Location: Astral Spirit Night Market – Night
The air felt… thick. Too thick.
Like someone had poured honey over the whole world and forgotten to clean it up.
Shadows clung to warped buildings, twisting at the edges as if reality itself was a badly drawn background. A low ringing hummed in Akira's ears, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Then— CLING!
{{{ SIGILBOUND }}}
[ Title: SIGIL KEEPER Obtained! ]
[ !!! MISSION INITIATED !!!]
[ Protect the Azure Dragon Princess]
[ Duration: 20:00 minutes]
[ Reward: ]
[- Return portal to Tatsumori Town]
[- Bonus EXP ]
Akira's breath hitched.
"…What!? Wh-What the hell is this—!?"
He shook his head violently, whipping it side to side like he could physically shake the holographic panel away, like some busted VR HUD was glitching into his vision.
But no matter how much he blinked, it stayed. Floating there. Perfectly sharp. Uncomfortably real.
A warm, faintly trembling weight shifted in his arms.
Her.
Her body pressed against him, the contact almost too much. Heat seeped through his clothes, creeping across his chest and wrapping around his heartbeat. Her fingers, delicate but gripping with surprising strength, fisted into his shirt as if he were her last anchor.
Akira's muscles tensed—both from the instinct to steady her and from… other reasons.
He adjusted his hold,
and felt the loose tie of her kimono slip under his palm.
Wait— !?
The movement tugged the fabric. The neckline dipped. Just barely… but enough.
The dying light kissed skin so pale it almost glowed. His gaze caught on the smooth slope of her shoulder… the elegant line of her collarbone… and—
"—!?"
The faintest curve at the top of her breast peeked into view, soft and flawless, like the kind of scene animators definitely linger on for one extra frame.
His mind stopped responding. (Nosebleed, brain overheated with smoke)
Heat flooded his face so hard it felt like steam might shoot from his ears. His throat worked uselessly, every word trying to trip over the next.
"I— S-sorry! I didn't—! I wasn't—! That's not—!"
Her eyelashes fluttered weakly, and for a second, he swore she looked up at him through half-lidded eyes—just enough to send a whole new set of alarms through his system.
And then—
The glowing panel pulsed in his vision.
The timer began its march.
[Time Remaining: 19:59]
[Time Remaining: 19:58]
His heart skipped a beat.
Whatever this was, the clock was already running.
Location: Astral Spirit Night Market Street– Night
The Princess whimpered softly, her voice a fragile thread.
Her face nuzzled into the crook of his neck, her breath spilling warm against his skin—far too close, far too real.
A faint shiver rolled down his spine.
Her silver-blue hair brushed his cheek, silky strands carrying a faint, otherworldly fragrance—something like midnight rain and moonlight.
"So warm…" she murmured, barely more than a breath.
"…please… don't let go…"
Akira's heart skipped.
The words slid under his guard, settling deep in his chest before his brain could even process them.
Then—
A monstrous screech tore through the air, sharp enough to rattle his teeth.
The world seemed to shrink, shadows surging around them. Something huge was descending—fast.
"Tch—!"
His jaw tightened, adrenaline flooding him.
No time to think.
No time to question.
He slid his arms fully beneath her, cradling her bridal-style in one swift motion.
Her body pressed into him—light, but far from weightless. He could feel the subtle tremor in her limbs, the uneven rhythm of her breath against his collar.
Her kimono shifted faintly, the fabric cool against his wrist, the curve of her form molded to him in a way that made his pulse stumble.
Her weight settled in his arms, and for a brief moment, time stretched. Akira's mind raced, trying to make sense of the girl in his grasp. Who was she? Why was she here? Why did her gaze feel like it could pierce straight through him? The questions tumbled over each other until, almost instinctively, the SigilBound interface flared to life. A translucent panel blinked before his eyes, its crystalline letters cutting through the chaos: (CLING!)
{{{ SIGILBOUND }}}
{{{ ASTRALKIN – PROFILE }}}
[Name: Tsukiko Kamimine]
[Title: Azure Dragon Princess]
[Species: Astralkin – Dragon Heritage]
[Type: RealmBorn (Royal Bloodline)]
[Abilities: Unknown]
[Status: Injured / Weak]
[Bond: Newly Formed with Keeper – 0% Sync Rate]
[Bond Level: ☆☆☆☆☆ (0%)]
[Current Location: Astral Spirit Night Market]
[Notes: Fragile but resilient. Requires protection. Magical aura detectable by Keeper.]
Akira blinked, absorbing the data in stunned silence. The "princess" wasn't just anyone—she was someone important, someone powerful… and someone he was now responsible for. The bond that tethered them felt heavier, more real, as if the Interface itself confirmed that the girl in his arms was no ordinary damsel, but a being of significance, whose life depended on his protection.
"Alright, princess…" he breathed, his voice low but steady.
"I've got you."
Then he ran…
Feet striking the ground in a blur, the dying light flashing off the glowing sigils burning across his skin.
A timer flickered in his vision, numbers ticking down like the beat of a war drum.
[Time Remaining: 19:42]
[Time Remaining: 19:41]
And with each pounding step, he felt it—
A strange, invisible thread binding them.
A bond that hadn't existed a minute ago… but now refused to let go.
The once-vibrant night market had rotted into a fever dream of chaos. Lanterns swayed overhead, their warm glow warping into jagged, sickly light. Every shadow stretched wrong—hungry.
The ground shook.
Not one set of footsteps. Three.
Heavy. Deliberate. Inhuman.
They came into view between the rows of stalls: 'The Princess Hunters'. Grotesque things wearing human shapes like discarded leathers or skins, wrapped like a mummy, mouths crudely stitched shut with talismanic thread. Each step split the cobblestones, the earth splintering beneath their weight. From behind those sewn lips came muffled, choking curses—words in a language that tasted of blood and grave dirt. Each mask was sewn shut with the same red cord, as if silence itself had been stitched into their mouths.
Then, nothing.
Even the lanterns stopped swinging for one held breath.
Akira ducked under a leaning bridge that reeked of old incense and mildew, breath ragged. His shoulder clipped the edge of a vendor's table, sending stacks of moon peaches scattering like pale stars into the gutter. Firework scrolls spilled from a cracked crate, unraveling with a hiss—igniting in his wake. The air burst with red and green sparks, snakes of flame writhing after him.
A fragile breath brushed his ear.
"…Keep going…"
He almost tripped. "How light are you?!" he panted between gasps.
"I… fasted," she murmured, voice fragile yet oddly steady.
Akira barked a short, incredulous laugh. "Perfect timing!"
But the humor didn't stick. Not here. Not with the pulse of the market turning hostile—the stalls bending inwards like teeth, the air thick with the metallic scent of burning charms.
The passage ahead narrowed into a throat-like tunnel, its walls slick with faint, phosphorescent light. Strange runes swam beneath the surface like trapped fish, whispering secrets in a thousand voices at once. The heat was suffocating, pressing against his lungs, each breath tasting of ash and incense.
His calves screamed. His ribs ached. Every step was a gamble.
Akira was thinking about how much time remained in the mission, hoping for a moment to rest. As he thought it,
Then—Chime. A crystalline tone sliced through the noise, The SigilBound interface hovered before his eyes, reminding him exactly when he might finally breathe:
[Time Remaining: 16:03]
"Still sixteen minutes?!" His voice cracked, his body lurching forward in panic.
Then—the air screamed.
A cyclone of paper charms tore down the passage—dozens, maybe hundreds. They spun like bladed snowflakes, edges glinting with silver ink, each one carrying a curse too sharp to hear. Akira dropped into a desperate slide, the talismans slicing the air above him. They slammed into a lantern post, igniting it in a bloom of blue fire. Shadows danced, long and wrong, reaching toward him, and somewhere—just beyond the flickering light—something else was moving.
A sudden blur shot from the darkness ahead—a slender, shadowy figure with claws glinting like obsidian. It lunged at him, silent and swift. Akira pivoted on the spot, pressing Tsukiko close, and ducked just in time; the claws scraped past, shredding the edge of his coat. The creature hissed, vanishing into the smoke and lantern-light flicker as if it had never been there. His chest heaved, pulse hammering, and for a heartbeat the world felt suspended between chaos and terror.
[Time Remaining: 15:02]
He scrambled upright, Akira's feet striking the warped cobblestones in frantic rhythm as he rounded the corner, Tsukiko pressed securely against his chest. Lanterns swayed violently overhead, and a floating fruit stall toppled, spilling moon peaches across the street. He adjusted his hold around her waist to keep her steady, their bodies locked together as he navigated the chaos.
A crystalline chime echoed in his mind again.
{{{ SIGILBOUND }}}
[Sigil Keeper's Skill Obtained]
[NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED: Keeper Stride — Speed boost]
[Lv 1: Speed increase by 20% when activated, 5MP]
[SYNC RATE +1%]
His chest burned, both from exertion and the closeness of her fragile form. "S-Sorry… careful!" he muttered. Tsukiko giggled softly, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead, one arm draped over his shoulder. Despite the chaos around them, a strange rhythm settled in—the pulse of her breath against his chest, the weight of her body, the fleeting comfort of her presence anchoring him.
[Time Remaining: 14:57]
Akira surged forward, testing his new Keeper Stride ability. His legs felt lighter, the world blurring slightly as speed coursed through him. Every step brought them closer to safety—or at least a momentary reprieve.
[Time Remaining: 14:42]
Ahead, the path twisted unexpectedly, shadows gathering into unnatural shapes. A narrow alley blocked by ghostly dancers in paper kimonos forced him to think fast. He slammed his hand onto the cobblestones, instinctively activating the ability he had just glimpsed.
Akira's lungs burned, legs screaming as he darted through the twisting alley. His pulse thundered in his ears, every step a struggle to stay upright while carrying Tsukiko. Then, another whirling cyclone of paper charms spiraled toward them, slicing the air like jagged glass.
He stumbled, skidding against the damp cobblestones.
"Is there anywhere to catch a breath?" he thought, scanning the shadows desperately.
"Even a few seconds… anything."
A soft ping echoed in his mind: the SigilBound interface flickered into view.
{{{ SIGILBOUND }}}
[Mission Completed: Make use of 1 New Skill]
[Reward: Additional Ability Unlocked]
Akira nearly choked on his own breath. "Y-you're seriously giving me something now? A Healing potion or Stamina Boost?" His laugh came out cracked, almost hysterical. "I don't care what it is—I'll take it…!"
{{{ SIGILBOUND }}}
[Mission Completed: Make use of Obtained Skill]
[Reward: New Ability Unlocked]
[ NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED: Mirage Veil ]
[ Lv1
— briefly create an illusory hiding space; member(s) within the zone are invisible to the outside.
— Cost: 8 MP
— Duration: 3 Minutes
— Cooling Time: 30 Minutes
— How to Use: It's easy, you try think about it =D ]
Akira froze mid-step. "…Wait… that's this? That's literally the tutorial of this skill?"
He blinked at the text, incredulous. "You've got to be kidding me. My life's on the line and the system drops a fortune-cookie hint? Asking me to think about it? What are you, a comedian?"
A sharp gust of wind sent a new swirl of paper talismans toward them. Akira rolled, dragging Tsukiko with him, the world a dizzying blur of color and motion. He skidded against wet cobblestones, narrowly dodging a spinning cluster of charms that rattled like shards of glass.
His eyes darted around desperately, and he spotted a stack of old crates against a wall, one corner cracked open. "If only that box could… just… stretch bigger!" he muttered under his breath, nearly tripping over himself as he pivoted to dodge another oncoming spiral of talismans.
A sharp, almost electric ping echoed in his mind—the SigilBound Interface. Think, it seemed to whisper. The words slotted into place in his mind like the missing piece of a puzzle. Imagine it. Make it real.
"Wait… that's it!" he gasped, a spark of understanding igniting. "It doesn't mean to make fun of it! I can… I can just picture it!"
He clutched Tsukiko closer, weaving between the attacking paper spirits and the twisting alleys. "Focus… just picture it! Box… walls… safe… now!" His voice was ragged, but the idea, once formed, felt tangible in his mind's eye.
Shimmering edges began to ripple into existence around them, faint and fragile at first, but growing stronger as he concentrated. The lattice walls unfolded like a fan, floorboards slid into place beneath their feet, and a faint, comforting glow wrapped them in safety. Outside, the chaos of the market—the shouting, clanging, and snapping paper charms—was muted, filtered through the veil of his imagination.
Akira exhaled sharply, letting himself collapse slightly against the now-solid walls. Tsukiko's small hands pressed against his arm, trembling but safe. He had done it, he had imagined the space into being, and the interface had been right.
=============== End of Chapter 3 ===============