Chapter 5: Glory to the Deserving
Glory is given to those who deserve it.
The clang of swords echoed through the open courtyard, but Muichiro wasn't focused.
He was off.
His blade wavered in stance, his footwork sloppy. Each strike felt heavier than the last.
"Again!" barked his instructor, an older hunter with cold eyes and a rough voice.
Muichiro gritted his teeth. Sweat dripped down his chin as he lunged forward again—only to be disarmed within seconds.
His sword clattered to the ground.
"Pathetic," the instructor muttered, shaking his head.
Muichiro knelt to pick up his blade. His hand trembled—not from exhaustion, but frustration.
What's wrong with me today?
He hadn't slept. The faces of those who had died during his last mission haunted him—civilians, a fellow hunter, a child. He had failed them.
"Do you know what your weakness is?" the instructor said, walking over.
Muichiro didn't respond.
"You rely on raw power. But strength without control is like a flood without a course—it destroys everything and everyone, including yourself."
Muichiro stayed silent, clenching his sword tightly.
"Channel your spirit," the man continued. "Let your fury flow, not consume. Feel the enemy. Read their rhythm. Strike only when the heart aligns with the blade."
Those words stayed with him long after training ended.
He wandered through the woods, blade on his back, trying to calm his heart.
That's when the town's warning bells began to toll.
† † †
The sky darkened as flames burst from Muichiro's sword. They soared through the air, aimed at the Majin before him.
The creature blinked lazily.
The strike landed—and bounced off. The force flung past him, ripping through the street and hurling dust into the air.
"What…?" Muichiro stood frozen. His strongest technique... had done nothing.
"You've got to be kidding…"
The Majin roared and dashed away into the town, its black scales shimmering under the moonlight.
Why didn't it kill me?
What was it after?
† † †
The Majin's ragged breathing filled a small wooden cabin deep in the forest. Its massive form loomed over a young woman—nineteen, shivering beneath it, eyes red with horror.
"You'll make a beautiful wife for Lord Akuma… in his harem," the beast whispered.
Her name was Chiasa.
She couldn't stop trembling. Her brothers were gone—slain right before her eyes. One moment, they were standing, yelling at her to run, the next—
"Chii… save me…" her little brother's voice echoed in her soul.
Rage gripped her.
She spotted a large rock in the corner of the room.
With all her strength, she shoved the Majin off her and lunged for it.
Only—the rock vanished.
Her body froze in place.
The Majin held it in one hand, grinning. "A wife with a fighting spirit… how cute. Did you think a rock could hurt me? Pathetic."
It lunged, pinning her to the wall.
"If I can't tame you, I'll remake you."
Its claws extended, gleaming with venom. One sharp thrust—into her neck.
She screamed as toxins spread through her veins, her eyes rolling back.
The Majin chuckled as she collapsed unconscious.
But its victory was short-lived.
"Gahhhh!"
Its limbs exploded outward in bursts of blood and bone.
A man stood in the doorway, sword drawn, eyes hardened with pain and fury.
Too late.
The girl was unconscious—tainted.
"And who are you?" the Majin asked, regenerating slowly.
The man didn't respond.
It smirked. "Ah… got it now."
The beast charged, claws slicing toward him—but they were stopped.
"What?!"
With a smooth slash, the man split the Majin in half from hip to shoulder.
"I'm Rui. Chūki-rank Majin Hunter," he said grimly. "And I'm done letting scum like you live."
He stepped inside.
The girl still breathed. He checked her pulse—and stopped. A swollen, pulsing mark on her neck radiated dark energy.
"Majin corruption," he muttered.
Then—BANG—he was thrown across the room by an invisible force.
He stood, disoriented—then slammed back down.
"What the…?!"
"Did you really think I'd die?" came the Majin's voice.
Oh no.
"You call us disgusting? It's your kind that pollutes the world. Lord Akuma will rejoice. A girl for his harem—and a hunter's head."
Rui rose again, sword ready. But something was wrong. A crushing force pressed on his shoulders, heavier with each breath.
Gravity?
"No… don't tell me… this one can manipulate gravity… That makes it—"
An S-rank.
Rui had never fought one before.
He couldn't think. The Majin struck with furious speed. Rui dodged, barely—its claws grazing him.
Suddenly, fire erupted from the Majin's mouth.
Not hot.
Cold.
"What…?"
His foot froze to the floor. Ice. Fire and ice—what was this monster?
The Majin approached, smiling cruelly.
"I admire your bravery… but it ends here."
Rui couldn't move.
No… he couldn't die.
He thought of his mother.
"Be safe. Come back home safe."
If he died, she would be alone.
He had to survive.
The Majin raised its fist.
Rui blocked it with his hand—but contact with its skin sent poison through him.
He staggered, strength draining.
The Majin cackled. "A middle-rank hunter? Against me? How stupid. I'll kill you. Then your family. I'll enjoy every scream."
Rage boiled in Rui's chest.
He had already lost his father and brother to the Majin.
Only his mother and little sister remained.
He would not lose them too.
With a yell, he shattered the ice binding him and leapt forward.
He met the Majin's eyes with pure hatred. "It's me and you now!" he roared.
† † †
Not far from there, Muichiro caught up to the trail of destruction. His eyes widened as he saw the shattered trees, the cratered earth, the stench of blood in the air.
He had followed the Majin's path—and found the cabin.
Inside, two figures clashed.
A Majin—hulking, terrifying. And a hunter—familiar.
"Rui?" Muichiro gasped, recognizing the man who had once taught him basic footwork during his first year.
Without hesitation, Muichiro charged in.
The Majin's fist came for Rui—Muichiro deflected it with a flaming sweep.
"Muichiro…?" Rui looked up, surprised—and bleeding.
"I'll handle this now," Muichiro said, steadying his breath.
He had failed earlier—but now, his heart aligned with his blade.
He remembered his instructor's words:
"Let your fury flow. Read the rhythm. Strike when heart and blade become one."
This time, he would not rely on brute force.
This time, he would feel the enemy.
The Majin lunged.
And Muichiro moved—not against it, but with it.
He twisted around the claw, flame trailing his blade like a comet. His sword carved through the Majin's shoulder, black blood spewing.
He didn't stop.
He struck again—precise, clean, controlled.
Each cut sang.
The Majin staggered. "What is this?!"
Muichiro's eyes gleamed. "Control."
With one final breath, he leapt into the air, blade igniting into brilliant flame.
"For the ones you've hurt—perish!"
His sword came down like divine wrath—cleaving the Majin in two.
This time, it didn't regenerate.
Silence.
Muichiro panted, lowering his blade.
Rui smiled weakly. "You've grown."
Muichiro nodded. "I had a bad day at training… but I learned something."
He looked at the unconscious girl.
"Let's get her help… and burn what's left of that thing."
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