He leaned back again, closing his eyes, letting the warmth seep into his bones.
Si Hon let out a slow breath.
"…Sigh, man… I should finish this, I'm actually gonna fall asleep."
He leaned forward slightly, then held his breath and dipped his face beneath the surface of the pond.
The world muted instantly.
Sound vanished, replaced by a deep, comforting hush. Warm water wrapped around him as the light above fractured into wavering gold lines.
Then he saw it.
At the very bottom of the pond— half-buried between the stones something glowed faintly.
It wasn't bright or flashy, it was… just there… quietly shining at the bottom of the pond, a steady glow that didn't pulse or flicker, its color slipping between silver, gold, and blue as if it couldn't decide what it wanted to be. The light reflected softly off the stones around it, unnatural yet calm, and Si Hon found himself frowning underwater, a single thought drifting through his mind.
What is that shiny thing… and how is that even possible down here…
Si Hon lifted his head back above the water with a sharp inhale.
"…What was that?"
The surface rippled as steam curled around his face. He stared at the pond, heart thumping, it was not with fear, but curiosity.
"…Okay," he muttered. "Just a look."
He took a deep breath.
Then submerged himself fully.
The warmth pressed in from all sides as he kicked down, eyes locked on the glow. It didn't move nor pulse. Just waited, nestled quietly at the bottom like it had always belonged there.
Si Hon reached out.
Just as his fingers brushed it—
Snap.
Something latched onto his hand.
"!!!?!?!?!"
He shot upward instantly, breaking the surface with a sharp splash, his back slamming hard against the smooth rock behind him. His whole body jerked as he scrambled for balance, one hand clutching his back while the other slapped against the stone, teeth clenched tight.
"agh— Aahhh— f-fuu#####@&#&#&!" he hissed under his breath, voice cracking as he forced the pain down, shoulders shaking while he sucked in a breath.
His fingers dug into the rock as he trembled there, eyes wide, doing everything he could not to make another sound and wake everyone sleeping just a few steps away.
Water sloshed violently as he scrambled, after some time. He held his left hand up instinctively—
And froze.
Wrapped snugly around his middle finger was… something.
It looked like a ring.
But it wasn't.
A viscous, semi liquid mass clung to his finger, smooth and seamless, as if it had melted itself into place. Its surface shimmered constantly, silver flowing into gold, gold turning into blue, never settling, never dripping.
It doesn't feel wet, or… cold, it was warm, it was so warm that It felt… alive.
"…What the hell…" Si Hon whispered.
The ring tightened slightly.
His breath hitched.
"System," he said immediately.
A window snapped into existence.
「…」
The text paused.
Then slowly.
「ಠ_ಠ」
Si Hon stared at his hand, then back at the window.
"…System?"
The window flickered once.
Then text appeared.
「…What? You've been calling me?」
Si Hon swallowed and lifted his hand higher, the steam curling around his fingers as the strange mass shimmered lazily.
"THIS," he said, barely louder than a breath. "What is this thing on my finger?!"
He grabbed it with his other hand and pulled.
Nothing.
"This…!"
He pulled harder.
The moment pressure was applied, the ring reacted.
It tightened.
Not painfully, but deliberately. The semi-liquid mass constricted around his middle finger, firming up just enough to make his skin prickle, as if warning him.
Si Hon stiffened instantly, breath hitching as the pressure increased another fraction.
"woah?! okay, okay, okay!" he whispered urgently, letting go.
The instant he stopped pulling, the ring loosened again, relaxing back into its smooth, warm self as if nothing had happened.
Si Hon stared at it.
"What the fuck." he muttered silently.
The system window shifted.
Its gaze, if it could be called that… lingered on the ring longer this time.
Then new text began to scroll.
「Analyzing unidentified object…」
A pause.
Longer than usual.
Si Hon's unease deepened.
"…You're taking way too long," he muttered.
The text immediately updated.
「Item detected.
Classification: Unregistered / Adaptive Equipment
Name: Proto-Bond Ring
State: Dormant (Early Growth Phase1/8 」
Si Hon blinked.
"…Proto what?"
More text followed.
「Description: A self-adaptive binding artifact. Not inherently powerful. Not complete. It grows by synchronizing with its host's actions, decisions, and survivability.
His eyes narrowed.
"…So it's alive."
「Correction: Semi-sentient. It think and it reacts.」
Si Hon glanced back at the ring. The colors rolled gently across its surface, warm against his skin, steady— almost content.
"And it won't come off," he whispered.
The system paused.
Then.
「It can be removed. Later. When it decides you are no longer worth staying with.」
"I see."
「It is honest.」
Si Hon exhaled slowly and leaned his head back against the rock, careful not to make a sound. Steam rose around him as he stared up at the cave ceiling, water lapping softly against stone.
"…So I accidentally picked up a growing, clingy, finger parasite."
The ring pulsed faintly.
Just once.
Si Hon went still.
"…Yeah. Okay. We're gonna set some boundaries," he whispered.
The system added one final line.
「Recommendation: Do not antagonize it. You are both very early into this relationship.」
Si Hon closed his eyes.
"Alllright!"
***
(Arven; inside the tent.)
Arven lay on her side, hugging her pillow tight against her chest, staring at the fabric wall of the tent like it has a grudge on her.
"…Wow," she muttered quietly. "I really forgot that was my towel."
She buried half her face into the pillow with a muffled sigh.
"How did I even forget that…"
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…Well. He's just a hobo anyway, hehe."
The thought didn't help.
She rolled onto her back, eyes fixed on the dim ceiling, the torchlight outside flickering faint shadows across the tent.
"…I don't even know why I got flustered yesterday," she whispered, annoyed with herself. "It's not like he—"
She stopped.
Her brows knit together.
"…Why am I even thinking about this?"
With a frustrated huff, Arven turned on her side again and squeezed the pillow tighter, finally closing her eyes.
Just as sleep began to creep in—
FWOMP.
The tent flap burst open.
Light spilled inside and a guy stood in front of the entrance of the tent.
"Arven~"
She shot upright instantly.
"W-WHO ARE YOU?!?!" she shrieked, scrambling backward on the bed.
Her eyes locked onto the figure standing there.
Bare shoulders. A towel tied hastily around his waist.
Water still dripping from his hair.
Her brain spiralled. "…Huh?"
The man blinked.
"Huh?" he replied.
Arven squinted.
The guy has messy hair, still wild, but darker, clean and damp. Then at his face, it was a familiar face, sharp jawline, thick eyebrows that almost looked too soft for how tired he always seemed.
His build, not bulky, not thin just… solid. Like someone who actually moved and survived instead of sitting around.
Her thoughts slowed.
Wait… That's—
"Arven?" he said, stepping closer. "What's wrong with you?"
He reached out and grabbed her shoulders gently, shaking her just a little.
"Hey. It's me. Si Hon."
Her face burned.
Hard.
"W-wait— stop— don't~!"
She slapped his hands away and yanked the pillow up like a shield, face turning violently red.
"PUT ON CLOTHES, YOU IDIOT!!!"
Si Hon flinched.
"…What?"
"This is a TENT," she snapped, pointing at him with one hand while still hiding behind the pillow. "You can't just walk in like that!"
He looked down at himself.
Then back at her.
"…I'm wearing a towel though?"
"That does NOT make this okay!"
He scratched the back of his head, genuinely confused.
"…You gave me the towel."
Her eyes twitched.
"That was for DRYING. Not— not— THIS!"
Si Hon tilted his head.
"What do you mean…? Not this?"
She made a strangled noise.
"GET. OUT."
"ಠ_ಠOkay, Okay."
He backed out immediately, hands raised, fumbling with the tent flap as he retreated.
"Alright, my bad, I just wanna change clothes since it's cold out here, and I wanna ask you something."
The tent closed.
Silence.
Arven collapsed backward onto the bed, pillow pressed over her face as steam practically rose off her head.
"…I'm going to kill him," she muttered.
Then, quieter—
"Idiot."
Outside, Si Hon's muffled voice drifted in.
"Arven?"
"DON'T TALK TO ME."
"…Got it."
She groaned into the pillow.
"…Peaceful time," she whispered bitterly. "Yeah. Sure."
***
(Si Hon - after going out of the tent.)
Standing outside the tent, Si Hon tapped his chin, eyes drifting from the cave entrance down to his hand— to the viscous, shimmering goo wrapped snugly around his finger.
"Hmm…" he murmured. "Status."
The window immediately popped up.
「Name: Proto-Bond Ring
Status: Dormant Seed (Phase 1 / 8)
Binding: Soul-Linked — Temporary Lock
Removal: Unavailable till phase 4/8
Growth Condition.
Absorption Target: Dead organic entities only.
Absorption Progress: 0 / 80 Bodies.
Boss-class entities: Locked. 2/8
Absorption requires direct contact.
Tips; Host is vulnerable during the process.
Passive Effects.
Minor Vital Resonance
Slight fatigue suppression
Body temperature stabilization
No regeneration effects」
"…So basically," he muttered, "you keep me comfy while I risk my life."
「Host Sync — Lv. 1
Ring reacts automatically to lethal intent and Cannot be manually activated
Growth Inheritance.
For each successful absorption:
+0.1 Strength (value scales slightly with absorbed entity's strength)
Inheritance is permanent
Gains are diminished for weak entities
Example:
Low-tier monster → +0.1 STR
Mid-tier monster → +0.2 ~ 0.3 STR (depends)
High-tier monster → Locked (Phase restriction)」
Si Hon went quiet.
"…That's bad," he whispered. "Well… I guess eghty bodies isn't that many…"
The ring pulsed faintly.
Once.
「Phase Advancement.
Next Phase Unlock 2/8 Requirement:
Absorption Progress: 80 / 80
Survive one near-death event after completion」
"Shit. Of course there's a catch." Si Hon muttered under his breath, staring at the floating text. "And damn… that's… that's alot of text."
He swallowed, then raised his voice slightly.
"Arven?"
"DON'T TALK TO ME," she snapped from inside the tent.
"…Got it," he replied immediately.
He looked back down at the ring, the shifting colors rolling calmly over his finger as the system's data lingered.
"Growth inheritance…" he whispered. "That's… that's bad. 0.1 Strength per absorption?"
He frowned.
"…Yeah. Now that I think about it."
His gaze drifted toward the cave entrance, it was still dark, so dark.
"I wonder what the Frosthowls are doing right now."
A pause.
"…Well. I should wear clothes real quick."
He crouched near the rocks where he'd neatly set his things earlier. After a moment of fumbling, he pulled on his shirt, then his pants, movements quiet and careful. Last came the jacket— the one he'd received as a system reward, settling snugly around his shoulders.
"…Alright," he murmured. "Finally."
He exhaled, then spoke softly.
"System."
A familiar transparent window appeared.
Beside it, the Proto-Bond Ring's faint interface hovered and another window slid into place beside it.
「Distance to Target: 9,641M」
Si Hon froze.
He stared at the number.
Then it shifted. 9,531.
"9,6— 9521!?" he whispered.
"ARVEN!!!" he shouted.
The cave echoed.