Loopbreaker

The sound of the morning bell rang.

"It's earlier than usual," Michael grunted as he sat up. "What gives?"

Sitting up, Francis chuckled. “It’s Phillip. One never knows what he’s going to have us do.”

“That’s for sure… let’s get dressed, I don’t want to be last,” his brother replied.

Francis nodded, anxious to see what waited for him on the other side of the battlefield.

[ Quick Attack ( Uncommon ) - This skill is an activatable ability that speeds up the attack while also altering its path. It can be used in any form of melee attack. The damage and power behind the attack is reduced by .5 the normal output. Utilizing the ability drains a portion of the user's stamina and the cooldown is based upon the skill rank as well as the user's physical ability. As the rank increases, the damage reduction will decrease. Skill does not protect the item used or the physical body from injury when attacking. ]

***

Francis roared, ripping his sword from the snake’s scales, driving it repeatedly into its chest, and glancing around at all the beasts staring at him.

I can’t believe it took two hundred and forty-eight deaths just to defeat this one beast...

Four deaths prior, his Perception had increased to a twenty-six, and everything changed. The only disadvantage to that increase in perception was the horrible death he experienced when his senses overloaded and the snake-kin ripped his head off.

Francis had convinced Stenson he needed to do this. The old man had agreed, still seemingly amazed at how much Francis had progressed.

Even now, with his stats, there was no way Francis could have achieved this growth in the Spires without long, drawn-out weeks, if he could stay alive there. Here, he had a place that didn’t care about what his birth order was.

All they wanted to do was kill him.

And all Francis wanted to do was get stronger by grinding himself to death against the horde.

(Stats aren’t potentially fully updated till later, just knowing they’ll go here)

[ Status ]

Francis Lancaster

Age 17

Strength: 31

Endurance: 33

Agility: 31

Wisdom: 19

Perception: 26

Magic: 10

Skills

Swordsmanship (Common) - 59 Advanced

Shield Use (Common) - 46 Advanced

Tracking (Uncommon) - 10 Basic

Stealth (Uncommon) - 11 Novice

Traps (Uncommon) - 3 Basic

Rock Throwing (Common) - 7 Basic

Mental Resist ( Uncommon ) - 38 Proficient

Blood of the Undying ( Unknown )- 100+ Sage

Fast Learner (Epic) - 1 Basic (Locked)

Horseback Riding (Common)- 11 Novice

Horseback Handling (Uncommon) - 6 Basic

Mace (Common)- 11 Novice

Pain Resistance (Uncommon) - 41 Advanced

Poison Resistance (Rare) - 33 Proficient

Power Strike (Rare) - 28 Proficient

Brawling (Uncommon) - 31 Proficient

Strong Bones (Rare) - 34 Proficient

Death’s Dance (Epic) 13 Novice

Magic Resistance (Rare) 29 - Proficient

Magic Feedback (Legendary) - 8 Basic

Quick Attack (Uncommon) - 19 Novice

Death's Dance was barely adding only the slightest amount of strength, as the poison magic the snake had used had lost most of its potency due to his Magical Resistance. Every chance Francis had in all these loops, he used Quick Attack and Power Strike whenever he sensed it was possible.

Francis’s body had grown stronger, and his skills had reached ranks that even the general didn’t want to admit were absurd for his age.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Francis yanked his weapon free, flicking the blade to the side and sending out a wave of green blood.

Another roar came moments later from deeper in the enemy lines, and a figure Francis had wondered if he would face again stepped forward.

An armored rhino-kin emerged from the edges of the gathered beasts that had watched him kill the snake.

This one felt different than the one off to the left where Francis normally fought, but it didn’t matter. It was still a foe he wanted to test himself against.

A foe he needed to learn to overcome.

The rhino-kins' steps thundered as it moved toward him, getting down on all fours and charging.

Francis moved a few steps away from the snake’s corpse. He smiled, set his legs and prepared for the new challenge. As the beast drew close Francis took a step forward, pivoted and threw his shield at the incoming rhino-kin.

[ Power Strike ]

It snapped forward, spinning with a force Francis had learned a hundred deaths or so ago having fought against the serpent. The rhino-kin moved slightly to the side, somehow seeming to sense the momentum and danger.

Francis continued his turn as the shield came off his hands, dashing behind the spinning metal disc and shifting to the side, away from the beast.

The rhino-kin didn’t grunt or seem to complain as the shield bounced off the thick hide along its shoulder, yet the impact caused it to stumble slightly to the right.

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Francis was there, just a second afterward and as the creature tried to swing that deadly horn toward him, he dodged and struck.

[ Power Strike ]

[ Quick Attack ]

Francis’ sword cut the beast along the side, slicing through the tough hide and destroying one of the leather straps holding its armor.

That attack elicited a noise, the rhino-kin roaring as it skidded to a halt and quickly rose to its back legs.

Francis struck again and again, using all of his skills on the beast’s haunches, rolling and dodging the fist that came downward at him. The rhino-kin’s fist sent out a spray of dirt, creating a hole from the impact.

Francis played for its back, attacking the area that wasn’t as protected as the rest of the beast's body. He tracked the movements of the rhino-kin, reacting to how it shifted and moved, eyes tracking everything he could as his sword pierced and carved off flesh.

The beast bellowed at him, a different one than the usual roars of anger. These sounded like the rhino-kin was in pain.

Francis continued his assault until he suddenly felt pressure from behind, pain radiating through his core, and stumbled forward.

Glancing down, Francis saw an arrow as thick as his arm protruding from his chest. It had multiple barbs and looked to be made entirely of metal.

Death's Dance roared within him, telling him the end of this loop was just a few steps away.

He turned his head, trying to see where the attack had come from, yet all he saw a grey fist coming down at him.

“Fu–”

The sound of the morning bell rang.

"It's earlier than usual," Michael grunted as he sat up. "What gives?"

***

“So… you found an archer of some sort,” Stenson said, drumming his fingers on the table beside his chair.

Francis nodded and sighed. “I wouldn’t say I found it. Rather, I’d say it found me.”

The older man chuckled and bobbed his head. “Still, your growth is… exceptional. A twenty-six in perception is something few will ever achieve. That Fast Learner skill is paying off tremendously.”

“You say that way every time,” Francis replied. “I mean, I realize you don’t know it, but it’s just something I come to expect.”

“Well, forgive me for not being able to remember anything between your deaths.”

“And there’s that one too.”

Stenson shook his head and frowned. “Are you being playful or disrespectful?”

Pretending to look off into the distance and have to consider it, Francis turned and winked, knowing how this conversation would end.

“Playful. Once I said something disrespectful and that path wasn’t a good one for either of us.”

“Well, I have to admit I am a rather smart man,” Stenson replied. “I mean, according to everything you say I say. Still, I’m assuming this is when you want advice?”

“Maybe… I’m not sure. Something happened in that fight and I think I might have been able to defeat that rhino-kin if nothing interfered but I’m also wondering why something did. Never before has a creature done that. Even when you managed to defeat that one tiger-kin, everything else remained in place. Why would something break a code I thought they lived by?”

“A warrior's code for one isn’t for another,” Stenson said. “Would you sit back and let your brother be killed in a fight between him and someone else or something else?”

“No,” Francis scoffed.

“Even if it appeared both he and his opponent desired that?”

“Hell no. He’s…” Francis stopped his reply and sighed. “I get it. So something didn’t want to watch me kill another one of its kind. Still, that makes me wonder what the hell we’re going to do. How do you defeat a creature you can’t…”

He paused, shook his head, and then snorted.

“What, what are you thinking?” Stenson asked, leaning forward on his chair.

“Give me a second. I’m remembering all my deaths,” Francis replied.

Every time I changed something, it didn’t matter if it was a slightly different thing I did or a major one. Some words meant a helmet, while other words meant not getting it. But the outcome of the battle seems to be consistent. The same creatures, same attack and spell patterns… but what if…

Francis paused, realizing his new Perception was providing him with the ability to recall things like never before.

“I have a question,” Francis said. “Let’s pretend every fight I did was exactly the same. I mean, I know it feels like it would be impossible to always take the same exact steps, or make every thrust and swing of my sword just like the life before, but what if I could and did? Would that mean that whatever beast just killed me would do so again? Would it fire at the same spot and place? Could I time it? If I know when it’s coming, could I dodge the arrow?”

Francis watched as Stenson’s eyes did what his sisters did when thinking. The older man’s lips bunched up and relaxed for a few moments.

“My answer would be yes, but we’re talking about countless deaths. You’re at the cusp of something and I imagine I’ve probably wondered when you would achieve it. Those last few deaths, what is different when you fight?”

Francis smiled at the older man and knew immediately where he was going with that question.

“I can see the flow of battle better and react differently. Their attack patterns, movements, everything. It’s almost like I can expect or know where they will go.”

“That is because you’ve reached a point where one’s mind evolves,” Stenson stated. “It’s rumored that at higher levels, someone can recall everything perfectly. Every smell, taste, image, and book they have read. For you… I’m not sure how your mind could handle so much to remember but again, I understand what you want to attempt. To do that would be… madness. What if it took a thousand or ten thousand tries? All for what? Seeing what attacked you? I’m not certain that would be worth the potential mental distress, even with potential skills and stats you might gain.”

Francis couldn’t help but frown because he thought the idea made sense. He also understood that the general might be right.

Maybe another time… I suppose I would skip mentioning this to him if I were to try that path.

“So we’re back to the same question as always,” Francis said. “If that’s the case, I want to try something different this time.”

The older man chuckled as he did between every death. “And what pray tell is that?”

“I’m going to go out there with just a shield and a sword.”

“That’s not a big deal. I mean, are you taking something else, usually we haven’t discussed?”

“No, I mean no armor. Just clothes.”

“Why… oh… you’re trying to get another skill. Guarded Stance?”

“Yes, but maybe another one as well,” Francis replied.

“Which is?” Stenson asked.

Francis laughed and just smiled. “I think I’m getting really close to getting Riposte as well.”

“Jaegers balls… I mean… forgive me, that was not…” Stenson stopped his apology as Francis burst out in a belly laugh. “I’ve cursed before, haven’t I?”

Blinking back tears, Francis nodded, laughing harder as the older man scowled.

“Forgive me, son. I am going to wager you sometimes bring out the worst in me.”

“It’s okay… I… always laugh… this hard,” Francis replied.

***

[ New Skill - Guarded Stance ]

“YES!”

Francis’s shout seemed to make the beastkin he was fighting hesitate momentarily.

Laughing, Francis just stood there, buck naked, holding just a shield and a sword, dancing between the four creatures trying to kill him.

Cuts and scratches covered his body and Francis had found out after the first death it was better to fight naked. Clothes presented potential tripping hazards when one's pants fell down around their ankles.

Still, he planned to fight until the spell came, experiencing the death of the black sheet and taking the added gift of Magic Resistance each time.

“Hey, you, fall back!” a voice called out.

Francis shook his head as the first group of advanced soldiers reached him. He didn’t even glance at them, knowing it was the same red-haired one from last time. Normally, the man’s distraction caused Francis to get cut, but with his new ability, he avoided the claws that came for his side.

“I’m fine, just focus on the other one’s! Plenty for everyone!” Francis yelled.

Shouts and the sound of combat grew louder as a line of troops reached him. The previous three times one had actually tried to pull him back, stating he had earned his gold, but Francis had resisted, easily breaking free of the soldier’s grasp. Choosing to change things up a little bit, Francis fell back some.

“When the horn sounds, obey the orders!” Francis shouted. “I’ll be fine!”

Four men moved to join Francis’ side, cutting down the creatures that attacked and moving to help drive back the beasts he was facing.

“I’m fine I told you!” Francis called out. “Stop! I’m training skills!”

“What the hell are you saying?!” the warrior shouted. “This is a battle boy! Not some–”

The red-headed warrior stopped talking as he always, a trio of catkin overwhelming the solider because he was too focused on Francis and not the battle. The beasts quickly moved to attack another warrior.

More animals came and Francis did his best, always blocking and parrying, only attacking after he had blocked or parried an attack. In his mind Francis could see it now. There were threads he had never noticed until recently. There was a small one attached to every creature he faced.

How their legs moved or hips turned. If you tied a string to it, they would always pull or push in a way that was expected.

Francis’ fights had turned into him watching the movements and reacting. He was faster than these creatures and instead of driving deeper into the enemy lines, Francis shifted sideways, removing more of the beasts that were nearby.

Spells started to rain down upon him now, and Francis knew it was time to go if he wanted to wait for the next part.

[ Power Strike ]

[ Quick Attack ]

All catkins around him were dead in seconds, and Francis turned to the right.

“Shift or get hit by a spell!” Francis shouted.

None of the warriors listened. They never did, yet Francis cut down the beasts in his way, getting about a hundred yards before a massive rain of fire filled the area where he had been standing.

Glancing at the troops approaching his position, Francis sighed, judging from the distance and his own position.

Still haven’t gotten the other skill… maybe next time.

As the enemies began to back up, Francis pressed into them, forcing some to stay and endure the same pain he knew was coming. He watched as the black sheet of death began to form from the back of the enemy army. It moved quickly, washing over the battlefield and darkening the sky.

Screams came from every man and beast around him as the magic assaulted them.

Francis’ skin burned, and try as he might to fight against it, he couldn’t.

It was like being dropped into the middle of a frozen lake with dozens of heavy stones tied around your ankles. He might get one or two off but he’d drown before escaping. Whatever spell this was ate his flesh like water washing away blood on stone.

Still, Francis embraced it, content to have gained one of the skills he wanted.

[ Guarded Stance ( Uncommon ) - The user gains the ability to enter a defensive stance for ten seconds, which mitigates physical damage done by 25%. The stance will cause the user’s body to harden, improving natural resistances and other abilities by a small percentage. As the skill rank improves, the length as well as the mitigation bonus will increase. Each use drains a small portion of the user's endurance. ]