The fire hadn't died.
It spread.
Slowly.
Relentlessly.
Like something alive.
—
Yakumaro walked through the ruins.
His steps were steadier now.
Not because he wasn't afraid…
But because something inside him had changed.
—
A sound.
—
Metal.
Clashing.
—
He stopped.
Lifted his head.
—
Far ahead…
A figure moved.
—
Fast.
Too fast.
—
A monster was thrown across the street—
Crashing into a broken wall.
Dust exploded into the air.
—
Then—
Silence.
—
Yakumaro narrowed his eyes.
"…Someone's there."
—
Another movement.
—
And then he saw him.
—
Standing in the middle of the destroyed street…
Unharmed.
Calm.
—
His friend.
—
Silver hair, slightly messy.
Clothes torn in places…
But his posture unchanged.
—
A monster charged at him.
Large.
Twisted.
—
It didn't reach him.
—
In a single motion—
He stepped forward.
—
His hand moved—
Too fast to follow.
—
The monster split in half.
—
Clean.
Effortless.
—
Yakumaro froze.
"…He's…"
—
Stronger than before.
—
No.
—
He had always been this strong.
—
He just never showed it.
—
The friend exhaled slowly.
"…Too many."
—
More monsters emerged from the shadows.
One after another.
—
They surrounded him.
—
Yakumaro's breath tightened.
—
"…He's alone."
—
The system responded.
—
[ New Mission ]
[ Assist Target ]
[ Reward: Increased Efficiency ]
[ Failure = Death ]
—
Yakumaro's eyes widened.
"…Assist?"
—
He looked forward.
—
At his friend.
—
"…Me?"
—
A monster moved toward him.
—
Yakumaro didn't hesitate this time.
—
He moved.
—
Step.
—
Dodged.
—
Grabbed another broken weapon.
—
Turned—
—
Struck.
—
The monster staggered.
—
Not dead.
—
Yakumaro's grip tightened.
—
"…Again."
—
He struck once more.
—
Harder.
—
The monster collapsed.
—
[ Target Eliminated ]
—
Yakumaro breathed heavily.
—
Then—
He ran forward.
—
Toward him.
—
The friend noticed.
—
For the first time…
His calm expression shifted.
—
"…You?"
—
Yakumaro stopped beside him.
Breathing hard.
—
"…I'm not running anymore."
—
A brief silence.
—
Then—
A small smile.
—
"…Good."
—
The monsters attacked.
—
At once.
—
The friend moved first.
—
A step—
—
Three monsters fell.
—
Yakumaro followed.
—
Slower.
Less precise.
—
But moving.
—
Dodging.
Striking.
Surviving.
—
Blood splattered.
—
Time blurred.
—
Breathing.
Movement.
Impact.
—
Then—
Suddenly—
—
Everything stopped.
—
The monsters…
Froze.
—
Yakumaro felt it.
—
A pressure.
—
Heavy.
—
Different.
—
His friend's expression changed instantly.
—
"…No."
—
From the shadows…
—
Something stepped forward.
—
Humanoid.
—
Thin.
—
Calm.
—
Its eyes…
Locked onto them.
—
Yakumaro's body stiffened.
—
"…That thing…"
—
His instincts screamed.
—
Danger.
—
Not like the others.
—
Not even close.
—
The friend stepped forward.
Slightly.
—
"…Stay back."
—
His voice—
Was different.
—
Serious.
—
For the first time.
—
The creature tilted its head.
—
Watching.
—
Learning.
—
Then—
It smiled.
—
Yakumaro's heart dropped.
—
The system flickered.
—
[ Warning ]
—
[ High-Level Entity Detected ]
—
[ Survival Probability: Extremely Low ]
—
Silence.
—
The fire crackled in the distance.
—
No one moved.
—
Until—
—
The creature vanished.