Dark and Ingrid walk under the early morning light. Dark is extremely tired; for him, not sleeping is unusual. Ingrid’s arm feels much better, and she has already recovered full movement of her hand.

  “Hey, Dark. You said you were going to give me the sword. Since you already look tired… how about I go hunting for a bit?”

  Ingrid lifts her arm, asking for the sword. Her cold gaze falls on Dark—more like an order than a request.

  “Sure, here you go…” Dark says unhappily. He tilts the sword toward her, offering it by the handle.

  Ingrid reaches out to take it, but Dark releases it the moment she touches the hilt.

  The sword drops to the ground, stabbing into the dirt. Ingrid keeps her expression cold and icy, though inside she’s surprised by what just happened.

  “What happened, Ingrid?” Dark asks, confused.

  She turns her back to him.

  “Forget it. I don’t want it anymore. You look like you’re begging to keep it… just stay with the sword.”

  Dark becomes extremely happy and excited when he realizes she let him keep the sword. He picks it up and continues walking, much more cheerful.

  Ingrid walks feeling humiliated.

  Why was it so heavy? How can he carry something that heavy so easily? What is that sword? she thinks, frustrated with herself.

  Dark tries to walk beside her.

  “But Ingrid, how are you going to fight?”

  Ingrid lets out a frustrated sigh. Dark was right; how would she fight with no weapon?

  She reaches into the dimensional space of his suit and pulls out his daggers.

  “I guess these will work. Before we go fight the boss, let’s take down a few monsters.”

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  “Okay. We can earn more points too.”

  After a few minutes, they finally find a BearCrust — a bear with red eyes, brown fur, and a crust of stone on its back. An extremely durable and very strong monster.

  Ingrid studies the size of the creature.

  “Dark, this will be our second battle together. Be careful… this monster focuses on endurance, but its speed is low.”

  “O-okay… I think I got it…”

  Dark positions himself, gripping the sword firmly.

  The BearCrust roars angrily and charges. It strikes at Dark with its extremely sharp claws.

  Dark blocks with the blade, locking its claws, while Ingrid is already on top of the creature ready to attack.

  She clings to the BearCrust’s crust and tries to destroy it, stabbing the dagger into its back, but only manages to crack it.

  The monster rears up to throw her off.

  Dark takes advantage of the distraction and slashes its belly with a horizontal strike, wounding the monster and sending it into frenzy.

  It roars as its body becomes surrounded by a red mana barrier — something Dark cannot perceive.

  Ingrid pushes herself back, retreating.

  “Dark, be very careful now. In this state, all its power increases… especially its endurance.”

  Before Dark can run, the BearCrust attacks again, punching his sword to break it. Dark kneels, trying to defend, limited by the injuries on his chest.

  Ingrid sees Dark failing. She runs around, leaps toward him, and pulls him away from the blow. The BearCrust hits the sword, smashing it into the ground.

  Ingrid lands in a crouch, holding Dark in her arms.

  “I told you to be careful,” she says, not sounding very disappointed.

  “Sorry… I thought I could handle it…”

  They both stand up. Dark positions himself with his bare hands, but Ingrid places her hand on his chest, pushing him back.

  She brandishes the daggers and charges at the monster. She’s way too fast. The BearCrust tries to react but is too slow.

  Ingrid slices its throat with one swift motion.

  The monster falls backward, dead.

  Dark watches, moved.

  Someday… I want to be as cool as her… he thinks, clenching his fists in excitement.

  Ingrid looks at the dagger, irritated.

  I missed. I meant to cut its head off. This dagger is too small. This is annoying. she thinks, clenching her fists.

  Dark runs to pick up his sword, and it dissolves in his hand. The strange semi-liquid metal re-enters his body.

  Ingrid watches — that sword is still a mystery. She cuts open the BearCrust’s chest, coating her hands in blood as she removes the mana crystal.

  “All done, Dark. I already got the core. Let’s keep going.”

  “Hey, Ingrid… I’m bleeding…” Dark says casually.

  “I think when you pushed too hard, you reopened the injuries again.”

  Ingrid grabs a bottle and pours water onto his chest.

  “Hey! That’s really cold! And it hurts!”

  Dark pats his chest to ease the pain, but only makes it worse.

  “Hey! Don’t do that, you idiot!” Ingrid grabs his hand, sighing at his endless na?veté.

  She holds Dark’s hand and pulls him along to continue walking. Dark blushes — it’s the first time a woman has held his hand besides his master.

  ————————––––––––––––––––––––––

  They defeat several monsters along the way: undead creatures, weaker students, surrendering students, weak gray wolves, mid-sized red-horned rabbits — terrifying nonetheless.

  Morning ends. Dark and Ingrid advance through the forest in search of more monsters, until they hear something cracking.

  Ingrid runs, and Dark follows as fast as he can. She arrives first and sees Lavin and Asami.

  The three stare at a hole in the center of a huge tree. Inside it, a glowing purple cocoon begins to fracture.

  Ingrid’s breath trembles in panic. Asami shakes, praying. Lavin remains calm.

  Dark finally arrives, breathing with a bit of difficulty.

  “What the…?” he says, fascinated by the enormous cocoon.

  Lavin is relieved to hear Dark.

  Good thing he arrived… I’m glad you made it, Dark… he thinks, smirking softly.

  The cocoon breaks. There’s nothing inside.

  Until a shadow above them blocks the sun. The beating of wings echoes.

  They look up — and see the monster they will have to face.