Caught Between Rage and Righteousness

That was, without a doubt, the best morning I've had since—well… since her. Seraphine.

But we're not going there right now.

Not when I've got two curvy disasters drooling on my chest and drooping off my arms like overgrown kittens. When they finally stirred, blinking like they hadn't just body-slammed me with softness in their sleep, I wriggled free like a man escaping divine punishment—and maybe a bit of divine reward too.

Stretching my arms, I made my way over to the firepit. The sun was just beginning to peek through the trees, painting everything gold.

Time to cook.

Because if there's one thing that can tame a battlecaster and a dark cleric first thing in the morning… it's breakfast.

I tossed a slab of bacon onto the skillet, the sizzle cutting through the morning quiet like music. Cracked a couple eggs with one hand—yeah, I'm that good—and let them fry beside it. Then dropped in the chicken legs I'd marinated last night. Can't have warriors running on empty stomachs, after all.

Lilith rubbed her eyes and sat up, hair a wild mess, her sleepy voice dripping with honey.

"Mmm… that smells sinful."

"Like you?" I muttered. She didn't hear. Probably for the best.

Zeyna rolled over next, groaning like she'd been in a bar fight. "Ugh… morning already? Why do my shoulders hurt?"

Maybe because you slept on me, you buff psycho.

While the bacon crisped, I scooped some food onto a small plate and walked over to the real freeloader of the group—Yuna, curled up like the little beast queen she was. She yawned, stretched her small body, and a cute little bark before digging in like royalty.

And then there was the egg. Still not hatched. Still annoying.

I sighed and tapped it lightly. "Come on, you lazy omelette. You're racking up rent."

No response. Not even a wiggle.

"One day I'm frying you," I warned. "Dead serious."

Just as I was about to take a glorious bite, the system decided to play chef.

System Notification:

Food Buffs Activated

Fried Egg with Bacon – Attack +5%

Fried Chicken Leg – Speed +8%

"Oh yeah," I muttered, flexing my nonexistent apron. "Gordon Ramsay, eat your heart out."

Lilith raised a brow, poking at her bacon like it might explode. "This... actually tastes good?"

Zeyna nodded mid-chew, surprised. "Damn. Didn't think you had it in you."

I smirked. "Of course it's good. You're talking to a man who trained in the sacred arts of… watching street food videos at 2 a.m."

They both stared.

Then I sighed, looked toward the sky, and added, "Listen, I didn't ask to be this talented. The author made me this way."

Lilith blinked. "Wait… who are you talking to?"

Zeyna followed my gaze, confused. "The hell—did he just break the fourth wall?"

"Y'all wouldn't get it," I said, turning back to my sizzling pan like a tragic anime protagonist. "It's lonely being built different."

Zeyna chuckled, shaking her head. "Damn. He's not just weird—he's meta weird."

Lilith rolled her eyes but kept eating. "Whatever, as long as he keeps cooking."

Yuna chirped happily beside the still-unhatched egg, which I swear is starting to judge me more than the girls do.

I stabbed another piece of bacon and muttered, "I need a raise... and maybe a therapist."

After breakfast—and after questioning my life choices while being stared at by a judgmental egg—I stood up, brushing crumbs off my shirt like a man with a mission.

"I've decided," I said, stretching my arms. "Before I accept this so-called alliance… I want to test your strength."

Zeyna paused mid-stretch, a chicken leg still halfway to her mouth. "Huh? Test?"

Lilith blinked, her hands delicately folded over her lap, eyes wide and innocent. "B-but… I thought we were already… allies?"

Flashback—Two Hours Ago

Right after I'd reduced a rare monster to chunky salsa, Zeyna stormed up like a fireball with legs, grabbing me by the collar.

"How dare you touch Lilith, scumbag!" she snapped.

Lilith quickly stepped in, clutching her robe sleeve. "Zeyna, please… don't be rash. H-he was only cautious. We don't want to fight, I promise!" Her voice was soft, pure, almost too kind for this world. "We were just so amazed at how you handled that monster. It usually takes a whole party to defeat something like that..."

Then Zeyna grunted and crossed her arms. "Tch. Fine. We're already in an alliance, then."

Back to the present—

I blinked. "Yeah… see, that's the thing. You declared an alliance. I didn't agree to it."

Zeyna's mouth fell open. "Wait—what?! You mean all that was unofficial?!"

Lilith gasped softly, placing a hand to her cheek. "O-oh dear… I hope we didn't misunderstand…"

I smirked. "Sorry, nun-chan. I don't sign any pacts until I see how people fight. So—" I stepped back and motioned to the open field. "Show me what you've got. Both of you. Come at me. Together."

Lilith's eyes grew even wider. "U-um… are you sure violence is the answer…?"

Zeyna cracked her knuckles. "Don't worry, Lilith. I'll go easy on him… maybe."

As the two took their positions, I sighed and got ready.

"Let's see if they're just pretty faces—or if they can actually back it up."

Somewhere behind me, the egg chirped in suspense. Even it knew things were about to get spicy.

Don't worry, I'll only use my fists. Hit me as much as you want, but I won't hold back. Damn right, Zeyna said—'You're taking the words right out of my mouth.' But how dare you mock us? You really think you can defeat us with just your fists, huh?!.Don't you dare cry after I hit that pretty face of yours with this fist.

Hahhh! The moment she roars, Zeyna's fist crackles with blinding energy, a surge of raw power that lights up the air around us. Her aura flares, a fierce glow engulfing her hand as she channels every ounce of fury into her strike. The ground beneath us trembles, shaking with the intensity of her energy. Her body shifts, her muscles tightening with each second as the air itself seems to vibrate. She doesn't just throw a punch—she unleashes a storm. But seriously, does she really need to shout like that?

"Heh... bring it on." I shifted into my stance, ready to meet Zeyna head-on—until something soft, impossibly soft, pressed against my back. Arms slid around me, slow and teasing, the grip more sensual than supportive. My body stiffened, but not from fear.

A whisper of breath touched my neck. I glanced over my shoulder.

Lilith.

She clung to me like silk, smiling up at me with those wide, innocent eyes... eyes that always hid something dangerous. "Don't get too rough without me," she purred, voice like honey.

"Don't you dare look at another opponent when I'm right in front of you!" Zeyna's voice tore through the air like a war cry.

Shit.

I was too focused on Lilith—her touch, that smile, the way she pressed against me like she owned me. For a split second, I forgot where I was.

Big mistake.

A flash of light—then pain. Zeyna's fist crashed into my face like a freight train, and the world snapped sideways. The impact lifted me clean off the ground, hurling me back like a ragdoll. I slammed into the dirt, skidding across the cracked earth with a grunt.

Damn… she hits harder than I remembered.

I stood up like nothing happened, brushing dirt off my shoulder, blood trailing down the corner of my lip. Zeyna's punch still rang in my skull, but I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction.

I turned toward Lilith, who stood a few feet away, hands folded neatly in front of her like a harmless nun. She blinked at me with that wide-eyed sweetness, like she hadn't just appeared out of nowhere mid-fight.

"Hey," I said, cracking my neck. "How the hell did you sneak up on me like that?"

She smiled serenely. "I used a skill called Shadow Slip," she said, voice soft and pure. "It lets me teleport into someone's shadow from behind. Makes things… easier."

I narrowed my eyes. "Alright. But how come you didn't get flattened by Zeyna's punch? That shockwave tore through everything."

Lilith tilted her head, like she was teaching a kindergartener. "When I use Shadow Slip, I become invulnerable for five seconds. I merge with the shadow itself. Even if a direct hit lands, it passes right through me like I'm not even there."

She said it so sweetly, like she wasn't describing a broken stealth ability. All innocence on the outside—deadly silence on the inside.

"Guess I'll use that too," I said, my voice calm, despite the rising tension.

Lilith raised an eyebrow, her expression sweetly curious. "What?"

"Transcendent Copy. Target: Shadow Slip."

System Notification

Skill Copied: Shadow Slip

Transcending Skill to Higher Rank: Successful

Shadow Slip → Shadow Drift (x2)

I felt the power surge through me—the shadows around me pulsing like they were alive, calling to me. My body grew lighter, and I could almost taste the darkness itself. The skill had leveled up, and I could feel its weight in the air.

But I knew the deal.

I could only use Shadow Drift once. At least at this level.

The power surged within me, but I didn't have time to fully grasp its depth. One shot. I had to make it count.

Lilith stood there, blissfully unaware of what just happened. But Zeyna… she was charging again.

I cracked my neck and braced myself.

Lilith appeared behind me, slipping through the shadows with her signature Shadow Slip. But I wasn't about to let her catch me off guard again.

I activated Shadow Drift, using it to increase the distance between us in a heartbeat. The world around me blurred as I dashed straight toward Zeyna, moving so fast that even I had trouble keeping up.

"What? he's charging infront of me?,Mana barrier!!" Zeyna shouted, her voice tinged with confusion and panic. She raised her hands, trying to summon a shield of mana. But it was too late.

Clang!

I slammed straight into her barrier, breaking it apart with a single, devastating strike. The magic cracked and shattered like glass, and I could feel the force of the impact throw her off balance.

I was too fast to control. I didn't even know where I was going half the time. One second, I was on her side; the next, I was behind her, a perfect opening.

I lunged, ready to slam her down. My hands reached out, but instead of grabbing her waist, I caught something entirely different.

Squish.

Soft. Sinking under my touch. What the hell? My fingers dug into what felt like… soft flesh. Not what I expected at all.

I froze for a second, my mind racing, but there was no time to think. I had to act.

As I grabbed her, the unexpected softness threw me off for a moment. My hand sank into something much different than what I'd intended.

Zeyna froze, her cheeks flushing bright red. The color spread across her face like wildfire, and for a split second, she looked at me in shock—then pure anger.

"You—scumbag!" she hissed, her voice rising in fury. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

I tried to pull my hand away as quickly as possible, but it was already too late.

Suddenly, I felt a heavy presence looming above me. Before I could react, I heard Lilith's voice ring out, sweet yet sharp.

"Seo-Joon, pervert! Take this—Divine Hammer!"

Her tone was so innocent, almost playful, like she had no idea what was happening around her. But the force behind her words made it clear she wasn't messing around.

I barely had time to register what was happening before a massive, glowing hammer appeared overhead, crashing down toward me with divine fury.

"Damn… I barely dodged that," I muttered, breath catching as the divine hammer slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave through the air.

If that thing had hit me—I might not be standing here. That wasn't just a hammer. That was an execution. Lucky for me, it was slow. Powerful, but slow.

I turned my gaze back to Lilith.

She stood there, pouting, eyes glistening with tears. "I… I missed…" she sniffled softly, shoulders trembling. "I just wanted to bonk the pervert…"

Despite the chaos around us, I nearly choked. Her innocent act made it all worse—and more dangerous. That girl was a silent menace wrapped in adorable guilt.

And in a flash—bam—Zeyna appeared at my side, her face burning red, eyes watery with outrage.

"You pervert!!" she screamed, voice cracking as she cried. "How dare you, you scumbag! Eggface! Asshole!!"

Each insult hit me harder than her punches ever could, more out of sheer confusion than pain. She was crying and shouting—emotional damage incoming.

"Wait—I didn't even mean to—!"

"Liar!" she shrieked, charging again with both fists blazing.

I didn't even know which danger was worse anymore—Zeyna's rage or Lilith's hammer.