Shirou's eyes slowly opened. A dim ceiling greeted him, wooden and unfamiliar. The faint creaking of wood, the distant hum of conversation beyond the walls—he wasn't in the dungeon anymore.
He was lying on a bed. Bandages covered most of his body, stained faintly with dried blood. Every muscle ached, but the pain was dull, like his body had just barely stitched itself back together.
The room was small, barely large enough to hold a bed, a plain table, and a wooden chair. On the left wall, leaning against it, was Ashbringer. And on the table, folded neatly, was a fresh set of clothes.
"I survived," Shirou whispered.
But his voice carried no relief, no emotion. Just emptiness.
The memories returned like a crashing wave. Elliot's lifeless body. Amelia's final grip. The moment her hand slipped from his. The pain in her eyes before the world took her away.
He clenched his fists. The bandages soaked red as his nails dug into his palms.
No tears came. No screams. Just silence.
He looked around the room again. "Where am I? Who brought me here?"
Ignoring the dull throb of pain, Shirou forced himself to sit upright. His body protested, but he didn't care. His hand moved slightly, and with a mental command, he opened his status window.
---
[STATUS WINDOW]
[BASIC INFORMATION]
Name: Shirou
Race: Human
Level: 79 (679 / 1,580 EXP)
Title: Elemental Adept, ???? (Locked)
SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 5.1%
[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
HP: 705
Mana Points: 1,062
Strength: 374
Agility: 374
Intelligence: 376
Endurance: 376
Perception: 360
[ELEMENTAL AFFINITY]
Fire Release
Lightning Release
Earth Release
[SKILLS]
Omnilingual
Skill Absorption
Phantom Mirage
Poison Resistance
Passive Immortality
Mana Detection
Healing Touch
????? (Locked)
[COMBAT PROFICIENCIES]
Hand-to-Hand Combat – Intermediate (24/100)
Knife Mastery – Intermediate (18/100)
Dagger Mastery – Intermediate (23/100)
Sword Mastery – Intermediate (73/100)
[INVENTORY]
Inferno Fang
Ashbringer
Aether Coins
---
"Level 79, huh..." Shirou exhaled. "If I'd just levelled up one more time, maybe I wouldn't be lying here."
A weak, hollow chuckle escaped his lips.
He focused his thoughts on Passive Immortality.
[Passive Immortality – User can revive from death. All injuries and stats are restored upon reviving. Remaining uses: 5/5]
"Still 5 left. So I didn't die. Hah... maybe if I did, it would've been easier. No pain. Just a reset."
Next, he selected Healing Touch.
[Healing Touch – Can heal others using the user's mana]
Even though he had tried it before, Shirou once again placed his hand over the left side of his chest.
Nothing.
Still nothing.
A breath left his lips, barely a whisper, as his eyes drifted toward the window. Faint sunlight filtered through the glass, casting pale shapes on the wall.
Healing Touch, he thought. Why this?
The system had always granted him the abilities he needed to survive—to fight, to grow stronger, to kill. Verdamortis's primary ability was regeneration. Could it also have had the power to heal others?
That must be it, he thought. The system must've seen regeneration and healing as two separate skills.
He clenched his fists, frustration boiling up in his chest.
But still… Why this one?
He lowered his head, breath caught in his throat, the ache in his chest not from injury, but from something deeper. Something raw.
And then—
A flicker of clarity. A thought. A truth that didn't come from logic, but from somewhere quieter, buried beneath all the grief and failure.
His eyes widened.
A small, tired smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"…Maybe that's it," he murmured. "I think I understand now."
He looked down at his hands—blood-stained, desperate. Hands that had failed to hold on. Hands that couldn't protect the ones they reached for in time.
"Maybe the system doesn't just give me what I need," he whispered. "Maybe… It gives me what I want. What I want most."
His voice trailed off into silence.
And when it returned, it was softer. Barely holding together.
"What I really wanted," he said, "was to save the people I care about."
The words hit something inside him. Deep. Too deep.
He could feel the sadness rising like a tide, pressing at the edges of his chest, behind his eyes, coiling in his throat like smoke.
And yet—
No tears.
Not even one.
"Why can't I cry…?" he asked the empty room, his voice cracking, raw."…Why, damn it?"
He then closed his eyes.
A few moments later, Shirou opened his eyes as he activated Mana Detection.
His senses sharpened instantly. Dozens of mana signatures surrounded the building—each one unique, pulsing faintly with life.
"That's a lot of people."
He stood slowly, took the new set of clothes from the table, and dressed. He fastened Ashbringer to his waist.
Then, he walked to the door and opened it.
A narrow hallway greeted him.
"You should probably stay in the room," a voice said.
Shirou turned. A woman in uniform stood nearby, holding a clipboard. Her tone was calm, but her posture was tense. Her eyes, though trying to hide it, showed fear.
"Where am I?" Shirou asked.
"You're in the medical wing of the Velgrath Special Investigation Division," she said. "VSID for short. You probably know about us. I'll notify the Arch Inquisitor."
"Arch Inquisitor?"
"He's the head of VSID."
She moved to a nearby office and picked up a communication device. Shirou stayed back, not wanting to startle her more than he already had.
He listened quietly as she spoke.
Then he felt it.
Five strong mana signatures approaching.
He didn't need to look. They were trained. Coordinated. Guards.
Shirou narrowed his eyes. "So they really brought me in for questioning."
He thought back to the man from Crimson Eclipse. That aura... far too strong. At least late Ascendant. Far beyond what Shirou could handle right now.
"I stayed in the dungeon as long as I could," he muttered. "To make sure he wouldn't be waiting near the portal. But I forgot..."
He sighed. "After he left, the Investigation Division would've taken control of the area."
The door opened.
Five officers entered, each in dark uniforms. One stepped forward.
"Shirou, right?"
"Yes."
"You are currently under the custody of the Velgrath Special Investigation Division. We're investigating the incident at Lucus' mansion. The one you were a part of."
His voice sharpened slightly. "Even though you're unregistered in the Guild Organisation."
Shirou turned, locking eyes with him.
The man flinched. His next words came with a stutter. "C-Co... come with us. And don't try anything."
Shirou didn't reply. He walked forward, passing between them.
His steps were steady. His expression was cold.
The officer tried to maintain authority. "We'll be checking your level. After that, you'll be brought before the Arch Inquisitor for questioning."
Shirou didn't look back.
"Let's go."
The group moved, two guards at his sides, leading him down the hallway.
Whatever came next, Shirou didn't care.
Because now, more than ever, he needed answers.