The streets were alive with the usual hum of city life as Jae-Hyun and Ahri exited the ranking center. The warm glow of lanterns lined the sidewalks, casting long shadows as adventurers bustled about, lost in their own worlds of quests and ambitions. But for Ahri, the vibrant cityscape faded into the background, her mind consumed by an internal storm she could no longer suppress.

The two walked in silence, Jae-Hyun’s gaze fixed ahead while Ahri lingered a few steps behind, her hand clutching the hilt of her sword. The rank—that stupid rank—clawed at her mind with every step. C-rank. The words felt like a branding, a declaration of mediocrity she couldn’t shake. She clenched her jaw, trying to push the thoughts away, but the weight of it bore down harder with each passing second.

Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, she broke the silence. “How did you get this strong?” Her voice was quiet but carried an unmistakable edge, as though she’d been turning the question over in her mind for hours.

Jae-Hyun glanced at her, caught off guard by the sudden question. He shrugged slightly, his tone detached. “I kept training, set some goals, and eventually, by pure luck, I got this strong.”

The words hit Ahri like a punch to the gut. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in disbelief as they locked onto his back. For a moment, she was speechless, the storm inside her erupting all at once.

“Pure luck?” she echoed, her voice trembling. Jae-Hyun turned to face her, confusion flickering across his expression. “You’re saying you’re this strong because of pure luck? Are you kidding me?”

Her words came faster now, a torrent of frustration and self-doubt that she could no longer hold back. “Is that all it takes, then? Am I just unlucky? Is that why I’m so weak? Why can’t I be stronger? Why can’t I ever be of real help?”

Jae-Hyun’s eyes widened slightly, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Ahri pressed on, her voice cracking as tears began to pool in her eyes. “Do you even understand how it feels to constantly fall short? To watch you stand there, so far ahead, while I—I’m stuck here, useless?”

The tears began to fall, her voice softening but no less filled with pain. “And you… why can’t you open up to me? Did I ever do something to make you shut me out? I know you’ve been keeping secrets. At first, I understood. But I thought we were closer now. I thought you trusted me.”

Jae-Hyun stepped forward, his hand raised slightly in a gesture of reassurance, but she shook her head. “I thought you’d at least tell me how you became so strong. But you don’t even trust me with that.”

For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the muffled sounds of the city in the distance. Jae-Hyun’s lips parted, his voice quieter now, tinged with regret. “Ahri…”

He hesitated, then said, “I got B rank.”

Ahri froze, the revelation cutting through her turmoil like a blade. Her tears stopped as she stared at him, her disbelief evident. “That’s impossible,” she said, shaking her head. “From what I’ve seen, you’re far stronger than that. You’re lying.”

Jae-Hyun sighed deeply, his sharp blue eyes softening. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder, his touch grounding her in the moment. “I’m not lying. And I’ll tell you everything, but not here. We need to go somewhere private.”

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Ahri’s lips pressed into a thin line as she searched his face for answers. Whatever she saw there—his sincerity, his determination—it was enough to make her nod. “Alright,” she whispered. “But no more dodging. I want the truth.”

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They found a secluded rooftop overlooking the city, the cool evening air wrapping around them like a comforting shroud. Jae-Hyun leaned against the edge of the rooftop, his gaze distant as he began to speak.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he said, his voice low and steady. “And it’s not because I don’t trust you. It’s because it’s hard to explain.”

Ahri stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, waiting silently. She didn’t press him, letting him find the words on his own.

“My family betrayed me,” Jae-Hyun began, his tone calm but laced with an undercurrent of pain. “They took everything from me. My home, my future, my… my sister. They left me for dead.”

Ahri’s eyes widened, her lips parting slightly in shock, but she remained silent as he continued.

“When I should’ve died, I awakened to… something. A skill, if you want to call it that. It allows me to grow faster than normal people. To get stronger in ways that most can’t. But it came with a price. It’s… complicated.”

He paused, his gaze shifting to her. “I’ve been trying to figure it all out, but it’s not just about me anymore. I’m doing this for my sister, for the people I lost.”

Ahri’s breath caught at the last part, her chest tightening. “Jae-Hyun…”

He shook his head. “I’m not telling you this to make you feel sorry for me. I’m telling you because I need you to understand why I’ve been the way I am. Why I’ve kept things to myself.”

Ahri stepped closer, her expression softening. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “For everything you’ve been through. And for pushing you tonight. I didn’t realize…”

Jae-Hyun gave her a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You don’t need to apologize. If anything, I’m the one who should.”

He hesitated for a moment, then said, “There’s something else. A skill I have. It's like a bond.”

Ahri tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her gaze. “What does it do?”

Jae-Hyun’s expression grew serious. “It’s a skill that allows someone to grow alongside me. To share in my strength. But it comes with risks.”

Her brows furrowed. “What kind of risks?”

He looked away briefly, his voice dropping. “The skill doesn’t explain much. All I know is that if one of us dies… the other suffers severe consequences. And there might be other risks I don’t even know about yet.”

Ahri’s gaze didn’t waver. “Why are you telling me this?”

Jae-Hyun met her eyes, his voice steady. “Because I want to offer it to you. I know you’ve been feeling like you’re not enough, and I know that feeling, but trust me, you are. You’re strong, Ahri. But if this bond can help you reach your potential faster, I want to give you that chance.”

Ahri stared at him, her mind racing. The offer was tempting, but the risks loomed large. She thought of the battles ahead, of the strength she’d need to stand beside Jae-Hyun. Finally, she spoke, her voice quiet but firm. “If I say yes… will you promise me something?”

“Anything,” Jae-Hyun replied without hesitation.

“No more secrets,” she said, her gaze piercing. “If we’re going to do this, I need to know I can trust you completely.”

He nodded, his expression resolute. “No more secrets.”

Ahri took a deep breath, her decision made. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

She swallowed hard, her earlier doubts still echoing in her mind. But standing beside Jae-Hyun, she felt something else—a fierce resolve burning in her chest. She would not let fear hold her back. If this bond could make her stronger, then she would take the risk. For him, for herself, for the future that she wanted.

As Jae-Hyun activated the skill, a golden notification appeared before his eyes:

System Notification: "Abyssal Bond will now commence. Warning: Activation will trigger a chain of unforeseen consequences. Proceed?"

He hesitated for a moment, the weight of the warning sinking in. Turning to Ahri, he saw her nod, her trust in him unwavering.

He hesitated, the weight of the system’s warning bearing down on him. What did it mean by "unforeseen consequences"? His mind raced through the possibilities. Was it worth the risk? If something went wrong, could he bear the thought of Ahri suffering because of him?*

But then he looked at her—standing firm despite her own doubts—and knew he couldn’t let her face the world unprepared. Whatever came of this, he would carry the burden if it meant keeping her safe.

With a deep breath, he selected Proceed.