The next world.

The director is across the room, sighing impatiently. "Fine. But if you're coming, you're squeezing into the car with everyone else."

I've heard that line 99 times.

Not this time. This is the last time I'll ever hear it. This is the loop I'll break.

The car ride begins the same way it always does. Everyone's conversations flow naturally, like a script being replayed. Ren leans against the window, gazing out at the glowing cityscape.

"I've always loved the nightlife in the city," he says softly. "It's so beautiful. Oh—look ahead. The police blocked off the road."

The director frowns, his hands tightening on the wheel. "That's odd. I checked the news earlier—this wasn't mentioned. Maybe it's recent—"

I cut in sharply. "Drive."

"What?" The director glances at me, confused.

Without another word, I reach over and slam his foot onto the gas pedal. The car lurches forward, hurtling toward the police blockade.

"What the hell are you doing?!" the director yells.

"They're not police," I snap. "Just trust me. Do exactly what I say, and you'll live. That goes for everyone in this car."

Ren looks at me, wide-eyed. "What's going on? What are you—"

I don't have time to explain. The red glow flashes in the officers' eyes just as they draw their weapons.

"Xolotl, Ren!" I shout. "Shoot back! Keep them off us!"

Xolotl, who usually rolls his eyes at me, doesn't hesitate. He grabs his pistol from his bag, muttering, "This better not get me arrested." Ren, pale but determined, retrieves a rifle from under the seat, aiming out the window.

Bullets shatter the air as they fire back. The director grips the wheel tightly, swerving to avoid incoming gunfire.

"Take the crossroad up ahead!" I yell. "Head toward the mountain and drive straight into the woods. As far away from people as possible. That's where he'll show up."

"Who is he?!" the director shouts over the chaos.

"The thing that's been killing us for days," I say, my voice trembling but firm. "Just trust me, damn it!"

The car veers off the main road, bouncing violently as it barrels into the forest. For a moment, the only sound is the crunch of leaves and the hum of the engine. I exhale shakily, thinking maybe—just maybe—this time we've gotten ahead of him.

Then, the red-eyed figure appears.

He stands in the path, tall and unmoving, his aura suffocating.

"Everyone, OUT! NOW!" I roar.

The car skids to a halt, and everyone scrambles out, panic etched across their faces.

"Director, take everyone with you!" I shout, my voice echoing through the trees. "Go as far as you can!"

"What about you?" Ametsuchi's voice is trembling. "You can't fight that thing alone—"

"GO!" I roar.

Turbo's voice resonates in my head. "You won't last long in standard form."

"I don't need long," I say. "Just enough."

"Turbo, standard form!"

The white orb dissolves into me, and a suit of glowing armor forms around my body. The main colors—white, blue, and black—shine brilliantly, the sleek, robotic design crackling with energy. I leap into the air, landing directly in front of the red-eyed figure. Without hesitation, I punch him square in the jaw, the force sending him flying into the trees.

The figure stands, brushing off debris like it's nothing. His blood-red eyes gleam with sadistic glee.

"So," he says with a chuckle, "I've killed you before, haven't I? I'm guessing you found out about your gear or at least one of them."

I clench my fists, charging at him again.

"No matter," he continues, dodging my punch with inhuman speed. "This time, I'll make it stick. But since you've earned the right to hear it…my name is—"

I don't let him finish. I slam my fist into his chest, the impact sending him sliding back across the dirt.

"You talk too much," I growl, dashing toward him again.

He recovers quickly, blocking my next strike. His grin only widens. "Ah, but you'll remember me, Solomon. That's right. You brought this on yourself. You, with your oh-so-noble blood, your Majesty. This endless loop of pain? You deserve it."

His words cut deep, but I don't falter. I can't.

He moves faster now, landing a brutal punch to my ribs. Pain explodes through me, but I counter with an uppercut, staggering him.

"Five minutes," Turbo reminds me.

I grit my teeth, unleashing a barrage of punches. He blocks most of them, but a few land, forcing him back.

"You think you can save them?" the figure sneers, his voice dripping with malice. "You're wasting your time. They'll die. Over and over and over again. Just like you."

"I don't care how many times I die," I snap. "As long as they live, I'll keep coming back."

The red-eyed figure lunges, his claws slicing through the air. I barely dodge, countering with a kick that sends him sprawling.

The suit's energy is waning. I can feel it. My strength is fading, but I just need to hold him off a little longer.

"Run faster!" I yell into the distance, hoping the others can hear me.

The figure stands, brushing himself off with infuriating calm. "You're persistent. I'll give you that."

He dashes forward, his movements a blur. I brace myself, meeting him head-on. Our fists collide, the shockwave ripping through the forest.

"Turbo," I whisper. "How much longer?"

"Two minutes."

I smile grimly. Two minutes. I just need to survive for two more minutes.

And then, I'll make my move

Before I could take another step, he flashed toward me like a streak of blood-red lightning. But this time, I was ready.

In an instant, I raised my forearms, catching his face mid-strike and parrying him away with all the force I could muster. The impact sent a sharp jolt through my arms, but I ignored the pain and slammed my knee into his torso. His body jerked back, momentarily stunned.

Taking advantage of the opening, I pivoted on my heel, driving a powerful kick into his side. The blow hurled him into a nearby tree, the impact echoing through the forest.

"Stay down!" I roared, surging toward him with a fury that burned brighter than my pain. My fists rained down on his face, each strike more brutal than the last. I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. Every punch was for the countless lives I'd seen him destroy, for every time he'd killed me and my friends.

Yet, somehow, through the blood and shattered bone, he opened his mouth as if I hadn't just destroyed his jaw. His voice was low, guttural, and hauntingly calm.

"My name…is Acheron," he said, his bloodied lips curling into a sick grin.

I didn't let him say another word.

With a roar that tore through my chest, I channeled every ounce of strength into one final punch. My fist connected with his face, and the sheer force sent him flying through the forest, crashing through tree after tree like a wrecking ball.

"Turbo," I hissed. "Track them."

"Already on it," the AI responded.

The moment Acheron disappeared from my sight, I dashed like a streak of light, my enhanced senses locking onto my companions. The director and the others were just ahead, the shimmering portal already open.

But as if mocking my efforts, Acheron appeared again, unscathed, his crimson eyes blazing with malice.

"You can't outrun me," he snarled.

His voice sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let it paralyze me. I stopped mid-sprint, pivoting to face him. As he closed the gap, I caught him by his shoulder and the tattered remains of his clothes. With a guttural yell, I slammed him into the ground with everything I had, the earth cracking beneath the impact.

My fists went to work again, pounding into his face with unrelenting ferocity. Blood sprayed across my suit as I roared in desperation, my vision blurred with rage and exhaustion. My hands throbbed, my knuckles raw and bloody, but I didn't care.

Acheron retaliated, his fingers digging into my sides like daggers. Pain flared through my body, but I grit my teeth and pinned his shoulders to the ground with my knees, driving all my weight into him.

"Not this time!" I shouted, my voice breaking.

Turbo's voice broke through the haze. "Ten seconds left. You need to move now."

With time running out, I pushed my body beyond its limits. Using the suit's remaining strength, I leapt into the air, sprinting with every ounce of speed I could muster. I knew Acheron would regenerate in seconds, but I couldn't let that stop me.

The portal was just ahead. The others were waiting.

With my enhanced vision, I saw the director waving frantically. The portal shimmered like liquid glass, and I could feel its pull even from a distance.

I didn't hesitate. Spreading my arms wide, I tackled everyone into the portal with a burst of speed, the impact sending us tumbling and twisting through the void.

Acheron's guttural roar echoed behind me, but it was too late for him to follow.

As we crossed the threshold, Turbo's suit dissipated, the energy drained. The white orb floated out of my body, its glow dimmed from the strain.

I hit the ground hard, the pain finally overwhelming me. My vision blurred, and the last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was the worried faces of my friends.

When I wake up, if I wake up, this loop will be over—or it won't. Either way, I'm ready to fight again.