For a brief moment, Lena stood among the strongest in the world.
The sheer power coursing through her veins was something she had never dared to dream of achieving. It wasn't just strength—it was omnipotence.
For the first time in her life, she could stand toe-to-toe with S-rankers.
A monumental achievement.
A feeling that could make anyone drunk on power.
But Lena wasn't in the mood to celebrate.
She was furious.
And she didn't have time.
Her gaze flickered back to the boy lying motionless behind her. From a distance, it would seem like he had simply passed out, but she knew better.
He was barely clinging to life.
And she couldn't waste a single second.
Her grip tightened. The goblins swarmed toward her—dozens, no, hundreds—but they didn't matter.
Nothing mattered except saving him.
Taking a deep breath, she moved.
And for the first time, she truly understood how to fight.
How to move her body with complete precision.
How to throw a punch.
Even if there were thousands of them, it wouldn't make a difference.
She lightly clenched her fist.
There was no need to overexert herself.
No need for fancy techniques.
A natural stance. A simple, straight punch.
And then—
Bang.
The air split apart with a sound so sharp, so perfect, it sent chills down her spine.
That single strike—so effortless, so pure—ripped through the battlefield like a storm.
The goblins? Gone.
The horde that had once been rushing toward her had been wiped out in an instant.
Lena stared at the aftermath, her breath shallow.
The overwhelming sensation that had flooded her body just moments ago began to fade—like a dream slipping through her fingers.
The power was leaving her.
But the memory of that punch...
That would stay with her forever.
And for the first time, she truly understood.
His talent.
His ability to push someone past their limits, to show them the next level of their potential—regardless of where they started.
If not for the crippling side effects, it would have been an S-rank ability without question.
Her jaw clenched.
Her time with this power was over.
But he—
He was still dying.
And Lena wasn't about to let that happen.
Not now.
Not ever.
"Ugh.... Cough.... Cough!"
A sudden coughing voice snape back to her reality.
Instantly she turned her head and saw the unconscious boy was and was coughing blood, lots of blood.
In the blink of eye, She was next to him.
"Are you alright?"
****
[Rin's POV]
Damn.
Everything still hurt like fucking hell.
My entire body felt like it had been set on fire and doused with acid for good measure. Every breath made my chest feel like it was being squeezed by a vice.
...But at least I'm alive.
Barely.
It seemed I had blacked out, though only for a few seconds this time. Still, compared to last time—when I was unconscious for almost a day—it was an improvement.
If I'd used my ability without [Eternal Return], I would've been dead for sure.
I exhaled shakily, the taste of blood still thick on my tongue.
"...But at least it's over... for now."
"Are you alright?"
I heard Lena's voice cut through the haze. It sounded closer than I expected, soft but edged with worry.
Slowly, I turned my head, wincing at the sharp jolt of pain that flared through my neck.
I met her gaze and rasped out, "I'm not alright."
Her eyes widened, lips parting slightly, but before she could react—
"Ugh—!"
A sudden, violent cough tore through me, forcing more blood from my mouth. I doubled over, clutching at my chest as I hacked up thick, dark clots.
I barely registered the alarmed gasp she let out.
It wasn't over.
My body was still punishing me for what I had done.
After a few agonizing moments, the fit subsided. My throat burned, raw and stinging, as I wiped the blood from my chin with a trembling hand.
I glanced up at Lena, my breath ragged.
"It hurts like fucking hell," I muttered hoarsely, glaring at nothing in particular.
Her hands hovered uncertainly near me, her eyes filled with helplessness.
"W-What do I do?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
I opened my mouth to answer, but more blood welled up. I clenched my jaw shut, forcing it back down.
And then—
—The familiar voice echoed in my head.
—The Saint is touched by your self-sacrifice.
—Recovery rate is slightly increased.
The blood that was threatening to spill from my lips suddenly stilled, sliding back down my throat as if it had been commanded.
My breathing slowed.
The searing pain dulled.
...The Oath of the Saint.
My eyes narrowed slightly in realization. The effect of the artifact had activated. It must've perceived my actions as an act of self-sacrifice and granted me its blessing.
I exhaled sharply, feeling the faint warmth of the artifact's magic coursing through me.
Strange...
I had assumed the Oath of the Saint only activated when worn. But it seemed that simply keeping it close to my body was enough.
Hah... lucky me.
The pain was still there, but it was bearable. I could breathe again.
Finally, for the first time since this hellish fight began, I felt like I might actually survive.
I let out a shaky breath.
"I'm alright now," I muttered, my voice barely above a rasp.
Lena's head snapped toward me, her eyes narrowing.
"That's impossible," she said flatly.
Her sharp glare would've been more convincing if her eyes weren't so red and puffy.
I sighed internally.
Right.
From her perspective, I had been rolling around and coughing up blood like a dying man just seconds ago. Now I was suddenly claiming I was fine?
I didn't blame her for the skepticism.
But still...
Even while glaring at me, she was pretty.
Really pretty.
Even with tear-streaked cheeks and dirt smudges on her face, she still looked beautiful. Wasn't it cheating to be pretty even when crying?
Hell, even in this world where beauty seemed annoyingly common, she still stood out.
"Tell me," she said suddenly, her voice low, "why did you do that?"
I blinked slowly, my mind still sluggish.
"Sorry?"
Her eyes narrowed further.
"Why did you come back when I told you to leave? Was there no exit on the other side of the portal?"
I hesitated, then shrugged weakly.
"Well... there was an exit," I admitted, my voice hoarse. "But I just couldn't leave you and run away alone."
Her lips parted slightly.
She stared at me, searching my face for something—for what, I wasn't sure.
For a brief moment, she seemed like she wanted to say something, but then she let out a slow, tired sigh instead.
"Y-You..." she started, then faltered, her voice catching. Finally, she shook her head and mumbled, "...Sigh. I understand."
But I could tell she didn't.
How could she?
She was undercover, after all—sent by the chairman to observe me. She knew I was a cadet at Velcrest Academy.
But out here, she was just Lena the hiker. Pretending she was some clueless traveler caught in the chaos.
And she thought I didn't know.
But of course, I did.
I knew exactly who she was.
And right now, I was using this moment to leave a very good impression on her.
One that would help me later when classes started.
Because whether she liked it or not, she was going to remember this.
"It's fine, really," I added casually, my voice a little steadier now. "Just some side effects from my ability. Give me an hour or so, and I'll be fully recovered."
Lena stared at me for a long moment.
"...I see," she murmured, but her voice was soft, uncertain.
I could tell she wanted to say more, but she held herself back.
Because right now, she was still undercover.
And even though her eyes were filled with worry, she couldn't let it show.
"...But I still can't move my body yet," I admitted after a moment, shifting slightly. The dull ache in my limbs made me wince. "Can you help me?"
I wasn't lying.
Even with the effects of [Eternal Return] and [The Oath of the Saint], my body was still a wreck. The magic had stabilized me, but it didn't mean I was instantly healed.
I could feel the stiffness in my muscles, the lingering pain in my chest.
Right now, I really couldn't move.
Lena didn't hesitate.
She knelt beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders, and slowly helped me sit up.
Her hands were trembling slightly, but they were warm.
And as she held me up, I let my head rest lightly against her shoulder, closing my eyes for a brief moment.
Just a moment.
To breathe.
To rest.
And to silently thank whatever twisted god had kept me alive—for now.
"Let's get out of here."