In that moment, anger felt too small a word. Someone weaponizing his past, using it to push their own cause, was something Kael would never tolerate. Still, he proceeded with a gaze fierce enough to rival the devil. “You shut your damn mouth. Don’t think I can’t see what you’re doing. Until I see Selena, you don’t get to decide anything for me. You got that?” The man rose slowly to his feet, clearly confused. “Selena… Selena…” he muttered over and over in a voice so profoundly serious as if searching for meaning in the name. “What are you talking about? Is that why you’re so angry? I’m only here so we can share that rage.” The fear in Kael's eyes had never been more real. It was as if the calm, collected side of Vir Ossium had been nothing more than a façade and now, the mask was slipping, revealing the monster beneath. “Is it really that trivial?” Vir Ossium continued, adjusting his headpiece as though his interest in Kael was at an end. “You’re just worried for her… and the

“How… did you know where I was?” Kael couldn’t shake the question, even as he stared at her in silence. With her back turned, no one should have been able to see the attack coming. The thick, viscous web didn't slow down, not for a moment in its approach. It moved so fast the attack seemed almost impossible to track with the naked eye. By the time most would have realized what was happening, it would’ve already been too late. But her grip on her blade never loosened. Instead, a grin spread across her face. “I followed the explosions,” she replied simply. “Generally a good rule of thumb in life.” “But I'll admit,” she added a second later, “I had my doubts about you, hero. The way you charged into battle to take on a High-end solo? You've got some elite-sized balls.” Then she moved. With one swing of her blade, the viscous web behind her split cleanly in two. The attack meant the eradicate them exploded instead, making her look all the more fierce and the green glow in her e

The first monster lunged at her with a loud shriek, but it never finished the sound. The girl threw her sword, and the blade went straight through the monster’s skull, bursting out the back in a spray of blood and bone. Before the body even hit the ground, she suddenly appeared beside the sword. Kael blinked in confusion because she hadn't run or jumped. One moment she was standing there; the next she was beside the blade. She pulled the sword free as the corpse collapsed at her feet. Blood ran down the steel and over her hand, but her grin only grew wider. “Oh hell yes,” she said with excitement. She raised the sword and faced the rest of the monsters. “Come on then, you ugly bastards. Let’s fucking go.” The horde answered at once. Dozens of monsters rushed toward her with their claws and fangs, ready to tear her apart. She moved before any could reach her and swung her blade in an arc so brutal she cut one monster’s arm off and opened the throat of another. Both bodies

Staring at Kael and how quiet he seemed through the ordeal, Lance couldn't have picked a more appropriate time to ask. “Are you okay?” He asked like he hadn't noticed how troubled he seemed. A response was all he needed to affirm, but Kael gave him none. Caught once more between two worlds, his own morality and that of survival, which could he choose? Stay true to who he was… or sink deeper into the madness this world demanded of him? And in that silence, his thoughts began to unravel. ‘I said I was going to save my sister… then go beat the living hell out of the assholes who took her.’ His fingers curled into trembling fists. ‘But I don't understand this power… this system. It asks too much of me.’ His breathing grew uneven. ‘Can I really do something like that again? Can I… kill?”’ The thought alone seemed impossible to fathom and just as it threatened to consume him whole… the voice broke him out of it. “What… does it feel like?” Kael blinked, startled. The que

The belt around his waist began to glow and take on a different shape, but Kael barely noticed. Bigger things demanded his attention now. The realization mattered more than anything else. “It wants me strong…” 【 Obedience to the system has rewarded you with a one-time skill. 】 【 User can now harness the powers and abilities of a substitute Disc. 】 “... Because it's only the strong who survives.” What he had to do and what he needed to do had never been clearer. With purpose in his eyes, Kael pulled out the box Madam Kaname had given him and opened it. Inside was not the charm he'd expected… but a small blue metal Disc staring back at him. From its design alone, coupled with the intricate sailfish engraving, Kael knew exactly who it belonged to. Who better than Thessa to handle such an intricate piece flawlessly that he burned it into memory. It was at that moment the fear on his face turned into painful understanding. While it was true they were without defense, Kael co