The mist hugged the village outskirts, curling between the gnarled pines and damp earth. Every step Hitorikko took made the fabric of his black Muso-style blazer sway dramatically. He looked… ridiculous. Stylish, sure, but ridiculously unprepared.
The hybrid sword felt alive in his hands, a perfect blend of rapier precision and longsword reach. At his belt, a single throwing knife glinted. One strike, one flick of the wrist, and chaos—or death—could follow.
Ayumi leaned against a dummy, arms crossed.
"Really? That blazer. The sword. The knife. What are you, a stage actor or a swordsman?"
Hitorikko twirled the knife in his fingers, catching it effortlessly.
"Both. Tactical flair. And if I die, at least someone will admire the blazer."
Her sigh was sharp.
"Lucky me, I get to survive your fashion show slash suicide attempt."
The A-rank opponent appeared from the mist. Tall. Lethal. Calm.
"Hitorikko," he said evenly, "I hope you're more than the rumors."
"Mostly luck," Hitorikko muttered.
"And the blazer. Can't forget the blazer."
The duel began.
Hitorikko spun, lunged, dodged. Every move looked flawless. In reality, he was just barely keeping up.
If I die, at least the blazer will be remembered.
Minutes passed. Then, disaster.
A low-level NPC wandered too close. Hitorikko's spinning attack sent the throwing knife flying. It struck the NPC.
Ayumi's voice cracked.
"No! Hitorikko!"
He barely registered the slap across his cheek.
"OW! Okay, okay! Moral lecture received! Preferably less bruising next time!"
Ayumi's eyes were wide with horror.
"Do you even understand what you just did?!"
He froze. The NPC lay still. Gone forever.
Then the surge.
A strange warmth, a sharp clarity. Hitorikko felt his reflexes sharpen, his hybrid sword flowing like an extension of his body. Starborn Ace had awakened.
SIS appeared beside him, a soft blue hologram, silver hair shimmering.
[Well, congratulations. You just accidentally killed someone.]
[You've unlocked Starborn Ace. Partial omnipotence bursts, hybrid sword manipulation.]
[Duration depends on luck. Permanent. Personality may become less humane over time.]
[And really, that blazer… stop distracting yourself.]
Hitorikko staggered.
"I… I didn't even know this was a thing."
[Clearly. But now you do. Use it wisely, or enjoy being the morally ambiguous disaster you've already started becoming.]
Ayumi activated Aegis Grace, protective energy rippling around the A-rank opponent and villagers.
"Hitorikko! I can't fix this!" she shouted.
"Relax. Lucky… and stylish. Mostly lucky," he muttered, dodging a precise strike.
The duel intensified. Sparks flew as steel met steel. Hitorikko's Starborn Ace bursts allowed him to dodge blows that should have ended him instantly. His attacks looked elegant, precise, and deadly, but the bursts only lasted seconds.
Ayumi's glow flared.
"Stay focused! I can protect them, not you! This ability… it's dangerous!"
If I survive this, at least the blazer will be famous. Hitorikko thought.
The A-rank player adjusted, clearly struggling to handle bursts of partial omnipotence. Hitorikko spun, thrust, flicked his throwing knife—narrowly missing the opponent.
Minutes stretched. Exhaustion weighed on both combatants. Finally, they stepped back, chests heaving. Mutual draw.
[See? You survive, unlock your ability, and somehow… you still have moral high ground—technically.]
[Try not to ruin it next time.]
Hitorikko wiped sweat from his brow.
"Moral high ground… got it. Stylish disaster edition."
Ayumi shook her head. Horror mixed with relief.
"I… I can't believe you survived that."
"You mean I can't believe I survived that," Hitorikko said, smirking.
"Also… loved the slap. Very motivating."
[Oh, Hitorikko. Bravery, stupidity, and style… lethal combination.]
The forest beyond stirred. Shadows thickened, twisting unnaturally. Massive forms moved with deliberate menace, eyes glinting amber.
Hitorikko felt Starborn Ace humming in his veins. Sword alive. Knife ready.
"Alright, shadowy forest villain," he muttered.
"Let's see if you appreciate fashion… and death today."
The mist hugged the village outskirts, curling between the gnarled pines and damp earth. Every step Hitorikko took made the fabric of his black Muso-style blazer sway dramatically. He looked… ridiculous. Stylish, sure, but ridiculously unprepared.
The hybrid sword felt alive in his hands, a perfect blend of rapier precision and longsword reach. At his belt, a single throwing knife glinted. One strike, one flick of the wrist, and chaos—or death—could follow.
Ayumi leaned against a dummy, arms crossed.
"Really? That blazer. The sword. The knife. What are you, a stage actor or a swordsman?"
Hitorikko twirled the knife in his fingers, catching it effortlessly.
"Both. Tactical flair. And if I die, at least someone will admire the blazer."
Her sigh was sharp.
"Lucky me, I get to survive your fashion show slash suicide attempt."
The A-rank opponent appeared from the mist. Tall. Lethal. Calm.
"Hitorikko," he said evenly, "I hope you're more than the rumors."
"Mostly luck," Hitorikko muttered.
"And the blazer. Can't forget the blazer."
The duel began.
Hitorikko spun, lunged, dodged. Every move looked flawless. In reality, he was just barely keeping up.
If I die, at least the blazer will be remembered.
Minutes passed. Then, disaster.
A low-level NPC wandered too close. Hitorikko's spinning attack sent the throwing knife flying. It struck the NPC.
Ayumi's voice cracked.
"No! Hitorikko!"
He barely registered the slap across his cheek.
"OW! Okay, okay! Moral lecture received! Preferably less bruising next time!"
Ayumi's eyes were wide with horror.
"Do you even understand what you just did?!"
He froze. The NPC lay still. Gone forever.
Then the surge.
A strange warmth, a sharp clarity. Hitorikko felt his reflexes sharpen, his hybrid sword flowing like an extension of his body. Starborn Ace had awakened.
SIS appeared beside him, a soft blue hologram, silver hair shimmering.
[Well, congratulations. You just accidentally killed someone.]
[You've unlocked Starborn Ace. Partial omnipotence bursts, hybrid sword manipulation.]
[Duration depends on luck. Permanent. Personality may become less humane over time.]
[And really, that blazer… stop distracting yourself.]
Hitorikko staggered.
"I… I didn't even know this was a thing."
[Clearly. But now you do. Use it wisely, or enjoy being the morally ambiguous disaster you've already started becoming.]
Ayumi activated Aegis Grace, protective energy rippling around the A-rank opponent and villagers.
"Hitorikko! I can't fix this!" she shouted.
"Relax. Lucky… and stylish. Mostly lucky," he muttered, dodging a precise strike.
The duel intensified. Sparks flew as steel met steel. Hitorikko's Starborn Ace bursts allowed him to dodge blows that should have ended him instantly. His attacks looked elegant, precise, and deadly, but the bursts only lasted seconds.
Ayumi's glow flared.
"Stay focused! I can protect them, not you! This ability… it's dangerous!"
If I survive this, at least the blazer will be famous. Hitorikko thought.
The A-rank player adjusted, clearly struggling to handle bursts of partial omnipotence. Hitorikko spun, thrust, flicked his throwing knife—narrowly missing the opponent.
Minutes stretched. Exhaustion weighed on both combatants. Finally, they stepped back, chests heaving. Mutual draw.
[See? You survive, unlock your ability, and somehow… you still have moral high ground—technically.]
[Try not to ruin it next time.]
Hitorikko wiped sweat from his brow.
"Moral high ground… got it. Stylish disaster edition."
Ayumi shook her head. Horror mixed with relief.
"I… I can't believe you survived that."
"You mean I can't believe I survived that," Hitorikko said, smirking.
"Also… loved the slap. Very motivating."
[Oh, Hitorikko. Bravery, stupidity, and style… lethal combination.]
The forest beyond stirred. Shadows thickened, twisting unnaturally. Massive forms moved with deliberate menace, eyes glinting amber.
Hitorikko felt Starborn Ace humming in his veins. Sword alive. Knife ready.
"Alright, shadowy forest villain," he muttered.
"Let's see if you appreciate fashion… and death today."