Racher didn't hesitate. He lunged immediately, his sword cutting the air with determination. Robert left Kairo leaning against a rock and joined his companion without wasting a second."Let's go! Together!" he shouted.
The clash was brutal.Racher attacked with surprising speed, forcing Trid to retreat. His slashes targeted weak spots, but the blacksmith blocked with his axe as if he could read every move. Although he was still bleeding from the cut Kairo had dealt him earlier, he seemed to feel no pain at all.Robert slipped around the flank, looking for an opening. His dagger grazed Trid's side, cutting skin, but not deep enough. Trid spun with enormous force, and his axe struck Racher's sword, sending him flying several meters back."Damn you!" Racher growled, spitting blood as he staggered to his feet."It's not as easy as it looked..." Robert murmured, panting.
Trid chuckled through gritted teeth like a monster enjoying the chaos. His style was violent, unpredictable. He moved from side to side like a crazed beast, never giving even a second of respite. Whenever there seemed to be a gap in his guard, he covered it with a brutal spin or a sudden charge.
Then, a sharp beep cut through the noise of battle.BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Kairo's CHRONOCORE blinked red. A large bar rapidly descended. On the screen, a critical alert appeared:
[VITAL DANGER — LIFE IN FREE FALL]
[HP: 8 / 100]
[Status: Critical]
Kairo looked at it, barely conscious. His hands trembled. His breathing was weak. His heart pounded hard, but out of rhythm. He knew what it meant."I'm not going to pass out… not now," he muttered through clenched teeth.
He clenched his fist. Despite the pain, despite the blood staining his body, he kept crawling through the shadows. He had to move. He had to do it now… before it was too late.
And while Trid kept spinning like a violent whirlwind, fighting Racher and Robert, Kairo edged closer, step by step. No one saw him. No one sensed him. The moment was approaching.
Then, it happened.In the middle of an uncontrolled spin by Trid to block a slash from Racher, Kairo appeared right behind him."Now!" he whispered through clenched teeth, using his last strength.
With a muffled roar, he drove his sword into Trid's back. The blade pierced skin, muscle, and bone, breaking the blacksmith's roar into a scream of surprise and agony."AAAAARGH!" Trid shouted, eyes wide with shock.
The force of the stab left him motionless, paralyzed. His axe clattered to the ground with a thud.Trid first dropped to his knees… then, with a heavy thud, his body collapsed completely.
Silence.The fight was over.
Racher and Robert approached, breathless, still unable to believe what they had just witnessed."You… you did it…" Racher whispered.
Kairo fell back, his chest rising and falling with difficulty. The CHRONOCORE kept blinking red, but it no longer mattered."It wasn't just… thanks to me," he said with a weak smile. "This… we did it together."
Robert dropped to his knees beside him."We're getting you out of here. And this time… I swear nothing will stop us."
Trid's body lay motionless. The village of Graviton was finally free from his tyranny.But the wounds left by the battle… were only just beginning to hurt.
Seconds later, the CHRONOCORE started beeping again:BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The screen flashed a series of notifications:
[EXP GAINED: +425 EXP]
[2 Levels increased]
Current level: 5
EXP: 0 / 300
HP: 6 / 140 (+20)
EP: 70 / 70 (+10)
Strength: 12 (+2)
Agility: 13 (+2)
Vitality: 12 (+2)
Intelligence: 14 (+2)
Defense: 11 (+2)
Speed: 13 (+2)
Current Mission: Completed ✔
Skill acquired!
[Miraculous Recovery]
↳ An extremely rare and random skill. Fully restores your health and heals all wounds when your HP falls below 10%. Can only activate once per year.
Despite leveling up, Kairo barely had 6 health points left. His body trembled, on the verge of collapse.
Then, a bright light burst from the CHRONOCORE.
[MIRACULOUS RECOVERY ACTIVATED]
[HP: 6 → 140]
[Status: OPTIMAL]
Kairo's wounds closed within seconds. His breathing steadied. The blood disappeared. The pain… vanished.
He stood up, his body restored, while his companions looked on, wide-eyed."Was that… a healing skill?" Racher whispered."Looks like it," Kairo said, watching the Chronocore still glowing red. "It's called Miraculous Recovery, and apparently… it only works once a year."