“Is that the normal way you wake up?” she asked groggily, rubbing her eyes as she fumbled around for her glasses.
“No, not really,” Kaito replied, his tone flat. “Just that a quest I had for a while now just got completed by someone else.”
Jenny paused mid-stretch, finally slipping on her glasses. “Oh.”
“I was hoping to gather enough strength to finish it myself,” Kaito continued, stifling a yawn. “Figured I'd take my time, get a little stronger first… Guess someone else beat me to it.”
“That’s… a shame,” she muttered, her voice tinged with guilt as she adjusted her lenses properly.
Kaito’s gaze flickered toward her. “Yeah. Shame, really,” he said, his expression unreadable. Then, tilting his head slightly, he gave her an exaggerated look of disappointment. “Too bad I didn’t know how strong you were, huh? Would’ve been a cakewalk with you around.”
Jenny blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise, but before she could respond, Kaito kept going.
“Or, you know, maybe if there was something perfectly suited for me being sold by a certain someone…” He let the words hang in the air, his voice thick with mock disappointment.
Jenny’s eye twitched.
“Are you seriously blaming me for your lack of foresight?” she shot back, suddenly more awake than she wanted to be.
Kaito gave a slow, thoughtful nod. “Yup. Pretty much.”
She groaned, rubbing her temples. “You are so annoying.”
He smirked. “And you are conveniently forgetting that you never told me half the good stuff you’ve been hoarding in that little stall of yours.”
Jenny huffed, throwing a blanket over her head to block him out. “Go away.”
Kaito chuckled, standing up and stretching. “Fine, fine. But next time, when you see something that screams 'Kaito,’ how about you, I don’t know, actually mention it?”
She peeked out from under the blanket, eyes narrowed. “Fine. But it’s going to cost you extra.”
Kaito grinned. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Heres some food for breakfast, consider it an apology.” Jenny handed him a portion of food from her inventory, freshly procured from the settlement.
Kaito accepted it without hesitation, taking a bite as Jenny did the same. “Must’ve been a really difficult quest if our own number two had to prepare so much for it,” she mused, her words slightly muffled by the bread in her mouth. “Offered any good rewards?”
Kaito chewed thoughtfully before answering. “Not sure I’d call it difficult, but it would’ve been a challenge.” He took another bite before continuing. “The quest was to clear a settlement overrun by goblin soldiers while saving some elf-like creatures. Heck, considering the world we’re in, they might’ve actually been real elves.”
Jenny raised an eyebrow at that. “Huh. You’re telling me we’ve got elves now? That just makes this place even weirder.”
Kaito shrugged and flicked his fingers, summoning his status screen. With a quick glance, he adjusted the display, allowing Jenny to see it clearly.
[Status Screen]
[Name]: Kaito Ren
[Title]: Nightfall Duelist (One who dances in the moon’s shadow)
[Force Alignment]: Lunar Edge Force
[Level]: 8
[HP]: 180/180
[Aether]: 250/250
Attributes:
- Strength: 14
- Dexterity: 18
- Agility: 20
- Constitution: 12
- Intelligence: 11
- Will: 15
- Charisma: 10
[Force Progression]: 3%
“I’m doing quite well progression-wise,” Kaito said, scanning over his status screen. “My stat points are growing steadily, and my Force progression is rising at a good pace—especially compared to most others. But dealing with the goblins while also saving the elves... I didn’t have the confidence to do both without minimizing casualties. That’s why I was so obsessed with that accessory you were selling.”
Jenny sighed, rolling her eyes. “If you keep talking like that, you’re actually gonna make me feel bad.”
Without warning, she tossed something toward him.
“Take it as payment for helping me get this scythe.”
Kaito barely had time to react, his hand instinctively snapping up to catch the object midair. The moment his fingers closed around it, his expression shifted—his breath caught in his throat, and his grip unconsciously tightened.
His reaction was immediate. Almost too strong.
Jenny raised an eyebrow. “Jeez, no need to be that appreciative—”
She stopped mid-sentence as Kaito's hands trembled slightly, his eyes locked onto the accessory.
Jenny’s eyes widened as he went completely rigid, his face turning an unnatural shade of blue.
“Are you—holy shit—are you choking?”
Kaito pounded his fist against the table, struggling to breathe.
Jenny shot up, eyes darting around in panic before she grabbed the closest thing—a waterskin—and practically threw it at his face. “Drink, dumbass!”
Kaito managed to catch it, hastily gulping down water between ragged coughs. After a few agonizing moments, he finally sucked in a full breath, slamming the waterskin back onto the table.
Jenny snorted. “For someone so badass, you just lost a fight to bread.”
Kaito wiped his mouth, glaring at her between gasps. “Screw. You.”
Jenny just grinned. “You’re welcome again.”
Finishing his final gasps for air, Kaito let out a satisfied breath before finally asking what had been on his mind.
"Are you ever going to tell me about your obsession with those oversized sweatshirts and baggy pants? Because you have to admit, they don't have much defensive capability compared to all the armor and gear people have been picking up around here. Is this just your main fashion sense back home?"
Jenny barely spared him a glance as she chewed, casually stretching before responding.
"It's not about style. And the defensive capabilities don't matter much. It's just something I urgently need to prevent a scenario from playing out. The longer I take securing it, the more likely something terrible is going to happen."
Her tone was calm, but something about the way she said it carried weight.
Kaito studied her for a moment, debating whether to press further, but ultimately let it go. He had a feeling she wouldn't give him any real answers, and honestly, it wasn't his place to ask.
The two continued their meal in silence before eventually making their way back to the settlement, their unspoken thoughts lingering in the air between them.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Elsewhere, a few days prior to this moment…
Kei stood shirtless, fully drenched in sweat, his breath steady but labored. His body moved with precise, deliberate motions, transitioning seamlessly from one martial form to another. Blocks, punches, kicks—all executed in rapid succession, a dance of raw instinct and disciplined control.
His movements weren’t limited to a single style. He flowed from one technique to another, blending strikes and forms from various martial arts. There was no hesitation, —just a natural rhythm that felt both fluid and adaptive.
His body ached. His muscles burned. But with every strike, every shift in stance, every breath that aligned with the flow of the wind—
Next to him, the Zephyr Monkey mirrored his motions, its ethereal blue fur flickering like wind-touched flames. It was no longer just observing Kei—it was instructing him. Every movement Kei made, the monkey adjusted, demonstrating proper form, correcting his posture, even guiding his weight distribution.
Kei had picked up a few things during their battle—his creativity and persistence had allowed him to mimic some of the Zephyr Monkey’s techniques. But he was still completely new to real combat. His body understood what to do, but understanding and mastery were two entirely different things.
And so, as if repaying him for sparing its life, as if acknowledging his potential, the Zephyr Monkey had taken it upon itself to teach him.
The Zephyr Monkey quickly realized its mistake.
Without the intensity of battle pushing him, Kei wasn’t naturally suited for martial arts. He had argued this point before—back on Earth, he had no real inclination toward fighting. He wasn’t built for it. His instincts leaned toward observation, analysis, adaptation—but not raw physical combat.
Unfortunately for him, in this world, he had no choice.
So he persevered.
The process was slow at first—his body protested, unfamiliar with the movements, his strikes lacked proper weight behind them, and his footwork felt unnatural. But as the days passed, something shifted. His body wasn’t just mimicking anymore—it was adjusting.
Kei’s understanding of motion, of force, of how the wind interacted with movement, allowed him to internalize concepts quickly. He may not have been a natural fighter, but he was a quick learner. And it was paying off.
[Status Screen]
[Name]: Kei Yuichi
[Title]: He Who Denies Fate, Hidden Title (Yet to be accepted)
[Class]: Locked
[Force Alignment]: Breeze
[Level]: 0
Attributes:
- Strength: 11 → 17
- Dexterity: 7 → 16
- Agility: 13 → 18
- Constitution: 10 → 15
- Intelligence: 10 → 20
- Will: 10 → 20
- Charisma: 10 → 20
[Remaining Stat Points]: 0 + 3 (rewarded for gaining a hidden title)
[Force Progression]: 50%
On the side, Hachi had been watching closely, tail flicking in curiosity.
Standing on its hind legs, the Fangcub clumsily attempted to mimic the movements it had been observing.
It lifted a paw, trying to balance—then attempted a kick with its small, wolf-like hind leg.
A moment later—
Thud.
The Fangcub tumbled over sideways, landing in an awkward heap.
For a few seconds, there was silence.
Then—
"PUHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Kei bent over, holding his stomach, laughter tearing through him.
The Zephyr Monkey merely shook its head, as if sighing at the absurdity of it all.
Hachi, clearly offended, let out a small growl before trying again. And again. And again.
Every single attempt ended in the same way—falling flat onto its side.
Kei wiped a tear from his eye. "Hachi, buddy, I don’t think that’s how wolves are supposed to fight."
Hachi huffed, standing back up, determined. It wasn’t about practicality—it was about proving a point.
The Zephyr Monkey, watching all this, simply buried its face into its hand.
To put his training to the test, Kei ventured deeper into the forest, engaging creatures in combat using only the martial arts he had been learning. His movements had become noticeably more fluid, his strikes sharper, his footwork instinctive.
At first, it was a struggle. His attacks lacked the weight needed to deal significant damage, especially against creatures with thick fur and high endurance like the Boar Hounds. But through persistence, adaptation, and sheer repetition, he found ways to compensate.
He learned how to target weak points—joints, pressure points, areas where armor and fur were thinnest. He refined his movements, adjusting his technique mid-fight to maximize efficiency. Every battle was another lesson, every exchange another step forward.
But it wasn’t just martial arts.
Kei never neglected his physical training either. Strength drills, endurance runs, flexibility exercises—every day, he pushed himself. Hachi and the Zephyr Monkey joined in as well, the three of them turning their training into a daily ritual.
Despite still being Level 0, the results were undeniable.
Kei was getting stronger. Faster. More flexible. His body was adapting, growing beyond its limitations. His agility had sharpened, his reflexes honed. Even his endurance had drastically improved, allowing him to fight longer and harder without exhaustion overtaking him.
Yet, something had become clear to him.
Other than hunting for materials, food, or equipment, Kei never truly felt the need to take a life.
He spared with Hachi and Zeph—not because he was lonely, not because he sought companionship, but because he simply didn't believe he had the right to decide when something’s life should end.
It was a belief deeply ingrained in him.
Something he had personally experienced before he could even walk.
That was how Kei spent his time in the Expanse—training his martial arts, strengthening his body, bonding with Hachi and Zeph, and, when it was safe to do so, feeding them his blood.
For some reason, they were instinctively drawn to it, treating it as though it were some divine elixir they couldn’t afford to miss. Their reactions amused him at first, but as he watched the rapid changes in their growth, he stored the observation away for later.
During training, Kei constantly compared his strikes to the Zephyr Monkey’s, analyzing every motion, every shift in weight, every use of Aether. The difference between them was clear. Though both their Forces fell under the Major Force of Wind, there was a distinct disparity between Breeze and Zephyr.
When he used Breeze Force, it felt natural, effortless—an extension of himself. It was everywhere yet unnoticed, present yet intangible. It was the wind that carried without demanding attention, the unseen hand that shaped the world quietly.
Zephyr Force, on the other hand, was different. It was sharp, direct, forceful. A controlled storm given purpose, bending to the will of its wielder with unwavering precision.
And that’s why his earlier reward had confused him.
Force Affinity Unlocked: [Zephyr Force] (Grants advanced control over wind-based Aether techniques.)
A reward that, in essence, tried to shift his natural alignment from Breeze to Zephyr.
He didn’t reject Zephyr Force outright—its power was undeniable, its combat potential far superior to Breeze. But that wasn’t the point.
To Kei, it felt unnatural.
Breeze Force was his. The so-called weakest Minor Force, dismissed as insignificant—but it was his foundation, and he had no intention of abandoning it just because something stronger was handed to him.
If Zephyr Force was the howling windstorm, then Breeze was the silent whisper of the wind itself—unseen, unfelt, but always present. And that was what intrigued him most.
Then there was the other reward.
Skill Unlocked: [Tempest Step] (Allows seamless movement through wind currents, increasing speed, agility, and evasion.)
A skill built upon Zephyr Force, a means to flow through combat like the wind itself.
But rather than simply accept it as is, Kei studied it. He used it as a template, not to conform to Zephyr Force, but to dig deeper into the nature of Breeze.
Its ability to remain unnoticed despite being everywhere.
Its ability to slip past, to move unseen, to be both present and absent all at once.
That was the true nature of his Force.
And that was what he intended to master.
It began casually—just simple steps, nothing special. Hachi and Zeph noticed at first but didn’t think much of it. Kei had always been experimenting with something, so they paid him no mind.
But over the next few days, something began to change.
With his Force Progression at 50%, his understanding of Breeze Force deepened at an astonishing rate. It wasn’t a matter of consciously activating his Force—it was becoming second nature. And as his understanding grew, his movements began to shift in ways even he barely noticed.
At first, Hachi and Zeph would occasionally lose track of him, only to find him again moments later. A brief lapse in attention, nothing more.
But then—
One day, Kei casually walked back into the clearing, carrying a haul of hares and boars from his hunt. He plopped them down in front of his two companions—who immediately flinched in confusion.
They hadn’t noticed him leave.
Not once.
They hadn't heard a single footstep, hadn't sensed the slightest movement, hadn't even registered his absence. He had been there—then suddenly, he was back.
Zeph narrowed its eyes. Hachi let out a soft, unsure whine.
Kei just grinned like a child who had successfully pulled off a prank.
He had done it.
Through sheer observation, experimentation, and understanding of Breeze Force, he had developed a movement technique entirely his own.
One that made him present yet overlooked.
A way to be there—but not be noticed.
Not invisibility. Not speed. Something different.
A technique that allowed his presence to be as unremarkable as the passing wind, blending seamlessly with the environment, avoiding detection not by hiding, but by simply never drawing attention in the first place.
[Skill Unlocked: Phantom Breeze]
Description: By embracing the nature of Breeze Force, the user moves in a way that is neither hidden nor overt—simply overlooked. This technique allows the user to blend into the environment effortlessly, making their presence as unremarkable as the passing wind. Unlike invisibility, this does not mask the body but instead influences perception, making others instinctively disregard their presence unless directly focusing on them.
Effects:
- Passive suppression of presence while moving.
- Decreases the likelihood of detection by creatures and individuals unless actively searched for.
- Enhances footwork, making movements fluid and silent.
- Pairs exceptionally well with agility-based techniques and evasive maneuvers.
Additional Notes:
- The effect becomes stronger the more naturally the user moves. Forced or aggressive actions break the illusion.
- Those with heightened perception or strong willpower may resist the effect.
- Can be further refined through increased understanding of Breeze Force.
Kei laughed to himself as he knelt down, activating Aether Control to prepare a fire.