Two days.
I had been in the forest for two days straight.
No village.
No road.
No safety.
Just trees… and silence.
"...Good."
I muttered quietly as I stepped over a fallen branch.
"This is better."
No people.
No noise.
No expectations.
Only survival.
Only strength.
I exhaled slowly.
"...Let's see what this system really is."
The blue window didn't appear unless I focused.
So I did.
Immediately—
Name: Kazu Asamura
Level: 2
HP: 150 / 150
Stamina: 110 / 110
Mana: 0
Strength: 9
Agility: 11
Endurance: 8
Perception: 10
Skills: None
"...Still no mana."
I stared at the number.
Zero.
"...So I really can't use magic."
I clicked my tongue.
"Fine."
Then I'll just use something else.
The forest shifted as I moved deeper.
The air grew heavier.
The sounds… disappeared.
Even the wind felt quieter.
"...This is wrong."
My body tensed.
Instinct.
Something was nearby.
Something dangerous.
"...Come on."
I whispered.
"Show yourself."
And it did.
A massive shadow moved between the trees.
Then—
It stepped out.
My breath stopped.
"...No way."
It was huge.
Far larger than anything I had fought before.
Muscles layered under thick skin.
Claws like blades.
Eyes that looked straight through me.
"...Rank A."
My throat went dry.
"...I shouldn't be here."
Every instinct screamed at me.
Run.
Now.
"...Yeah."
I took a step back.
Then another.
"...This is stupid."
I wasn't strong enough.
Not even close.
"...I'll come back later."
I turned—
CRASH.
Something slammed into my side.
My body flew.
I hit the ground hard.
"...GHH—!"
Pain exploded.
My vision shook.
I couldn't breathe.
"...Too fast…"
I forced myself up.
Barely.
The monster stood there.
Watching me.
Like I was nothing.
"...Damn it."
I raised my knife.
"...One hit… just one clean hit…"
The monster moved.
Gone.
Then—
Right in front of me.
I couldn't react.
Its claw came down.
CRACK.
Something broke.
My body collapsed.
"...I'm… dead."
That thought came so clearly.
So calmly.
"...Again…?"
My vision blurred.
The world faded.
"...So this is it."
Then—
Light.
Blue.
[Critical Condition Detected]
[Host Vital Status: Near Death]
"...System…?"
[Hidden Function Unlocked]
[Black Weapon Protocol: Activated]
"...Black… weapon?"
Something appeared.
Right in front of me.
Floating.
Dark.
A blade.
Pitch black.
Like it swallowed the light around it.
"...What… is that?"
My hand moved on its own.
Slow.
Heavy.
The moment I touched it—
Something changed.
A surge.
Cold.
Sharp.
Violent.
"...GHH—!"
My body reacted.
Like something entered it.
Like something was… waking up.
A voice.
Faint.
Not words.
But a feeling.
Kill.
My eyes widened.
"...What the hell…"
The monster attacked again.
But this time—
I moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
"...I can see it."
Its movement.
Its path.
Its attack.
Clear.
Too clear.
"...So this is your power?"
I whispered to the blade.
"...Or mine?"
The sword felt heavy.
But right.
Like it belonged in my hand.
The monster roared and charged.
I stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
CLASH.
The blade cut.
Clean.
Deep.
The monster reacted.
This time—
It felt it.
"...Good."
I grinned slightly.
"You feel that?"
It attacked again.
I dodged.
Barely.
But enough.
"...Still faster than me."
My body screamed.
My wounds hadn't fully healed.
But I kept moving.
The sword guided.
Or maybe—
I followed it.
Slash.
Dodge.
Cut.
Step.
Again.
Again.
"...This is insane."
I laughed.
A weak, broken laugh.
"I'm fighting a Rank A monster…"
"...and I'm not dead yet."
The monster grew more aggressive.
Faster.
Stronger.
It slammed into me.
I rolled across the ground.
Blood filled my mouth.
"...Still not enough."
I wiped my mouth.
"...Then I go deeper."
I stood again.
My grip tightened.
"...Come on."
The monster lunged.
I stepped in.
Closer than before.
Too close.
Its claw pierced my side.
Pain exploded.
But—
I didn't stop.
"...Got you."
The black blade moved.
Straight.
Precise.
Into its neck.
Deep.
The monster roared.
Violently.
Thrashing.
Trying to throw me off.
But I held on.
"...DIE!"
The blade cut deeper.
And deeper.
Until—
Silence.
The body stopped moving.
Then collapsed.
I fell with it.
My body hit the ground.
"...Heh…"
I laughed weakly.
"...I actually did it."
My vision blurred again.
Then—
[Target Eliminated]
[Level Up]
Warmth spread through my body.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
My wounds closed.
My breathing stabilized.
"...This…"
I sat up slowly.
"...This is broken."
I looked at my hands.
"...This is my power."
Not magic.
Not talent.
But—
This system.
This sword.
"...I get it now."
I looked at the blade.
Still in my hand.
"...You're not normal."
No response.
But I felt it.
That presence.
That pressure.
"...Fine."
I smirked slightly.
"...I'll use you."
After some time—
I sat near a small fire.
Eating.
Thinking.
"...So."
I raised my hand.
The sword disappeared.
"...Inventory."
Then reappeared.
"...Convenient."
I laughed quietly.
"For once… something is actually useful."
I leaned back.
"...System."
No response.
"...Figures."
I closed my eyes.
"...Still…"
A pause.
"...This is better than nothing."
At some point—
I fell asleep.
Just for a moment.
Just enough.
Voices.
"...Look at this."
"...No way."
I opened my eyes.
Slowly.
"...What…?"
My body didn't move.
My hands—
Tied.
"...Again?"
I laughed weakly.
"...Seriously?"
Bandits.
Around ten of them.
Standing near the monster.
"...Rank A."
"...We're rich."
"...Kingdom will pay a lot for this."
I narrowed my eyes.
"...They're taking it."
One of them looked at me.
"This one's alive."
Another shrugged.
"Leave him."
"He's useless."
They laughed.
"...Yeah."
I whispered.
"That's what they always say."
They walked away.
Dragging the monster.
Leaving me behind.
Silence.
I stared at the sky.
"...Why?"
My voice was quiet.
"...Why does this keep happening?"
I clenched my fists.
"...I fight."
"...I survive."
"...And I still lose everything."
My teeth gritted.
"...No."
Not this time.
I moved.
Slow.
Careful.
The rope.
Tight.
But not perfect.
"...I learned this already."
After several minutes—
It snapped.
I stood up.
Slowly.
"...Not this time."
I followed them.
Fast.
Silent.
When I saw them—
I stepped out.
Blocking the road.
"...Leave it."
They stopped.
Confused.
Then laughed.
"...Who are you?"
I raised my hand.
The black blade appeared.
"...Leave it."
Silence.
Then—
"Kill him."
They rushed.
All of them.
Ten.
Against one.
"...Good."
The first attacked.
I moved.
Cut.
Blood.
Second.
Third.
Fourth.
The sword moved smoothly.
Too smoothly.
Like it wanted this.
Like it was enjoying it.
"...You're messed up."
I muttered.
But I didn't stop.
I couldn't.
Fight after fight.
Body after body.
Until—
Silence.
I walked to the cart.
Then stopped.
A woman.
Inside.
Broken.
"..."
I looked away.
Then back.
"...You're safe."
No response.
Just fear.
"Come out."
I shouted.
Silence.
"COME OUT!"
Movement.
A man.
Shaking.
"...Please… don't kill me…"
I stared at him.
"...Explain."
"My wife… they took her…"
"...My daughter too…"
Silence.
I looked at the bodies.
Then the forest.
Then the sword.
"...Where?"
"North… their base…"
I turned.
Walking.
"...Take her back."
He froze.
"...What?"
"I'll handle the rest."
I didn't stop.
"...Wait—!"
I paused.
Just slightly.
"...Don't follow me."
Silence.
Then—
I disappeared into the forest.
Alone.
Again.
But this time—
Different.
"...Now."
My voice was cold.
"...I hunt them."