**Krrrk—shhhhh**
The sound of the double doors opening was the first thing to be heard. Although they were not particularly loud, most of those gathered outside turned toward them in unison.
The reason was that those doors provided access to Cervantes' VIP section—the one opened only for high-level clients, those with important business or skills worth their weight in gold.
Some users still lingering near the entrance had not left. They had seen that ragged Level 1 human enter. They had seen the receptionist summon him after the "Blood Moon" herself had defended him. And now they wanted to see the outcome of that human's attempt to sell something.
.....
When the doors opened, the murmurs ceased, leaving the place silent for a few seconds.
**Tck—tck—tck**
**Theck-theck-theck**
**Themp-themp-themp**
The footsteps of the three people emerging from them could now be heard.
The reason for the silence was what they saw next.
Coral was at the front.
**Tck—tck—tck**
The mermaid receptionist who had assisted the human walked with her head held high and great professional elegance, but this time there was something different in her expression: a small smile, as though she were proud of something.
Among her fellow mermaid receptionists watching from their stations, some knew her well. They had seen her enter earlier with a dull expression and slumped shoulders, as if she carried the weight of a punishment that had yet to arrive.
They knew their manager was not usually lenient with mistakes.
But now, seeing her leave the VIP section with that firm stride and barely visible smile, some felt an unexpected sense of relief. Others, however, watched with curiosity, wondering what had changed in such a short time for their colleague to look like that.
Coral did not stop to look at them. She kept walking, her back straight and her gaze fixed ahead.
**Theck-theck-theck**
Two more people followed closely behind her, one of them a very beautiful half-elf.
Shiratsuki—or, as most people knew her:
"—The Blood Moon..."
Someone whispered among the crowd.
The silence that had accompanied Coral's exit broke as soon as the others recognized her.
No introduction was necessary. Her appearance was unmistakable: white hair, red eyes, a firm bearing, and the confidence in every step that could only be earned through years of combat experience.
However, there were always newcomers to this world who did not know her, and one of them could not help asking:
"Who?"
The person who had whispered the nickname moments earlier rolled his eyes. He could not help it. He turned toward the one who had asked and looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance.
"Have you been living under a rock or something?"
The other, a young man with beast-like features and drooping ears, raised his hands defensively.
"It's just... I've only been here a short time..."
"Hmph..."
The first man snorted and crossed his arms like a senpai about to teach a junior.
"Well, the reason they call her the 'Blood Moon' is very simple. It's because when she fights..."
Before he could answer, he felt a shiver. When he turned toward the source of his unease, he saw Shiratsuki giving him a look that ordered him to shut up.
Her red eyes promised great pain—or serious consequences—if he did not.
"...!"
The man who had been about to speak abruptly closed his mouth. He lowered his gaze to the floor and stood still, as if he had suddenly forgotten what he was going to say, cursing the novice who had asked him that question.
**Theck—theck—theck**
Shiratsuki stopped looking in that direction and continued walking. Her smile returned, but it was slightly sharper now—a silent reminder to everyone present that she disliked that nickname and that it was better not to say anything else in front of her.
**Themp-themp-themp**
"I see you really don't like that nickname, Shiratsuki... I can imagine why..."
"Please, Kirito, don't ask about that now, all right?..."
She spoke without taking her eyes off the path ahead or changing her expression at the person who had made such a casual remark, walking beside him shoulder to shoulder.
That person was Kirito, a human who, because of his race, was not well regarded.
"That's the one I told you about..."
"How can he speak to her so familiarly?"
"That human is impertinent, don't you think?"
"That's true..."
The crowd, made up of various races, began whispering again. But this time, their eyes were not directed at Shiratsuki. They were directed at him.
He was no longer the same person who had entered—or, more precisely, what he was wearing was no longer the same.
He wore a black jacket that reached his waist, fitted across the shoulders without restricting his movement, with small blue details that glowed faintly under the light. Beneath it was a vest with lightweight plates that seemed to contain tiny circuits. His pants were also black and fell to a pair of explorer's boots with thick soles and metal reinforcements on the toes. On his hands were black gloves that left his fingers exposed.
The entire outfit was a mixture of functionality and style, as if he had taken the best of two eras and fused them into a single garment. It was not flashy, but it was difficult to ignore.
Yet what truly drew attention was not just his clothing.
It was the swords.
Two long, one-handed black swords, sheathed in matching scabbards, crossed in an X over his back.
Some users stared intently and shook their heads as they said:
"Two swords? What an idiot..."
"He really is a novice..."
"It's not practical at all to carry them on your back..."
"True. It's much better to carry them at your waist."
"That, among other things, is why humans are at the bottom..."
Similar comments were repeated among several of them. Others tried to use their abilities to read his status, but they could not. His level was hidden as well. It was as though the system itself refused to display it.
The murmurs mingled with looks of contempt, curiosity, and something else.
Shiratsuki could not help worrying a little about Kirito when she heard the murmurs and wondered how they might affect him, so she shifted her gaze slightly toward him. However, what she saw surprised her.
**Themp—themp—themp**
Kirito showed no negative expression at what he heard around him. Quite the opposite. There was a small smile on his lips, and his blue eyes showed only a calmness no novice would possess in his place.
It was as though Kirito were accustomed to facing situations like this, and to him it was simply another day.
Shiratsuki could not get that feeling out of her mind. Nor could she dismiss her curiosity about learning more about him and his past.
(—"Maybe then I'd understand where his great confidence comes from...")
"I'm fine, Shiratsuki... I expected this from the beginning..."
Kirito whispered with a slightly wider smile when their eyes met.
This brought her out of her thoughts. So he would not notice more of her feelings or concern, she turned her gaze forward again and, in a feigned voice of indifference, said:
"Is that so? I'm glad, then..."
Kirito kept smiling. He looked ahead again, but his lips moved without making a sound.
<—"You're a terrible liar, Shiratsuki. But thanks for worrying about me anyway.">
Shiratsuki noticed immediately. Her new ability—the one he had just bought for her—activated effortlessly. She read his words from the movement of his lips.
Upon understanding him, she felt a slight warmth in her cheeks. Almost imperceptible, but there. Her eyelids tightened faintly, as though an invisible fiber had brushed against a nerve.
She could not help herself and, after a moment, replied in the same manner.
<—"And you? Isn't it because of that new ability of yours that you can read people?">
Kirito did not answer immediately. His smile remained, but a different glint shone in his blue eyes.
<—"Perhaps...">
"Hmph..."
Shiratsuki silently snorted. But the faint blush on her cheeks remained, a reminder that the human was not as easy to decipher as he seemed.
To the people watching them, the scene was strange. The two had suddenly stopped speaking aloud. Their lips moved, but no sound came out.
Some users with beast ears or auditory implants strained their hearing, but they caught nothing. There were no words to hear—only silence and gestures no one could interpret.
**Theck—theck—theck**
**Themp—themp—themp**
Kirito and Shiratsuki advanced side by side, ignoring the murmurs around them and the eyes fixed upon them as they walked in silence.
Most of those present, seeing that there was nothing more to watch, returned to their affairs. Some dispersed. Others remained a little longer, but they were no longer watching with the same attention.
But not everyone ignored him.
After all, he was the only human in the area—and then there were his black clothes.
They reached the large exit door standing before them. The city's light streamed in, bathing the threshold in a constant glow.
**Tck—shhhhh**
Coral stopped when she reached the stairs and turned toward them. With her hands clasped in front of her and a posture that combined the formality of her profession with a relaxation she had not shown before, she gave them a small nod as she said goodbye.
—"Take good care of yourselves. Come back whenever you like."
Kirito and Shiratsuki nodded.
—"Thank you, Coral... I'm sure I'll be back..."
He said goodbye with a wave and a wink at the same time, reminding her that in public they had to act like a customer with only a few privileges, while she was the bridge to this recent secret alliance.
**Tsss—tok, tok**
**Tsss—tok, tok**
Coral smiled a little more anyway, then watched them descend the stairs and disappear into the crowd.
Kirito and Shiratsuki finished going down the stairs. Instead of continuing straight toward the city gates, they turned aside and entered one of the alleyways between the buildings of Akibahollow. The city's light filtered through at oblique angles, and the noise of the crowd grew more distant.
Kirito stopped when they reached a more open space, where the alley widened slightly. There, he turned toward Shiratsuki and raised his hand to say goodbye, his gaze fixed on the exit leading to the hunting areas.
—"I appreciate you for..."
—"W-Wait... Kirito."
Shiratsuki's voice stopped him just before he took his first step. Kirito lowered his hand and looked at her.
Her expression was different. It was neither the confidence she had shown before, nor the sharp smile, nor the firm bearing she displayed before others. There was something else in her red eyes. A small doubt, barely visible, reflected in the slight movement of her eyelids.
Kirito perceived it easily and, in a reassuring tone meant to encourage her, said:
—"You can tell me anything..."
She looked away for a moment, as if searching for the right words, before meeting his gaze again.
—"Kirito, do you mind if we talk a little longer? There's something I want to tell you. It's important..."
Kirito let out a sigh. It was not a sigh of exhaustion or annoyance. It was because he had been anticipating the subject she wanted to discuss.
—"All right... I'm listening..."
He said, nodding.
The smile that appeared on Shiratsuki's face was different from the previous ones. It was neither sharp nor provocative. It was softer, almost relieved. Her red eyes shone with a glimmer she did not usually show.
—"I wouldn't like to do it here..."
She said in a much firmer tone.
—"This isn't the right place."
Kirito looked at her uncertainly.
—"Then where do you want to go?"
—"To one of my favorite places, which I like to visit in this little city... Just follow me..."
**Tcksss**
**Theck—theck—theck**
Then, without saying anything else, she turned and began walking in the opposite direction from where they had come.
—"All right, lead the way..."
**Themp—themp—themp**
Kirito followed her without asking questions. But in his mind, his second line of thought had already reached a conclusion.
{—"Most likely, she's going to insist on that same subject."}
(—"It doesn't matter. Perhaps this outing will let us get to know each other a little better...")
{—"Even so, I have to be a little clearer when rejecting her proposal."}
(—"Yes, but with great tact...")
*****
[Restaurant: Claws and Whiskers Corner — Private VIP Room No. 7]
The only light in the room came from a large crystal lamp hanging from the gray ceiling.
The space was enormous. It could easily have accommodated twenty people, but only Kirito and Shiratsuki were there now, making the room seem even more excessive.
The walls combined dark wooden panels with metallic details in shades of red and violet, while a large screen occupied one side, displaying three-dimensional images that moved smoothly, as though floating in the air.
The table was large and elongated, designed to accommodate many diners. However, a section in the center had separated from the rest, shrinking into a smaller, more intimate surface where two people could sit facing each other without the distance imposed by its original size. It was a mechanical, functional detail that showed the place was designed to adapt to whoever used it.
(—"It's certainly extravagant...")
**Tsss—hummm**
Kirito observed his surroundings as he sat down. The chair was comfortable, upholstered in a burgundy shade that matched the décor.
**Plin—shhhh**
Across from him, Shiratsuki was already seated, her hands resting on the table.
—"Do you find the place interesting?"
She asked in a tone that mixed curiosity with slight pride.
—"Yes... —Kirito replied, nodding—. I had already imagined that you liked places like this..."
—"What?"
She asked immediately.
—"Very private ones..."
Shiratsuki nodded and, while maintaining her apparent smile, her eyes wavered as she said:
—"You're largely right. However, I also keep coming back because of the food served here. It's delicious..."
—"That remains to be seen..."
He said with some interest.
—"I'm sure you'll like it..."
Shiratsuki said it without a trace of doubt, as if she already knew the outcome.
Kirito looked at her with an amused smile.
—"You know, Shiratsuki... I'm a little demanding when it comes to food, and I'm not going to simply indulge you just because this is a date."
—"..."
Shiratsuki stared at him challengingly until she heard the last word.
—"Who said this was a date?! Did you hit your head, Kirito? Or what?!"
Shiratsuki raised her voice slightly, her face faintly flushed.
Kirito remained unfazed and, putting on an innocent expression, said simply:
—"Isn't it, Shiratsuki?"
**Bam!**
—"Of course not!"
She replied while striking the table and adopting a sharper expression.
**Tck—hummm**
In response, as if he had not noticed her embarrassment and anger, he placed one hand on his chin and looked upward instead of at her.
—"How strange. I thought this was a business date you proposed, since it allows us to be alone without Marina interfering as a rival..."
—"What?! I thought you meant..."
Shiratsuki froze when she heard him.
As if nothing had happened, he continued:
—"What did you think I meant when I said this was a date, Shiratsuki?"
Shiratsuki lowered her head, hiding her gaze behind her hair.
—"Nothing. I didn't think anything..."
**Plap**
Kirito put on an expression as though he completely understood, striking his left hand with his right.
—"Don't tell me you thought I meant a romantic date? We only met today. I don't find that very realistic..."
**Krrrk—shhhh**
Kirito crossed his arms as if conflicted.
**Tsss—fzzz**
Shiratsuki stood from her chair and, half furious and half embarrassed, grabbed Kirito by the collar of his jacket with both hands.
—"Shut up, Kirito!... This isn't a business date or a romantic date either! Do you understand?! This is only...!"
But before she could finish, she met his eyes and his mocking smile, and understood: he had been teasing her.
—"You're making fun of me, aren't you, Kirito?"
**Krrrk—tsss**
She tightened her grip on his clothes.
—"Ha, ha, ha... Just a little."
Unable to hold back any longer, he raised both arms, hands at his sides in surrender.
—"You call that a little?"
Kirito laughed a little more before speaking.
—"Ha, ha... All right, all right. You're completely right, Shiratsuki. I apologize."
—"Haaah... Why do I feel this won't be the last time you do something like this to me?"
**Plin—shhhh**
She said with a sigh as she reluctantly released him, her cheeks slightly flushed. Then she continued:
—"Have your friends never told you that your jokes go too far?"
—"..."
At that moment, when the words came out without any ill intent, Shiratsuki felt and saw Kirito stop laughing. In its place, he wore a smile she would have described as difficult to interpret.
—"..."
—"..."
The atmosphere in the room felt different from a few seconds earlier. Wanting to escape the awkwardness, Shiratsuki said:
—"Kirito, I didn't mean to..."
—"I had them..."
—"...!"
He interrupted her and continued with a melancholy smile:
—"But they... all of them... are gone now..."
—"You mean?"
He nodded slowly, as though it were difficult for him to do so.
—"They're dead... And I'm the only one left in this life... and in this world..."
He could no longer maintain his smile as he looked at both his open hands on the table before him.
—"I'm sorry, Kirito... I'm sorry for your losses..."
—"No, I didn't lose them, Shiratsuki..."
**Trrrggg—frzrr**
Kirito interrupted her again and fixed his gaze on her, clenching both hands into fists.
—"They were taken from me without hesitation..."
—"I-I didn't know..."
(—"Is this the same Kirito who was laughing at a joke a few seconds ago?")
Despite being far higher in level than him, Shiratsuki felt somewhat inferior for some reason when she saw his sharp blue eyes, which conveyed a coldness that chilled both bone and atmosphere.
{—"I'm acting out of line."}
His second line of thought, seeing Shiratsuki's reaction, brought the first back to reason.
(—"That's true... What happened to me?")
Kirito lowered his head apologetically.
—"I'm sorry, Shiratsuki... For my reaction. And I understand that you didn't know..."
Shiratsuki watched in real time as the atmosphere surrounding Kirito, his gaze, and his bearing returned to their previous relaxed state. She could tell that his apology was sincere.
—"No, it's all right. I touched on a very sensitive subject for you."
She shook her head, but thought to herself:
(—"It was like turning a switch on and off... First warm light, then cold darkness, and finally warm light again...")
—"Very true, Shiratsuki. I'm sure you have sensitive subjects of your own."
Kirito nodded in agreement.
—"I can't deny it. But let's not talk about it anymore, all right? Why don't we look at the menu and order our food instead, Kirito?"
She offered a bitter smile as she suggested a pause.
—"I agree... In any case, sooner or later we'll get to know each other better as we interact... Shiratsuki..."
—"...Yes, I suppose we will..."
Shiratsuki looked at him for a moment, then her expression softened.
(—"That means you're like me...")
She thought for a brief moment.
She tapped the table at two points: first on the right, then on the left. A holographic menu appeared before her, floating in the air with options that moved slowly.
—"..."
She was about to tell him to do the same, but realized he had already done it. Feeling his gaze, Kirito asked:
—"What?"
—"I see you're quick," she said, trying to restore the lighthearted mood. "You didn't even give me time to advise you."
Shiratsuki shook her head and added:
—"I feel like you're being a little unfair."
He answered without looking up from the menu.
—"It's not what it seems. We all have our strengths and weaknesses..."
Shiratsuki did not press the matter. Instead, she focused on the menu.
She chose Claw-Style Glazed Pork, a generous portion of pork covered in a dark, glossy sauce, accompanied by fluffy rice and sautéed vegetables. For dessert, she ordered Vanilla and Red Berry Ice Cream, along with a Cold Honey and Citrus Drink.
Kirito, for his part, chose a Spicy Wild Herb Soup with freshly baked bread and rice, as well as a portion of Spice-Grilled Pork similar to hers. To finish, he ordered a Chocolate Cake with a Vanilla Center.
Once the orders were confirmed, Shiratsuki looked at him with one eyebrow raised.
—"You order sweets too?"
—"And why does that surprise you?" he asked, his tone bordering on amusement.
—"A little," she admitted. "But the spicy food caught my attention. And you ordered it extra hot."
—"I love it. Besides..." Kirito tilted his head. "I'm surprised that you, being half-elf, order meat."
Shiratsuki rolled her eyes.
—"Where did you get the idea that we don't eat meat? Is it from those stories where people think we're herbivores?"
—"There's a world like that, isn't there?"
She looked thoughtful, then nodded.
—"If I remember correctly, there is a world like that."
Kirito smiled as he raised an eyebrow.
—"Wow. Sounds interesting."
Then, with a mischievous smile, he added:
—"See? I was right. So that's half a point for me."
Shiratsuki rolled her eyes again and sighed.
—"Now I know you a little better. A human who loves spicy food as much as sweets," she said.
—"And I know you a little better too," he replied. "I see your tastes aren't so mild... A carnivorous half-elf."
—"Ha, ha, ha."
—"Ha, ha, ha."
They both laughed at the same time, and little by little the atmosphere improved.
However, as their laughter gradually faded, it gave way to a comfortable silence.
**Plin—hummm**
It was then that he leaned slightly forward without completely erasing his smile and lowered his voice.
—"Forgive my honesty, Shiratsuki, but..."
The following words caught her by surprise.
—"I don't think you brought me here just to eat with me. Is there something you want to tell me?"
She let out a sigh.
—"Haaah, Kirito... Couldn't you be a little more tactful?"
—"Well, I've noticed that you've wanted to bring it up ever since we left the auction house... So I decided to make it easier for you by saying it myself."
She opened her eyes slightly upon realizing how perceptive he was.
(—"I thought it hadn't been noticeable.")
She thought for a moment, seeing that the person before her was more than he appeared to be on the surface.
—"I surrender to that... Yes, it's true. I wanted to talk to you... I can already imagine what you think I'm going to ask, but I'll ask it anyway."
—"Yes..."
He nodded, giving her the floor.
Shiratsuki looked him directly in the eyes with a very serious expression.
—"Why don't you want to intertwine your virtual soul with this world?" she asked. "And my second question is: What do you want to do in this world?"
—"Because I've thought the decision through."
Kirito raised his gloved hand and closed it into a fist.
—"To answer your first question... What good would it do me to divide my power into three just to have one more chance at life?"
He tightened his fist.
**Grrrrg**
—"I'd rather have only one."
Shiratsuki fell silent.
This was not the first time they had discussed the subject. Marina and Coral had warned him about it before they left: that he should divide it at least in two, that he should not be reckless. But he had refused.
—"I've always had only one life," he said, lowering his fist. "In every world I've been to. In every battle I've fought."
He raised his gaze toward her and, with the expression of someone who was not joking, said:
—"And one has always been enough."
Shiratsuki looked at him. Her red eyes searched his for some sign of doubt. They found none.
—"You're crazy."
—"Certainly."
—"A reckless madman."
—"That too."
—"And you're going anyway."
—"Yes."
Shiratsuki shook her head, but did not let the matter go.
—"At least... haven't you thought about finding a companion?"
—"No."
—"You won't even try?"
—"There are things I have to resolve alone and things I have to hide... I need more than teammates, and not to mention that it would be more complicated for me since I'm..."
—"Human... I understand..."
Kirito nodded when he saw that she was following the conversation. However, he added:
—"That hasn't stopped you from being alone, has it? Shiratsuki... Blood Moon..."
Rather than being offended by the mention of her nickname, Shiratsuki was simply surprised and opened her eyes wide.
—"How... how did you know?"
—"That you fight alone?"
—"Yes... You just arrived..."
—"It's not that complicated..."
Shiratsuki stared at him without blinking, waiting for him to continue explaining.
—"The first time I saw you, I thought you were human like me..."
Kirito spoke calmly without looking away from her. His blue eyes remained fixed on her red ones, but there was no judgment in them.
—"But when I realized you were half-elf, something clicked. Your appearance isn't that of someone who has had an easy life..."
Shiratsuki said nothing. Her pupils began to slowly dilate.
—"The second time was when you defended me."
Shiratsuki blinked, surprised by that detail.
—"You didn't know me. You didn't even know whether I was worth defending. But you protected me when others looked down on me. You did it without expecting anything in return. Someone who hasn't gone through the same thing wouldn't do that."
Shiratsuki's eyes widened a little more.
—"The third time was when we talked about marriages between humans and other species. It wasn't just that you became sad. It was that you hid it. As if you were accustomed to concealing what you felt so no one could use it against you."
Kirito paused briefly.
—"And then there's your nickname."
Kirito lowered his voice slightly but did not look away.
—"'Blood Moon.' That isn't a name earned by someone who lives in peace. It's a name earned by someone who has had to spill blood. A lot of it... And not only other people's... Your own as well."
Shiratsuki felt each word strike her chest. These were not vague assumptions. They were conclusions drawn from details she did not even remember revealing.
—"I may be wrong about the details," Kirito continued, "but the result is the same. It wasn't easy for you to begin in this world. The racism, the loneliness, the people who approached you only out of self-interest or stayed away out of fear. All of that led you to be alone. And to protect yourself from others."
He kept looking at her for another moment.
—"I don't know everything that happened. But I know enough."
Shiratsuki lowered her head. Her white hair fell over her face, hiding her eyes. She did not want him to see what she was feeling at that moment.
She could only nod, agreeing with all of Kirito's conclusions.
—"I see..." he murmured, his voice barely audible. "Thank you for confirming my suspicions... Shiratsuki... Haaah..."
Kirito sighed before saying something he knew all too well.
—"I understand what loneliness is," he said in a more serious tone. "And I wouldn't mind continuing without a companion. I've done it before. I can do it again... Though it truly is bitter..."
**Bam!**
A sharp blow echoed across the table, stopping him.
**Krrrk—TSSS**
Shiratsuki had struck the surface with her fist. Her hand was trembling.
When she raised her head, her red eyes shone with a mixture of fury and restrained tears. Her teeth were clenched, and her lips trembled.
—"You say this isn't complicated?" Her voice came out broken but sharp. "You practically analyzed me. No one has ever seen me in that state. No one!"
Kirito blinked, surprised. He had not expected that reaction.
—"I didn't mean to offend you..."
—"Shut up!"
**Tsss—tck**
Shiratsuki rose slightly from her chair, placing both hands on the table.
Her white hair fell over her face, but her eyes remained fixed on him.
—"Just because you saw me today, you think you understand me?! Do you think you can summarize all my damn years of loneliness just by saying, 'I understand'?!"
**Baaam!**
Another blow. This time, harder. The table vibrated.
**Diiinggg**
**Fzzz—Zzzap**
And then, on the surface, a holographic message appeared.
Red letters flashed before them.
["NOTICE: This item is protected by damage insurance. Please avoid striking the surface. This is your first and final warning. Thank you for your understanding."]
Shiratsuki stared at the message. Her breathing was ragged. Then, as if coming back to her senses, she realized what she had done. She looked at the table, then at her hands, and finally at Kirito.
Her cheeks flushed red. It was not the playful blush of embarrassment from earlier. It was something more vulnerable. More human.
The sharp woman he had met only a few hours ago had crumbled for a moment, and what remained was someone who clearly was not used to showing herself like this.
—"...!"
Kirito was stunned.
She was not the same Shiratsuki who had been joking with him minutes earlier, nor was she the Blood moon everyone feared. She was someone who reminded him of another person who had once been very important to him.
(—"Asuna...")
{—"I can't deny the resemblance."}
His second train of thought agreed, since she was a girl who appeared to be very strong emotionally and physically, but was actually very sentimental and fragile deep inside.
—"I... I'm sorry," Shiratsuki murmured, lowering her head again. "I don't know what came over me..."
**Tsss—krrrk**
Her hands clenched into fists on the table, but this time she did not hit anything.
Kirito calmly moved both hands.
—"No, don't worry..."
—"..."
She did not raise her head, but he continued.
—"Let's just say the same thing happened to me recently. So... we're even... Ha ha..."
Shiratsuki remained still for a moment. Then, a small sound escaped her lips. Almost imperceptibly.
—"Heh, heh..."
**Plin**
A brief, muffled laugh that she tried to hide behind a fist.
—"It's true..." she murmured.
And although she still did not raise her head, Kirito could see her shoulders relax slightly, even though she continued looking at him from the side.
—"I'd like to be your partner."
—"..."
Kirito opened his eyes slightly. He was about to open his mouth to respond when she stopped him by shaking her head.
—"But I already know what you'll say. That you'll refuse because you feel you'd stop growing. Or that you'd be indebted to me..."
Her tone was somewhat timid, but firm.
—"I'm at a level far above yours. You wouldn't feel the need to improve."
Kirito returned her words with a sincere, grateful smile. Seeing that she had fallen silent, he said:
—"I truly appreciate your willingness. And although I won't accept your generous offer right now... I promise you from this day forward that, once I become strong enough, you will be my partner."
—"...!"
This time, she was the one who opened her eyes wide.
—"Really?!"
—"Yes. But only when we're equals. True partners are those who help each other without weakening the other in the process. Even if our strengths are very different..."
**Ssstt**
With that, he raised his fist toward her.
—"I, Kirigaya Kazuto, promise you that it will be so..."
—"..."
She stared at his fist, surprised that he had used his other name—the one he had chosen for the outside world.
Seeing that she did not react to his raised fist, Kirito said:
—"Fist-bump it. It's a way of making a promise and showing that you trust my words..."
**Tck—plin**
Somewhat unsure, she simply bumped her fist against his with a little shyness.
**Fztt**
Then, returning to her usual self, she put on an affected expression and calmly sat back down in her seat.
—"And as for..."
She tried to say something, but he was the one who interrupted her.
—"And regarding your second question... what do I plan to do in this world?"
He placed a finger against his lips as he said:
—"It's a secret..."
But before she could become annoyed, he added:
—"I have a general idea of where I want to go in this world. And thanks to what I've been told, I feel it's worth staying here a little longer."
She understood, while at the same time not fully understanding.
—"Do you want to reach the end of this world? Do you want to get there? To prove that you're the strongest?"
She asked again.
Kirito shook his head.
—"No. That isn't my plan. My plan is something else. I need what that ending has to offer. And perhaps it will help me achieve my objective, or at least set me on the right path toward it."
—"..."
She felt that what he was saying lay beyond anything she could imagine. After all, she could not perform an analysis as complicated as his when it came to understanding a new person. But she felt that, somehow, something connected them.
She asked again:
—"But in the end... do you want to become strong?"
Kirito nodded.
—"I want to become strong... Very strong. Beyond what this world can offer me."
—"...!"
This affected her more than she had expected, and she did not know why she wanted to keep pressing for more information.
—"Even if what you say comes true, why? What motivates you?"
Kirito was not offended by her insistence on learning more about him and his reasons. He put on an inscrutable expression and said in a low, sad voice as he looked away:
—"I'm sorry, Shiratsuki, but I can't tell you right now. It's something... more complicated than I can explain..."
—"I... I understand. But at least..."
**Krrrk—shhhh**
Just as she was about to ask more, the door to the private room opened.
**Tsss—tck—tck**
**Tsss—tck—tck**
Two waitresses entered with elegant steps. They wore maid-style uniforms, with white aprons over dark skirts and fitted blouses that left little to the imagination.
But what caught Kirito's attention was not their figures, but their species.
One was a dogfolk woman. The other was catfolk.
Their ears protruded from their hair, and their tails swayed behind them with a rhythm of their own, as if they possessed independent lives. Aside from that, their bodies appeared completely human.
The dogfolk woman had dark brown hair gathered into a braid that fell over her shoulder.
The catfolk woman had golden-yellow hair, also braided, with loose strands framing her face. Her eyes were sharp and feline, shifting naturally between cute and sexy in an unsettling way.
—"..."
Kirito stared at them for a moment longer than necessary.
But not only at them.
**Fzzz—hummm-hummm**
**Fzzz—hummm-hummm**
In front of the waitresses, floating a few centimeters above the floor, were two service carts without wheels.
Instead, beneath each cart, a faint bluish glow flickered at regular intervals, as if a magnetic field were supporting and guiding them at the same time.
Kirito narrowed his eyes.
(—"How does that work?")
His second train of thought was already at work.
{—"Magnetic levitation. Probably a controlled-repulsion system. Low power consumption, silent, efficient. If it can be applied to a cart, it can be applied to other things."}
**Tsss—tck—tck**
**Tsss—tck—tck**
Kirito did not take his eyes off the carts as the waitresses guided them toward the table. The bluish glow pulsed with a hypnotic rhythm, and for a moment he forgot about the ears, the tails, and the racial tension hanging in the air.
He saw only the mechanism. The possibilities.
That was enough for the waitresses to notice his gaze.
Their expressions tensed. Their tails began to twitch more forcefully, and the fur on their ears bristled slightly. Their discomfort was obvious, almost animalistic—as if being stared at by a human disgusted them.
Of course, Kirito was not looking at them. Or at least, not only at them. The floating carts were so close to their bodies that, from the outside, anyone would have thought he was studying them intently. And that was exactly what the waitresses believed.
**Pap-tss**
Even so, it was their job. They forced smiles and began placing the dishes on the table.
**Platsg**
The dogfolk woman, the shyer of the two, kept her eyes lowered as she arranged the dishes. Her hands, however, were steady. They did not tremble. Despite her shyness, there was a confidence in her movements that revealed her experience.
But Kirito was not the one she feared at that moment.
It was Shiratsuki.
Ever since they had entered, the half-elf had not taken her eyes off them. Her expression was not friendly. She looked at the dogfolk waitress, then at the catfolk waitress, then at Kirito, and her face hardened a little more with each passing second.
The catfolk waitress noticed.
**Plassp**
She finished placing the last dish and, without taking her eyes off Shiratsuki, said:
—"Stop looking at us like that, Miss Shiratsuki."
Her tone was firm, but not aggressive. Professional.
—"Mostly my companion. You're making her nervous."
Shiratsuki raised an eyebrow.
—"That applies to me as well," the catgirl continued without backing down. "With all due respect, don't forget that we noticed you struck the restaurant's property."
Shiratsuki recoiled slightly. Only slightly. Her cheeks took on a faint blush, but her gaze remained firm, as if she did not care.
—"I apologize for what happened," she said.
The catfolk waitress finished reprimanding Shiratsuki. Then she turned her gaze toward Kirito and addressed him in the same tone:
—"And that applies to you as well. I didn't like the way you looked at us when you entered."
Kirito did not flinch. Calmly, he replied:
—"I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. It's true that I initially looked at you because of your species. But most of my attention was on the cart you brought. The technology caught my interest."
He paused briefly without taking his eyes off her.
—"Although I also looked at you because you reminded me of someone from my past. If that offended you, I'm sorry. I'm new to this world, and I understand the image humans have left you with."
**Krrrk—plin**
Both waitresses' ears perked up. Their bodies tensed for an instant. The catgirl opened her eyes in surprise, then lowered her head.
—"We're sorry as well. We misunderstood."
Kirito dismissed the matter with a slight wave of his hand.
—"Don't worry. But if you truly mean that, and are willing to listen just as I am... I'd like to say something to one of you. In private."
—"..."
—"..."
Neither of them approached.
The two waitresses murmured to each other, their ears tense and their tails rigid. Finally, the dogfolk woman stepped forward. She walked as if every step were difficult. She stopped in front of him, still holding the tray.
Kirito could only give a bitter smile. He understood that speaking to them just once would not change their image of humans.
Even so, he did not dwell on it for long.
He gestured for the dogfolk waitress to bring her ear closer. He wanted to whisper it to her.
The catfolk waitress, watching from a step behind, immediately tensed. Her ears flattened backward and her tail bristled. She shook her head.
—"That won't be necessary."
The dogfolk waitress, who was already nearby, nodded as well.
—"There's no need to go that far."
Kirito blinked, confused. Before he could respond, the catfolk waitress made a gesture with her hand.
**Ding**
A holographic screen appeared in front of her, floating in the air.
**Ssstt**
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it to Kirito.
—"Write whatever you want to tell her. Privately. No need for so much physical closeness."
Kirito caught the screen in midair. Then, glancing to the side, he saw Shiratsuki.
—"Psst... Heh, heh."
She was laughing. Covering her mouth with one hand, but laughing nonetheless. At the same time, she shook her head.
She moved her lips without making a sound.
<—"For them, getting close to someone's ears is a very intimate act. Doing it like that is even worse.">
Kirito understood.
(—"...It's an intimate act.")
He said nothing. He simply took a deep breath, ignoring Shiratsuki's restrained laughter, and began writing on the holographic screen. His fingers moved at surprising speed, typing without hesitation.
When he finished, he handed the screen to the waitress.
The dog-woman received it suspiciously. She read the message. Then her ears rose slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.
—All right —she said in a calmer tone than before—. We agree to what you're asking. No problem. As long as you fulfill what you promise.
Kirito nodded.
—"I will..."
Both waitresses bowed briefly.
—"Enjoy your meal."
They took the floating carts and left. The door closed behind them with a soft whisper.
Shiratsuki looked at him, one eyebrow raised.
—"What did you write?"
Kirito did not answer immediately. He only smiled.
—"That, Miss Shiratsuki... is a secret..."
Shiratsuki heard the word "secret" and realized he was getting revenge for her earlier laughter. She rolled her eyes.
—"If you don't want to tell me, then don't."
Kirito smiled but said nothing more.
Then they focused on the food. The dishes were delicious. Almost simultaneously, without having rehearsed it, they both placed their hands together and said:
—"Itadakimasu."
—"Itadakimasu."
Kirito noticed it—the intonation in her voice, the natural way she said it. It was not imitation.
—"You also seem to have Japanese ancestry," he commented.
Shiratsuki did not deny it. She only smiled and continued eating.
Dinner passed amid light conversation. Kirito explained more or less what ingredients were in the dishes they tried. He guessed several correctly and got others wrong, but only because of the names they had in this world. The flavors and textures were the same. She learned that he was a cook and made him promise that he would cook for her someday.
They got to know each other a little better. They avoided deep subjects. They talked about food, worlds, and small things. Nothing painful.
When they finished, Shiratsuki asked for the bill. But the waitresses told her it had already been paid. In full.
She looked at Kirito.
—"Was it you?"
—"Yes...."
—"Was that your secret? Paying the bill for both of us?"
Kirito did not completely deny it. He only shrugged with a smile.
*****
They left the restaurant. The people's gazes settled on them once again.
They said goodbye. She did so in a way that caught his attention.
Wings sprouted from her back. Red. Blood-colored. Like a fairy's wings, but with an imposing hue. They suited her. They gave her an enhancement she had not possessed before.
Kirito watched her for a moment as she rose into the air.
—"It won't take me long to catch up with you, Shiratsuki," he said.
Shiratsuki looked at him from the air with a sharp smile.
—"We'll see."
**Sssszzz**
—"And you will..."
Then she disappeared into Akibahollow's sky.
Kirito was left alone.
Then, in his mind, his second line of thought was already at work.
{—"Enough words. It's time to get to work while I wait for my new body to be completed."}
(—"That's true. Nothing is better than action and tangible results...")
**Tckk-tckk-tcckss**
He began walking toward one of the nearby hunting grounds to start increasing his strength in this world.
Kirito continued ignoring all the different gazes of the other races.
His eyes remained fixed ahead, on the road stretching toward the city gates. He did not care what they said or thought. He had already heard enough.
But among all those gazes, one did not turn away.
Distant. Far away. Almost imperceptible among the crowd.
A sharp gaze. Full of hatred and resentment. A gaze that followed him precisely as he walked away, recording every detail of his figure.
*****
[Crimson-Horned Rabbit Field]
**TFzzz, tfzzz—shhhh**
Half an hour of walking was enough, thanks to the 3D map he had bought from Marina at the auction house.
**Plin—hummm**
Kirito stopped atop a tall hill and surveyed the place he had chosen. It was neither the closest location to the city nor the most popular among beginners, because it was one of the last places people visited due to its low rewards and high risk. It was not worth going there unless necessary or requested.
(—"What a strange combination... And strange...")
{—"This world is very different from the ones I've been to, and it has its own rules."}
Kirito thought to himself as he observed the place he had reached.
The landscape was a strange mixture of earth and metal. Grass grew in scattered clumps, glowing with a faint green radiance beneath the artificial light of the sky. Holes and burrows were scattered everywhere, some with metallic edges, others simply dark openings in the ground.
It was a rabbit field. But these rabbits were not made of flesh and blood.
They were all metallic.
Their bodies consisted of dark-gray steel plates and visible joints that moved with unsettling fluidity. They had no fur. Their eye sockets were red sensors that shone fiercely, like tiny burning embers. Their ears moved constantly, picking up sounds he could not hear. Their hind legs were thick and powerful, with metal claws that dug into the ground whenever they jumped.
And on their foreheads was a horn.
Crystalline. Red. The same color as their eyes. It was not emitting light yet, but Kirito knew what it meant. He had read about it in the system. When it lit up, it would be the prelude to an attack.
There were many rabbits, but they were separated from one another by certain distances. Some remained motionless, their red sensors blinking slowly.
**Tck—tck**
**Tck—tck**
**Tck—tck**
A few moved in circles, as if patrolling.
**Fzzz—tckk**
**Fzzz—tckk**
Others were eating.
**Shhhh—zzzap**
**Shhhh—zzzap**
However, they were not nibbling on the grass like ordinary animals. Thin, nearly invisible filaments extended from their metallic snouts toward the ground, connecting to the grass stems.
**Krrrk—plizzzz**
Wherever they touched, the grass slowly began to fade, as if being consumed from within.
**Zzzapz**
But it was not simple decomposition. Along the filaments, small pulses of bluish light traveled through the connection, moving up and down as though carrying information. Data. Energy. Something.
The sight was strange to behold.
Kirito narrowed his eyes.
(—"They're gathering or consuming something.")
His second line of thought was already working.
{—"Conductive filaments. Direct data extraction."}
(—"That's how they obtain information... And abilities and techniques...")
{—"Whatever lies beneath is the source of all that knowledge."}
**Trppmm**
Kirito repeatedly placed one hand on his chin as he thought deeply about everything it implied.
He did not take his eyes off the rabbits as they continued extracting. The grass slowly faded beneath their connections, leaving patches of bare earth.
Then he decided to take something from his inventory to test it.
**Plin—shhhs**
The device appeared in his palm. It was small, about the size of a large coin, with a dark metallic surface and a translucent core that emitted a faint bluish glow. He had bought it at the market before going to Cervantes.
———
[MECHANICAL BEAST EVALUATOR]
Rarity: Trivial (Gray)
Mastery: Fragmented (12%)
Utility: Support (Category E)
———
Kirito held it for a moment, examining it. Then he brought it to his right ear.
**Fzzz—click**
The device attached itself automatically. No pressure or adjustment was necessary. As if it knew where it belonged, it adhered behind his ear and blended into his skin, disappearing from sight. Kirito only felt a slight tingling, as though a cold fiber had connected to his nervous system.
And then he saw it.
Before his eyes, floating in the air like a projection invisible to everyone else, appeared information about the nearest beasts.
---
[CRIMSON-HORNED RABBIT]
Type: Mechanical Beast
Level: 10
Rarity: Standard (Green)
Description: A small metallic beast. Its crystalline red horn fires energy beams. It has powerful hind legs and sharp claws. Hunts in groups.
Behavior: Attacks in groups when threatened. Its horn illuminates before firing.
Weak Points: Horn (weapon and weak point). Joints vulnerable to precise attacks.
Loot: Crimson horn.
---
They did not appear dangerous at first glance.
But Kirito knew he should not underestimate them.
They were mechanical beasts.
And he had come here for a reason, even if they surely would not provide much experience for leveling up.
(—"I'll change something that will be very useful to me...")
Before moving, he wanted to adjust one more thing.
With a new command thought, he summoned the device's configuration menu.
**Ding**
A translucent screen appeared before his eyes, visible only to him.
Three options blinked on it:
---
[Analysis Mode:]
· Description (current)
· Semi X-Ray
· Full X-Ray
---
**Tick—shhhh**
Kirito touched the second option with one finger.
**Ding**
The system responded immediately.
[Warning: Both modes cannot remain active simultaneously. Activating Semi X-Ray will remove access to the system's detailed descriptions and combat advice regarding weak points.]
[Do you wish to continue?]
[Yes/No]
—"I don't care..."
Kirito did not hesitate and touched the window.
[Yes]
**Tick—shhhh**
[Semi X-Ray Mode activated.]
The rabbits' appearance changed instantly.
He could no longer see names or classifications floating above them. Now their metallic bodies became translucent before his eyes. He could see the exterior, but also the interior: the circuits, joints, and gears moving with precision. More importantly, he could see the source of their energy.
In each rabbit's chest, a small red sphere pulsed slowly.
The heart.
From it, energy lines extended toward the hind legs, where small crystals embedded in the soles generated the charge that powered the entire system.
Kirito smiled.
(—"There it is. The source.")
{—"If we can extract the heart intact, I might be able to replicate it. Or improve it."}
Kirito nodded confidently.
(—"Certainly. But first I need to check my own status.")
With a thought, he summoned his status window. The information appeared before his eyes, floating in the air.
———
[Status]
Name: Kirito
Race: Human (standard, no registered modifications)
Rank: Apprentice
Level: 31
Title: [The First of Many]
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 105
Speed: 155
Endurance: 75
Agility: 75
Concentration: 65
Perception: 75
Intelligence: 65
Willpower: 35
Synchronization: 35
[SKILLS:]
Lip Reading: EX (Gold/Black) Perfect (200%)
Additional Effect: Perception of Intentions (Minor) — Active
Material Forging: EX (Gold/Black) Perfect (200%)
[CURRENT EQUIPMENT:]
★Jacket
· Name: Night Shadow
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Slots: 2
★Vest
· Name: Crowhide
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Slots: 2
★Pants
· Name: Silent Step
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Slots: 2
★Boots
· Name: Wandering Darkness
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Slots: 2
★Gloves
· Name: Stalker
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Slots: 2
[WEAPONS]
★Twin Sword — Older Sister
· Name: Twilight Twin — Older Sister
· Rarity: Rare (Purple)
· Slots: 4
· Weight: 4.1 kg
· Attack Power: 56 (+10%)
· Damage: 50–64 (+10%)
· Durability: 30
· Bonus Speed: +6%
· Description: The elder of the twins. Her blade was born heavier, with a thicker edge. Her strikes are slower, but every impact leaves a deep mark. She has always felt that she must be the strong one—the one who opens the way and bears the weight of the front line. Though her body is heavier, her pride is greater. She does not envy her younger sister; she protects her. She knows that without the other's speed, her strength would be incomplete.
★Twin Sword — Younger Sister
· Name: Twilight Twin — Younger Sister
· Rarity: Rare (Purple)
· Slots: 4
· Weight: 2.6 kg
· Attack Power: 42 (+5%)
· Damage: 36–48 (+5%)
· Durability: 45
· Bonus Speed: +12%
· Description: The younger of the twins. Her blade is thinner and lighter, but her temper is denser. She was not forged to attack first, but to endure, block, and cover the openings her sister creates. Some say she envies the elder's brute strength, but she never admits it. She knows her role is not to be the strongest, but the hardest to bring down. And in that, she is the best.
★Throwing Knives "Shadow Edge"
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Quantity: 5
· Slots: 1
★Throwing Pins "Silent Point"
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Quantity: 10
· Slots: 1
[SUPPORT]
★Mechanical Beast Evaluator
· Rarity: Trivial (Gray)
· Slots: 0
· Description: A basic analysis device. Scans mechanical beasts and displays limited information.
———
Kirito observed his status for a moment. Everything was in order. His speed remained his highest attribute, followed by strength and perception. He was not a tank, but neither was he fragile.
**Diung**
He closed the window with a thought and refocused on the rabbits and the landscape.
He was standing atop a low hill, a few meters above the level of the field. The slope wasn't steep, but it was inclined enough to slide down effortlessly. Kirito didn't hesitate.
**Themp-themp-themp**
He launched himself.
**Fssshhh—frrrrssssss**
His jacket billowed in the wind as he descended. It was a controlled slide, with his knees bent and his arms spread to maintain balance.
**Ssssrrrr—frrrsggg**
The earth and metal passed beneath his boots in a mixture of gray and green. Within a few seconds, he reached the bottom of the slope.
**Thmp**
He landed softly, absorbing the impact with his legs.
**Tck, tck, tck**
He straightened without breaking stride and began walking toward where the rabbits were.
**Themp**
But then he stopped.
In the distance, a group of ten players was fighting a pack.
All of them were beastfolk. Foxes and wolves, mostly. Their pointed ears protruded from among their hair.
Four of them attacked at close range, advancing with swords and shields against the mechanical rabbits.
**Pew—pew—pew—pew… krrrk—shhhh**
The other four fired from a distance with energy rifles, keeping the rabbits under control and preventing them from getting too close.
**Tsss—zap—chhhhk**
One of the rabbits fell onto its side, its hind legs kicking for a moment before becoming still.
Meanwhile, at the rear, the remaining two players stood motionless, observing.
(—"The two in the back seem to be the leaders... All their levels are hidden...")
(—"They're evaluating and protecting the rookies. Their levels are surely four or five times higher than those of the other eight.")
Kirito watched silently, refraining from intervening for safety's sake.
Some brought the rabbits down with precise shots. Others finished off the wounded ones with knives or short weapons. Those in the back kept watch, ready to intervene if anyone fell.
They were rookies, but they knew what they were doing.
**Krrrk—TSSS—tck**
One of the rabbits managed to get too close. It leaped with its hind legs, claws extended, and knocked down one of the long-range attackers.
**Pew—pew—pew—pew—pew—zzzap**
The group reacted instantly: three players lunged at the beast and riddled it with point-blank shots.
**Chhhhk—psssss—plin**
The rabbit fell with a metallic screech, its horn flickering before going dark.
**Tsss—shhhh—tok**
Before long, the last crimson-horned rabbit fell.
.....
The field fell silent. The ten players lowered their weapons.
The one who appeared to lead the group was a fox with grayish fur and amber eyes. He had a scar running across his face and light armor over his chest. He walked toward the fallen rabbits, inspected his companions' work, and nodded with satisfaction. Then he raised his head.
—"..."
And saw Kirito.
The leader stared at him from afar.
And the expression on his face was far from friendly.
The fox watched him with narrowed eyes, his arms crossed and his tail motionless. He didn't greet him out of courtesy. His distrust was palpable, as though Kirito were an intruder in his territory.
—"@#$$####@"
The leader began moving his lips.
(—"I can't read it.")
Kirito focused on reading his lips. But he couldn't understand anything. It wasn't Japanese or English. They were guttural sounds, strange intonations, and a structure he didn't recognize. Perhaps it was a language from the world he came from. He didn't know.
{—"I'll have to learn new languages. As many as I can."}
Meanwhile, the other nine stared at him. The eight who had fought were exhausted, breathing heavily, their weapons still smoking. Even so, they regarded him with suspicion. One of the wolf boys, the youngest, growled under his breath. The dark-furred she-wolf kept her eyes on him.
—"$$&$&##@@@."
The leader said something else. The eight nodded. Then, without taking their eyes off Kirito, they began collecting the horns from the fallen rabbits.
**Shhk—shhk—shhk—tsss**
One by one. Manually. Without using any automated system.
**Krrrk—tck—plin**
Each cut was precise and measured. They stored the horns in bags hanging from their belts.
**Fzzz—hummm—shhhh**
They worked in silence, but without lowering their guard.
—"##@@."
When they finished, the leader gave them a brief order. The group turned and began to leave. They walked in formation, unhurried and without looking back.
—"..."
But the young wolf—the one who had growled—stopped for a moment and gave him one last look. Then he followed the others.
Before long, they disappeared behind a hill.
Kirito shook his head.
—"I'm the one who should be on alert," he murmured. "Because I'm the only human. At least there are more of them."
But he didn't give it much importance.
It was only contempt for his race.
**Tchk, tchk, tchk**
Kirito then approached the abandoned rabbits, which no longer had their precious horns.
There were more than twenty.
(—"What a waste.")
He took a box from his inventory.
**Plin—shhhh**
It was small, about the size of a palm. Its surface was metallic, with engravings that glowed faintly blue. It was part of the tool set he had bought from Marina.
---
[Collection Box]
· Rarity: Uncommon (Blue)
· Function: Storage of inorganic materials.
· Capacity: 10x10
· Description: Collection box. Allows lifeless materials—metals, crystals, circuits—to be stored by direct designation.
---
Kirito held it in his palm. Then he pointed it at one of the fallen rabbits.
**Fzzz—shhhh**
The rabbit's body lit up with a faint blue glow. Then, piece by piece, it began disintegrating into particles that flowed into the box.
Within seconds, the rabbit was gone. Only a small empty patch remained in the earth.
Kirito smiled.
—"Very useful..."
**Tchk**
He approached the next one and repeated the process. Then the next. And the next. The twenty rabbits disappeared one after another, stored inside the box, which barely weighed anything in his hand. When he finished, he put it in his inventory and brushed off his palms.
{—"A good harvest."}
(—"Still, I have to hunt my own.")
**Trrzz**
Then he turned toward where more rabbits were gathered, farther away, in an untouched area that was more dangerous because it lay deeper within the territory.
—"Time to begin my first hunt..."
His right hand rose toward his back.
**Tsss—krrrk**
His fingers found the hilt of Big Sister and gripped it firmly.
**Shhhk—**
The black blade slid from its sheath with a clean, swift, almost imperceptible sound. It gleamed beneath the artificial evening light, blue flashes reflecting along its edge. Kirito held it for a moment, feeling its weight.
(—"With a twenty-level difference, I don't need both. One is enough.")
{—"More than enough."}
But he didn't let his guard down. During the previous hunt he had witnessed, he had learned something. The rabbits weren't stupid. They coordinated and protected one another.
(—"They won't let me approach by surprise if they see me coming slowly from far away. I'll have to close the distance before they react.")
**Krrrk—tck**
After considering his first move, Kirito tightened his grip on the sword.
Then, in one fluid motion, he positioned the blade to the side at the height of his right hip, its tip angled slightly backward, and assumed a running attack stance.
—"..."
He closed his eyes.
One second. Just one.
**Fssshhh—**
He inhaled deeply. Air entered through his nose and filled his lungs. He held it for a moment, feeling his heartbeat slow.
**Thump—thump… thump… thump…**
Feeling his mind empty of everything that didn't matter.
His thoughts faded. His doubts dissolved. Only he, the sword, and the target remained.
**Fww—**
He exhaled.
And opened his eyes.
His expression had changed. There was no longer a smile or any trace of emotion. Only absolute concentration.
His blue eyes, sharp as his sword's edge, locked onto the group of rabbits as though they were the only point in the universe. And then...
**THEMMMPPP**
He moved.
**KRRRK—FSSSHHH**
The earth crumbled beneath his boots from the force of his sprint, causing his body to become a black streak that crossed the field diagonally, heading straight toward the group of rabbits.
**Tsss—shhhhh—fzzz**
The wind struck his face, but he didn't blink. His blue eyes remained fixed on the target...
Fifty meters.
Forty.
Thirty.
The rabbits continued grazing. Some nibbled at the grass filaments. Others remained motionless, their red sensors blinking slowly. None had seen him yet.
Twenty meters.
**Tsss—shhhhh—fzzz**
Fifteen.
That was when the closest one raised its head. Its red eyes fixed on the black figure approaching at astonishing speed.
**KKKKIIIIUUUURRRRK—SHHHHH**
It emitted a sharp, piercing screech that spread across the field like an alarm.
But it was already too late.
**KRRRK—FSSSHHH**
Ten meters.
The other rabbits raised their heads in unison. Their red eyes lit up with greater intensity.
Kirito was already upon them.
The rabbits reacted instantly. The closest ones moved first: three, four, then six.
**Boin—boin—boin—boin—boin—boin**
They leaped simultaneously, their hind legs propelling them in deadly arcs, claws extended and horns gleaming.
Kirito did not leap toward them.
**Shhhh—ssssss**
He slid.
**Fzzz—tsss—shhhh**
He lowered his center of gravity, keeping the sword at his side, and dropped into a low roll. He was moving so fast that his boots found no traction; he skidded across the earth and metal as though the ground itself had turned to ice.
**Shhhhh**
The air whistled around him. And in that instant, as he slid, his sword moved.
**Shk—shk—shk—shk—shk—shk**
A series of cuts, executed at the exact moment he passed beneath the rabbits. The black blade traced short, precise arcs, one after another, each strike finding its target with brutal efficiency. Not a movement wasted. Not a centimeter squandered.
**Tsss—plin**
When Kirito emerged from the slide and stood, he didn't look back.
**Krrrk—tsss—chhhhk**
But if anyone had been watching from outside, they would have witnessed something worthy of a painting: the six rabbits that had leaped over him were already falling.
**Krrrk—tsss—crash**
Their bodies separated in midair, sliced into different sections, and upon hitting the ground, they broke apart into metallic pieces with a dry, metallic clatter.
**Plin—tck**
Each had a single cut. One. Clean. Precise. Without waste.
Kirito did not stop there.
**Krrrk—SHHHH—zzzap**
He propelled himself forward, spinning through the air. His body performed a somersault, and at the center of the rotation, his sword traced a broad, deadly arc.
The other seven rabbits—the ones that had stayed behind and were preparing their horns to fire—had no time to react when they saw their target suddenly change position. They had barely raised their heads when he was already upon them.
**SSSSSKKKKKKCCCKKKK**
The black blade struck them all, right through their heads and necks. One after another. In the same movement. At the same instant.
**Krrrk—tsss—crash**
Seven more fell.
**Thpp**
The moment his foot touched the ground, the new group of eight charged forward.
They didn't give him even a second to breathe.
**Krrrk—Boin**
**Krrrk—Boin**
The rabbits' hind legs tensed, and the ground cracked beneath the force of their launch.
Six stayed behind, preparing their horns.
Two leaped first, one from the right and the other from the left.
Then, thanks to his speed and perception, the world around him changed from his perspective.
**SHHHH**
The world slowed around him, and his eyes, enhanced by Semi X-Ray Mode, captured every detail.
Four of the six rabbits in the rear were about to fire. Almost simultaneously. The other two had fallen behind, still lining themselves up.
Kirito focused on the four.
With barely one foot on the ground, he moved his left hand toward his belt.
**Fzzz-fzzz-fzzz-fzzz**
He drew four pins and held them between his fingers.
**Thpm—KRRRK**
Then he launched himself forward.
He didn't use his second foot. He pushed off with the same one that had touched the ground, leaving his body almost horizontal, suspended in the air.
**Pew—pew—pew—pew—fzzz**
The four primary shots crossed the space just above his chest. They grazed his jacket.
They passed so close that he could feel the heat of the energy against his skin.
And the two rabbits that had launched themselves from the flanks flew past. He dodged them in midair without touching them.
**Tsss—fzzz**
Still suspended, with the four beams already behind him, Kirito moved his left hand.
**Shhhh—shhhh—shhhh—shhhh**
He threw the four pins.
All four cut silently through the air, heading straight for the four rabbits that had fired.
**Tck—tck—tck—tck—chhhhk**
Before they could reload, the pins found their targets. One in each eye.
**¡KIIIIUUUURRRRK—CHHHHK!**
**¡KIIIIUUUURRRRK—CHHHHK!**
The four rabbits shrieked simultaneously, producing a high-pitched metallic sound that ended as quickly as it had begun.
Their bodies stiffened and fell lifeless. Their horns went dark.
**Tsss—shhhh—tck**
Kirito landed on the ground.
It wasn't a clumsy fall. He spun in midair and used his right hand—the one holding the sword—to cushion the impact. He rose smoothly, unharmed.
**Krrrk—Boin**
**Krrrk—Boin**
At that moment, the two rabbits he had dodged earlier launched themselves at him. One from behind, the other from the flank, moving at tremendous speed.
But they weren't alone.
**Pew—pew—zzzap**
Two more shots came from the other two remaining rabbits.
Kirito saw them in profile.
**Krrrk—hummm**
Without wasting time, he crouched.
The first rabbit passed over him.
**Shhhh—tck**
At that same moment, Kirito moved his sword and cut it in half. Its body fell to the side, split in two.
The second rabbit was in a better position. He had to face it. But before it could reach him, Kirito saw the shot heading his way.
**SHHHH—CRASH—CHHHHK**
Instead of dodging, he did something different: he swung his sword and struck the rabbit charging toward him, sending it flying straight into the beam.
The impact was brutal. The beam struck the rabbit directly in the eyes, and its horn also absorbed part of the damage, deflecting the energy.
**Tsss—plin—fzzz**
But the damage was done. The rabbit fell dead on the other side.
**Thp**
Kirito stood up.
Only two remained.
The final two rabbits charged their horns again. Energy accumulated in spirals, glowing an intense red.
**Pew—pew—zzzap**
And they fired.
**SHHHH**
Kirito dodged the first with a twist of his hips.
**Tkss**
He deflected the second with his sword, feeling the blade resist the energy.
**Brrrrrzz**
The blade vibrated. It wasn't made for this.
(—"This is complicated.")
{—"But I can adapt."}
He moved.
**Zzzap—tsss—hummm**
He was so fast that, in an instant, he was already standing before the two rabbits. Though they had separated, they were still within the reach of his sword.
Kirito spun.
**SHK—SHK—CHHHHK**
A complete circular movement. Three hundred and sixty degrees. The black blade traced a perfect arc that struck both of them simultaneously. Their bodies fell in half, with no time to react.
**Plin—tsss—fzzz**
He looked ahead. The remaining rabbits watched him from a prudent distance. Some had crouched, ready to leap. Others already had their horns glowing as they prepared to fire.
But three of them did not move.
**KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGG**
They stayed behind and began to shriek.
**KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGG**
It wasn't the alarm cry they had used before. It was sharper and longer.
**KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGG**
A repetitive, rhythmic sound that spread across the field like a wave.
Kirito frowned.
{—"They're calling for help."}
**Boin—boin—boin—boin—boin—boin**
The others charged at him. Three from the left, three from the right.
The three that were shrieking remained at a distance, motionless and nonaggressive. They only screamed.
**Thmpp—SHHHH—KRRRK**
Kirito shook his head and accelerated.
His speed was overwhelming. Before the six rabbits could reach him, he was already among them.
**SHK—SHK—CHHHHK**
His sword traced a broad arc that cut two of them in half.
**SHK—TSSS**
Then he spun around and pierced a third.
Kirito gave them no time.
**Shhhh**
He reached his left hand into his belt and drew a throwing knife.
**SHK—chhhhk**
He threw it without aiming, trusting his perception. The knife cut through the air, passed between two rabbits charging at him, and embedded itself in the mouth of one of the shrieking rabbits.
**KIIIIIIIIkk**
The sound cut off abruptly.
The other two rabbits that were screeching opened their eyes wider. But they didn't go silent. They kept screaming. Louder. More desperate.
**Pew—pew—pew—zzzap**
The remaining rabbits began to fire. Red beams crossed the air toward him. Kirito dodged one, deflected another with his sword, and ducked to avoid the third.
**Shhhh—SHK—SHK—tsss**
He moved among them like a shadow. He cut one down. Then another.
**Fzzz—SHK—chhhhk**
And as he did, he threw a second knife that lodged in the chest of the second screeching rabbit.
**KIIIIkkgg**
The sound cut off.
One was left.
This was the last screeching rabbit. But this one went silent as if it had finished its job.
**Plin—hummmmmm**
The rabbit stood still, staring at Kirito with its red sensors, and didn't wait even a second—its horn began to glow with intensity.
**Krrrk—pewww—zzzap**
The energy accumulated in a spiral, denser, more powerful. It was going to fire with everything it had.
Kirito looked at it with a certain annoyance.
—"..."
But he didn't move.
**FZZZ—SHHHH**
The beam fired. A torrent of red light that crossed the air straight toward his face. Kirito saw it coming, and in that instant he remembered. The previous shots. The way his sword had deflected the first one. The resistance. The angle. The exact point where the blade could redirect the energy without absorbing it.
He understood.
**Tsss—SHK—FZZZZ**
He moved the sword. The blade tilted at a precise angle, like a mirror, and when the beam struck the edge, it reflected.
**Zzzap—SHHHH—PEEWW**
The beam returned the way it had come. But deflected. A little downward. Straight at the rabbit's face.
**CHHHHK—KRRRK!**
The impact was immediate. The beam hit it right in the eyes, piercing through its sensors, melting its internal circuits. The rabbit didn't even have time to screech.
**Tsss—plin—fzzzgg**
Its body tensed for an instant and then fell on its side, inert. The horn went out with a final flicker.
.....
(—"...")
—"Haaah..."
Kirito stood still for a moment, breathing calmly.
**Plin, Plin, Plin**
The sword kept dripping that dark blue liquid, thick, like oil. It was their blood. A bluish, dense blood that ran through their circuits and joints.
**Plin—fzzz**
He looked at it for a moment, then shook the sword to one side, splattering the liquid onto the ground.
He looked at the field. The destroyed bodies. The darkened horns. The blue oil splattering the dirt and metal.
All of this was caused by him in less than 30 seconds.
—"This isn't over..."
He murmured.
And then, as if the world were proving him right, he could hear it.
**Tck—tck—tck—tck—tck—tck**
Footsteps. Many footsteps.
From various points on the field, more groups of rabbits began to appear. They came out of hidden burrows, from behind hills, from among the metallic remains. There weren't nine. Nor twenty. There were dozens. Perhaps more.
Kirito saw them coming.
And he smiled.
—"Well... This will save me the trouble of having to keep looking for them..."
**Fzzz—krrrk**
He gripped the sword tightly. His mind was already calculating.
{—"They're more materials... For my first inventions in this world..."}
**SHHHH—TSSS**
He prepared for the next battle.
As the rabbits drew closer, Kirito thought about everything he could forge with that.
—"Haaaah..."
And after closing his eyes again and taking a deep breath, his concentration returned to him.
**Thmpp—Krrrk—SHHHH**
And opening his sharp blue eyes, he went out to meet all the crimson rabbits, for a new solo battle, to become stronger and thus be able to reach the end of this virtual world and obtain something that would take him beyond his limits in the outside, physical world.