Dave stirred awake, his entire body aching with the lingering pain of the intense battle he had barely survived. He slowly opened his eyes, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The last thing he remembered was the overwhelming power of Lukan, the SSS-ranked superhuman, and how he had been on the verge of death. But now, as he sat up, something felt... off.
Aurora sat beside him, her innocent eyes wide with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Dave rubbed his head, groggy but alert. "What... what happened? I thought I was a goner," he muttered, recalling how helpless he'd been. He looked at Aurora, hoping she had answers. "Did you see what happened? How am I still alive?"
Aurora blinked, her expression confused. "I... I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "One moment, you were unconscious, and then... here we are. I don't remember anything else."
Dave frowned, feeling an unease grow in the pit of his stomach. If Aurora didn't know, that meant something strange had happened. He had fought battles before, but this was unlike anything he'd experienced. He turned to his system, hoping it could offer some explanation.
'System, what happened while I was unconscious?' Dave asked inwardly, expecting a detailed report.
The system responded in a neutral tone, "Host, I was also disconnected when you lost consciousness. I have no record of events during that time."
Dave's frown deepened. This was unprecedented. The system had always been with him, guiding him through every challenge, yet even it had no clue what had transpired. He replayed the battle in his mind, the crushing defeat he faced at Lukan's hands, and now this mysterious recovery.
"How is that possible?" Dave muttered. He felt around his body, searching for the wounds he was certain he'd suffered during the fight. But there was nothing. No scars, no signs of injury. It was as if his body had completely healed without a trace.
'How am I healed then?' he asked the system, feeling more baffled by the minute. 'And what happened to Lukan?'
The system paused before answering, "I do not have information on how your injuries were healed, nor can I locate any trace of Lukan. The only thing I can confirm is that your rank has increased."
Dave blinked. "My rank?"
"Yes, Host. After the battle with Lukan, your rank has been raised to SSS."
Dave stood still for a moment, absorbing the system's words. His rank... had increased? That should have been impossible, especially without him being conscious or completing any specific challenge. His rank rising from SS+ to SSS was no small feat. It was a leap he hadn't anticipated making for a long time.
"But... how?" he asked, more to himself than anyone else. It didn't make sense. Not only was his body healed, but he had somehow grown stronger in the process. His power had reached a level that was unimaginable to him just days ago. Yet, here he stood, a newly-ranked SSS superhuman, without any clue how it had happened.
Aurora tugged at his sleeve, her innocent face full of worry. "Dave... is something wrong?"
Dave looked at her, still unsure. Could she be involved? Was there something about Aurora that he had overlooked? He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something had changed, but if Aurora didn't remember anything, then questioning her was pointless.
'System,' he thought once more, 'is there any record of an external force that could have healed me or interfered with the battle?'
"Negative, Host. No external forces detected."
Dave sighed. If the system didn't know, then that left him with no answers. And yet, the truth was plain: he had survived, his rank had increased, and Lukan, the once-terrifying foe, was nowhere to be found. But he couldn't let this mystery cloud his judgment.
For now, he had to focus on the future. With his newfound strength, he was more powerful than ever. But this strange occurrence—it was something he would have to investigate further. There had to be answers somewhere.
"Alright," Dave muttered under his breath. He stood up, flexing his hands and testing his new strength. The power coursing through him was undeniable, even if the source was unclear. He glanced down at Aurora, who was still watching him with those wide, innocent eyes.
"I guess we move forward," Dave said, trying to put the strange events behind him. But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning of something far more complicated.
And whatever it was, he'd be ready for it.