Solo Levelling: Perception

It was nearly six in the evening when Jinah and Haru reached their destination after taking half an hour in the subway. Fortunately, after Jinah apologized and Haru consoled the girl, they were able to get back to their casual self.

Jinah was pretty much relaxed once again despite being a little awkward during the start and also the realization of this trip being a date worked as an optimum source of embarrassment for her.

The shopping district was located in the main city, near the Korean Hunter Organization. It was not far and had varieties of malls and shops, which was why Jinah chose this place.

"And I told her that sh-"

"Wait."

Suddenly when they were ascending the stairs toward the main surface of the subway station, Haru suddenly spoke up in a grim tone making Jinah flustered all of a sudden.

She looked around for a bit to find the reason for his frown but was unable to find anything. Thankfully, Haru didn't make her anxious before he told her the reason for this sudden halt.

"A dungeon break has occurred near the station and people are being evacuated. It's better if you stay here, Jinah."

"W-What about you?"

Jinah asked with anxiety masking her voice as she instinctively raised her hand and held the hem of his shirt in protest of what he was about to say.

"People are dying out there and I will do what I can to save them."

Haru spoke in a determined tone which made Jinah freeze at the moment in amazement and awe as she saw Haru ready to walk in danger to save people even though he knew none of them.

Despite not being evaluated, he was ready to walk out there and help those who are in the shade of mortal danger without concern for his own safety. And all this he thought without any ounce of hesitation.

Indeed Jinah was impressed but she couldn't let her friend throw his life like it meant nothing.

"No, you will stay back with me as well. You are not going anywhere, Haru!!"

Jinah nearly yelled at the end of her words which made her surprised herself as well but considering the thing Haru was intending to do, made Jinah naturally panicked to raise the tone.

Seeing Haru smiling in the way Jinah didn't want him to and noticing him getting free of her hold elevated her fright as she heard his warm tone.

"It's okay, Jinah. I am stronger than I look. So be a good girl and stay here, okay?"

Despite Haru patting her head she felt nothing of it because of the current situation. Hearing the loud battle noises which were now reaching up to her as well made Jinah shake her head as she latched at his shirt once again.

"If you are going then I will go as well. And you have no right to stop me, understood?"

Haru's smile broke but under Jinah's stern gaze and unmovable demeanor, he was not able to rebuke.

Sighing he held Jinah's hand in a tight grip to the point it doesn't hurt the girl before whispering in a low tone.

"Don't get too close, okay?"

Jinah nodded and fought the urge to blush the moment before she began running toward the scene while being led by the man.

****

'I act well like a protagonist... '

Smirking inwardly Haru made their way toward the scene which presented him the opportunity to pat Jinah and now he was also holding her delicate soft hand as they ran toward the dungeon.

In normal circumstances, Haru might have ignored the chaos and walked away unaffected since people die every day anyway. But now when he had the girl with him, it was better to not let the chance slip away.

While holding her hand Haru measured her ring finger and stored the information in a corner of his mind for future reference.

When the opportunity arises, make sure to take advantage of it to the fullest.

"Damn..."

Haru muttered under his breath as he and Jinah arrived at the place from where he was hearing all the screaming and howling of a wild beast which undoubtedly would have come from a dungeon break.

But the scene in front was far from what he primarily thought.

"Oh god..."

Jinah's eyes began moistening as she saw the sight of various decapitated and sliced hunters as well as organization employees scattered around the street as a bulking four-meter wolf continued to attack nearby remaining hunters.

The large blue flame ignited in place of its tail and also the ice-white fur of the creature made it seem domineering and terrifying at the same time. Not to talk about its strength which was able to kill those many people while receiving not much damage in return.

"Jinah, look at me."

In between the cries and her own inside dreaded muttering Jinah heard a warm and calm voice from beside her before she turned her face only to stare at Haru who still was composed as ever.

"H-How can you stay like this...that many people..."

Haru knew the girl was still new to this since unlike her brother and father she was grown up in a safe environment and was not used to this much blood and gore.

And Haru was slightly guilty to make her witness such a thing as well but it was a reality that she would have to face one day or another.

'But still... '

He shook his head and decided to think about it some other time since his attention required more on the shaking girl in front.

He held her shoulder in a firm grip, making the girl snap back to reality as she looked at Haru with tears already rolling down her cheeks.

The last bit of hesitation Haru had, was exhausted as soon as he saw her tears before he committed a bold tone.

"I will save them, Jinah, and kill that thing, so make sure you have your eyes on me, okay?"

Jinah mindlessly nodded since she was not sure how Haru would defeat that thing that was taking so many lives. She was so stunned at the moment that her instincts only made her body move as she saw Haru disappearing from her sight all of a sudden.

Confused, she turned her head toward the monster, failing to determine what she was feeling at the moment to know that Haru was going to fight that monster. But she was sure that her heart right now, was a broken mess for beating out so loud that she was literally able to hear.

Clutching the side of her skirt, Jinah bit her lower lip as a prayer rang inwardly inside her.

'Please be safe, Haru.'

*****

"Gah! I can't hold it any longer! This thing is death for all of us!!"

One of the men who was handling the dungeon break where Haru and Jinah arrived, shouted at top of his lungs as he began failing his duty as a tank while feeling the immense pain stinging in his broken shoulder.

The dungeon was left unattended for straight six days and when the raid team went inside, they never came back, leaving the dungeon uncleared which elevated the current situation.

"The help would arrive shortly! Just maintain the barrier for a little longer!"

The blue-haired healer who was providing a continuous buff to the tank shouted as well to get her voice directed at the man so he could remain at his place and keep the creature out of the other teammates' range.

Other than the healer and the tank, all the other raid members were injured and were at the doors of death. The other employees of the Organization and those who arrived first were already dead and the way things were proceeding, it would be no surprise for them to end up like that as well.

The healer was losing her strength and mana as well, and the only thing which was keeping her still on her feet was the sheer desperation to live one more day.

But her wishes shattered at once as the wolf breached the tank's shield and bit off his arm followed by a heaven-shattering yell from the man.

"AAARRGHHHH!!"

The wolf then focused on the healer just after dealing with the tank, glaring at the blue-haired girl with its grey eyes like she was its greatest enemy amongst others.

The girl backed away with her eyes widened like saucers before staggering and landing on her butt as she felt the weighing killing intent permeating the air as the creature inched toward the girl with a slow step like it was enjoying the frightful expression the healer had.

***AWOOOOOO**

The Fenrir howled and latched at the girl to tear off her head in one full swing as the girl with her eyes wide apart saw her demise approaching, too scared to even let her eyes blink.

'It's over... '

However, unlike what everyone thought, the wolf was not able to reach the girl before something like a missile landed on top of the wolf's head, smashing the skull in swift momentum and ceasing the wolf's existence in a mere half second.

The healer was shocked beyond belief as well as the other near-dying raid members to see the wolf pulverized on the floor before the dust grew fainter, exposing the thing which ended the life of the creature.

But unexpectedly it wasn't a thing that turn the tides, but rather a teenage boy with blindfolds.

"Yare... yare..."

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A/N: - Drop a comment~