My heart wouldn't slow down.
Every breath felt too loud.
Too heavy.
This wasn't like before.
This wasn't fear from confusion.
This was real fear.
Because now—
I knew.
If I lose…
I die.
"…Stay focused."
Her voice cut through the noise in my head.
I nodded slightly.
The guy in front of us cracked his neck.
Relaxed.
Like this was nothing to him.
"…I'll give you one chance."
He said.
Silence.
"Run."
My jaw tightened.
"…Not happening."
He sighed.
"…Then don't complain."
He moved.
Faster than before.
This time—
I was ready.
Or at least—
I tried to be.
I stepped to the side—
Too late.
His hand grabbed my arm—
Twisted—
Pain shot through my body.
I dropped to one knee.
"…You really are weak."
Before he could hit again—
She moved.
Fast.
Faster than me.
Her hand cut through the air—
Straight toward him.
He jumped back.
Barely dodged.
"…Not bad."
He smiled.
"…You're different."
Her eyes didn't change.
Cold.
Focused.
"…We don't want to fight."
She said.
"Everyone says that at the start."
He rushed her.
This time—
She blocked.
The impact echoed.
Stronger than before.
"…So you've awakened a bit."
Awakened?
What did that mean?
I forced myself up.
My arm still hurt.
But I couldn't stay down.
Not now.
Not here.
I looked at my hand.
The mark—
Was glowing brighter.
Hot.
Burning.
"…What is this…"
I whispered.
Then—
The voice came back.
Clear.
Cold.
"Condition met."
My breath stopped.
"…What?"
"First survival encounter detected."
Everything around me slowed.
"Skill unlocked."
My heart pounded.
"Reaction Boost – Level 1."
Silence.
Then—
Everything returned.
Fast.
Real.
"…Move!"
She shouted.
I reacted.
Instinctively.
His attack came—
But this time—
I saw it.
Clear.
Slower.
I stepped aside.
Clean.
Perfect.
"…Oh?"
He stopped.
Surprised.
"…That's new."
I looked at my hand again.
"…A skill…"
My breathing steadied slightly.
"…Okay…"
This changed things.
Not enough to win.
But enough—
To survive.
He smiled wider.
"…Good."
"Now it's getting interesting."
He rushed again.
Faster.
Stronger.
But now—
I could follow.
Barely.
I dodged one hit.
Blocked another.
Still got pushed back.
But I wasn't helpless anymore.
"…Left!"
She shouted.
I moved instantly.
His attack missed.
She stepped in—
Hit him.
Hard.
He staggered back slightly.
First time.
"…So you're working together."
He wiped the blood from his lip.
Still smiling.
"…That makes things harder."
"…Then leave."
I said.
He looked at me.
For a long second.
Then laughed.
"…No."
The air changed again.
He lifted his hand.
His mark—
Glowed intensely.
Stronger than ours.
"…Let me show you something."
A bad feeling hit me instantly.
"…Get back!"
I shouted.
Too late.
The ground beneath us cracked—
And he disappeared.
"…What—"
Behind me.
I turned—
Too slow—
He was already there.
His hand—
Right in front of my chest—
Time slowed again.
My heart pounded.
This was it.
I couldn't dodge.
Couldn't block.
Couldn't—
Move.
Then—
She stepped in.
Between us.
The hit landed.
On her.
Everything stopped.
"…Why…"
I whispered.
Her body shook slightly.
But she didn't fall.
"…I told you…"
She said quietly.
"…Don't die."
Something inside me snapped.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something else.
Something deeper.
I moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
My fist connected—
Straight into his face.
He didn't expect it.
He flew back.
Hit the ground hard.
Silence.
Heavy breathing.
"…You…"
He looked at me.
Different now.
"…Interesting."
I stood there.
Shaking.
Angry.
"…We're not dying here."
He slowly stood up.
Wiped the blood again.
Then—
Smiled.
"…Good."
A pause.
"…Get stronger."
Silence.
Then—
He turned.
And walked away.
"…Next time…"
He said without looking back.
"…one of you dies."
And then—
He was gone.
The world returned.
Noise.
Movement.
Life.
Like nothing happened.
But everything changed.
I turned to her.
"…Are you okay?!"
She nodded slightly.
"…It's nothing."
But I saw it.
The pain.
The blood.
"…You shouldn't have done that."
She looked at me.
"…And let you die?"
Silence.
I didn't answer.
Because I couldn't.
For the first time—
I realized something.
This wasn't just survival.
This wasn't just a game.
This was—
Us.
In a world where only one survives…
Why did she choose to protect him? 👀💔