Morning arrived over Drakenridge beneath a gray sky that threatened rain. The air carried the scent of damp stone and cold wind drifting down from the northern mountains. By the time the sun rose above the eastern hills, the Adventurer Guild courtyard was already crowded with armed fighters preparing for the expedition the guild master had ordered the night before. Horses were being saddled, armor tightened, and weapons sharpened while groups of adventurers spoke in low, serious voices. News of the demon encounter had spread through the city overnight, and the excitement that normally accompanied a guild mission had been replaced by something heavier.
Concern.
Eren Thorne stood near the edge of the courtyard with his sword resting against his shoulder as he watched the preparations. The demon horn he had brought from the mountain hung from his belt as proof of the threat waiting beyond the city walls. Around him, adventurers from several ranks gathered for the mission. Most were C-rank or D-rank fighters, though a few stronger warriors had arrived from nearby settlements to assist.
Cassian Voss stepped beside him, adjusting the straps of his armor.
"I count twelve adventurers," Cassian said quietly. "That's more than the guild usually sends."
Eren nodded.
"The guild master thinks something serious is happening."
Cassian glanced toward the northern road.
"He's probably right."
Across the courtyard, Bram Calder was arguing loudly with another adventurer while tightening the leather straps on his heavy gauntlets. The large warrior noticed Eren watching and gave him a short nod of respect. Only a few days earlier Bram had treated Eren like a joke, but that attitude had changed quickly after hearing about the demon fight.
"Still planning to lead the charge?" Bram asked as he approached.
Eren shrugged.
"I'm planning to survive."
Bram laughed.
"Fair enough."
Before anyone could say more, the large wooden doors of the guild opened and Guild Master Alric Stormhall stepped out into the courtyard. The older warrior's presence immediately quieted the crowd. His gray hair moved slightly in the wind as his sharp eyes scanned the assembled adventurers.
"Listen carefully," Alric said in a calm but powerful voice. "Our scouts confirmed demon activity across the northern mountains. What we encountered before may only be the beginning."
Murmurs spread through the group.
Alric continued.
"We are not marching into battle blindly. Our objective is reconnaissance. We investigate the mountains, identify the threat, and return with information."
Cassian leaned slightly toward Eren.
"That's guild master language for don't do anything stupid."
Eren smirked.
"That might be difficult."
Alric pointed toward the northern road.
"We leave now."
Within minutes the expedition group passed through the gates of Drakenridge and began the long march toward the mountains. The road was familiar to Eren by now. He had traveled it many times already—some journeys ending in victory, others ending in death and a reset of time.
But today was different.
This time the expedition included many adventurers.
And if something went wrong…
Eren would not be the only one dying.
That thought lingered quietly in his mind as they walked.
The group traveled for several hours through forests and rocky hills. The farther north they moved, the colder the wind became. The trees thinned until the landscape slowly transformed into the same harsh mountain terrain Eren had explored before.
Cassian noticed the change immediately.
"Strange," he muttered.
Eren glanced at him.
"What?"
"No monsters."
Eren looked around.
Cassian was right.
The mountains were too quiet.
Even the usual sounds of birds and small creatures had vanished.
Bram walked ahead of them and stopped suddenly.
"Tracks," he called out.
Several adventurers gathered around as Bram knelt beside a patch of disturbed dirt along the trail.
"These aren't human," he said.
Eren stepped closer.
The footprints were large and clawed.
Demon tracks.
Cassian frowned.
"And there are a lot of them."
Eren followed the direction of the tracks with his eyes.
"They're heading deeper into the mountains."
Alric walked over and studied the ground for a moment before speaking.
"We follow carefully."
The expedition continued forward, but now the adventurers moved with weapons drawn and senses sharpened. The wind howled between the cliffs as they climbed higher into the mountains.
After another hour, the path opened into a wide rocky valley.
Eren recognized the place immediately.
This was the same region where he had fought the demon commander.
He felt the familiar tension returning.
Cassian noticed his expression.
"You've been here before," he said quietly.
Eren nodded.
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"You died here too, didn't you?"
Eren smirked slightly.
"Several times."
Cassian shook his head.
"I'm never getting used to that."
Suddenly one of the adventurers at the front of the group raised his hand.
"Movement!"
Everyone froze.
Across the valley, several figures appeared between the rocks.
Demons.
At least eight of them.
The creatures stood tall and lean with dark armor and glowing red eyes. Unlike the commander Eren had killed earlier, these demons carried long spears and curved blades designed for war.
Bram cracked his knuckles.
"Well… looks like we found them."
Alric stepped forward.
"Hold formation."
The demons began moving toward them slowly, spreading across the valley floor.
Eren counted quickly.
Eight enemies.
Against twelve adventurers.
The odds weren't terrible.
But something felt wrong.
Cassian whispered beside him.
"Too easy."
Eren nodded.
"Exactly."
The first demon suddenly lunged forward with terrifying speed, its spear aimed directly at one of the adventurers near the front line.
Steel clashed as the battle erupted instantly.
The valley filled with the sound of weapons striking and demons roaring.
Eren moved quickly, stepping into the fight and slashing across the arm of the nearest demon. The creature hissed in pain as dark blood spilled across the stone.
Cassian fought beside him, his sword flashing through the air with practiced precision.
Within seconds the battle became chaotic.
Demons were fast and aggressive, but the adventurers held their ground.
Eren cut down one demon with a clean strike across the neck.
Another charged him immediately.
Their blades collided with a loud crack of steel.
Eren dodged the creature's next strike and drove his sword into its chest.
Two demons down.
But as he pulled his weapon free, a strange sound echoed across the valley.
A deep horn.
The sound rolled through the mountains like distant thunder.
Every demon suddenly stopped fighting.
Then they retreated.
Cassian stared in confusion.
"They're… running?"
Eren frowned.
"No."
He looked toward the cliffs above them.
"They're regrouping."
And then he saw it.
High on the rocky ridge overlooking the valley stood a tall figure in dark armor.
The same violet-eyed demon they had encountered before.
The creature watched the battlefield calmly.
Cassian followed Eren's gaze and went silent.
"That's… not good."
The demon lord slowly raised one hand.
The ground began to shake.
A low rumbling sound spread through the valley as cracks appeared across the stone.
Then dozens of new demons climbed out from hidden tunnels and caves surrounding the expedition.
Bram looked around in disbelief.
"…we're surrounded."
Eren's grip tightened on his sword.
The demon lord's voice echoed across the mountains.
"Humans."
The word carried cold amusement.
"You came exactly as expected."
Alric stepped forward with his blade ready.
"You planned this."
The demon lord smiled.
"Of course."
More demons appeared from every direction.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Maybe more.
Cassian whispered under his breath.
"That's an army."
Eren stared at the ridge where the demon lord stood watching them.
For the first time since gaining the curse…
He realized something dangerous.
If he died now, time would rewind.
But the other adventurers would still remember nothing.
They would walk back into the same trap.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
The demon lord's violet eyes locked onto Eren specifically.
"Let us see," the creature said softly.
"How many times you must die… before you understand despair."
The valley erupted into chaos as the demon army charged.
And Eren knew the coming battle would not end with a single death.
It would take many.