RYUJIN SAT ALONE IN HIS ROOM THAT NIGHT.
THE WOUND ON HIS SHOULDER STILL BURNED, BUT HIS MIND WAS ELSEWHERE.
HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND SPOKE SOFTLY:
"STATUS"
STATUS SCREEN
A TRANSLUCENT BLUE SCREEN APPEARED IN FRONT OF HIM.
NAME: RYUJIN
LEVEL: 26 → 34 (+8)
CLASS: SHADOW ASCENDANT (???)
STRENGTH: 22 → 42
AGILITY: 30 → 58
HEALTH: 400 → 950
MANA: 180 → 390
SKILLS:
ULTRA INSTINCT (???) – IMPROVED
VOID STEP (NEW) – TELEPORT SHORT DISTANCES THROUGH SHADOWS
ABYSSAL EDGE (NEW) – ENHANCE BLADE WITH VOID ENERGY, INCREASING PENETRATION AND DAMAGE
RYUJIN LOOKED AT THE SCREEN, HIS FISTS CLENCHING.
"…I'M GETTING STRONGER. BUT IS IT REALLY ME? OR… THAT THING?"
HE CLOSED THE SCREEN.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, HE FELT… TIRED.
ARIANA'S INVITATION
THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
RYUJIN OPENED IT TO FIND ARIANA STANDING THERE, CASUAL CLOTHES INSTEAD OF HER BATTLE ARMOR.
"HEY," SHE SAID QUIETLY.
"YOU'VE BEEN LOCKED UP IN HERE ALL DAY. COME WITH ME."
"WHERE?"
"JUST… OUT. NO MONSTERS, NO ASSOCIATION, NO COUNCIL. JUST US."
THE QUIET MOMENT
THE TWO WALKED THROUGH THE CITY UNDER THE NIGHT SKY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS, RYUJIN FELT… NORMAL.
THEY ENDED UP ON A TOWER'S ROOFTOP, THE ENTIRE CITY LIT UP BELOW THEM.
ARIANA SAT DOWN ON THE EDGE, LOOKING AT THE LIGHTS.
"I ALMOST LOST YOU OUT THERE," SHE SAID, VOICE LOW.
"I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU LIKE THAT AGAIN."
RYUJIN STOOD BEHIND HER, SILENT FOR A LONG TIME.
"…I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CONTROL IT," HE ADMITTED.
"BUT I'LL KEEP FIGHTING IT. FOR THEM… AND FOR YOU."
ARIANA TURNED TO FACE HIM, HER EXPRESSION SOFT.
"GOOD. BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE."
A SMALL STEP
THE TWO STOOD CLOSE, THE CITY LIGHTS REFLECTING IN THEIR EYES.
ARIANA TOOK HIS HAND—
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HIS FAMILY'S DEATH, RYUJIN DIDN'T PULL AWAY.
HE LET HIMSELF SMILE, JUST A LITTLE.