The festival had been a whirlwind of colors, sounds, and laughter, but now, as the last embers of the celebration faded, Cain found himself alone on the quiet streets of Nagasaki. His legs ached with every step, each one feeling heavier than the last. The lanterns that lined the streets cast a warm, golden glow, but their light did little to ease his exhaustion. The cool night breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the faint scent of street food and the distant echoes of music. It was a peaceful night, but Cain was too tired to appreciate it.
He yawned, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. The others had already gone their separate ways—Astra, Lyra, Selene, and Ravena had each taken different paths home, and Mira had simply waved before vanishing into the shadows. Now, it was just him and the empty streets.
"Ugh. Never again," Cain muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the soft rustling of the wind.
He trudged forward, his feet dragging against the cobblestones. The festival had been fun, but the toll it had taken on his body was undeniable. All he wanted was to collapse into his bed and let sleep wash over him.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Cain turned a corner, stepping into a dimly lit alley that served as a shortcut to his home. The narrow passage was shrouded in shadows, the faint light from the lanterns barely penetrating its depths. He had taken this route countless times before, but tonight, something felt… off.
The air shifted.
Cain's instincts prickled, a faint warning that sent a shiver down his spine. He paused, his eyes scanning the darkness. The alley was silent, save for the distant hum of the city, but he could feel it, the presence of eyes watching him.
Then, a voice broke the silence.
"Yo, kid. You look a little lost."
Cain sighed, his shoulders slumping.
Of course.
Three figures emerged from the shadows, blocking the alley's exit. They were dressed in ragged clothing, their faces obscured by the dim light, but their smirks were unmistakable the kind that said, You're about to have a bad time.
The tallest of the three stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hand over whatever you got. Make it easy on yourself."
Cain stared at them, his expression blank. He looked around, as if searching for something, then blinked.
"You guys are actually robbing me? Me?"
The tallest thug frowned, his smirk faltering.
"Yeah? What's so funny?"
Cain sighed, rubbing his temples as if he were dealing with a particularly annoying problem.
"You really picked the wrong guy."
The third thug, a wiry man with a scar running down his cheek, scoffed.
"Oh? And why's that?"
Cain yawned, stretching his arms above his head.
"Because I'm in a bad mood, I'm exhausted, and you're all really unlucky."
As if on cue, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
{DING!}
[SYSTEM ALERT]
{Host is under attack. Activating Combat Assistance Mode.
Would you like to analyze enemy threat level?}
[YES] | [NO]
Cain smirked, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"Yes."
{DING!}
[Analysis Complete.]
{Opponent Levels: Below Average.
Threat Level: Laughable}.
Cain almost laughed out loud. The system's blunt assessment was both reassuring and amusing. He glanced at the thugs, who were now exchanging confused looks.
The tallest thug cracked his knuckles, his frown deepening.
"Enough talking."
He gestured to his companions.
"Get him."
Cain tilted his head, his smirk widening.
Then, he moved.
The first thug lunged at Cain, his movements slow and predictable. Cain sidestepped effortlessly, his body moving with a fluid grace that seemed almost unnatural.
[DODGE SUCCESSFUL.]
The thug's fist cut through empty air, his momentum carrying him forward. Cain didn't waste the opportunity. With a flick of his wrist, he grabbed the thug's outstretched arm, twisted it, and—
CRACK.
The sound of bone breaking echoed through the alley. The thug screamed, crashing to his knees as he clutched his arm in agony.
The second thug hesitated, his eyes widening in shock. Cain yawned, his expression bored.
"Next?"
The second thug growled, his fear giving way to anger. He pulled out a small dagger, the blade glinting in the faint light. Cain raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
[WEAPON DETECTED.]
[Initiating Countermeasure Protocol.]
Cain smirked.
"Cute."
The thug lunged, his movements faster this time, but still too slow. Cain's body moved on its own, guided by an unseen force. With precise ease, he dodged to the left, grabbed the thug's wrist, and twisted sharply. The dagger clattered to the ground, its metallic ring echoing through the alley.
Cain didn't even hesitate. A swift kick to the stomach sent the thug flying into a stack of crates. The man groaned, his body crumpling to the ground as he struggled to catch his breath.
Cain cracked his knuckles, his gaze shifting to the third thug.
"And then there was one."
The third thug was visibly sweating, his eyes darting between Cain and his fallen companions. Cain grinned, his expression almost playful.
"Boo."
The thug didn't need any more encouragement. He turned on his heel and ran for his life, his footsteps echoing as he disappeared into the night.
Cain sighed, stretching his arms above his head.
"Man, that was easier than I thought."
{DING!}
[BATTLE CONCLUDED.]
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS: Host's combat instincts are beyond standard levels. Potential categorized as "Unmatched."]
Cain frowned, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"Wait… what?"
Another notification appeared, the words glowing in his mind.
[SYSTEM UNLOCK: Instinctive Combat Mode activated.]
{This function will now assist in battles where host is in danger}.
Cain blinked, his mind racing. Instinctive Combat Mode? So that's why his body had been moving on its own, reacting to threats before he could even think. He clenched his fist, feeling the power coursing through him.
This system… it was way more dangerous than he thought.
Cain exhaled, stepping over the unconscious thugs as he made his way out of the alley. The night was quiet once more, the faint hum of the city returning to its usual rhythm. He dragged himself home, his mind still reeling from the encounter.
When he finally reached his home, he climbed up into his room and on his bed, he collapsed onto it, his body sinking into the soft mattress. He muttered under his breath, his words barely audible.
"I'll deal with this tomorrow."
Sleep took him instantly, the events of the night fading into the darkness as he drifted into a deep, dreamless slumber.