Recovery. Reluctant rest. And voices that refuse to fade.
The world was quiet when Arin opened his eyes.
Too quiet.
A slow, rhythmic beeping echoed near his head. A faint medicinal scent filled the air. The white ceiling above him was smooth and unfamiliar, interrupted only by a faint blue glow strip lining its edge.
A medical ward.
His body felt… heavy. Wrapped, bandaged, stiff. Breathing hurt—but not as much as he expected. He frowned.
I shouldn't be alive after that.
Nearby, hushed voices spoke behind a curtain.
"Two weeks… and he's still regenerating? Even with advanced Astra treatment, a normal human would be in a coma—or dead," said one nurse in disbelief. "His bones were shattered like glass. Some were turned into powder. Yet look… they've already reformed," whispered another. "He's healing without a catalyst stone… what is he?" "Don't say that too loud. Commander Aisha said no rumors." "…I still think they're hiding something terrifying."
Their footsteps faded.
Arin stared blankly at the ceiling.
Two weeks.
Slowly, he lifted his right arm. It felt foreign. Stronger… yet faintly trembling.
Then his chest tightened—not in pain, but in memory.
He saw Goru's body skewered, Shivani bleeding, Miran crying while chanting healing spells with shaking hands, Riku shielding someone despite shaking…
He had arrived drenched in fury. He remembered ripping through flesh and tentacles. Laughing. Loving the blood. Craving more.
His hand trembled.
"…I lost control," he muttered.
A chirping sound broke his spiral.
"Pek!"
Perin, curled on a stool beside him, suddenly leaped onto his chest—now bigger, fluffier, and slightly more fierce-looking than before. Its fur shimmered subtly with a soft, spiritual glow as it headbutted him repeatedly.
"Alright, alright—I'm alive," Arin muttered.
Perin squeaked proudly and plopped onto his stomach like a guardian.
Despite everything, Arin's lips twitched in a faint, tired grin.
The curtain slid open.
Om Sai walked in.
Casual as ever, hands in pockets—but his eyes, for once, weren't joking. They scanned Arin up and down.
"You look alive," he said, as though making fun of him for not dying.
Arin didn't respond.
Om Sai leaned casually on the wall. "…You slept like a corpse. Had half the city making bets whether you'd wake up evil."
"…Did you bet I'd wake up evil?" Arin asked dryly.
Om Sai grinned.
"Nope. I bet you'd wake up annoying."
Silence.
A very faint snort almost escaped Arin's nose. Almost.
Om Sai tilted his head.
"I'll say this simply: you were seconds away from being judged a threat. They wanted you gone." His lazy tone faded just enough to show this part mattered.
Arin looked down at his healed hand.
Om Sai continued:
"I didn't save your ass because you're some hero. Or because I'm nice. Or because I'm interested in politics." He leaned forward, voice a quiet razor: "I saved you because during that fight… I saw something inside you. Something old. Something that wasn't afraid of death but deeply angry at life. And I want to know which side that thing falls on."
Arin remained expressionless. But something flickered in his chest, too faint to name.
"Rest for today. Tomorrow… training resumes," Om Sai added, already turning away. Then he paused, smirking slightly. "Oh, and… Shivani punched three walls after seeing you half-dead. Goru's on life support but alive. Miran's fine. Riku's scouting. Aisha won't say it, but she's worried."
Arin blinked slowly.
"…I see."
Om Sai flicked Perin's head gently. "Keep your pet fed. He evolved a little while you were dying like an idiot."
"Pek!" Perin puffed up proudly like he understood.
Om Sai waved lazily and walked out.
The silence returned. Arin exhaled slowly.
Up until now… he had survived everything through instinct.
Now, something else loomed.
A crossroads.
And far away… something within him stirred.
A voice. Echoing softly in the dark.
"Power isn't given freely… remember the deal forming…?"
Arin's fingertips tightened into the sheets.
"No," he whispered.
But the darkness responded with a quiet laugh dripping in murderous patience.
Guilt, awkward visits, silent questions… and a contract whispering in the dark.
The door opened again—not loud, not causal.
This time, careful.
Shivani stepped in quietly.
She was in uniform still, wrapped in bandages of her own. A faint bruise marked her cheek. Her right shoulder was wrapped tightly, but she carried herself with forced composure—as if refusing to show weakness in front of him.
Arin shifted slightly, unsure how to face her. Perin sensed tension and hopped off to the side table, tail twitching.
Shivani stood there for a moment without speaking.
Then, in a steady voice: "…You idiot. You made everyone worry."
Her words were scolding—but her tone was not angry. More… exhausted.
Arin looked down. "Sorry…"
She walked closer, standing by his bed, but not quite sitting.
"I heard… you stood there, covered in blood and didn't move… until they finally forced you to black out."
Silence.
Arin didn't know how to respond.
She lowered her head, voice slightly softer: "Goru almost died trying to protect me. Miran exhausted her healing until she passed out. Riku stayed behind to stall the beast alone until the backup came. And you…"
Her hand trembled slightly, then clenched into a fist.
"…you fought like you wanted to die with it."
Arin's eyes widened slightly.
He didn't deny it.
She looked at him, gaze calm but sharp: "…Is that how little you value this life?"
Something in his chest ached—not physically.
He stayed silent.
"…Whatever you are," she whispered, "you are our comrade now. If you die… others will break with you. So don't act like a monster who fights alone ever again."
He finally met her eyes.
"I didn't mean to—"
Her palm suddenly smacked lightly against his forehead. Not hard. Just enough.
"Good. Then learn from it," she muttered, turning slightly to hide… was that a relieved smile?
Perin, seeing the mood lighten, suddenly leaped onto Shivani's shoulder.
"Pek!"
Shivani froze like a statue.
"…It's on me."
Arin blinked. "…Yes."
"GET THIS FURBALL OFF ME!"
She marched around trying to pry him gently, but Perin clung like a baby to her hair, purring innocently.
Despite the soreness, Arin almost laughed.
Eventually Perin was bribed off with a biscuit Miran snuck in earlier (probably for Arin).
When Shivani headed for the door, she paused without turning.
"Rest," she said. "Training resumes when Om Sai says so."
Just before she left, she added, more quietly:
"Glad you're alive."
The door closed.
…
Later that evening, Arin was rolled on a wheelchair outside briefly to get some air.
He passed by a recovery ward.
Through the glass, he saw Miran sleeping in a chair, exhausted but safe. Riku meditating with a grim look but glance softening when he noticed Arin. Goru in a medical pod, eyes closed, stable but fighting. His shield—repaired—rested near him.
Arin exhaled slowly.
They were alive.
That night, Arin lay awake in the dim ward.
Kalink's voice echoed faintly within him. "I didn't heal you… so why is your body fixed, hmm?"
He frowned.
If Kalink didn't heal him…
Then who—or what—did?
And why was that A-tier beast in a low-tier zone… exactly when he was there?
Mother Nature's spiritual servants… Vayushri's terrified cry… "She sent me to kill you…"
A chill ran down his spine.
Someone wanted him alive…
Someone wanted him dead…
And someone was waiting for him to choose