The heavy figure stood before me, its armor looks intimidating. It was massive, imposing in the worst way possible.

  "Wait a second..." I muttered gazing at the hulking figure. "That's... That's the goddamn Bck Knight from Dark Souls! Are you kidding me?"

  It was simir to it: the hulking armor, the glowing red eyes, the absurd massive greatsword clutched in its hands.

  My stomach twisted at the thought of fighting him.

  I pointed at the cult leader. "You summon a giant knockoff boss fight after sending your minions to die? You should have done this earlier ya know."

  The cult leader thought for a while and answered in ca onfused manner. "Well I-I.... he will deal with you."

  She Knew my family name. Kurosawa, the trash family name. I don't want to remember that name.

  And I hated the memory of it.

  My hands tightened around my dagger. "We'll see, when I carve up your oversized tin can," I replied in hesitation

  The Bck Knight let out a metallic growl, its burning eyes locking onto me. It took one step forward, the ground beneath it breaking under the weight. I braced myself as it raised its greatsword high, the massive bde glinting in the faint light.

  "Okay," I thought under my breath. "It's just like Dark Souls. It's slow. It's huge. I can dodge its swings and get in close for a backstab. Easy, right? Just like a boss fight. Totally manageable."

  The Bck Knight lunged. I believe it can work. Its greatsword came down with a terrifying speed that was completely different from my expectations.

  I barely managed to roll to the side, the bde smming into the stone floor with an impact so powerful it sent a shockwave through the room. The force alone knocked me off bance, and I stumbled, gasping as the air was knocked from my lungs.

  "What the hell?" I hissed, clutching my side. My whole body felt the impact from the shockwave. It didn't even touch me, but it still felt like I'd been punched by a train.

  The cult leader ughed mocking me. "What's the matter, Haruto? Is the poor little Kurosawa heir not as athletic as he thinks he is?"

  "Shut up!" I barked, gritting my teeth as I steadied myself.

  The Bck Knight raised its sword again, but this time, I was ready. I tried to catch it moves, picking up the way its muscles tensed, the shift in its shoulders predicting its swing.

  I rolled back, keeping my distance as the bde smmed down again, this time missing me by a wider margin.

  "Okay, okay," I muttered, circling it carefully. "Slow armor, big weapon. No problem. I can outperform this thing. I just need an opening..." I said as I moved closer while it was adjusting its weapons

  But there were no openings.

  There was none. Are you kidding me?

  I don't see any weak points. My eyes catch none, there is no light in its body.

  I can see the weak points as shiny light but it has no light in it. No weak points as if it was a monster.

  I strengthened myself and went for several times to check for any weak points after provoking it several times.

  Every time I tried to get closer, my instincts screamed at me to stop. My body wouldn't move, wouldn't let me to attack it.

  The Bck Knight's movements were strong. Every swing of its sword made my body tense and weakened by its impact.

  I hesitated again, and the cult leader ughed. "See how you flinch?" she taunted. "This is the true nature of the Kurosawa bloodline. You're bullies, nothing more. You prey on the weak, and the moment someone stronger appears, you run. Just like your family."

  Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit. My grip tightened around my dagger as the Bck Knight lunged again, its greatsword carving through the air. I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the bde as it smashed into the ground but I can feel it in my body.

  "Shut up!" I snapped again, the frustration boiling over in my voice.

  The impact of the knight's missed swing left a brief opening—a tiny one—but it was enough. My instincts kicked in, and I darted forward, slipping behind the massive armored figure.

  "Backstab!" I yelled in joy, driving my dagger into the small gap in its armor where the ptes overpped.

  The bde sank in, but it was too good to be true.

  The Bck Knight didn't fall. It didn't even flinch. Instead, its head turned slowly, the burning red eyes locking onto mine.

  "Uh... what?" I muttered, my voice barely audible. I couldn't believe it

  Before I could pull my dagger free, the Bck Knight reached back, grabbing me with one massive hand.

  "What the hell?!" I shouted, struggling as it lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing.

  The cult leader's ughter echoed through the chamber. "Did you really think a simple backstab would work? You're not in a game, Haruto! This is real life. And in real life, you lose."

  The Bck Knight didn't give me time to retort. It hurled me across the room with terrifying strength, and I smmed into the ground with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through my back and shoulders, and I could hardly breathe. It seemed by ribs have cracked.

  I rolled onto my side, clutching my ribs as I tried to process what just happened. There are too much noises and my vision has filled with too many bright lights I couldn't see anything. I see.

  I have become overstimuted, I shouldn't have used my power too much. It has strained me to a point it has left me confused. I have taken too many inputs using my senses that it has overwhelemed me.

  The Bck Knight didn't care about my confusion. It turned toward me again, its massive frame casting a shadow over me as it raised its sword.

  "Wait " The cult ordered to the bck knight as it stopped

  The cult leader's ugh echoed in my ears, sharp and mocking. She stepped closer, leaning on the altar for support as she looked down at me.

  "You're persistent, I'll give you that," she said, her voice ced with amusement. "And that beaten face of yours... it's almost adorable. Almost handsome, even."

  I coughed. "Good night," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible. Then, in English, I added, "No thank you."

  Her smirk twisted into confusion

  A loud crack echoed through the room, followed by the heavy sound of metal smming against metal.

  The cult leader stepped closer. I was sprawled on the floor, beaten and bruised, my ribs screaming in protest with every shallow breath I took.

  Her mocking voice cut "Well, well... look at you. Lying there like a broken doll." She crouched beside me, her bloodstained fingers brushing against her chin as she looked me over. Then, her eyes flicked downward, and something in her expression changed.

  "Oh?" she mused, her smirk twisting into something more amused. "I didn't notice this before, but... you've got a thing, don't you, Haruto?"

  I blinked confused. "What the hell are you—"

  She leaned closer, her lips curling into a wicked grin. "Your body may be a mess, but even now, you're energetic."

  My mind caught up to her words, and I froze, the realization hitting me. My senses, still burning. My body had reacted instinctively—My clothes.

  I wasn't wearing a shirt. Or pants.

  I was barely holding onto my dignity with my butt-naked body. Did I just fought naked?

  I stared at her.

  "You enjoy this, don't you?" I asked annoyed

  She tilted her head, her grin unrelenting. "Oh? Struck a nerve, did I? Don't be embarrassed, Haruto. After all..." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned in closer, her lips nearly brushing my ear. "You're only human."

  I gred at her, my teeth gritting as the words cwed their way out of my throat. "Excited?" I hissed. "Yeah. I'm excited. Excited to kill you."

  Her ughter rang out, sharp and cruel, echoing through the chamber. She rose to her feet, her bloodstained hands csped behind her back as she looked down at me like I was a toy

  "Kill me?" she sneered. "You couldn't even handle him." She gestured to the Bck Knight, who stood motionless behind her, its crimson eyes glowing like embers of hellfire. "Face it, Haruto. You're pathetic. Helpless. Just like the rest of your disgusting family."

  I clenched my fists, forcing my body to move despite the protests of my muscles. I struggled to my knees, blood dripping from the corner of my mouth as I met her gaze with a defiant grin.

  "You're right," I rasped, my voice hoarse but steady. "I'm pathetic. I'm a mess. But you know what?" I wiped the blood from my lips, forcing myself to stand. "At least I'm not you."

  A voice rang out, I don't know where it was "Get away from him."

  I turned my head, my vision still blurry, but the figure standing in the doorway was clear to me despite my senses.

  "Ayumi...?" I muttered, my voice weak but filled with disbelief.

  She stood tall, her crimson eyes filled with anger. Her bck-and-red dress, and her wild, loose hair whipped around her face as she lifted the massive axe over her shoulder.

  The cult leader's smirk vanished, her expression twisting into one of rage. "You... How did you—"