4 – "Villains Only Exist in a Hero's Narrative"
Muichiro stood frozen as chaos erupted before him. The creatures surged into the room—hideous, unnatural, twisted beyond anything he could comprehend.
"Muichiro! Snap out of it—move!"
Commander Nagi's roar cut through the air as he carved down Majin with calculated fury.
His mother lay paralyzed on the floor, eyes wide with horror.
This wasn't random. It was coordinated.
Majin had attacked towns before. But this? A direct strike on a civilian home? His home?
A test… or a message?
Resolve burned in Muichiro's chest. If he ever wanted to become an elite Majin Hunter, this was his crucible.
His hand darted to the wall rack. A Poison Pistol. Standard issue against low-grade Majin—its serum would melt them on contact.
His system interface flickered into view:
> Level: 1
Rank: Beginner
Power Level: -10,000
He grimaced. The Catalyst System spared no mercy.
Every human bore its mark. Some believed it was governed by the unseen Lord Akuma, watching from the shadows of the code.
But he couldn't afford to wonder if legends were true.
He fired.
Torrents of hissed bullets screamed through the air, splashing Majin into puddles of steaming pink gel.
Still—they kept coming.
Commander Nagi's breath became ragged, his strikes slower.
A particularly large Majin locked eyes with Muichiro and charged. It saw him. Saw his potential.
He barely resisted its grip before a scream shattered his soul.
"MUICHIRO!!"
His mother's cry—her final one—echoed just before the creature tore through her.
Again. And again.
Until only bloody ribbons remained.
"MOTHER!!!"
He fired through his tears, the shot exploding the Majin's skull.
Rushing to her remains, he fell to his knees and clutched a limp, bloodied arm.
The Majin swarmed, inching closer. He didn't care.
Let them take him. There was nothing left to save.
Then—
A howl of wind. A burst of frost.
The door shattered open.
Time itself seemed to pause as a figure stepped in, radiating cold and command.
"Activating: Flame Sword."
The stranger's voice was calm. Too calm.
With each sweep of the blazing blade, Majin were frozen, then incinerated—shattering in clouds of ice, fire, and ash.
Commander Nagi groaned, clutching his chest, barely conscious.
The newcomer knelt beside him.
> Activating: Healing Balm
Power Level: 89.9%
A pulse of blue light surged. Skin regrew. Flesh stitched itself anew.
"I responded to the emergency signal," the man said evenly.
Nagi gasped with relief. "You have my thanks... Colonel."
Muichiro sat cradling the arm, tears silent now.
Nagi turned to him, voice thunderous again. "Tears won't make her whole. You want revenge? Get stronger."
Muichiro let the arm slip from his hands.
He stood, back turned. "I'll be at training tomorrow."
Nagi nodded. "See that you are."
The two men exited, and the door clicked shut.
Alone once more, Muichiro collapsed to his knees.
The sobs returned.
"Momma…" he whispered.
"I swear... I'll avenge you."
---
±±±
A cold room. Shadows shifted. Silence lingered—until a voice echoed.
"We meet again, Levi."
"You will address me as Sir, Krul."
The elder didn't bother turning. He knew that voice too well.
Krul chuckled, footsteps echoing. "Still proud? I'm not here to argue. I came with a proposition."
"You'll get nothing from me. Nor from my bloodline."
Krul's grin revealed rows of gleaming silver teeth.
"Oh Levi, let's not pretend. What about your grandson… Muichiro, was it?"
Levi froze.
"Touch him and your fate will be sealed."
Krul shrugged. "At your age? You're barely a threat."
He stepped closer, his tone shifting.
"So here's the deal. Tell me about the new hunter. The one stirring panic across the ranks."
"Yusa Itadori," Levi answered bitterly.
Krul's eyes lit up. "Exactly!"
"I know little. His parents were slain by Majin. A sorcerer raised him. We crossed paths once."
Krul narrowed his eyes. "They say he wields cursed weaponry. How does it work?"
Levi's brows furrowed. "A cursed weapon is bound to a demon. A magician seals the pact. The user activates it with a command phrase."
"What's the phrase?"
"I don't know."
Krul clicked his tongue. "Disappointing. I had hoped to spare lives today."
He turned, ready to leave—
But Levi moved like lightning. He slammed Krul to the ground, sword raised to strike.
Then—SHLKT!
A clawed hand erupted through the old man's skull.
Krul stood, brushing dust off his coat.
"Humans," he sneered, kicking Levi's head free with a casual motion, "so reckless, even in their last breath."
He turned as a shadow emerged—towering, regal, deadly.
Lord Akuma stepped forward, licking his palm. His gaze burned through the room like a furnace.
"What did the fossil reveal?"
Krul straightened his collar.
"Not enough. But don't worry, my Lord... the pieces are moving. Soon, the board will be ours."