The forest didn't welcome them.
It watched.
The moment they stepped beyond the edge of the village, the air changed. The warmth from the open sky faded behind them, replaced by a dense canopy that swallowed light and sound alike. Every step deeper into the forest felt heavier—like something unseen was measuring them.
Daiki cracked his neck as they walked.
"…So we're really doing this."
Shin adjusted his glasses, scanning the ground carefully.
"We agreed on this, didn't we?"
"Yeah, but agreeing and actually walking into a place like this are two different things."
Kuroha moved ahead slightly, her steps nearly silent.
"…You're loud."
Daiki shot her a look.
"I'm not loud."
"You are."
Aikari let out a small breath, trying not to smile.
"…Just stay focused."
Ren said nothing.
His eyes moved through the trees, sharp, deliberate. Every shadow, every shift of wind—he felt it.
The forest wasn't just quiet.
It was holding its breath.
The Trail
They didn't have to search long.
The smell hit first.
Iron.
Blood.
Daiki stopped.
"…Yeah. That's not good."
Ahead of them, the ground was disturbed—deep claw marks carved through dirt and roots, dragging across the forest floor. Broken branches littered the area, snapped not by force… but by speed.
Then—
They saw it.
The creature from the night before.
Or what was left of it.
Its body lay collapsed against a tree, a single, clean cut running through it. No struggle. No resistance.
A perfect kill.
"…That was him," Shin said quietly.
Kuroha crouched near the body, her gaze focused.
"…One strike."
Daiki frowned.
"…Yeah, yeah, we get it. He's strong."
Aikari stepped closer, her expression shifting.
"…Wait…"
She pointed lightly toward the ground.
"…These aren't from the creature."
Ren's eyes narrowed.
There were marks.
Not claws.
Not paws.
Boot prints.
Fresh.
"…We're not alone," Ren said.
They Were Already Watching
A slow clap echoed through the trees.
"…Sharp."
The voice came from above.
A figure dropped from a branch, landing lightly a few feet ahead of them.
Then another.
And another.
Four in total.
They spread out, surrounding the group with practiced ease.
Not beasts.
Not monsters.
Humans.
But something about them felt worse.
The one in front stepped forward—a woman, calm and composed, her eyes scanning the group before settling on Ren.
"…So this is where the signal led us."
Daiki's stance shifted instantly.
"…Signal?"
Shin's expression darkened.
"…They're tracking something."
"…Not something," the woman corrected.
Her gaze locked onto Ren.
"…Someone."
Silence fell.
Aikari's eyes widened slightly.
Kuroha didn't move.
Ren stood still.
Unshaken.
"…Who are you?" Shin asked.
The woman tilted her head slightly.
"…Bounty hunters."
A faint smile.
"…And you're worth more than the rest of them combined."
Daiki stepped forward.
"…Yeah? You're not getting anything from us."
One of the hunters laughed softly.
"…We don't need permission."
The Fight Begins
They moved first.
Fast.
Too fast.
The forest erupted into motion.
One of them lunged straight at Daiki, a massive blade swinging down with crushing force.
"—!"
Daiki barely raised his arms in time—
BOOM
The impact forced him back, feet digging into the ground.
"…Okay—yeah, you hit hard."
He grinned.
And swung back.
Across the clearing, another hunter clashed with Kuroha.
Blades flashed.
Sharp.
Precise.
But Kuroha moved like a shadow—slipping past strikes, cutting clean lines through openings.
One step.
One strike.
The hunter staggered—
And dropped.
Silent.
"…One down," she muttered.
Meanwhile—
Shin moved between Aikari and the others, eyes constantly shifting.
"Left—!"
Aikari reacted instantly, shifting her position just as a projectile tore past where she had been standing.
"…Thanks."
"Don't thank me—move!"
She stepped forward, this time not just defending.
Her strike landed—
Not fully committed.
But enough.
The attacker faltered.
Daiki roared, driving forward—
And slammed his opponent into a tree.
"…Stay down!"
The hunter didn't get back up.
Breathing filled the air.
Heavy.
Uneven.
Two down.
But—
The others hadn't even started trying.
The Interruption
A sudden gust tore through the clearing.
Sharp.
Controlled.
"STOP."
The voice cut through everything.
Not loud.
But absolute.
Everyone froze.
Even the bounty hunters.
The wind settled—
And Kael stepped forward from the treeline.
Calm.
Unbothered.
His eyes didn't look at the fallen.
Didn't acknowledge the fight.
They locked onto Ren.
"…You're holding back."
Silence.
Daiki blinked.
"…What?"
Kael took a step closer.
"…Stop wasting time."
A pause.
"…Finish it."
👁️ Ren
Everything went still.
The forest.
The wind.
The fight.
Ren closed his eyes.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
They opened.
Deep crimson light burned within them.
Thin red streaks of energy cracked outward, leaking from the corners
The air dropped.
Heavy.
Like the forest itself bowed under pressure.
One of the hunters stepped back.
"…What is—"
Ren moved.
The End of the Fight
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
He appeared in front of one of them—
A strike—
Too fast to see.
They collapsed.
Another attacked from behind—
Ren turned—
Blocked.
Countered.
Gone.
The last one tried to retreat—
A mistake.
Ren was already there.
The fight ended before it could begin again.
Silence returned.
But it lingered.
Heavy.
Too heavy.
Pulling Back
The energy didn't fade.
It lingered around Ren.
Unstable.
"…Ren…" Aikari's voice was quiet.
He didn't respond.
The pressure increased.
"…Ren," Shin said, sharper now.
A beat.
Then—
His eyes flickered.
The red glow dimmed.
He closed them.
Everything vanished.
Like it had never been there.
Aftermath
No one spoke at first.
Daiki stared.
"…That's… what you've been holding back?"
Shin exhaled slowly.
"…That wasn't just power…"
Kuroha said nothing.
But her gaze hadn't left Ren.
Aikari looked relieved.
And worried.
Kael's Words
Kael stepped forward.
"…That power…"
His voice was calm.
"…is unstable."
Then his eyes shifted to the others.
"…And you're not ready to stand beside it."
A pause.
"…If you stay like this…"
"…you'll die."
No anger.
No judgment.
Just truth.
He turned.
"…Get stronger."
And walked away.
The wind followed.
Final Scene
One of the hunters—
Barely breathing.
Their hand trembled as it reached into their cloak.
A small device.
A faint glow.
"…Target… confirmed…"
A signal pulsed.
Far away—
Something received it.
And smiled.