Shuri softly tapped her fingers against her knee. "Malik and I should be enough."
"Are you sure? We can call in reinforcements if need be."
"No, but I do say it would be wise to send those crystals to President Ross before things get even more out of hand between him and Malik."
The soldier gulped hard. "Right."
Renji and Senji both were rapidly approaching their limit. Without magic, they didn't have the ability to fight long term battles because being magicless meant you lacked that superhuman ability to fight for long periods of time. However, the two couldn't let the beast into the village, and they made sure they would die trying.
Renji jumped onto the head of the beast and stabbed its nose. Blood spouted out from the wounds, and Senji followed through by stabbing it in the ankle. The beast limped down, before snapping it back in place and roaring, sending Renji and Senji into a sand hill.
The wolf planted itself into a firm stance and unleashed an enormous amount of murderous intent. Renji and Senji nearly fell down to their knees in fear.
"Senji. I have an idea."
"Spill."
"Everything has a weak or soft spot. In the case of this wolf, that's the eyes, nose, and it's stomach." Renji said and stood up straight.
"How did you did you figure that out?"
Renji pointed to the wolfs stomach. "When you were down there trying to cut it down, I saw you jump and try to cut the stomach. You might've thought that was a dodge, but from where I was, it completely lost focus on me and turned it all to protecting its stomach."
"So we need to cut its stomach open?"
Renji let out a breath. "It's our only option."
Senji smirked. "Okay then, what's the gameplan?"
"We'll both attack from below. However, I'll protect you from any attacks from above. It nearly broke my ribs just now, so lets hurry it up."
"Yeah, I got a few cracked ribs."
"No matter. We just need to hold out until the sorcerers arrive."
With a deep breath, the twins released it and dashed forward. Renji ran forward and stabbed the beast in open veins in the legs. The beast swiped left and flung Renji into multiple sand hills. Senji ran around, his body moving like a serpent as he weaved around underneath the beast.
When he jumped, he dodged a swipe and swung down, slicing open multiple veins. The beast fell down to just three legs left, as Senji smiled in victory from knocking it down. When he turned around and looked for Renji, his heart dropped at the sight of his brother.
On the impact of being swiped by the beast, Renji was cut three times across his chest, and his left arm was cut off in the process. His face had cuts and bruises on it, and he looked to be unconscious.
In a fit of rage, Senji gripped his sickle with his entire being and jumped up, slicing out the beast's eyes. With a roar of anger, Senji began rapidly slicing as best he could, but he could barely get through the hide.
"Damn it! His hide is too thick, and if I break my sickle, it's game over!"
Senji jumped back on the ground and tried to ground himself. However, he couldn't get over seeing his brother's body as limp as it was.
"Renji... what would you do?"
"Senji!!"
Senji looked up to see Renji in the air, one dagger in hand and the other in his mouth, crash down and completely stab out the left eye of the beast, leaving barely half vision in its right eye.
Senji was stunned. "How are you...?"
"Come on! We're walking on a line of death!!"
Malik walked in the dessert, catching a feel for the beast as he followed tracks in the sand. He could feel the vibrations of the beast, and the way the wind flowed, the beast was northeast from his location.
Shuri walked up the sand dune he was standing on and looked forward. "Did you find my cute white haired friend yet?"
"They're northeast from here. Let's move."
Not wanting to run anymore, Shuri jumped onto his back snd Malik jumped off into the air again. He was now in sight of the two boys and the beast.
The beast slammed the ground and swiped at Renji. Renji quickly dodged but was unfortunately hit with its tail and flung into a sand dune. The beast then hardened its fur and shot multiple fur needles at Senji. Blocking what he could, he ran through the pain and sent a big slash at the beast's legs. stumbling, Senji jumped up and tried cutting through the beast's stomach. Renji rose up and saw the beast ready to strike, and quickly ran to help his brother.
"RAHHHHHHH!!!" Senji shouted, pushing upwards with all his might to try and cut through the beast's stomach.
Renji jumped up, slamming its daggers into the beast's nose. He took his mouth off his dagger and looked down to Senji.
"Do it, Senji!"
"What do you think im doing?!"
As the boys could see victory, they got cocky and stopped focusing on the beast's body structure. The beast had stilled itself, pouring all of its energy to its stomach to harden it. Before Renji realized something was wrong, it was too late.
"Shit! Senji, move!!"
Suddenly, an electric shock suddenly exploded from the body of the beast. Renji and Senji were flown back into sand dunes at immense speeds, fracturing bones and opening wounds. Senji was completely knocked out from the impact. Renji, his vision slowly fading, watched as the beast casually healed its wounds in seconds and shook off the blood that got on its skin.
"Damn it... I couldn't have expected much. It is S Rank after all... well, we did good anyway."
The beast slowly walked over to the two boys, and lowered its head. It roared at Renji before opening its jaws and lunging forward.
"Bonebreaker Punch!"
A white, translucent fist suddenly emerged and punched the beast directly in the jaw, immediately shattering its bones and breaking some teeth.
"My poor, poor cutie. I'm sorry we arrived this late."
Malik took off his jacket and set it aside. "You two young men did good to say you can't use magic. Can you heal them?"
"The one with brown hair, yes. However, if we don't get this one to a medical center as fast as possible, he could die."
"Then I'll make this quick."
Malik suddenly vanished, and appeared next to the beast, summoning two clear white fist and slamming them down on the head of the beast. The impact created a crater large enough to resemble the impact of a nuke, and the dust cloud that formed resembled the shape of a mushroom.
Malik uses a divine mana that is derived from an ancient rhinoceros spirit. He could conjure arms and fists that are made with mana, harden his body to near indestructible power, and even transform into the rhinoceros spirit as a last ditch effort.
"So destructive."
Back with the soldiers, they were driving as fast as they could with Madame Shuri no longer in the car.
"Sir, im getting a call."
"Then answer it, why are you always telling me whats happening?"
The soldier shrugged nervously. "Because it's protocol?"
"Hello?"
"This is Madame Shuri, the two young boys are unconscious and one is in fatal condition. How far are you from the Kimuri village?"
"Maybe ten minutes out?"
Shuri clenched her teeth as she heard the soldier. "He doesn't sound sure. I need to use my speed skill it seems."
"Madame Shuri?"
"Everything is fine. Malik just defeated the beast. Turn around and head back towards your general assignment, Malik and I will take it from here."
"Yes ma'am."
After Shuri hung the phone up, she turned to see Malik releasing the beast from his grasp. Malik used his superior speed to overwhelm the beast before grabbing it and snapping its neck.
"Do you need my help?" Malik asked, sliding his jacket back on.
"I'll take the brown haired one. You take the white haired one and bring him to the medical center in Downtown Redu."
Malik walked over and slung Renji over his shoulder. "Alright. Keep up."
In a void, Renji laid dormant. He could hear everything and nothing at the same time.
"If I can get a lot of sleep here, I have no complaints."
"Renji!"
"I wonder if I have to eat anymore?"
"Renji!"
"Do I have to pee anymore?"
"Renji, wake the hell up!"
Renji's eyes shot open. "Ah! What the hell, I'm not dead?!"
The two looked up as a deep humming sound suddenly sounded off, and something illuminated the area as golden light appeared above the two of them.
"What is that?"
Suddenly, a giant white snake slowly writhed out of the darkness and slowly wrapped itself around Renji, and then it slowly disappeared. Another snake, this time a black one, slowly writhed out of the darkness and suddenly exploded into mana, and that mana then flowed into Senji. After this, the two were suddenly split apart, and a screen appeared before Renji.
Alright architect… this is clean. I'm giving you that Solo Leveling–style system drop with weight, presence, and progression baked in.
_______________________________
[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION — SUCCESS]
— Host Detected —
Name: Renji Kimuri
Status: Alive
Condition: Stabilized (Post-Trial Survival)
[QUEST COMPLETED]
"Walk the Line of Death"
You have crossed the boundary between life and oblivion… and returned.
The System acknowledges your will.
[REWARD CALCULATION COMPLETE]
New Authority Unlocked:
"Serpent Contract: Gamamura"
You have formed a binding pact with the Great Serpent
— Gamamura, Devourer of Hollow Realms —
Rank: Mythic Summon
Growth Type: Linked Evolution
Core Trait: Predatory Adaptation
Passive Ability: "Coil of Dominion" Gamamura grows stronger with each enemy consumed
Summon Growth System Enabled
Your strength and your summon's strength are now intertwined.
Shared Experience Gain
⚠️Dual Evolution Paths:
Renji Ascension Path
Gamamura Devour Path
⚠️Unlockable Forms:
Phase II: Venom Sovereign
Phase III: World Serpent
New Weapon Unlocked:
"Fang Reapers"
Twin daggers born from the fangs of a primordial serpent.
Type: Summonable Dual Blades
Attribute: Serpent / Shadow Hybrid
Scaling: Linked to Gamamura's Growth
Abilities:
"Venom Rend" – Inflicts stacking corrosive damage
"Serpent Step" – Blink movement with afterimage trails
"Feeding Edge" – Damage dealt heals both Renji and Gamamura
"Fang Recall" – Daggers can be dismissed and resummoned instantly
[NEW SYSTEM FUNCTION UNLOCKED]
Beast Progression Interface
You may now:
Allocate stat growth to Gamamura
Evolve abilities through Devour Points
Unlock unique Serpent Traits
Synchronize combat techniques between user and summon
⚠️ [SYSTEM NOTICE]
You are no longer a standard player.
You are a Vessel of the Serpent Path.
Enemies will begin to recognize your presence.
Higher-tier threats will seek you out.
[TITLE ACQUIRED]
"He Who Walked Death and Returned"
+10% Resistance to Fatal Damage
+15% Intimidation Aura vs Beasts
[FINAL MESSAGE]
Grow.
Devour.
Ascend.
————–—————————————
Renji's eyes shot open. He jolted upwards and rubbed the sweat off his head, his breathing was heavy, and his body was shaking.
"What the hell was that?"
The system appeared before him again. But before he noticed that, he looked down and saw his arm was back too. It was in perfect shape as well.
"My arm is back, and apparently that snake's name is "Gamamura." But Senji was there too, where is he?"
"Oh, you're awake?"
Renji looked over and saw a young girl who was fairly short, but had a beautiful pair of light green eyes and black hair.
"Uh, hi. What happened?"
Senji sat up in his hospital room and stared at the white energy with golden sparkles floating around it. He smiled widely and watched it slowly dissipate into his palms.
"Finally."