Chapter 82: Escape and the Realization of Weakness

Shingin leaned against a crumbled wall, his heavy breathing echoing in the eerie silence. The dim sky cast its shadow over the shattered ruins, where broken steel beams and shattered bricks scattered like the bones of a fallen beast. His arm throbbed with pain from the knife wound he'd suffered during the fight, but compared to the overwhelming sense of helplessness in his heart, the pain felt insignificant.

Everything was over, leaving only emptiness and powerlessness in its wake.

The others gathered near a relatively intact section of wall. Though silent, their faces mirrored exhaustion and unease. The devastation of their earlier ordeal lingered in their minds, as if the ruins themselves concealed hidden threats, making them wary of every move. Despite surviving the onslaught, everyone knew the danger was far from over.

Riyugi knelt beside Myouka, carefully taking clean cloth from her bag to tend to Myouka's wounds. Myouka's arm was covered in abrasions, her pale skin streaked with blood. Riyugi's hands moved gently, though every touch made Myouka flinch, her brows tightening as she took shallow breaths. Riyugi whispered, trying to reassure her, "Just bear with me for a bit. Almost done." She glanced at the battered arm, her voice softening with concern. "Your skin's so beautiful—what if it scars?"

Myouka's face bore streaks of dried blood, her curls clinging messily to her sweat-drenched forehead. Though visibly fatigued, she sat upright, refusing to show any weakness amid the destruction.

Riyugi reached up with her free hand to brush Myouka's hair away from her face, but Myouka quickly returned the gesture, tending to the sprain on Riyugi's ankle. Riyugi wasn't severely injured, but every scratch stood out painfully. Myouka's tone turned brisk, tinged with irritation: "How long are we supposed to live like this?" She tightened the bandage with sharp, precise movements, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation.

Suddenly, Yahageshii's frustrated shout pierced the silence. "Damn it! How are we supposed to take down the Watcher if we're this weak?!" His voice, sharp and unyielding, felt like a blade cutting through the space. He smacked a piece of rubble beside him as if it were the enemy itself, his fury seeking release.

Myouka scoffed, her tone equally sharp. "I can't even use my powers right now! Can't even put up a fight!" She turned her gaze to Shingin, eyes filled with doubt and frustration. "You said the alien soul sharing would help, but why don't I feel anything? Were you just lying to us?"

Caught off guard, Shingin fumbled for a response, his voice low and uncertain. "I... I don't know what went wrong. When I shared it with Ryuosho, his lightning came almost instantly…" His explanation lacked conviction, failing to reassure anyone.

The others turned to Ryuosho, who sat quietly in the corner with his head bowed, his expression unreadable. The usual air of casual indifference he carried had given way to an unsettling calm, exuding an aura of quiet intensity. His silence felt heavy, as if the weight of his thoughts bore down on everyone.

Riyugi glanced at him nervously, her voice tentative. "Ryuosho… are you okay?"

He slowly lifted his head, his gaze sharp and penetrating. "I'm fine. Just… thinking." The short reply silenced the group, his demeanor compelling them to hold back further questions.

Shingin's eyes roved over the ruins before landing on Riyugi. She was wrapping bandages around Myouka's wounds with a composed expression, the pain seemingly insignificant to her. Yet the faint rise and fall of her breath betrayed her discomfort. Shingin hesitated, then asked softly, "Riyugi, are you sure your injuries are okay?"

He moved closer, reaching out to examine her wounds. But before he could touch her, Riyugi flinched back slightly, withdrawing her arm. Her voice was calm, almost detached. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

Her tone held no hostility, but the invisible wall between them was unmistakable. Shingin's hand hovered awkwardly in the air for a moment before he lowered it, his fingers trembling ever so slightly. Something lodged in his throat, leaving him speechless.

Myouka's voice cut through the tension like a blade. She turned to him with a smirk that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, so you only care about Riyugi? What about me? Does it not matter if I'm falling apart?"

Shingin stammered, caught off guard. "No, that's not it! Myouka, are you okay? You're hurt badly. I—"

Before he could finish, Myouka interrupted, her tone cold and cutting. "Too late." Her words were firm, brooking no argument. She added, her voice tinged with bitter amusement, "Of course, it hurts. But I've been trained in archery since I was a kid. This little bit of pain isn't enough to make me whine."

She tilted her head back with a pointed glare at him. "Don't worry about us. We'll take care of our 'fragile, beautiful bodies.'"

The teasing edge in her words didn't mask the boundary she'd just drawn between them. Without waiting for a reply, she turned her back to him, deliberately shifting her focus to Riyugi, standing between them like a shield.

Shingin let out a weak laugh, retreating to his spot by the wall. He sat down, resting his hands on his knees, his fingers fidgeting nervously. The sting of rejection simmered in his chest, but he knew he wasn't in a position to ask for anything more.

Gradually, the tension began to ease. Ryuosho let out a quiet chuckle, and Yahageshii's grumbling subsided. The atmosphere grew calmer, though the silence held the weight of unspoken fears.

As the night deepened, the chill crept into their bones. The ruins seemed alive with shadows, whispering ominous promises of more challenges ahead. Everyone huddled closer, seeking warmth and solace, but the haunting images of the battle replayed in their minds. The colossal shadows, the unrelenting dangers, and the suffocating sense of helplessness were etched into their very being.

Riyugi stared into the distant darkness, her eyes searching for something unseen. Myouka, though feigning indifference, curled slightly, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. Ryuosho remained eerily still, his hands clasped tightly on his knees as if bracing himself for something. Yahageshii paced restlessly like a caged beast, unable to settle.

Shingin sat against the wall, his gaze fixed on the ground. His fists clenched, he tried to suppress the storm of self-doubt raging within him. The question that haunted him echoed louder with each passing moment: What now? What can I possibly do to make up for their disappointment?

That night, no one slept. The cold wind carried whispers of foreboding, its icy touch a reminder of the perilous path ahead. Their future was as uncertain and treacherous as the ruins around them—shrouded in shadows and filled with danger.