I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 85: 85: Drugs

The contractor crossed twenty meters in the blink of an eye, his sword howling through the air.

The sheer pressure behind the swing sent loose gravel and shattered concrete skidding across the dry riverbed before the blade had even landed.

Ravenna’s pupils shrank. She instantly knew that she couldn’t block it, not with her current strength.

If that sword connected, she would die.

”RAVENNA!”

Silver’s voice tore through the battlefield and without thinking, his mind pushed every space ability he possessed to its limit.

[Spatial Sense Lv1]

{Output Increased.}

The world slowed as his perception accelerated. Every grain of dust, pebble thrown into the air, the twitch of the giant’s shoulders, and the contraction of muscle became painfully clear.

The pounding in his skull intensified as blood trickled from his nose.

[Short-Step Lv1 Activated.]

Reality rippled beneath Silver’s feet then his body vanished. The space he occupied folded inward before violently correcting itself.

He appeared directly between Ravenna and the descending sword. His own blade came up instinctively with both hands tightening around the hilt.

”Don’t..!”

BOOOOOOOM!

The collision detonated like artillery. Silver’s sword bent under the impossible force as pain exploded through both arms.

The ground beneath his boots shattered into a crater. The sheer weight made his knees buckle as blood sprayed from his mouth.

The strength contractor’s eyes widened.

”...You intercepted it? Aren’t you a fast little thing?”

Silver gritted his teeth. Every muscle in his body screamed. His shoulders felt as though they were being torn from their sockets.

The difference in strength was overwhelming. Slowly, but painfully, his sword began descending toward his face. Another second... And the blade would split both him and Ravenna in half.

Behind him, Ravenna stared at Silver’s back, which filled her vision. His arms trembled violently and blood dripped from his fingertips.

Yet, he hadn’t moved, not even one step. He was still protecting her, again.

”...Silver...”

Something inside her chest tightened. Then, began burning, literally. The Fire Wolf stirred as its elemental core answered her emotions.

Heat rushed through her veins, and the crimson tattoo erupted with light. It moved down her hands like blood vessels until it gathered in her palms, waiting for direction.

The assassin noticed first.

”...Boss, look out!”

But he was too late. Flames burst from Ravenna’s arm like liquid fire, orange and crimson with hints of brilliant gold danced through the inferno.

[Heat resistance LV 1 Active]

The surrounding air distorted from the heat. Around them, dry grass ignited instantly and small stones cracked.

The giant contractor frowned.

”... You’re an Elemental?”

Ravenna slowly stood, her grey eyes had become frighteningly calm, and they were slowly starting to turn a dull orange.

She raised one hand and fire gathered around her fingers. It was just as wild and violent, exactly like the beast she had integrated.

The flames condensed around her sword, its silver blade disappeared beneath blazing fire.

She took one step.

”...Get.”

Then another.

”...Away... From him!”

The giant instinctively retreated then cursed himself. Why was he retreating from a Rank One?

Silver felt the pressure disappear, he took the opportunity. He immediately stumbled backward, nearly collapsing. Ravenna caught his shoulder.

”You can be stupid sometimes.”

Silver laughed weakly.

”I’ve been called worse.”

”You know you could have died.”

”...yeah, well, I’m still alive.”

She looked furious, then, relieved; all those expressions lasted for only a few moments.

The strength contractor tightened his grip.

”If you’ve finished your little reunion, let’s continue... and no more games.”

Another beast tattoo expanded further across his neck. Grotesque veins bulged beneath his skin, his already terrifying physique seemed to grow even larger.

The earth cracked beneath his feet.

”...I’ll crush both of you into meat pulps, no you’ll become part of the dust.” He rolled his shoulders slightly,” I’m starting to get annoyed with you two.”

The assassin reappeared beside him.

”Yeah, this is going on longer than it should be. Let’s end this together.”

The large man nodded.

”No holding back.”

Silver quietly inhaled.

”...Same.”

Ravenna looked sideways thinking he was clearly bluffing. Which he was but also not entirely.

”What?”

He smiled.

”I’ve been holding back too.”

Her eyebrows rose.

”...Seriously?”

”I wanted to keep one thing secret, and since the road isn’t exactly crowded anymore.” He looked toward the two assassins. ”I don’t think they’ll be reporting anything.”

His consciousness reached inward, toward the spatial beast resting within his soul, it answered immediately. It felt cold, silent, and infinite, space itself seemed to breathe.

The air around Silver subtly warped, as tiny distortions appeared around his body.

The assassin immediately sensed it.

”...Boss.”

The larger man frowned.

”What?”

”...Something changed around the boy.”

Silver slowly drew a deep breath and called inwardly.

”...System.”

[Combat Assistance Active.]

Current Mental Energy: 31%

Warning: Extended Spatial Ability Usage may cause unconsciousness.

”I already know that.”

He lifted his sword but not in the stance Shawn had taught him or the beginner form from the System. This... Was pure unadulterated instinct.

It was a strange combination of his memories as a soldier and the spatial beast’s influence.

The blade hummed softly while invisible ripples spread along its edge.

[Space Slash Lv1 Activated]

As expected the assassin suddenly disappeared.

Silver smiled faintly.

’I know where you are.’

[Spatial Sense Lv1 Activate]

{Maximum Output.}

For the first time, the assassin’s movement became visible. Only the space disturbance was visible and not his body since space itself bent wherever he moved.

Silver turned sideways, exactly before the knife arrived. He met it head-on.

CLANG!

The assassin froze.

”...Impossible.”

Silver answered with action, his sword flashed sideways towards his direction before the element of surprise wore off.

[Space Slash Lv1 Activated.]

The blade never touched the assassin. Instead, a crescent-shaped distortion erupted from empty space, completely silent; invisible except for the faint shimmering air.

The assassin’s instincts honed from numerous battles warned him. He twisted desperately, still, the spatial blade grazed across his ribs causing his reinforced armor to split open effortlessly. Blood sprayed across the battlefield.

He landed twenty meters away with one hand pressed against his side. His breathing had also become ragged.

”...What... was that?”

Even the strength contractor stared in dismay. He had never seen an attack like it. There was no elemental energy or visible projectile. Just empty space between then then the cutting of flesh. Blood was the only proof they had that an attack had happened.

Silver staggered, the attack had cost him dearly. Pain exploded behind both eyes as his vision blurred. Blood flowed freely from his nose.

”...Silver!” Ravenna supported him then harshly whispered, ”You used too much. Just use strength, don’t overdrive yourself with your space element.”

He smiled weakly.

”... Still worth it.”

The assassin was no longer smiling. For the first time since the battle began, fear entered his eyes.

The strength contractor roared.

”How could you injure him! Thats... that’s impossible!”

His entire body erupted with beast energy and the ground around him exploded outward. He directly charged, much faster than before.

Ravenna immediately stepped forward.

”...Leave him to me.”

Flames exploded around her, the Fire Wolf’s power completely enveloped her sword. Fire spiraled behind every movement as she moved, the surrounding temperature climbing dramatically.

She met the charging giant head-on.

BOOOOOOM!

Fire and raw strength collided in a booming explosion, a shockwave blasted across the riverbed. The abandoned maintenance building finally gave way. The remaining half of the structure collapsed, concrete raining from above.

Silver forced himself upright, his breathing was uneven as his head pounded. Mental exhaustion threatened to drag him into unconsciousness.

Still... He slowly reached for his pistol then his sword. His eyes locked onto the wounded assassin.

Across the battlefield, the assassin wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. Then... To Silver’s surprise, he smiled, almost hungrily.

He reached inside his coat.

”...I didn’t think I’d need this.”

Slowly, he pulled out a small crimson vial, inside, the liquid inside glowed ominously. The strength contractor saw it and shouted,

”Don’t! You’ll destroy your pathways!”

”I’d rather destroy them...” The assassin uncorked the vial, ”...than fucking fail. This is our last kill, then we’re out.”

Silver’s heart skipped that sounded more ominous than he wanted to admit.

The system immediately sounded.

[Warning.]

{Unknown Enhancement Drug Detected.

Threat Level Reassessment...

Recalculating...

Threat Increase Confirmed.}

The assassin tilted the vial toward his lips.

Silver’s eyes widened.

”...Ravenna!” She turned instinctively towards him. He pointed at the crimson liquid. ”Don’t let him drink that!”

The assassin smiled.

”...Too late.”

The vial touched his lips.