They slept.
Or at least—
Rin slept.
Both slept.
The next morning—
if it could even be called morning in that endless abyss—
They sat near a small fire.
Rin held a piece of roasted meat, chewing slowly.
It was the first real food he'd had since falling into the pit.
His body felt... stable.
Still weak, but no longer dying.
Across from him, Tara was eating far more casually.
Too casually.
Like this place meant nothing to her.
Rin watched her for a moment.
Then spoke.
"I forgot to ask..."
"What grade are you?"
Tara didn't even look up.
Her mouth was full as she answered casually—
"I'm Grade Y."
Rin froze.
For a second, his brain didn't process it.
Then—
"PFF—!"
He spat the food out instantly.
"GRADE Y?!"
His voice echoed through the cave.
Tara blinked and tilted her head, confused.
"I thought you knew."
Rin stared at her as she had just said something insane.
"I knew you were strong..."
"But Grade Y?!"
He wiped his mouth, still in disbelief.
"That's not just high-grade..."
"That's beyond high-grade."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I was thinking... maybe Grade 1 or something."
Tara finally looked at him properly.
Then she smiled.
Not proudly.
Not arrogantly.
Just... amused.
"Then you really don't understand this place."
Rin frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Tara leaned back slightly, resting her massive sword beside her.
Her blue eyes looked deeper now.
More serious.
"Grades like yours..."
"...don't apply down here."
A small pause.
Then she added quietly—
"Down here..."
"...even monsters have monsters they're afraid of."
Rin's grip on the food tightened.
A cold feeling crept up his spine.
He looked at her again.
This time—
not as a possible ally.
But as something far more dangerous.
Rin, "You are practically a god."
She asked, "You know what style is?"
Rin said, "No."
Tara rested the massive sword across her lap.
Her fingers traced lightly along its engraved surface.
Then she spoke—
slowly this time.
"Asking what a Style is..."
"...is like asking what it means to truly fight."
Rin stayed silent.
Listening.
Tara looked at him.
"Your body... your mind... and your soul."
"They all act separately in most people."
"Your body moves too slowly."
"Your mind hesitates."
"Your soul... is drowned in fear."
A pause.
Then—
"A Style is when all three become one."
Rin's eyes narrowed slightly.
She continued.
"No delay."
"No doubt."
"No wasted motion."
"When you move—"
"...your entire existence moves with you."
The fire crackled softly between them.
Tara leaned back a little.
"It's not just about weapons."
"You can fight with your hands..."
"...your instincts..."
"...even your presence."
"But without a Style—"
"You're just swinging blindly."
Rin looked down at his sword.
The memory of his fight... flashed.
The bite.
The killing.
The running.
Tara watched him.
"You touched it."
She said quietly.
"That blank state."
"That was the beginning of a Style."
Rin clenched his jaw.
"That wasn't technique."
"That was survival."
Tara nodded slightly.
"Exactly."
"Style is born from survival."
"Refined through discipline."
"And mastered through experience."
She paused.
Then her expression shifted slightly.
More serious.
"It's usually only taught to nobles."
"From a very young age."
"Because it takes years to build properly."
Her eyes met his again.
"But you..."
A faint smile.
"...you've already taken your first step."
Silence.
Rin slowly lifted his head.
"What kind of Style do you use?"
Tara's smile deepened.
But this time—
There was something dangerous in it.
"The kind..."
"...that kills things stronger than me."
Rin swallowed.
"What's it called?"
Tara suddenly leaned closer, eyes lighting up with excitement.
"God Style."
Silence.
Rin's expression went completely flat.
"...That's a lame name."
Tara froze.
Her face slowly dropped.
"Lame...?"
She pointed at herself, offended.
"It took me hours to come up with that name, you know."
Rin didn't even react.
Tara clicked her tongue, then straightened slightly, regaining composure.
"Anyway."
She smiled again.
"I'll teach you."
Rin frowned.
"Why me?"
Tara's gaze sharpened.
"For someone who doesn't understand Style..."
"...you're annoyingly talented."
She folded her arms.
"I've never seen a prodigy like you."
A small pause.
"You're perfect for it."
Her tone softened slightly.
"And..."
"I want someone to carry my legacy... in case I die here."
Rin looked at her.
Then snorted faintly.
"If anyone's dying here, it's me."
He tapped his chest weakly.
"You're Grade Y."
"I'm not even Grade 3."
Tara just smiled at that.
Not arguing.
Not explaining.
Just... smiling.
"Still."
She leaned forward again.
"Do you want to learn?"
Rin answered immediately.
"No."
Tara blinked.
"...Why?"
Rin's expression hardened.
"I need to get back to the surface."
"Fast."
"I don't have time to sit around learning something complicated."
Before he could move—
Tara suddenly grabbed his hand.
Rin stiffened.
"Hey—"
"Please."
Her voice dropped.
Serious this time.
"Just a little."
"Please."
Rin stared at her.
This was... strange.
A Grade Y—
asking like this?
Begging?
He exhaled slowly.
"...You're really serious about this."
Tara didn't let go.
Rin looked away, then sighed.
"Fine."
He scratched the back of his head.
"I never thought in my life..."
"...a Grade Y would beg me for anything."
Tara's face instantly brightened.
"Good!"
She stood up, gripping her massive sword.
"Then we start now."
Rin blinked.
"...Now?"
Tara grinned.
"Of course."
"If you're going to learn God Style..."
"...you don't get to waste time either."
Rin slowly stood up.
Pain still lingered in his body, but his eyes were firm.
"Then let's do this."
Tara smiled.
She began walking in slow circles around him, her armoured footsteps echoing softly against the stone.
"The God Style is simple," she said.
Rin raised a brow.
Tara smirked.
"Well... simple to explain."
"Impossible to master."
She lifted one finger.
"First Rule."
"The God Style adapts."
"It does not force one shape."
"It does not cling to one attack."
"If your enemy changes..."
"...you change."
"If your enemy becomes faster..."
"...you become sharper."
"If your enemy becomes stronger..."
"...you become more precise."
"The Style lives through adaptation."
She lifted a second finger.
"Second Rule."
"Most Styles focus on one part."
"Some train only fists."
"Some train only legs."
"Some train only swordsmanship."
She stopped directly in front of Rin.
"But God Style uses all of you."
"Your soul."
"Your mind."
"Your body."
"Every nerve."
"Every breath."
"Every muscle fibre."
"All of it acts together under one judgment."
Rin listened carefully.
Tara raised a third finger.
"Third Rule."
"In battle..."
"Do not think."
Rin blinked.
Tara tapped his forehead.
"Thinking creates delay."
"Delay creates death."
"The God Style enters the Blank Mind."
"A state where your mind becomes silent."
"No fear."
"No panic."
"No hesitation."
"Only movement."
She paused.
"Or..."
"If needed..."
"You can weaponise emotion."
"Anger can become force."
"Hatred can sharpen instinct."
"But emotion must obey you."
"You do not obey emotion."
Rin narrowed his eyes.
Tara lifted a fourth finger.
"Fourth Rule."
"We do not chase strength."
"We do not chase speed."
Rin frowned.
"Then what do we chase?"
Tara smiled.
"Free movement."
She moved suddenly.
In one instant, she appeared behind Rin without making a sound.
Rin's eyes widened.
"When your movement becomes free..."
"Strength follows."
"Speed follows."
"Reaction follows."
"You do not train them separately."
"They become a bonus gifted by mastery."
Rin slowly turned toward her.
For the first time, he looked genuinely interested.
Tara lifted her final finger.
"Fifth Rule."
"Never give up."
Her tone changed.
Serious.
Heavy.
"Because this Style is not a weapon you hold."
"It is a part of your existence."
"If your will breaks..."
"The Style breaks with it."
"If your heart surrenders..."
"Your body will follow."
She stepped close enough for Rin to feel the pressure from her gaze.
"The God Style belongs only to those too stubborn to die."
Silence.
Rin swallowed.
Tara smiled again.
"So..."
She pointed at him.
"Do you still want to learn?"
Rin stared at her for several seconds.
Then slowly—
A grin appeared on his face.
Rin smiled, "Let's do this."
Tara smiled as her fist moved forward, and Rin also did that.
The training started.
Rin was blind folded.
Tara spoke, "Try to use your blank slate, it might not be full train, but try to use it."
Rin used the blank state.
Tara kicked Rin, Rin rolled and rolled.
Rin took off the blind."
Rin shouted, "Why did you kick me?"
Tara, "We are training."
Rin sighed, "I think I made a wrong choice."