Chapter 30: Not again!

this is a fictional story by realTensai

Alvis’ body shook, a higher might forcing it to move. He was in his comfort zone, fully at peace, yet his peace was getting interrupted. The higher might shook stronger and stronger and Alvis knew he would leave his comfort zone soon. He started hearing a voice, and before he knew it, he woke up.

“Wake up Alvis, you got school!” his mother said, looking impatient.

“Thank you, Mom,” Alvis said, getting up.

His mother left his room and Alvis just sat on his bed, trying to digest what had just happened. His thoughts were still all over the place, yet the sight of Lia crying got burned into his head. Her tears were proof of Alvis’ incapability. He could not save her. Again.

Alvis slammed his fist against his bed. Only by biting his tongue could he calm down.

Though there was one thing Alvis now knew for sure. There was only one way to save Lia.

He had to help her destroy the Assassin Organization.

No matter what, Lia would not change her opinion about having to destroy the Organization. Her intense feelings of guilt and regret were too strong. However, even if she wanted to, she could not. Lia would always fail to kill the boss. And Alvis now also knew why.

Deep down, Lia still felt indebted to him. He was the one who saved her life and cared for her as a father afterward. Even though she knew he was a bad person who did not even care for her, her feelings of gratitude were still there. Lia knew that and hated herself for it. She knew it was egoistic, and that was why she wanted to change. Yet, in the end, she could not. She would always hesitate to kill the boss.

She is way too kindhearted!

Lia could not defeat the boss on her own. That was why she had to be saved. That was why Alvis had to save her!

However, Alvis was not ignorant of his power. He knew his limitations and knew he was not strong enough to face the boss of the Organization. But if he wanted to save her, he had no other choice.

It was at this moment, Alvis decided. A psychopathic smile formed on his face, and he knew no sane person could get such an idea. Though Alvis always knew he was not normal.

Alvis would exploit his respawn abilities to its fullest! He would use as many respawns as possible to get strong enough to defeat the boss! He would spend his time training and learning new spells and, near the end of every run, he would go to the Assassin Organization’s hiding. There, he would fight them until they kill him. No matter how many times they would kill him, he would only come back stronger. And in the end, he would be strong enough to face their boss!

With that decided, Alvis started his suicidal training regime!

——

Alvis’ body shook, a higher might forcing it to move. He was in his comfort zone, fully at peace, yet his peace was getting interrupted. The higher might shook stronger and stronger and Alvis knew he would leave his comfort zone soon. He started hearing a voice, and before he knew it, he woke up.

“Wake up Alvis, you got school!” his mother said, looking impatient.

Alvis had already lost count of how many times he had heard her mother saying those words. After he had made sure his head was still where it should be, Alvis sat up.

Last loop he had gotten further than usual. He was just one step short to arrive at the boss’ room. Though he did not see the sword coming. How could he? Someone who played dead got up and beheaded him from behind! Alvis just shook his head, trying to move on.

With the last run concluded, Alvis felt ready. He had spent countless runs to get stronger and now he thought it was the time. Clenching his fist, he stood up.

He would end it for sure now! He would end his level with this run!

He would save Lia!

Alvis opened up his system to check how far he had gotten.

NOTIFICATION

[YOU DIED!]

Experience is awarded for dying!

LEVEL 2: A lone girl

Mission: Save the girl

General:

Name: Alvis Silva

Race: Human

Class: Mage

Level: 9

Skills:

Advanced mana manipulation: Lvl. 2-> Lvl. 3

Mastermind: Lvl. 7-> Lvl. 8

Stats:

Mana: 136-> 141

Strength: 79-> 84

Intelligence: 125-> 130

Endurance: 82-> 87

Reflex: 81-> 86

Health: 125/125-> 130/130

This should be enough.

Strength-wise, Alvis felt ready. Now all that was left was to fine-tune his plan. Alvis already had a pretty solid plan, built upon his experience of fighting the Organization so often. There were just a few things left he had to consider. One of them being Lia.

Even though his interaction with Lia where she told him about her past was for him a long time ago, he still remembered every detail of it. At the beginning of every loop, Alvis had written it down so he would never forget what happened in this loop. Especially, the sight of her crying would not leave his mind. It acted as a source of motivation to push through so many deaths.

This time he would have to get to the same situation, but only change his answer in the end. Instead of saying to her she should not go, Alvis would tell her he would help her. Together, they would then destroy the Organization. This was his plan, at least.

For it to work, though, he had to get close to Lia first. Alvis had kept his memory of their interactions and relationship, yet for Lia, this all never happened. Alvis would have to do the same things as in the run Lia told him about her past. Only then could his plan work.

——

Just like planned, Alvis spent the two weeks getting closer to Lia. From joining the student council to going on a date with her, Alvis had done it all over again. This time, their relationship developed even better. It was because Alvis already knew her so well, and even her past, that Lia felt safe around him. He was not someone from whom she had to put on a facade. The main events stayed the same, with only minor things changing. But now Alvis accompanied her home, and she just finished telling him about her past.

Lia looked at him, her green eyes full of confidence. After finishing her speech, she gained resolve.

“So there is no way you would change your opinion?” Alvis asked, just to make sure.

“No, come what may, I will destroy the Organization today.”

Alvis sighed.

“Then I will help you. I may not look like it, but I am pretty strong.”

Lia’s eyes widened as she heard his response. This was the last thing she would have expected.

“W-Why?! You have no reason to do that! And I don’t want you to get in danger because of me!”

“This is my decision. I won’t change it just like you won’t change yours! I will save you no matter what!”

Alvis said those words with such conviction Lia did not even have to use her empathetic abilities to realize how serious he meant it. However, Lia just could not understand. She could not understand why he was so adamant about helping her, even though his own life would be risked.

“I..-I don’t get it. Why? Why do you want to help me? Don’t you realize you are putting your own life on the line? Why would you want to help someone like me after having heard about my past? I am a murderer! A coldhearted killer! I am egoistic and evil! I kill people just because I got told so! Someone like me does not deserve your help! I have to do it alone! Only then can I atone for my sins!”

Lia shouted, her normally calm voice trying to scare away Alvis. Her face displayed her desperation and, seeing how she almost cried, Alvis just felt he had to save her all the more.

“You ask why I want to help you?… Because you are a kind person! Do I need more reasons than that?! I am egoistic too, so I want to help a girl who is trying her best! I want to save you, Lia!”

Met with Alvis’ most honest words, Lia broke down. Streams of tears flowed down her cheek as she could not hide her true feelings any longer. She fell on her knees, her hands on her face, while she cried her heart out. Lia, who always tried to put up a strong front, was in the end just a regular girl too.

Alvis stretched out a helping hand, signalizing he was on her side. He would not let her alone. Lia, who saw that, took his hand and stood up, her normally green eyes now red because of how much she cried. It was the first time Alvis held Lia’s hand and only then he realized how small they were compared to his.

“T-Thank you, Al,” Lia said, a weak smile on her face.

However, before Alvis could respond, he saw her eyes glowing up. And just like last time, he slowly lost consciousness.

“I am sorry, but I can’t let you die,” he heard Lia whispering.

Please, not again!

——

Alvis opened his eyes just to be greeted by the familiar sight of his room’s ceiling. Judging by the comfort he felt, he knew he was lying on his bed. However, he abruptly got up after he realized he had failed again. Just like last time, Lia hypnotized him, not letting him join her.

Fuck!

“Oh, so you are awake,” his mother said, who just entered his room.

Normally, she is the one who wakes me up. This had never happened before!

Only then did Alvis realize he did not wake up to the voice of his mother. After he respawned this always was the first that happened. So why not this time?

“Mom… what is today’s date?”

“Huh, today is the 17.08. Why you ask?”

The 17th?

“God, you are out of it today. How come you fall asleep at school? This nice girl had to drop you off here.”

Alvis’ body acted faster than he could think. He immediately got out of his bed and ran off.

“Where are you going?”

“I will explain later!” Alvis said, already at the door.

He looked at the time and figured he still had a chance.

Lia had hypnotized him and then went to drop him off at home. Alvis had thought he had respawned, yet it was still the same day. Which meant he could still make it in time!

I won’t let you die, Lia!