A grin spread across Isaac's face as he placed the last of his points to enhance his body further. "Perfect," he said, feeling the newfound power coursing through him.

  Isaac made his way back to the spot where the Swarm Lord awaited, excitement burning in his eyes. He was ready. This time, he would defeat the Swarm Lord and reclaim his lost experience.

  “Now where is that big ass bug,” he muttered to himself. “It’s time to run it back.”

  Isaac stood at the edge of the clearing where the Swarm Lord awaited, its massive form looming ominously in the distance. He took a deep breath, the air crackling with anticipation.

  The memory of his previous defeat lingered, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the present.

  “Hey, bitch!” Isaac shouted, his voice echoing through the clearing.

  The Swarm Lord turned its attention to Isaac, mandibles clicking in a menacing rhythm. With a roar, it lunged, its massive appendages slicing through the air.

  Isaac was ready this time. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, and quickly countered with a burst of fire magic. The flames struck the Swarm Lord's exoskeleton, leaving scorch marks but not slowing it down.

  Isaac kept his distance, using his upgraded agility to dodge the creature's relentless attacks while searching for an opening. Each time the Swarm Lord lunged, Isaac retaliated with bursts of magic, chipping away at its defenses.

  “Missed me, stupid!” Isaac gloated, defiance and rage fueling his every move. He summoned a more potent flame, channeling his enhanced attack into a concentrated burst. "Eat this!"

  The fiery blast struck the Swarm Lord squarely, causing it to stagger. Seizing the opportunity, Isaac pressed the attack, unleashing a barrage of fire missiles. The creature screeched in pain, its movements growing more erratic.

  But Isaac didn't let up. He poured everything he had into the assault, his flames burning brighter and hotter with each strike. The Swarm Lord's exoskeleton began to crack under the relentless onslaught.

  Suddenly, Isaac felt a jarring emptiness within him—he was out of mana. The flames sputtered out, leaving him vulnerable.

  The Swarm Lord, still injured but now more enraged than ever, walked out of the flames. Its eyes glowed with a terrifying fury as it rushed toward Isaac.

  Isaac dodged the first strike, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp appendages. With no mana left, he had to rely on his physical abilities. He switched to hand-to-hand combat, landing a few solid punches and kicks.

  However, it quickly became evident that his lacking combat skills would be his downfall. The Swarm Lord's blows were brutal, and Isaac struggled to keep up. He dodged another strike, but the creature's massive limb caught him in the side, sending him sprawling to the ground.

  Isaac scrambled to his feet, his breathing ragged. He knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer. He had to think fast.

  “Well, fuck, I thought this thing would at least slow down after all that!!” Isaac muttered to himself, his mind racing for a solution. The Swarm Lord lunged again, and Isaac barely managed to roll out of the way.

  Desperation fueled his movements. He needed to buy time, to find an opening, to do something—anything—that could turn the tide. But with his mana depleted and his physical strength waning, the situation seemed dire.

  “I placed stats in my strength, and I can definitely tell it helped but it doesn't mean shit if I can’t hit this thing!” Isaac shouted.

  Isaac's frustration boiled over as he dodged another ferocious strike from the Swarm Lord. The creature seemed relentless, its attacks fueled by rage and determination.

  “You know what,” Isaac muttered, catching his breath as he assessed the dire situation.

  “Fuck it, then. I’ll die and come back as many times as I need to in order to kill this thing.”

  With a grim resolve, Isaac stopped dodging and focused on endurance. He took calculated risks, landing a few solid blows but knowing he couldn't defeat the Swarm Lord on this attempt alone.

  Each time the creature struck, Isaac absorbed the pain and focused on learning from his mistakes.

  And just as he seemed to gain his footing, Isaac's foot caught on an overgrown root hidden beneath the earth. He stumbled and fell, making himself vulnerable for a split second.

  The Swarm Lord seized the opportunity, its massive appendage descending with lethal intent. Isaac braced himself for the inevitable strike, knowing he couldn't escape this time.

  Pain shot through his body as the Swarm Lord's attack landed true. Darkness encroached on Isaac's vision once more, but this time, there was a strange sense of calm amidst the pain.

  As his consciousness faded, Isaac's last thought was of the Phoenix Rebirth rune, of the hope it offered for another chance.

  **********

  [System Alert: Ability Notification]

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  [You have been killed by the Skitter Fly Swarm Lord. Phoenix Rebirth activated. Penalty: 100% Exp & +5 Skill Points Lost to the Swarm lord. Remove penalty by defeating The Swarm Lord ]

  [Respawning at Ritual Site.]

  **********

  Moments later, Isaac awoke amidst the dying embers of the bonfire. His body ached, but he felt a renewed determination burning within him.

  “Alright, you bastard, you got my Exp and my 6 skill points,” Isaac muttered with a smile, pushing himself up. “Let’s dance.”

  With the experience gained from his previous attempts and the resilience granted by the Phoenix Rebirth, Isaac prepared himself for another round.

  The Swarm Lord awaited, wounded but far from defeated. Isaac took a deep breath, his mind focused and his resolve unwavering. This time, he would not underestimate his opponent.

  As Isaac prepared to strike again, he noticed something unsettling: the Swarm Lord was beginning to molt, shedding its damaged exoskeleton to reveal fresher, stronger armor underneath. Anger surged through Isaac as he realized the creature was healing itself right before his eyes.

  “No, you don’t!” Isaac shouted, ready to charge in and disrupt the molting process. But then, a bitter realization hit him like a punch to the gut—his bonfire ritual site was burned out. Without it, he couldn't invoke the Phoenix Rebirth as his timer was still far from over.

  **********

  [System Alert: Phoenix Rebirth Cooldown]

  [Cooldown: 16 hours, 28 minutes, 24 seconds]

  **********

  Gritting his teeth in frustration, Isaac reluctantly stepped back, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He watched helplessly as the Swarm Lord continued its molting process, growing stronger with each passing moment.

  “Damn it!” Isaac muttered, kicking a loose stone in frustration. He knew what he had to do. There was no choice but to rebuild the bonfire ritual site and start the ritual anew. Only then could he have another chance to confront the Swarm Lord.

  With a heavy heart, Isaac set about gathering more wood and arranging it meticulously. Every piece had to be carefully placed, while every squirming and screaming beast had to be contained to inbew the wood with the necessary magic, and then consumed by Phoenix fire. It was a tedious process, but Isaac worked swiftly, his pride driving him forward.

  Hours passed as Isaac labored tirelessly, the bonfire gradually taking shape once more. The Swarm Lord, having completed its molting and sensing Isaac's renewed efforts, remained on guard nearby, its eyes fixed on him with predatory intent and confusion as it watched its strange prey that always seemed to come back even after death.

  Finally, as the last piece of wood was placed and the flames began to roar with renewed vigor, Isaac stepped back, panting heavily but satisfied. The bonfire ritual site was complete once more, shimmering with magical energy.

  “Alright, you son of a bitch,” Isaac growled, his voice low and filled with determination. “Round three.”

  With the bonfire now ready to support his Phoenix Rebirth, Isaac steeled himself for the impending battle. The Swarm Lord, sensing Isaac's readiness, moved in for the attack, mandibles clicking menacingly.

  Isaac braced himself, knowing that this time, he had to defeat the Swarm Lord decisively. There was no room for error. This battle would determine whether he could reclaim his lost experience and skill points, or if he would face yet another setback in his journey.

  As the Swarm Lord advanced, Isaac shifted into a defensive stance, his eyes fixed on the creature's movements. He waited for the perfect moment, then darted forward, dodging the first strike and countering with a quick jab to the Swarm Lord's exposed side. The creature recoiled, its mandibles snapping angrily.

  Isaac didn't relent. He circled the Swarm Lord, keeping his distance but ready to strike whenever an opportunity presented itself. His strategy was clear: wear down the creature, exploit its vulnerabilities, and light the bitch up when its weak.

  The battle raged on, each exchange of blows intensifying. Isaac's movements were fluid, guided by his improved agility and combat experience , even though they were limited.

  He ducked under a sweeping strike, then unleashed a barrage of fire magic that singed the Swarm Lord's exoskeleton. The creature roared in pain, staggering back momentarily.

  Seizing the advantage, Isaac pressed forward, his attacks becoming more aggressive. He aimed for weak spots, targeting joints and sensitive areas where his strikes could have maximum impact. The Swarm Lord fought back ferociously, but Isaac's determination and strength kept him in the fight.

  Minutes felt like hours as the battle wore on. Isaac's muscles burned with fatigue, but he pushed through, fueled by adrenaline and the desire to overcome. With each passing moment, he felt closer to victory, to reclaiming what was lost and proving his worth to himself.

  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of relentless combat, Isaac saw his opening. The Swarm Lord, momentarily off balance, left its underbelly exposed. With a decisive move, Isaac summoned the last of his strength and activated his razor claws, shoving his hand deep into the creature's vulnerable spot.

  The Swarm Lord screeched in agony, thrashing wildly. Isaac held on grimly, refusing to let go. With a final surge of strength, he channeled his remaining mana into his fire missile spell, igniting the Swarm Lord in a torrent of flames.

  However, once again, Isaac's triumph was short-lived. As he reveled in the apparent demise of the Swarm Lord, his elation clouded his judgment.

  With a sudden burst of vitality, it lunged forward, mandibles dripping with corrosive acid and In an instant, Isaac's head was cleanly severed from his shoulders, his body collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

  Moments later, Isaac once again awoke amidst the dying embers of the bonfire.

  Isaac stared up at the sky, the serene islands floating above, and a delicate flower petal drifting through the air. A butterfly landed gently on his nose, a brief moment of peace amidst the chaos he had just faced. Then, abruptly, his scream shattered the tranquility.

  “Oh my fucking god!” Isaac exclaimed, his voice breaking as it echoed through the garden. “I was so fucking close, no fucking—”

  Frustrated and furious, Isaac thrashed about, kicking at the ground and throwing his arms in the air. The remnants of his defeat weighed heavily on him, the realization of how close he had come to victory only adding to his anger.

  "There’s no fucking way, there’s no fucking way! Why does this shit keep happening to me?" Isaac yelled, his voice filled with a mixture of rage and despair.

  The butterfly that had fluttered away from his nose, disturbed by his outburst, though remaining nearby, flew away as Isaac's emotions raged.

  Minutes passed before he’d finally calmed down.

  The pain from his defeat fresh in his mind, Isaac sat up slowly, the memory of the Swarm Lord's lethal strike haunting him. He knew he had been careless, allowing himself to be killed because of the thrill of victory.

  Gathering his resolve once more, Isaac shot to his feet. Fueled by anger, his hair seemed to flicker and dance like a storm of flames.

  “Fuck this bonfire!” Isaac shouted, kicking the ashes to the wind. “Fuck this overgrown bug, and fuck me! I’m killing this thing now!”

  His voice echoed through the garden, laced with rage. Isaac's eyes blazed with intensity as he prepared to face the Swarm Lord one more time.