The dungeon was eerily quiet now. Only the low hum of the boss room's core echoed faintly as Chosa and Kaisel approached the grotesque remains of the mini-boss Grim had used as a seat during his introduction. Guts and thick blood pooled across the floor, but beneath the gore, something shimmered faintly—loot.
"This is... kinda gross," Chosa muttered, kicking aside part of the creature's ribcage. "But loot is loot."
Kaisel chuckled, wiping his blade clean on a torn scrap of cloth. "You get used to it. The blood, the guts. It's all part of the cycle."
The moment they touched the shimmering items, a soft pulse of light engulfed them. Chosa felt warmth flood his system as a notification popped up on his gauntlet.
[Skill Acquired: Intuition (Passive)]Allows the user to sense immediate danger, triggering a subconscious reaction in high-threat situations.
Chosa blinked. "Luna, did you see this?"
"Confirmed. Passive skill 'Intuition' has been integrated into your current ability set."
Kaisel, on the other hand, held up a small, jagged talisman etched with glowing runes. A subtle blue aura pulsated around it. He inspected it for a moment, eyes narrowing with interest, then tucked it into his coat. "Nothing flashy, but useful. Let's go."
After a long trek through the tower's winding exit route, the two stepped out into the fading sunlight. The city buzzed in the distance, unaware of how close two of its own had come to death. The distant skyline shimmered with life, but in their hearts, the tower's weight still lingered.
As they walked, Chosa glanced at Kaisel. "Hey, where exactly do you live?"
Kaisel looked at him with a slight smirk. "I don't. Homes are cages. I drift. Sleep where the shadows stretch long."
Chosa blinked. "That's... poetic. But kinda sad. C'mon, you can crash at my place."
Kaisel raised a brow but nodded. "Only if you've got hot water."
The apartment door opened with a soft click. The smell of garlic and soy sauce filled the air. It was warm, homely—a stark contrast to the cold echo of the dungeon.
"Yomi! I'm home!" Chosa called.
From the kitchen, Yomi peeked around the corner, wearing oversized pajama pants and a faded pink shirt with a sleepy bear on it. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, and her face was flushed.
"You brought someone?!" she yelped, eyes locking with Kaisel, who offered a silent wave.
Yomi's eyes widened. "He's hot—" she cut herself off and ran into her room, slamming the door behind her.
Chosa stared, blinking. "...What just happened?"
Kaisel shrugged. "I think I broke your sister."
They made their way to the small living room and sat down on the old couch. The cushions sank under their weight, creaking faintly. Chosa rubbed his temples.
"This day's been wild. First Grim, then being called anomalies, now my sister's meltdown."
Kaisel nodded, tapping his fingers against the armrest. "We're in deep. But I might know someone. She's off the radar. Talented. And she knows how to keep her mouth shut. Might be able to help us stay a step ahead of these... Marker types."
Chosa leaned back, arms crossed. "I don't like trusting strangers with this."
Luna's voice chimed in softly in his head. "You will need allies, Chosa. This conflict will only escalate."
Chosa glanced to the side. "Luna, is there any way you could talk directly to Kaisel?"
"Negative," she responded. "That functionality is currently locked. You must clear Floor 5 to unlock external communication features."
Kaisel raised an eyebrow. "Who are you talking to?"
Chosa exhaled and turned toward him. "Right. I've got this interface. An A.I. named Luna. She's been helping me ever since I woke up after the whole incident with the Marker. She helps with strategies, skills... pretty much everything."
Kaisel tilted his head. "So she's the one who was able to copy my Berserk skill for you so you can use it."
"Exactly," Chosa said. "I asked if there was any way she could speak to you directly, but she told me you won't be able to hear her until we clear Floor 5."
Kaisel leaned back, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Then I guess we know what our next goal is."
Chosa smirked. "Guess so."
The hum of the city outside faded into the background as they sat in silence, letting the weight of their experiences settle. There was still so much unknown—Grim, the Markers, their powers. But one thing was certain:
They were no longer alone.
And the road ahead, no matter how dangerous, would be faced together.