The wind howled through the narrow mountain pass as Eren Thorne and Cassian Voss continued their descent from the northern plateau. Behind them lay the bodies of the demons they had just defeated, their dark blood staining the stone like ink spilled across the mountain. The sky above had grown darker as the clouds thickened, and distant thunder rolled faintly across the horizon. The journey down the mountain should have felt like a victory march. After all, they had just killed a demon powerful enough to slaughter an entire scouting party along with three more of its kin. But instead of triumph, Eren felt something else pressing against the back of his mind.
A sense that they were not alone.
Cassian noticed the change in his expression.
"You've had that look on your face for ten minutes," Cassian said as they moved down the rocky trail. "Either you're thinking about something important, or you're realizing you forgot to eat breakfast."
Eren glanced back at the cliffs behind them.
"You ever get the feeling someone's watching you?"
Cassian didn't hesitate.
"Constantly."
Eren frowned slightly.
"That's not comforting."
Cassian shrugged.
"It's part of the job."
They continued walking until the narrow trail finally widened into a small clearing halfway down the mountain. From there they could see the distant forests stretching far across the northern lands and, beyond that, the faint outline of Drakenridge's stone walls.
Eren stopped walking.
Cassian noticed immediately.
"What now?"
Eren slowly turned toward the cliffs above them.
"That feeling again."
Cassian's hand moved to his sword.
"You're serious."
Before Eren could answer, a voice echoed through the mountain pass.
"Your instincts are impressive, human."
The voice was calm.
Cold.
And far more powerful than the demon they had killed earlier.
Eren's eyes narrowed as he searched the cliffs.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Come out."
For several seconds nothing happened.
Then a tall figure stepped down from the shadowed rocks above them.
Unlike the previous demons, this one moved slowly and gracefully. Its body was taller than the others, nearly eight feet in height, and its dark armor looked ancient and ceremonial rather than crude. Long black horns curved backward from its head like the crown of some forgotten king.
But what caught Eren's attention most were its eyes.
Instead of glowing red like the others…
They burned with deep violet light.
Cassian whispered under his breath.
"…that's not good."
The demon studied them carefully before speaking again.
"You killed one of my commanders."
Eren rested his sword casually against his shoulder.
"He started it."
The demon's expression didn't change.
"You also killed three of my scouts."
Eren shrugged.
"They attacked first."
Cassian sighed.
"You're not helping."
The demon ignored Cassian completely. Its violet eyes remained fixed on Eren.
"You are unusual."
Eren smiled faintly.
"I get that a lot."
The demon stepped closer.
"Most humans die once."
Eren's smile faded slightly.
The demon continued speaking.
"You die many times."
Cassian turned toward Eren slowly.
"…what?"
Eren stared at the demon.
"How do you know that?"
The demon's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Because I have been watching you."
A cold chill ran down Eren's spine.
Watching.
The demon gestured toward the mountain above them.
"I watched you fight my commander again and again."
Eren's grip tightened around his sword.
"That's impossible."
Cassian looked between them with growing confusion.
"Can someone explain what's happening?"
The demon ignored him.
"You possess a rare curse, human."
Eren's voice grew quieter.
"…what curse?"
"The curse of repetition."
Cassian blinked.
"Repetition?"
The demon nodded slowly.
"A power that drags its bearer back through time whenever death claims them."
Eren's heart began beating faster.
The creature knew far too much.
"How long have you been watching me?" Eren asked.
The demon tilted its head thoughtfully.
"Since your thirty-second death."
Cassian stared at Eren.
"…thirty-second?"
Eren sighed.
"It's actually more than that now."
Cassian looked like he might collapse.
"You're telling me you've been dying repeatedly this entire time?"
Eren shrugged.
"Pretty much."
Cassian ran a hand through his hair.
"I knew you were strange, but this is ridiculous."
The demon laughed softly.
"Ridiculous… and dangerous."
Eren raised his sword.
"Why?"
The demon's violet eyes gleamed.
"Because your power threatens things far older than this world."
Eren frowned.
"That sounds dramatic."
The demon stopped walking a few meters away from them.
"I did not come here to kill you."
Eren raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Cassian looked relieved.
"That's good news."
The demon continued.
"I came here to warn you."
Eren didn't lower his sword.
"About what?"
The demon's expression grew serious.
"The ones who created your curse."
Eren felt a strange weight settle in his chest.
"Created?"
The demon nodded.
"Your power did not appear by accident."
Cassian blinked again.
"Wait… someone gave you that ability?"
Eren shook his head.
"I didn't ask for it."
The demon looked toward the distant horizon.
"Something ancient is awakening."
Eren crossed his arms.
"Everything seems to be awakening lately."
The demon's gaze returned to him.
"And when it does… your curse will become far more dangerous."
Eren tilted his head.
"For who?"
The demon smiled faintly.
"For everyone."
Silence settled over the mountain pass.
The wind picked up again, carrying dust and loose stones across the trail.
Finally Eren sighed.
"Well," he said, "that sounds like a future problem."
Cassian stared at him.
"You're not concerned?"
Eren shrugged.
"I'll deal with it when it happens."
The demon studied him for several seconds before laughing softly.
"Yes… you probably will."
Then the creature stepped backward into the shadows of the cliff.
"Grow stronger, human," it said.
Eren frowned.
"That's your advice?"
The demon's voice echoed faintly as it disappeared into the darkness.
"You will need it."
Moments later the mountain pass was silent again.
Cassian stared at the empty cliffside.
"…did that actually just happen?"
Eren nodded.
"Yep."
Cassian turned toward him slowly.
"So let me get this straight."
Eren waited.
"You die repeatedly, return through time, fought a demon commander over a hundred times, and now some mysterious demon lord is giving you life advice."
Eren thought for a moment.
"That sounds about right."
Cassian sighed deeply.
"I need a drink."
Eren chuckled and started walking down the trail again.
But deep inside the northern mountains, far beyond where human eyes could see, the violet-eyed demon stood before a massive stone gate covered in ancient runes.
The creature looked back toward the direction of Drakenridge.
"The human has begun," it whispered.
Behind the gate…
Something ancient stirred.