The old dojo stood silent.
But inside—
The air was tense.
Heavy.
Tachibana Hina stood in position.
Katana in hand.
Breathing steady… but her eyes sharp.
Across from her—
Kurosaki Shin.
Unarmed.
Relaxed.
Calm.
"Don't hesitate."
Shin's voice was cold.
"Fight me seriously."
A pause.
"I'm strong."
Hina tightened her grip.
"…I know."
In an instant—
She dashed forward.
CLANG!
Her katana sliced through the air—
Fast.
Precise.
But—
Shin had already moved.
A slight step.
A small shift.
Effortless.
The blade missed.
Again—
Hina attacked.
SWISH! SWISH!
Multiple strikes.
Angles shifting.
Speed increasing.
But Shin—
Dodged everything.
No wasted movement.
No opening.
No weakness.
Hina's breathing grew heavier.
"…why can't I hit her…?"
Shin watched calmly.
"Too predictable."
Hina's eyes sharpened.
"…then try this."
She stepped back.
Lowered her stance.
"…Hi no nagare."
Her voice steadied.
"Hi ga moete imasu."
FWOOSH!!!
Flames erupted from her katana.
Bright.
Intense.
Burning violently.
The temperature in the dojo spiked instantly.
Hina dashed forward again—
SLASH!!!
A blazing strike cut through the air.
Even Shin—
Moved back this time.
The heat—
Was dangerous.
"…that flame…"
Shin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Hina pressed the attack—
Faster.
More aggressive.
SLASH! SLASH!
Flames roared with each swing.
But—
In a blink—
Shin disappeared.
"…?!"
THUD!!!
A sudden impact—
Hina's body shook violently.
Shin's fist—
Had struck her stomach.
Direct.
Precise.
Devastating.
"—ghh…!"
Hina staggered back.
Her legs trembling.
Her grip loosened.
Her katana almost slipped.
Her body… refused to respond.
"…so this is…"
She struggled to breathe.
"…the strength of a Grade S…"
Shin stood calmly.
As if nothing had happened.
"You're slow."
She stepped forward.
"But…"
A slight pause.
"…you have potential."
Hina looked up.
Still shaking.
Shin's gaze remained sharp.
"…I'll train you."
Her voice carried weight.
"Until you can truly fight dangerous Demons."
Silence.
Hina slowly straightened.
"…then don't go easy on me."
A faint smirk appeared on Shin's face.
"I won't."
Days Later
The dojo echoed with constant clashes.
CLANG!
THUD!
SWISH!
Day after day—
Hina trained.
She fell.
Again.
And again.
But she stood back up.
Every time.
Her movements improved.
Sharper.
Faster.
More controlled.
Her flames—
Stronger.
More stable.
Shin watched silently.
Arms crossed.
"…strange."
Her eyes focused on Hina's blade.
The fire burned brightly.
Too brightly.
"…this isn't normal flame…"
Shin narrowed her eyes.
"…even among fire-style users…"
A pause.
"…what exactly are you?"
Elsewhere – In the City
Night.
A tall building stood quiet.
Inside—
Destruction.
Walls shattered.
Floors cracked.
Heat filled the air.
A Red-Level Demon stood in the center.
Its body wrapped in burning chains.
Eyes filled with killing intent.
"I will kill you…"
It growled.
"Special Grade."
Across from it—
A man stood lazily.
Hands in his pockets.
Half-lidded eyes.
Bored expression.
"…you talk too much."
The Demon roared—
Chains ignited—
WHOOOOSH!!!
They shot forward like flaming serpents.
But the man—
Didn't move much.
"…weak."
He removed his glove slowly.
Then—
Placed his hand on the ground.
A pause.
"…break."
BOOOOOOM!!!
The floor shattered instantly.
The Demon lost its balance—
"…?!"
In that moment—
The man appeared in front of it.
Grabbed its head.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"…explode."
BOOM.
The Demon's head—
Burst instantly.
Its body collapsed.
Lifeless.
Silence.
The man sighed.
"…boring."
He put his glove back on.
Verse del Hila.
Age 20.
Half Japanese.
Half Spanish.
Special Grade.
And terrifyingly strong.
He glanced at the remains.
"…send something stronger next time."
His voice echoed in the empty building.
To be continued…