A quiet, city-edge neighborhood.
Suddenly—
SCREEEEECH
Mutated, caterpillar-like worms burst out near an electronics store.
They swarm toward civilians clutching plastic bags and plastic goods.
People run.Shops slam shut.Chaos explodes in seconds.
"AREN'T THERE ANY HUNTERS PATROLLING NEARBY?!"
"CALL THE GUILD!"
"THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!"
A well-built man steps forward, trying to show off in front of his attractive girlfriend.
He stomps down on a worm—
It doesn't die.
He screams—not a hero's shout, but a shrill, wet sound—as green-tinged mandibles sink in.
Blood splashes.
The girl stumbles backward, frozen in terror.
CLANG
A spear slams into the concrete, inches from her face.
Standing over her is a navy-blue-haired hunter.
A massive worm lunges.
For a split second—
His eyes widen.
Sain (thinking):No… not worms. Anything but worms. God, I hate the texture.
The spear thrusts—
SPLAT
The worm splits open, spraying viscous green bile.
Sain flinches—jumping three feet farther than necessary, almost slipping.
Another worm lunges.
He stabs again. Faster. Rougher.
His technique is efficient…
…but his face is pure terror, even if his mouth stays shut.
"Is he… scared?" a civilian whispers.
"He looks like he's about to cry," another snickers.
Sain kills another worm, jaw clenched.
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM
A mace hammer crashes down.
A worm is reduced to paste.
A loud, echoing scream rips through the street.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
Maru charges forward.
Tears fly off his cheeks like rain.
"DON'T COME NEAR ME—AAAAAAAH!!!"
Wild swings—but backed by terrifying strength, a hurricane of sobbing violence.
CRASH — a bug explodes.Another crawls—
BAM — crushed into the pavement.
Maru keeps screaming.
"STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!!!"
Green blood splashes everywhere.
People peek from hiding.
One whispers, "Why is he screaming like that?!"
Sain glances at Maru.
For a split second, the absurdity hits him.
A short, hysterical laugh escapes—
—and he instantly kills another worm on pure panic reflex.
Civilians burst into laughter.
"That guy's fighting like his life depends on it!"
Silence falls.
Worm corpses litter the street.
Two hunters stand drenched in green ichor.
Maru bends over, panting.
"...I hate… I hate worms…"
Sain stands stiffly, spear tip dripping.
His hand trembles.
Maru suddenly freezes.
"...Wait."
He looks around.
Civilians safe.No injuries—except that one guy.
He follows the trail of dead worms.
All positioned away from the people.
Sain stands there.
Blood-stained.Breathing steady.
Maru stares, mouth hanging open.
Sain notices.
They lock eyes.
Awkward silence.
Sain quickly looks away.
Maru walks over, nervous.
"...I think I screamed too much."
Sain wipes his spear clean, hesitating.
"...You screamed efficiently."
Maru scratches his head.
"...That's a compliment, right?"
Sain smirks.
"...Perhaps."
"Worms kinda freak me out," Maru mutters.
Sain makes a disgusted face.
"...Mhm. Worms are unpleasant."
Then, sincere—
"But your strength… it's extraordinary."
Maru blinks.
"...Really?"
Sain nods.
"Even I could feel your hits."
A single clap echoes—slow, hesitant—from a shop doorway.
Then another.Then another.
Applause spreads.Laughter mixes in—sharp, relieved bursts.
Sain looks uncomfortable.
Maru waves enthusiastically.
From an alley corner—
Ten hunters watch.