[Quest Completed]
[Find Another Candidate — 1/1]
Eokimo slowly closed his eyes.
"…Of course," he muttered.
The boy scrambled backward in panic, nearly falling over. "I—I'm a Candidate! Don't attack!"
Eokimo raised both hands slowly, gray energy faintly flickering around his fingers from earlier absorption.
"Relax. If I wanted to attack, I wouldn't announce it by tripping."
The boy blinked.
"…You tripped?"
"Yes," Eokimo said flatly. "Let's pretend that didn't happen."
The silence grew even more awkward.
Finally, Eokimo forced himself to speak.
"Umm… hello?"
The boy swallowed. "…Rye."
Eokimo nodded once. "Eokimo."
Rye's eyes flickered to the faint gray haze that still barely shimmered around Eokimo's hands.
"…What's that?" Rye asked cautiously.
Eokimo glanced down.
"Absorption," he said. "Innate skill. I take traits from what I kill."
Rye went pale.
"…That's… terrifying."
Eokimo shrugged slightly. "Only if you're planning to attack me."
Another notification appeared.
[New Quest Assigned]
[Travel Together to Safe Zone — 0/1]
[Time Limit — 10 Days]
[Penalty — Death]
Both of them read it.
Rye looked like he might faint.
Eokimo sighed.
"…Well. Looks like we're stuck together."
Rye stared at him. "…We just met."
"Yep."
"…And if we fail?"
"We die."
Rye's shoulders dropped. "…I already hate this world."
Eokimo gave a small, tired smirk.
"Good. That means you're taking it seriously."
The forest rustled around them.
Two Candidates.
Ten days.
And no idea what was coming next.
"Alright," Eokimo said, adjusting his grip on his weapon. "First rule."
Rye looked up nervously.
"Don't die."