Ichio arrived at the burnt forest, the twisted remnants of trees and ash filling the air with a heavy, suffocating scent. His eyes scanned the area, heart pounding as he moved deeper into the forest. It didn't take long before he spotted the lifeless body of Aaron, sprawled on the ground, blood staining the earth beneath him. Ichio's focus quickly shifted as he heard the soft sound of sobbing nearby.
There, standing in a daze, was Livia, her hand trembling as she held her sword, her eyes vacant and filled with sorrow. She was about to pierce herself with the blade, her movements slow and deliberate.
Ichio's heart stopped. Without thinking, he rushed forward, his hand closing around the hilt of her sword, stopping her just in time.
"Livia, what are you doing?" Ichio's voice was barely a whisper, full of alarm.
Livia's tears fell freely, her voice breaking as she collapsed into his arms, her body shaking with grief.
"It's all my fault..." she sobbed, her voice thick with self-loathing. "If only I had stopped them... If only I had stopped them from entering the Ainslif, they would still be here.
But I couldn't. My pride wouldn't let me... I thought I was strong enough to protect them, to keep them safe... If only you had been here... If only you hadn't been so selfish, if you had helped, this wouldn't have happened..."
Ichio held her tightly, anger in his eyes. He couldn't say anything, couldn't justify his absence. She was right. He had been selfish. But now, all he could do was hold her, let her grieve, and apologize for the pain he had caused.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered, voice choked with anger. "I'm sorry, Livia. I never meant for this to happen. I should've been here. I should've helped... Please, calm down."
He pulled her closer, his voice barely a whisper, filled with regret.
"I'm here now. It's okay. We'll get through this together."
Livia sobbed against his chest, her body wracked with the force of her emotions. And as Ichio held her, he knew this was only the beginning of the road they would walk together — a road full of pain, loss, and the hope that one day, they would find a way to heal.
But for now, all he could do was keep her safe, take her back to the inn, and let her grieve in his arms.
Ichio's Room at the Inn
The dim light of the room cast long shadows against the walls, and Ichio sat on the edge of the bed, his arms wrapped tightly around Livia, who was still crying. Her sobs were soft but persistent, each one cutting through Ichio like a sharp blade. He held her, his mind far away, torn between guilt and anger, frustration and helplessness.
'If only I had checked Aaron's status... Maybe this wouldn't have happened. I knew the Ainslif Al Khaos was dangerous, but I thought Livia could handle it if she had some help...
I didn't think they were all low rank. My own inexperience I guess...' The thought gnawed at him, but the frustration soon turned into resolve. 'Well, that just means I have to adapt and learn from this mistake. I can't afford to make the same one again. Next time, I'll be ready.'
Livia's sobs softened, her body still trembling in his arms, and Ichio, feeling the weight of the moment, spoke softly, trying to comfort her.
"Don't worry," he murmured, his voice firm yet gentle. "I don't want you to feel guilty for anything. It's my fault. If I had just followed you... maybe we could've prevented this. But I didn't. So... I solely take the blame. Whatever your sin is, it lies solely with me."
Livia's breath hitched as she looked up at him, her face streaked with tears, but Ichio didn't give her a chance to respond. His lips brushed softly against hers, a fleeting kiss that held more weight than any words he could say. The intensity of the moment lingered for a breath too long, and just as their connection deepened, a voice pierced through the stillness of the room.
[Okay, I see what the guy is tryna do]
"Master."
Ichio pulled away with a frustrated sigh, his gaze hardening. "What's up? You're kinda distracting me here."
Nyx's voice, steady as ever. "Aren't you going to come up to the upper floors?"
Ichio's brow furrowed as he wiped a strand of hair from Livia's face, his tone still irritated but carrying a hint of urgency. "What do you mean?"
Nyx's voice was matter-of-fact. "Currently, we are on floor 6. I'm still following them, and I don't think they have noticed me yet. But it seems you are still stuck on floor 3. Is there something wrong? Or is there something you need to do there?"
"By the way is the mistress alright?" Nyx asked.
Ichio froze. "Wait... What? Floor 6? You mean they've already cleared the other floors?
And don't worry Liva is fine"
"At a rapid rate," Nyx replied. "Most of the time, Elohim Avdi doesn't even have anything to do with it."
Ichio's expression hardened as he stood up from the bed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, fine. We'll leave now." He turned back to Livia, whose eyes were still filled with pain, and he gently cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "We need to head to the center of Alcyn, to the Alter, and move to floor 4. I'm not letting anything like this happen to you again. I'll make sure of it. You can rely on me."
Livia, still shaken, nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "But... Ichio, I—"
He cut her off, his gaze intense. "No, Livia. No more apologies. You've been through enough. I'll protect you. I won't let anything like that happen again, especially not to you."
In his mind, though, it was all different. 'Their deaths? Doesn't matter. It's only because it affected Liva that pissed me off'. His cold, calculating thoughts contrasted sharply. 'Those fools were too weak to survive... But Livia... she matters. I won't let anything happen to her. Not again.'
As they left the room, the heavy silence between them felt suffocating, but Ichio's mind was already focused on the task ahead. He wasn't thinking about the lives that had been lost. He wasn't thinking about the lives that could be lost in the future. He was thinking about Livia. Only Livia. She was his priority now. And he would do whatever it took to keep her safe since she was essential to his plans.
Arrival at Floor 4: Giban Town
The world warped as Ichio and Livia stepped onto the altar, a wave of light enveloping them. When the glow faded, they found themselves in a new town—Giban. The cobbled streets were bustling with activity, and the air carried the scent of baked goods and roasting meat, but none of that mattered to Ichio. Livia stumbled beside him, pale and drenched in sweat.
"Liva," he said softly, his brows furrowed. "Are you alright?"
She barely managed a nod, her breath coming in short gasps. "I-I just need to rest... I'll be fine."
Ichio didn't believe her. Without hesitation, he wrapped her arm over his shoulder and began leading her through the streets, scanning for the nearest inn. They drew a few curious glances, but most of the townsfolk continued with their business, oblivious to their plight.
Ichio pushed open the door to a modest inn, its wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze. The interior was warm and inviting, lit by the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. A young woman with auburn hair and a cheerful smile stood behind the counter.
"Welcome to the Giban Hearth Inn!" she said brightly before noticing Livia. Her smile faltered, replaced by a look of concern. "Is she alright?"
"She's not feeling well," Ichio replied quickly. "I need a room, and... someone to look after her."
The innkeeper hesitated, then called out over her shoulder. "Elsa, can you come here?"
A moment later, another girl emerged from the back—a quiet-looking brunette with kind eyes. "I'll take care of her," Elsa said softly, stepping forward. "You can trust me."
Ichio glanced at her, gauging her sincerity, then nodded. "Thank you."
He carried Livia upstairs to the room Elsa prepared, gently laying her down on the bed. "Stay with her," he instructed. "If anything changes, let me know."
Elsa nodded, pulling a chair close to the bed. "I'll keep an eye on her."
Ichio left the inn and stepped out into the cool evening air. His mind was restless, and as he walked through the town, his thoughts turned inward. He needed to be stronger. Livia had collapsed because of the battle before they arrived here, and he couldn't afford to be weak when more challenges lay ahead.
Stopping in a quiet alley, he raised his hands and formed a triangle with his fingers. As he pulled them apart, his status board appeared, glowing faintly in the dim light.
Name: Ichio
Rank: Eta
AC (Axion Class): Axion Archon
Level: 0
EP (Existence Points): 200
SP (Stat Points): [15k / 20k]
AP (Artem Points): [80 / 100]
Physical Stats:
Strength: [Gamma | 500 / 1k]
Speed/Agility: [Gamma | 500 / 1k]
Defense: [Gamma | 500 / 1k]
Vitality: [Gamma | 500 / 1k]
Intelligence: [Gamma | 500 / 1k]
Luck: [Gamma | 500 / 1k]
He frowned at the numbers. "So low... I forgot mine isn't automatic."
Most people's stat distributions were aligned with their fighting styles, but his unique circumstances left him with a manual system.
"Well," he muttered, "let's fix that."
After some thought, he allocated his Stat Points:
Strength: +1,500
Speed/Agility: +2,000
Defense: +1,500
Vitality: +1,500
Intelligence: +2,000
Luck: +2,000
When the changes settled, his stats updated:
Name: Ichio
SP (Stat Points): [4.5k / 20k]
Physical Stats:
Strength: [Gamma | 2k / 5k]
Speed/Agility: [Gamma | 2.5k / 5k]
Defense: [Gamma | 2k / 5k]
Vitality: [Gamma | 2k / 5k]
Intelligence: [Gamma | 2.5k / 5k]
Luck: [Gamma | 2.5k / 5k]
Satisfied, Ichio dismissed the board. His Artem-Abilities were still incomplete, with one blank ability marked as
"I'll figure you out eventually," he muttered, before heading toward the source of the disturbance he'd sensed earlier—the Ainslif Al Khaos.
CHAPTER END.