Darkness.
Silence.
And then—
Pain.
"...Ghh…"
My eyes opened slowly.
Blurry.
Heavy.
My body felt like it was torn apart and stitched back together badly.
"...Still alive…"
I let out a weak breath.
The ceiling above me—
Wood.
Familiar.
"...Guild…?"
"You're finally awake."
A voice.
Calm.
Deep.
I turned my head slightly.
The Guild Master stood there.
Arms crossed.
Watching me.
"...How long?"
I asked.
My voice dry.
"...Two days."
"...Tch."
I tried to sit up.
Pain shot through my body.
"...Don't."
He said.
"...Your body is barely holding together."
"...I've been worse."
"...Not like this."
Silence.
I leaned back again.
Breathing slowly.
"...They got away."
The words came out flat.
Not a question.
A fact.
"...Yes."
No excuse.
No explanation.
Just truth.
"...Figures."
Silence filled the room again.
"...But we got something."
He added.
I glanced at him.
"...What?"
"...Confirmation."
A pause.
"...They're guilty."
I let out a quiet laugh.
"...That doesn't change anything."
"...It does."
He stepped closer.
"...Now we move differently."
I looked at him.
"...Meaning?"
He didn't answer directly.
"...You killed one of them."
Silence.
"...Yeah."
"...An elite."
"...Yeah."
"...Alone."
I didn't respond.
"...That changes your value."
I frowned slightly.
"...Value?"
He nodded.
"...You're no longer just a survivor."
A pause.
"...You're a weapon."
Silence.
I looked at my hand.
Slowly clenching it.
"...A weapon, huh…"
Images flashed.
Blood.
Screams.
That moment—
When I grabbed him.
When something inside me…
Ate.
"...Devour."
I whispered.
The Guild Master's eyes narrowed slightly.
"...So you felt it."
"...You know?"
"...I've seen something similar."
A pause.
"...Not many survive it."
I smirked faintly.
"...Guess I'm special."
"...Or unlucky."
Silence again.
Then—
"...What are you going to do now?"
He asked.
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
I stared at the ceiling.
Thinking.
About everything.
Mira.
Her smile.
Her words.
"I'm letting you grow."
My grip tightened.
"...She's not afraid."
"...No."
"...She's waiting."
The Guild Master didn't respond.
Because he knew.
"...Then I'll make her regret it."
I slowly sat up.
Ignoring the pain this time.
"...I'm not running anymore."
"...Good."
He turned slightly.
"...Because things are about to get worse."
I looked at him.
"...How?"
He paused.
"...The Crown is moving."
Silence.
"...Because of the artifact?"
"...And because of you."
My eyes narrowed.
"...Me?"
He nodded.
"...A slave."
"...An unknown."
"...Defeating elite adventurers."
A pause.
"...They don't like variables."
I clicked my tongue.
"...So I'm a problem now."
"...Yes."
"...Good."
Silence.
I stood up.
Slow.
Unsteady.
But standing.
"...Where are they?"
"...Silver Eclipse?"
He looked at me.
"...Gone."
"...Hiding?"
"...No."
A pause.
"...Moving."
I smirked.
"...Then I'll follow."
He watched me.
Carefully.
"...You'll die."
"...Not yet."
I walked toward the door.
Each step—
Heavy.
Painful.
But real.
"...Kazu."
I stopped.
"...What?"
"...Don't lose yourself."
Silence.
I didn't turn back.
"...Too late."
And I walked out.
Outside—
The world felt different.
Not because it changed.
But because—
I did.
I looked at my hand again.
Slowly raising it.
"...Devour."
A faint pulse.
Something inside me responded.
Hungry.
"...Good."
A small smile formed.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Cold.
Far away—
On a distant road—
Mira stood on a moving carriage.
Looking at the horizon.
"...He survived."
One of her members spoke.
"...Of course he did."
She smiled faintly.
"...That's why he's interesting."
"...Should we eliminate him next time?"
She shook her head.
"...No."
A pause.
"...Next time—"
Her eyes sharpened.
"I'll break him completely."
Back in the city—
I walked alone.
No destination.
No hesitation.
"...This world…"
I whispered.
"...only cares about power."
A pause.
"...Then I'll take it."
My eyes hardened.
"Everything."
And this time—
I wasn't just surviving.
I was hunting.