Chapter 4: The Silent Guardian

Haru stood in the dimly lit cavern, his breath heavy with exhaustion. The underground dungeon had been a relentless trial, and yet, he had survived. Not just survived—he had conquered. And at the center of it all stood *her.*

The towering Blue Oni, the one who should have ended his life the moment they met. Instead, she had *spared* him. No words had passed between them, yet some primal, unspoken bond had been formed. His **Lady Killer** ability had proven itself to be more than just a gimmick—it had saved him from death and given him an ally unlike any other.

He stared at her, taking in the massive frame, the thick muscle beneath deep blue skin, and the glowing red eyes that watched him with silent intensity. She didn't speak. She hadn't spoken once. But she followed him now, as if bound by some unspoken oath.

And if she was going to be his companion, she needed a name.

Haru took a step closer. She didn't react, simply tilting her head slightly as if waiting for his next move.

"…Shira."

The name left his lips before he fully processed it. It just *felt* right.

The Oni's eyes flickered, something in them shifting at the sound of the name. She didn't smile—he doubted she even knew how—but there was a change in the air between them. She placed a massive hand on her chest and gave a single, solemn nod.

**[Your bond with Shira has strengthened.]**

A notification flashed in the corner of his vision. Haru smirked. *Looks like you like that name, huh?*

Haru checked his system menu again. Since forming a bond with Shira, he'd unlocked a few new options. One of them stood out—**"Summon/Unsummon Familiar"**.

His eyes widened as he read the description.

*"Summon your bound entity into battle or store them within a personal pocket dimension for convenience."*

"…Oh, that's actually really useful."

He turned to Shira. "Alright, big girl. Let's see if this works."

With a mental command, Shira's form blurred—her massive body shimmered before vanishing in an instant, replaced by a small blue orb of light that floated before him.

**[Familiar stored.]**

Haru let out a breath. "That's… way more convenient than having you follow me everywhere down here."

The dungeon was already cramped in places, and while having a towering Oni warrior at his side was a power move, it wasn't exactly *stealthy*. Being able to summon her when needed? That gave him options.

He grinned. *I think I'm starting to like this system.*

The deeper Haru traveled underground, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else—something rotten, ancient, *angry.*

Then he saw them.

A **horde of Oni.**

Not like Shira—these ones were *different.* Twisted, monstrous, and *filled with rage.* Their bodies were hunched and scarred, their eyes glowing with blind fury.

**[Enemy Identified: Rageful Oni – Level 8-12]**

Haru's blood ran cold. There were **five** of them.

He was *Level 2.*

"Shit."

One of the Rageful Oni let out a guttural roar, slamming its massive fists against the cavern walls. The others followed suit, their deafening battle cries shaking the very ground.

Haru had **seconds** to react.

"Shira! **Summon!**"

In an instant, the blue light expanded, and with a surge of energy, Shira materialized before him, her massive form blocking the enemies from advancing.

The Rageful Oni hesitated for a fraction of a second—but only a second. Then they attacked.

The first Oni lunged, swinging a rusted greatsword down toward Haru.

He barely dodged, rolling to the side as the blade crashed into the stone, sending debris flying.

*Too close.*

Shira moved faster than her size suggested. With a single powerful step, she **closed the distance** between herself and the attacker, catching its blade mid-swing with **her bare hand.**

The Rageful Oni snarled, trying to yank the weapon free.

Shira didn't let go.

Instead, she **ripped it from the creature's grasp** and in one swift motion, **snapped the blade in half.**

Haru barely had time to process before the second Oni charged. He wasn't going to let Shira do all the work.

He clenched his dagger, focusing on his stats.

He wasn't *stronger* than these things. But he was **faster.**

Haru ducked low, slipping past one Oni's wild swing, and plunged his blade into its exposed side.

A critical hit.

**[Enemy HP: 73% → 41%]**

The creature howled in pain.

But he wasn't done.

Using his momentum, he **twisted** the blade, forcing it deeper before ripping it free in a spray of dark, putrid blood.

Shira wasn't idle either. With terrifying efficiency, she slammed her fist into an Oni's chest, **caving it in.**

**[Enemy Defeated!]**

**[You have gained EXP.]**

Three left.

Haru **grinned.**

The battle was brutal, but by the end of it, Haru stood victorious.

> Level Up!

Haru – Level 2 → Level 5!

Shira– Level 13 →Level 15!

He slumped against a rock, wiping the sweat from his brow. Shira stood beside him, unfazed, though her knuckles were coated in blood.

Then came the **loot drops.**

**[Rageful Oni Parts Acquired!]**

- Oni Horns x3

- Oni Hide x5

- Oni Blood x2

- **Rageful Oni Gauntlets (Rare Armor Piece)**

Haru raised an eyebrow at the last one. He **did** need better armor… but he wasn't the only one who could use it.

He turned to Shira. "Hey, let's see if these fit you."

Shira tilted her head as he handed her the **Rageful Oni Gauntlets.**

Her red eyes flickered, then, with surprising delicacy, she slid the armored pieces over her forearms.

The moment they clicked into place, a faint glow surrounded her.

**[Shira's DEF has increased! 15 >> 28]**

For the first time since meeting her, Haru saw something close to *emotion* on her face. She flexed her fingers, admiring the new armor. Then, without warning—

**She grabbed Haru and pulled him into a crushing hug.**

His **spine nearly snapped.**

"ACK—Shira—TOO TIGHT—"

She blinked, loosened her grip slightly—but didn't let go.

Haru groaned, half laughing. "Yeah, yeah. You're welcome."

A notification popped up.

**[Shira's bond with you has deepened.]**

Haru smirked. *Not bad for a day's work.*

Haru's boots scraped against the stone floor as he moved cautiously through the cavern's dimly lit passage. His breath was steady, but his fingers twitched over the hilt of his dagger. The air was damp and cold, a stark contrast to the dry, oppressive heat from the previous battles.

**Something was wrong.**

The deeper he walked, the more the cave walls shimmered with an unnatural frost. Strange, considering they were underground. But what was even more unsettling was the thick, **glimmering webbing** that stretched across the walls and ceiling like an intricate trap waiting to be sprung.

Haru **almost** didn't notice the net.

His foot barely tapped the thin, glistening thread before he realized his mistake.

**SCHLAAAK!**

With terrifying speed, the silk shot upwards, tightening around him like a snare.

"Shit—!"

Before he could react, the net yanked him off the ground, **hoisting him into the air.**

He **struggled** against the sticky silk, trying to reach for his dagger, but the more he moved, the tighter the web constricted.

Then he **heard it.**

A chittering sound. Soft at first. Then **closer.**

Then **too close.**

The darkness beyond the cavern shifted, and something **massive** emerged.

**A spider.**

Not just any spider—this one was the size of a **carriage**, its **black exoskeleton glistening with frost.** Its **eight glowing blue eyes** locked onto him with an unnatural intelligence, and its **fangs** dripped with something pale and steaming.

**[BOSS IDENTIFIED: Frost Widow - Level 20]**

Haru's stomach **sank.**

"…Of course it's a boss fight."

The Frost Widow **reared back**, preparing to **spray** something at him.

Haru didn't wait to find out **what**.

"**SHIRA—SUMMON!**"

In an instant, a pulse of blue energy erupted beside him. The cavern **shook** as a massive figure **materialized**.

**Shira.**

Her **massive frame** cast an imposing shadow against the icy cave walls. Blue skin **gleamed** under the dim light, and her crimson eyes burned with battle readiness.

The moment she saw Haru **trapped**, she reacted.

With **explosive force**, Shira **charged forward**, her massive fists **shattering** through layers of ice-covered webbing as she **lunged at the Frost Widow.**

The spider **hissed** and **leapt backward**, avoiding the first strike.

But Shira was **faster than before.**

She had been **leveling up.**

The Frost Widow **clicked** its mandibles, then suddenly **exhaled a freezing mist.**

Ice **spread across the cavern floor**, forcing Shira to skid to a stop as the ground turned into a **frozen trap.**

Haru struggled against the webbing, **desperate to break free.**

If he didn't get loose, Shira would be fighting **alone.**

**"Come on, come on—"**

He twisted, **reaching for his dagger**—just barely managing to pull it free. With a sharp tug, he **sliced through the silk**, dropping hard onto the cold stone floor.

But there was no time to breathe.

The **Frost Widow** lunged toward Shira, its **fangs flashing.**

Shira **barely dodged**, rolling to the side as the massive spider **skittered forward**, stabbing its sharp legs into the stone where she had stood moments before.

Haru knew one thing:

Shira was **stronger**, but the **spider was faster.**

A head-on clash wouldn't work. He had to be **smart.**

Haru **gritted his teeth.**

*"Think, dammit—"*

Then he **saw it.**

The **stalactites** hanging from the cavern ceiling. Large, jagged **spikes of ice**.

A plan formed in his mind.

"Shira! Bait it toward the ceiling!"

Shira didn't **speak**—she never did—but she **listened.**

Instead of standing her ground, she **backed away**, forcing the **spider to chase her.**

The Frost Widow **leapt forward**, following her retreat—

—Right **beneath the ice spikes.**

"**Now! Hit the ceiling!**"

Shira **slammed her fist upward.**

The cavern **shook** as **cracks** spread through the ceiling—

—And **huge shards of ice came crashing down.**

The Frost Widow **screeched** as the frozen spikes **impaled its back**, pinning it partially to the ground.

It **struggled**, shrieking and thrashing, but it was **weakened.**

Haru saw his chance.

He dashed forward, summoning his **inventory menu** mid-sprint.

**"Equip: Dagger."**

A **small burst of flames** erupted as his dagge.**

Haru didn't hesitate. He **leapt**, using his full momentum to **plunge the blade into the Frost Widow's exposed underbelly.**

The spider let out a final, **piercing screech.**

Then **collapsed.**

**[BOSS DEFEATED!]**

>> Level Up!

Haru – Level 5 → Level 8!

Shira – Level 15 → Level 21!

Haru fell backward, **panting.**

"…Holy shit."

As the dust settled, Haru's system flashed with **new notifications.**

**[Shira has unlocked: Regeneration (Passive – Slowly restores health over time)]**

Haru blinked.

Then **grinned.**

"Looks like we're getting stronger."

Shira stood beside him, flexing her **hands**. Her **new ability** was already in effect—faint wisps of blue **energy** surrounded her wounds, sealing them before his eyes.

Haru **laughed**.

For the first time since being thrown into this world, he felt like he was truly **getting somewhere.**