The air between them felt… heavy.
Unspoken tension.
Unseen pressure.
⸻
Ryuk's gaze shifted—
Locking onto the samurai's weapon.
A chained blade.
Curved.
Elegant.
Deadly.
⸻
His eyes narrowed slightly.
…interesting.
He can use that in mid-range…
and long-range too.
⸻
Before Ryuk could analyze further—
The samurai spoke.
⸻
"…your name's Ryuk, right?"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…I've heard everything."
⸻
Ryuk's eyes flickered.
⸻
"…everything?"
⸻
The samurai smirked.
⸻
"…you took out that ninja first."
⸻
"…then wiped out the rest of the warriors…"
"…without much trouble."
⸻
A step forward.
⸻
"…and the most interesting part…"
⸻
His eyes sharpened.
⸻
"…you and Sky together defeated the Queen."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
"…everyone here tried."
"…no one succeeded."
⸻
A faint grin.
⸻
"…but you two did."
⸻
"…impressive."
⸻
Ryuk suddenly cut him off.
⸻
"…wait."
⸻
"…how the hell do you know all this?"
⸻
The samurai didn't answer immediately.
⸻
Instead—
He let out a short whistle.
⸻
A sharp sound—
Cutting through the silence.
⸻
From the sky—
A bird descended.
⸻
Fast.
Precise.
⸻
It landed on his shoulder.
⸻
A woodpecker.
⸻
Ryuk's eyes widened slightly.
⸻
"…wait…"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…this looks familiar…"
⸻
Another second—
Then realization hit.
⸻
"…this is the same one…"
"…that helped me back then…"
⸻
"…when that branch snapped."
⸻
The samurai smirked.
⸻
"…yeah."
⸻
"…I sent it."
⸻
Ryuk frowned.
⸻
"…why?"
⸻
The samurai shrugged casually.
⸻
"…I saw what happened with Sky."
⸻
"…you got played."
⸻
A slight pause.
⸻
"…felt bad."
⸻
Ryuk clicked his tongue.
⸻
"…that bastard…"
⸻
The samurai's tone turned a bit colder.
⸻
"…stay away from him."
⸻
"…he's just using you."
⸻
"…for his own goal."
⸻
Ryuk exhaled.
⸻
"…yeah…"
⸻
"…I figured."
⸻
"…he mentioned something like that."
⸻
The samurai tilted his head.
⸻
"…so tell me…"
⸻
"…what type of system do you have?"
⸻
Ryuk froze for a second.
⸻
"…system?"
⸻
He forced a confused expression.
⸻
"…what's that supposed to mean?"
⸻
The samurai sighed.
⸻
"…seriously?"
⸻
"…everyone you fought…"
⸻
"…had a system."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…Sky didn't tell you?"
⸻
Ryuk blinked.
⸻
"…wait…"
⸻
"…everyone has one?"
⸻
The samurai nodded.
⸻
"…of course."
⸻
"…and they're all different."
⸻
A faint smirk.
⸻
"…for example…"
⸻
"…I have the Blood Reaper System."
⸻
"…that ninja you fought?"
⸻
"…probably a Combat System."
⸻
Ryuk went silent.
⸻
Confused.
Processing.
⸻
…what the hell is going on…
⸻
The samurai continued.
⸻
"…everyone here came to complete the same quest you're on."
⸻
"…but no one could finish it."
⸻
"…most of them gave up."
⸻
A slight pause.
⸻
"…only a few systems have ever completed it."
⸻
Ryuk ran a hand through his hair.
⸻
"…this is messed up…"
⸻
Then suddenly—
⸻
"…wait."
⸻
He raised his hand.
⸻
"…give me a second."
⸻
"…Veronica."
⸻
[SUMMON INITIATED]
⸻
A translucent system window appeared.
⸻
Ryuk's eyes locked onto it.
⸻
"…is it true?"
⸻
"…everyone here has a system?"
⸻
[YES]
⸻
Ryuk's expression darkened.
⸻
"…and you didn't think to tell me that?"
⸻
[YOU NEVER ASKED]
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…seriously?"
⸻
He sighed in frustration.
⸻
"…useless system…"
⸻
The samurai chuckled.
⸻
"…talking to your system?"
⸻
Ryuk lowered his voice slightly.
⸻
"…can I tell him about you?"
⸻
[YES. SYSTEM USERS MAY SHARE INFORMATION]
⸻
"…he won't freak out?"
⸻
[NO]
⸻
"…alright."
⸻
The samurai crossed his arms.
⸻
"…done chatting?"
⸻
"…or are you finally going to answer?"
⸻
Ryuk looked up—
A faint smirk forming.
⸻
"…my system's name is Veronica."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…and its type…"
⸻
His eyes sharpened.
⸻
"…Wrath System."
⸻
The samurai's grin widened.
⸻
"…Wrath System…"
⸻
"…nice."
⸻
"…and Veronica, huh?"
⸻
Ryuk shrugged.
⸻
"…yeah."
⸻
"…anyway…"
⸻
"…I've got a question."
⸻
"…that Queen…"
⸻
"…what kind of system did she have?"
⸻
The samurai went quiet for a moment.
⸻
"…she didn't."
⸻
Ryuk blinked.
⸻
"…what?"
⸻
"…then those powers—?"
⸻
The samurai exhaled slowly.
⸻
"…long story."
⸻
"…I'll keep it short."
⸻
The air felt heavier again.
⸻
"…decades ago…"
⸻
"…there was a system user named Alain."
⸻
"…Psychic System."
⸻
"…and a girl named Laura."
⸻
"…Gravitational System."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…they were enemies."
⸻
"…same objective…"
⸻
"…eliminate everyone."
⸻
"…escape this place."
⸻
His voice lowered.
⸻
"…they fought."
⸻
"…for a long time."
⸻
"…but the more they fought…"
⸻
"…the closer they got."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
"…until one night…"
⸻
"…under a full moon…"
⸻
"…they stopped being enemies."
⸻
A faint smile.
⸻
"…and ended the fight."
⸻
"…together."
⸻
Another pause.
⸻
"…they stayed here."
⸻
"…formed a clan."
⸻
"…and had a daughter."
⸻
Ryuk's eyes narrowed.
⸻
"…the Queen…"
⸻
The samurai nodded.
⸻
"…she inherited their power."
⸻
"…not a system."
⸻
"…but something close."
⸻
Ryuk let out a low whistle.
⸻
"…damn…"
⸻
"…love story, huh."
⸻
"…so how'd they die?"
⸻
The samurai shrugged.
⸻
"…no idea."
⸻
"…maybe disease."
⸻
"…maybe something else."
⸻
Ryuk thought for a second.
⸻
"…so all these powers…"
⸻
"…gravity, lightning…"
⸻
"…they come from systems?"
⸻
The samurai nodded.
⸻
"…some systems grant unique abilities."
⸻
"…rare ones."
⸻
Ryuk exhaled.
⸻
"…I see…"
⸻
A brief silence.
⸻
Then—
The samurai's stance shifted.
⸻
Chains tightened.
⸻
His eyes locked onto Ryuk.
⸻
"…enough talking."
⸻
A faint smirk.
⸻
"…focus on the battle."
⸻
The air snapped.
⸻
And just like that—
⸻
The real fight—
⸻
Was about to begin.
⸻
Silence—
⸻
Then—
⸻
It snapped.
⸻
WHOOSH—!!
⸻
The samurai moved first.
⸻
His chained blade shot forward—
Like a serpent unleashed.
⸻
Fast and precise—deadly in every movement.
⸻
CLANG—!!
⸻
Ryuk blocked it—
Barely.
⸻
The impact pushed him back a step.
⸻
"…fast."
⸻
The samurai smirked.
⸻
"…you're slow."
⸻
Before Ryuk could react—
⸻
WHIP—!!
⸻
The blade retracted—
Then came again—
From a different angle.
⸻
Low.
Aiming for his legs.
⸻
Ryuk jumped—
⸻
Mid-air—
⸻
The chain twisted.
⸻
Coming for his neck.
⸻
"…tch—!"
⸻
CLINK—!!
⸻
Ryuk's chain intercepted it.
⸻
For a split second—
⸻
Both weapons locked.
⸻
Metal grinding.
⸻
Eyes locked.
⸻
Then—
⸻
BOOM—!!
⸻
They pushed off each other—
Creating distance.
⸻
The samurai spun his weapon—
Rapidly.
⸻
A defensive vortex.
⸻
CLINK CLINK CLINK—
⸻
Ryuk lunged forward—
⸻
SLASH—!!
⸻
Blocked.
⸻
Again—
⸻
SLASH—!!
⸻
Deflected.
⸻
Every attack—
Redirected.
⸻
"…you won't land a hit like that."
⸻
Ryuk's eyes narrowed.
⸻
"…then I'll change the rules."
⸻
His grip tightened on Wrathreaver.
⸻
The blade—
Shifted.
⸻
CRACK—!!
⸻
Its size expanded—
Longer.
Heavier.
More brutal.
⸻
The air around it trembled.
⸻
The samurai's smile widened.
⸻
"…now that's interesting."
⸻
Ryuk vanished—
⸻
BOOM—!!
⸻
He reappeared above him—
⸻
And brought the massive blade down.
⸻
CRASH—!!
⸻
The ground shattered.
⸻
Dust exploded everywhere.
⸻
But—
⸻
CLINK—
⸻
Blocked.
⸻
The samurai stood there—
Weapon spinning—
Absorbing the impact.
⸻
"…too predictable."
⸻
Then—
⸻
WHIP—!!
⸻
The chained blade wrapped around Ryuk's arm.
⸻
Pulled—
⸻
YANK—!!
⸻
Ryuk was dragged forward—
⸻
A knee strike—
⸻
THUD—!!
⸻
Straight to his stomach.
⸻
"…!"
⸻
Air knocked out.
⸻
But—
⸻
Ryuk smiled.
⸻
"…got you."
⸻
His other chain shot out—
⸻
Wrapping around the samurai's leg.
⸻
PULL—!!
⸻
Both of them lost balance—
⸻
CRASH—!!
⸻
They slammed into the ground—
Rolling apart instantly.
⸻
Both stood up—
At the same time.
⸻
Breathing heavier.
⸻
Excited.
⸻
The samurai wiped blood from his lip.
⸻
"…not bad."
⸻
Ryuk cracked his neck.
⸻
"…you're fun."
⸻
A pause—
⸻
Then—
⸻
Both vanished.
⸻
CLANG—!! CLANG—!! CLANG—!!
⸻
Blades collided mid-air.
⸻
Chains collided.
⸻
Speed increasing.
⸻
Faster—
⸻
FASTER—
⸻
FASTER—!!
⸻
The ground beneath them—
Cracked with every step.
⸻
The samurai spun—
⸻
A full 360°—
⸻
Creating a deadly radius.
⸻
Ryuk stepped in—
⸻
Timing perfect—
⸻
But—
⸻
The chain redirected—
Last second.
⸻
SLASH—!!
⸻
A cut across his shoulder.
⸻
Blood sprayed.
⸻
Ryuk didn't stop.
⸻
"…too slow."
⸻
He grabbed the chain—
⸻
Yanked hard—
⸻
Pulling the samurai in.
⸻
WRATHREAVER—!!
⸻
SLAM—!!
⸻
Direct hit.
⸻
The samurai crashed into the ground—
⸻
Dust rising.
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Then—
⸻
"…heh."
⸻
A laugh.
⸻
From inside the smoke.
⸻
The samurai stood up—
Bruised.
Bleeding.
⸻
Smiling.
⸻
"…now we're getting somewhere."
⸻
He spun his blade again—
⸻
But this time—
⸻
Faster.
⸻
Sharper.
⸻
Deadlier.
⸻
"…let's see how long you last."
⸻
Ryuk lifted Wrathreaver—
⸻
Aura rising—
Darker.
Heavier.
⸻
"…try me."
⸻
The ground beneath them cracked—
⸻
As both stepped forward—
⸻
At the same time.
⸻
And this time—
⸻
This time—
there was no testing.
No restraint.
Only one goal—
win.
⸻
TO BE CONTINUED…