"Levi," Elena said as they prepared to disembark. "Whatever happens down there, I want you to know—I believe in you."
"Thank you," he said. "That means more than you know."
"Stay close to her," Mera whispered. "She's going to be important. More important than you realize."
As they descended into the ruins, Levi couldn't shake the feeling that Elena was right—he did know something the others didn't.
He knew how this story ended the first time. He knew where the traps were, where the beasts would strike, where the real danger lay.
But most importantly, he knew that this time, he wasn't going to fail.
The same red glow beckoned from the main tunnel, and Levi felt his enhanced reflexes kick in as familiar growls echoed through the chamber. The shadow beasts were coming.
But this time, he was ready for them.
"Elena," he called out as the first creature emerged from the darkness. "Remember what I said about choices?"
"What about them?"
Golden light began to gather around Levi's hands, and he could feel Mera's presence strengthening his resolve. "Mine is to stop running from the darkness."
The alpha shadow beast fixed its burning gaze on him, just as it had before. But this time, Levi didn't flinch.
"Come on then," he said quietly. "Let's see what you've got."
[COMBAT INITIATED]
[LIGHT TOUCH ABILITY READY]
[ENHANCED REFLEXES ACTIVE]
[RECOMMENDATION: SHOW THEM WHAT THE LIGHT CAN DO]
And as the beast lunged forward, Levi smiled.
This time, he was going to win.
The alpha shadow beast's claws whistled through the air where Levi's head had been a moment before. But this time, he wasn't there.
Enhanced reflexes guided his body in ways that felt both foreign and natural, as if he'd been training for this moment his entire life.
"How did you—" Marcus started, but his words were cut off as the second beast materialized behind him.
"Move!" Levi barked, golden light erupting from his palms.
The Light Touch ability was meant for healing, but Levi discovered something interesting as his luminous hands made contact with the shadow creature's flank.
The beast shrieked, its form wavering like smoke in a strong wind. Light and shadow were natural enemies, it seemed.
"Impressive," Elena called out from across the chamber.
Her group had formed a defensive circle around their own marker, but she was watching Levi with those intelligent dark eyes. "But you're bleeding energy too fast!"
She was right. The golden glow around his hands was already dimming, and the system's warnings flashed in his peripheral vision.
[LIGHT ENERGY: 35/50]
[WARNING: SUSTAINED COMBAT WILL DEPLETE RESERVES]
[RECOMMENDATION: TACTICAL RETREAT]
"We need to work together," Levi said, dodging another swipe from the alpha. "These things are pack hunters. They'll pick us off one by one if we stay separated."
"Since when do you give tactical advice?" Kane's voice was strained. His group had claimed the marker, but they were trapped between two shadow beasts and a crumbling wall.
"Since I stopped being afraid of the dark," Levi replied.
The alpha lunged again, but this time Levi was ready. He rolled aside and came up with a chunk of rubble in his hand.
As the beast turned to follow him, he hurled the stone with enhanced strength and accuracy. It struck the creature's head, disrupting its form just long enough for Levi to close the distance.
"Light Touch!" he called out, his hands blazing with renewed energy.
The healing ability wasn't designed for combat, but Levi was learning to adapt. Instead of mending wounds, he channeled the light into pure destructive force.
The shadow beast writhed and screamed as divine energy tore through its essence.
"He's actually doing it," Torres whispered in amazement. "He's actually hurting them."
"Look at his eyes," Yuki said quietly. "They're glowing."
[COMBAT EXPERIENCE GAINED]
[ABILITY EVOLUTION DETECTED]
[LIGHT TOUCH → LIGHT STRIKE]
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: ILLUMINATION]
The alpha shadow beast staggered back, its form flickering between solid and ethereal. But instead of retreating, it threw back its head and howled—a sound that made the very walls of the chamber tremble.
"That's a call for reinforcements," Elena said, her voice tight with concern. "We need to leave. Now."
"The markers," Kane protested. "We need them to pass."
"We'll be dead before we can use them," Elena shot back. "Can't you hear that? More are coming."
She was right.
The distant sound of claws on stone was growing louder, accompanied by the low growls of approaching shadow beasts.
Levi's enhanced hearing picked up at least six distinct voices, maybe more.
"There," Levi pointed to a partially collapsed tunnel on the far side of the chamber. "Emergency exit. The guild wouldn't hold examinations in a dead end."
"How do you know that?" Marcus asked.
"Because I've been here before," Levi said grimly. "Trust me."
The alpha beast, wounded but not defeated, positioned itself between them and the exit. Its eyes burned with malevolent intelligence, and Levi could swear he saw something almost human in its gaze.
"I'll hold it off," he said. "Get to the tunnel."
"You'll die," Elena said flatly.
"Maybe."
She studied his face for a long moment. "No. We do this together or not at all."
[RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATE]
[ELENA VOSS: IMPRESSED → TRUSTING]
[ROMANTIC PROGRESSION: 25%]
"How touching," Kane sneered, but his voice lacked its usual confidence. "The failures are making friends."
"Shut up, Kane," Elena said without looking away from Levi. "What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to trust me." Levi's hands began to glow again, but this time the light was different—brighter, more focused. "And I need you to run when I say run."
The alpha beast sensed the change in his energy and crouched lower, preparing to spring. Behind it, the sounds of approaching reinforcements grew louder.
"Now would be good," Torres said nervously.
Levi closed his eyes and reached deep into the well of power that Aseraph had left him. The system's warnings flashed frantically, but he ignored them.
Sometimes, risks were necessary.
[WARNING: ATTEMPTING TO EXCEED SAFE ENERGY LIMITS]
[RECOMMENDATION: ABORT CURRENT ACTION]
[OVERRIDE COMMAND DETECTED]
[ABILITY EVOLUTION ACCELERATED]
[ILLUMINATION ACTIVATED]
Light exploded from Levi's body like a miniature sun.