Hero Hack: Reversing Heroes and Raising Harem-Chapter 50: Zelia’s Shocking Reunion

Zelia blinked.

Her body trembled as she stood.

This room...

It wasn’t the dungeon.

It wasn’t the rusted mattress.

It was home.

Their old, tiny living room.

Everything was how she remembered it.

Then—

"Zelia."

She turned.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Zain.

He stood by the door, casual, calm, untouched.

"Zain!"

She sprinted toward him, eyes flooding.

Her legs buckled halfway, but she didn’t stop.

She threw her arms around him.

"Zain... just how much I missed you—" she sobbed into his chest.

"I thought I’d never escape... I thought I’d never see you again..."

Zain didn’t speak at first.

He gently returned the embrace.

Then he said, "Nice to meet you, Sister."

Zelia blinked.

Her head tilted up.

"Wait... what?"

Zain smiled.

But it wasn’t his smile.

It was off.

Just enough for her to feel it.

"Let me explain," he said, still smiling.

"You did escape. But only one loop."

Zelia’s heart dropped.

"What...? No. No. I killed him. I killed Scavratt. I—"

Zain raised his hand to silence her.

"I’m not Zain. Not your brother."

Zelia froze mid-step.

Her breathing turned shallow.

"...Then who—what are you?"

The smile on his lips didn’t falter.

"Call me... an ability."

Zelia’s brows pulled tight.

Her voice shook.

"A... superpower?"

The illusion nodded slowly, head tilting like a teacher humoring a child.

"You could call it that."

She clenched her fists.

"How is that a superpower? What kind of ability tortures me for days? Loops me through hell?"

"Virtual battle."

He answered it like it was obvious.

"Your subconscious has always wanted one thing, hasn’t it? To protect Zain. To stand beside him."

He took a step forward.

His voice deepened.

"So this ability was born."

"Designed to sharpen you, temper your personality and your power. A survival loop. A forge."

Zelia’s mouth parted. Her voice dropped.

"...That’s why Scavratt was weaker."

"Exactly." The illusion smiled, almost proud.

"He was scaled to your pain threshold. Not your power."

She scowled.

"I killed him."

"Please."

He rolled his eyes with Zain-like arrogance.

"If that was the real Scavratt? You’d be dead in under ten seconds."

Zelia stayed quiet.

The illusion let the words settle in.

Then added, casually:

"But you’re improving. I’ll give you that."

She looked down. Then looked back up.

"...So what now?"

The illusion’s expression changed.

Softer. But still dangerous.

"Now, you go again."

Zelia stiffened.

"No... Not again."

"Not him," the illusion said quickly.

"This time, a warzone. A battlefield. A real one."

"No safe room. No reset. Your pain will have weight. Your skills will sharpen."

"How many times?"

"Thirty loops."

Zelia’s lip quivered. Her hands trembled.

"I’m not ready."

The illusion stepped forward. He touched her shoulder.

"It’s for your little brother."

Zelia’s fear quieted.

She closed her eyes.

And whispered, "...Yeah. For Zain."

The illusion of Zain smirked.

"Then survive."

And the world shattered like glass.

---

Zelia crouched behind a collapsed stone wall.

Gunfire echoed in every direction.

Explosions lit the sky. Her arms trembled around the unfamiliar rifle.

She didn’t know how to fire.

The sound of boots. A figure charged her flank.

She screamed—too late.

The blade pierced through her gut.

She fell backward, choking. Blood soaked the cracked concrete.

Her eyes dimmed.

Death

---

Zelia moved with her squad—three other women, camouflaged and armed.

One stepped on a trap.

The wire snapped.

Boom.

The jungle lit up. Metal shrapnel carved through their ranks.

Zelia turned to run, but bullets ripped into her back.

Her body twitched on the mossy floor, eyes wide open.

Death

---

She held a spear this time. No armor. Just dirt. Sweat.

Her unit charged a fortified ruin. She followed.

Screams filled the dry air. Blades clashed. Blood splattered.

A man three times her size came barreling toward her.

She raised the spear—too slow.

He smashed her with a warhammer.

Her ribs caved in.

The world faded to dust.

Death.

---

Parachutes opened above a burning city.

Zelia fell too fast.

She forgot how to stabilize.

She hit the ground.

Everything snapped.

Death.

---

She was the one breaking others out this time.

Moving silent. Knife in hand. One hallway at a time.

She freed them.

They betrayed her.

She bled out against the cell bars she opened.

Death.

---

This was her 30th loop.

The battlefield stretched in all directions.

Thunder rolled above black skies.

Zelia stood alone, sword in one hand, arm half-limp, blood trailing down her leg. She was the last one alive.

A beast—twice the size of Scavratt—roared in front of her.

Its claws dripped. Its breath steamed.

She smiled.

Her sword dropped.

Her knees buckled.

As the beast lunged, Zelia didn’t run.

She whispered,

"I’m coming, Zain..."

The world shattered again.

---

Zelia’s eyes opened.

She wasn’t in ruins.

Not in war.

Not in pain.

She blinked at the ceiling—smooth, clean, familiar.

The scent of polished wood and subtle perfume reached her nose.

She was in the living room.

And sitting calmly across from her, one leg crossed over the other—

Zain.

Smirking.

His eyes gleamed with quiet approval.

"You’re finally up."

Zelia sat up slowly. Her body didn’t ache. Her limbs moved smoothly.

"...I’m really back?" she whispered.

Zain tilted his head. "You survived thirty loops. You tell me."

She looked down at her hands. Stronger. Steadier. Hardened by blade, bullet, fire.

A breath left her lips.

"I made it."

Zain stood, walking over. "You did more than that."

He reached out, flicking her forehead lightly.

"You grew. A lot."

Zelia smiled faintly, eyes glinting with emotion.

"I didn’t want to lose... Not when it’s for you."

Zain’s voice dropped a little. freёnovelkiss.com

"You’re not going to lose. Not anymore."

He turned, facing the hallway.

"Come on."

Zelia blinked. "Where?"

He looked back, smirking again. "You’re not done yet. That was virtual."

"Now, we test you on a more real battlefield."

Zelia stood without hesitation.

No fear.

No trembling.

Just fire.

"Then lead the way, little brother."

Zain chuckled, pleased.

"That’s more like it."

The living room shattered again, sending Zelia to her next loops.