Chapter 88:Leaving.
Chapter 88: 88:Leaving.
The highway stretched endlessly before them. The violence of the riverbed gradually disappeared behind the horizon, swallowed by broken overpasses, rusting signboards, and the endless wilderness.
Inside the contractor vehicle, silence dominated the cabin since neither of them spoke.
The engine hummed steadily beneath them while shattered buildings drifted past the windows.
Silver’s hands remained firmly on the steering wheel. He kept himself steady and controlled, almost unnaturally so. Only the tiny tremor in his right hand betrayed how exhausted he truly was.
Beside him, Ravenna leaned against the passenger seat, one arm wrapped protectively around her injured shoulder. Her breathing was shallow. The dislocation hurt far more than the cuts she’d suffered fighting beasts.
Every bump in the road sent another wave of pain shooting through her arm. She stole a glance toward Silver.
He looked... too normal even with the knife sticking from his shoulder. His eyes remained fixed on the road, his posture relaxed as though they had simply returned from another routine hunt.
But she had watched the battle, seen him throw himself between her and the assassin’s knife, and watched him continue fighting despite being covered in blood.
He was pretending... Again.
"...Silver."
"Hm?"
"You can stop pretending now."
He blinked and glanced briefly at her.
"I’m pretending?"
"Hhm, you’re pretending that you’re fine."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I am fine. Did I worry you too much?"
"You almost had a sword split you in half and a knife sticking out of you," she quietly said even though she felt like screaming at him.
"I’ve had worse, don’t worry too much. You’ll get wrinkles on your forehead if you continue frowning."
She stared at him then slightly shook her head.
"...You’re impossible."
"So I’ve been told."
For a few seconds... Neither could stop themselves from laughing. It was simply from relief more than anything else. This relief only came after surviving something neither of them had expected to walk away from.
Nearly forty minutes later... A weathered road sign appeared beside the highway.
INTERSTATE SERVICE STATION.
Silver finally slowed the vehicle.
"We’re stopping."
Ravenna nodded.
"I was hoping you’d say that."
Unlike the bustling stations inside a Sanctuary... the interstate service stations were built for contractors. There were no attendants, clerks, or security personnel manning the stations.
Only thick reinforced walls surrounded automated fueling platforms and maintenance equipment. Most ordinary people avoided travelling this far outside civilization.
Contractors rarely bothered stealing from one another at a service station. Everyone knew they’d eventually meet again somewhere beyond the walls, since reputations mattered.
The vehicle rolled beneath the reinforced canopy before stopping beside Pump Three. The entire station appeared deserted, a soft electronic voice echoed from hidden speakers.
*Welcome to Delta Highway Autonomous Service Point 17.
Please insert contractor identification or payment card.*
Silver reached into his coat. The Patriarch’s travel card slid smoothly into the terminal.
The screen next to the terminal lit up.
~ Fuel.
~ Battery recharge.
~ Basic maintenance.
~ Emergency rations.
~ Medical dispensers.
It was simple and efficient. The stations had functioned unattended for nearly twenty years.
Silver climbed out first. The moment both feet touched the ground... the world tilted.
His vision blurred.
"..."
He grabbed the side of the vehicle before falling.
’Not now, just... One more minute. Fuel first’
He inserted the hose into the contractor vehicle. The automated system began pumping immediately. Behind him... Ravenna quietly stepped out.
"...Silver?"
"I’m alright."
"No." She walked around the vehicle. "No you aren’t, stop saying that."
Only now, standing in broad daylight, did she truly see him. His shirt had become almost entirely crimson around his shoulder.
Blood had dried across his sleeves and his face looked unnaturally pale. Even his breathing had changed, it had become slower as though every breath required conscious effort.
"You’ve lost too much blood and also you still drove for almost an hour. Did you even bandage yourself properly?"
"I know, Ravenna, I know. You really don’t have to repeat that. Let’s just get this over with first."
She folded her arms.
"...You’re a big idiot, you know that."
He smiled weakly.
"Probably, but you should really up your vocabulary. Don’t tell me that’s the only insult you know."
She rolled her eyes at that. Without another word... She took the fueling hose from him.
"I’ll finish. You should sit and get some rest."
Silver wanted to object. Instead... His legs answered first. He slowly lowered himself onto the concrete curb beside the fuel pump.
Only then did he realize... His entire body was slightly shaking, just enough that he could no longer hide it. The adrenaline, had finally disappeared.
The system appeared at that moment.
[Emergency Condition Detected.]
{Host Vital Signs Falling.
Physical Condition: 31%
Mental Capacity: 12%
Soul Stability: Moderately Strained.
Assessment: Host continued combat and vehicle operation through exceptional willpower.
Immediate recovery recommended.}
Silver exhaled quietly.
"...Figures."
A second notification appeared.
[Achievement Completed]
{Protected Target During Life-Threatening Ambush
Target Affection: 27 → 31
Reason: Target recognized repeated acts of self-sacrifice performed without expectation of reward.
Additional Evaluation: Trust has deepened significantly.}
[Quest Completed]
{Escort Companion Through Ambush
Result: Success
~ Companion Survived.
~ Host Survived.}
[Rewards Granted]
• 900 Affection Points
• Advanced Swordsmanship Fragment ×2 Current Collection: (4/5)
• Soul Restoration Elixir ×2 (Rare)
Description:
Restores severe mental exhaustion and stabilizes the soul after excessive synchronization.
Usable by any contractor.
• Spatial Distortion Beacon ×1 (Rare)
Description:
Projects multiple false vehicle signatures and contractor aura trails across nearby terrain for fifteen minutes.
Effective against conventional tracking methods.
• Perception +2
• Soul Synchronization +1
The blue screens disappeared.
Silver almost laughed.
’What good timing’
He immediately opened the shop’s inventory. The newly acquired elixirs rested inside his storage. They were simple crystal bottles, filled with pale blue liquid.
Since they were free, he withdrew one directly. The cool glass appeared in his hand, he uncorked it and drank. The liquid tasted strangely refreshing like cold water after days beneath the sun.
Almost instantly, the pounding inside his skull eased, it became manageable. The ringing in his ears faded and his thoughts became clearer.
[Soul Restoration Elixir Consumed.]
Mental Capacity: 12% → 68%
Soul Stability: Stable.
Warning: Physical injuries remain.
Silver breathed much easier.
’...That’s worth every point.’
He looked toward the second bottle then toward Ravenna. He quietly slipped it back into storage.
’Later, let’s fix that hand first."