The Pulse of Progress
As the party walked off toward town, the Core Alloy on Ruko's wrist pulsed once more — quietly, but alive — like it was waiting for the next chapter to unfold.
The night over Axel shimmered with the faint light of mana-lamps, scattering gold across the cobblestone streets. Ruko had wandered outside the walls, up to a grassy hill that overlooked the whole town. The night breeze ruffled his coat while the glow from the Core Alloy throbbed gently under his skin. It wasn't just a tool — it felt almost alive. Breathing. Watching.
"Feels like this thing's syncing too well…" he muttered. "If it starts talking, I'm running."
A soft hum responded, as if the metal found his joke amusing. Then came the familiar chime in his ears:
> [System Update Detected.]
[Synchronizing Core Alloy… Completed.]
[Status Card – Active.]
He sighed, flicking his fingers to summon the interface. The transparent screen unfolded before him in shimmering blue light.
---
Name: Ruko Satou [Kazuma's Crew]
Level: 9
Power Output: 1%
HP: 480 / 480
MP: 700 / 700
Strength: 45
Agility: 62
Endurance: 51
Magic: 70
Luck: 89
Unlocked Skills:
• True Copy (Adaptive State)
• Seal / Unseal
• Rewrite
• Infinite Combine
---
"Still at one percent, huh? Guess I'm running on budget mode." He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, can't rush greatness."
He closed the window and clenched his fist. For an instant, the air thickened — his aura flared just slightly before flickering out. The Core Alloy responded with a faint vibration, like a heartbeat syncing to his own. The resonance felt raw, unstable… but alive.
"Guess you and I are stuck together now," Ruko said softly. "Don't let me down."
Aqua's distant yelling floated from town — something about Kazuma owing her another round of drinks. Megumin's voice followed, demanding funding for her next explosion. Ruko snorted. "These people are chaos incarnate."
He sat on the hill for a while, gazing at the stars. The seal's faint markings glowed dimly on his wrist, pulsing once — a reminder that his power was still being held back. Somewhere out there, the Sealer was watching. Testing him. Maybe even enjoying it.
"Just you wait," he whispered. "You're not the only one who can play games with seals."
The Core Alloy flickered again — an echo, then a pulse. Down in the far ravine, the same place he'd found the shard, a distant glint of light shimmered like a heartbeat in the dark.
> [Sub-Quest Added: "Echo of the Alloy" – Investigate the Disturbance Near the Steel Ravine.]
Ruko's grin widened. "Guess we're not done after all."
He stood and cracked his neck, stretching his arms until the joints popped. "Alright. Time for some aura farming."
He closed his eyes, focusing on his mana flow. His aura expanded — faint, red-black energy that swirled like smoke around his body. The wind howled in response, carrying the scent of mana through the field. The pressure made the grass bend outward, forming a circular ring around him.
For a moment, Ruko struck a pose — one leg forward, arms crossed as his aura pulsed like waves of fire and shadow. "Heh. Not bad for one percent," he said with a cocky smirk. "If Kazuma saw this, he'd call it 'main-character behavior.'"
> [Aura Stabilization Rate: 3.6%.]
[Aura Output: Within Safety Limits.]
The ground quivered faintly beneath him. In the forest below, monsters stirred — then froze. The Fear Resonance that leaked from his body spread through the trees. Every beast, from wolves to goblins, paused in instinctive dread, their eyes gleaming in terror at a presence far beyond what they could comprehend.
> [Passive Effect Triggered: Fear Resonance.]
"Good," Ruko murmured. "Even if I'm weak, I can still make them hesitate."
He sat again, letting the aura fade. He'd learned something valuable: even limited, his energy could ripple through nature itself. The secret was balance, not power.
As he gazed at the faintly glowing Alloy, a soft notification appeared once more.
> [Power Growth: 1.1% → 1.2%.]
[Next Threshold: 2% – Early Mid Arc Approaching.]
He looked at his hands, the faint scar from the Core's synchronization still visible. Each percent mattered. Each one represented the slow evolution toward something greater — a journey measured in effort, not miracles.
He turned toward town, the lamp lights glowing faintly through the mist. "Tomorrow's gonna be loud again," he said under his breath, grinning. "Maybe too loud."
He adjusted his collar, pulling his hood over his face as the Core Alloy dimmed beneath his sleeve. "But before that…" He let out a slow sigh, his voice low and confident. "I'm getting a drink."
He started walking, his steps quiet, aura contained. Still, behind him, the grass continued to ripple even after he'd gone — the earth itself reacting to his presence.
Just before he reached the town gate, he muttered one last thing, grinning wide.
"Bomboclot… this world has no idea what's coming."
And the Core Alloy pulsed again, answering like it agreed.