The soft glow of the moon greeted Akari Sato as she reappeared on solid ground.
The night breeze brushed gently against her cheeks, carrying the scent of grass and distant wood smoke. Her knees almost buckled as her surroundings finally settled into view—a familiar dirt path, the towering walls of the Kingdom of Solemn rising not far ahead. The silver light bathed everything in calm serenity, but her heart raced in a storm of confusion and exhaustion.
Her head throbbed slightly. "Ugh… teleporting really does drain the brain," she muttered, massaging her temple. Her voice echoed faintly in the quiet night. "Okay, Akari, no random kidnappings this time… please?"
She took a moment to breathe in, steadying herself. The God of Reincarnation's words still lingered in her mind, warm yet heavy with warning.
"The blessing I give you will awaken the potential of your soul… when your skills reach their peak, they will evolve beyond mortal limits. Use it well, Akari Sato."
That blessing—Evolution.
Even the thought of it sent a thrill down her spine. To evolve her skills beyond their natural form? It was both exciting and terrifying. But for now, her main concern was returning to safety.
"Let's just… hope no one panicked," she sighed. "If Theo and Arthur start searching the whole kingdom, I'll never hear the end of it."
Her steps echoed softly against the stone as she approached the gates of Solemn. The guards recognized her at once. They exchanged a few surprised glances, as if seeing someone return from the dead.
"Miss Akari? You— You're alive!" one stammered.
"Last I checked," she smiled weakly, waving her hand. "Sorry for the late-night return. Got, uh, delayed by… circumstances."
The guard opened the gate without hesitation. "Please, head to the guild right away. Sir Arthur and Guildmaster Theo have been waiting since afternoon."
Akari's heart sank.
"Oh no… they're definitely mad."
The streets of Solemn were quieter than usual, though the faint light of the lanterns still danced across the cobblestone. Akari's boots tapped rhythmically as she hurried toward the Adventurer's Guild. The faint hum of crickets filled the air, blending with the echo of her quickened steps.
When she reached the guild, the massive double doors creaked softly as she pushed them open. Inside, the air felt thick with tension.
Only two people were there: Arthur, sitting at the counter with paperwork scattered all over, and Theo, leaning against the wall with crossed arms and a serious expression. Their eyes immediately snapped to her.
Arthur's eyes widened. "A-Akari! You're—by the gods, you're safe!"
He practically leapt over the counter, rushing toward her, his voice trembling between relief and panic. "Where have you been? You were gone all day! Do you know how worried we—"
Before he could finish, Theo raised a hand and lightly smacked the back of his head. Smack!
"Calm down, Arthur," Theo said, his deep voice steady but tight. "She just returned. Let her breathe."
Arthur pouted like a scolded puppy but backed away slightly. Akari chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Eheh… I guess I owe everyone an explanation."
Theo's gaze softened, though his eyes still held that sharp intensity she'd grown used to. "Tell us what happened."
Akari took a seat, inhaling deeply. "The man who attacked the Duke's daughter—the one I fought before—he's alive. He ambushed me during my quest. I tried to fight back, but he had backup… someone far stronger."
Arthur's face paled. "You don't mean—"
"A man in black armor," Akari said quietly. "He was commanding monsters like it was nothing. I was captured for a while… but I escaped. Let's just say… divine intervention helped."
Theo's brows furrowed, his voice low. "A black-armored man… just as we feared."
Akari blinked. "You know him?"
Arthur exchanged a worried glance with Theo. The atmosphere shifted, growing heavier.
Arthur finally spoke, his voice grave. "Reports from the Kingdom of Athen mentioned someone like that—a man in black armor leading a monster invasion. The kingdom's defenses fell apart in days. Only a handful of survivors escaped."
Theo nodded, his expression unreadable. "We thought it was just rumor. But if what you saw is real, then Solemn might be next."
Akari's stomach dropped. "So the one who kidnapped me… was the same man who destroyed Athen?"
Theo's gaze met hers. "Yes. And now that he's seen your power, you're a target."
For a moment, the room fell silent. The faint flicker of the candles painted their faces in gold and shadow. Akari could hear the soft ticking of the wall clock—every second echoing her heartbeat.
Arthur sighed. "It's a miracle you made it back alive, Akari."
Akari forced a small smile, trying to lighten the air. "Well, let's just say I'm good at running away when the situation calls for it."
Theo couldn't help but let out a quiet, amused huff. "Still, you survived something that would have killed even seasoned adventurers. That counts for something."
Arthur adjusted his glasses and smiled faintly. "Even so, we'll need to prepare. Theo?"
Theo nodded. "Starting tomorrow, I'll train you myself. You've got power, Akari, but you need control. If the man in black armor comes for you again, running won't be an option."
Akari's eyes lit up despite her fatigue. "Training with the War Freak himself? Heh, sounds like fun."
Theo twitched slightly at the nickname. "Don't push your luck."
Arthur chuckled, sliding a small pen-like object across the desk. "Before you go, hand me your guild card. You completed your quest, right?"
"Ah, right!" Akari rummaged through her pouch and handed it over. "Yeah, about that… I may have overdid it a little. The wolves didn't stand a chance."
Arthur smiled as he pressed the tip of the pen against her card. It glowed faintly, a warm golden hue spreading across the surface. "Quest confirmed. Success."
Akari tilted her head. "That's so cool. What's that glowing thing?"
"It's a record-pen," Arthur explained. "A tool that stores quest data. Helps us track completion without relying on paperwork."
"Wow. This world has magic pens. Ten out of ten, no notes," Akari said, raising a thumb.
Theo exhaled through his nose, amused despite himself. "Go rest, Akari. Tomorrow will be rough."
She saluted jokingly. "Yes, sir! I'll survive—hopefully."
As she turned to leave, Arthur called out, "And Akari?"
She looked back.
Arthur smiled gently. "We're really glad you came back safe."
Akari's chest warmed at the sincerity in his tone. "Thanks, Arthur… really."
The streets were quiet when she stepped outside. The lanterns had burned lower now, the night growing deep and blue. She made her way to the Moon Inn, her boots clicking softly on the pavement.
As she entered, two familiar figures turned instantly.
"Akari!" Nina's voice broke into relief as she rushed forward. Christina stood beside her, equally worried.
"Where have you been?" Nina demanded, hands on her hips.
"Eh-heh… long story," Akari replied, scratching her cheek. "Let's just say I got a bit lost."
Christina exhaled in relief. "You had us worried, dear. We thought something terrible happened."
"Nothing terrible! Just… almost got kidnapped again. Totally fine!"
The two froze, faces paling. "WHAT!?"
Akari waved her hands frantically. "I mean, I'm fine now! I escaped! I even got divine support, so everything's good. Hehe…"
Nina sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead. "You're unbelievable."
Christina's expression softened. "Please, at least rest. You look like you've fought a war."
"Technically… yes," Akari muttered under her breath as she climbed the stairs.
Her room was just as she'd left it: pristine, warm, and smelling faintly of lavender. The soft moonlight streamed through the curtains, bathing everything in silver glow. She dropped onto her bed with a sigh, sinking into its softness.
She stared at the ceiling, eyes half-lidded. "This world never lets me rest, huh…"
Her mind wandered back to the God of Reincarnation, his calm expression, the golden light of his realm.
"Your soul will now carry the Blessing of Growth. When your skills reach their limit, your will can push them to evolve. This is your next step, Akari Sato."
Akari sat up slightly, curiosity bubbling in her chest. "Right… the blessing. Let's check my status."
A familiar blue screen shimmered before her eyes.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Akari Sato (Reincarnated)
Race: Human
Class: Adventurer
Level: 50
HP: 12,457
MP: 498,620
Strength: 1,102
Agility: 1,356
Endurance: 1,189
Intelligence: 2,304
Skills:
Fireball (Lv. 4)
Vine Hostage (Lv. 3)
Haste (Lv. 5 MAXED)
Power Strike (Lv. 2)
Heal (Lv. 2)
Adaptability (Lv. 2)
Storage (Lv. 2)
Unique Blessing: Evolution – Allows any mastered skill (Lv. 5) to transcend into an evolved state, unlocking greater effects and efficiency.
Akari's eyes sparkled. "Evolution, huh? So that's what he meant…"
She scanned the list and noticed Haste had already reached its maximum level. A glowing symbol pulsed beside it—an option.
Without hesitation, she tapped it.
The window flared with golden light.
[Skill Evolution Initiated…]
Haste → Godspeed.
Effect: Movement and reaction time increase by 500%. Stamina consumption reduced by 70%.
Akari's jaw dropped. "Wha—Five times faster!? I'm basically a blur!"
She grinned from ear to ear. "Now that's what I call a blessing!"
Her laughter filled the quiet room, a bright sound under the gentle hum of the moonlit night.
She scrolled further, reading through her other skills. Each one, glowing faintly, held the promise of future evolution. Power Strike, Vine Hostage, Fireball—all of them could one day transform.
Her eyes softened. "God of Reincarnation… thank you. I'll use this blessing right."
She leaned back, staring out the window where the moon hung high and silent.
Her thoughts drifted to Arima Takahashi—the man in black armor, his scarred face, and his chilling words. A shiver ran through her.
"I'll get stronger," she whispered. "Not just to survive… but to make sure no one else suffers because of him."
Her fingers curled into the blanket, determination flickering in her eyes like the stars above.
For a moment, she allowed herself a small, confident smile. "So… Theo's training starts tomorrow, huh? I should bring extra potions. And maybe a coffin."
Her own joke made her snicker softly. She lay back down, letting exhaustion finally catch up.
The gentle hum of the night wrapped around her, soothing and still.
As her consciousness faded, the system flickered faintly once more.
[Adaptability System Log Updated.]
Detected new evolved skill: Godspeed.
Auto-calibration in progress…
Akari Sato's growth continues.
The moon outside watched silently as its light rested on the sleeping girl—
The adventurer who carried the power of rebirth and evolution in her heart.
To be continued...