The First Loop

Chapter 2: The First Loop

Blood. It pooled around Kian's body like a cursed halo, warm at first, then chilling as it soaked through his torn shirt and met the cold, jagged stone of the dungeon floor. His heartbeat was fading, slow and shallow, but the sound that rang louder than his dying breath was the laughter.

Mocking. Arrogant. Inhuman.

"Honestly, I didn’t think you'd be dumb enough to follow us this deep," the voice said. Footsteps approached, echoing in the quiet cave. Kian tried to lift his head, but it was no use. His limbs refused him.

The man crouched in front of him—Jael Kross, a mid-tier C-Rank hunter from the guild Black Dagger. His sword was slick with blood. Kian’s blood.

"Trash like you only exists to die in places like this," Jael said, flicking the blade with disgust. "You should be grateful. You'll be useful bait for the rest of us."

Kian tried to speak, but blood bubbled from his mouth.

Jael stood and turned away. "Don’t worry. Your death won’t be in vain. We’ll loot your corpse after we clear the gate."

Then came the cold. Then the dark. And then...

---

[SYSTEM NOTICE — Skill Activated]

→ Unique Skill: 'Echo of the Dying Blade' triggered. → Regressing time: 24 hours prior to death. → Preserving active memories and acquired skills... → Penalty Locked (E-Rank required)

---

GASP!

Kian shot up in bed, gasping for air like a man rising from drowning. Sweat drenched his sheets. His heart pounded in his chest, racing with primal panic. But his body—intact. Not a wound in sight.

His eyes scanned the small, peeling-walled apartment. The flickering bulb above. The second-hand fan rattling in the ceiling. His half-eaten dinner from last night still on the table.

"It wasn’t a dream..."

His hands trembled as he pulled up his system menu. Every Hunter had one—a skillboard interface gifted by the Tower at age 11. Most people got simple, straightforward skills. Fireball. Hardened Skin. Quick Steps.

But his?

> [Name: Kian]

[Hunter Rank: F]

[Skill: Echo of the Dying Blade (Awakened)]

[Effect: Rewinds time 24 hours upon death. Preserves memories and gains a copy of the killer’s skill.]

[Acquired Skill: Shadow Step (from Jael Kross)]

[Cooldown: 0 | Usage Limit: Triggered Upon Death]

[Penalty: Trauma (Locked until Rank E)]

Kian’s fingers brushed his temple. He remembered it all—Jael’s betrayal, the pain of the blade, and the helplessness.

But now, that helplessness turned to fuel.

"You killed me," he whispered. "And now I know everything."

---

The world had changed 40 years ago.

One day, strange rifts—called Gates—appeared across the world, opening to warped dimensions filled with monsters, corrupted ruins, and supernatural power. With them came destruction, followed by rebirth.

To fight back, two organizations formed:

The Tower: A mysterious structure that appeared with the first Gate. It granted every child a skill on their 11th birthday. No one knew how or why.

The Hunter Association: Tasked with organizing dungeon raids, licensing Hunters, ranking them (F to SSS), and regulating rewards and missions.

Kian had been one of the unlucky ones. While his classmates received combat, support, and even healing abilities, his skill had appeared as a glitch: a black screen.

It wasn’t until now, at age 18, lying in a pool of blood, that it activated.

---

The next morning, Kian walked into the Black Dagger Guild’s recruitment hall again, just like yesterday. Only this time, everything was different—for him.

He recognized every face, every conversation. He knew where the team would go. Which traps they'd trigger. Where Jael would turn.

> *"I get a second chance."

Jael leaned against the far wall, sipping coffee and giving off his usual smug air. He hadn't noticed Kian yet.

Perfect.

Kian walked up to the counter.

"I'm joining today's Gate raid with Black Dagger."

The receptionist blinked. "You're joining again? Didn't you—never mind. Still F-rank?"

Kian nodded. For now.

---

In the Gate, everything played out exactly as before—until it didn’t.

Kian moved faster, more precisely. He avoided minor injuries he’d taken in his first run. His attacks struck cleaner. He used Shadow Step, Jael’s stolen ability, to slip through enemy lines and score kills with unexpected agility.

The others noticed.

Even Jael.

When they reached the ambush point—the trap corridor filled with spike-laced ruins—Kian was ready.

The fake collapse trap triggered early this time. Because he triggered it.

One of the junior hunters yelped. Jael’s eyes widened. "What the hell—"

Kian moved in a blur. Shadow Step behind Jael. Blade drawn.

"Wha—"

He plunged the dagger into Jael’s side.

"This is for yesterday," Kian whispered.

"You psycho—!"

Jael retaliated, slashing wildly, but Kian had anticipated it. He rolled, struck again, then again—quick, lethal slashes fueled not by power, but by preparation.

Jael collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

[Skill Acquired: Hunter’s Eye (from Jael Kross)]

[Temporary Party Disbanded]

The rest of the team fled. They weren’t friends. Just convenience allies.

Kian didn’t care.

He stood above the corpse, breathing heavily, watching as the dungeon core shimmered into view.

> You killed me once. Now it’s my turn to keep killing.

---

That night, as Kian walked home, his body buzzed with power and a sickening chill. His HUD blinked.

> [New Passive Skill: Bonebound Legion (Locked)] [Condition: Kill 5 hostile humans in Gates. Progress: 1/5]

He hadn’t noticed that before. A new skill, hidden until now.

Bonebound Legion? The name alone stirred something dark in him.