The sky cracked open like glass.
A jagged tear split reality above the ruined cityscape, releasing a roar that rattled the ground. Out spilled monstrous creatures with exposed fangs, barbed limbs, and burning crimson eyes—the Viles.
Citizens screamed. Sirens blared. But no soldiers came.
Because in this world, only one kind of warrior could fight these abominations—Crimson Warriors. Women chosen by the mysterious Crimson Cores, bonded with powers far beyond human.
And on the cracked rooftop of a collapsed tower, a single boy stood between a monster and death.
"Shit—shit—shit—"
Ren Hoshino stumbled backward, blood dripping from a shallow gash across his cheek. A Vile loomed over him—eight feet tall, like a fusion of insect and demon. Its forked tongue flicked at the air, tasting his fear.
"T-This isn't how I planned my after-school walk," he muttered, clutching a broken pipe.
He wasn't a Crimson Warrior. He wasn't even military. Just a dumb guy who'd tried to help an old lady escape the danger zone, only to get separated—and now he was monster food.
The Vile lunged.
Ren threw himself to the side, rolling across broken concrete. It was over. He had no weapon, no powers—just nerves, bruises, and—
A body.
He froze.
Next to him lay a woman in a torn black uniform, covered in blood. Her long blonde hair splayed across the ground like molten gold. Her chest slowly rose and fell—she was alive, barely.
A Crimson Warrior.
Her eyes fluttered open, glowing faintly red.
"...You..."
Ren looked down at her. Even in her battered state, she radiated an intimidating beauty—elegant, powerful, untouchable. Her body shimmered with latent energy, and her hand twitched toward a small, cracked gem embedded in her chest.
Her Crimson Core.
She tried to sit up, but winced, clutching her side.
The Vile shrieked again, closing in.
Ren didn't think.
He grabbed the woman's hand, trying to pull her away.
And then—
The world ignited.
Her Core flared, reacting to his touch. The gem pulsed, then unleashed a blinding surge of crimson energy that engulfed them both.
Ren's body locked. His breath caught.
Something… was entering him.
Or maybe, he was entering something else.
"Crimson Core Sync Detected."
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Initiating Pact Protocol."
"Unregistered Male Conduit Identified."
"Class: Weapon."
His body convulsed as fire flooded his nerves. His vision twisted, and a sensation like chains coiling around his soul tore through him.
And then… he was gone.
Or rather—he was something else.
A sword.
A long, curved obsidian blade, glowing with red runes, pulsing with barely-contained energy. His consciousness floated inside it.
And in front of him, the woman—her wounds sealed, her body glowing with recovered power—stood tall, holding him.
"You… formed a Pact with me?" she whispered, eyes narrowing. "Impossible. Males can't—"
The Vile charged.
She didn't hesitate.
With a single slash, she cleaved it in two. The force of the swing shattered the nearby wall. Crimson energy sparked along the ground.
More Viles swarmed in.
She smirked.
"Fine. Let's test this 'impossible.' Try not to break on me, boy."
The battlefield was a blur of carnage.
Kaela, now fully awakened, danced through the horde with Ren in sword form gripped in her hand. Her combat uniform clung to her curves, torn in places to reveal pale, flawless skin. Crimson runes laced up her arms and legs, flaring with every strike.
From within the sword, Ren's voice echoed in her mind.
"Okay… this is kinda awesome! But also terrifying!"
"Shut up and focus. You're feeding me too much emotion—my swings are overcharging."
"Wait, you can feel that?!"
"I feel everything, Conduit. Keep it clean."
"No promises. Your outfit's really not helping me concentrate."
She grit her teeth, cheeks flushing.
This idiot…!
Still—he was powerful. The Viles fell one after another. She hadn't moved like this in months—not since before her core was fractured. Not since she was betrayed by her former squad.
And now some perverted, reckless, half-suicidal civilian had reactivated her Core through a forbidden link.
A Crimson Pact.
The rarest—and most dangerous—form of bond. Forbidden after the last one triggered a citywide massacre.
And he did it… accidentally.
When the last Vile fell, Kaela stood among the remains, breathing heavily. Her Core pulsed with content energy. Her fingers trembled slightly.
Ren reformed at her side with a flash of light, coughing and staggering.
"Okay," he said, panting. "That was… 50% amazing, 50% terrifying, and 100% awesome."
Kaela stared at him. "You're a civilian. You shouldn't have been able to resonate with a Core."
"Guess I'm special." He winked. "Or maybe I'm just really into strong women who look like they stepped out of a dominatrix fantasy."
She raised an eyebrow.
"...What?"
"Nothing." He shrugged. "So, do I get a reward now?"
She blinked. "A reward?"
"In the movies, the warrior always thanks the guy with a kiss or something. Or a... lap pillow. I'm open-minded."
She stepped closer.
Ren gulped.
Her gloved hand grabbed his collar.
"You want a reward?"
His voice cracked. "Uh, maybe not that kind—"
She pulled him close. Her eyes glowed faintly. "You awakened my Core. That means your body is now linked to my stability. Crimson Warriors need to 'resonate' after battle. Physical contact stabilizes our bond. If left unchecked, I could explode. Literally."
Ren blinked. "Oh… so you're saying—"
She pushed him down to sit on a piece of rubble and slid into his lap.
His brain short-circuited.
She leaned forward, arms around his shoulders.
Her breath was warm against his ear.
"This is just resonance," she whispered.
She pressed her body against his—soft, warm, incredibly distracting.
Ren's hands hovered awkwardly. "I—I'm not complaining, but you sure this is—"
"Shut up. You're my weapon now."
She pulled him into a tight embrace. Her Core glowed brighter, red light pulsing between them.
Her heartbeat synced with his.
Ren swallowed hard, trying not to let his hands drift somewhere dangerous.
But her warmth… her scent… the way her thighs squeezed—
Bzzzt.
Core stabilized.
She let go with a huff and stood, brushing off her skirt.
"That's enough."
Ren stared up, dazed. "Do all Crimson Warriors resonate like that?"
"No. Only the desperate ones."
She turned her back to him.
He grinned.
"I think I'm starting to like this whole demon sword gig."
She sighed. "Don't push your luck."
Later, at the Crimson Citadel.
Kaela was escorted by other female officers—shocked to see her alive.
And even more shocked to see Ren walking behind her.
"Who's the boy?"
"He's… my Conduit."
Whispers.
Stares.
The air turned hostile.
One officer scowled. "A male Pact? That's illegal."
"Not anymore," Kaela said. "He activated it on his own. And he's staying with me."
"Why?"
Kaela looked over her shoulder.
Ren waved innocently.
She smirked.
"Because he's my blade now. And I'm not giving him up."
TO BE CONTINUED.