SSS-Rank Extra: I Got a Chaos System-Chapter 31: Lillian the Menace

Kazuki leaned against Lillian as they moved, each step an effort. The black tendrils around his arm pulsed with his heartbeat.

As they moved through the collapsed archway at the village entrance. The eerie silence gave away to rustling of leaves and wind whistling through the trees.

Birds were silent and insects didn't buzz—probably due to commotion earlier.

Sunlight hid away under the branches of trees. They moved deeper into the woods, the ruined village vanishing, as several minutes passed.

"I think we're far enough," Lillian muttered, glancing back. They had moved just enough to be away from the cursed place.

"I think it's fine here..."

Kazuki sank down with a groan, his body slumping against the tree, resting on the trunk. His eyes squeezed in agony, his arm throbbed—once, twice—then gradually settling into a dull ache.

Lillian knelt beside him, brows knit tight, those sharp violet eyes studying his pale face.

She said softly. "You're not fine,"

Kazuki let out a dry breath through clenched teeth. "No kidding."

She hesitated, then reached for his arm.

Instinctively, Kazuki's other arm jerked up and swatted hers away. "Don't", he hissed.

Lillan eyes sharpened, forehead furrowed "Let me check."

"It's not that simple," he muttered, voice raw.

"You are being eaten alive by this thing!" She snaped, small droplets flicker from the corner of her eyes, "Let me help! Okay?" Frustration seeping through her tone, tinged with desperation.

He stared at her for a moment, then sighed. Looking side away settling on some far-off point.

"I don't want anything to happen to you." he said quietly.

The words lingered, the silence settled for a moment, heavier than before, filled with intense and complex emotions.

Then, softly—gently—she reached for his arm again. This time, he didn't stop her.

Her finger brushed against arm, cold against the pulsing heat of bulging black veins.

Kazuki flinched, but he didn't pull away.

Lillan hand flicker with oceanic blue, exhaling slowly. She pressed against the black bulging tendrils like veins.

Kazuki grunted, he took a sharp breath, before grinding his teeth.

Her eyes narrowed. "Nothing." She clicked her tongue and questioned in the air. "Should I freeze it?"

Kazuki pulled back in hurry. "THIS CRAZY PERSON I WAS TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR HER AND SHE IS TALKING ABOUT FREEZING MY ARM"

Lillian blinked, startled by his sudden yell.

A small smile sat at her lips.

"Oh, someone found his voice," she playfully quipped.

Kazuki shot her a glare, clutching his arm protectively. "Seriously, Lillian?! Freeze it? That's your big plan?"

"Hey! What else could we do?" She crossed her arms and raised her head in thoughtful manner.

Then her expression brightened. With a finger up she spoke. "Let's amputated it."

Kazuki's face went pale—likely ghostly pale.

"AMPUTATE?!" he yelped. "What kind of psychopath are you?!"

Lillian burst into laughter, "Oh gods, your face—! I was kidding! Kidding!"

Kazuki groaned and leaned back, muttering, "I'm surrounded by lunatics. You can't just joke about chopping my arm off!"

"You're right," she said between giggles, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "It's not funny. Except it is."

Kazuki scowled. "I like it better when you are crying."

Lillian smirked. "Too bad. The old Lillian's gone." Flicking her shoulder length hair. "Say hi, to new one."

"Great. Can she cook too?"

Lillan stiffened.

Kazuki stared at her, deadpan.

Then burst into laughter.

Lillian blinked at him. "Excuse me?"

Kazuki spoke between laughs, clutching his side. "I—gods—the look on your face—!"

Lillan puffed her cheeks. She huffed, turning away.

A long sigh escaped him, but the edge in his posture softened. "Nothing, Lillan, nothing."

Then she turned back, leaning forward, this time serious. "I'll figure something out. I don't know what this thing is... but I'm not letting it take you."

Kazuki didn't answer. His gaze flicked toward the woods, then back to her. "You're a menace, you know that?"

She gave a little shrug. "Better than being useless."

He smiled faintly. "You were never useless."

That quiet hung between them again, Warmer.

But just as the moment lingered, the trees rustled.

Lillian's smile faded. Her eyes narrowed.

Kazuki's fingers tightened. "...Great another trouble."

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Lillian's hand hovered gathering mana. "It's not the wind."

Kazuki struggled to push himself upright, every muscle in his body protesting. He braced one hand against the tree trunk, the cursed arm dangling limp, black veins faintly twitching.

"Can you move?" she asked, already stepping in front.

"Define move," he muttered, teeth clenched. "I can fall dramatically if that helps."

She didn't smile this time.

A beat passed. Then Lillian looked around, fingers twitching as the movement ceased.

Then—

Fwip!

The whistle of something slicing through the air.

An arrow tore through the clearing. Before either could react, it struck.

Thuck.

Kazuki staggered. A sharp, numbing pain bloomed across his side. He looked down—an arrowhead protruded just beneath his ribs, buried deep.

Lillian's eyes widened. "Kazuki—!"

He tried to stand, to respond, but his legs buckled beneath him. The trees spun; his vision turned dark around the edge.

He faintly watched Lillan rushing toward him, panic in her eyes, her mouth widening, but couldn't make out, the words.

Then—another thuck of impact.

She froze mid-step, a second arrow embedded in the earth just inches from her foot.

Kazuki's body hit the forest floor with a dull thud.

The soft plants and rough pebbles against his body.

The pain in his side throbbed— sensation leaving warmth and coldness filling him. His arm twitched, black veins pulsing erratically.

Lillian's voice reached him again, distorted, stretched out. "Kazuki—! Stay with me—!"

But it was no use.

His eyes fluttered once, twice.

Then darkness swept in, swallowing sound, light, and breath.