Chapter 164: Chapter 164:Not a Dead End?

Using the last of my energy, I created a small shield made of corruption before lowering my other hand and slowing back down time.

Preparing myself for the impact of the spells hitting my shield, I kneeled down on the ground, also creating a small barrier around me to protect my body from any strays.

"..."

"..."

However, that impact never came.

Exhausted from simply kneeling down on the ground, I finally collapsed, allowing the shield to disappear and return to my body in the form of corruption.

Maybe... they had forgiven me?

Looking upwards at the roof of the cave, I expected to hear a joyous and heartfelt reunion... but there was nothing.

No sound.

There weren't even any footsteps or voices reverberating throughout the large cave.

Struggling as I attempted to turn around, I tilted my head upwards and stared at the edge of the previous shadow cage where Zach was... or had been.

As I gazed at Zach's previous location, I opened my mouth in surprise as Zach's body was nowhere to be seen.

In fact... as I slowly turned my head, I quickly realized that there was no one else around me.

I was alone in the cave.

Regaining some of my energy, I used a wall to stand up before glancing around once a gain, feeling a sense of similarity.

I was still in the same cave... the people had just disappeared.

Maybe I had passed out, and they had just left me to leave the loop?

Did it have anything to do with the spirit that I had just killed?

Leaning against the wall, I simply stayed still, surveying my surroundings and allowing my body to recuperate.

After about five minutes, I finally felt my legs again, which was both a good... and a bad thing, considering how sore they were.

Limping across the cave, I looked up and down for a moment before dropping to the floor.

Manifesting a crow with my regained corruption, I sent it in the direction we had entered the tunnel before once again lying down.

Waiting about five minutes, I prepared my head for a surge of information before promptly switching bodies with the crow.

Finding myself in the area we had originally been, under the tree stump, I immediately stared upwards.

However... the roof was blocked off, leaving me no way out.

If the loop had been terminated, everything that had happened in our last loop would have become a reality, so our destruction of the tree and ground below should have been apparent.

Yet... staring up at the completely fine and untouched roof, I couldn't deny it.

...Had the loop not ended?

Immediately reenergized, I de-manifested the crow before jumping upwards and walking forward.

Spirit or not... there was still only one way forward.

Manifesting two corrupted daggers, I lifted them up, before shrouding them with the blood-red substance and lighting up the area around me.

At the same time, I also manifested a wing, allowing me a path of escape in case anything happened.

Holding my arms both up with a dagger torch in both hands, I carefully walked further and further into the tunnel.

At this point, I was too tired and exhausted to feel emotions, so I didn't have any anger at the loop, not ending or feeling stressed, considering my situation.

I simply walked forward with an emotionless expression, keeping all my available attention on my surroundings.

This was now the furthest I had ever been in the cave, so everything around me was new.

Yet... it was still all the same.

This is not to say that the layout was the same or that my eyes felt a sense of similarity; it was just the same setting around me. Sёarch* The NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Rocks all around me and dirt under me.

However, one thing had changed: the path was now going straight without any twists or turns.

Eventually, I stopped for a moment before peering into the darkness ahead of me...seeing the end of the path.

Only a mile away stood a wall.

This end of this path... led to a wall.

Just a regular wall made out of rocks.

Making sure that there were no abnormalities or enemies ahead, I sighed before flapping my wings.

*FLAP*

*FLAP*

Continuing to flap my wings and appear ten meters ahead each time, I eventually reached the end of the path.

Standing in front of the sold rock wall, I immediately tried to look for any weak spots or hidden tunnels behind... but there was nothing.

"well, now, what the hell am I supposed to do."

I had done it all...from testing my body mentally by creating an entire map of the forest to using my body to the maximum physically by fighting the spirit.

Slamming my hands into the floor furiously, I lost all motivation.

Before... there was always a path forward.

First, my hope had been to find the end condition.

Next, it had been following the path of green particles.

And finally, it had been killing the spirit and triggering the end of the loop.

But... now there was nothing.

And there was no one else around me.

The main cast had just disappeared as if they had been holograms this entire time.

Once again, slamming my hands against the floor, my blood-red dagger slipped out of my hands and hurtled towards the rocky wall.

The next second... a fire appeared.

Out of pure nothingness, I watched as the formerly normal wall of me erupted into flames.

But... it wasn't just any fire.

Lying on the ground, furious and confused, I watched as the fire slowly liquified... until all that was left was a puddle of what seemed like blood.

Unable to comprehend what was in front of me, I stared in confusion at the puddle of what seemed like blood before me.

The next second, a bright light enveloped me, forcing me to close my eyes.

[You and your party have completed the Dream!]

[Calculating Completion Rate [--*--] ] ---> [Error: Value cannot be calculated]

[Your rewards will be handed out accordingly!]