Chapter 31
Renji sat back on the wooden bench, his elbows resting on his knees, a half-empty can of soda in his hands. Beside him, Choji stretched lazily, while Lily hummed softly to herself, swinging her legs back and forth.
For once, things felt peaceful.
Renji exhaled. "You know… sometimes I feel like I'm living the wrong life."
Choji tilted his head. "Wrong life? What do you mean?"
Renji gave a weak laugh I don't know I mean like… maybe I was supposed to be someone else or maybe I had another purpose. But it slipped away from me. And now I'm just… me."
Choji nudged him with his shoulder. Hmmm well I know one thing though you're My best friend, Lily's big brother. You don't need to be anyone else."
Lily, sitting between them, leaned her head on Renji's arm. You know big brother, you always say weird things. But you're my only brother. That's what matters."
Renji smiled faintly, his chest tight with emotion.
Meanwhile from a short distance away, Arisa had stepped away and leaned against a lamppost, pretending to scroll through her phone. Her sharp eyes, however, never left Renji.
She had been tasked to keep watch over him by the Bureau. To observe. To decide if he was dangerous.
But what she saw here was no monster or threat.
Only a boy who loved his family.
She caught herself softening. This isn't what I expected… He's just a normal person. Maybe too normal.
But then Renji's voice caught her attention again.
"…If I really was meant to be someone else," Renji muttered, half to himself, "than maybe I'll choose this life again
A life with you and lily always
Choji froze, not knowing what to say.
Lily tightened her grip on Renji's arm, eyes trembling.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Even Arisa, standing in the shadows, felt the weight of his words sink into her chest.
On the other side of the city, far away from the quiet park, the atmosphere was the complete opposite.
Floodlights shone on the ruins of an abandoned factory. Soldiers and Bureau staff moved in and out, setting up barriers, placing mana detectors, and checking their readings.
At the center of it all, a gate pulsed like broken glass stitched together with black veins of light. It wasn't large, but its energy twisted unnaturally, warping the air around it.
Gathered before it was the Obsidian Fang Guild one of Japan's elite.
Their leader, Hiroto Kenzaki, stood at the front. Tall, long black hair tied back, his hand resting calmly on the hilt of his sword. His expression was calm, but the hunters behind him could feel his sharpness, like standing near an unsheathed blade.
Beside him was Aya Mizuno, an S-rank hunter with silver hair and piercing eyes. A bow was strapped to her back, and her quiver shimmered faintly with mana.
Aya frowned, her senses sharp. "This isn't an A-rank gate, Hiroto. Look at it, Feel it It feels wrong."
Hiroto nodded we I had already noticed sexy and
that's why I'm here isn't it
Don't forget who I am Anya remembered what happened a year ago??
Anya faced burned red blushing from every side of her face
"You don't have to remind me idiot!
Then she muttered
Hiroto kenzaki..
One of Japan's 10 SS-rank hunters, second only to Takeda himself and our guild master
"If hiroto is coming," Aya muttered, "then this might not be a raid. This might be a massacre ."
The gate pulsed again. BOOM. The ground shook faintly.
Mana detectors on the sidelines spiked wildly, alarms blaring. The Bureau staff exchanged nervous glances.
"Readings are unstable! The gate's not matching its classification!" one of them shouted.
Hiroto's hand tightened on his sword. "Then we adapt. We clear it before it clears us."
Let's go.
Rumble rumble rumble
The hunters formed ranks as they prepared to go through the gate their heart were pounding.
And then, in perfect silence, the gate shattered.
The hunters stepped inside.
The world around them warped. The ruined factory disappeared, replaced by a cavern so vast it seemed endless.
Crimson crystals jutted from the ground, glowing faintly like veins of gold . The air was thick with mana, choking and heavy.
The guild stopped, stunned.
"This… this isn't an A-rank dungeon" Aya whispered. Her breath trembled.
The mana I'm feeling here is closer to mine or even higher.
Hiroto's eyes narrowed. He didn't answer, because he already knew.
From the shadows, a sound echoed. Not footsteps or growls.
But a simple heartbeat.
GBIM GBIM GBIM GBIM
It shook the entire cavern, rattling the crystals. Dust of golds fell from the ceiling. The hunters gripped their weapons tightly, fear crawling up their spines.
And then they saw it.
Growl!!!
Growl!!!
Screech
A massive beast stepped forward, its body covered in jagged black armor that reflected the glow of the crystals. Its eyes blazed with hunger . The sheer size of it's mana dwarfed the hunters
The hunters froze in terror.
What is that thing one screamed,
Another screamed is that really a magic beast.
Aya raised her bow with trembling hands. "Hiroto… this isn't a beast. This is something else."
The ground quaked as the monster's claws scraped against the stone. But before it could even roar, another sound filled the cavern.
A voice. Deep. Ancient.
And it didn't come from the beast.
"You should not have come here."
The hunters turned pale. Aya's bow slipped slightly in her hand.
"That voice…" she whispered, her throat dry.
"Hiroto… that wasn't the monster."