---
Kenta's new aura was a physical weight, dark and suffocating. His crimson eyes held no emotion, only a cold intent to kill.
"You... you're different from before," Ryan stated, his earlier arrogance replaced by wary focus.
Kenta gave no reply. He became a blur of motion, his strikes so fast they seemed to leave trails of mist, each one carrying brutal force. Ryan was forced onto the defensive, his Adaptability ability the only thing keeping him alive as he struggled to parry the onslaught.
"Why won't you use that other katana, too?" Ryan taunted, trying to break Kenta's concentration.
But Kenta was a storm, silent and relentless.
From the sidelines, Sarah watched, her knuckles white. Their movements were a whirlwind of steel and power she couldn't hope to follow. A cold, familiar feeling crept into her chest: the feeling of being a burden.
"System," she thought, her voice tight in her mind. "What are their levels?"
[Kenta Yazuru: Level 135. Ryan: Level 185.]
The numbers hit her like a physical blow. Level 90. She was level 90. They were operating on a different plane entirely, and she was just watching.
"You are strong, boy, but I will defeat you!" Ryan roared, his speed surging as his Adaptability kicked in, finally matching Kenta's assault.
Sarah's mind screamed. She was useless here. A liability.
[Condition Met: Auto-Battle Mode is available. Activate?]
The prompt was a lifeline and an insult. She hated relying on it, seeing it as a crutch that proved her own inadequacy. But what choice did she have?
"Do it," she whispered, the words tasting like ash.
A familiar cold numbness washed over her. Her vision sharpened, the world slowing down as the System optimized her perception. Her eyes glowed a vacant, luminous silver.
Now a puppet of pure combat logic, she entered the fray. Ryan, already hard-pressed by Kenta, now found himself attacked from two fronts. He was shocked by the sudden, flawless synchronization of their assault.
"Tome of Blizzard!" Ryan yelled, aiming his ultimate skill at Kenta's exposed back.
But the System had already calculated the trajectory. Sarah's body moved without hesitation, intercepting the attack and striking Ryan's back, disrupting his concentration.
Ryan stumbled, staring at the two figures before him. One, a vessel of dark fury; the other, a being of silver-eyed, emotionless precision.
"...Such monsters," he breathed.
The end was swift and merciless. As Kenta engaged Ryan head-on, the System-controlled Sarah utilized the environment, wrapping a discarded crowbar around Ryan's neck from behind. For a single, horrifying second, he was immobilized.
It was all the opening Kenta needed. His dark blade flashed.
Sarah's consciousness returned to the sound of her own ragged panting. Her hands were slick with blood. Ryan's head lay at her feet. She stared at her trembling hands in disbelief.
"I... I can't believe I did that," she stammered, the visceral reality of the kill overwhelming her.
Kenta, panting heavily himself, watched her. Then, he let out a soft chuckle. "Yea... we did."
Sarah's gaze shifted from the corpse to the huddled, wide-eyed slaves behind her. The horror on her face melted into a fragile, relieved smile.
"Hey," she called out, her voice gentle. "All of you... you're free."
---
Status: Sarah Yamazaki
· Strength: SS+
· Speed: SSR+
· Endurance: SS+
· Intelligence: S+
· Potential: S+
· Ability: (Failed Awakening) None
Status: Kenta Yazuru
· Strength: SSS+
· Speed: SSR+
· Endurance: SSS+
· Intelligence: C+
· Potential: SS
· Ability: Light/Dark Aura
[Information: The 'Light/Dark Aura' ability enhances Dark-style skills in standard combat. Light-style skills are only enhanced when the user is on the verge of death, serving as a final, desperate safeguard.]
---
The following day, they found themselves back at a table in the Adventurers' Guild, the easy camaraderie between them a stark contrast to the strangers they had been just days before. But Sarah had a weight on her mind. She needed to ask him something without an audience.
"Kenta," she said, standing up. "Can we talk? Outside."
He followed her to a quiet spot on the edge of town, where a lone tree overlooked the sprawling horizon. Kenta hopped up to sit on a low-hanging branch, while Sarah stood, gathering her courage.
"Hey... I have something I want to ask you," she began, her eyes fixed on the distant hills.
Kenta looked down at her. "What is it?"
She took a deep breath and finally met his gaze. "I've been thinking... about my journey."
He waited patiently. "And?"
"...Do you want to be my traveling companion?" The question hung in the air between them.
Kenta was silent for a moment, a small, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. "Hmm," he mused, closing his eyes as if in thought. Then he opened them, his expression warm. "...Sure. Why not?"
Sarah's eyes widened. "Huh? You... you agreed? Just like that?" She took an involuntary step closer.
He chuckled. "Yea. I don't see any problems with your offer."
A genuine, relieved smile broke across Sarah's face. "Glad you agreed." The excitement was clear in her voice. But then her expression sobered. "But..." she added, her tone turning serious.
Kenta's smile faded into curiosity. "But what?"
"Promise me," she said, her voice low and intense. "Promise me that you won't leave my side, and that you'll help me in my fight against the Emperors."
Kenta was taken aback by the sheer gravity of her request. He studied her face, seeing the burning resolve there. A slow, knowing smirk spread across his own face. He didn't tell her that his path of vengeance against Hirogi already aligned with hers. Some truths were better shown than spoken.
"I promise," he said, the words simple and absolute.
Sarah's serious expression melted into a bright smile. She reached out and punched his shoulder playfully. "Hehe, glad you agreed with me."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, side-by-side on the branch, watching the world go by. It was Kenta who broke the quiet.
"We should head for the Kingdom of Altaria."
Sarah looked at him, curious. "The Kingdom of Altaria? Why there?"
"It's one of the main kingdoms on this continent," he explained. "A good place for adventurers like us to find our footing... and gather information."
Sarah thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, sure. It seems like a good destination."
A gentle breeze swept through the tree, rustling the leaves and carrying the scent of wildflowers. Sarah watched a flock of birds take flight, their forms black against the brilliant orange of the setting sun. The wind brushed through her hair, and for the first time in a long time, a feeling of peace settled over her. She wasn't alone anymore.
She smiled, watching the birds fly free.
---