In the Imperial Capital of the Caldea Empire, Nineveh.

Having served as the capital for over several hundred years, Nineveh, known as the most bustling city in the empire with its splendid and beautiful landscapes, had now turned into a sea of flames.

The majestic Imperial Palace, a symbol of the empire’s grandeur, lay in ruins, its half-destroyed structure a testament to devastation, while the surrounding land was cracked and fractured as if an earthquake had struck.

In the midst of this overwhelming destruction, the only two beings that remained alive and breathing in this vicinity were none other than...

Flames flickered violently all around. Against this backdrop of dancing fire, there stood a woman with black hair, expressing an indescribable elegance that could only be likened to the graceful sway of silk.

“Quite impressive, human.”

Her voice was as clear as a jade bead rolling over a silver tray. Yet beneath that dulcet tone lay an undeniable, deeply rooted hatred and disgust for her opponent.

“Countless fierce warriors have dared to challenge me until now, but you are the first to actually wound me.”

The woman gazed quietly at the wound on her right palm, a deep gash that seemed to have been scratched by a wild beast.

Yet that alone was all she had suffered. Compared to the injuries inflicted upon her by the man before her, it was almost pitifully insignificant.

For he had paid the price of inflicting such a wound with half of his upper body, which had been diagonally severed, and a large hole through the center of his heart.

“...Haah, haah—”

Jin gasped for breath while clutching his upper body, which felt as if it would crumble at any moment. He was sustaining his life force by forcibly circulating his mana, but that was also reaching its limit.

He had no strength left to continue fighting the woman before him.

The battle that had just transpired against the backdrop of Nineveh had ultimately ended in Jin’s defeat, no, in humanity’s defeat.

For the woman before him was one of the seven heralds of the world’s destruction, the one bringing doom to the tens of thousands of the Imperial Capital, or rather, the empire itself. She was the key to annihilation. And a symbol of devastation.

The Red Dragon, Ajdahaka.

That was the true identity of the woman standing in front of him.

“Nevertheless, what a truly trivial fight this has been. A select gathering of the strongest humans dared to challenge me, yet they could only inflict such a trivial wound.”

With that, Ajdahaka licked the wound on her palm. In that instant, the injury Jin had painstakingly inflicted seemed to reverse in time and returned to its original state.

“If I had known this would happen, I should have spared my father and illustrious ancestors. After all, they possessed a potential to kill me.”

“It’s not like you defeated me head-on; you snuck up on me from behind, yet here you are, flapping your mouth like that.”

As Jin mocked her, the coldness in Ajdahaka’s gaze intensified.

Snap.

Boom—

“Cough!”

Looking at Jin, Ajdahaka flicked her finger lightly, causing him to collapse flat on the ground. In an instant, the surrounding gravity became over twenty times heavier, pinning him down in space.

“You’re quite the talker for a defeated mutt. If you’re truly a mutt, then lie down on the ground like one. If that’s too much for you, well, I suppose it can’t be helped. How troublesome, but from now on, I shall personally educate you.”

A sadistic and violent fervor began to dwell in Ajdahaka’s eyes, which previously held nothing but cold disdain for humanity.

Before her lay a human that had just enough worth to catch her attention among the countless insignificant insects.

He was the only one who dared rally the mindless insects thinking solely of their own gain to combat the End and propose hope for a future to the humans lost in despair.

His deeds could be likened to a storybook hero, and Ajdahaka could not help but acknowledge the achievements he had amassed.

Though only a scratch, the extraordinary power he united among humankind had managed to pierce through her supposedly impenetrable defenses and inflict injury.

Thus, there was no choice but to feel anticipation. What kind of last moments would this hero display after gathering everyone’s strength solely to kill her, sacrificing his own life in the process, and now burning out like a candle?

Would he continue to stare at her with that hateful look, even as she shattered his body to pieces? Or would he shed tears like a child, begging for his life? Might this so-called hero exhibit a different side of himself at the brink of death, distinct from an ordinary person?

Either outcome was of no consequence. After all, both would be worth witnessing.

If it were up to her personal preference, she would much rather see him cry. A single tear shed in the tragic final moments of a hero—now that would resonate in her heart in a charming way.

“Ugh... ah....”

Even under the crushing pressure of gravity that bore down on him, Jin seemed to be attempting to say something to Ajdahaka, his lips moving. Amused by the sight, Ajdahaka flicked her finger once more, releasing the gravitational force that held him in place.

This was the last gasp of the hero. Surely, granting him the mercy to utter his final words would be a fitting magnanimity for a victor.

“Heh heh, go on. Say whatever you wish. What desperate words do you want to convey to me at this moment—”

“Hey, you bitch.”

“...Huh?”

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The words that escaped Jin’s lips were not the grand farewell that she had desired from a ‘hero,’ but rather a cheap curse.

“You damn bitch. I invested ten years to catch you, only for it to end like this. Tch, could the reason for my failure this time be that I killed off all those worms just to overcome the second End? If only I had a bit more manpower, I could have tried a pincer attack.”

“What are you—”

“And by the way, I’ve wanted to ask you since the first time we met: why do you have a handle sticking out of your head? If I had won today, I would’ve smashed that ugly horn first.”

With those words, Jin spat saliva from his mouth. However, seeing blood rather than spit emerge, he clicked his tongue. It seemed this ‘life’ of his was coming to an end.

“This is the end for the ninth time. In the tenth, I’ll definitely crush that proud face of yours. Oh, and I’ll take care of that horn too.”

Listening to the crude banter reminiscent of the lowly mercenaries who’ve been through battles all their lives, Ajdahaka wore a bewildered expression.

Was this truly the sound coming from the mouth of a man hailed as humanity’s hero at the final battle concerning their very existence?

“...Could he have lost his mind?”

“I’ve been crazy for a long time. After digging around in this damn world for over a hundred years, wouldn’t my head go crazy?”

Pointing at her head and spinning his finger as if mocking her, he then chuckled in a hollow manner. After all, now that it was all over, what purpose did it serve to voice such complaints?

“I’ll see you next time, you damn lizard bitch. When that time comes, I’ll be sure to chop off that pig-like neck of yours and salt you down while still alive. I’ll also make sure to cut that horn in half.”

His consciousness started to fade. Yet, until the very final moment, Jin did not calmly close his eyes but instead glared at Ajdahaka with a look of utter disdain.

It was truly exhausting. How many times had he come this far? How many more times would he have to endure this torment before a day would come when he would no longer see that damn woman’s face?

In the gradually darkening field of vision, Jin closed his eyes, now feeling the sensation of death that had become all too familiar.

Thus, his ninth regression came to an end.

Simultaneously, regardless of his will, the tenth regression began.

Jin, or rather, Seol Hajin.

He remembered the nine ‘ends’ of this miserable world and was now about to face the tenth regression.

The only protagonist in this damned story.

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“I think true gamers are quite rare in this day and age.”

“...What in the world are you talking about?”

“Hmm, just keep your mouth shut and listen to me first. Every time I see these kids flaunting their so-called ‘games,’ it makes my stomach turn.”

With that, Seol Hajin gulped down the soju in front of him.

“In my view, games are one of the art forms. They can touch people deeply with elements like story, gameplay mechanics, level design, convenience, and the lingering emotions after the ending. When you look at them this way, there isn’t much difference between movies and games.”

“So, what’s the point?”

“What I mean is that, from a true ‘gamer’s’ perspective, those five people huddled together in a PC room, screaming about how you shot them in CS, or those who toss hundreds of thousands into a mobile game just to get a sliver of data, don’t qualify to call themselves gamers. Regardless of everything else, those kinds of games lack any lingering impact, emotions, and ultimately, happiness.”

“Wow, quite philosophical of you. So, what kind of amazing game do you play that allows you to criticize the general public like this?”

“I don’t handle low-quality games, at least.”

Seol Hajin began to shake his soju glass back and forth, adopting an air of superiority.

“Hyunseong, what is a game? If we strip away all the flowery language and look at its essence, isn’t it supposed to provide a sense of stability away from the chaotic daily life, even if just for a moment? But nowadays, there’s no morality in games. They might be fun for a fleeting moment, but in the end, they leave you with nothing.”

“Jin-ah, I may not know much, but I do know one thing.”

“What is it?”

“It’s that no one wants to come near us because you’re talking nonsense.”

As he said this, Lee Hyunseong lifted his chin and glanced around the room.

The interior of the pub was quite spacious and lavish, buzzing with the lively chatter of patrons. Even at the adjacent table, four to five men and women were happily chatting away. Sadly, there was only one table occupied by Seol Hajin and Lee Hyunseong, where two dull men sat nursing their drinks.

“After being discharged, I thought I’d enjoy the orientation meeting, but here I am, stuck with this idiot, listening to useless drivel while clinking glasses.”

“That’s what I should be saying, you fool.”

As the two exchanged warm banter, they suddenly made eye contact with a woman from the opposite table, who had been toasting with her friends.

The unfortunate woman, who accidentally locked eyes with them, smiled brightly and approached their table, holding a glass in one hand.

“Hello, seniors. Are you enjoying the orientation meeting?”

Despite the presence of a woman at their previously dismal table, neither of their expressions changed. They knew very well why she had chosen to join the table occupied by the two awkward men, who were shunned by everyone else.

“You really don’t have to bother with us. We know you’re busy representing your class, Ji-eun.”

Indeed, the only reason she had come over to this table, which everyone else avoided, was purely because she was responsible for leading the sophomore class this semester.

For reference, it was also she who had invited the two socially awkward individuals to this orientation meeting. Had she not reached out to them through her contact list, they wouldn’t even have known that this drinking session was taking place today.

‘Maybe by now, she’s regretting inviting us.’

Perhaps she had simply called on them out of pity or merely out of courtesy, and now she might be feeling awkward for having invited them since they inadvertently agreed to join.

Ugh... why did they even ask us to come to the orientation? It’s ruining the mood for drinking. I feel like there’s a strange smell coming from them. Is that smell going to stick to us?

“I didn’t know they’d actually come just because I casually suggested it while feeling a bit sorry for them sitting there like losers. I thought they’d just decline if they had any sense. I never imagined they could be this shameless.”

“So annoying. Hey, why don’t we ask if they can go home early and we’ll cover their taxi fare? They’re not even talking to us, so it wouldn’t matter if they leave a little early.”

“Should we? Honestly, it’s a bit bothersome for us to be sitting here as a pair, too.”

“You’re the class representative, so you should say something. I really don’t want to talk to those people.”

“Yeah, but you’re the one who’s close with your boyfriend, so you should do it.”

“No, he’s your boyfriend.”

“Then let’s settle this fairly with rock-paper-scissors. Loser has to talk to those people!”

...Of course, they might have been having this kind of conversation while trying to remain unnoticed. Well, it’s 99% certain they were; after all, his instincts, honed over twelve years through elementary, middle, and high school, were ringing alarm bells.

Just like a gazelle surviving in the savannah, which reacts sensitively to every type of predator it encounters, every fiber of instinct told him that the woman before him was a deep-rooted insider, different from him in more ways than one.

“By the way, what were you all talking about that seemed so interesting? I overheard something about games over there.”

Seeing Lee Ji-eun, who asked this question with a dimpled smile, Seol Hajin and Lee Hyunseong exchanged glances for a moment.

If they had been completely oblivious, they might have been impressed that a woman with such a pleasant face was bringing up ‘games’ as a topic to engage with them.

Huh? There’s quite a distance between this table and the other one; were they really eavesdropping on our conversation about games? But didn’t insiders generally have little interest in games?

Could it be that she, despite being an insider, secretly had a hobby related to gaming? And did she come over just to talk about games?

Ah, I see. She actually belongs to the type of girl I can chat easily with. So, maybe it’s okay to expect a good atmosphere today? Could it be that this vibe carries on until tomorrow, ultimately leading us to build a good relationship?

Wait, what if this leads to us dating? Would that mean tomorrow would be our first day as a couple? Could we even end up getting married? If so, how many kids should we have? I’d like to have enough for a baseball team, but would she be cool with that?

As these pointless musings swirled in his head, he realized that if he carelessly expressed his feelings, she might respond with, “Ah... I’m sorry, but that’s not what I meant. Can we stay as good seniors and juniors like before? I don’t dislike you as a senior, but I’m just not looking to date anyone right now.”

“It’s nothing serious. Just two guys sitting together don’t have much to talk about, so we were having some trivial banter,” he said.

Having recognized that her feigned interest didn’t necessarily mean genuine curiosity, Seol Hajin tried his best to change the subject. Unfortunately, Lee Ji-eun wasn’t the type to easily let it slide.

“No, really. I’ve actually been playing some games recently, so I was just wondering if you were discussing something related to them.”

“What game?”

“Ragnarok. Do you guys know it?”

Of course, he knew about it. It would be more accurate to say there was no way he wouldn’t know about it.

Ragnarok—this year’s most talked-about mobile game with the highest recognition rates among titles released.

Originally released as a casual game aimed at mass appeal, it boasted a deep storyline, attractive characters, and a level of freedom that could compete with any AAA title, achieving the top global sales within just a day of launch.

Given its popularity, not only did it have ads on portal sites, but you could also frequently see advertisements related to Ragnarok on buses and subways, so any Korean with a decent eyesight couldn’t possibly be unaware of it.

‘Still, it’s a game I don’t play.’

However, at the same time, it was a game that Seol Hajin, far from expressing interest, wouldn’t even spare a glance at.

The reason was simple. No matter how good the gameplay was, how excellent it was, or how much praise it received from the public, it was merely a “mobile game.”

In Seol Hajin’s view, mobile games weren’t real games. By his standards, mobile games were nothing more than playgrounds disguised as games for small children.

Because they aimed at an unspecified mass audience, they couldn’t include stimulating or polarizing elements. They had to be playable on smartphones without issue, which meant compromising on graphics and resolution. Most of the time, gameplay was so simple that one could clear it with just finger taps.

A proper game, in his opinion, was one you had to die at least a hundred times until you became skilled at the controls, one that was complex enough not to master half of its commands before clearing it, and one you needed to play for a thousand hours to finally think, “Ah, I’ve truly shed my newb skin!”

Those who played “mobile games” in his eyes were nothing but ignorant and foolish primitives.

“If they were to realize what a true game is, they would never look at such a game again.”

Yet Seol Hajin also understood well how exhausting and tough it was to enlighten the dense and simple-minded masses about what constituted a “real game.”

Just opening a history book would reveal the suffering endured by the wise men who sought to impart truth to the people of the past and guide them onto the right path.

It was similar here. To play a true game, one needed the optimal setup, had to purchase the game, and had to manage time and space to connect to it—an inconvenience that mobile games simply did not possess.

With just a few taps of their fingers, players could access the game, and with a few more taps, it would even automatically hunt for them. For modern individuals who struggled to find time to play amidst their busy lives, mobile games might be the most suitable form of entertainment.

The overwhelming convenience and simplicity distracted people from truly enjoying the game, leading them to mistakenly think that merely tapping buttons constituted entertainment. This was undoubtedly a troubling darkness lurking in modern society.

“Hey Ji-eun, you played Ragnarok too?”

“Yeah, a friend recommended it, and surprisingly, it was really fun. I lost track of time while going through the story.”

Observing Lee Ji-eun, who smiled and spoke cheerfully, Seol Hajin couldn’t help but respond somewhat brusquely.

“Is it really that fun? Honestly, I can’t tell just by watching the advertisement.”

What Seol Hajin meant was implicit in his words: “There’s no way a mobile game, akin to online gambling, could be enjoyable.” Lee Ji-eun was blissfully unaware of the superior and elitist sentiment woven into his remarks.

“Yeah, I don’t usually play games, but I found this one really enjoyable. Do you not play Ragnarok, senior?”

“Uh? Well, I’m too busy playing other games.”

“Really? If that’s the case, how about trying it out this time? If you’re interested, just contact me, okay?”

“Contact you? Why?”

In that instant, Seol Hajin’s heart sank. Weren’t girls generally not fond of guys who played games? So why was Lee Ji-eun trying to bring him into it and asking him to contact her?

Could it be that she was actually interested in him? No, that’s nonsense. They had only exchanged greetings a few times; there was no way she could be interested in him.

Then, what was this? Weren’t girls supposed to not care at all about what uninterested guys did? If that were the case, didn’t her wanting to play games together signal something else? Was that it?

“Ah... I just wanted to ask if you’d write my ID in the referral list if you signed up as a new member. I’d get 500 diamonds for free that way.”

“.....”

It was a sufficiently reasonable request that he found himself nodding before he could even think.

Well, 500 diamonds were hard to pass up.....

See you soon❤️❤️❤️

That night, Seol Hajin stumbled into his house, slightly tipsy from drinking, and lay sprawled on his bed, staring intently at his smartphone screen.

[Ragnarok]

“...Should I download this or not?”

To be honest, he had always wanted to try playing Ragnarok. The game was enjoying an unprecedented level of popularity worldwide, which only fueled his curiosity further.

Just how enjoyable could this game be that it stirred up such a commotion everywhere and was being advertised from all directions? If he claimed that he wasn’t interested after witnessing all that, it would indeed be a lie.

However, given his history of dismissing mobile games with great disdain, he had been reluctant to dive in, out of pride. It would indeed be embarrassing for a man to go back on his word not once, but twice.

Ordinarily, he would have stubbornly refused to download the game just to uphold his silly pride, but alcohol clouded his judgment at that moment.

After all, it wasn’t like he intended to fully commit to playing; he just wanted to give it a quick try. Didn’t the saying go that knowing your enemy and yourself ensures victory in every battle?

Right, I’m not selling my pride; this is more about reconnaissance to see what the enemies are up to before the war starts. Plus, I’ll be doing my junior a favor by sending them 500 diamonds...

All the stray thoughts in his mind managed to rationalize his decision, and without further hesitation, Seol Hajin clicked the ‘Install’ button.

And then—

“...Huh?”

There was no warning or indication. The moment he hit the install button, his consciousness sank into an abyss of darkness.

It was the beginning of a damn nightmare.

*

Long ago, Seol Hajin had gotten lost during an overseas trip with his parents.

This happened over a decade ago, yet he could vividly recall the experience.

Unfamiliar sights that blurred into one another, foreign strangers speaking a language he couldn’t understand, and the overwhelming despair and fear of feeling utterly alone in the world.

Fortunately, his parents, realizing he was missing, desperately searched for him and found him in less than an hour, rescuing him from a situation as a lost child.

Sadly, this time, he couldn’t expect such luck.

Because the place where Seol Hajin found himself lost was not merely another country, but an entirely different dimension.

On the first day of being here, he thought it was a dream. Or perhaps he wondered if he was being filmed for a massive hidden camera show.

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However, that suspicion was promptly discarded. No matter how advanced technology became, it was impossible to conjure fire from his fingertips or summon lightning.

Though he didn’t quite understand the nature of this world, one thing was certain: this was not Earth, but a fantastical realm where magic and otherworldly phenomena thrived.

To his misfortune, while he could communicate with others, it didn’t change his predicament. Regrettably, being a humanities student who had merely studied in 21st-century South Korea offered him little advantage in a fantasy world.

Initially, he was merely focused on adapting. He had to adjust to a drastically changed living environment overnight and adapt to a culture that was entirely different from what he had known. Most importantly, he had to accepting the fact that he was completely useless in this world.

On the bright side, having spent twelve years in school allowed him to be more useful with paperwork than the other ignorant simpletons around him. He struggled at the bottom of society, fighting desperately to survive by any means necessary.

Thus, a decade passed. After tremendous effort, he was finally able to mingle with others somewhat and, above all, secure a home right in the heart of the Imperial Capital. Such a remarkable achievement would have been impossible back in Korea.

Indeed, what is home, really? No matter where one settles and lives, that place becomes home. Over the last ten years, he became accustomed to life in this world.

Well, there were moments when he missed the modern wonders of 21st-century Korea or longed to see his parents’ faces, but...

Even that was something that time would resolve. After all, in Korea, isn’t it nearly impossible to own a home in your twenties?

He thought he might live a normal, unremarkable life until the end, perhaps finding a kind and naive woman to marry someday.

In this manner, Seol Hajin—no, Jin—was living a life that was simply peaceful compared to ten years ago.

However, one day, everything he had painstakingly built came crashing down in an instant.

Without any warning, the end arrived, and the world fell into ruin. As a bonus, the home he had worked so hard to establish disintegrated into dust.

Cruelly—

“...Huh?”

Jin found himself back to ten years ago, at the very moment he first fell into this world.

*

Jin did not die. More precisely, at the moment of death, he found himself regressing to the past, as if the world itself did not wish for his demise.

At first, he thought it was great to have a second chance at life, but it wasn’t until some time passed that he realized how miserable it was to be forced to live against his will and unable to meet death.

As soon as he regressed, Jin contemplated fleeing somewhere. However, when he learned that the end was aiming to obliterate the continent itself, he gave up on even that. He had no choice but to give up.

In other words, if he wanted to live and didn’t want to perish, fighting back was not an option but a necessity. He refused to become a mere meal for a monster once again, as had happened in his first life.

There were a total of nine regressions. And Jin’s final moments facing the end also numbered nine.

There were times when he met a pitiful end, having achieved nothing.

And the world was destroyed by the end.

There were other times when humanity united to defeat the end.

And the world fell to the second end.

There were moments when he raised new ‘heroes’ to leave hope for the future.

And the world was destroyed by the third end.

Despite trying to navigate this wretched world like a dog for nine lifetimes, seeking to avoid death, there were still limits.

Of course, it wasn’t just a reckless headlong charge into the unknown that cost him his life. After losing it a whopping nine times, he had gleaned several crucial truths.

Firstly, this world wasn’t just a different universe; it was a realm within Ragnarok.

Secondly, the end wasn’t merely a cause of the world’s destruction; it was part of the game’s scenario.

And, since the end was part of this scenario, it meant that somewhere in this world, there had to be a way to defeat it.

Because it was easy to surmise that if the creators of Ragnarok weren’t out of their minds, they would have undoubtedly included elements to overcome the end within the game’s framework.

However, separate from that, Jin felt various aspects of his being gradually wearing down as he repeated the regressions over and over again.

“I’m utterly sick of this.”

At first, he was appalled by how lightly his life seemed to flutter away like a bug, but now even that felt all too familiar. Killing someone or being killed felt too trivial now.

He was bored. How long was he supposed to keep rolling around in this hamster wheel of a cage? How long would he need to bear witness to this endlessly repeating theater?

After pouring a hundred years into it, he had only just met the third end; how much longer would it take to overcome all the ends and reach a conclusion?

And until that time, would he even be able to keep his sanity intact? How long could his weak mind endure this seemingly endless cycle of regressions?

Creak—

Was it just his imagination? He thought he heard the sound of a clock winding somewhere.

No, it couldn’t just be his imagination, as he had heard that damn sound every time he died—a total of nine times.

“Please, just leave me alone. Just let me die.”

He was exhausted. The end and everything else—it was time to simply rest. He wanted to die without a thought, to just collapse uselessly.

But against his will, the world began to regress. It started reconstructing itself back to that day ten years ago.

His consciousness drifted somewhere. And when he opened his eyes, everything had already changed.

“Damn it.”

He found himself standing in the central square of Ninea, the Imperial Capital. As one of the busiest places in the capital, it was bustling with the lively sounds and commotion of people.

Just before that despicable lizard pierced his heart, the surroundings had been engulfed in flames; now, there wasn’t a trace of that devastation to be found.

It was undeniable. He had returned once more to that very time, that very place when he first fell into this world, ten years ago.

Thus, Jin’s tenth life, after nine regressions, had begun anew. He now had the opportunity to seize a chance to change everything for the future, rising above the horrific death brought about by the end.

“...Shit, I’m seriously losing my mind.”

Of course, Jin didn’t want this even a little bit.

See you soon ❤️❤️❤️❤️