'Empathy...' Uzuki thought, as he deeply gazed into Kaina's eyes. There was something in that look that made him shudder inside—a mix of pain, hope, and acceptance. It was a familiar glimmer, something he hadn't seen in a long time. A true gaze, stripped of judgment or masks. It was as if, for a brief moment, time had stopped, allowing him to see beyond the hardened surface they had both built over the years.
'It's been a long time since I saw that look...' he reflected, surprised by the sincerity emanating from her. For a moment, he felt exposed—not as the monster the world pointed at, but as the man he had become after so much pain.
Kaina, in turn, took a step forward. Her expression was fragile, yet determined, and there was something in her voice that trembled—not out of fear, but restrained emotion.
"I don't care who you were or who you still are..." Kaina murmured, as if each word was being pulled from deep within her. "To be honest... just the fact that you're no longer another illusion in this society is good enough."
Her hand trembled slightly before touching Uzuki's face, her cold fingers contrasting with the warmth gathering on his skin. She held him gently, yet firmly, and slowly moved closer. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, silent, unashamed to fall in front of that man.
"This so-called superpowered society..." she continued, her voice cracking, "is a golden delusion seen through rose-colored lenses. But it's as thin as paper. A fragile illusion. Even if some hero shows up and tries to restore the status quo... what will truly change?"
She paused for a second, as if she wanted him to feel the weight of what she was about to say.
"The story will just repeat itself, Uzuki. The cycle starts again. It always starts again. The crowd will keep applauding the brilliant spectacle, admiring the bright side… the beautiful side… while in the shadows, the truth eats away at someone. Someone like me. Someone like you."
Kaina's words were harsh, but real. There was no cynicism in them, only the bitter realization of someone who had been on both sides — both as a victim and as an agent of chaos. For years, she had looked at herself through the bars of a cell. Her hands, once small and fragile, now carried the weight of blood that could never be washed away.
She felt disgusted with herself. So many times she had wished to disappear, to hide, or simply to stop feeling. That's why she always hesitated to reach out to someone. That dirty, stained hand — the one she believed unworthy of offering help or affection. But with Kei Uzuki… it was different.
He was stained with blood too. But the way he carried it — without apologies, without hiding — made her feel less alone.
"I was swallowed by the darkness and lost faith in the light..." she whispered, her eyes still glistening. "But then you appeared. In the chaos of Tartarus, when everything was noise and despair… your hands, stained like mine, reminded me of myself. And in that moment, even if just for a second… I saw a light."
She moved closer, until the space between them nearly vanished. Now she could feel Uzuki's breath — slow and steady — as if even the air between them was heavy with meaning.
"Thank you…" she said, with a small smile that seemed to carry the weight of eternity. "Thank you for being a killer, Kei."
The silence that followed those words seemed to swallow the world. Kaina's tears still rolled down, warm, as if each drop was the confession of an entire life suffocated. And Uzuki… he didn't know what to say. Her breath, so close, blended with his, creating a space where nothing else existed — no guilt, no past, no judgment. Only two survivors who had found each other at the edge of the abyss.
"You're strange..." he murmured, his voice hoarse, but with a trace of bitter softness. "Thanking someone for being a killer. That's not something you say with such tenderness."
But she smiled. A small smile, almost imperceptible, yet real. It was the first time he had seen something like that on her face. A sign of life, of sincerity. And somehow, it disarmed him more than any attack ever could. For a moment, he looked away — not out of shame, but because he wasn't used to being seen with such care.
"I've killed more people than I can count," he began, as if trying to push her away. "I've seen children cry for parents I took. Mothers scream for sons who never came back. And in the end, I became the very specter of this society's broken justice."
Kaina didn't pull back. Her fingers were still on his face — firm, steady, unwavering. She wasn't afraid of the demons he conjured. She recognized them.
"And even so..." Uzuki continued, his voice weakening, "you looked at me like I was... human."
His eyes closed for a moment. Memories struck him like blades — faces of victims, muffled screams, the harsh snap of bones breaking. But in that moment, something different burned in his chest. Something he hadn't felt since… since before it all. Before the fall. Before he accepted that the world only listens to those who speak through violence.
He opened his eyes slowly, meeting Kaina's gaze once again. There was still pain there. Still cracks. But there was conviction too.
"You say you saw a light in me… but maybe it's the other way around," he said, almost in a whisper. "You held my hand without hesitation. That's more courage than any hero I've ever known."
And then, without thinking — or maybe just tired of thinking — Uzuki raised his hand. That marked, stained hand, heavy with stolen lives. He brought it to Kaina's face and wiped one of her tears with his thumb.
"If this society is made of illusions... then maybe it's only fair that monsters like us create reality."
Kaina felt her lips touch Kei's.
At first, it was a gentle, uncertain contact — as if the world around them had fallen silent, leaving only the muffled sound of their unsteady heartbeats. Their breaths intertwined in a singular rhythm, warm, trembling, intense. Their eyes closed, not out of shyness, but in reverence to the moment. A moment beyond logic, beyond time, beyond pain. In that space, only they existed.
Uzuki's hands, steady but careful, slid down to the bicolored woman's waist, wrapping around her like one holds something fragile yet precious. In response, Kaina's fingers buried themselves in his blond hair, pulling him closer with restrained longing, as if making sure he wouldn't vanish.
Her arms circled around his neck, pressing him against her, like someone afraid of losing the last thread of sanity they still had. They parted for a brief moment, breathless, air scarce between lips that searched for each other again, hungry for a relief the world never offered.
And then came the whisper — not through voice, but mind.
Kaina... Uzuki transmitted through his ability, his presence gently invading her thoughts like a phantom touch. I'm a maniac for battles. A killer. And that... will never change. I don't save lives. I never have. I never will.
Those words could have crushed any hope, but in Kaina, they sparked something else. She felt the connection deepen. It was the truth. Raw, dirty, irredeemable. And still… she smiled.
"It's okay." — she answered, not with her lips, but with her soul. "I can't save anyone anymore, either."
Uzuki heard her. Even amidst the kisses that continued between unspoken words, he felt her answer resonate within him, like an echo he'd been waiting for his entire life.
"We'll kill again, Kaina..." — his mental voice returned, intense, dark, like the weight of fate itself. "Can you accept that?"
"Yes."
"Can you accept this maniac and killer as the man to love... even in death?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Yes..." your answer came like a vow. A pact. "With you."
There was no light in that abandoned warehouse—only shadows and the growing heat of two presences merging. And yet, for a moment, it felt like the stars had descended into that very place. The air turned dense, electric. Clothes were cast aside one by one, with urgency and desire. Not as an escape, but as a release.
Each exposed scar was a revelation to the other. Each touch was a way to remind one another that, even among monsters and ruins, it was still possible to feel. It was still possible to love — even if that love was cursed, sick, doomed from the very beginning.
In the end, when they became one, the world seemed to stop. There was no redemption in what they shared — but there was truth. A truth as raw and intense as the heat surrounding them.
And for the first time in a long while, Uzuki felt no guilt.And Kaina… felt no disgust at her own hands.
(Author's Note: Yes, it's sex. We're talking about sex here! Or not hahaha! I'm not going to write that kind of scene… It's really not my strong suit. I'll probably need help from a friend of mine who actually writes that stuff well. Anyway, after this gentle announcement, let's continue with the chapter.)
...
Advantages of an Immortal Body?
Limitless stamina.
The following morning arrived like a gentle whisper, bathed in golden light that felt warmer than usual — or at least, that's how Uzuki felt it. The sunlight passed through the tinted glass of the Dodge STR, dancing on the metallic surfaces of the dashboard as if the universe, for a brief moment, were at peace.
He was behind the wheel, eyes fixed on the road that wound through open fields and small hills — a landscape that, in other times, would have gone unnoticed. But now, after the night before, everything seemed more vivid.
Kaina was by his side, reclining in the passenger seat. Still slightly breathless, her body sore — especially her legs. She could feel little beyond the tingling that betrayed just how much she had given herself. Losing her virginity was an intimate milestone, and with someone like Kei Uzuki, that milestone became almost mythical. She had no regrets. The pain was secondary. The warmth still burning in her chest was enough to drown out any discomfort.
Deep down, they both knew — what they had shared wasn't just desire. It was a silent pact between two souls stained by violence and the world. Something between survival and redemption.
The car cut through the road with a deep rumble from the engine, the speedometer dancing gently as the Dodge held steady toward the next city. The comfortable silence between them was broken by Kaina's soft voice, tinged with curiosity:
"So… what do we do now?"
Kei kept his eyes on the road, but his thoughts seemed to run parallel, still echoing the consequences of their recent actions.
"Well," he began, "I've already made it clear I'm here. That fight against All Might sent a pretty loud message. Oliver was right about the existence of an organization in the shadows… maybe it's time to gather people. Something bigger than just the two of us."
Kaina turned her face to him, eyeing him with a skeptical yet gentle gaze — like someone who doubted the necessity, but not the man himself.
"Do you really need this?" she asked. "I mean... you faced All Might and survived. Who else in this world could possibly beat you?"
At first, the question sounded like admiration, but for Uzuki, it stirred something deeper — a more serious reflection. A faint smile curled at the corners of his lips, laced with irony and sorrow.
"You're right. But I can't just go around using my power like that."
"Why not?"
The question lingered in the air for a few seconds, as if the answer required more than just simple words. Uzuki took a deep breath before speaking, his tone lower, heavier:
"Because, just before I deactivated Thaumaturgy during the fight... I noticed something — something that shouldn't have happened. The rotation of the planet was delayed by ten seconds."
Kaina stared at him, blinking a few times as if trying to comprehend what that meant. Sensing her confusion, Uzuki continued, his voice now almost didactic, but still burdened with gravity:
"Thaumaturgy... when activated, cuts the planet off from outer space. Inside the Domain I create, time and space follow my rules. During those ten seconds... the entire world — the globe — was suspended. Frozen. Nothing rotated. People could still move, but Spacetime itself was immobile. If I kept using the power consecutively… the planet would stop altogether."
"You're saying time would freeze… forever?"
"It's not time itself that freezes. It's the Earth's rotation — the illusion of time passing for those who live on it. The planet would be eternally trapped within those 'ten seconds.' Think of Achilles and the Tortoise paradox."
Kaina furrowed her brow, trying to follow.
"No matter how fast Achilles runs," Uzuki explained, "he's always approaching, but never reaching the Tortoise. The ten seconds never fully pass. They're infinitely divided. The planet, essentially, would be suspended at the edge of a single moment."
"Until you decide to deactivate your own power."
"Exactly." He glanced at her, eyes serious. "The power I carry isn't something I can use lightly. It rewrites the world… but every time I use it, the world gets a little closer to collapse."
Kaina leaned back again, staring at the car ceiling, her thoughts drifting with that explanation. And even so, even with the weight of it all… she smiled.
"Then let's be careful with those 10 seconds… but as long as we have each second together, I don't mind."
Uzuki gripped the steering wheel, a subtle smile forming on his face.
"Since you can't use your ultimate power," Kaina said while watching the scenery pass by outside the window, "why not try using the other ones you've got? To gain more power, you know? I mean… that's totally possible, right?"
Kei glanced at her, keeping one hand steady on the wheel. A faint smile touched his lips before he replied, his calm voice hiding something deeper:
"Yeah… it's possible. But relying on luck is tricky. What comes out isn't always good."
Kaina scoffed, crossing her arms with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Sorry, but so far, you've only gotten lucky."
==========================
She's right.
You always have luck in your pocket.
==========================
Kei let out an amused sigh, murmuring almost inaudibly:
"Touché."
The comment made Kaina burst into laughter — soft and genuine — something Kei didn't hear often, and because of that, he cherished it deeply.
"Look," she continued, still smiling. "It doesn't have to be something legendary or ultra rare. Sometimes, having decent skills is already enough. You just need the right tools, not the whole arsenal."
Kei nodded slowly, his smile widening with a certain quiet pride at seeing her so engaged with the idea.
"You're right."His mind turned inward, and he gave a clear command to the System:
'Use the Silver Tickets. Depending on what comes out, I'll use the Gold one and save the Diamond for an emergency, like before.'
==========================
As you wish.Using Tickets!
Rolling...
1st Ticket: [ Analyzing... ]2nd Ticket: [ Executing roll... ]3rd Ticket: [ Reward set. ]
Results in moments.
==========================
Kei snapped back to the present, gripping the gearshift tightly. The road ahead stretched out like a corridor to destiny, and he floored the accelerator. The engine roared with intensity, swallowing the asphalt as the Dodge sped past a sign with white letters on a blue background:
SPEED LIMIT: 100 km/h
The speedometer read 162 km/h.
The sensation of speed brought with it a kind of calm adrenaline, an anticipation of what was to come. Kaina settled back in the seat, crossing her legs with some difficulty, but still maintaining her smile—she knew something grand was taking shape.
==========================
Silver Ticket Results:
[Item Acquired] (Uncommon): "Nocturne Shifter"
A ring that allows the user to enter an invisible state to all five senses for up to 30 seconds, with a 5-second cooldown between uses.
[Skill Acquired] (Rare): "Mirror Counter"
When receiving a direct attack, reflects exactly 80% of the force of the blow back at the enemy. Can be activated 3 times per battle.
[Trait Acquired] (Epic): "Superhuman Physical Abilities"
Strength, speed, and endurance abilities far exceed what is considered possible for an average human. This includes moving faster than the human eye can follow (normally around 10 m/s for short distances) and even reaching supersonic speeds, all without apparent effort or the use of external mechanisms.
==========================
"Hm..." Kei murmured, feeling each new ability integrate into his body like pieces of an advanced machine. The pressure on his muscles, the flow of energy through his nerves — everything had been heightened. It was as if his body had turned into a new weapon — sharp, fast, and almost divine.
"By your smile... it seems like good things came your way," Kaina commented, barely hiding her curiosity.
"An invisibility ring, a reflexive combat skill... and now, my body is simply superhuman."
Kaina raised an eyebrow.
"A superhuman?"
"Yeah," Kei replied simply, as if talking about a bike ride. "And the best part: all of this... without activating Thaumaturgy."
"So, this gives you a massive advantage without affecting the entire planet."
"Exactly."
The Dodge moved forward, fast and confident, as if the vehicle itself was being guided by fate.
___________________________________________________
Hi, Author here. I came to talk about a few things.
First, the original chapter 9 was deleted because it strayed too much from the curve, so I redid everything.
Second, if you say I gave more power to the MC, that's not the case. Look, many people might think: "Wait, he can develop his powers, so why does he need the system?" The answer: The powers developed by the MC are limited. Let's take his Teleportation ability as an example.
To perform it, he needs a person as an anchor in the location and then teleports there. The anchor is defined by the familiarity and relationship the MC has with them.
Another one is his telepathy, which only works on people with whom he has an emotional bond.
So, the system is more useful for giving him powers, abilities, traits, and items than his own power. Understand that the focus of the Esoteric Power is only to maintain the powers the MC has gained throughout the story. While there's a buff here and there, it's not much.
Third, about the trait, item, and ability the MC gained, each one has a specific reason.
The trait is for him to have a superhuman body with strength, and immortality only prevents him from dying, meaning he didn't have super strength until this trait appeared.
The item is necessary for the story because it shows that it's not just abilities and powers that can shine. "What about the Yamato?" Unfortunately, the Yamato is just an extremely sharp Katana that is best used by the Swordmaster Trait because its powers only appear for those who have the Sparda lineage or are a Demon, and the MC is not a demon.
The ability is for when he's cornered, without needing to resort to Thaumaturgy to get out of the situation. Let's say All Might uses his most powerful attack, 80% of the damage dealt back is great, even if 20% of the damage is still received. Or Endeavor uses his Prominence Burn to the maximum, the damage will return 80%, and the MC would already be regenerating due to his immortality.