The Shadow World never gave them a morning. There was no sun to rise, no warmth to touch their skin. Only a dull gray horizon and a mist that swallowed everything beyond a few dozen meters.
Kaien Mori rubbed his aching arms as he trudged after Kaida Ren, his steps heavy and clumsy. Every sound in this world echoed wrong—the crunch of his shoes on ashen soil, the whisper of wind that seemed to breathe rather than blow.
Ren glanced back. "You keeping up, Mori?"
"Barely," Mori admitted, panting. "Feels like my legs aren't mine anymore."
Ren offered him a smile, bright despite the gloom. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it."
Takuro Hoshigami followed behind, his hands in his pockets. His black hair fell carelessly into his eyes, and his expression was unreadable. "Or you'll collapse and die. Both are options."
Mori shot him a glare. "Do you ever say anything encouraging?"
"Encouragement doesn't kill shadows," Takuro replied smoothly. "Strength does."
Ren rolled his eyes. "And yet you haven't lifted a hand since we started walking."
Takuro's lips twitched in the faintest smirk. "Observing is also survival."
---
They soon came across their first challenge of the day—a trio of Ash Crawlers, low-ranked creatures that resembled warped dogs with too many legs and smoky bodies. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly as they hissed, circling.
Ren stepped forward instantly, cracking his knuckles. "I'll handle it."
But Mori, gripping a broken metal pipe he'd scavenged, blurted: "Wait—I need to try too."
Ren frowned. "Mori—"
"I have to," Mori cut in. His voice shook, but determination burned behind it. "If I can't fight even these things… then what's the point of me being here?"
Takuro leaned lazily against a jagged rock, watching. "Go ahead. Let's see if F-Rank means anything more than 'fragile.'"
Mori ignored him. His hands trembled as he raised the pipe. The Ash Crawlers lunged—too fast, too fluid. Panic surged, and he swung wildly, barely grazing one as it darted aside.
The creature's claws scraped his arm, drawing blood.
"Mori!" Ren shouted, charging forward. But Mori gritted his teeth.
"No—I can't just hide behind them forever."
He forced himself to steady his breath, then swung again—this time with focus, not desperation. The pipe connected with the crawler's skull, sending it hissing back in pain.
The other two pounced instantly, and Mori's knees buckled under their weight. Claws dug into his side, teeth snapping inches from his throat.
"Dammit!"
Ren kicked one off with a burst of strength, while Mori shoved the other away with all the force he had. He swung down desperately, the pipe cracking against its head again and again until the shadowy body dissolved into smoke.
Breathing hard, Mori collapsed to his knees, blood seeping from fresh cuts.
Ren knelt beside him, gripping his shoulder. "You're hurt—but you did it. You actually killed one."
Mori's chest heaved. His vision blurred with exhaustion, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. "I… I really did…"
Takuro clapped slowly, the sound sharp in the still air. "Bravo. A grand victory against the weakest fodder this world has to offer. Truly inspiring."
Mori's smile faltered.
Ren glared at Takuro. "Shut it. He's learning."
Takuro shrugged. "I'm only stating facts. If he struggles against trash mobs, how long do you think he'll last when something real shows up?"
---
They rested after the fight, Mori wincing as Ren cleaned his wounds with strips of cloth.
"You're reckless," Ren muttered, though his tone was more protective than scolding.
"I don't want to be useless," Mori said quietly.
"You're not useless."
"Not yet," Takuro added idly.
Mori snapped. "Why do you keep saying that? You think I'm just dead weight, don't you?"
Takuro met his gaze calmly. "I don't think it, Mori. I know it. And deep down, you know it too."
Mori's fists clenched, but before he could retort, Ren intervened. "Enough. Takuro, if you're not going to help, shut up. Mori—don't let him get to you. We'll get stronger. Together."
Mori nodded weakly, comforted by Ren's words but unable to shake Takuro's cold truth.
---
That night, they made camp near a half-collapsed ruin, using the glowing shards they'd collected to keep the shadows at bay.
Ren handed Mori a piece of dried rations they'd scavenged. "Eat. You'll need the energy."
Mori chewed slowly, the bland taste heavy in his mouth. "Ren… why are you helping me so much? You could just leave me behind."
Ren smiled. "Because I don't believe in leaving people behind. Not when we're all trapped in this nightmare together."
Mori's chest tightened with gratitude. "Thank you."
From the edge of the camp, Takuro's voice drifted in, low and sharp. "And what happens when helping him gets you killed, Kaida? Will you still smile then?"
Ren's jaw tightened. "I'll take that risk."
Takuro chuckled softly. "Foolish. Admirable. Dangerous."
Mori lay back, staring at the endless gray sky. His heart was torn between Ren's warmth and Takuro's cruel logic. Both voices echoed in his head, pulling him in opposite directions.
---
The next day, they encountered another challenge—a Shadow Serpent, larger and faster than anything Mori had faced. Its body slithered through the mist, scales rippling like liquid darkness.
Ren braced himself. "This one's strong. Mori—stay back."
But Mori shook his head. "No. I'll fight too."
Takuro smirked. "Then try not to embarrass yourself."
The serpent lunged with terrifying speed. Ren intercepted, striking hard and knocking it off balance, but the beast recovered quickly, striking again with a hiss that shook the ground.
Mori charged in from the side, pipe raised high. "Take this!"
His blow landed, but it barely made the creature flinch. Instead, its tail whipped out, striking Mori with bone-cracking force. He flew back, slamming against a rock.
"Mori!" Ren shouted.
Blood dripped from Mori's lips as he forced himself to stand. His body screamed to stay down, but his spirit refused. "I… I won't… give up!"
Ren unleashed a powerful strike, driving the serpent back, but it still writhed with fury.
Takuro sighed from the sidelines. "Pathetic. But entertaining."
---
At the last moment, Mori rushed forward again, ignoring the pain. He jammed the pipe into the serpent's open mouth as it lunged, wedging it deep. The beast thrashed violently, shadowy essence leaking from its form before it finally dissolved into smoke.
Mori collapsed, coughing, barely conscious.
Ren caught him, holding him steady. "You idiot—you almost got yourself killed."
Mori's weak laugh escaped. "But… I helped. I actually helped this time."
Ren's eyes softened. "Yeah. You did."
Takuro's voice drifted over them, smooth as ever. "He helped, yes. At the cost of nearly dying. That's not strength—it's desperation. Useful, but unsustainable."
Ren shot him a glare. "One day, Mori will prove you wrong."
Takuro's smirk deepened, shadows flickering in his eyes. "We'll see."
---
That night, Mori lay awake again, staring at the fragments of light flickering above their camp. His body ached, his wounds stung, but inside… he felt something new.
Not hope. Not yet.
But the first spark of it.
"I'll get stronger," he whispered to himself. "No matter what it takes."
From the shadows, Takuro's quiet voice answered, almost like a promise.
"I look forward to watching you try."
---