Loopbreaker

[ Endurance Milestone Advanced Acquired - Select when ready to proceed ]

Francis looked around and felt this place in the woods was as good as any.

It had been hard not to start the process already. Every part of him wanted to do it upon resurrecting again but the memory of the first one had not been pleasant. He was certain the attention would have caused problems between now and when he arrived to talk with Stenson.

Francis sat down in the dirt, leaned against the tree he had selected, and closed his eyes. The air smelled clean, and the breeze was nice. Not wanting to waste any more time, as there was no telling how long this would take, Francis gave in to the desire within him and activated the change.

[ Endurance Milestone - Initiated ]

[ Pain Resistance Increased - 51 ]

Francis could barely make out those notifications as his body did what he thought it would. Every fiber in his being tore loose, and the very fabric of each muscle, bone, tendon, and even cartilage turned into mush at some point. It started with his bones, each of them dissolving before a new version reforming. Francis’ muscles collapsed, and the ligaments drew close as there was no bone to attach to.

Had someone watched what was happening, Francis wondered if he looked like a blob of flesh. The pain made it hard enough to focus on anything besides the process he was enduring.

Soon, the bones regrew. Francis could sense it; the sensation of bones pushing their way through muscles that were beginning to dissolve as well. His chest cavity had collapsed, and breathing felt impossible.

Even Francis’ skull slowly gave up its shape, and pain radiated everywhere as his mind floated in a sea of soup. As his bones finished regrowing, pushing certain parts back within the areas they were supposed to be, the muscles and other non-essential organs took their turn. Francis’s body collapsed, sliding down the tree even though he had bones, but his inability to support them was his downfall.

Faster than his bones had, his body rebuilt everything. Denser and stronger, the very fabric that provided power and strength returned, and the tendons and ligaments that grew back felt far stronger and more resilient than before.

At this point, Francis took a deep breath, felt the sweet taste of the air fill his lungs, and basked in the sensation of life. His lungs then exploded, the air that had just inflated them spreading through his body, but that was the least of it all. Every organ started to break down one at a time, regrowing and then another.

His heart stopped and panic set in as Francis waited in agony, his mind trying to hold the iron will that was the thread that let him do this without going crazy. Finally, a beat sent a rush of blood through his body and Francis wanted to cry out in joy until his brain started to change.

It felt like someone had taken insects and let them feast on every piece of flesh inside his skull. Yet unlike the rest, which vanished completely, this was a different process, starting at the center of his brain and working its way out. A moment came when everything vanished, and Francis was certain the sound of a bell would ring out.

Then his senses returned and without thinking, Francis turned to the side, as a torrent of foulness escaped through his mouth. Even worse was what came next as hot magma escaped his colon, filling his pants that had stayed on the entire time.

Just as Francis was thinking the worse was over, his skin dissolved. His improved thick skin was like jelly dripping off his muscles, fingernails, hair, and even his nipples found themselves either inside his clothes or on the slush-covered dirt he sat in.

Just as quickly as it had all vanished, Francis watched as his skin grew back, nails reforming, and an itch ran over the length of his head. Touching it, he felt hair growing until it reached the same short length he had always had. And Francis waited. Seconds ticking by as he hoped that was it. Then once more his body said no and Francis puked and dedicated himself again.

Stripping naked, Francis grimaced at the stench and the look of his clothing. His body, however, had transformed. There would be no hiding this from anyone who saw it. Muscles and definition were there, not like brute strength that might be hidden under some fat. His new body was lean and ripped.

Looking at the state of his clothes, Francis shook his head and dropped them, running barefoot through the woods towards the stream. He spent a few extra minutes washing, making sure to clean all those spots. The cold water didn’t faze Francis at all. Unlike the first time, it had not taken his breath away; it was simply refreshing against his skin.

Laughing, Francis started to swim, his legs kicking smoothly and easily, and before he realized it, he was across the water. Shaking himself sent some of the water flying, but he was still wet. Francis stopped trying to get dry and just started running. He was certain things were going to go sideways upon reaching town, but he felt better than he ever had.

***

“What in the hells–” his trainer started.

As Francis jogged to the gate, the men gave him dirty looks, and the women gave him a different gaze.

Phillip’s mouth hung open as he stared at him. “You… impossible. You… transformed. There’s no way!”

“I did,” Francis said. “I’ll tell you later, but right now, can I please get something to cover myself and some coin?”

“Aye!” a guard shouted. “Get that man dressed before we haul him off and flog him!”

Francis glared at the guard who had shouted. “Touch me and I’ll snap your neck.”

“Who do you–” the guards began saying, grabbing his hilt as he spoke.

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Phillip moved before the guard, shaking his head. “Don’t. He’s reached a new rank of a physical stat. He’d probably crush you even without a weapon.”

Gasps came from those gathered and Francis sighed.

“I did and can,” Francis stated. “Now then, someone? Anyone?”

A younger woman came forward, a little red in her cheeks, and held out her apron. “It won’t do much, but…”

Francis gave his best smile and took it, wrapping it around his front, feeling a draft from the back.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Francis said. “Phillip, I need coins… now.. Then we can talk.”

Francis wasn’t embarrassed. He didn’t blush or hide, having fought so many times naked that the concept of being without clothes didn’t bother him. He just wanted to make it through the day without any more problems.

***

“So… Strength or Endurance?” Phillip asked as they stood in the shop they were trying to purchase clothing from.

Francis was sliding his legs into a pair of pants that finally fit when he looked at his trainer, noticing the apprehension on his face. “Endurance and I’m not going to do anything to you,” Francis said. “Trust me. I know why you do what you do. I might have hated it but in some small way because of you, I’m the man I am today.”

“I doubt that boy… er Francis,” Phillip replied.

Francis waved off the words and took the shirt the shopkeeper held out to him.

“Now get out. My daughters have had their virtue ruined enough!” the shopkeeper yelled. Some giggling came from a doorway, and the older man scowled at Francis.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Francis said, putting a silver coin on the counter. “Perhaps this will help with their… ah hell, just take the coin.” He turned and walked out of the shop, still missing shoes, slipping the loose linen shirt over his frame as he left.

“How? How in the gods did this happen?” Phillip asked as he followed Francis through the street toward the same inn they always stayed at. “It’s… impossible. You showed no signs of this kind of growth this morning. And you didn’t do anything that would trigger… this.”

Francis turned to see his trainer waving his hands up and down. “Drinks,” Francis said. “In a corner of the tavern, away from others. I’ll tell you what I can. Just know I’m not leaving, I’m still going to the battlefield and someday, I swear, I will find a way to repay you. Even if that means getting revenge on the one who gave you that mark.”

A scowl appeared on Phillip’s face for a moment and then vanished. “You’re serious. You’ve have the same expression right now like you did when you tried to sucker punch me.”

Francis held out his hand. “I promise. One day I’ll pay you back. For now, drinks. I’m going to have enough problems dealing with my brother and it’s better if we get some things out of the way before he arrives.”

“But we–”

“I don’t have time,” Francis said. “I know what we’re facing. You know what we’re facing. General Stenson is expecting me, and trust me, I’ll make sure he knows you helped.” Francis left his trainer stuttering, jaw moving, and making nothing but noise in the middle of the street, where everyone apparently had shown up to see what the fuss was.

***

“Anything… I mean it. Just let me know,” the waitress said.

Francis smiled and nodded at the young woman, who had once again made sure he understood the standing offer she made each time she brought more drinks.

“Advanced,” Phillip muttered. “I… I can’t imagine. Nothing you say sounds anywhere in the realm of possibility, yet you sit across from me, your very stature and the difference you project is a sign if one ever needed it. So now what? You want me to leave a day early? We’ll get there before others and those boys will end up in the front.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Francis replied. Those words pained him, but Francis had taken Stenson’s mantra to heart for now. If the man didn’t want to leave, he would set out on his own, able to reach the camp faster. Francis’ appearance alone would draw more attention, but he could always handle that.

“And your brother?” Phillip asked. “What will you do when he finds out?”

“That’s a talk I’ll manage,” Francis replied. “I need you to either have us gone by tomorrow or know I’m not running away when I leave.”

“I don’t think anyone would chase you if I told them to,” Phillip replied. “Or at least no one with half a brain. Even if you walked into a town and someone there could sense you had broken the contract, they would have to either summon the whole town or pretend they didn’t know anything.”

“Yeah… that promise,” Francis grunted. “It’s crap, but it is what it is. For now, what do you want to do? Stay or go? Either way, I need to head up to my room.”

Phillip grabbed the fresh cup of ale and guzzled it. Setting the empty vessel on the wooden table, he shook his head. “I… Please don’t ask me to bring them to the front.”

Francis nodded. “I understand. You’re a good man, and that one act proves it. I know you wear the mask of a bastard, but it's because you can’t let yourself get close, knowing what’s coming.”

Phillips' hand trembled, and he nodded. “Give those creatures an ass kicking… and thank you, Francis.”

Francis shook the outstretched hand and moved toward the stairs, shaking his head and frowning at the young woman who was rocking on her feet, staring at him.

“Not tonight. Perhaps another time,” Francis said. “Something else demands my time but I’ll see what I can do about another time.”

Her face turned pouty, and her hands wrung the towel, almost making him laugh. The woman was easily in her twenties but acting like a much younger person. “You promise?”

Inwardly, he groaned even though a part of him yearned to say yes. “I promise.”

Her face turned into a smile, and she winked at him. “Well then, I’ll be here and waiting.”

He nodded and hoofed it up the stairs, ready to wait for his brother's arrival.

***

“Oh, sorry, wrong room, I–” Michael’s mouth stopped moving as he got a better look at Francis.

“It’s me, you’re in the right room, brother,” Francis said.

“No… you… I…” Michael stuttered. His brother’s eyes looked him up and down multiple times as Francis sat on the tiny bed without a shirt. “I… I mean you looked bigger this morning, I just thought I was… I don’t know but this… what in the gods happened?”

“Close the door, Michael. We need to talk,” Francis said.

“Hell yeah, we do! Whatever you got, I need some!” Michael shouted, slamming the door and plopping down on the other bed.

“This is going to sound… well, no… it won’t since how I look is already crazy enough.”

***

Hours had passed and Michael was almost out of questions. His brother had worked through a lot of emotions and now seemed to accept the truth.

“So how many times has it been?” Michael asked.

“I’m past two thousand.”

“Two thousand…” Michael said quietly. “I… And you always keep that promise, don’t you?”

“Every time I can, I can save you I do,” Francis replied. “You’re the reason why I remember what I do. After those first few deaths, I could sense memories had been stolen but as you talked about them, I could remember… I could remember who I was and what you meant to me.”

“Well, I’m glad that I’m the reason you’re able to keep going,” Michael said. “And those women?”

“I swear you are the horniest guy I know,” Francis said. “Every time we have this talk, you change the subject and focus on that for most of it.”

His brother snorted and shrugged. “It feels weird to hear you talk about me like that. I mean… I’m not the hero kind of guy. If I had gotten what you have, I doubt I could do what you’re doing.”

Francis nodded and smiled. He then leaned over and punched his brother playfully in the chest. Having not realized how much his body had just changed, Francis’ punch knocked his brother backward into the nearby wall.

“Michael!” Francis exclaimed.

Coughs and wheezes came as his older brother held up a hand, holding Francis back while trying to breath. When he finally caught his breath, Michael lifted his shirt, showing a bruise already forming. “I… I think you broke something.”

“Tell you what,” Francis said, glad to know he hadn’t seriously injured his brother. “I’ll get Bella and Lucy to kiss it and make it all better once you arrive at the battlefield.”

Michael grimaced and then smiled. “I guess it will have to do.”

Francis pretended he was going to punch his brother again, laughing when Michael flinched and almost smacked into the wall on his own.

“You’re a jerk,” Michael stated.