Yuto woke up to the smell of cheap synthetic tobacco and boiling rice.
He blinked against the harsh yellow light of a halogen bulb. He was lying on a makeshift cot inside a hollowed-out subway train car. The walls were lined with rusted gears, dismantled cybernetics, and dirty mechanic tools.
"He's awake, Jin-san," Ayase's soft voice called out.
Yuto tried to sit up, but his right arm was wrapped heavily in bandages. Standing over him was an older man with a scruffy grey beard, a heavily scarred face, and a clunky, sparking mechanical left arm holding a lit cigarette.
"You're an idiot, kid," Old Man Jin rasped, blowing a cloud of grey smoke into the air. "I've been patching up Ash-Tribe scavengers for twenty years. I've seen mana-burn, code-corruption, and acid-rot. But I have never seen someone's code-veins bulging like they're trying to contain a damn supernova."
Jin pointed his cigarette at Yuto's bandaged right hand. Underneath the cloth, the Stigma was still emitting a faint, pulsating red glow.
"What are you hoarding in there, boy?" Jin narrowed his eyes. "Because whatever it is, it's going to kill you before the Ouroboros Guild does."
"It's just... a unique skill," Yuto deflected, sitting up with a wince. He checked his interface. The rest had rolled the timer over.
[Current Multiplier: 147%]
Almost to 150%, Yuto thought, a greedy, painful smile tugging at his lips. Just a little longer.
Ayase hurried over, carrying a wooden bowl of steaming white rice and broth. She knelt politely beside his cot. "You exhausted your spirit defending me, Kurosawa-dono. You must eat to replenish your ki."
She scooped up a spoonful of rice, blew on it softly to cool it down, and held it up to Yuto's mouth. Her eyes were completely earnest, shining with deep respect.
[System Prompt: Caregiver Milestone Detected! Claim 8% Regeneration Bonus?]
Yuto started sweating profusely. She was literally trying to spoon-feed him. If he opened his mouth, the System would absolutely count it as a romantic milestone. The 147% multiplier he had suffered for would instantly reset to zero.
"I... I can feed myself, Ayase," Yuto choked out, gently but frantically pushing the spoon away. "A warrior must not rely on the coddling of others. It breeds weakness."
Ayase gasped softly, her eyes widening in awe. She quickly bowed her head. "Of course. My apologies. Your dedication to the martial path is absolute. I am ashamed of my frivolity."
Jin watched the exchange, rolling his eyes so hard it looked like it hurt. "Right. The 'martial path'. You two are going to give me a migraine."
The old mechanic crushed his cigarette under his boot and tossed a crumpled map onto Yuto's lap. It showed the layout of the next five floors.
"The Enforcer you let get away is going to report back to Guildmaster Ryūzen," Jin warned, his tone turning dead serious. "Floor 1 through 9 are going to be swarming with hit squads by tomorrow. The only way out is up."
Yuto looked at the map, tracing the route with his finger. "We push to Floor 10."
"Floor 10 is the radioactive sector," Jin grunted. "And you got a bigger problem than the Guild up there. An Oni-Tribe freak has been camping the boss room for three days. She's slaughtering anyone who tries to cross. If you go up there with your code-veins bursting like that, she's going to chop you to pieces."
Yuto looked at his violently glowing, heavily bandaged hand, then up at Old Man Jin.
"Let her try," Yuto said. "I've been saving up for a rainy day."