DING!
System Alert!
Moon Eater's Awakening Forcefully Terminated. User In Critical Condition
Mist let out a dry chuckle. "Tch. That was a damn hassle."
His knees wobbled, but he forced himself toward Krad's unconscious form. The remnants of the Moon Eater's power still crackled faintly around him, but the worst had passed. Mist knelt beside him, placing a hand on his chest.
A soft glow enveloped his palm.
Celestial Healing: Active
Krad's wounds slowly mended, his breathing stabilizing. Mist watched in silence. He reached into his inventory, summoning a Celestial Stone, its soft blue glow illuminating the ruins. Holding it above Krad, he let its energy flow into him.
The warmth of the healing magic surrounded Krad's body. His fingers twitched. Then slowly, his eyes opened. The dim light of a ruined castle ceiling greeted him. The air was wet, heavy with the smell of moss and rot.
His body felt... strangely light. The suffocating presence that once gripped his mind was gone. But as his sight cleared, he saw Mist hovering over him, the Celestial Stone's light reflecting in his unreadable gaze.
Krad blinked. Then, realization struck.
"…You're healing me?"
Mist scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Nah, I just like wasting valuable Celestial Stones on unconscious idiot."
Krad sat up with a groan, touching his forehead. "What… happened?"
Mist's expression didn't change. "You passed out after beating that Goblin Orc. Pretty dramatic, really."
Krad froze. "…What?"
Mist leaned back against a fallen pillar, crossing his arms. "Yeah. After you collapsed, another Goblin Orc showed up. Nasty one. I had to handle it myself."
Krad's brows knitted together. Something about Mist's words didn't sit right.
His gaze dropped, and that's when he saw it.
A deep wound slashed across Mist's side.
The sight sent a jolt through him. That wasn't from a Goblin Orc. It was fresh. Too fresh. And looking at the way Mist's hand subtly gripped his ribs, he was still in pain.
Krad's stomach twisted. "Where did you really get that wound?"
Mist's face didn't even flinch. "Tch. Weren't you listening? That damn Goblin Orc got a lucky hit."
Krad's mind was still spinning.
The ruined castle around him stood in eerie silence, broken pillars and shattered stone illuminated by the dim light of the Celestial Stone. The air smelled of burnt earth, but all Krad could focus on was Mist and that damn wound.
"Why aren't you healing yourself?" His voice was firm.
Mist arched a brow, the usual smugness lingering in his expression. "Tch. Didn't I just save your sorry ass? And this is how you thank me?"
"That's not what I asked." Krad's gaze didn't waver. "You're injured. You can use healing skill. So why aren't you using it?"
For a second, Mist didn't respond. His eyes held Krad's, unreadable. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he waved a dismissive hand.
"Because if you kicked the bucket during this training session, Miss Vice would skin me alive," he said, a grin tugging at his lips. "Can't have her lecturing me for weeks just because the newbie couldn't handle a Goblin Orc."
Krad frowned. "That doesn't explain why you're not healing yourself now."
"Oh, come on." Mist tilted his head. "You really think I'd waste precious healing skill together with Celestial Stone on a scratch? I've had worse, believe me."
Krad's chest tightened. The way Mist spoke so casually, like it didn't matter. But it did.
Because no matter how strong Mist was, a wound like that didn't belong on someone like him.
And that sinking feeling in Krad's gut wouldn't go away.
"…What really happened?" Krad's voice was low now. "I remember beating that Goblin Orc. But everything after that…"
The memories were fragmented. Fading. He could still feel the rush of power that had surged through him. Like something had stirred inside. But then, darkness. And now, Mist was hurt.
Mist's smirk remained, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Like I said. Another Goblin Orc showed up after you collapsed. Took me by surprise, but I handled it. Simple."
He was lying. Krad could feel it.
Krad's fists clenched. "But why?"
"Enough."
Mist's voice hardened just slightly. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Krad pause.
"I told you," Mist continued, his grin twisting into something colder. "You passed out. I took care of it. End of story."
Krad wanted to argue, to demand the truth. But the weight of Mist's words or maybe the exhaustion still lingering in his body held him back.
"…Fine."
For now.
Mist's grin returned, as if satisfied. "That's more like it."
Krad shifted his gaze away, frustrated but unwilling to push further. His mind lingered on the gaps in his memory. Why couldn't he remember?
He had no idea that the truth. The real reason behind Mist's wound. Was something far worse than he could imagine.
Because Mist knew.
The moment Krad lost consciousness, the Moon Eater's Awakening had taken over.
And if Krad ever found out the monster he'd become and what he had done to a human player like him... he might never forgive himself because he's an idiot.
DING!
System Alert!
User Recovery Complete
System Interface Reactivated
A familiar chime echoed in Krad's ears as his system interface flickered back to life. Translucent panels materialized before him, the glowing blue text sharp against the gloom of the ruined castle.
Health Restored: 78%
Mana Restored: 65%
Status Effects Cleared
System Interface Stabilized
Krad exhaled, the weight on his chest finally lifting. But the lingering unease from Mist's wound remained. The system might have declared his recovery complete, but something deeper had shifted. A fragment of the monstrous presence from before still gnawed at the edges of his thoughts.
He pushed the discomfort aside, his gaze flickering to Mist. The rogue leaned against the cracked pillar, arms crossed like he hadn't just drained a rare Celestial Stone on someone else. Despite his usual cocky demeanor, there was a stiffness in his stance. The wound at his side still pulsing with pain.
"You should use a potion. Or---" Krad's voice was low.
"Don't start," Mist cut him off with a dismissive wave. "I told you, I'm fine. Unlike you, I can handle a little scratch."
A scratch. Krad clenched his jaw. That was no ordinary injury. Even at a glance, the dark veins creeping from the torn flesh were far from normal. But every time he opened his mouth, Mist shot him that same irritating grin. Like it was a joke.
"Your system isn't even alerting you?" Krad pressed. "A wound like that should've triggered a status effect. Corruption? Bleed? Something."
"Tch. My system knows better than to nag me," Mist quipped. "Unlike someone I know."
DING!
User Inquiry Detected
Displaying Combat Log
A thin screen unfurled before him, text scrolling in real time. Krad's eyes scanned the log.
You defeated Goblin Orc
EXP Gained: 8,500
You obtained: Torn Orc Hide x1, Foul Essence x1
Skill Activation: Evade
Combat Evaluation: Error
Krad's pulse quickened. Error?
"What the hell…" he muttered.
But before he could delve further, Mist's voice snapped him back.
"Oi. Stop making that face," Mist sneered, though his voice carried a tinge of caution. "Whatever you're digging up in that system of yours? It's not worth it."
Krad's fingers twitched. "Why would the system log an error?"
Mist clicked his tongue, pushing off the pillar. "Because the system's buggy, dumbass. It happens. Especially when idiots like you mess around."
Before he could respond, Mist's body suddenly jerked. His smirk faltered, a tremor ran through him.
"Oi---"