Ayase's eyes snapped open in shock as a completely unranked, violently glowing teenager parried a hydraulic fist with a piece of junk metal.
The impact shattered Yuto's pipe, but the sheer, compressed magical pressure radiating off his bleeding Stigma created a shockwave that knocked the Oni off balance.
"Who... what are you?" Ayase gasped, staring at the terrifying red mist bleeding from his hand.
"Someone who hates spending his savings," Yuto grunted, his arms trembling under the monster's weight. "Now get up! Cut its legs!"
Spurred by his insane display of raw physical grit, Ayase forced herself up. Channeling the last drops of her stamina, she dashed forward, her katana flashing in a clean, silver arc that severed the Oni's hydraulic tendons. As the beast collapsed, Yuto drove the jagged, broken half of his pipe directly into its core.
The monster dissolved into data. A massive, glowing blue chest dropped in its place.
[Loot Vaulted. Current Stack: 53. Multiplier: 145.1%]
The crimson mist around Yuto intensified, his bones groaning in protest. He turned away from Ayase quickly, taking deep, ragged breaths to hide his agony.
"You saved my life," Ayase said, her voice soft. She stepped closer, bowing deeply. As she did, her white kimono slipped slightly off her shoulder, revealing pale, flawless skin flushed with the heat of battle.
[System Prompt: Proximity Milestone Detected. Claim 5% Shared Affection Bonus?]
Yuto's brain completely short-circuited. Look away, Kurosawa. The wall is sexy. The wall gives compound interest, Yuto chanted in his mind, sweating bullets. He forced his face into a mask of total, cold indifference.
"I did what was necessary," Yuto said, his voice flat. "Keep your distance, samurai. We must stay focused on the climb."
Ayase blinked, her cheeks dusting with a faint pink. She looked at his glowing red hand, then up at his stoic, unreadable expression.
"You... you didn't even claim the monster's core," she whispered, her eyes widening with profound respect. "You rely purely on your own baseline strength. You abstain from all worldly desires and shortcuts to temper your spirit. I have never met a Hunter with such pure martial discipline."
No, wait, I'm just incredibly greedy! Yuto's inner monologue screamed as he rejected the System prompt. And I want that milestone! But if I wait 20 chapters, it'll be a 500% buff!
[Milestone Vaulted. Resonance Tension: 1%]
"Discipline is everything," Yuto lied smoothly, looking stoically into the middle distance while his internal organs felt like they were in a blender. "Come. We have a Tower to climb."