thank you so much for the kind words, they really mean a lot to me! :) As for looping...
In the previous version I felt it was too easy to loop, so in the most recent version a new interactable was added. On stage 5 at a random point on the map will be a large black monolith-like object. It will always spawn. Before defeating the Stage 5 boss it will not allow you to use it, I think it says something like "a strong force prevents you from using it" or something like that. When you defeat the stage 5 boss however it will become usable and will take you to a special place where you need to complete something. Once that thing is complete, you will loop! It is a very long-winded answer, but I hope it helped. Have fun!