Chapter 36: The Bloodstained Loop

In Rey’s dream world.

The quiet town surrounding Rey’s house had transformed into a silent graveyard. Anyone stepping inside even a single home would be horrified: entire families slaughtered without mercy. No one had been spared. Not even the pets.

Corpses littered the streets—workers returning late, neighbors who once greeted him with a smile—all left in grotesque silence. And amidst it all, the perpetrator walked forward, drenched in blood.

It was Rey.

But something was wrong.

His expression, twisted into a grotesque grin, betrayed him. His eyes were hollow, lost. His steps mechanical. It wasn’t control—it was madness.

In his mind, a single word echoed, again and again.

‘Kill... kill... kill... kill... kill...’

And so, he obeyed.

Another house. More screams. More blood.

He emerged from each massacre, carrying fresh stains, marching mindlessly towards the next door. His sanity slipped away, piece by piece, until—

Something cracked.

A flicker of awareness returned. A tear rolled down his cheek.

In that darkness, the screen he once resented now shone like salvation.

<System is trying to breach the illusion world...>

<Connection established with Host.>

<Congratulations. You have acquired 2 Titles.>

<Title Gained: The Killing Maniac>

<Title Gained: The Psycho>

<Title: Killing Maniac>

Grade:

Unique

Description:

A relentless predator who butchers indiscriminately. Feared by all races, and hunted by many.

Effects:

Each kill slightly boosts your damage against that species.

Fear factor increases toward all races based on cumulative kills.

Upon reaching 100% bonus against any species, you will be actively hunted by that race.

<Title: The Psycho>

Grade:

Legendary

Description:

A title given to one who finds pleasure in killing. The true embodiment of cruelty.

Effects:

+10% experience gain (always active).

Pain tolerance greatly increased.

Title fully activates once 500 kills of a single species are recorded without deviation.

Requirement: Killing one species of 500 people without killing anything else.

>

<System Alert: Illusion-type Magic Detected.>

<Searching for escape route...>

<Solution Found: Locate the 3 Keys to break the loop.>

Requirement:

Only the designated targets must be killed.

Required Kills:

34.

Warning:

Excess kills detected. Recommended: Restart Trial.

Rey’s grin vanished.

Hope, after so long, sparked within him.

“I can escape...”

But the question echoed:

What are the keys?

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He bolted towards his house, moving faster than ever before.

Upstairs.

Into his room.

His hands trembled as he opened the drawer.

A pendant.

Aria’s pendant.

<Key Found: 1 / 3>

He smiled. The first real smile in what felt like forever.

Without wasting another second, he ran to his mother’s room.

She sat there, terrified—not of the blood, not of the killings outside, but of the boy standing before her.

“Mom...” Rey whispered, embracing her tightly. “I’ll be back. Please... wait for me.”

Confused and scared, she opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Rey drove a knife into his own head.

As he fell, he heard her scream. Yet her warmth lingered.

‘A mother’s love never fades... even in illusions,’ he thought, as darkness claimed him.

Moments later, he awakened.

The cycle continued—but now, he had a purpose.

The pendant in hand, he raced downstairs.

At the back door, Agent 7 was there, ready to strike.

But Rey was faster.

The dagger meant to kill him was already in his hand.

“Looks like this is goodbye, Agent 7.”

Confusion was the last expression on the assassin’s face before Rey buried the dagger in his throat.

<Target Eliminated: 1 / 34>

The real hunt had begun.

But who were the remaining 33 targets?

Rey didn’t care. He’d figure it out.

Grabbing the rest of the daggers and Agent 7’s communicator, he dashed toward the remaining hideouts.

Minutes later, he approached the others.

Their call came through.

“What’s the delay, Agent 7?”

Rey, mimicking the voice he remembered from the past cycles, answered coolly.

Their guard dropped.

And one by one, their bodies fell, poisoned blades cutting silently through the night. Four minutes. All dead.

Except for Agent 1.

Half-dead, trembling, Agent 1 watched as Rey emerged from the shadows.

The boy didn’t speak. He merely retrieved the remote from Agent 6’s corpse and walked away.

Agent 1 thought he’d been spared.

Until the explosion turned him into ash.

<Targets Eliminated: 7 / 34>

Without pause, Rey headed toward the factory.

Somewhere in that place... the remaining keys awaited.

This nightmare wasn’t over.

Not yet.

-->To be continued...