In Aoto’s mind, when the system voice recited "Doo doo doo! Successfully copied [Eternal Talent]: ’Eightfold Banner of No Regrets’," a trace of astonishment had already surged into Aoto’s eyes and cheeks.

This type of system voice... was the first time Aoto heard it.

Previously, when the system suggested Aoto had copied new talents, the sound effect was always a crisp "ding."

But just now, the sound was quite dull, "doo doo doo."

Besides, the tone of the system voice had also changed.

Looking back at all the system voices Aoto had heard before, their tone was always cold, indifferent.

However, Aoto had rarely heard the system use a more excited tone just now.

Of course—the changes in the words and tone of the system voice were far less shocking than the unfamiliar term "Eternal Talent" when Aoto heard it.

—Eternal Talent... What is this...?

To be crowned with the name "Eternal"... just by hearing the name, one can sense that this talent differs significantly from all the talents Aoto had copied previously.

At this moment, Mukiwa, who was lying beside Aoto, propped herself up with both hands, placing her body’s weight entirely on her left leg, preventing her right foot, which was severely numb, from touching the ground, managed to stand up with difficulty.

The mysterious stranger had already passed through a street corner, disappearing from Aoto and Mukiwa’s field of vision.

Mukiwa gritted her teeth, seemingly wanting to chase the mysterious stranger, but Aoto timely stopped her: "Don’t chase."

Aoto pressed his still numb right leg while looking with complicated eyes in the direction the mysterious stranger vanished.

"Given the state we’re in... there’s no way we can catch up with him."

Their right legs, both had recently suffered a heavy blow from the mysterious stranger, were now in a numb and painful state.

Neither he nor Mukiwa was able to stand steadily... wanting to catch up with the mysterious stranger was undoubtedly an impossible feat.

Besides their current physical state being entirely insufficient to support their continued pursuit, Aoto had another unspoken reason... that even if they managed to catch up with the mysterious stranger again, it would be useless.

They were fundamentally unable to do anything to the mysterious stranger...

Aoto didn’t hold back at all earlier, while in the "Lone Brave" triggered state, using his full strength.

Judging by Mukiwa’s expression and actions during her battle with the mysterious stranger, she, too, didn’t hold back just like Aoto.

The two of them worked together, tried their best, yet couldn’t even touch a corner of the mysterious stranger’s clothing... they were entirely suppressed by the mysterious stranger throughout.

If the mysterious stranger had used a real knife instead of a twig earlier... he might have easily severed both Aoto and Mukiwa.

Who on earth is this guy... Aoto focused his eyes more complexly on the direction where the mysterious stranger disappeared.

The only thing Aoto could now confirm was that the mysterious stranger didn’t harbor excessively strong hostility toward him and Mukiwa—at least, he didn’t intend to kill them or capture them alive.

The mysterious stranger had already successfully knocked both of them to the ground just now; if he wanted... he could have easily killed or captured them both.

But he didn’t do that... he directly threw away the twig in his hand and escaped from Aoto and Mukiwa’s sight.

Neither wanting to kill them nor capture them alive... the mysterious stranger’s actions enhanced his mysterious aura, making Aoto even more puzzled about his identity.

After hearing Aoto’s stop, Mukiwa also realized that they indeed didn’t have the ability to catch up with the mysterious stranger now. After flashing a bit of hesitation on her face, she ultimately retracted her foot that had already stepped forward.

At this moment, Aoto heard increasingly loud noises coming from houses on both sides of the street.

It seemed the sound of their fight with the mysterious stranger had disturbed the townsmen on both sides of the street, who climbed out of their beds, wanting to see what was happening outside.

If the townsmen discovered them, it would add unnecessary trouble, so Aoto quickly said to Mukiwa in a deep voice: "Let’s leave here quickly."

Mukiwa nodded vigorously, then, with Aoto, dragged their still-unrecovered right leg, moving in a direction away from the street.

They moved straight to a dark alley far from the location of their earlier battle with the mysterious stranger before stopping.

Mukiwa looked around the alley, repeatedly confirmed no outsiders were around, and then let out a long breath: "Let’s rest here for a while..."

After saying that, Mukiwa sat down on the ground first, lifting her hands gently massaging her still slightly numb right leg.

Aoto’s right leg numbness had subsided a lot; he didn’t have to massage his legs like Mukiwa, and his body wasn’t tired enough to require sitting down for a rest, but he nevertheless sat cross-legged in front of Mukiwa.

Because, at this moment, for Aoto, it was a good opportunity.

A good opportunity to take a closer look at the unique talent he just acquired.

So, Aoto pretended to rest while quietly summoning the system in his heart.

The system list, which he hadn’t checked for some time, appeared in front of Aoto with his summoning --

[Name: Tachibana Aoto] (?)

[Currently possessed talents:]