I looked at her and immediately drew my swords, ready for combat.
She came at me without hesitation.
I immediately aimed for her arm and attacked.
She dodged.
I followed up with my other sword, but she blocked the attack with her own blade.
I didn’t give her a chance to breathe.
I attacked again with my second sword.
She immediately jumped backward, avoiding the strike.
She was skilled.
Her movements were better than anyone I’d fought until now.
But I wasn’t going to run.
If I started running simply because I was afraid to confront someone stronger than me, I would never make it far in this world.
I tightened my grip around my swords and pushed myself forward.
Darkness covered my blades as I attacked.
To my surprise...
She used Darkness too.
Our attacks collided.
BOOM!
The two waves of Darkness clashed and disappeared.
I didn’t wait.
I rushed forward and attacked with everything I had.
At the same time, I fired several Dark Bullets to distract her.
If she ignored them, she’d get injured.
If she reacted to them, I’d use the opening to attack with my swords.
At least...
That was what I expected.
She did something completely different.
Darkness gathered around her and formed several small black spheres.
The Dark Bullets struck the spheres and disappeared.
My eyes narrowed.
Interesting.
She wasn’t simply using Darkness.
She knew how to manipulate it in ways I hadn’t considered.
Our battle continued.
Neither of us gave an inch.
We exchanged attacks again and again, neither able to gain a decisive advantage.
Eventually, she created some distance between us.
Then she asked,
"What’s your name?"
If this had been an ordinary person, I wouldn’t have answered.
But we were evenly matched.
So I decided there was no harm in telling her.
"My name is Asher."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Asher..."
She repeated my name under her breath before asking,
"Which noble family are you from?"
I could feel the hostility in her voice.
I didn’t give a damn.
"I don’t have a family."
"I’m from the slums."
Her eyes widened.
She looked at my cheap clothes and worn equipment.
The only thing that could have connected me to a noble family was my appearance.
But she quickly dismissed the thought.
No noble would openly claim to be from the slums.
Their family would never allow it.
Her hostility visibly decreased.
"Okay."
She lowered her sword slightly.
"How about we stop fighting?"
"I saw you defeating several people and thought I could take your points."
"But we’re evenly matched."
"And I only have problems with nobles."
I shrugged.
"Whatever."
"I only need to get into the academy. I don’t care about my ranking."
I looked at her for a moment.
"And I’m not like you."
"I don’t have specific enemies."
"Anyone who crosses me becomes my enemy."
I softened my expression slightly and gave her a small grin.
"But you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen."
"So I don’t really want to turn this into a fight to the death either."
She stared at me.
"How can you be so shameless?"
I simply shrugged and spread my hands.
"When you’ve lived in the slums since you were little, shame doesn’t have much room to exist."
"And I don’t like beating around the bush."
"I thought you were the most beautiful person I’d ever seen, so I simply said it."
She looked at me for a moment.
After realizing I genuinely meant it, she sighed.
"Thank you."
"My name is Nyx Voidweaver."
I blinked.
"Oh."
"You’re number one."
She nodded.
I looked at her for a moment before speaking.
"Asher."
"I don’t have a last name."
"My parents abandoned me when I was young, and I don’t even know who they are."
"This is simply a name I picked up in the slums."
I said it with complete indifference.
Nyx looked at me.
"Don’t you hate them?"
"Don’t you ever want to find them and get revenge?"
I laughed softly.
"Do you know where I’m from?"
"The slums."
"It’s not some fancy place where I can spend years planning revenge."
"I only awakened recently."
"Before that, I nearly died every day just trying to survive."
"Who has time to think about revenge when you’re worried about surviving until tomorrow?"
My expression slowly changed.
The smile disappeared.
"And even if I found my parents and got my revenge..."
"What would that accomplish?"
"They abandoned me because they didn’t want me."
"Why should I force myself into their lives?"
My voice became quieter.
For the first time, I didn’t hide behind humor.
I simply spoke honestly.
"I just want to live."
"I don’t care about anyone else."
"I know living a peaceful life in this world is probably impossible."
"That’s why I’m chasing power."
"So I can live a little better than this pathetic life."
I turned away from her.
I didn’t look back.
For once, there was no joke.
No sarcastic comment.
No ridiculous excuse.
Just the truth.
Nyx watched my retreating back.
She could tell I wasn’t putting on an act to gain sympathy.
I truly felt that way.
Then she called out to me.
"Asher."
I stopped and looked back.
Nyx stood there, watching me.
"If you make it into the academy..."
She paused for a moment.
"Find me."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because someone like you is going to attract attention."
Her expression became slightly serious.
"You don’t have a family backing you."
"You don’t have connections."
"And judging by your equipment..."
Her eyes briefly moved over my worn clothes and battered gear.
"You certainly don’t have the resources most of the people here have."
I remained silent.
She continued.
"I’m not saying I’ll protect you."
"I’m saying..."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"It might be interesting having someone like you around."
I stared at her for a moment.
Then I shrugged.
"Sure."
"We’ll see what happens."
I turned around and walked away, casually waving one hand.
Behind me, Nyx watched my retreating figure.
For some reason...
She smiled.
Then she turned around and continued hunting monsters.