A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1453 - 984: Found You At Last!_2

Chapter 1453: Chapter 984: Found You At Last!_2

After that, Hidari Island began worshiping the Leech God in the great cavern underneath the island. Three hundred years have passed... During this time, the monster has survived by consuming humans. However, its body has gradually weakened. In a desperate search for a new host and a chance to return to its original world, the monster has resumed its activities.

Its first target was Kobayakawa Shiori, intending to devour her and make her the new mother-host. At the time, Kobune Shio tried to save her but ultimately failed. Following this, the monster birthed Shadows of several people, including Kobune Mio, sending them to kill their originals and thus replace them. Its ultimate goal was to devour everyone during the festival day, accumulating enough Strength to open the gate and return to its original world...

To stop all this, Nedai Shinpei fought with everything he had.

And this time... it’s no different.

"Failure is not an option."

Gazing at the school before him and his companions around him, Nedai Shinpei clenched his fists. Their previous plan had been to lure the monster named Botao to the school and kill it directly. However, the old hunter stayed outside and was killed by a Shadow, who in turn grabbed a gun and killed Nedai Shinpei. Before Shinpei could react, he died, only to wake up again and find he had been sent back to the afternoon.

Later, from Kobune Shio—who had also experienced Retrospection—Shinpei learned the cause of his death and adjusted his plan again. But just how much confidence there was in the plan succeeding... no one knew.

No matter what, this was a fight to the death!

Similar to before, everyone first gathered in the gymnasium to hear Nedai Shinpei’s strategy. However, what they didn’t expect was an answer from Shinpei that shocked them.

"You’re saying you can only loop one more time?"

The old hunter frowned and stared at Nedai Shinpei, who nodded in response.

"Every time I die, I cannot return to a point earlier than before. I can feel it—there is a limit to time that is chasing me. My last death occurred at around 7:55 PM. This time, the starting point is 6:40 PM. Think of it as me advancing from the limit at a certain speed, while the limit itself advances as well—albeit slower—so I’m safe for now. However, every time I die, the limit’s speed increases."

"In other words, it’s chasing after you. That explains why you return to a later point each time..."

"Exactly. If I die again, at the current rate... the starting point will likely be around 7 PM."

"What?"

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

"Isn’t that just moments ago?"

"Exactly. And if I’m killed at the same point as before—or earlier—there might not be another round at all."

"That’s... impossible..."

As shock washed over the group, a sudden voice broke the tense silence.

"I see. Thanks for the explanation; I’ve finally got it."

Accompanying the voice, Duanmu Huai strode out from behind the gymnasium stage with Mary following close behind. He coldly stared at Nedai Shinpei.

"So, you’re the weakling who plays too much, huh?"

"Who are you?!"

The sudden appearance of Duanmu Huai startled everyone. They instinctively raised their weapons, aiming at him, while the old hunter went so far as to lift his hunting rifle, pointing it at the shadow behind Duanmu Huai and pulling the trigger!

"Bang!"

The gunshot rang out, and the bullet grazed past Duanmu Huai’s body, striking the shadow behind him. Duanmu Huai glanced at it briefly before turning back.

"What’s this supposed to mean?"

"You’re not a shadow?"

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

With those words, Duanmu Huai led Mary down from the stage and approached the group, his eyes fixed on Nedai Shinpei.

"So, which one of you is going to explain to me what’s been happening on this island?"

Afterwards, both sides exchanged information, and Duanmu Huai finally figured out the whole story.

"I see..."

Letting go of Kobune Shio’s hand, Duanmu Huai narrowed his eyes.

"So, in the end, it’s just an Ancient Dominator... Hmph, a minor Ancient isn’t much to worry about."

After learning the monster’s background, Duanmu Huai immediately understood that it was merely one of the Ancient Dominators. Duanmu and Mary had dealt with similar Ancients in the past. Once, a hapless Ancient was struck by a meteor that sank it into a lake; it then used its powers to transform nearby humans into zombie-like monsters... Of course, Duanmu had ultimately eradicated that thing.

This one felt similar: one of the weaker and more unfortunate Ancients.

Well, at least from Duanmu Huai’s perspective.

"So, the Shadows will be coming to kill you next, and that Ancient will be among them, right?"

Duanmu Huai clenched his fists tightly and slammed them together.

"Then it’s simple. I’ll just kill it right here, and the problem’s solved!"

"Are you two... really sure about this?"

Seeing Duanmu Huai’s overwhelming confidence, Nedai Shinpei couldn’t help but feel concerned. He was well aware of how terrifying the monster could be. Although Shadows appeared identical to humans on the surface, their Strength, speed, and reaction times far surpassed those of humans. Duanmu Huai might be impressively strong and imposing, but against Shadows—and worse, with the opponent wielding firearms...

"Don’t worry about it. Taking care of things like this? It’s our specialty."

Duanmu Huai waved dismissively. Nedai Shinpei, a university student, was obviously inexperienced, but Duanmu Huai, forged from battles drenched in blood, could crush even an Ancient Dominator—especially one on the weaker side—with ease.

"Just to be safe, you should try not to die again. I’ve had enough of your save-load nonsense."

From Duanmu Huai’s perspective, killing Shadows wasn’t the issue—Nedai Shinpei was. Every time Shinpei died and restarted, it dragged everyone else into the loop as well. Had Shinpei not been looping, Duanmu Huai would’ve already slaughtered the creature flaunting its dominance at the festival, burned its remains, and gone home to sleep.

Then again, without the Retrospection, the people on the island would’ve been mostly dead by now.

To Duanmu Huai, such losses might be considered "inevitable casualties," but it was apparent that Nedai Shinpei didn’t share the same outlook.

Still, no matter what...

"Kill it, and it’s game over!"