Ryusei groggily blinked awake, the weight of something massive pressing down on her. Her body was completely enveloped in Rika's monstrous arms, the cursed spirit's long, untrimmed nails lightly grazing her skin.
She tilted her head, trying to move, only for Rika's grip to tighten possessively.
"Mmm… Nooo… Stay with me, Ryusei~."
The deep, distorted voice rumbled in her ear as Rika nuzzled her face into Ryusei's neck, her tendrils curling protectively around the bed.
"This is way too much…" Ryusei thought, her arms pinned beneath Rika's weight.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Ryusei?" Haruka's voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you awake? I need you to go grocery shopping later."
Ryusei froze.
If Haruka walked in right now and saw her wrapped up in a giant cursed spirit's death hug, she'd probably have a heart attack.
She tried to wiggle out, but Rika let out a low, playful growl and held her even tighter.
"Mine."
Ryusei winced as the pressure increased.
"Oi… Rika, let go!" she whispered harshly, glancing toward the door.
"No."
"Haruka is right outside!"
"So?"
"So?! What do you mean, so?!"
Ryusei gritted her teeth and finally used curse energy to push against Rika's arms.
With a slight huff, Rika reluctantly loosened her grip, just enough for Ryusei to slide out.
"I'll be out in a sec, Nee-san!" Ryusei called toward the door, trying to keep her voice even.
"Alright, but don't take too long," Haruka responded before her footsteps retreated.
Ryusei sighed in relief and turned to glare at Rika.
"You almost got me caught, dumbass."
Rika simply grinned, her rows of sharp teeth flashing.
"You're soft when you sleep~. I like holding you."
Ryusei facepalmed.
'This is my life now, huh…?'
Ryusei stared blankly at Rika, who was still lounging on her bed with a wide, toothy grin.
"Get back in the ring."
Rika pouted, her tendrils twitching in protest. "No."
Ryusei sighed, rubbing her temple. "Haruka's going to see you, dumbass."
Rika tilted her head, her one cyclopean eye narrowing mischievously. "So? If she sees me, I'll just eat her."
Ryusei froze.
CRACK!
The floor under her feet split as a wave of killing intent erupted from Ryusei, her pink colored curse energy flaring violently.
"Say that again," she said, her voice low and dangerous.
Rika stiffened.
For the first time, Ryusei looked genuinely pissed off. Her pale blue-colored eyes glowed with a murderous edge, her fingers twitching with restrained rage.
Rika was taken aback.
Then she grinned again, but this time, it was less smug and more… pleased.
"Ahhh~ Ryusei's so scary when she's mad," Rika purred, her tendrils swaying excitedly. "I like it~."
"Shut up and get in the ring."
Rika groaned dramatically. "Ughhh, fine! But only 'cause it's you!"
With a reluctant sigh, Rika's massive form dissolved into dark energy, swirling into the silver ring on Ryusei's hand.
Ryusei exhaled heavily, running a hand through her hair.
"What the hell did I just sign up for…?"
After changing into black sweatpants and a gray zip-up hoodie, Ryusei grabbed her phone and headed out the door, still slightly fuming.
She needed to get groceries for Haruka.
{Later}
As Ryusei placed the last grocery bag into her cart, the familiar sound of Issei's voice made her grimace inwardly.
"Ryusei! Yo!"
Turning her head slightly, she saw Issei Hyoudou waving enthusiastically, grinning like an idiot. Beside him, Yuuma— no, Raynare lung to his arm, tilting her head in mock innocence.
Immediately, Ryusei felt uneased.
Raynare's gaze lingered on her, sharp despite the friendly smile she wore.
'Tch. She noticed something.'
Forcing her expression into neutral disinterest, Ryusei gave a half-hearted wave. "Yo."
Issei, as oblivious as ever, beamed. "Man, I didn't think I'd run into you! You wanna hang out for a bit?"
Ryusei shook her head. "Can't. Got errands to finish."
Issei deflated. "Aw, c'mon! It won't take long!"
Before Ryusei could reply, Raynare suddenly leaned in too close—her warm breath ghosting against Ryusei's ear.
"What a shame," Raynare whispered, her voice dripping with sly amusement. "If only I had met you first, instead of him… I wonder how things would've turned out?"
A cold chill ran down Ryusei's spine.
At the same time...
The silver ring on Ryusei's finger trembled violently, dark energy spiking dangerously.
"Rika."
Ryusei clenched her fist hard, suppressing the surge of curse energy threatening to leak out.
Raynare pulled back with a mocking smile, her dark eyes flashing with something unreadable.
Ryusei exhaled slowly, forcing down the urge to deck her in the face right then and there.
"Not interested," Ryusei muttered coolly, stepping back and grabbing her cart. "Enjoy your date, Hyoudou."
And with that, she walked away Rika's presence still simmered angrily in the back of her mind.
{Back home}
After putting away the last of the groceries, Ryusei wiped her hands on her sweatpants and stretched.
Haruka glanced at her from the kitchen, raising a brow. "You're heading out again?"
Ryusei nodded, grabbing her hoodie from the back of a chair. "Yeah. Just some stuff I need to take care of. I won't be long."
Haruka sighed, crossing her arms. "You're always running off. You better not be getting into trouble."
Ryusei gave her a lazy wave over her shoulder as she walked to the door. "I'll be fine. Don't wait up for me."
Ryusei slipped out the door, shoving her hands into her pockets.
'Daily quest first. Then I'll decide if I need to intervene with Issei later.'
With that thought in mind, she headed toward an isolated part of town somewhere she could train and complete her quest without any distractions.
{Abandoned Park}
Ryusei sighed, lowering her head as Rika clung to her back, her massive arms wrapping around her tightly. She was still trying to focus on the task at hand, but Rika's presence was making it difficult to concentrate. "Rika, stop that. You can't just threaten to eat my sister and then act all cuddly. It's creepy."
Rika's voice, deep and a bit sultry, echoed in her mind. "But I love you, Ryusei… you're so strong… so beautiful." Her voice carried a possessive undertone that made Ryusei uncomfortable.
Ryusei groaned, shaking her head. She couldn't believe how her day had taken a weird turn. She paused, looking down at the copy ability that had awakened within her.
Rika purred from behind her, her long fingers gently stroking Ryusei's hair. "I just want to stay with you… forever…"
Ryusei's eyes narrowed as she continued her daily quest, now trying to shake the eerie feeling off. "I get it, Rika. But you can't just go around acting like you own me. We just met yesterday. Can you at least give me some space?"
But no matter how much she tried to distance herself, Rika continued to shower her with affection, causing Ryusei to sigh.
Despite everything, part of her still felt an odd comfort in Rika's attention. It was just… a lot to handle all at once. She knew she needed to figure out the full extent of her powers soon.
———————————————————
[Daily Quest Completed!]
[Choose One Reward:]
[Loot Box]
[Full Recovery]
[+3 Stat Points]
[Cursed Loot Box]
———————————————————
Ryusei scrolled through her usual list of daily quest rewards, her eyes scanning the options. After some thought, she decided to go with the Cursed Loot Box, hoping for something decent.
———————————————————
[You have received: Red Dungeon Key – Demon Castle (A-Rank Instant Dungeon)]
———————————————————
Her eyes widened as she inspected the red key. The name alone—Demon Castle—suggested it wouldn't be an easy challenge.
"An A-rank dungeon…" she murmured, feeling a mix of excitement and caution. The subway dungeon had been tough, and that was only E-rank. She wasn't sure if she was ready to take on something even stronger, but the potential rewards from an A-rank dungeon were too tempting to ignore.
After adding the red dungeon key to her inventory, she sighed and stood up, brushing herself off. "I guess it's time to head home. Maybe I'll think about the Demon Castle later."
She turned to head back, her thoughts briefly flicking to Rika who was still quietly clinging to her, though a bit more subdued than before.
She finally decided to head home and rest. She had school tomorrow and would rather not be tired for the entire day.
Ryusei paused mid-step, noticing the black feathers gently drifting from the sky. The wind shifted slightly, and as she followed the path of the feathers upward, her eyes met Raynare hovering just above the ground.
The fallen angel's appearance was dramatically different from before. Her new attire was both imposing and seductive, crafted from black leather straps, hugging her body in a manner that made it hard for Ryusei to look away.
The thigh-high heeled boots clacked slightly against the ground as Raynare floated down gracefully, her spiked shoulder guard gleaming under the dim light.
Raynare landed lightly on the ground in front of Ryusei, a smirk curling on her lips as her golden amber eyes locked onto Ryusei's. "I didn't expect to find you here, Ryusei," she purred, her voice smooth and laced with an eerie tone.
Raynare's gaze flickered downward, her eyes glowing faintly. "So… are you going to fight me, or are we going to talk?" She asked, a wicked smile creeping across her face. "I must say, you've grown stronger since we last met. But, I wonder... is it enough?"
Ryusei's heart skipped a beat as the numbers flashed in her mind after using her Appraisal skill. The sudden shock of seeing Raynare's true level—level 30—sent a chill down her spine.
'She was suppressing her power...' Ryusei realized. It made sense now—Raynare's calm demeanor earlier, her almost teasing nature it had all been a facade. She had been toying with Ryusei.
Now, standing before her was the full might of the fallen angel, her power unrestrained, and her aura radiating an almost suffocating intensity. It was clear that Raynare wasn't just a threat anymore—she was a serious danger.
'I... I thought I was ready....this is so much scarier now that I'm actually going to have to fight her...'
Ryusei tightened her grip on the Kasaka's Venom Fang she retrieved from her inventory, feeling the legendary black dagger pulse with a deadly energy in her hand. The paralysis effect and the bleed effect from the dagger could help, but she knew it wasn't enough. She wasn't sure if she could match Raynare's strength head-on.
Raynare tilted her head slightly, her golden amber eyes glinting with amusement. "You look surprised, Ryusei. Is it because you didn't expect me to be so strong? Or... are you afraid?" she taunted, her voice dripping with confidence.
Ryusei's lips curled into a thin line. She wasn't going to back down. Not now. Not when she had come so far. Even if Raynare was stronger, she had the Silverine Sword, her copy skill along with Rika.
She steadied her breathing, eyes narrowing. "I'm not afraid of you, Raynare," Ryusei said, her voice unwavering. "And I'm not going to let you harm anyone else."
Raynare's grin widened. "Is that so? I do admire your courage... though I wonder, how long will it last?"
The atmosphere grew heavier, and Ryusei's instincts screamed at her to move. This fight was going to be brutal, but she couldn't back down. Not now. Not ever.
DING!
———————————————————
[Emergency Quest: Survive Against Raynare for 5 Minutes!]
[Objective: Stay alive for 5 minutes against Raynare.]
[Reward: C-rank Skill Book]
(Good Luck!)
———————————————————
As soon as the quest notification appeared, Ryusei felt a chill run down her spine. Five minutes? That didn't sound long, but against a level 30 fallen angel with light spears and magic though...that was another story.
Raynare wasted no time, hurling a lance of light at Ryusei. Instinct took over as she activated her skill [Quick Silver], her body moving at enhanced speed, allowing her to barely dodge the incoming attack. The spear crashed into the ground, sending sparks and a shockwave through the park.
Each swing of Kasaka's Venom Fang was met with a clash of divine energy, Raynare using her light magic to counter every strike. Ryusei gritted her teeth. She was fast, but Raynare was faster.
"You're fast," Raynare mused, forming two more spears of light in her hands. "But let's see how long you can last."
Ryusei gritted her teeth, her Kasaka's Venom Fang gleaming in her grip. She dashed forward, aiming for Raynare's side, but the fallen angel effortlessly blocked her strike with a barrier of light, then retaliated with a wide arc slash of light magic.
Ryusei barely managed to duck, feeling the intense heat scorch the air above her head.
She needed a plan—surviving wasn't just about dodging. She had to keep Raynare moving, waste her energy, and minimize her own injuries.
Using Quick Silver, Ryusei zig-zagged unpredictably, making herself a harder target as she slashed at Raynare's blind spots. The dagger's paralysis effect wasn't instant, but if she could land a good cut, it might slow Raynare down.
The fallen angel suddenly flapped her wings, taking to the sky to gain an advantage. "Running around like a rat won't help you," she sneered before dozens of light spears materialized around her.
'Damn it!' Ryusei cursed internally.
Five minutes felt like an eternity.
She rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the first barrage of spears. She counted the seconds on the timer in her system, only 90 seconds had passed.
Raynare descended like a meteor, another spear forming in her grip. Ryusei had no choice but to meet her head-on.
Channeling curse energy into her Kasaka's Venom Fang, she lunged forward. Their weapons clashed, sending a shockwave through the park, both of them skidding back.
Ryusei's hand was numb from the impact, but she had no time to recover as Raynare came at her again.
"You're a stubborn one," Raynare smirked, launching another point-blank attack.
Ryusei dodged just in time, feeling the heat of the light magic graze her shoulder, burning her jacket.
3 minutes left.
She couldn't afford to get reckless. One wrong move, and it was over.
Breathing heavily, she steadied herself. I just have to last a little longer—
Then, in a split second, pain erupted in Ryusei's right leg.
"AGH!"
Pain erupted in Ryusei's leg as one of Raynare's spears found its mark, piercing clean through her thigh. Blood splattered onto the concrete, and she staggered, her vision shaking.
Raynare chuckled, stepping closer. "You're quick, but not quick enough, little human," she purred. "This is where you—"
CHOMP!
A monstrous jaw snapped shut around Raynare's right arm, severing it instantly.
"WH—?!"
Raynare screamed as Rika fully manifested, her enormous cycloptic eye glowing with rage.
"Don't. Touch. Ryusei!!!" Rika roared, her voice shaking the air as she bared her monstrous teeth.
Ryusei gritted her teeth through the pain, but her system sent another notification.
———————————————————
[New Skill Acquired: Light Spear (LVL 1)]
(A weaker version of Raynare's light-based weapon, modified by the user's unique abilities.)
———————————————————
Taking a deep breath, Ryusei summoned her own light spear, hers glowed a deep, vibrant pink.
Raynare, clutching her bleeding stump, glared at Ryusei with pure hatred. "You… you copied my power?!"
Ryusei spun the pink light spear in her hand. A wicked grin spread across her face despite the pain.
"Damn right I did," she said. "And now, I'm gonna kick your ass."
Rika let out an excited growl, curling protectively around Ryusei.
Raynare snarled, forming another spear with her remaining hand.