Death System: I awakened SSS rank System

"Come on! Wake up already!" Myia shouted, her voice sharp enough to rattle the still air of the chamber. She hovered above Zakar, her arms folded and her brows knitted in irritation.

The Zakar lay sprawled on his side, unmoving, save for the faint rise and fall of his chest. His lips parted slightly, his breath steady but heavy, as though he were deep in a dream too thick to climb out of.

"Ugh, seriously?!" Myia groaned, stomping her foot.

Zakar stirred only slightly, shifting his posture, one arm sliding beneath his cheek as though trying to burrow further into sleep. He looked almost peaceful, a cruel contradiction to the battles and bloodshed of the day before.

"He's weak," Justin's voice came from the corner, laced with contempt. His arms were crossed, flames dancing faintly between his fingers like idle sparks of impatience.

"You can't possibly force someone with no strength left in his body to wake up. He's too scared to even open his eyes. Probably doesn't want to face demons again."

Myia snapped her gaze toward him. "No one asked for your opinion. And besides—" she turned back to Zakar, softening just slightly "he was stressed yesterday."

Justin chuckled darkly. "Really? Something like what, exactly? Got caught in over his head against a demon? Or maybe—" his lips curved into a sharp grin, "—he pissed off someone stronger than him." He let out a laugh that echoed mockingly across the chamber.

"You better get yourself checked, or you'll end up a lunatic," Myia snapped back, glaring. "Don't speak of things you don't understand."

She turned back to Zakar, her expression conflicted. Her annoyance melted into worry, though she masked it quickly.

She had already bound his wounds the night before, working longer than she'd ever admit to anyone. Her hands had trembled when she'd pressed the bandages to his skin, not out of fear but out of something she couldn't bring herself to name.

'Come on,' she thought, biting her lip as she watched him sleep. 'I already patched you up. What else do you need? Don't tell me you're dreaming about that girl you dragged back with you… if you are—' she clenched her fists, 'I'll throw you out of this rift myself.'

Her thoughts stumbled. She froze.

"Wait… why am I thinking like that?!" she whispered to herself in horror, her cheeks heating.

"Hey," Sera's voice cut in, calm and blunt. She leaned casually against the doorway, arms crossed. "You coming for breakfast, or do you want him as your breakfast?"

Myia spun around so fast she nearly tripped. "Huh—what!? You're kidding, right? How could you even say that!?" Her face flushed crimson, her voice louder than she meant.

"Kill that noise," Sera muttered, unimpressed. She pushed off the frame and opened the rift's door. "Let's go." Without waiting, she slipped out.

Myia's mouth opened, then shut. She growled under her breath, muttering curses, and stomped after her.

For a moment, silence settled again in the chamber. Justin, still leaning in the corner, studied Zakar with narrowed eyes.

'What do they see in this scrap?' he thought bitterly. 'A D-rank with no real strength… weaker than the rank itself suggests. Yet they treat him like...like he matters. He shouldn't. He's nothing.'

The memory of his humiliation at Zakar's hands resurfaced, and rage coiled hotly in his chest. His knuckles whitened as his fists clenched, the faint flicker of flame now roaring brighter between his fingers.

"I promised you something…" Justin's voice trembled with venom as he stepped forward. "I will kill you."

Flames erupted suddenly from his palms, spilling heat across the chamber. The soft fabrics of the bed began to scorch, the air thick with suffocating warmth. His teeth ground together.

"Flames of Silent Death!" Justin roared, thrusting his arm forward.

A torrent of fire burst from his palm, colliding with the bed in a violent explosion.

BOOOOM!!!

The chamber shook. Smoke and ash filled the air, swirling and choking. Justin shielded his mouth, coughing as the harsh stench clawed at his lungs. His grin widened as he lowered his arm.

"Good. Very good." He chuckled under his breath. "I'll tell them my flames lost control. A simple lie. They'll believe it. And then—"

But his voice faltered. His eyes widened.

The bed was gone—nothing but charred wood and smoking fabric remained. But Zakar was not there. Not even his ashes.

"What…?" Justin whispered. His heart lurched in his chest, pounding erratically. "No. No, I struck him. He was right there. I saw him, he couldn't have dodged that."

He scanned the smoke-filled room frantically, sweat breaking out along his temple.

"Impossible… unless…"

The faint scrape of a footstep echoed behind him. He spun, eyes wide, but saw nothing—just smoke twisting in the stagnant air.

"Come on," Justin shouted, his voice cracking. "Come out and face me!" He summoned flames again, their glow desperate against the dark haze.

A voice, low and calm, whispered from somewhere unseen.

"I never knew you were dead serious when you wanted me gone. Which is why I didn't kill you first."

Justin's blood ran cold. His flames sputtered. "W-what?!" He spun in circles, his eyes darting, unable to locate the source.

"Really?" Justin snarled, forcing a laugh. "Camouflage? That's your trick? Hiding in the smoke? You think you're clever?" He spread his flames wider, licking across the floor and walls. "You couldn't kill me even if you tried. You're bold to even say it."

"Camouflage?" The voice chuckled. "Don't flatter yourself. This isn't hiding. This… is speed."

Justin's flames brightened, panic pushing him to attack. Fireballs shot out in every direction, exploding against the walls, shaking the chamber.

BOOOM!!!

BOOOM!!!

BOOOM!!!

"Burn! Burn everything!!" Justin screamed, his eyes wild, flames devouring the oxygen around him. The chamber glowed orange with each blast.

Then...

A blur.

A shadow cut through the smoke, swift as lightning.

"Now let me show you how to use your system."

Zakar emerged from the haze, his figure sharp, his presence overwhelming. In his hand materialized a massive blade, its edge gleaming unnaturally, its weight pressing against the very air.

"Tyrann Sword—engage."

Justin froze, horror plastered across his face. "What—what is that?! That weapon… it's monstrous. How did you—?"

Before he could finish, Zakar moved.

In a flash, he closed the distance, swinging the massive sword with terrifying precision.

CRASH!!!

The blade connected with Justin, sending him hurtling into the wall with bone-crushing force. The stone cracked beneath the impact, dust raining down.

"Gahhh!" Justin screamed, blood spraying from his lips.

But Zakar didn't stop. His eyes burned with cold fire. He surged forward, slamming the sword down again.

BOOOM!!!

The floor split beneath the strike. Justin crumpled to his knees, his shoulder fractured, blood dripping freely down his arm. His body shook violently from the sheer pressure radiating off Zakar.

"Please—stop!" Justin's voice cracked, desperation overtaking arrogance. His flames flickered weakly, dying in his palms.

"I won't try again. I swear—I won't! Please… I'll never do it again!" His eyes darted frantically, terror etched across his features. "I should never have taken that money…"

Zakar tilted his head slightly, his sword gleaming at his side. His voice was low, measured, and cold.

"Interesting. So you were paid… to kill me?"

Justin gasped, realizing too late what he had confessed. His breath hitched, his eyes wide with fear.

"Y… yes," he stammered, pressing his back harder into the cracked wall as though it could swallow him whole.

Zakar's gaze darkened, his grip tightening on the Tyrann Sword. "Who?" His voice cut like steel.

"Who exactly paid you? Answer me, and maybe… just maybe, I'll consider sparing your life."

Justin swallowed hard, the weight of death pressing against his chest. His lips trembled as he whispered.

"I don't know who they really are… but what I can tell you is—"

BOOOM!!!!