The woman in front of Kuro and Arthur dropped to her knees, coughing up blood.
Arthur took a step back, eyes wide with shock. Kuro, frozen in place, was still trying to process everything that had just happened.
The woman struggled to stand, her body shaking. She looked at them with tired, knowing eyes and whispered:
"My Lord will be watching you."
Then, just like that—she vanished into thin air.
A heavy silence followed.
Arthur's breath hitched as he glanced down at his body—it was completely healed. No pain, no wounds. It didn't make sense. But as his confusion deepened, a far more unsettling realization settled over him.
Something was still here.
Even though the woman was gone, the suffocating weight of an unseen force lingered. Arthur's instincts screamed at him—there was still something stronger than him nearby.
"Excuse me… Mr. Kurozumi," Arthur murmured cautiously.
Kuro turned his head toward him.
The moment their eyes met, Arthur stiffened, his eyes widening in pure shock. His entire expression darkened.
"What… happened to your eyes?"
Kuro frowned. "What do you mean? Nothing's happened to them." He waved a hand dismissively. "And don't call me that. Just Kuro is fine."
Arthur's breath hitched. "Your eyes… they have a cross inside them."
A cold chill ran down Kuro's spine.
"W-What?" He stumbled over his words. "That's impossible. I can see just fine."
Arthur clenched his fists. He couldn't deny it any longer. The man before him—who had once been an ordinary human—was now something else entirely. And worse, Arthur could feel it. Kuro was stronger than him.
"Kuro…" Arthur hesitated. "Do you feel… different?"
Kuro exhaled slowly. "Now that you mention it, from the moment we arrived, I've felt a surge of strength coursing through my body."
Arthur fell silent, staring at the ground. He didn't know what to make of it.
Then—a noise in the distance.
Both of them turned their heads at the same time.
They locked eyes.
"Let's check it out," Arthur said.
Kuro nodded.
They moved quickly, following the sound until they reached a dirt road cutting through the grassland. In the distance, two horses stood tied up.
Arthur's eyes sharpened. "That means there are people nearby."
Kuro sighed. "Yeah. And that usually means trouble."
As they got closer, they saw two men in Armor.
Kuro and Arthur approached carefully, keeping their guard up. Then they saw what the men were doing—tormenting a child.
Arthur's jaw tightened.
It was a little girl. White hair. Red eyes. Pointed ears.
An elf.
Arthur didn't hesitate. "Stop!" he shouted.
The armoured men turned to face him.
Kuro stayed back, analysing the situation.
One of the soldiers barked something in a language they didn't understand.
"Do you understand that?"
Kuro shook his head. "Not a clue."
Before they could react, one of the soldiers lunged forward, drawing his sword.
Arthur dodged effortlessly.
With a single touch to the man's Armor—
BAM.
The soldier crashed to the ground; his Armor suddenly too heavy to lift.
The other soldier's eyes started glowing brown.
Arthur barely had time to react before—
BOOM!
The man's fist slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater.
Arthur's heart pounded. They have abilities too? Like the Retainers?
The soldier smirked and charged again.
Arthur dodged, then tapped his wrist.
CRACK!
The soldier's hand snapped into the ground, breaking apart. He screamed in pain.
Arthur exhaled. "Glad to see gravity works the same here."
The first soldier, still trapped under his own Armor, panicked. He tore it off and ran toward his horse.
Arthur moved faster.
In an instant, he appeared in front of the fleeing soldier.
The man's breath hitched. His eyes filled with terror.
Arthur's silver hair swayed as he whispered, "Where do you think you're going?"
With one simple tap—
CRUSH.
The soldier's skull shattered.
His lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
Kuro stepped toward the remaining soldier—the one whose arm had been broken.
"Hey," Kuro said, his voice steady. "Do you understand me?"
The man didn't move.
Then, suddenly—he dropped to his knees.
His whole-body shook. His lips trembled.
And then—he bowed.
Arthur frowned. "What the hell is he doing?"
"No idea," Kuro muttered. "Maybe he thinks I'm some kind of noble."
Arthur scoffed. "And what makes you think this world even has nobles?"
Kuro glanced at their attire. "It looks medieval. The way they're dressed, the weapons, the Armor—it's like we've stepped into the past."
Arthur sighed. Without another word, he lifted his foot—
CRUSH.
The soldier's skull split open. Blood spread across the dirt.
The elf girl didn't move.
She just stood there, trembling.
Kuro walked up to her, sighing. He gently patted her head. "You shouldn't have done that in front of a kid."
She flinched and took a step back.
Kuro crouched down. "Can you understand me?" he asked softly.
No response.
Suddenly, the child bolted—running straight behind Arthur, gripping his leg.
Kuro's stomach twisted. He exchanged a look with Arthur, who seemed just as confused.
"…Why did she run from me?" Kuro muttered.
Arthur's eyes darkened. "I don't know."
Trying to shake off the strange feeling, Kuro knelt beside the headless soldier who had used an ability. He searched through the uniform, looking for anything useful.
Then—
The moment his hand touched the soldier's bare skin—
ZAP!
A flash of blue lightning surged through Kuro's body.
"F*ck!" he gasped, pulling back. His head pounded. His breath came in sharp gasps.
His vision blurred. And then—
His mind was flooded with memories.
Kuro's eyes widened. "The ability… to enhance my strength."
The cross in his eyes pulsed—glowing bright brown.
A surge of power rushed through him. He clenched his fists, his entire body brimming with newfound energy.
In a blink, he was beside Arthur, who had been untying the horses
Arthur's pulse quickened. "Kuro?"
"I have an ability now," Kuro declared, his voice steady.
Arthur stared, dumbfounded, he hesitated. "What…?"
Kuro clenched his fist.
Then—he slammed it into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth shattered beneath him. A deep crater spread out from where his fist had landed.
Arthur's breath caught in his throat.
He stared at Kuro.
The cross inside Kuro's eyes, once pitch black were now glowing bright brown.
Arthur felt an uneasy chill creep over him.
"…What is happening to you?" he whispered.
A few feet away, the elf girl watched Kuro.
Her red eyes narrowed.
Not with fear.
With caution.