Something inside him didn't break this time. It chose not to run.
This wasn't a fight.
It was Aron trying to survive something that had already decided how he would die.
Something inside him changed. He felt it instantly—like an unquenchable fire had ignited within him, spreading through every part of his body.
The moment the King Knight lunged forward and swung its sword toward his head, Aron's body moved on its own. He didn't think. He didn't decide. He simply stepped aside, and dodged.
"W-What…?"
His breathing became uneven as he stared at his own hands. His body felt lighter. Not just lighter—different.
"What is this feeling? My heart feels like it's about to burst… and at the same time, it feels like thousands of needles are piercing my skull."
"Huuuh—"
"It feels like every nerve in my body is burning from the inside."
He didn't understand what was happening, but something spread through him. A strange energy moved beneath his skin, dark but stable.
It didn't feel chaotic or dangerous. It felt controlled. But something beneath it trembled—like it wasn't fully his yet, only waiting for him to claim it.
The same sound returned again, but this time, the blue transparent screen that had appeared as a glitch before was now clearly visible in front of his eyes.
[ RESONANCE ANOMALY ]
Source: Unregistered
State: Self-Origin
[ Condition Override: Active ]
---
"This is exactly what Mr. Zekai saw earlier..."
'What is this trying to tell me?'
Aron's arm moved—but pain followed a second late… like his body hadn't caught up to itself.
A thin shadow coiled around his arms. Tightly. Like it had always belonged there.
For a moment, it felt like he was floating. Not physically, but internally, like his body had lost unnecessary weight.
"…What is this?"
The fear didn't disappear. But something else replaced it. Clarity.
Whatever this was—this was power. And Aron understood one thing instinctively.
This power wasn't meant for running. It was meant to end this. It was meant to fight. To kill the King Knight.
Before he could move again, something unexpected happened.
The knight stepped forward and tossed a sword toward Aron. It landed right in front of his feet with a dull metallic sound.
He stared at it. Then at the knight. It didn't attack. It didn't move.
It waited. Like it was telling him to pick it up—and fight properly.
"…Fine."
"So now you want a real fight?"
Aron bent down, grabbed the sword, and lifted it slowly. The weight felt unfamiliar, but not impossible.
"Let's finish this properly."
This time, Aron didn't rush. He stood still and waited. Let it come. The King Knight moved first.
He didn't see the swing. The cut had already happened—the movement came after.
His body didn't react to the attack. It adjusted to the result.
Their swords collided.
Aron barely saw the strike. The result happened first—the movement came after.
Steel screamed against steel.
The impact arrived a heartbeat late, like reality itself was catching up to what had already happened.
The force tore through Aron's arms and rattled his bones, but this time—he held.
For one second.
Then the pressure overwhelmed him and launched him backward, crashing him across the ruined floor.
He coughed sharply, forcing himself up.
"…Not bad."
"At least this time, I stood my ground."
But that didn't last long. The King Knight vanished from his sight.
Before Aron could react, a force grabbed at his leg, like something was trying to rip it out from under him.
He looked down—
The King Knight had lowered its body and rushed straight toward Aron.
Its sword came down, aiming precisely at the space between Aron head and neck.
He forced himself back, taking a couple of steps away, barely avoiding it—But it didn't stop.
It adjusted instantly. The blade shifted mid-motion—and before he could react, it pierced Aron's chest, driving straight into the right side.
His breath gone.
"—Ah…!"
The pain hit him immediately.
Aron's body wasn't under his control. His left knee gave in and he dropped down. He pressed his hand against his chest.
A hole opened through his chest. But this time… he didn't die.
Blood was pouring out from his chest.
Not just that—because of the stab, blood started coming out of his mouth too.
His breathing turned heavy and uneven. His vision blurred and started fading to black.
"This isn't the time to die."
"Calm down…"
'The attack wasn't enough to kill me. And the loop didn't reset.'
[ STATUS — ARON ]
Condition: Critical
Physical Integrity: 43%
Structural Damage: Severe
Pain Memory: Saturated
Loop Residue: Accumulating
Mental State: Stabilized (Forced)
Core Directive: Protect Target
Resonance State: Unstable
Synchronization: Partial
Ability Trace: Emerging
Type: Unknown (Self-Origin)
— RESOLVE DETECTED —
End Of Chapter 16 - The Kind One Never Breaks