《Paradox》


 Prologue

    Personality.


    The unique combination of characteristics that defines an individual.


    It defines you.


    It sets you apart.


    It proves you exist.


    Personalities are what dominate human decisions and are what decide which path you will take in life.


    But if one personality trait was dominant for every individual on Earth. What exactly would happen?


    This question was answered 25 years ago.


    Ancient gateways birthed from the very fabric of the cosmos, torn apart to create passages between realms.


    These gateways became known as ¡°The Arches of Eternity.¡±


    Reality itself cracked, a cosmic wound oozing paths to realms unknown. From its depths emerged both saviors and destroyers.


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    Some came from realms far beyond our own¡ªcivilizations of incomprehensible power and boundless technology.


    They wielded powers once confined to storybooks and television screens.


    But¡­


    Some came from savage, untamed worlds¡ªcreatures of chaos and destruction, driven by primal instinct.


    They were something out of a nightmare.


    We could only name them what they truly were: TERRORS.


    They burned our cities, shattered our skies, and drowned our hope in blood.


    Yet, in humanity¡¯s darkest hour, hope ignited¡ªa flicker against oblivion. The first system user emerged, a beacon of possibility in the chaos.


    After him, more and more people seemed to awaken abilities with the aid of the ¡°system.¡±


    Their power stemmed from their dominant personality trait.


    With the strength of the mysterious beings at their side, the Terrors were beaten back, and a fragile balance was restored¡ªat least for a time.


    But that was then.


    Now, 25 years later, the world is ruled by the strong¡ªthe gifted, the chosen, the dominant.


    That left me at the bottom of the food chain.


    But not for long.


    My ascent is only beginning.

 The Contract [1]

    Tired.


    This is the only way I can describe my current condition. My legs feel no different from jelly, my lungs are burning, my arms are about to fall off, and my heart feels like it¡¯s about to burst. But I kept moving. I had no choice. This was survival. I could smell the blood on me¡ªsharp, coppery, clinging to my clothes. I reeked of death, and they knew it.


    Their eyes clung to me, heavy with disdain. Whispers slithered through the air.


    ¡°It¡¯s him again,¡± someone whispered.


    ¡°Ugh. That smell is unbearable,¡± another voice sneered.


    ¡°Does he still not have a ring?¡± A woman scoffed, ¡°What a loser.¡±


    ¡°Where the hell does all his money go!!??¡± ¡°He should have one by now!!¡±


    All their words were common to me by now. They would repeat these same words anytime I came around this part of the city.


    I could understand their frustrations. After all, who liked the smell of a corpse?


    That''s right¡ªI was dragging a terror corpse across the city. Disturbing everyone that I crossed paths with.


    I had caused trouble dragging corpses through the streets before, but no one ever confronted me. They needed me too much. So they kept their insults to whispers, just loud enough for one or two to reach my ears.


    I couldn¡¯t care less either way.


    Dragging both my exhausted body and the Terror, I pressed forward. Twenty grueling minutes later, I arrived.


    A small building with no surrounding infrastructure. It was a very forgettable place.


    It looked abandoned and gave off an air of unwelcomeness.


    I stood frozen for a few seconds, staring at it, before finally heading inside.


    Contrary to the outside of the building, the inside was quite clean and welcoming.


    The floor was luxurious and expansive, as if it was crafted from high-quality materials foreign to our world. The walls were even more impressive. They looked resistant to any type of external force and were soundproofed.


    Then above me was the blinding chandelier that illuminated the entire room. It was all so grand and majestic.


    I hated it.


    I continued to drag the corpse across the floor until I got to the end of the room and opened the door leading to an even bigger room just as grand as the last.


    It was insufferable, and all these colors hurt my eyes.


    I kept moving, passing all types of things that would leave anyone else gobsmacked. But I just wanted to rest.


    I finally reached the door marked [The Hollow Hunters].


    I opened the door and came face to face with my boss, ¡°Kraven¡±.


    He was leaned back in his chair, feet up on his desk, reading a magazine called ¡°Design Porn.¡±


    I stared at him with a blank face and waited.


    After a while, his nose wrinkled, and he lazily motioned his hand at me. A shadowy figure appeared beside me, and in a quiet yet smooth motion, it collected the corpse and disappeared.


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    As usual, it was impressive, and I still couldn¡¯t follow those movements.


    Before I could turn around to leave, I heard a voice.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    Kraven lowered his magazine and revealed his face. His hair was darker than the figure that appeared just moments ago, with strands falling over his forehead. His face was deceptively young, and his smirk caused the ash to fall from his cigar.


    He was an average-looking man and didn¡¯t really have any striking features that I could point out. The only thing impressive about his looks was the amount of effort he put into them.


    He took a contract from his desk and slid it to me.


    ¡°New job for ya. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be quite interested.¡±


    I raised my brow in curiosity. I took a look at the contract and immediately furrowed my brow.


    Noticing my look, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there''ll be no political blowback.¡±


    I gave Kraven a sullen look before turning around to leave.


    He simply continued to smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t take too long. The contractors don¡¯t seem to be very patient people.¡±


    ***


    Watching the boy leave, Kraven couldn¡¯t help but feel bad for him.


    ¡°That kid¡¯s fashion sense is a crime. If the Terrors don¡¯t kill him, his wardrobe will,¡± he muttered, shaking his head.


    Now that he left, he could finally go back to reading his magazine.


    He started flipping through it, enjoying the amazing decorative designs that adorned the pages, when a shadow appeared beside him.


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll do it?¡± the shadow asked.


    He couldn''t help but smirk and reply, ¡°I have no doubt in my mind.¡±


    ¡°Now, what do you think of these chairs?¡±


    ¡°...They look nice.¡±


    ***


    I stumbled into my apartment, reeking of blood and sweat. My fingers fumbled with the faucet, the cold water stinging my bruised knuckles. The red smears across my face refused to wash away easily, clinging to my skin like guilt. I stared into the mirror, eyes sunken, watching the last traces of the fight circle the drain. Looking at the mirror, I could see that my hair was finally freed from the sticky substance that shackled it, revealing my jet-black hair. The yellow glow of my eyes was dim, and my lips were dry. I drank some water and didn¡¯t waste any time going to bed. Fighting that terror was more draining than I could have predicted. I needed a break, not another contract.


    Especially that contract. A contract that would likely get me killed.


    But I won''t lie and say I¡¯m not intrigued by it. This could be the ultimate opportunity for me; I could be one step closer to my goal if I succeed. Plus, the pay is pretty good too.


    But is it worth it? The chances that I actually succeed are embarrassingly slim. The risk is great, but the reward is even greater. Maybe I¡¯m a fool. Maybe this is suicide. But if I don¡¯t take this chance, then what am I even fighting for?


    Look at me, I¡¯m thinking so much that I¡¯ve forgotten I was tired. But at least I know what I¡¯ve decided.


    I¡¯m going to take the contract.


    *


    Waking up the next day was more challenging than killing that terror. My body ached all over, as if it was discouraging me from taking on that contract. But I had already made up my mind. This will be my first step on the climb to the top.


    I started to get ready. I equipped my suit, holstered my guns beneath my ribs, strapped daggers to my chest, and clipped my kusarigama and sword to my hip.


    I went to the outskirts of the city, where the forest marked the edge of civilization. Beyond it, only the foolish or desperate ventured. I progressed inside and jumped to the top of a tree so I could move more easily and be harder to detect. I leapt from tree to tree, keeping to the shadows. The wind shifted, carrying the faint scent of blood. My muscles tensed as I caught a glimpse of something slithering below, too quick to identify. I kept moving, forcing myself to stay silent.


    I stopped when I finally saw a figure sitting atop a bear, eating its arm. It was a grotesque sight, but its behavior matched my target.


    Despite that, I needed absolute certainty that they were who I was searching for. My grip tightened around the dagger. If I was wrong, I¡¯d lose my element of surprise. But if I was right¡­


    I exhaled slowly, steadying my aim, and flicked the blade toward a brittle branch. It snapped, tumbling to the forest floor with a muted rustle.


    The figure stiffened. Their head jerked up, bloodied lips peeling back to reveal sharp teeth.


    I frowned.


    With blood caking their skin, they reminded me of a bald uakari monkey¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t what made me frown. What made me displeased were the unmistakable curves of horns protruding from their skull.


    I clenched my jaw. My contract hadn¡¯t been lying¡ªI was to kidnap a dragon.

 The Contract [2]

    Drakonids.


    One of the many races that came to Earth through the arches twenty-five years ago.


    Drakonids weren¡¯t hostile to humans, but they weren¡¯t particularly friendly either. To them, we were curiosities¡ªlesser beings to be observed rather than true allies.


    We were no more than a means of entertainment to them, and I could understand why they felt that way. Still, I hated the way they watched us¡ªlike scholars dissecting a failed experiment.


    This was the same way the Drakonid in front of me was observing me. It wore an amused look, like it was waiting for me to attempt to run away from its gaze.


    That''s when it hit me: I never had the element of surprise; it knew exactly where I was and was just waiting for me to make a move.


    It really pissed me off.


    The wind whipped against my face as I crouched at the edge of the branch. My fingers gripped the rough bark, the texture digging into my skin, grounding me. The earth below seemed a world away, a blur of green and brown. I took a deep breath, my heartbeat loud in my ears, and in one fluid motion, I sprang.


    The ground slammed into me with a shock of impact, my knees bending to absorb the force, and my breath escaped in a sharp exhale. My body jolted, but I stayed upright, heart pounding in exhilaration.


    I was about to fight a Drakonid!!


    But something was weird. It was just staring at me. Did I look that interesting?


    ¡°Human. Where are your manners?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s rude to interrupt someone during a meal?¡±


    I furrowed my brow. ¡®What¡¯s it saying?¡¯


    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll kill you before the meat spoils.¡±


    It finished its sentence before disappearing from my sight.


    Shocked, I tried to defend. But before I could react¡­


    *BANG*


    A punch landed with a sickening thud, a muffled crack as knuckles sank into my flesh. My chest buckled inward, the air knocked from my lungs in an explosive gasp. My eyes widened, and my mouth opened in a silent plea for breath, but no sound escaped. For a brief moment, I seemed to hover, suspended in shock, before my body crumpled back, feet scraping across the floor as I staggered, struggling to stay on my feet. My hand shot to my chest, fingers splayed wide, but the pain flared, sharp and burning, with every ragged inhale.


    My consciousness threatened to slip away, and it took all my willpower to fight against the fog overtaking me.


    Gathering strength in my legs, my muscles coiled like a spring, and without a second thought, I launched myself backward. My feet left the ground in a blur, my body twisting mid-air as the world around me seemed to stretch and warp. The ground beneath me felt solid, but my pulse raced, every nerve still buzzing from the jolt of movement.


    Bringing my eyes to match the Drakonids, a smirk no longer occupied its face. Instead, another emotion took its place.


    Disappointment?


    Pity?


    I couldn¡¯t tell, nor did I care.


    Steadying my breath, I prepared for an attack. The cool metal pressed against my palms as I yanked both pistols free, their weight familiar, steady. My fingers coiled around the triggers, taut like a predator ready to strike. Breath steady, heartbeat hammering, I squeezed¡ªmuzzles flashing, each shot splitting the air with sharp, concussive cracks. The recoil jolted up my arms, but I barely noticed. My focus locked, my aim unwavering.


    With a guttural snarl, the Drakonid tore a tree from the earth, roots snapping with a wet, splintering crack. Dirt and debris rained down as it swung the massive trunk in a wide arc, the air howling with its force. Instinct took over¡ªI hurled myself sideways, feet skidding against the loose soil. The impact came a second later, a shockwave of force slamming into my raised arms. Pain flared through my limbs, my stance buckling as I struggled to stay on my feet, breath ripping from my lungs.


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    ¡°You¡¯ll need more than just toys to beat me Human.¡±


    I ignored its jabbering and tossed my pistols, they were useless in the face of this lizard.


    Fingers tightening around the chain, I whipped my kusarigama forward, the blade whistling through the air in a silver arc. The Drakonid barely reacted, lifting its arm with sluggish indifference. The sickle snapped around its forearm, the chain rattling as it cinched tight. It glanced down, unimpressed, lips parting in a slow, drawn-out yawn.


    Muscles coiling, I wrenched the chain forward. The links groaned under the strain, and the Drakonid lurched toward me, its body shifting against its will. Its eyes widened, a flicker of disbelief flashing across its face¡ªthis wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. Before it could react, I drove my fist forward, knuckles tightening as the momentum carried me straight toward its jaw.


    *BANG*


    The Drakonid¡¯s body rocketed backward, a blur against the landscape before slamming into a distant stone with a thunderous crack. A shockwave rippled through the air, sending dust and debris spiraling. A sharp, searing pain shot through my hand¡ªwrong, broken. My fingers throbbed, already swelling, but I exhaled through clenched teeth. At least the hit landed.


    The dust hadn¡¯t even settled, but I knew¡ªit wasn¡¯t over. My fingers slipped into my pocket, brushing against the smooth surface of a pill. It wouldn¡¯t fix my broken hand, but it might dull the throbbing ache spreading up my arm. I brought it to my lips¡ª


    ¡°That¡¯s the way!!¡±


    The voice rang out, cutting through the haze.


    From the rubble, the Drakonid emerged, a grin stretching across its face, sharp teeth glinting beneath the settling dust. My jaw tightened. The impact had done nothing.


    Clicking my tongue, I watched as it wiped a streak of dark, matted blood from its face¡ªbear¡¯s blood, not its own. Bit by bit, its features came into view, untouched, unbothered.


    The Drakonid was¡­ a woman??


    Her sleek, dark hair spilled over her shoulders, strands catching the light as they framed her face. Crimson eyes shimmered, deep and hypnotic, like polished rubies glinting under firelight. A slow smile curved her full lips, sultry and effortless, a silent promise laced with danger. Something in the air shifted¡ªheavy, intoxicating. She didn¡¯t need words; the sheer gravity of her presence was enough to make weaker men falter, their wills bending before they even realized it.


    ¡®I¡¯ve seen better.¡¯


    ¡°Enough playing around. Let¡¯s get serious.¡±


    She lifted a hand, fingers curling with effortless grace. At her fingertips, a flicker of light ignited, swelling into a small, pulsing orb of fire. The air around it shimmered, waves of heat distorting the space between us. Her lips parted, and this time, I understood.


    ¡°Bang.¡±


    The pill slid down my throat in one swift gulp as I pushed off, darting to the right. Too slow.


    A searing heat slammed into my shoulder, an explosion of pain ripping through my nerves. Even with the pill dulling the worst of it, fire licked at my flesh, my body betraying me as I crumpled to the ground. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself up¡ª


    But she was already there.


    A blur of movement, a shift in weight¡ªthen her leg cut through the air like a blade. The impact hit like a sledgehammer, lifting me clean off my feet. The ground fell away, wind howling in my ears as I was sent soaring¡ªhigher, higher¡ªuntil the world below became a dizzying blur.


    She was there again¡ªtoo fast, too relentless. My fingers tightened around the hilt as I wrenched my sword free, the cold steel singing against its sheath. No time to think.


    Her fist rocketed forward. I swung.


    Air cracked as metal and flesh met in a violent clash. A shockwave erupted from the impact, blasting through the battlefield. The force sent us both hurtling downward, gravity pulling us like falling stars, the ground rushing up to meet us.


    Pain anchored me, every breath a reminder that my body was reaching its limit. One more hit, and I wouldn¡¯t get back up. But I had no choice.


    Planting my feet, I raised my sword, the weight of it grounding me as I steadied my stance. She would come¡ªshe always did.


    And just like that, she was there. A flicker. A blur. A breath too fast for the eye to follow.


    But this time, I was ready.


    My blade was already in motion, slicing through the air the moment she appeared. A sharp hiss¡ªsteel biting into flesh. A flash of red. Then pain exploded in my gut, her kick folding me in half before I could savor the hit I had finally landed.


    ¡°Not bad Human. You actually managed to draw blood.¡±


    She kept talking, her voice a distant hum, but I wasn¡¯t listening.


    The kick had been weak¡ªher balance thrown off by my strike. Even if it had landed clean, it wouldn¡¯t have changed a thing. This fight was already over.


    She tensed, ready to lunge, but I didn¡¯t bother lifting my blade. Instead, I slid it back into its sheath and lowered myself to the ground.


    Her steps faltered. Confusion flickered across her face, her brows drawing tight.


    Then it hit her.


    A sharp inhale. A tremor in her limbs. Her muscles seized, her body refusing to obey. Staggering, she collapsed to her knees, eyes wide with shock.


    I exhaled, tilting my head back to the sky.


    I had done it. I had beaten a Drakonid.

 The Contract [3]

    I lowered my gaze from the sky, locking eyes with the Drakonid.


    Hate radiated from her, a smoldering fire in her gaze. Her chest heaved, every breath a silent snarl.


    I couldn¡¯t blame her. The way I¡¯d won¡ªit wasn¡¯t fair. I had bent the rules, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that I sat here, victorious.


    ¡°What trick did you pull Human? Why can¡¯t I move?¡±


    She was speaking, her voice sharp, demanding. I couldn¡¯t understand her words, but I didn¡¯t need to. The confusion, the anger¡ªit was all written in the way she strained against the unseen chains holding her down.


    I exhaled and rose to my feet.


    ¡°The chain,¡± I began, brushing a hand over my kusarigama, ¡°was laced with curse magic. The moment it wrapped around your arm, it started working.¡±


    I took a step forward, watching the way her body trembled, struggling against itself.


    ¡°Then, when I cut you¡ª¡± I lifted my sword slightly, letting the light catch the dark steel. ¡°This isn¡¯t just any blade. A Muramasa, seething with a curse of its own.¡± A pause. A smirk. ¡°And I took the liberty of coating it in poison.¡±


    Her breath hitched.


    ¡°The curse from the chain alone? Too weak. Something like that wouldn¡¯t even slow you down.¡± I tilted my head, watching understanding dawn in her eyes. ¡°But add a cursed, poisoned blade into the mix¡­ and, well¡ª¡± I gestured toward her trembling form.


    She probably didn¡¯t understand a word I was saying¡ªbut did it really matter?


    ¡°So that¡¯s what it was.¡±


    The voice, smooth yet edged with irritation, made me pause. My head turned slowly, curiosity flickering across my face.


    ¡°You can speak English?¡± My tone stayed level, but the surprise was there, just beneath the surface.


    Her glare remained, though the fire behind it dulled just a little.


    ¡°Of course I can speak your language.¡±


    I held her gaze, thoughts drifting.


    ¡®Must be because of the system that this is happening.¡¯


    Before I could dwell on it, she snapped, her voice cutting through my silence.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like I¡¯m the weird one! How come you can¡¯t speak Draconian?¡±


    I blinked, then exhaled. Not worth answering. Not now. There were more pressing matters at hand.


    Without another word, I reached for the chains, wrapping them around her. The curse etched into the links pulsed faintly, ensuring she stayed bound.


    The battle-scarred ground crunched beneath my boots as I dragged her forward, the weight of unfinished business settling back onto my shoulders.


    On any other day, this would be routine¡ªhauling a rancid Terror carcass through the city while dodging glares and complaints from bystanders. But today? Today, I had an oversized, very-much-alive lizard thrashing behind me, spitting outrage with every breath.


    ¡°Release me, Human!!¡±


    ¡°A battle should end in death or honor, not this disgrace!!¡±


    ¡°This is an insult to all warriors!!¡±


    ¡°RELEASE ME!!!¡±


    ¡®So annoying.¡¯


    Ignoring her, I pressed forward, the weight of exhaustion settling into my bones. The chains rattled, dragging against the torn earth. Step by step, I kept moving¡ªuntil pain crashed over me like a wave, raw and all-consuming.


    My knees hit the dirt.


    A sharp breath, a clenched jaw¡ªtoo late. The pill¡¯s effects had worn off, and my body screamed for relief. Moving any further was impossible.


    My fingers curled into the soil. The forest around us remained eerily still, the aftermath of our battle keeping any would-be predators at bay.


    Looks like I¡¯d be camping here for the night.


    I set the Drakonid down against the rough bark of a nearby tree, its roots twisting beneath her like gnarled fingers. Sliding down onto the dirt opposite her, I let out a slow breath. The fight had drained me, and from the way she sat¡ªshoulders no longer rigid, eyes no longer burning¡ªshe had let go of her rage, at least for now.


    For a while, we simply stared at each other. The silence stretched between us, thick as the night air, until she finally spoke.


    ¡°You¡¯re a strange one, human.¡±


    I said nothing.


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    ¡°The others I¡¯ve fought wielded unnatural abilities, desperate to end me in an instant.¡± She tilted her head, watching me as if I were a puzzle missing half its pieces. ¡°But you¡­ you relied on nothing but wit and sheer physicality.¡± A pause. ¡°Why?¡±


    Again, silence.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll get my answer later. Let me ask something else.¡±


    She leaned forward slightly, searching my expression. ¡°Where do you plan on taking me?¡±


    More silence.


    Her patience finally snapped. ¡°Why won¡¯t you just answer me, damn it?!¡± Her voice tore through the quiet, bouncing off the trees. Leaves trembled from the force of it.


    I exhaled through my nose, rubbing my temple.


    ¡°Do you ever shut up?¡±


    She blinked, stunned into silence for the first time since I¡¯d met her.


    Before she could fire back, I continued, ¡°If answering one question will keep you quiet, then fine. I¡¯ll humor you. But only one.¡±


    Her mouth opened, ready to argue, but she hesitated. I watched the gears turn behind her crimson eyes as she weighed her options. Finally, she huffed, steadying her breath.


    She met my gaze, her voice quieter this time.


    ¡°¡­What are you going to do with me?¡±


    I leaned my head back against the rough bark and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to my boss and getting paid.¡±


    A pause. Then, without a hint of remorse, I added, ¡°Where you go from there isn¡¯t my problem.¡±


    Silence hung between us.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± she finally said. ¡°You would risk death¡­ for money?¡±


    The disappointment in her voice was almost laughable.


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± she muttered, turning away. ¡°If riches are what compel you to fight, then you¡¯re doomed to perish sooner rather than later.¡±


    With that, she shut her eyes, ending the conversation.


    Normally, I¡¯d let words like that slide off me. But hearing it from a Drakonid¡ªa race notorious for their greed¡ªleft a bitter taste in my mouth.


    ¡®Whatever.¡¯


    I shut my eyes and let exhaustion pull me under.


    *


    I blinked the sleep from my eyes, still feeling the weight of exhaustion. My muscles ached, but at least I could move.


    Looking ahead, I was about to wake the Drakonid¡ªexcept¡­ she was gone.


    I shot up, scanning my surroundings in alarm.


    ¡®How? How can she move already?¡¯


    Panic surged through me. Had I miscalculated? Had the curse worn off too soon?


    Then, as if sensing my distress, she casually emerged from the shadows, chains still tightly wound around her form.


    Amused, she tilted her head. ¡°Relax, human. I¡¯m still bound by this curse of yours¡ªI can barely move.¡±


    Narrowing my eyes, I asked, ¡°Then why are you still here? You had the chance to escape.¡±


    Her smirk widened. ¡°And go where? I¡¯m too weak to fend off whatever creatures lurk in this place.¡±


    She studied me for a moment longer before adding, ¡°Besides¡­ I¡¯ve taken an interest in you.¡±


    I raised a brow. ¡°Oh? And why is that?¡±


    ¡°I had time to think.¡±


    She took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. ¡°What I said yesterday¡ªit was wrong. You¡¯re not just fighting for money.¡±


    I said nothing.


    ¡°Someone who only cares about riches wouldn¡¯t have fought so desperately.¡± She paused, her crimson eyes gleaming with intrigue. ¡°No¡­ you¡¯re after something else, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    I remained silent.


    A slow, knowing smile crept across her lips.


    ¡°Well¡­ whatever it is you¡¯re after,¡± she said, ¡°I could help.¡±


    I stared at her for a moment before lazily responding, ¡°No. You¡¯re wrong¡ªI do want money.¡±


    Her eyes widened, and for a second, I almost laughed at her expression. She quickly regained her composure, though, and countered, ¡°I could help with that too. All you need to do is release me.¡±


    It was tempting. I let the thought linger for a while before finally answering.


    ¡°No.¡±


    She didn¡¯t like that answer, but she didn¡¯t fight it either. She was too proud to beg, too drained to demand. Instead, she simply turned and started walking, waiting for me to lead her to our destination.


    Thirty minutes later, we arrived at that all-too-familiar building, the one that had marked the start of this whole ordeal.


    I glanced at the Drakonid beside me. She wouldn¡¯t meet my eyes, clearly still irritated by my decision.


    ¡®Cute.¡¯


    Entering the building, we passed by the extravagant decorations, which seemed out of place but not worth my attention. We made our way to the [Hollow Hunters] office door. As I opened it, I was greeted by the sight of Kraven in a golfing outfit. The absurdity of it barely registered¡ªI was too exhausted to care. The Drakonid beside me seemed equally indifferent.


    After a beat, Kraven noticed us.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re finally here!¡± he exclaimed, a smile on his face.


    I stayed silent, looking at him with a blank expression.


    Kraven glanced at the Drakonid, giving her an appreciative look. ¡°Hmmm, so that¡¯s the Drakonid, huh? Quite the looker, if I say so myself.¡±


    She scowled at him, but Kraven wasn¡¯t fazed. He took out a cigar and lit it, turning his attention back to me.


    ¡°You did a good job. I¡¯m impressed.¡±


    ¡°For that, you get a bonus.¡± He handed me an envelope, and I accepted it without a word.


    I didn¡¯t react outwardly, but internally, I felt a small sense of satisfaction.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take her off your hands now,¡± Kraven said, gesturing to the Drakonid.


    In an instant, she vanished without a trace.


    Before leaving, I decided to make one thing clear.


    ¡°I¡¯m going on vacation for a couple of weeks.¡±


    ¡°HUH???¡± Kraven sputtered, clearly surprised.


    But I didn¡¯t wait for him to protest. I turned and left the office without another word, the door closing behind me.


    As I stepped outside, I paused and glanced back at the building for a moment.


    I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. The phone rang for a few seconds before it clicked.


    "Hey, do me a solid."

 System [1]

    Ending the call, I started to walk back to my apartment. I was there in less time than it usually took. I sat down on my couch and started making preparations; I had to get ready for my vacation after all.


    ***


    Kraven was dumbfounded by what had just happened.


    He dragged a hand down his face, muttering curses under his breath. He paced the room, his steps erratic, his cigar smoldering between his fingers.


    ¡°That brat,¡± he grumbled, shaking his head. ¡°He thinks he can just¡ªjust take vacations?¡± He threw up his arms in exasperation. ¡°Like he owns the damn place?¡±


    His gaze snapped to the Drakonid, searching her expression for agreement. She just stared, unreadable.


    Kraven didn¡¯t mind and continued his rant, ¡°The kid¡¯s got potential, but he¡¯s just too arrogant.¡±


    ¡°Do you see how he looks at my furniture? Not a shred of awe or appreciation for how I decorate this place!¡±


    ¡°What he needs is to show some respect to his elders every once in a while.¡±


    A slow chuckle rumbled behind him.


    Kraven froze. The cigar nearly slipped from his fingers.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking.¡±


    The voice was calm, almost amused. Too close.


    Kraven spun around, but before he could react, a single finger pressed against his forehead. A warmth, then a pull. His knees buckled.


    ¡°Fade,¡± the voice said.


    Kraven fell to the ground unconscious. The Drakonid stood unfazed; it was almost like she was completely uninterested in what had just transpired. But it was the opposite; she was very curious.


    Who was this strange man that had appeared?


    ¡®He took care of the annoying human in an instant, and he also killed that shadow.¡¯


    He slowly walked up to her, grabbed the chains that bound her, and effortlessly broke them.


    Shocked, she asked why he was helping her. The man smiled and handed her a piece of paper.


    Confused, she looked at it. It was an address.


    ¡°What am I supposed to¡ª¡± As she looked up, the man was gone.


    She turned the paper over in her hands. The ink was crisp, as if it had been written just moments ago. The address meant nothing to her, yet her fingers tightened around it.


    She exhaled. A decision had to be made. The man¡¯s scent still lingered, fresh enough to track. But her gaze drifted back to the paper.


    What was waiting for her there?


    ***


    Preparations were finished; there was only one more thing I needed.


    *BOOM*


    ¡®And there it is.¡¯


    Looking at what used to be where my door was, I saw an all too familiar woman. Her crimson eyes were as bright and fierce as they were when I first saw her. She¡­ seemed angry.


    ¡°Why?¡± A simple question with an immense amount of authority behind it.


    The pressure she was giving off was suffocating; it enveloped the entire room. I stood firm and unflinching, seemingly unaffected by her intimidation. But on the inside I was anything but okay.


    ¡®This pressure is unreal; if she wasn¡¯t so overconfident in our fight¡­¡¯


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡®No, this isn¡¯t the time to panic. I need to relax.¡¯


    Exhaling, I could feel my muscles relax, my mind clear, and my eyes refocus.


    Calmly I replied, ¡°I needed to turn you over so I could close the contract.¡±


    Hearing this, my body lightened, and the room ceased its movement. It seems like she finally calmed down.


    I continued, ¡°If I took up your offer immediately and freed you, I wouldn¡¯t be able to reap the benefits from both you and Kraven.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Silence. She stood frozen in place, like a perfectly sculpted statue. Until¡­


    ¡°Pfft.¡±


    ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!¡±


    She burst out laughing.


    It sounded like a kookaburra establishing territory.


    ¡®Her laugh is¡­ interesting.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re even greedier than us dragons, human!¡±


    ¡°But what makes you think the offer still stands?¡± She said, wearing the most amused look on her face.


    Inwardly I smirked and replied, ¡°A rematch.¡±


    She was quick to withdraw the smile from her face, almost as if she was irritated by what I said.


    I ignored her mood shift and continued, ¡°Your race is extremely prideful, and losing in such a way to a human must have been a major dent to your pride.¡±


    ¡°So, help me achieve my goal, and I¡¯ll fight you again.¡±


    Remaining quiet for a second, her lips parted.


    ¡°What is your name, human?¡±


    My mouth curved into a grin. ¡°Stratus. Griffin Stratus.¡±


    Nodding her head, she replied, ¡°I am Elara Vorath. I will help you achieve whatever it is you¡¯re aiming for.¡±


    Walking past me, she plopped herself on my couch.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want a rematch. I want sparring sessions with you. Any time we get the chance, we spar.¡±


    ¡®That''s¡­ not that bad.¡¯


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    Springing up from the couch, she exclaimed, ¡°Perfect!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s spar right now!¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said firmly.


    A slight pout was present on her face.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°We need to leave. The people that put out your contract will be searching for you, so we¡¯re leaving town, and my shoulder still hurts since you almost blew a hole in it.¡±


    I threw her a jacket, a face cap, and some shoes.


    ¡°Wear those.¡±


    She looked at them with unenthusiastic eyes.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±


    We both stared at each other for a while before she reluctantly put the jacket on.


    I still stared at her, wondering when she¡¯d wear the rest. Noticing my gaze, she spoke up.


    ¡°I¡¯m not wearing the rest.¡±


    Knowing I couldn¡¯t force her, I told her to at least put the hoodie on. She flatly replied, ¡°No.¡±


    Shrugging my shoulders, I suggested that we start moving.


    *


    Arriving at the forest, I turned to look at the town one last time.


    ¡®I probably won¡¯t be coming back here again.¡¯


    I had spent an entire year in this town; now it was time to move on.


    Shifting my attention towards the forest, my lips parted.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Tensing my muscles, I shot forward; everything around me was a blur, the wind caught in my hair, and my body hardly touched the ground. It was like I was flying.


    This went on for a while until I noticed Elara had stopped. Confused, I halted and turned towards her.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked.


    She mused for a bit before answering.


    ¡°You.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re far too slow; it¡¯s strange.¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you moving faster?¡±


    Walking past her, I responded.


    ¡°This is as fast as I can go,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Nonsense. Everyone knows that you humans physical abilities far exceed this.¡±


    ¡°Not mine.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me; we Drakonids are aware of your system.¡±


    ¡°Even in our battle before, you held back your true power .Just what are you hiding?¡±


    Stopping in place, I replied.


    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken; I¡¯m not hiding anything.¡±


    ¡°Ha, so what, you¡¯re just some normal human running around fighting terrors and the like?¡±


    Partially turning my head, a small smirk was visible on my face.


    ***


    Meanwhile, back at the Hollow hunters¡­


    ¡°Where is the specimen?¡±


    A slender figure asked. Their blue eyes seemed to permeate everything they saw.


    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t remember anything.¡± Kraven said, his knees shaking, his face beading with sweat, his eyes darting across the room.


    ¡°H-Hey, you gotta believe me!!¡± He screamed.


    But it was directed at someone else. A grey- eyed individual sat on Kraven¡¯s chair, his legs crossed, unbothered by what was happening.


    The figure stood up and walked towards Kraven.


    He then asked in an indifferent tone.


    ¡°Where is Griffin?¡±