The Tanker turned toward him again, breathing hard, blood trickling from one nostril. It roared, but there was a delay like the blow had scrambled its senses.
Johnquis shouted,
"Get up!"
The Runner dropped from above and landed near him. It grabbed the chain, slung it over its back, and pulled.
Johnquis was lifted off the ground, swung like a flail toward the far basketball hoop.
"WRAP!"
The chain latched again.
He swung wide, arcing over the Tanker’s head and dropped.
Mid-swing, he twisted the chain, locking it into a loop around the Tanker’s throat.
The Runner jumped with him. A perfect double attack.
SLAM!
Both of them struck the Tanker’s skull. Runner from the front, Johnquis from above.
CRACK.
A ripple ran down its body.
The Tanker stumbled.
Johnquis shouted,
"HIT IT AGAIN! DON’T STOP!"
The Runner twisted in air and dropped a spinning heel into the sa dent.
BOOM!
This ti, the skull caved.
The Tanker stopped.
Then collapsed like a fallen statue.
WHUD.
Violet blood poured out from beneath it.
The gym fell silent.
[Feed count: 500]
[Feed count: 12,100/20,000] - Johnquis
[Feed count: 500]
[Feed count: ??????/??????] - ???
Johnquis rolled onto his back, chest heaving.
"We’re not dead..."
The Runner lay beside him.
Johnquis let out a shaky laugh.
"Head. Always the damn head."
They didn’t move for a while. Just breathed. The chain between them slack, soaked in blood.
A screen flashed in Johnquis’s vision.
[Quest Complete]
[Difficulty: F Tier]
[Status: Solo]
[Quest Ti]
[2 hours and 53 minutes]
[Feed Count Gain]
[ 2100]
[Previous: 10,000→ Current: 12,100 ( 2100)]
[Damage Taken]
[Injury: Major wounds]
[BONUS FEED COUNT CONDITION]
– Clear within 1 hour.
Status: [SUCCESS]
- Bonus feed count obtained!
[Feed Count: 2000]
[Feed Count: 14,100/20,000] - Johnquis
[Feed Count: 2000]
[Feed Count: ??????/??????] - ??????
Johnquis stared at the glowing text, stunned.
"I... I did it? I fucking did it!"
He laughed, breathless.
"I finally cleared a quest under the bonus condition—WHOO! Ow, ow, ow—shit—"
He clutched his ribs, still grinning through the pain. Then turned to the Runner beside him.
His voice softened.
"It’s because of you. We worked together. You really pulled through. Thanks."
Suddenly, another chi echoed in his ears.
"What is this? Another bonus?"
[SYSTEM SSAGE]
- You have completed a quest with your slave.
- You have unlocked a new bond: [HeartBond].
[HEARTBOND]
- A special title that levels up as you and your slave complete quests or battles together. Key monts during combat will trigger the gain of Heart Points (HP).
[HEART POINTS]
- HP is earned through shared experiences within a quest or battle. Accumulate HP to unlock unique titles and powerful duo bonuses.
[To celebrate this mont, your Sync Limit range has increased]
[Sync Limit: 50 ters]
A soft blue shimr faded across his vision.
Johnquis stared at the floating text, brow furrowed.
"HeartBond...?"
He scoffed, half-laughing through a wince as he shifted his weight.
"Seriously? That’s what they’re calling it?"
He glanced at the Runner, who sat quietly nearby, clawed hands on its knees, head tilted slightly, as if it, too, saw the system text.
"I just beat a Tanker to death, and now I’ve got a glowing friendship badge with a monster."
He shook his head and leaned back.
"Heart Points... what the hell is this, a dating sim?"
But he didn’t dismiss the ssage.
He let it linger. Maybe because part of him didn’t want it to vanish just yet.
He exhaled slowly, the adrenaline leaving his body at last.
"Still, if this bond thing makes us stronger... if it helps survive... if it brings closer to Jiana, I won’t complain."
He looked at the Runner. Its chest still rose and fell. Its glowing eyes blinked once at him.
"I guess that ans we’re more in sync now. Fifty ters, huh? So I can fight without you breathing down my neck."
The Runner tilted its head slightly. A silent nod.
Johnquis chuckled. "Don’t take it personal. I like having you close."
A pause.
Then, softer,
"You’ve saved my ass more tis than I can count."
The words stayed in the air. Not from exhaustion but from truth.
He looked down at the chain coiled gently between them. It no longer felt like a leash. More like a tether. A lifeline.
He muttered, "I don’t know what this thing between us is. I don’t even know if you... understand ."
The Runner’s ears twitched faintly.
"But if this HeartBond ans anything... then I’ll keep going. For both of us."
He leaned his head back against the wall.
"Fifty ters, huh... Let’s see how far we can push that."
He slumped, finally letting his body rest.
The gym around them was wrecked. Cracked floors. Scorched rafters. Blood sared across the court like old war paint. The Tanker’s body still lay in the corner, steaming where its skull had caved in. Violet blood sizzled on burnt wood.
Johnquis pulled off his glove and shook loose the drying blood.
"Damn... my body’s wrecked. But the reward was worth it. Bonus feed count, and now so HeartBond shenanigans? Life’s about to get good... ha."
The chain between them rattled faintly, retracting to its neutral length.
The Runner sat on the bleachers. One foot on the bench. Chest rising slow but steady. Its wounded shoulder had already begun to close.
Johnquis glanced at it, then the cracked gym floor, the smashed entrance, and the hole in the ceiling.
Breathing heavy, he asked,
"Hey... still with ?"
The Runner blinked, then gave a slow, steady nod.
"Nice. I don’t wanna be the only one limping outta here. Good job, Runner."
And then, quietly, sleep took him.
Sowhere in the dark, the chain between them pulsed faintly.
Like a heartbeat.
"Hey..."
"Hey..."
"Hey!"
Johnquis opened his eyes. Sunlight poured over his face, warm and blinding. He squinted and wiped the crust from his eyes.
A silhouette ca into view. A girl stood over him, her black hair tied into long pigtails, swaying gently in the breeze.
"How long are you gonna sleep, big brother? We need to help Nana prepare lunch!"
He blinked slowly, confused for a mont. Then he smiled.
"Oh—right. Sorry, Jiana. I didn’t sleep well last night."
"Co on! Get your lazy toes up!"
She grabbed his wrist and pulled. For soone so small, she was surprisingly strong.
"You’re really strong. Even with those tiny hands. Like a little gorilla."
"HEY! Stop teasing !"
Johnquis laughed, shaking the sleep from his head.
They ran together, barefoot through the soft grass, the towering cathedral in the distance bathed in golden light.
The cathedral stood tall in front of them. Weathered stone and cracked stained glass. Ivy crawled along the walls. A few birds fluttered from the bell tower as the two children approached the wide, creaking wooden doors.
Johnquis pushed one open. It groaned like always.
Inside, the faint scent of soup and smoke lingered in the air. A few younger kids were still curled up on the pews with threadbare blankets. One of them peeked up, rubbed their eyes, and saw the pair walking in.
"Morning, big brother... Morning, big sister..."
Jiana waved with a soft smile.
At the altar, a man in priest-like robes lighting a stub of wax on a rusted holder, the fla flickering against his wrinkled face. He turned when he heard their bare feet padding softly across the old stone floor.
"Ah, the sun’s two favorite mischief-makers, up and about."
Jiana greeted politely, hands behind her back.
"Morning, Father Jose."
Johnquis gave a sleepy wave.
"You’re late. Nana’s already banged the pot twice."
"We overslept."
"Mmm. You know she doesn’t believe in second warnings. You better go before she turns that ladle into a spear."
Johnquis chuckled.
"Thanks for the warning, Father."
As they ducked through the side door, Father Jose called softly,
"Let the world outside burn... but may this old house always sll of stew and laughter."
The wooden door creaked shut behind them as they entered the dim hallway. Dust floated in the sunlight leaking through small cracks in the ceiling.
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