Upon facing the two worst enemies. The night sky was covered by dark clouds ever since the appearance of the masked man. This masked man was carrying such an unbelievable sword and its appearance was similar to the Scrapblade. Shin finds that the fight is one-sided from the beginning. With his allies were down, the woman he mentioned must protect them as if she was the last line of the defense. Shin only looked at the masked man and he felt such an unbearable pressure coming from him. He feels his Battle Instinct was shouting run around his head. Base on its pressure, Shin can guess that he is beyond the MAX level of 100, a Status Breaker.

Shin finally let go from being stand strong. He began to feel fear towards him, he only acts strong because of Philuffy and his friends. He has the same reason like Philuffy, the one who doesn’t rely on stats. The masked man suddenly spoke.

“Well? Are you going to strike? I suggest you do it first…”

“…”

“…I see. Farewell.”

Shin immediately defend himself but he crashed himself to the ground where his friends at out of the blue and only to see the masked man was standing there with his seven-foot, so-called heavy blunt sword.

“W-what happen…!?”

Dice and the woman came to check on him.

“Hey! Are you alright, man!?”

“I highly recommend that we run. From that pressure earlier, we are nothing but sitting ducks”

Shin struggle to stand up and looked at Philuffy who was still shouting in fear as he remembers the masked man’s words then the Paralysis effect suddenly kicks in and Shin fell down but he was catch by the woman.

“Why… now…!?”

“Did you… not finish the extraction of that abnormal stats?”

“…I’m sorry, Wilhelmina… This enemy… is unknown to me yet, they act that they know us… Even Dice was easily overwhelmed by that puzzle freak and if I didn’t act now...”

Dice was shocked from what Shin did. Then the woman named Wilhelmina looked at Dice as she explains the blank cartridge that Shin used was the Extraction Cartridge. It can extract any abnormal skills and becomes his own but it will take him 5 hours to extract it fully from his body.

Dice looked at Shin angrily.

“…You lied to me… I could take him on one on one if I have to you bastard! You could've get yourself killed if you act alone! You just want to take all the glory for yourself!”

Wilhelmina stands for Shin.

“How dare you say that? Dice, from all the battles you fought. Have you even considered facing an unknown enemy that is stronger than Shin who was supposed to be our strongest ally!?”

“Well…”

“Even if you used your Breaker form, you still don’t have a chance against him. He was only thinking his allies before himself.”

Dice looked at Shin who was in pain.

“Is that why, you told me to buy time? Because he was that strong?”

Shin stayed silent as his face began to be filled with despair after seeing Philuffy was too scared.

“…Just take Philuffy away… Run away… Those two are after her…”

A menacing voice was suddenly heard.

“…I see that you WERE still under that annoying paralysis effect. And here I thought our fate has changed from its sudden recovery.”

The three looked at Jigsaw and the Masked man.

“This moment… might change our fate and calling it mission accomplish… If I kill Specter and the Innovator…”

“Hey, you’re serious about that!?”

Jigsaw made a surprised reaction as the masked man noticed Philuffy was staring at him with her eyes widen, filled with fear and heavily injured from Jigsaw’s attack then he shoves Jigsaw out of anger.

“You bastard!”

“Gh!?”

Jigsaw was hit but he was able to recover from the strike.

“Hey! What was that all about!?”

Jigsaw’s eyes widen when the masked man’s eyes were filled with anger and murderous intent then he came to his senses.

“M-my apologies… Jigsaw…”

“…Let’s retreat for now… I don’t think you can handle this yet.”

“Don’t be… I can do this…”

The masked man raised his blade as he looked down at Specter and Philuffy.

“Farewell…”

Shin looked down with despair as he remembered the girl from his memory and the heavily injured Philuffy.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“I… I’m sorry, Cyan… I failed to protect you, our friends… and Philuffy.”

That same force that Shin was hit by was used again to kill them all for real. Philuffy covers her head, hiding away from fear as her left arm started to glow.

I’m always fight by your side… Shiinie…

BREAKER SKILL! YEAH!

The masked man and Jigsaw made a distance away from the appearance of the Stardust Particles. Which were gathered and act like a shield as it easily deflect the masked man’s killing blow then it started to heal all the injuries Shin and Dice suffered, even his paralysis effect is gone.

“…Victim Sanctuary.”

There, was Philuffy standing who was already transformed to her Breaker form. Her eyes were blank and her personality changed. The three were in awe to see Philuffy’s sudden changes to herself.

Shin can’t believe what power Philuffy had, just as the headmaster said about her untap power, he started to spoke to Philuffy.

“Philuffy… You’re a… Status Breaker?”

“…”

Shin just smiled as her actions reminds himself.

“…You’re stronger than I thought… But the fact that you’re mine doesn’t change.”

“How… Unpleasant… yet…”

The particles disperse with Philuffy made a scary look towards Jigsaw and Necrom.

Necrom was astonished upon looking at Philuffy in her Breaker form.

“To think that Innovator will arrive this late… Are you some kind of cliché hero who come to rescue in a brink of despair?”

“You… do not belong in this time… Begone, Dark ages of the future! Or would you rather face the power of the Innovator.”

!!!

Necrom was in awe as well and closed his eyes.

“…It seems we got exposed, Bit.”

He looked at Shin with a scary look as well.

“We lost… Let’s retreat, Bit.”

Jigsaw was surprised himself to hear from the words of the masked man who easily defeated Shin admitted defeat.

“What!? How?”

The masked man turned his back from them and started to walk mid-air while his hands are in his pocket.

“We stand no chance against the Innovator, no matter how advanced we are…”

“…tch.”

Jigsaw disperse into puzzle piece as a sign that he left the area and the masked man made one final look toward Shin Kizuna.

“The inevitable future is coming… Alas! I will warn you Shin Kizuna of Status Breaker Specter. Kill the Innovator now or suffer! I am Necrom, Status Breaker Requiem. Just you’re personal nightmare… remember that.”

The man named Necrom disappear from the black smoke as Shin walked near Philuffy while looking serious towards Necrom.

“…When that day come that I have to face you, I am ready…”

Suddenly, Philuffy hugged Shin.

“Hey! What’s wrong with y-!?”

Her hug was very tight, as if she was either scared or a sense of reunion.

“Phi… luffy?”

“Shinnie! Shinnie! Shinnie…!”

“H-hey… w-what are you doing?”

“I am glad that I was able to touch you like this, again…”

“W-what do you mean? You’re doing this all the time.”

“Not that kind of hug though. But please… All is forgiven Shin, it’s not your fault… Go back to your normal self…”

“What are you talking about, Philuffy?”

Philuffy loses consciousness and fell to his arms.

“Hey!”

“…”

“That’s unexpected but…”

Shin smiled and kissed her forehead. He felt that he is greatly indebted for saving his life.

“To be honest, I felt you’re the one who save me from my rampage, …I decided not to rely on my Gear ever again. This time, I have to level up for your sake…”

Thus, the battle against the unknown assailants was put on hold due to the appearance of the Innovator. Everyone stopped training on the next day due to their last battle. They had an unexpected Barbeque party which was set up by Shin and Dice at the balcony. While Dice was busy cooking the barbeque, Shin was standing while watching them having fun until Wilhelmina came to his side.

“How bold of you… You cheat on me by kissing the girl’s forehead infront of me.”

“What in the world do you mean cheat on you? We’re not in a relationship, Wilhelmina.”

“I consider her as my rival for stealing my man… To be honest, I despise her…”

Wilhelmina became upset as Shin looked at her.

“But… That never happen after she saved us in a brink of death yet, I suddenly felt a familiar yet warm nature when she changed to that form. I felt, Cyan was with us. After all, she is the only person who can turn the tide of the battle even at worst times.”

“…Yeah.”

Shin made a warm smile after remembering the girl named Cyan. Then he gave the Specter Cartridge to Wilhelmina which made her confused.

“Specter cartridge? Why are you giving it to me?”

“I want to keep these warm moments in days to come. Please, do something about the Level 1 restriction rule. I decide to level up and control my Hate Eater. I will not let myself be saved by my friends every time I fight and suffer the consequences upon stopping me.”

Wilhelmina took the cartridge from Shin’s hand.

“In exchange, we will have a date, just the two of us.”

“Well, if this certain magnet will not come that is…”

Shin heard someone was calling him.

“Shiiin!”

It was Philuffy, running with her arms up and hugged Shin like a child.

“Eat with Phi! Miss too! Eat with Phi!”

Philuffy held Wilhelmina’s hand and Shin’s hand as she dragged them towards the table filled with food which was made by Dice himself and they happily enjoyed their time before the upcoming Rank examination.

While they were enjoying eating. Shin looked at Anna who was having fun watching Philuffy eat like a hamster for filling her cheeks with meat.

“Anna.”

“Yes, Shin?”

“Your position will be both Defense and Support. Philuffy and Dice will rely on your new strength from now on.”

“I-I understand… but, why won’t you fight?”

“Headmaster Sasword said that I have to wait the said day due to my Poison Paralysis effect. Once that day come, you and Philuffy will be replaced by me and Wilhelmina. I was supposed to be lost by default but Headmaster was part of the blame as well so he gave me a chance to find someone to fight in my place.”

“Sounds like cheating.”

“I know but, can you blame fate? I didn’t know I can be healed that fast.”

Dice sighs which made Shin and the rest looked at him.

“What about me? Who will replace me? Do I have to work that hard?”

Shin replied.

“Unfortunately, yes. But consider this your training to fight against Jigsaw. You got overwhelmed with only half of his power. Wilhelmina did tell me that he has similar Gear as you as well.”

When Shin mentioned that last battle. Dice felt frustrated as he clenches his fist.

“…Yeah, I will beat that bastard alright. After seeing punching a defenseless girl like it was fun.”

“Then, it’s decided.”

Shin stood up while looking towards his friends.

“I shall declare this team will be called… Team Raison d'être”

Wilhelmina was impressed by the said name.

“I see… You named that to our team because you acknowledge everyone has an important role to play.”

Shin nodded with agreement.

“Exactly, no matter what. Weak power or not, every move is important. In 2 days from now, don’t think about how high the other’s level is… Just have a will to fight. In the end, they are just numbers in display.”

Philuffy’s eyes widen when Shin said about higher levels are nothing if they have a will to fight. She felt her heart skips a beat after hearing the words she wanted to hear for so long.

“Shin…”

Philuffy teared up as Anna noticed her reaction.

“Philuffy? Are you okay?”

“Phi’s fine.”

They were ready for the Rank Match Examination but without Shin’s assistance. The following days they heard that Shin unknowingly disappear with the letter left behind that said he will return on the last round and only Philuffy knew where he was but everytime her friends ask her where Shin was gone to. Philuffy’s expression was a plain smile but to them, it was something very awkward to know and Dice felt chill down his spine as if he also knew who was the perpetrator.