Chapter 8
Senji and Leticia emerged from the portal, and the first thing that caught their attention was the immense tree dominating the horizon. Its imposing silhouette seemed to connect with the sky itself, emanating a vibrant energy that filled the air.
"Tree of Life..." Senji murmured, a nostalgic smile appearing as he gazed at the majestic tree.
Leticia glanced at him sideways, noticing the expression on his face.
"Has it really been that long since you last saw it?" she asked.
Senji nodded calmly.
"I've destroyed other Trees of Life in different mythologies," he commented casually. "But this one is different. It doesn't belong to any myth; it's the Tree of Life of Little Garden… and that's why it's still standing."
Leticia stayed silent for a moment, understanding that Senji didn't speak those words lightly. Then, with nothing more to add, they continued walking towards the village, no longer paying attention to the tree.
As they got closer, the bustling sounds of the villagers and the scent of freshly prepared food filled the air.
"Now that I think about it... I'm hungry," Senji said, placing a hand on his stomach.
Leticia let out a small laugh.
"You never change, do you? Let's find something to eat before doing anything else."
Senji walked calmly through the crowd, drawing no attention. The villagers went on with their daily activities, unaware of the presence of the one once known as the "Demon Lord" King Oni Sengo.
No one suspected that the figure walking unnoticed among them was the same one thought to be dead. To everyone, the King Oni no longer existed; his story was just an echo of the past.
Leticia glanced at Senji sideways, noticing his relaxed expression.
"It looks like no one recognizes you," she murmured with some amusement.
"That's the best part," Senji replied with a slight smile. "I'd prefer things stay this way for now."
As they walked, the scent of freshly made food grew stronger, catching Senji's attention.
"Let's eat," he said with determination.
Leticia sighed but nodded.
Senji calmly cut a piece of meat, bringing it to his mouth while his gaze swept over the surroundings. The aromas of European food enveloped him, but what truly caught his attention was the atmosphere of the village.
The streets were filled with laughter and lively conversation. Families walked without worry, merchants eagerly sold their products, and children played fearlessly.
It was a stark contrast to the past. The shadow of "Absolute Evil" no longer existed, and with its disappearance, the fear that once ruled these lands had also faded.
Leticia, noticing his reflective gaze, spoke naturally.
"It's different, isn't it?"
Senji set his utensils down on the plate and nodded slightly.
"Yes... it's changed a lot."
There was peace. And though he didn't express it in words, a part of him recognized that this change wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
As they walked down the cobblestone streets of the village, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, a ball suddenly shot in Senji's direction. Without flinching, he caught it with one hand before it even got close to his face.
In front of him, a group of children stared at him with wide eyes, clearly nervous.
"We're sorry, sir!" they exclaimed in unison, bowing their heads in apology.
Senji watched the scene with amusement, then looked at the ball in his hand. The children's innocence made him smile, and without further ado, he tossed the ball back to them with a light throw.
"It's nothing," he said calmly. "But you should be careful when kicking the ball."
The children nodded exaggeratedly, as if their lives depended on it. That exaggerated reaction made Senji let out a small laugh.
Leticia, beside him, observed the scene with a look of mild surprise before smiling softly.
"I didn't expect to see you interact like that with the children," she commented as they resumed their walk.
"They just remind me of someone," Senji replied, without going into details.
Senji and Leticia continued walking through the village, observing the various market stalls and small shops lining the streets. The hustle and bustle was lively, with vendors offering handmade goods, fresh fruits, and all kinds of utensils.
Senji, hands in his pockets, looked around with interest. Though it had been a long time since he had last been there, he could notice how much the village had changed in his absence.
"It feels livelier," Leticia commented, stopping in front of a stall selling traditional sweets.
"Yeah. Before, there was only tension and fear," Senji replied as he observed the merchants smiling and the customers negotiating calmly. "It's a good change."
Leticia picked up a small candy wrapped in paper and looked at it with curiosity.
"Do you want to try one?"
Senji looked at her with a slight smile.
"Are you implying I should treat myself?"
"I'm saying you should try something different," she replied, offering him the candy.
Senji took the candy without much argument. As he tasted it, the flavor briefly reminded him of a distant moment from his previous life.
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From the viewpoint, Senji and Leticia observed the vast lake surrounding the Tree of Life. The surface of the water reflected the sky with a crystal-clear glow, and the breeze carried the murmurs of conversations from the gathered spectators.
In the water, a group of hippocamps—mythological creatures with horse bodies and fish tails—lined up with their riders, ready to compete in a race that would cross the expansive lake to a finish line kilometers away.
Senji heard the excitement of the crowd, commenting on the riders and placing bets. Some trusted the experience of the more seasoned competitors, while others supported the more agile riders.
His gaze settled on a short rider. At first glance, she appeared too young to be competing against bigger and more experienced opponents.
"Interesting..." he murmured with a slight smile.
Without thinking much about it, he decided to place a bet on that rider, intrigued by the possibility of a surprise in the race.
"Are you sure?" Leticia asked, noticing his choice.
"Yeah. It'll be fun to see how this unfolds."
The sound of a horn echoed, signaling that the race was about to begin.
The race started with a bang as the riders urged their hippocamps forward at full speed. From the viewpoint, Senji and Leticia watched the race unfold intently.
"Your rider is in last place," Leticia commented with a smile, still watching the race.
"The race isn't over," Senji replied calmly, leaning his elbows on the railing as he watched with interest.
On the shores of the lake, the young rider felt the tension in the air. She gripped the reins of her hippocamp firmly, her best friend and the racing companion of her late father.
"You know we can win this," she whispered, leaning forward.
The hippocamp snorted with excitement, wagging its tail forcefully in the water. Its muscles tensed, and in an instant, both went from last place to overtaking the other competitors with impressive speed.
The spectators at the viewpoint began to murmur in astonishment as they witnessed the unexpected comeback.
"Wow, looks like your rider's woken up," Leticia commented.
Senji smiled to the side, watching as the adolescent and her companion made their way through the competition.
The water splashed powerfully as the hippocamp quickened its pace, propelling itself with powerful strokes and vigorously shaking its tail. The young rider tightened the reins, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her body.
"We've passed two... and with this, three!" she exclaimed excitedly, her gaze fixed on the five competitors still ahead.
The hippocamp snorted with excitement, its competitive fire igniting. It felt the confidence of its rider and responded with even greater speed, as if each word of encouragement pushed it beyond its own limits.
"We're going to make it, keep it up, partner!" she cheered with a radiant smile.
The competitors began to notice her progress, some attempting to block her path, but she was ready.
One of the riders, noticing her rapid advancement, scowled and jerked the reins roughly, guiding his hippocamp to block the young rider's way.
"Not so fast, little girl," he murmured with a crooked smile, pushing his mount toward hers in an attempt to unbalance her and take her out of the race.
But the young rider wasn't inexperienced. She had trained her whole life with her father, who had taught her not only to ride but to handle such tricks.
So you want to play dirty?" she whispered with a confident smile.
When the other hippocamp tried to tackle them, hers remained firm, its muscles tightening like steel. The impact resonated in the water, but they didn't move an inch.
"Good try," the young rider said, pulling the reins at just the right moment to dodge another attempt to block her. In one fluid movement, she used the momentum to circle around the rival and pass ahead with ease.
The other rider watched her in disbelief as she pulled away.
"Come on, partner, there are still two more," she whispered, feeling the excitement burn in her chest.
Her hippocamp responded with a loud snort, accelerating even more.
The roar of the water intensified as the young rider closed in on the second-place rider. This time, there were no dirty tricks or sabotage attempts, just pure competition of speed and skill.
The rider beside her noticed her presence and gave her a challenging smile.
"So, you made it this far," he said firmly, leaning slightly forward to reduce the wind resistance.
The young rider responded in kind, leaning forward over her hippocamp and stroking its neck with confidence.
"I'm not planning to fall behind now."
Both riders signaled their hippocamps at the same time, and in an instant, the real race began.
Both animals propelled themselves with all their strength, cutting through the water with fierce speed. The sounds of betting and the crowd's shouts faded into the background. Now, it was just them, the finish line, and the thrill of the competition.
Their hippocamps swam in perfect synchronization, their tremendous strength creating waves with every stroke. Every second counted, every breath made a difference.
The young rider felt the adrenaline course through her body. She knew her partner had what it took to overcome this challenge.
"Just a little more, partner! You've got this!" she shouted, her voice full of excitement.
The hippocamp let out a powerful snort, responding to its rider with one final burst of speed.
The crowd's roar reached its peak as both riders overtook the leader of the race. Now only the two of them remained, competing on equal terms, pushing their hippocamps to the limit.
The young rider felt her best friend's strength responding to each of her words of encouragement, moving forward with determination and confidence.
The final meters became a battle of pure endurance. Water splashed around them, the tension in the air palpable, and the crowd held its breath as the two competitors neared the finish line.
And then, in the last instant, her hippocamp stretched its neck and crossed the finish line by an almost imperceptible margin.
The eruption of cheers was immediate. The young rider had won.
Senji, with a smile of amusement on his face, watched the outcome with satisfaction.
"Looks like I bet right."
Leticia, standing beside him, crossed her arms and smiled with interest.
"I didn't expect it to end like this, but it was quite the show."
The official announcement confirmed the victory of the young rider in the hippocamp race.
External Gate Number: 2105380
Senji and Leticia walked calmly along the path leading to the No Name community. From a distance, they could see how much the place had changed. The structures were better built, the fields were greener, and the people appeared busy with their daily tasks.
"It's been a long time since I was last here," Senji commented, his sharp eyes observing every detail of the growing community.
"Yeah, No Name has changed a lot. They've worked hard to recover," Leticia replied with a slight smile.
As they approached the main entrance, some children at the door tensed for a moment, but upon recognizing Leticia, they immediately relaxed.
"Lady Leticia!" one of them exclaimed, bowing their head in respect.
"It's good to see you all," she replied casually before passing without issue.
Senji, on the other hand, received a few curious glances. Though few recognized him immediately, his presence carried an air of intimidation.
Suddenly, before they could take another step inside the community, a loud sound of something cutting through the wind caught their attention.
"Senji!" Izayoi's voice rang out with force before a fast fist shot directly toward Senji's face.
Without flinching, Senji raised a hand and easily caught the punch, but his arm moved slightly backward from the impact.
Izayoi flashed a wide grin.
"Hah, looks like you still have good reflexes."
Senji glanced at his arm before looking back at Izayoi with amusement.
"Well, you've improved. It's been quite a while since we last fought, huh?"
Kasukabe Yo, who had been observing the scene with her arms crossed, calmly intervened.
"Almost three years, to be exact."
Leticia sighed with a faint smile.
"Some people never change."
Izayoi clicked his tongue, excited.
"Well, since we're here, how about we settle this with a fight?"
Senji raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Again? Are you that eager to lose?"
Izayoi crossed his arms confidently, a smile full of excitement appearing on his face.
"This time I can fight you without anyone interfering," he declared confidently. "My female version won't be able to intervene this time."
Senji let out a mocking laugh at that statement.
"Does it still hurt what happened last time?" he said with a challenging grin. "Come on, Izayoi. It's not my fault you didn't have a chance to actually hurt me."
Izayoi clicked his tongue but didn't lose his smile.
"It's not that I couldn't, it's that that female version of mine, Izayoi Saigou, ended up stealing the fight from me."
Senji tilted his head slightly, pretending to think it over.
"Hmmm... Not like it matters much. If she hadn't intervened, the outcome of that fight would have been your death."
Senji's words were not just a provocation, but a clear, direct statement. Izayoi, far from being upset, showed an even more excited grin.
"So, what do you say? Shall we have a rematch once and for all?"
Leticia, who had been watching the exchange between them, sighed and placed a hand on her forehead.
"They haven't changed at all..."
Kasukabe Yo, standing beside her, nodded calmly.
"They always end up like this when they see each other."
Senji looked at Izayoi with amusement.
"I'm not going to turn down a good fight... but tell me, Izayoi, are you ready to see the difference between who you were years ago and who I am now?"
Izayoi stretched his arms with a confident laugh.
"The question is, are you ready to see how much I've grown?"
The atmosphere began to fill with tension as they stared each other down, ready to prove who had become stronger over the years.