The rain kept pouring relentlessly as Kairos and Fiona ventured deeper into the forest. The surroundings were damp, heavy, and quieter than usual.
Neither of them spoke. Only the sound of footsteps splashing through puddles and the rhythm of controlled breaths filled the air. A strange tension hung between them, a residue of the outburst Fiona had lashed at Kairos earlier. The emotion lingered like mist.
Kairos was silent, but his thoughts raced.
'What is she afraid of…? Did I do something wrong again?'
But before he could ponder further, he glanced back and saw Fiona struggling to catch her breath. She was clearly exhausted from keeping up. Kairos halted abruptly, guilt creeping in.
(She must've been too stubborn to say she couldn't keep up… She's the one who insisted on coming, but I should've noticed. I'm terrible for not realizing how much strain she's under—she's so delicate...)
"Fiona, excuse me."
Kairos gently lifted her into his arms and started running again.
"I'm sorry, Fiona… I didn't notice. You had to force yourself to keep up with me."
"No, it's okay. I chose to come. You don't have to blame yourself."
Silence returned once more, awkward and weighed with mutual guilt. Then, Fiona finally spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Kairos. I was the one who insisted on coming, and now you have to carry me… I feel like a burden."
"And I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. You must've been startled. I… I'm pathetic."
Kairos was taken aback by her words. He never imagined Fiona, once so headstrong, would say such things about herself. The woman who had demanded to come now looked down on herself.
"I yelled, I insisted on coming without explaining why, and now I'm slowing you down. You must think I'm pathetic too, don't you?"
Fiona's expression was unreadable, a mixture of frustration and vulnerability.
"No, not at all. Fiona, you're not pathetic. Far from it. I admire you—for your strength, your compassion. I've always been grateful for that. Even though I've noticed your behavior's changed lately, I don't find it strange or unpleasant.
Knowing someone cares about me… It means the world. It makes me feel like I still have worth. So, please… don't beat yourself up."
Kairos gave her a faint, sincere smile. Fiona could feel the honesty in it—but that only made her heart ache more.
(Cares about you…? No, that's not true. The person you think cares for you… is the same one who once pushed everything onto you. I'm just someone trying to rewrite the mistakes I made. That's all.)
Fiona looked down, her expression still tinged with sadness. Kairos didn't know the full weight on her heart, but he let her sit with her thoughts. For now, their mission came first.
Soon, they arrived at the danger zone. Kairos could feel a dense pressure in the air. He focused, sharpening his senses.
He detected a group of students running from three monsters.
"I think I've located them, Fiona."
His voice snapped her out of her daze. She quickly got out of his arms.
"Follow me."
They sprinted toward the fleeing group until they found Kaian's team—battered and panicked. Some members were severely injured and had to be carried. Kaian and two others had already abandoned the wounded and fled deeper into the forest.
"Fiona, let's go."
Fiona nodded and extended a thread from her weapon toward a nearby tree.
"Fall."
The tree toppled instantly, creating a blockade and giving Kaian's team a chance to escape.
"Fiona, help the injured. I'll hold them off."
"But—"
"Trust me. I've got this."
Kairos rushed forward to confront the three Rank A monsters head-on.
The battle began.
The basilisk exhaled venomous mist. Kairos rolled to the side, then thrust his short spear beneath its jaw, knocking it off balance and into a tree.
He dashed forward for a finishing blow, but the Iron Boar charged to intercept. Kairos barely dodged, spinning midair and striking the joint of its hind leg, sending it collapsing to the ground.
From above, the Crimson Mantis dove with its scythe-like claws. Kairos raised his spear, absorbing the impact, then kicked upward into its abdomen and hurled it backward with the momentum.
His movements were fluid—almost predictive. Fiona, watching from afar, was stunned by the precision and calmness of his combat.
He used no magic, no flashy techniques—just battlefield control and pinpoint timing born of instinct and training.
Sensing danger, the three monsters retreated, fading into the forest. Only the sound of Kairos's breath remained amid the rain.
"Fiona, take the injured back. I'll catch up after I get Kaian's group."
Fiona didn't hesitate—she gathered the wounded and retreated. Meanwhile, Kairos delved deeper until he finally caught up with Kaian and his remaining teammates.
"Kaian. I'm here."
He called out, and Kaian peered cautiously from the brush—only for Kairos to immediately reprimand him.
"Do you even realize what you've done? You disobeyed the instructors' orders and led your team into a restricted zone. You put everyone at risk. If I hadn't come when I did, your wounded teammates would be dead. This mess is entirely because of your recklessness, Kaian."
Kairos's sharp words struck Kaian's pride hard. He snapped back.
"Don't get cocky, Kairos. Who do you think you are, lecturing me? You freak—you think acting like a hero makes you better than us?"
"Think what you want. But you'll take responsibility. I'll report this to the instructors. Be ready to face the consequences."
Kairos turned to leave—but stopped.
A chilling pressure suddenly enveloped the forest.
Something far more terrifying than the Rank A monsters had arrived.
From the darkness emerged a tall black figure—humanoid in shape but reptilian in features. Muscular, lean, with razor-sharp fangs and gleaming yellow eyes.
A Ravager. A Rank S monster known for unmatched speed and devastating power.
It roared, sending shockwaves through the trees.
"Damn… We wandered into its territory…"
While Kairos tried to assess the situation, Kaian's group made the only choice they could—they ran.
The Ravager locked on immediately and lunged toward them at blinding speed.
"No you don't!"
Kairos dashed in and intercepted, narrowly blocking its advance. Kaian's group managed to escape.
Now, only Kairos remained—facing the creature alone.
He readied his stance, eyes calm and focused.
He would hold the line—no matter the cost.