The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse
Chapter 49: Ch 49: Do you want to get better?- Part 2

Chapter 49: Ch 49: Do you want to get better?- Part 2

Orion had had enough.

His anger burned through his veins as he lunged forward. If barriers weren’t working, he would just attack directly.

He might not be the strongest fighter, but he wasn’t weak either. He would hit Ethan, even if it was the last thing he did.

With a fierce glare, Orion dropped his barrier and sprinted toward Ethan, fists clenched.

Ethan merely raised an eyebrow.

Orion threw a punch.

Ethan yawned.

And in one smooth motion, he caught Orion’s wrist mid-strike.

Orion’s eyes widened as Ethan barely even reacted to his attack.

The older man tilted his head lazily, as if unimpressed, and then—without even looking like he was trying—shoved Orion backward.

The force sent Orion stumbling. He lost his footing and landed hard on his ass, a sharp sting shooting up his spine as he hit the ground.

Ethan stood over him, hands in his pockets, looking down with the same lazy smirk.

"If that’s the best you can do, then you’ll die out there."

Ethan said.

Orion felt his chest tighten. He already knew that. He didn’t need to hear it from Ethan.

"The world isn’t what it used to be. You already know that. But knowing and acting on it are two different things"

Ethan continued.

Orion swallowed hard.

Ethan crouched down so they were at eye level.

"Right now, you’re a liability. If you can’t fight, you’re just dead weight. You’ll be dragging Selene down instead of helping her."

That hit Orion harder than the rocks had.

Ethan stood back up and rolled his shoulders.

"Come find me when you’re actually ready to unlock your potential."

He turned and walked away, leaving Orion sitting there with his pride shattered.

Orion clenched his fists.

His loss stung. But what stung even more was the bitter realization that Ethan was right.

If he stayed weak, he wouldn’t be able to help Selene. He wouldn’t be able to do anything.

And that thought made his chest ache.

Meanwhile, Selene and Zara navigated the dungeon, their footsteps echoing through the stone corridors.

Zara sighed, twirling her dagger between her fingers.

"You think leaving Ethan and Orion alone was a good idea?"

Selene hesitated.

"...Ethan won’t permanently hurt him."

She said, though there was a slight waver in her voice.

Zara raised an eyebrow.

"You don’t sound convinced."

Selene frowned, slashing through a monster that lunged at them.

The creature dissolved into particles, leaving behind a faint glow—loot. She picked it up and pocketed it before turning back to Zara.

"I do trust Ethan. He wouldn’t go too far. But..."

She said.

"But?"

Selene exhaled.

"I don’t know. Orion’s still a kid. And Ethan... isn’t exactly gentle."

Zara snorted.

"That’s an understatement."

They continued forward, encountering more monsters along the way.

The dungeon wasn’t particularly difficult, and they cleared it efficiently, taking turns landing finishing blows. But even as they fought, Selene couldn’t shake the lingering doubt.

Was she pushing Orion too fast?

She wanted to believe she was doing the right thing. But a part of her wondered if Orion was ready.

And a part of her wondered if Ethan would really hold back.

Zara noticed Selene’s distracted look and nudged her.

"If you’re worried, why not check your system?"

Selene blinked.

She could do that. With the tracking function from her ability, she could see Orion’s status and condition. He was still her Insight target after all.

Unfortunately, she could only use it on one person at a time for now.

Without hesitation, she opened her interface.

Orion’s name appeared on the list. His health wasn’t in danger, but...

Selene frowned.

"What?"

Zara asked.

"...He’s upset."

Selene murmured.

Zara sighed.

"Yeah, well. Ethan does have that effect on people."

Selene closed the interface.

"We should finish up here and head back."

Zara grinned.

"Worried about your new recruit?"

Selene didn’t answer.

But the truth was, she was worried.

And she had a feeling that when they returned, things between Orion and Ethan would be far from settled.

The ground beneath them trembled, sending a shiver of unease through Selene’s spine. The dungeon’s walls, once stable, cracked slightly as an ominous growl filled the air.

Zara tensed beside her, gripping her dagger as her sharp gaze darted around.

"What the hell was that?"

Before Selene could respond, a hulking shadow emerged from the darkness ahead. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, its sharp claws scraping against the dungeon floor.

The monster was unlike the others they had faced—its aura was heavier, its presence suffocating.

Selene’s instincts kicked in. She immediately activated Insight, her system scanning the creature. Her eyes flickered with information as the monster’s stats appeared before her.

[C- Ranked Beast – Bloodfang Predator

Strength: High

Agility: High

Weakness: Unstable Core]

Selene’s stomach dropped. This was way above their level.

If Ethan were here, it would be different, but right now, she and Zara were completely outmatched.

"Zara, this thing is C-rank. We can’t take it lightly."

Selene warned.

Zara clicked her tongue but didn’t hesitate. The moment the Bloodfang Predator lunged at them, she was already moving.

She twisted her body, slamming her dagger into its side to push it back. But the monster was fast. Too fast. It barely flinched, twisting mid-air and slashing at Zara in return.

She barely dodged, the claws grazing her arm.

"Shit—this thing is too damn quick."

Selene clenched her fists. If they fought at their current strength, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

She had to do something.

A thought hit her, and she made a split-second decision.

She had two Amplify slots available—one had originally belonged to Ethan, but she had removed him from it before this mission, much to his frustration. Now, she had an open slot.

"Zara, brace yourself!"

Zara barely had time to react before Selene used Amplify on her.

The moment she activated the ability, Zara’s system pulsed, flooding her with an overwhelming surge of power.

Zara gasped, feeling the sudden increase in her strength and agility.

It was as if every fiber of her being had been supercharged. She clenched her fists, her movements feeling lighter, her senses sharper.

She turned to Selene, eyes wide in disbelief.

"What—what the hell did you just do?!"

Selene didn’t waste time explaining anything.

"Focus on the fight! The boost is temporary! Make it count!"

Zara swallowed her questions and turned her attention back to the Bloodfang Predator.

With her newfound strength, she lunged at the monster, her dagger slicing through the air with terrifying speed.