevan was already sending scouts…
The real war was closer than he thought.