We pressed deeper into the Gate, encountering scattered resistance—more beetle clusters, some acid-spitting spiders, and what looked like mutated bats with too many eyes. Nothing we couldn’t handle.

The deeper we went, the more I noticed Isabelle watching me—not just my back in combat, but my movements, my reactions, my abilities. She was studying me like a puzzle with missing pieces.

After we cleared a room of spider-like creatures, she paused to take a sip from her water canteen.

I gave a noncommittal shrug, acutely aware of how dangerously close she was circling to uncomfortable truths. The less I said, the better. "I picked things up here and there. You know how it goes."

"Hmm." That skeptical hum of hers was becoming familiar—the sound of a brilliant mind cataloguing inconsistencies for later analysis. I could practically see the gears turning behind those wine-red eyes. "And the baseball bat you’re so fond of. Why use such an unconventional weapon when there are countless proper armaments designed specifically for Hunter combat? Swords, spears, axes—all of which would objectively provide superior reach and cutting power."

"It works for me," I said flatly, hoping the curtness would signal the end of this particular line of inquiry.

"Indeed it does." She tapped one elegant finger against the shaft of her spear in a slow, contemplative rhythm, her gaze never leaving my face. "Though I must confess, I find myself wondering why it works so effectively in your hands. The weight distribution is all wrong for combat. The striking surface lacks an edge. And yet..." She trailed off, clearly filing away her observations for future consideration.

Before I could deflect with another evasive non-answer, salvation arrived in the form of a deep, resonant rumble that shook the very foundations of the tunnel around us. Small fragments of stone and crystalline dust rained down from above, pattering against my shoulders and hood like the prelude to a cave-in.

"Boss must be awake," I said, unable to keep the note of genuine relief out of my voice. Thank fuck for impeccable timing.

Isabelle’s attention immediately snapped away from her interrogation, her body language shifting from curious academic to focused warrior in the span of a heartbeat. She gave a single, crisp nod. "We must be approaching the core chamber."

The oppressive tunnel walls suddenly fell away as we emerged into an enormous cavern that stretched out before us like the throne room of some underground cathedral. The space was vast—easily a hundred yards across, possibly more—with the ceiling soaring so high overhead that it disappeared entirely into a vault of impenetrable shadow. Jagged formations of luminescent blue crystal jutted from the walls at irregular intervals, their pale, ghostly radiance casting the entire chamber in an eerie, otherworldly light that made everything look slightly unreal.

And there, standing perfectly still in the geometrical center of the vast chamber like a nightmarish sculpture waiting to be unveiled, was our target.

It was vaguely humanoid but stretched all wrong—too tall, too thin, with limbs that bent at impossible angles. Its skin was a patchwork of chitinous plates and exposed muscle. Where its face should have been, there was only a smooth, featureless expanse with a single vertical slit running down the center.

"Skin Weaver," Isabelle identified quietly. "C-Rank Boss. It collects parts from other creatures to add to itself."

The thing’s head swiveled toward us, the slit in its face widening to reveal dozens of needle-like teeth arranged in concentric circles.

"That’s disgusting," I muttered.

"Focus, Nakano." Isabelle’s Aspect flared brighter, the green energy forming a visible aura around her. "It’s fast and regenerates quickly. We need to hit the core—the glowing spot in its chest."

I saw it then—a pulsing blue light beneath the creature’s ribcage, visible through gaps in the chitinous armor.

"Got it. You distract, I’ll go for the core?"

"Agreed."

The Skin Weaver let out a sound like metal scraping against glass and charged, its limbs blurring with speed. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Isabelle leapt forward to meet it, her spear glowing with the same green energy that surrounded her body. She moved with the grace of a dancer, each step precise and deliberate as she slashed at the creature’s limbs, drawing its attention.

I circled around, looking for an opening. The Skin Weaver was focused entirely on Isabelle, its strange mouth opening wider as it tried to bite her with those circular teeth.

Isabelle’s spear caught it across what passed for a face, leaving a deep gash that leaked black fluid. The creature howled, lashing out with elongated fingers that ended in wicked claws.

The green energy surrounding Isabelle hardened, forming a shield that deflected the attack. She countered with a thrust to its midsection, narrowly missing the core but penetrating deep into its abdomen.

The Skin Weaver lurched back, giving me my opening. I darted forward, bat raised high, aiming directly for the glowing core visible between its ribs.

At the last second, the creature sensed me. It spun with unnatural speed, one arm elongating impossibly to swat me aside like a fly.

I went flying across the cavern, smashing into one of the crystal formations with enough force to shatter it. Pain exploded across my back and shoulders, but Kinetic Absorption kicked in immediately, converting the impact into raw power.

"Satori!" Isabelle called, concern breaking through her usually calm demeanor.

"I’m fine!" I pushed myself up, feeling the familiar rush of strength flooding my muscles. "Keep it busy!"

Isabelle nodded, refocusing on the creature. Her movements became more aggressive, her spear slashing faster as she drove the Skin Weaver back toward the center of the cavern.

I circled again, feeling for the right moment. The creature’s attention was fully on Isabelle now, its back to me as she forced it to defend against her relentless assault.

Perfect.

I activated Steel Body, feeling invulnerability wash over me like a cold shower. Ten seconds. That’s all I had.

I sprinted forward, moving faster than should have been possible, my bat held like a spear. The Skin Weaver must have sensed me coming—it started to turn, one arm already lashing out to intercept me.

Too late.

I drove my bat straight through its back with every ounce of strength I had, punching through the chitinous armor and into the glowing core beyond. The creature went rigid, a high-pitched keening sound escaping its mouth-slit.

Isabelle didn’t waste the opportunity. Her spear flashed forward, driving into the creature’s chest from the front, meeting my bat in the middle. The core shattered between our weapons with a sound like breaking glass.

Blue light exploded outward, temporarily blinding me. The Skin Weaver’s keening rose to an unbearable pitch before cutting off abruptly.

When my vision cleared, the creature was dissolving into black mist, its body breaking apart from the inside out until nothing remained but a small, glowing blue crystal—the Monster Core.

Isabelle picked it up carefully, examining it in the light. "C-Rank core. High quality. Should fetch a decent price."

I lowered my bat, letting the adrenaline drain away. Steel Body had faded, leaving me feeling the aches and pains from being thrown across the room.

"Nice spearwork," I said, rolling my shoulders to work out the kinks.

"Nice... batting." Her lips quirked in that almost-smile again. "Though I’m curious how you survived that impact. It should have broken several ribs, at minimum."

I tapped my chest. "Good armor."

"Of course." She clearly didn’t believe me, but she let it slide. "The Gate should begin closing soon. We should head back."

As if on cue, the cavern trembled slightly, the blue crystals dimming as the Gate entered its decay phase.

We made our way back through the tunnels, which were now empty of threats. All remaining monsters would have been vaporized when the Boss died—standard Gate mechanics.

"I must admit," Isabelle said as we walked, "I had ulterior motives for asking you on this run."

"Beyond needing backup?"

"I wanted to see you fight without the pressure of an audience or the chaos of a full team." She glanced at me. "You move differently when you think no one important is watching."

I kept my expression neutral. "And what did you see?"

"A contradiction." She studied me openly now. "Someone with the experience of a veteran but the official record of a novice. Someone who fights with the desperation of a cornered animal yet the confidence of an apex predator." She paused. "It’s quite fascinating."

"I’m just a guy with a bat."

"No." She shook her head slowly. "You’re something else entirely, Satori Nakano. I haven’t decided what yet, but I’m getting closer."

We reached the Gate exit, the shimmering portal that would take us back to reality. Isabelle stopped before stepping through.

"Your women," she said abruptly.

"What about them?"

"They see it too, don’t they? Whatever it is you’re hiding." Her crimson eyes seemed to look straight through me. "That’s why they’re drawn to you. Not despite your secrets, but because of them."

I didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer.

Isabelle’s laugh was soft, almost sad. "How interesting it must be, to inspire such devotion while being fundamentally unknowable."

She turned toward the exit. "Come on. We have reports to file."

She stepped through the Gate, disappearing in a flash of blue light.

I followed a moment later, thinking about her words. Fundamentally unknowable. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe that’s why keeping all these plates spinning felt so damn exhausting.

Or maybe I was just a scumbag with a System and a bat, playing at being human.

You’re thinking too much again, Nel whispered in my mind. It’s boring.

Fuck off, I thought back, stepping through into the sunlight of the real world, where five women waited for me to return, each believing they knew who I really was.

None of them did.

And that was probably for the best.