Chapter 72 - 71: I know you[GTG]
Ryan’s POV:
My mind reeled, overloaded by the absurd information displayed on the translucent menu hovering in front of me. It wasn’t just the dramatic increase in stamina that left me flabbergasted - that stat had skyrocketed to a level that seemed impossible. Even more unbelievable was the newfound strength coursing through my veins. It felt like I could cleave a man in two with a single swing of my bare arm.
But the most mystifying addition was the ’affinity’ section. Apparently, the universe had a peculiar sense of humor. A dark chuckle escaped my lips, a hint of manic glee mixed with disbelief. Finally, after being the weakest ass for as long as I could remember, the tables had turned.
However, a nagging suspicion gnawed at me. What triggered this metamorphosis? Was it somehow linked to that bizarre dream, the one filled with fragmented memories that sent shivers down my spine? And this... this profound sadness clinging to me like a shroud. It felt like a vital piece of me was missing, a gaping hole waiting to be filled.
A sudden groan ripped through the silence, snapping me out of my introspective fog. I whipped my head around to see the pink-haired girl stirring on the floor, her eyelids fluttering open. "What the actual..." I blurted out, dumbfounded by her rapid recovery from my sneak attack. How was this possible?
Panic surged through me. I scrambled to my feet, frantically searching for anything that could be used as a weapon. My trusty katana was probably lost in the chaos, and the rest of the room offered nothing substantial. The pale moonlight streamed through the shattered windowpanes, casting an eerie glow on the scene of devastation. The ceiling looked like it might cave in at any moment, and the scorched carpet and shattered furniture screamed of a past battle. What kind of messed-up place did she choose to hide out in, anyway?
Knocking her unconscious again was a tempting option, but the memory of her previous resilience gave me pause. Besides, I had no clue how to harness this newfound affinity, let alone the shadow affinity that seemed to simmer beneath the surface. With a grimace, I carefully maneuvered her limp form off my lap. Things might have been different if she wasn’t such a tempting combination of control freak and raving lunatic.
Relief washed over me as I managed to extricate myself from her embrace. I retreated towards the door, hoping for a silent escape. But as I reached for the knob, a wave of frustration hit me. It was locked. "Damn it!" I cursed under my breath. So much for a clean getaway.
With no weapons at my disposal, escape seemed like the most logical course of action. But a locked door threw a wrench in my plans. I scanned the room one last time, searching for anything that could aid my escape. The windows, though shattered, were fortified with metal bars on the outside - the same went for every other window in the room.
My gaze fell on the staircase leading upwards. Maybe there was a way out on the top floor, a hidden terrace or fire escape. But just as I considered heading up, I dismissed the idea. The chances of finding an escape route there seemed slim.