Ingrid moved among the trees, looking for strong monsters to defeat. She stopped and hid behind a tree, up on a branch. Hearing something approaching, she decided to see what it was.

  Ingrid saw a boy running from something that looked like a humanoid monster. The monster walked slowly, letting its prey believe it could still escape. Ingrid sighed and quickly helped the boy, grabbing him by the sleeve and pulling him to another tree.

  – No need to thank me, kid. I just...

  She noticed who the boy was and widened her eyes.

  – Ah, it’s you... the most useless one in the class...

  – H-huh? Thanks for help–

  Ingrid let go of the boy, but the crystal on their suits shone blue as soon as she released him, signaling that she and Dark would be a pair.

  – Damn it! – Ingrid said, already quite irritated.

  Ingrid quickly descended from the tree and caught Dark before he hit the ground.

  – Why did you let me go?!

  – Because you’re useless! You do nothing, you’re a complete failure! You probably think money is everything!

  – What? But–

  Tyson appeared and attacked Ingrid. She let go of Dark, making him fall to the ground, and defended herself with her broad sword, placing it in front of her like a shield. Ingrid was pushed back slightly due to the impact.

  – What a strange monster... There weren’t supposed to be monsters like this on the island.

  – That’s not a monster, Ingrid! He’s the guy I fought during the entrance exam. I don’t know what happened, but he turned into... something monstrous.

  – But... that’s impossible! – Ingrid attacked Tyson, who stepped back to avoid the blow. – A human can’t become a monster!

  Dark stood up and stayed behind Ingrid, looking over her shoulder. Ingrid gripped her sword, ready to strike.

  – Great chivalry... – Ingrid thought sarcastically.

  – That kind of shallow thinking is what makes you weak. – Tyson smiled at Ingrid and extended one hand, as if asking for something. – Just hand over Dark, and I won’t hurt you.

  Ingrid hesitated, but even knowing how useless Dark was, she still wanted to protect him, because of her will to be a heroine.

  – I’m sorry, but... – Ingrid smiled. – Only over my dead body.

  Tyson sighed, disappointed. He scratched his head, thinking she would give him up easily.

  – Fine, I was planning to defeat you anyway. – Tyson appeared right in front of her, ready to attack. – Besides, they need you too.

  Ingrid tried to defend herself, but Tyson was far too fast. He struck Ingrid, throwing her hard against a tree. She spat blood and could barely breathe.

  Tyson looked down at Dark, trying to appear superior.

  – Well... what do you want with me? – Dark asked, genuinely afraid, trembling slightly. He knew that, no matter what he tried, he would never be able to defeat him like this.

  – Man... you’re so useless. – said Ingrid, coughing a little and using her sword to support herself as she stood up. Once on her feet, she rushed forward to attack Tyson again.

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  Tyson sighed, tired of her attempts, and easily dodged, countering with a strike to her stomach. Ingrid spat blood again. Tyson grabbed her by the neck and lifted her.

  – Just give up. Stop resisting or trying to protect this boy. What makes you want to protect someone you don’t even like?

  Ingrid tried to speak with a hoarse voice.

  – Maybe it’s... the fact that I have my pride... as a future heroine...

  Tyson, irritated by the word “pride,” threw Ingrid near Dark, who was trying to escape.

  Ingrid looked at Dark with her last bit of strength and said:

  – You really are... a piece of shit... – and lost consciousness.

  Dark tried to flee but then remembered what Ingrid said. He turned back and picked her up. Tyson prepared to strike, but missed because Dark crouched at the exact moment to grab Ingrid.

  Tyson stepped back, and Dark stood up, frightened that he’d almost been hit.

  – Next time... I’ll hit your head dead-on.

  Dark put Ingrid on his back and ran as fast as he could. But his body was weak — every step felt heavier than the last. He stumbled over roots, barely able to breathe, sweat dripping down his face. Within minutes, exhaustion caught up to him.

  Dark fell to his knees, panting, trying to catch his breath. He looked at Ingrid, unconscious and wounded, and clenched his trembling fists.

  – What do I do now...? Is this where it ends?

  The distant sound of the monster approaching echoed through the trees. Dark closed his eyes for a moment — the fear and his lack of power crushed him.

  Tyson appeared among the trees, finally tired of playing, and struck a blow — but it hit the ground because a nearby bird startled him, making him lose focus. The explosion made Dark and Ingrid slip, tumbling down a small slope and landing among the trees again.

  – Damn it... why is it always me who goes through this? – Dark muttered, picking Ingrid up again. But this time, he couldn’t handle it anymore; her weight was too much for him now.

  Ingrid started to wake up and saw Tyson approaching.

  Tyson placed a hand over one eye and spoke in a terrifying tone, as if enjoying this cat-and-mouse game:

  – Dark... you’ve run long enough. Now, finally, I can kill you. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this. Since the day I lost to you.

  Ingrid stood up, extremely injured and exhausted.

  – I won’t allow that... – she said, grabbing one of Dark’s daggers.

  Soon after, she lost movement in one of her arms. That was Ingrid’s ability: the greater and more important the sacrificed body part, the higher the chance of success — but the chosen part would be paralyzed for some time as a penalty.

  Ingrid ran toward Tyson.

  – I already told you, it’s useless. – Tyson dodged, and Ingrid missed the attack. Her legs gave out, and she fell to the ground.

  – I warned you, Ingrid, just gi–

  Tyson’s chest was cut diagonally, a deep slash. From the human side, blood flowed; from the half already consumed by darkness, nothing came out. Tyson staggered back, distancing himself from Ingrid and Dark.

  Dark approached Ingrid, kneeling beside her.

  – That’s... impressive! – Tyson said, looking amused that he’d been wounded. – I didn’t think you were that strong. Maybe, if you were a little more mature, you could’ve really hurt me.

  Tyson’s wound healed, but the human part was consumed by darkness, as if being devoured.

  – Come on, just give in and join us already. I can’t wait for our future battles. How strong would you be if you became a demon like me?

  – So you became a demon? – Dark said, truly angry at what Tyson had done. – You betrayed humanity for power! You... you’re worth nothing!

  – You really think you can say that to me in your condition, Dark?

  Tyson started to approach. Dark thought it was over — there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t even protect Ingrid enough for her to escape. Dark looked down at his hands, clenching them, begging for someone, anyone, to help them.

  A green light appeared before him. He looked up and saw something like a silver pocket watch, glowing with an intense green light from within.

  – What the...? – Tyson raised an arm to shield his eyes, unable to look at the glow. He thought Dark had no power at all. Was it all a lie?

  Dark grabbed the watch, which transformed into a large sword made of silvery material with green lines running through its blade, light as a feather.

  – You really think you can beat me just because you got some random sword out of nowhere?

  Dark felt mortified — this wasn’t the kind of help he wanted. What good was a new sword now?

  Tyson sighed and charged while Dark was still panicking.

  – What do I do...? Is it all going to end here? – Dark thought.

  Tyson vanished from sight, but Dark’s eyes turned green, and he suddenly saw him to the side. Tyson immediately backed away, surprised.

  – How did he manage to follow my movement...? – Tyson thought, retreating.

  Dark found it strange but now felt he might have a chance.

  He focused on Tyson and moved. He ran toward him and attacked from above in a clumsy motion.

  – Seriously, is that all you’ve got?

  The sword got stuck in the ground, and Dark struggled to pull it out. Tyson laughed, amused by the boy’s lack of skill.

  – You’re really entertaining, Dark. I don’t know what’s funnier — your futile attempt or your hope.

  Dark managed to pull the sword free and swung it again, trying to strike Tyson.

  – Shut up! I... I still have hope, yes! But at least I’m different from you!

  Tyson grew irritated but tried to play it off.

  – You know what? Let’s do this. I’ll stay still, and you can attack me. I know you won’t accomplish anything anyway... Your hope means nothing compared to power.

  Tyson stood still, smiling. Dark struck his arm — the one already consumed by darkness.

  – There, satisfied? It doesn’t change anything. I can regenerate. You, on the other hand... not for long.

  Tyson tried to regenerate his arm but couldn’t. It was as if his regeneration rate had slowed down after Dark’s strike.

  – What did you do...? – Tyson glared at Dark, trying to intimidate him, but the fear was clear.

  – I just did what I was allowed to, Tyson. – Dark swung the sword again, and Tyson stepped back.

  – It doesn’t matter. With your speed, you’ll never hit me again before I kill you.

  Tyson tried to move, but his legs were cut. He fell and looked back, seeing Ingrid.

  – Forgot about me? – she said, smiling at him.

  Consumed by fear, Tyson stared at Dark in terror, who then finished him off with a diagonal slash through his head and heart.

  Dark nearly collapsed but leaned on his sword. He sighed, exhausted and relieved.

  – Finally... it’s over...

  Ingrid carefully stood up and, hesitant, decided to praise Dark.

  – This time... you did well. Never... never let it slip that I said that.

  Her attention turned to Tyson’s body.

  – We should report this directly to a teacher or instructor. Let’s go.

  Ingrid walked tiredly, almost collapsing, holding the arm paralyzed by her ability. Dark’s weapon turned back into a watch, and he stared at the object for a moment before it sank into his body like a liquid machine.

  – Hey, Ingrid, wait! Something strange happened...

  Dark looked at her arm and took off his own shirt, staying only in the test one that covered his chest. He tied the shirt around Ingrid’s arm to help her walk better.

  – Don’t expect me

  to thank you. – she said, now walking faster. But this time, she didn’t seem angry — she seemed a little... embarrassed.

  Dark picked up Tyson’s body and walked with Ingrid through the forest.