Savra crossed her arms. "I don’t believe you."
Zain let out a short laugh. "Of course you don’t."
She gave a small nod.
"You awakened a bunch of low-tier trash. Mid-tier doesn’t just drop from the sky."
Zain raised an eyebrow. "So what? You think I can’t handle it?"
"Not saying that," she said, stepping closer.
"But mid-tier awakenings take ti. Usually months. Sotis years."
Zain tilted his head, serious now.
"But if I awaken one—just one—I can apply for A-Rank, right?"
Savra nodded. "Yeah. But not here."
He blinked. "What do you an not here?"
She pointed to the floor.
"This branch tops out at B-Rank. We’re mid-zone trash piles."
Zain frowned. "So where the hell do I go?"
Savra smirked. "BB-1. The High District."
He narrowed his eyes. ""That’s where the real heroes are?"
She nodded. "It’s where A-Ranks are born."
Zain’s lips curled slightly. "Then I guess it’s ti I paid BB-1 a visit."
Savra’s eyes narrowed. "You can’t."
Zain’s smirk faded. "Why not?"
"I told you—it’s the High District. Not just anyone walks in."
He folded his arms. "Heroes can’t enter their own upper district?"
"They can." She stepped closer, her voice firm.
"If they’re already A-Rank. Or B-Ranks with a registered mid-tier ability going in for promotion testing."
Zain nodded slowly. "So if I awaken a mid-tier, I can get in."
Savra raised a brow. "Only if it’s verified."
"They won’t even open the gate if your ability’s not logged. You show up early, you get denied."
He scoffed. "And what about normal people?"
"They don’t get in either. Unless they’ve got serious money, sponsor-level wealth, or they’re famous enough to turn heads."
Zain clicked his tongue. "So I’m locked out."
Savra nodded. "Yeah. BB-1’s not for strays like us."
Zain glanced at her, smirking. "But I think I can get in."
Savra’s brow twitched.
"With what? You don’t have money. You’re not famous. Not even close."
He raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
She crossed her arms.
"You got so hidden sponsor I don’t know about?"
"Because unless you’ve got a miracle, you’re not getting past the gates."
Zain leaned back, smug. "I’ve got a connection."
Savra blinked. "Who?"
He tilted his head toward her. "You."
She frowned imdiately. "Don’t play with ."
"I’m not."
"I’m just like you. Trash zone, low placent, zero pull."
Zain’s smirk deepened. "Don’t lie to , Savra. I know what you really are."
She narrowed her eyes. "What the hell does that an?"
Zain smirked. "I’ve said it before, haven’t I?"
Savra didn’t respond, but her gaze sharpened.
"I have a scanning ability," Zain continued casually.
"When I fought Scavratt, I used it. That’s how I knew he wasn’t B-Rank. He was already A."
Savra raised her eyebrow.
He stepped closer. "And I scanned you too."
Her expression twitched. "You—what?"
Zain smirked, voice low.
"Usually, when my ability fails to scan soone, they’re A-Rank minimum. Hero or villain."
He tilted his head, eyes dragging over her deliberately.
"And you? You’re off the charts."
"There’s also no way soone with that sexy, curved-out combat-built body is just slumming in CB-1 by accident."
Savra blinked. Her frown cracked just slightly.
Zain grinned. "So either you’re hiding your real status, or you’re one hell of a liar."
She folded her arms again, slower this ti. "You’re full of it."
Zain leaned in. "Let add one more thing."
He tapped his own chest.
"I’m A-Rank too. Just missing a Mid-Tier ability to make it official."
Savra’s lips parted a bit, genuinely surprised.
"Damn... So you’ve been holding that back."
Zain shrugged. "Didn’t feel like flexing just yet."
She narrowed her eyes, but the tension faded into a smirk.
"No wonder you made scream last night."
Zain smirked back. "That wasn’t even trying."
Savra laughed, stepping past him. "Cocky bastard."
He followed, voice smooth. "You love it."
She didn’t deny it.
He leaned closer. "So... you can bring there, right?"
Savra let out a sigh, rubbing her temple.
"Damn it. The first person to figure out my secret, and it had to be you."
Zain grinned. "Lucky ."
She shook her head, then looked at him with a crooked smile.
"Alright, fine. I’ll take you. I’ve got enough pull to get us inside BB-1."
"But if you don’t awaken that mid-tier ability fast, we’re turning it into a damn holiday."
Zain chuckled. "Don’t worry. I’ll get it."
Savra smirked back.
"Good. I don’t want to waste my vacation ti babysitting a smug brat."
Zain’s eyes narrowed playfully.
"Babysitting? I’m the one carrying your bags."
She snorted.
"More like carrying to bed after I break your back."
He leaned in, voice low. "You can try."
---
The night had co.
Zain and Savra walked side by side, heading toward her apartnt.
Their pace was slow. Comfortable.
Zain’s hands in his pockets, Savra’s arms behind her back.
But they weren’t alone.
A short distance behind them, two figures moved in the shadows, keeping their steps quiet and eyes locked forward.
Eron clicked his tongue. "This doesn’t make sense."
Beside him, Orlin narrowed his eyes. "I’ve seen her walk like that before."
"When?"
"After a long night."
Eron’s jaw tightened. "You an after she’s done using soone."
Orlin nodded once. "Exactly."
They watched as Savra bumped her shoulder into Zain’s, laughing at sothing he whispered.
She didn’t even glance back.
Eron clenched his fists.
Sparks quietly flickered across his knuckles.
"She never acted like that with anyone else."
"I’ve seen guys leave her apartnt broken," Orlin muttered.
"Happy for a night. Ghosted the next morning."
"But him?" Eron scoffed.
"She doesn’t just keep him around. She walks with him. Smiles like he’s more than a plaything."
Orlin shook his head. "She’s never repeated a guy twice."
"And this one—this newbie—’Heavenly Demon’—he’s not even been here that long," Eron growled.
"We joined at the sa ti, and he’s already B-Rank?"
"He must be getting lucky," Orlin muttered.
"So sponsors must have been backing him."
Eron’s eyes narrowed. "Or sothing else entirely."
They both paused as Savra unlocked the door to her apartnt.
She stepped inside first.
Zain followed, smirking at her from behind.
The door clicked shut.
Eron stood frozen.
"...She never lets them in first," he muttered.
Orlin was quiet.
Then he said, flat. "They’re not just sleeping. She’s into him."
Eron’s voice dropped. "No. I don’t buy that."
Orlin glanced sideways. "Are you jealous?"
"I just don’t like arrogant punks pretending they belong at the top."
Orlin snorted. "Sounded like jealousy to ."
"I’m going to crush him one day," Eron said, lightning flickering around his fingers.
"I don’t care how high he ranks."
Orlin shrugged. "Better hurry. Before she forgets we exist."
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