Seeing this, it grew even more furious.
On the ground, the small human figure simply stood there, calmly watching it—no mockery, no ridicule...
But... silence and indifference were the greatest forms of contempt.
It struck out in rage, the attack even more violent than before. But this time, Zane didn't just sit and wait for death.
His power was weak. He couldn't do much. All he could manage was to tear off a palm-sized chunk of the pitch-black substance.
And as the attack swallowed him whole, Zane showed no sign of pain. He looked toward the massive monster in the distance and smiled.
That fragment of dissipating black matter held high—like a symbol of victory.
"You can't kill me, but I can kill you..."
"Even if it's like an ant devouring an elephant..."
Zane's eyes shone. Those ice-like pupils flickered with a faint glow.
"Because even then... a sliver of hope remains..."
As his words fell, Zane was once again consumed—then reborn—and threw himself at the monster with all he had.
Just as he'd said.
Even if it's an ant devouring an elephant, it's better than having no hope at all!
Again and again, Zane died, was reborn, and repeated the cycle—over and over...
One hundred seventy-three...
Three thousand two hundred fifteen...
Seven thousand six hundred forty-two...
Zane never grew numb. He remembered every single rebirth. In the endless passage of time, they were crystal clear...
The ten thousand and thirty-fifth time.
The pain dug deep into his bones, piercing through his entire body.
He hadn't gone numb—not to the pain of his flesh. Every rebirth was a new beginning, and every death was fresh, unforgettable, and terrifyingly real.
This was undoubtedly torture—but Zane could not retreat. He could not back down.
Endless monsters filled the world, encircling Zane, relentlessly hunting him down.
All of them were pawns of the greatest monster.
When one of them pierced Zane's chest with its claws, he clenched his teeth and looked at the enormous monster in the distance.
By now, it had shed its initial rage. It no longer feared Zane's repeated rebirths. Instead, it had become calm.
It stared at him without emotion, launching attacks again and again—watching him die over and over.
It was waiting for Zane to give up, waiting for him to surrender within the cycle of death, continuing this one-sided "war."
Behind the sky-blotting monster, endless black matter gathered. Countless tentacles merged together, forming a thick, pitch-black serpent.
The giant serpent flew through the air, letting out a hoarse roar, opening its gaping maw toward Zane—then, behind the monster, it bit its own tail, forming a strange and ominous ring.
It was as if telling Zane: he could never escape, never win, doomed to perish in an endless cycle.
No matter how he resisted, it didn't care. It saw it all as meaningless—a futile struggle.
Zane stared at the monster, stared at the serpent devouring its tail, his eyes unwavering. He retaliated against the beast tearing into him with the same method.
Yes, its power was overwhelming. That was why it had no need to fear—and never would.
Because its name...
was the past.
It symbolized pain.
And those countless minions were just fragments of the past—its slaves.
As far as the eye could see, it was endless.
Facing such despair, it truly seemed Zane couldn't resist—that all was meaningless.
But he wouldn't stop.
Because he had a reason he couldn't lose. And he must not lose.
Never.
It was a tug-of-war that seemed without end.
However... in the spiritual realm, physical combat came easier to Zane. He only needed to endure, to stay determined, to keep the light in his heart alive.
Zane tossed aside the small dying monster in his hand. His exhausted arm hung limply as he let himself be devoured once more.
He looked at the towering monster.
This time, the mocking smile was his.
Moments later, the scattered points of light reformed Zane's body.
His gaze stayed fixed on the monster and the serpent eating its tail. He chuckled twice, then looked sharply and said,
"Come again!"
The battle would not end.
Sixty-four thousand three hundred one...
Ninety-one thousand twenty-three...
One hundred forty-five thousand nine hundred ten...
By the time the 180,000th cycle came, the monster's body had visibly shrunk. The once densely packed sea of creatures was noticeably thinner.
Zane, carrying an utterly exhausted body, rose to his feet once again.
Yes—physical fatigue vanished with each rebirth. But mental exhaustion... part of it remained.
And over time, it piled up. Growing heavier. Threatening to crush him.
It seemed... he might fall before ever giving up.
Zane looked at the charging monsters again—and still chose to fight.
He wouldn't give up.
He couldn't afford to lose this tug-of-war.
And undeniably, he hadn't come to this world to start a second life—it was a continuation of the one he already had.
After all... he had never truly forgotten the past.
Once, his heart had instinctively tried to let go—as if this were a complete rebirth.
But that's impossible. People can't cast off the past.
Now, he'd made a different choice.
No longer fleeing, no longer forgetting—he would carry everything in his life, weigh it all, no matter how painful or joyous, no matter the sorrow or happiness...
Only then can one truly understand the value of life, and see the meaning behind it all.
And come to understand...
their own heart.
"Master... you were wrong..."
"There was never a first flower or second."
"It was never a new life—only the continuation of one on the brink of ending. Nothing has ever changed."
Death does not mean life has ended.
The white flower Qingyi picked up... was never new.
The past... cannot be discarded.
Pain... follows like a shadow.
When one realizes life only comes once...
That's when a second life begins.
In the light.
Though exhausted, Zane's eyes were still bright. He raised his fist, ready to swing at the oncoming monster.
And just then...
A green butterfly silently appeared, landing gently on his shoulder. In the blink of an eye, all his fatigue vanished—just like at the very beginning.
And as Zane recovered, the butterfly seemed to spend its last bit of strength and vanished into the air.
Of course, Zane noticed.
A faint smile spread across his face. His eyes shimmered with clarity. His expression was firm as he spoke softly:
"Master..."
"Wait for me."
And as Zane's words fell, the fist he had raised—and held still in midair—suddenly slammed down, crashing hard into the monster's twisted face.
...