'What is this?'
Takeshi thought, taking a heavy step back and fixing his sharp gaze directly on Yamikaji, raising his sword in preparation for an attack. The thought that his previous action was hostile vanished; it was clear that the one before him was undoubtedly an enemy, whether by his actions or his aggressive words.
Takeshi gripped his sword firmly, his eyes reflecting a storm of anger and confusion while countless questions slowly crept into his mind. He asked without moving:
"My sword? What are you going to do with my sword?"
Yamikaji raised his hands, relaxing his defense, and said in a reckless tone:
"I do not answer those kinds of questions. I only tell my enemies my name so they die with the image and name of the man who sent them to their graves in their minds, so that my name is the last name they ever hear."
He lowered his right hand, pointing his index finger toward Takeshi, and continued:
"In other words, I will not answer your questions unless I want to. I hope you understand my words, you Calamity—"
The moment Yamikaji uttered the word "Calamity," Takeshi's eyes widened with rage. He lunged directly at Yamikaji, raising his sword to chest level and swinging it with lightning speed.
BOOOOOM!!
The impact sent Yamikaji flying away from the cabin entrance, crashing into the opposite wall and leaving deep cracks in the wood. Silence reigned for a moment after the resounding crash until Yamikaji spoke again in that same nauseatingly calm tone:
"Impressive physical strength! I did not expect that from you."
Takeshi raised an eyebrow in surprise, stepping back a pace, every movement heavy with astonishment.
'It was a direct hit... yet not a single drop of blood fell from him?'
Yamikaji emerged from the shadows of the cabin, revealing the reason for his survival.
"Black branches and trunks—durable and reliable for defense, but somewhat slow and difficult to control."
He had blocked the blow with his hands, which were now wrapped in a hardened, rough bark—black in color like ash scattered in the open air.
"What the hell is this?!"
Takeshi's reaction was natural; what he had seen just now and moments ago defied all logic. However, his shock did not reach its peak—as if he had seen similar or stranger things before. Yamikaji's smile widened. He tilted his head, closed his eyes, and said mockingly:
"Your reaction, that look of disbelief—it shows the extent of your ignorance of this world! This world that demands glory, power, and knowledge! Perhaps that is why you have been rotting in this forest for years! Takeshi, the Calamity of the World!!"
His voice rose with every word, increasing Takeshi's anger and hatred, but Takeshi remained steady, retreating another step, restraining himself to think of a plan.
'Those branches and trunks protected him from my sword. I should not have attacked so recklessly—or at least I should have attacked with my full strength instead of underestimating him... I do not know what else he can do, but his tone indicates confidence.'
Takeshi slowly raised his sword and sliced through the air to release a sharp windstorm—blades of air curving toward Yamikaji's head. Grey roots erupted from the ground, coiling around Yamikaji's head and blocking the attack. The impact caused only slight damage.
"You must be joking! Your previous strike was much stronger than this weak attempt—"
Yamikaji did not finish his sentence. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Takeshi leaning to the right, his sword ready for a much stronger blow.
"Damn you!"
Yamikaji said before Takeshi threw his weight into the sword, striking Yamikaji in the abdomen at the moment his wooden defenses were slow to respond. The force of the blow flung Yamikaji across the cabin, shattering the wall. Yamikaji fell on his back amidst the wreckage, his eyes trembling with shock, to find Takeshi standing over him—his sword raised, ready to pierce his skull.
"Wait!"
The mocking tone vanished from Yamikaji's voice after what happened. Takeshi brought his sword close to Yamikaji, saying:
"You entered my cabin, you threatened me, and you tried to steal what is mine!"
Yamikaji's breath trembled as he pleaded, saying:
"Wait! I... I am just a poor man carrying out my leader's orders!"
Takeshi raised his eyebrow and lowered his blade until it touched Yamikaji's neck.
"Who is your leader?"
Yamikaji's breathing slowed, as if he felt someone emitting ominous energy watching him, saying:
"That... is something I cannot tell you."
Takeshi frowned and slowly raised his sword again, saying:
"My name is Takeshi—you already know that. But this... will be the last name you ever hear."
His grip tightened, and a cold spark ignited in his eyes. Panic seized Yamikaji's thoughts, and every plan he could think of flashed through his mind alongside his fear of death.
'Damn it! This boy is serious! If I try to use my power now, his sword will reach my throat before my branches reach him!'
His sword surged forward quickly to settle the arrogance of Yamikaji, who had underestimated Takeshi's strength, but...
"Stop right there!!"
A resounding voice echoed throughout the forest. Instinctively, both Takeshi and Yamikaji turned toward the source of the sound—a tall, thin man with shaggy red hair, wearing the same white robe as Yamikaji, holding a small child in his right hand. As soon as they saw him, Yamikaji smiled, thinking to himself:
'Joso! You came at exactly the right time!'
The boy in Joso's hands was unconscious, his body covered in bruises and his clothes torn, as if he had undergone a terrible ordeal. Joso grabbed the boy's hair and raised his head, revealing a face stained with blood and mud.
"Try to hurt our leader, and this boy dies."
Takeshi gnashed his teeth, growling:
"Who the hell are you?!"
Yamikaji's smile widened further as he looked at Takeshi with a look of victory.
'He is a slave to me even though we are in the same gang—he will do anything to get me out of this mess.'
Takeshi's sharp gaze intensified, but he remained silent.
"Step away from the leader, you Calamity of the World, and I will let the boy go."
Takeshi's anger grew every time he was called a pest.
"Don't you dare utter that cursed title in front of me!"
The title "Calamity" was inspired by an ancient legend of three beings that appear every century, destined to ignite global wars. Wars that would drag every government and organization into chaos. Those branded with this title were destined for exile, hatred, and death.
The legend had faded long ago and turned into a myth, believed only by a few scattered regions—yet Takeshi was one of the few cursed with this title. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger while his eyes remained fixed on Yamikaji.
'I cannot be reckless because of a few words. They are wearing the same uniform, which means they are from the same gang. There is no way he would hurt the boy while my sword is at his comrade's neck as long as he is threatening me for the life of this scoundrel...'
After a short pause, Takeshi said:
"Put the boy on the ground, or my sword will pierce your master's neck."
Joso froze for a moment, then complied, placing the boy gently on the ground to save his leader's life. Before Takeshi could plan his next move, heavy footsteps thundered. Another man appeared beside Joso—short, bald, and obese, wearing the same white robe as the others. The ground shook under his steps. He carried a cage on his shoulder containing a strange creature—a pale head with sharp serrated fangs enough to crush stone, connected to four legs resembling spider legs ending in blood-stained claws.
The fat man said with a slight smile:
"It seems I am the last to arrive."
Joso replied, shifting his gaze toward the fat man:
"The important thing is that you have come at the right time, Fard."
Takeshi's heart rate increased as the intensity of his thoughts deepened.
'Damn it! What is happening here? Every time I gain an advantage, another one appears! My luck is terrible!'
While Takeshi was cursing his ill luck in his mind, a small green plant appeared from the ground behind him, swaying with the wind in all four directions. Yamikaji watched him cautiously, barely able to suppress his smile.
'I have won. This is your end, Calamity.'
The bud hardened, and its leaves turned toward Takeshi. In an instant, it grew at an explosive rate, transforming into a solid green trunk with a spear-like tip—it shot directly toward Takeshi's back and stabbed him. Takeshi turned around immediately, realizing what had just happened, and said while staring at Yamikaji with growling eyes:
"You wasted their efforts to save you, you fool!"
He raised his sword high in the air... one second... two seconds... five seconds...
'What... what is happening?!'
Takeshi froze in his place, and all he could do was stare at Yamikaji's face—at that wide smile shining with victory.