Chapter 5: The crimson chains
The night was colder inside the cave. The faint glow of insects at the entrance barely lit the rocky walls. Arjun sat cross-legged, sword resting on his lap, while the girl slept nearby. His body was tired, but his mind refused to calm down.
Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the wolves. The glowing eyes. The dripping fangs. The smell of blood and burning air. His hand twitched, as if the sword was still vibrating from their blows.
He checked the timer again.
[Time Remaining: 20 hours, 58 minutes.]
Arjun groaned quietly. "Not even four hours gone. This is torture."
He rubbed his temples. Part of him wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. A day ago, he was just a useless college kid hiding in his rented room. Now he was fighting monsters in another world with some kind of system bound to his soul.
And there was the girl.
Arjun's eyes drifted to her sleeping figure. Her long black hair spilled across the stone floor like ink. Her face, though pale and tired, was calm now. The strange marks on her wrists glowed faintly, as if reminding him that she was not ordinary.
"Maiden of Azure Chains," he whispered. "Who are you really?"
The system gave no reply.
Arjun sighed. "Figures."
He leaned back against the wall, trying to rest his eyes, when a faint rustle came from outside the cave. His head snapped up instantly.
The sound came again. Leaves crunching. Heavy breathing. Low growls.
Arjun's heart skipped. "No… not already."
He shook the girl's shoulder gently. "Hey. Wake up. We've got trouble."
Her eyelids fluttered open. "Trouble?"
Before Arjun could answer, a guttural roar shook the cave entrance. Glowing eyes appeared in the dark. Not one. Not two. At least three pairs.
Wolves.
Arjun cursed under his breath and grabbed his sword. "Stay behind me!"
The wolves emerged into the dim light, their black fur glowing with faint red cracks like molten rock. Smaller than the first wolf he had fought, but together they were far more dangerous. Their teeth dripped saliva, and their claws scraped the stone floor as they circled the entrance.
The girl gasped softly, fear flashing in her eyes. "Crimson Fang Wolves…"
"You know them?" Arjun asked, keeping his sword raised.
"They… hunt in packs," she whispered.
"Of course they do," Arjun muttered.
The wolves growled, then lunged all at once.
Arjun swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing one wolf back, but another slashed at his side. His new leather armor absorbed most of the blow, but the impact still knocked the air out of him.
He stumbled back, gritting his teeth. "Damn it. Too many!"
The girl clutched her chest, trembling. Her eyes darted to him, then to the wolves, then back again. Something flickered in her expression, a mix of fear and determination.
"I… I have to help," she whispered.
Arjun barked a laugh, even as he blocked another swipe with his sword. "No offense, but you can barely stand. Just stay put!"
But the girl shook her head. "If I don't… we'll both die."
Her hands glowed suddenly, the faint blue marks on her wrists sparking to life. She gasped as chains of shimmering light burst out of her skin, wrapping around her arms like living weapons.
Arjun's eyes widened. "What the"
The chains lashed out, striking one of the wolves in the chest. The beast howled, slammed against the cave wall, sparks scattering from where the glowing links cut into its flesh.
The girl stood shakily, her eyes burning with new strength. "I… remember now. The chains… they are my power."
The system's voice echoed in Arjun's mind.
[Bond Partner Awakening Detected.]
[Ability Unlocked: Azure Chain Bind.]
[Effect: Partner can summon chains of energy to attack or restrain enemies. Power increases when fighting alongside Host.]
Arjun grinned despite the chaos. "You've got powers? That would've been nice to know earlier!"
The girl ignored him, her face calm but fierce. "Fight with me. I will hold them. You strike."
The wolves regrouped, snarling. Two charged at once. The girl's chains shot forward, glowing blue whips that wrapped around one wolf's legs, slamming it to the ground. The other leapt high, fangs bared.
Arjun roared and slashed upward, cutting the wolf across the belly. Black blood splattered the cave floor as the beast dissolved into mist.
He turned, panting, to see the girl holding the other wolf pinned with her glowing chains. Her arms trembled, sweat running down her face, but she held firm.
"Now!" she cried.
Arjun didn't hesitate. He plunged his sword into the trapped wolf's throat. It let out a strangled howl before vanishing.
The third wolf circled, eyes glowing brighter, rage boiling off it. It snarled and lunged at the girl.
Arjun's heart froze. "No!"
But before he could reach her, she raised her glowing chains and crossed them in front of her like a shield. The wolf slammed into them, sparks flying as if it had hit solid steel. The chains held just long enough for Arjun to leap forward and drive his sword into the beast's side.
The wolf writhed, snapped its jaws, and then collapsed into mist.
Silence filled the cave.
Arjun fell back against the wall, gasping for breath, his body shaking from exhaustion. The girl collapsed to her knees, her glowing chains fading into sparks that vanished into the air.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Arjun let out a weak laugh. "You… you're insane. But that was amazing."
The girl looked at him, her face pale but eyes shining. "I don't even know how I did it… but it felt natural. Like the chains were always part of me."
The system chimed.
[Bond Growth +10]
[Shared Vitality enhanced. Recovery rate increased.]
Arjun blinked. "So the stronger our bond, the more powerful we both get…"
The girl tilted her head. "Bond?"
Arjun rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's… complicated. I'll explain later. For now, just know we make a good team."
A faint blush touched her cheeks. She looked away, but a small smile curved her lips. "Then… let's survive this night together."
Arjun smiled back, despite the sweat and blood covering him. "Yeah. Together."
The timer flashed again.
[Time Remaining: 20 hours, 21 minutes.]
Arjun groaned loudly. "This is the longest day of my life."
But for the first time since entering this world, he felt something other than fear. He felt hope.