"Next time… that won't miss."
⸻
Ryuk slowly raised Wrathreaver.
"…then don't miss."
"…I want to see how strong I've become."
⸻
They stepped forward—
At the same time.
⸻
CLASH.
⸻
Steel met steel.
Force against force.
Both pushed each other back—testing strength.
⸻
The ninja smirked.
"…Impressive weapon."
⸻
Ryuk suddenly shoved him back—
THUD—
And followed with a brutal kick straight to his face.
⸻
"…You talk too much."
"…What's your name?"
⸻
The ninja steadied himself, wiping blood from his lip.
"…Megami Uzui."
⸻
The moment he said that—
He vanished.
⸻
A blur.
An afterimage.
⸻
"…Fast."
⸻
SHING—
A blade from the left—
SHING—
Another from the right—
⸻
Ryuk reacted instantly—
WRATHREAVER blocked vertically.
CLANG.
⸻
"…Two blades… two angles…"
"…no hesitation…"
⸻
Megami stepped back—
Then circled him at insane speed.
Leaves lifted.
Air distorted.
⸻
"…Catch my speed… if you can."
⸻
He attacked again—
Relentless.
Left—right—low sweep—
Upward slash—
⸻
Blood splashed.
⸻
Ryuk staggered.
"…damn it…"
"…I can see it…"
"…but I can't fully react…"
⸻
More attacks rained down—
Fast.
Precise.
Brutal.
⸻
Then—
A mistake.
⸻
Megami's guard dropped for a split second.
⸻
Ryuk's eyes sharpened.
"…Got you."
⸻
SLASH—
Wrathreaver aimed for his neck—
⸻
CLANG—
Megami barely blocked—
But—
CRACK.
⸻
His blades trembled.
Small fractures spreading across them.
⸻
"…What the—?"
⸻
Ryuk stepped forward aggressively.
"…again."
⸻
Megami clicked his tongue—
Then jumped onto the trees.
⸻
From above—
He attacked.
Again.
And again.
And again.
⸻
Slashes from every direction.
⸻
Ryuk's body—
Cut.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
⸻
Too fast.
Too overwhelming.
⸻
Then—
Megami laughed.
"…So this is it?"
"…a weak guy like you made it here?"
"…you can't even use that weapon properly."
⸻
"…What a failure."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Something—
Snapped.
⸻
FLASH—
Voices.
"You're a failure…"
"You couldn't save us…"
"Loser…"
⸻
Ryuk's eyes widened—
Then slowly darkened.
⸻
"…Say that again."
⸻
Megami lunged from behind—
Going for the kill—
⸻
But—
⸻
GRAB.
⸻
Ryuk's hand caught his throat mid-air.
⸻
"…Got you."
⸻
The atmosphere changed.
Heavy.
Dark.
Violent.
⸻
Wrathreaver—
Started emitting black smoke.
Crimson veins glowing brighter.
⸻
Megami struggled—
"…what the hell…?!"
⸻
Ryuk's grip tightened.
His nails dug into his neck.
Blood dripping.
⸻
"…You talk too much."
⸻
SLASH—
⸻
His left arm—
Gone.
⸻
"AAAAAAHHHH—!! MY ARM!!"
⸻
Ryuk threw him into a tree—
CRASH.
⸻
Slow steps.
Calm.
Cold.
⸻
Wrathreaver pulsed.
Hungry.
⸻
Ryuk vanished—
⸻
And appeared in front of him.
⸻
SLASH—
⸻
His right leg—
Severed.
⸻
Megami screamed in agony.
⸻
Ryuk tilted his head slightly.
A faint… twisted smile.
⸻
"…You know what's funny?"
"…I didn't even know you."
"…we just met…"
"…and yet…"
⸻
He raised the blade.
⸻
"…I really want to kill you."
⸻
"…badly."
⸻
He stepped closer.
⸻
"…Any last words?"
⸻
Megami tried to speak—
"…y-you—"
⸻
SLASH.
⸻
Silence.
⸻
"…Yeah."
"…I don't care."
⸻
The body dropped.
⸻
First kill.
⸻
Ryuk stood there.
Breathing heavy.
Blood dripping.
⸻
Then—
He collapsed to one knee.
⸻
"…That was… tougher than I thought…"
"…and this is just the beginning…"
⸻
He exhaled slowly.
⸻
"…Heal."
⸻
Green light covered his body.
Wounds closed.
Pain vanished.
⸻
He stood up again.
⸻
"…Much better."
⸻
FOREST — LATER
⸻
Ryuk walked through the trees.
Wrathreaver resting on his shoulder.
Eyes scanning.
⸻
"…I need food…"
⸻
"…Veronica."
⸻
[DO YOU NEED SOMETHING?]
⸻
"…Yeah. Food."
⸻
[HUNT IT YOURSELF.]
⸻
"…Seriously?"
⸻
A sound.
Water.
⸻
Ryuk turned.
⸻
A waterfall.
A river flowing beneath it.
⸻
"…Perfect."
"…I'll stay here tonight."
"…maybe my next target shows up too."
⸻
He tried catching fish—
Again.
And again.
⸻
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
⸻
"…Why is this so hard?!"
⸻
Then—
⸻
"…You're doing it wrong."
⸻
Ryuk froze.
⸻
Someone was sitting beside him.
⸻
He hadn't even noticed.
⸻
Sky-blue hair.
Calm eyes.
A presence…
Too quiet.
Too controlled.
⸻
"…When did you—?"
⸻
The man smiled gently.
"…I've been here."
⸻
Ryuk narrowed his eyes.
"…Who are you?"
⸻
"…Sky."
"…The Abandoned Warrior."
⸻
Ryuk stared.
Alert.
Curious.
⸻
"…Sky…?"
⸻
Sky looked at the water.
Then back at him.
⸻
"…You're trying to catch fish, right?"
⸻
A soft smile.
⸻
"…I'll teach you."
⸻
⸻
To Be Continued…
⸻