The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 295: Ch 294: Your Mission - Part 4

Two weeks had passed since Selene turned her back on everything she once knew. No more friends.

No more family. No more safety.

Just her, the system, and the voice in her head that never seemed to sleep.

Her body ached from the constant hunting.

Her hands were scraped raw from weapon use and close encounters with dungeon monsters. Her eyes had dark circles under them.

Even the system had prompted her twice to rest.

But there was no time.

Not when she had a thousand cores to collect. Not when the fate of the world rested on whether she succeeded.

Selene had just returned to her makeshift base deep inside a forgotten dungeon, when the voice echoed inside her skull again—cool, commanding, and too familiar now.

[Get ready. A tournament is being held soon. You will regulate it.]

Selene groaned softly, sitting up and clutching her temples.

"What now?"

She muttered.

[It is a gift from the entity. The winner shall receive precious artifacts and blessings. Participation requires a core offering. Consider it... an opportunity to test your kind. To see if they are worthy.]

She pulled up the system window, scanning the details.

A week from now, guilds and independent hunters would converge at the Central Arena for the "Trial of the Cores."

Entry required a minimum of five B-rank or higher cores.

The winner would receive one of the entity’s blessed relics—powerful, otherworldly items not found on Earth.

"A gift, huh? What’s the catch?"

Selene said, narrowing her eyes.

[None that concerns you. Simply regulate the tournament. Let the mortals fight. Watch them. Learn.]

Her hands clenched into fists.

She didn’t want to be part of any of this. But refusing wasn’t an option anymore.

Her mark burned on her skin like a shackle every time she even thought about resisting.

She exhaled shakily and stood up. Her legs trembled slightly from fatigue, but she forced them to move.

If she was going to show up, even masked, she needed supplies.

Better armor. A new weapon. Something that would keep her presence hidden.

Her current gear was worn and unfit for a public appearance—even if she planned to remain in the shadows.

So she entered another dungeon.

It was mid-tier—nothing too threatening, but full of fast-moving monsters that dropped mid-level cores.

Enough to fund her upgrades.

She moved through the halls with practiced ease, dodging and cutting down the creatures in her path.

But something felt off.

Every few minutes, the hairs on the back of her neck rose. A faint pressure. Someone was watching.

Selene paused behind a ruined column and narrowed her eyes. Her senses sharpened. She reached into her belt and drew a throwing knife, spinning it once between her fingers.

Then she moved.

She whipped the knife toward a shadow behind the far wall—fast, silent, and precise.

A startled sound followed, then a hand caught the blade mid-air.

Luke Roth stepped out from behind a pillar, his usual calm expression slightly sheepish.

Selene’s heart skipped a beat, but her stance didn’t change. She drew another weapon, her eyes sharp.

"I’m not in the mood for surprises."

She warned.

"I figured. I just wanted to see you again."

Luke said, lifting his hands in surrender.

Selene didn’t lower her weapon.

"How long have you been following me?"

"Only a little while. I wasn’t sure if you’d let me approach."

He admitted.

"I shouldn’t."

She said.

"I know."

There was a pause. Selene looked him over—still as clean and composed as ever, despite the dungeon setting.

His presence was a stark contrast to her current state. And yet... part of her didn’t want to push him away completely.

"What do you want, Luke?"

He took a step forward, cautiously. Then, to her surprise, his cheeks turned slightly pink.

"I like you."

Selene blinked.

He said it so simply. So bluntly. No pretense. No expectations.

She lowered her weapon slightly, but her eyes stayed guarded.

"I’m not someone you should like."

"Too late for that."

Luke said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Selene sighed.

"I don’t have time for this."

"You don’t have time for anything. But you still need people."

He replied gently.

She looked away, biting down a bitter retort.

Maybe he was right. Maybe she did need someone.

But that didn’t mean she had the luxury of affection. Not now.

"You should go. This isn’t your fight."

She finally said.

"I don’t care. I’m staying."

He said, his voice firmer now.

Selene stared at him for a long moment, then turned her back and walked deeper into the dungeon.

"If you’re staying, then don’t slow me down."

She said over her shoulder.

Luke’s smile widened, and he followed without hesitation.

For now, she let him.

______

The dungeon floor was littered with monster corpses and faintly glowing cores.

Selene crouched beside one, extracting the warm gem-like organ with practiced ease.

She slipped it into a pouch slung over her shoulder and stood, brushing dust off her coat.

Behind her, Luke leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching with a small smile.

"You’re incredible, you know! "

He said.

Selene didn’t reply.

They moved in silence for a few more minutes, the faint light from her system interface casting a ghostly glow over their path.

Once the last of the cores were collected, Luke finally broke the quiet again.

"Selene, can I stay with you?"

He said, more seriously this time.

She stopped walking. Slowly turned to face him.

Luke stepped forward.

"I want to help. And more than that... I want to be with you. As your partner. Your boyfriend."

A pause stretched between them. The air in the dungeon felt colder somehow.

The voice in Selene’s mind stirred, sharp and whispering.

[Say yes. He’s strong. Useful. Loyal. Use that. Let him serve you.]

Selene grit her teeth. Her fingers curled into fists.

[Command him. Make him yours. You need tools to win this game, Selene. He’ll follow—give him a leash.]

"No."

She said aloud.

Luke blinked.

"No?"

Selene looked at him, her expression unreadable.

"I can’t return your feelings. I don’t want your help, either."

She saw the way his face fell, just for a second. His shoulders tensed, his smile faltered.

"I’m not... looking for anything right now. Especially not this."

She added, softer.

Inside, the voice hissed.

[Foolish girl. You’re wasting your advantage. What use is sentiment when the world hangs in the balance?]

Selene ignored it.

Luke stood silently for a moment. Then he nodded, slowly.

"I figured. It’s fine."

He said.

He didn’t sound fine, and she knew it.

The disappointment in his eyes was clear, but he didn’t beg or plead. He straightened up and forced a grin onto his face.

"Can’t say I didn’t expect it."

Selene gave him a curt nod and turned to keep walking.

But just when she thought the conversation was over, he spoke again.

"I’m not giving up, though."

Selene paused.

"I’ll show you I’m more than capable of being by your side. You don’t have to accept me now. Or ever. But I’ll prove that I deserve to walk this path with you."

He continued, a flicker of determination returning to his voice.

She turned around and frowned.

"Why? Why are you going this far for me?"

She asked.

Luke hesitated, then gave a sheepish smile.

"I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I fell for you."

Selene blinked. That kind of honesty—it didn’t belong in her world anymore. Not now.

She looked away and resumed walking, her voice quiet but firm.

"Do whatever you want. It’s none of my business."

Luke let out a sigh of relief and followed after her, quickening his pace to match hers.

"You’re not getting rid of me that easily. And don’t underestimate me just because I’ve been lazing around lately. I’m stronger than I look."

He said, more light-hearted now.

Selene glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Despite everything, he was smiling again. Persistent, annoyingly optimistic—and yet... sincere.

She didn’t respond, but she didn’t tell him to leave either.

The voice in her head sulked in the background, a bitter presence.

[You’re too soft. This will cost you.]

Maybe. But if there was even a sliver of humanity left in her, she needed to protect it. She needed to protect him from what she was becoming.

They stepped outside the dungeon, the sun already beginning to set across the crimson-stained sky.

Luke stretched his arms.

"So, what’s next? More hunting? Or are we crashing a secret tournament?"

Selene smirked faintly, despite herself.

"Tournament. One week from now."

"Nice. I always wanted to see you wipe the floor with the best."

"I’m not participating."

Luke blinked.

"Wait—what?"

"I’m regulating it."

"That’s... vague and terrifying."

Selene just kept walking. She didn’t feel like explaining. Not yet.

She had one week to prepare, one week before every hunter worth their title gathered in one place. And behind all of it—the voice, watching, waiting.

But for now, at least, she wasn’t alone.

And for now... she would allow it.