Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chrona sat huddled in the corner, tears streaming down her face as the overwhelming weight of her repeated deaths bore down on her.

Once again, she found herself trapped in the past, surrounded by her friends, their worried faces closing in on her. She could barely register their words, the terror of what she had seen leaving her unable to speak.

Every time they faced the Reaper, the outcome was the same—he was an unstoppable force, a harbinger of death. The others stood around her, their expressions filled with concern and confusion.

"Chrona, talk to us," Caden urged gently, kneeling beside her. His voice was calm but firm, trying to pull her from the depths of her despair. "What happened? Why are you crying like this?"

"Please, don't shut us out," Christina added softly, placing a comforting hand on Chrona's trembling shoulder. "We're all in this together."

John, the middle-aged man of the group, tried to lift the tension with his usual humor. "Hey, kid, you're scaring us. Did you see a ghost or something?"

Chrona's sobs gradually subsided as their voices penetrated the fog of fear. Wiping her tear-streaked face, she managed to take a shaky breath before speaking.

"I… I saw it happen again. We all died. The Reaper… he's not just a monster. He's a herald of death." Her words hung in the air, suffocating the group with their weight.

Caden's eyes narrowed, catching onto her phrasing. "Again? What do you mean we die… again?"

A heavy silence fell over the room, the gravity of her words slowly sinking in. Petra, who had been quietly watching, furrowed her brow in confusion. Chrona turned to her, her voice trembling but resolute.

"Use your ability on me, Petra," she said, her voice now steady. "Show everyone what I saw."

Petra hesitated, but when she saw the desperation in Chrona's tear-filled eyes, she relented. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Chrona's forehead. The moment contact was made, Petra screamed, her body wracked with convulsions as the horrifying memories flooded her mind.

She collapsed to the ground, clutching her head, her face pale as death.

"We… we're all going to… to die," Petra whispered, her voice barely audible. She looked haunted by the terror she had just relived.

"What… what do you mean?" Christina's voice was trembling, fear lacing her words. Anne, standing a little apart from the group, watched silently, unsure of what to make of the scene unfolding before her.

Petra, still shaking, forced herself back to her feet. She moved with unsteady steps to the center of the group.
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"Everyone, hold hands. I'll show you."

Without hesitation, they all linked hands, forming a circle around her—except Anne, who remained an observer, still not truly part of their circle.

Petra closed her eyes, activating her psychometric ability, [Mind Burst], pushing Chrona's memories into the minds of everyone around her.

As the memories coursed through them, the color drained from their faces, leaving them pale and shaken. The sheer despair and inevitability of their deaths were suffocating.

"What are we going to do, Caden?" Oliver, the youngest of the group, asked in a small, fearful voice.

All eyes turned to Caden. His expression was serious, but he forced a smile, trying to reassure them.

"I'll tell you what we're not going to do, and that's panic and die. We're going to live—all of us."

He looked directly at Chrona, his gaze unwavering. "Exactly how many minutes did you go back?"

Chrona shook her head, her thoughts jumbled. "I didn't think to measure it, but… it wasn't long."

Ping, always quick with calculations, spoke up, his voice measured.

"Based on what Petra showed us, it's around thirty minutes. That's how far back Chrona's return-by-death ability works."

John, still trying to lighten the mood, gave Chrona a small grin.

"Who knew you had that trick up your sleeve, kid?"

Ping, however, was all business. "We've already wasted too much time. We have about eleven minutes before the Reaper crashes through that wall. Our original plan didn't work."

Caden nodded, his mind racing. "Summer, keep an eye out with [Remote Eye]. I want constant updates."

"Got it," Summer replied, closing her eyes as she focused on her surveillance ability.

"May, barricade the entire building with your [Shield Ram]," Caden continued, turning to the force-field wielder.

"I'm on it," May said, her hands glowing as she began fortifying their defenses.

"John, support May by absorbing the Maya's energy energy. Maya, back him up with raw power."

"Leave it to me," John said, his usual lighthearted tone replaced by grim determination.

Maya nodded, flames flickering in her eyes. "I'll give everything I've got."

"Chris, Ping, and I will head upstairs to the roof," Caden instructed, his voice calm but commanding.

"We hit him with everything from range. Christina, Chrona, Lucky, and Oliver, you stay inside the barrier. Protect Anne. If he gets to her, it's game over."

Christina gave a firm nod. "We won't let him touch her."

Finally, Caden turned to Petra, his eyes sharp. "Petra, I've got a plan. It's crazy, but if you can pull it off, we might have a chance."

Petra's eyes widened, but she didn't hesitate. "I trust you, Caden."

Caden leaned in close, whispering something in her ear. Her eyes went wide with shock, but after a moment, she nodded, her resolve hardening.

The rest of the group watched in silence, their curiosity piqued, but they trusted Caden. He had never led them wrong before.

Lastly, Caden turned to Anne, bowing his head slightly. "Please, help us."

Anne nodded, though the fear still lingered in her eyes. She didn't know why the Reaper was after her, but she could see the determination in their eyes—the unshakable bond they shared. She couldn't turn away.

"I'll do what I can," she said softly, her voice filled with quiet resolve.

With their plan set, the group braced themselves for the battle that was fast approaching. They had faced death countless times, but this time, they were prepared to fight back—and change their fate.

He knew, however, that they were only testing the Reaper's strength. Deep down, he wasn't expecting to win. But if they could learn enough this round, if they could survive, there was still hope.

Caden stood on the roof, his gaze fixed on the shimmering barrier around them. He doubted it would hold the Reaper off for long, especially considering that sword—a weapon that had sliced through their defenses as if they were paper.

He had boosted the barrier's power by adding two more espers to reinforce it, but the mental strain on May was evident, her brow furrowed in concentration. She wouldn't last long at this rate.

Ping stood nearby, all his guns primed and ready, flanked by Chris and Caden himself. The turrets were poised to unleash a hail of bullets on the Reaper's approach, while Summer kept an eye on things from the inside, using her enhanced senses to detect any changes.

Ping's network kept everyone connected through wireless earpieces, allowing them to coordinate.

Now, all they could do was wait for the Reaper.

They didn't wait long.

"Something's coming," Summer's voice crackled through the earpiece, her tone sharp with warning.

Immediately, a dark infernal steed appeared over the horizon, carrying a hooded rider cloaked in black. The figure's attire seemed to absorb the sunlight, shrouding him in a terrifying aura. Only his violet eyes, glowing with cold malice, pierced the darkness surrounding him.

The steed, a monstrous creature with two sharp, dagger-like horns, pawed the ground, snorting with aggression.

"He didn't use that demon horse when he fought us," Chris muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"That's not just a horse. It's a bicorn," Ping explained in his usual know-it-all tone, his eyes flicking nervously toward the creature. "It's a mythical beast."

Caden shot him a glance, eyebrow raised. "How do you even know that?"

"I saw it on the Reaper fan page," Ping replied defensively.

Chris looked incredulous. "That thing has a fan page?"

"No surprise," Caden said, his voice calm despite the tension hanging thick in the air. "The Reaper's only been killing the corrupt and the criminals. Some people see him as a hero."

"Yeah, but we aren't any of those," Ping muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Chris smirked. "I don't know, man. We did just kidnap a girl, so…"

The Reaper halted a distance away, his menacing figure framed against the horizon. The faint glow of May's barrier shimmered around them, a fragile shield protecting them from the oncoming storm.

The bicorn stomped the ground, its hooves crashing like thunder, ready to charge. The Reaper's cold, violet eyes locked onto Caden and his group, and in that chilling gaze, Caden knew.

The battle was about to begin.

And none of them would ever forget it—if they lived long enough to remember.