Trouble at the Town Gates
Just before he reached the town gate, Ruko slept outside of Axel and started muttered one last thing, grinning wide.
"Bomboclot… this world has no idea what's coming."
After walking from the hill, the Core Alloy on his wrist pulsed faintly, almost like it agreed — a heartbeat of metal answering its master. The glow faded as he stepped into the busy streets of Axel, blending into the chaos of the adventurer's town.
Aqua was already yelling somewhere nearby.
"Ruko! Where have you been at night? We've been looking and waiting for you for an hour!"
He sighed, rolling his shoulders lazily. "I was out aura farming. Gotta look cool when trouble finds me."
Kazuma groaned. "Aura farming? You mean posing dramatically until you feel strong?"
"Exactly," Ruko said proudly, flashing a grin. A few nearby adventurers gave him confused looks — but one or two couldn't help noticing the faint, rhythmic pulse of power that shimmered around him when he moved.
That faint aura — unrefined but real — drew small sparks in the dirt with every step. He wasn't just joking this time. He was actually channeling something new.
> [System Notice: Basic Aura Synchronization – Initiated.]
[Output Limited to 1%.]
The message flickered briefly, visible only to him. Ruko smirked. "One percent of style is still enough."
---
As they made their way through town, Ruko's mind drifted to the Dimensional Core's update. His Infinite System had silently logged everything from the Core Alloy encounter — including something new at the bottom of his fake system card.
>──Infinite System──
Power Output: 1%
Status Sync: Stable
Skills Active: True Copy, Seal/Unseal (Partially Locked), Infinite Combined, Infinite Skill Storage
Skills Locked: Rewrite, Blood Synchronization, Bloodbound Arsenal
Material Progress: 1 / 3 Acquired
Notes: Progress steady. Emotional instability detected.
>——
He blinked at the last line. "Emotional instability? Tch, what's that supposed to mean?"
The Core Alloy pulsed again, faintly, as if trying to warn him.
---
When they finally reached the guild, the air buzzed with chatter. Something had the whole place tense. The receptionist, Luna, stood behind the counter, holding a parchment with shaking hands.
"There's a monster outside the eastern plains," she said. "A high-level elemental that's destroyed two hunting parties already."
Kazuma's jaw dropped. "And you want us to fight it? We barely survive frogs!"
Aqua puffed out her chest. "Don't worry, my sacred magic will purify—"
"Don't say it," Ruko interrupted, pointing at her. "Every time you brag, we nearly die."
Darkness chuckled softly, already gripping her sword. "I don't mind dying… if it's for justice."
"Yeah, well," Ruko said, stretching. "Justice can wait till after lunch."
He walked toward the quest board and scanned the details. The creature's description made his skin prickle — molten eyes, distorted mana patterns, something unnatural.
His grin slowly returned. "Interesting…"
---
Later that day, Ruko stood at the edge of the eastern plains with the group. The sky shimmered with strange energy, and every few seconds the wind would distort with heat.
Kazuma muttered nervously, "You sure we should do this? That thing melted a squad of steel-armored knights."
"Relax," Ruko said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "If I manage to let down my guard, that's when it gets interesting."
Aqua frowned. "You sound like you want to die again."
He just smirked, cracking his neck. "Maybe. But this time, I'll do it with style."
Then the ground exploded.
A massive elemental beast rose from the crater — pure flame given form, its body twice the size of a house. Its eyes locked onto Ruko immediately.
Kazuma's voice cracked. "Why is it looking just at you?!"
"Maybe it senses greatness," Ruko said coolly. But inside, he felt something else — that creeping pulse of instinct. Fear.
And like always, it slipped out.
"Bomboclot…"
His aura flared violently, golden sparks crackling around his body. The monster actually hesitated, its flames flickering uncertainly.
It feared him.
Kazuma blinked. "Wait… did that thing just step back?"
Ruko grinned wide — that same sharp grin that made people unsure if he was joking or deadly serious. "Looks like even monsters know when they're about to lose."
He raised his hand, letting the faint shimmer of the Core Alloy respond, shaping into a half-formed blade of liquid metal. He didn't even need a weapon — just the illusion of one.
"Let's dance."
---
The elemental charged, and Ruko met it head-on — his aura flashing like a storm. Every strike left ripples of pressure that sent waves through the field. Even sealed at 1%, he was adapting fast, moving smoother than before.
Each dodge, each twist, looked almost rehearsed — like a dancer wrapped in chaos.
When he finally landed the finishing blow, the creature erupted into light and ash.
Aqua cheered. "He did it! Ruko actually— wait, how did he do that?"
Kazuma just stared. "He… smiled while fighting. Like a psycho."
Ruko brushed dust off his shoulder, giving a small smirk. "What can I say? Aura farming pays off."
---
As the group started heading back to town, Ruko looked at his reflection in the bracer. For a second, the glow flashed — showing a twisted grin staring back at him.
He blinked. It vanished.
> [System Notice: Instability Progress – 2%.]
"Hmm…" he muttered, half-smiling. "Maybe it's starting already."