The dim room, filled with the snoring of 3 kids passed out to each other, the calmness of the room, cold passing breezes from the open window as the sun rose slowly.
"Where...am i..." One of them slowly returned his vision, opening his eyes. His bright red eyes were darkened, unlike yesterday. His gaze narrowed to his scratched arm, showing a bandage covering it.
"We're safe...?" He muttered in relief, changing his gaze to the other sleeping children.
He then raised his head upward to see an unfamiliar figure.
"Ey!" Kaien sat opposite in a chair, reading a book while the kids slept.
"No...NO!" The kid crawled backward, trying to run from this unfamiliar figure. His back hit the wall behind, leaving him with no place to run.
"Don't be afraid, i'm not your enemy." Kaien spoke, changing to the other page, "Oh, this is interesting..." He pulled the book closer, reading intensely.
"What..." The kid kept observing Kaien, with no clue who could be in front. He sat quietly waiting for a response.
Suddenly, the girl woke, trembling in fear. "HEYY!! WHERE AM I!?" Her sound woke the other kid, "Miss..Aki?" He stared at the angry yet scared girl.
"Hey kid, keep it quiet there. I'm trying to read." Kaien pulled the book even closer, reading more intensely.
"WHAT IS THIS ORPHAN DOING HERE!?" She pointed at the quiet kid who leaned on the wall, "Aki..." The kid beside her attempted to calm her down. Meanwhile, the other one kept his quietness and leaned properly against the wall.
"Alright..." Kaien closed his book, raised his gaze, and counted "12...3" The girl turned around, keeping her gaze on Kaien. "Great, this will be a team!"
The astonished kids burst their mouths wide open in shock when they heard the word team.
"TEAMMM!?" They all said at once.
"Yes, under me." Kaien smiled. The girl immediately turned to the kid in the back, pointed, "I won't be a teammate with an orphan!"
"Aki...you don't have to be like this..." The other kid spoke. "Don't worry, Katako." The kid in the back.
"Welp, i guess your name is Aki..." Kaien stood up with his finger up, continuing,
"We're all here orphans, no one has a father or a mother here." Kaien then muttered, "And not a family at least."
The girl screamed, "WHAT HAPPENED TO MOM AND DAD!???" Then she cried.
Katako lowered his head to the ground, knowing about the incident of yesterday.
"Enough with the crying. I said we all don't have families, i included myself." Kaien raised his voice a little bit, leaving the girl to stop crying.
"Crying was never a solution for anything; you have to stand tough by yourself here and on." Kaien then stepped toward her, "I doubt you'll understand that...but i had the same feeling when my family died..." He crouched, afterward, patted her head, and wiped her tears.
"Don't worry, little one...from now i will be your father." He smiled at her face.
Her tears stopped as she kept looking at Kaien. He stood up, "Over one condition."
All of the kids raised their heads, quietly listening. "You have to become strong..."
He continued, "Strong till the point everyone is afraid to hurt your beloved ones." Twisting around, he spoke, "And overcome your limits!"
They were astonished by those words. I'm so cool... Kaien thought.
"Anyway, starting from now. I need every one of you to introduce yourself. Starting with!" He pointed at the quiet kid behind.
"Me..?" The kid narrowed his eyes at Kaien. "Yes. And come on, you don't have to be that shy."
The kid moved a foot, standing up. "I am..."
"Erak..."
"Yeah, don't worry about that orphan." The girl stood up, introducing herself.
"I am Aki! The daughter of the strongest sentinel!" Awkwardly, Kaien didn't pay attention, but instead observed the kid behind.
Erak...this name...wait, is his father! "HEY HEY STOP IGNORING ME!"
Kaien was shocked, though he chose to remain calm. "Alright, we will be continuing with the next one!" He pointed at the other kid who was sitting beside Aki.
"What...me?" The kid muttered.
"You ignored me..." Aki sat down, pulled her legs, and hugged them. "No, no, i perfectly know you before even saying so. You're the daughter of the strongest sentinel!!" Kaien smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Really!!" Aki's excitement was shown on her face. Thanks god...i lied, and crazy, it worked. Kaien's sweat fell from his forehead.
"Alright, shall we continue!" He pointed at the kid again.
The kid remained sitting, "I am katako...Aki's brother."
"Nice name you got!" Kaien raised his thumb.
"Really..." Katako finally smiled.
"Alright, from here now out. We'll be a close family, and train together!" As Kaien spoke, the growling sound from the children's stomachs echoed.
"Welp...not after eating, huh?" Kaien lowered his head.
Suddenly, a knock on the door behind Kaien. "Come in." As he spilled these words, Rauchi burst the door wide open. "Finally awake?"
"Heyyy! Rauchi!" Kaien twirled, waving. While Aki and Katako hugged each other, trembling.
"A...A DEMMMOOON!" Both of them screamed, widening their eyes in fear. Erak kept his silence, observing the scene.
"..." Rauchi stared in confusion. "Ohhh yeahh...I haven't introduced you." Kaien tried to keep his laughter.
"Rauchi, is that how scary you are!" He burst out laughing at Rauchi.
"Just shut up and let's get out." Rauchi turned around. "Welp, not today. You'll have to take those kids to eat. Introduce yourself, i got something to check." As he said this, Rauchi twisted around immediately, "DON'T-" Kaien vanished.
"You bastard..." Rauchi sighed. He then stared at the two scared children. "Aren't you hungry...lets just go-" He felt a pressure of Reikonryoku flowing behind them.
This kind of Reikonryoku felt corrupted, doesn't belong to a human. A demon...? His gaze narrowed to Erak slowly. Is he from the Gama family...? And in specific...why Kaien brought such a threat here. His gaze narrowed back at the two kids. "Doesn't matter...i will just force you to eat..."
Erak stood, while the others screamed, being pulled by force from Rauchi.
-
"Explain yourself, Kaien." A deep voice echoed around a luxurious castle room, with a throne and two knights standing guard over a figure. A long beard extended to the ground beneath, showing wrinkles all over his face. Two scars on his eyes.
"As always...you found out i'm here!" Kaien appeared in front of the figure. He stepped forward and then kneeled. "Hey old man..."
Kazuhito Hoshinomiya, the supreme leader of Ushigami-tai (The Soul God Brigade).
"Stand up." The supreme leader ordered.
"So, you've asked me to explain myself?" Kaien stood speaking. "Are you trying to get yourself out of this as always...KAIEN!?" As the supreme leader shouted, the room's fire lighting erupted more.
"Hey, how about you calm down? Geez..." He continued,
"Anyway...
I've gone by your order to save this certain region from roaming demons. As i went to save a village, i encountered those children and decided to save them. I discovered one of them possessed a corrupted Reikonryoku while fighting a Hierarch." He sighed.
"I will get straight to the point,
According to the demon's plan, they want to kidnap this child to study his physique and consume his humongous Reikonryoku. So i decided to save him, and prevent them from accomplishing their ideal plan." Kaien stopped suddenly.
"Yes, i'm done playing around. I know you want to know why i didn't get rid of him." He turned around, placing a step toward the door. "I basically won't allow a child to die. He has seen enough."
"And..." Kaien unsheathed his katana, twirled around, and parried the old man's katana.
The supreme leader vanished once again, presenting his reappearance at his throne.
"Just know this, Kaien...the soul brigade has no responsibility over this child. Do what you please." The Supreme Leader continued as Kaien took a step toward the door. "The consequences of your action will be severe, you'll see in the future...and if that becomes a mess, you fix this mess by yourself!"
"Geez...you keep yapping" Kaien muttered, taking another step, then vanishing.
"You will understand my statement later...Kaien"
-
Rauchi sighed, observing the kids eating, "Another one please..." He kept ordering for them.
They sure eat a lot... Rauchi returned, sighing, leaning his back against the chair. Narrowing his eyes on the ceiling, he wondered. Afterward, he checked on Erak, focusing on his Reikonryoku flow.
Does he possess something inside...or that's pure Reikonryoku...
"I'm full!" Erak raised his head, shedding a burb. "Disgusting...that is your first dish in your whole life!" Aki glared at Erak, "Aki..." Katako.
"Huh? How about you shut your mouth? I've had enough of you talking bad about me!" Erak lowered his gaze at her, with raised eyebrows filled with anger. "What are you going to do about it!!!" Aki jumped over the table, looking him in the eyes.
"Enough kids. We have to-"
"Hey hey, how is it going with you, Rauchi!" Kaien appeared behind Rauchi, walking up to them. "Finally...you've come to unleash me from this hell."
"No, you got me wrong, you have to come with us to the dojo and help me train those children." The kids stared awkwardly at them.
"You keep sticking me into pain after a pain...Alright, i accept. Rauchi sprang up from his seat. "Great!" Kaien clapped then said, "Kids, let us return to the dojo!"
-
A red source dimly lit a massive, structured cave, shadowing the corners as figures ascended inside. In order, they stepped onto a red carpet, walking forward.
They split in half, 4 went left, the other 4 went right. Taking places near a throne, then kneeling. They showed their salute introduction, "From the darkness, we have been called from a lord above all lords...forgive and order us overlord."
A figure sat on the throne, his shadowed face showing no facial expression due to the dim light. Though the color of his skin darkened him even further, the darkened black skin, red creepy horns. Wide smile shattering his face brightened his teeth. His eyes glared black.
The terrifying demon words shook the ground, yet moved the skies. The existence of his showed imbalancing the world. Humongous red Reikonryoku flew rushing upward, as he was angry about something.
Two skulls on his shoulders, while he wore a black, shattered cape. In a sudden, this unknown figure spoke,
"A light has faded from our hands...return the corrupted one, and shed the blood of those who took the light." His words shook the demon dimension, spiking his Reikonryoku to the ceiling, almost destroying this massive cave.
The kneeling figures trembled as those words echoed. One of the shadowed figures came to his feet, waiting for permission to speak. One of the skulls echoed a voice, "Permission accepted."
"Leave this mission to me, i will take action. And give the severe consequences to those who deserve it." His cape fell, showing a number dugged in his back "6"
"Accepted mission, may the sixth Hierarch: Plague Bringer, take action from here out.
The will of the soldiers of Daemonites, and Archons Minors follow your steps as you command." The other skull spoke.
"Raise." As the unknown figure spoke, all of them got on their feet.
"When accomplishment falls into our hands...bring me the head of Kaien Ranzaki!" The demon king's voice echoed through the skies of the dimension as all of the figures vanished in order.
Two of the figures appeared on a hill, stepping forward. "When will you take action...Morbus?" The figure behind Plague Bringer spoke.
"When the time comes...i want to take that child ready, to expand his Reikonryoku achievements. And perhaps...allow him to destroy his beloved ones." He smirked while his eyes glared red.
-
"Alright, now that's the basics of Reikonryoku. Things could get complicated here and on." Kaien lowered his finger, "Any questions?"
Aki raised her hand, "Me me!"
"Yes, Aki?"
"Why did you take Erak's trainings and leave us with master Rauchi?" Her innocent blue eyes narrowed when a breeze of air weaved her blonde hair.
"For an unknown reason, there is no need to worry. I will be training everyone on Thursdays, though!"
Erak sat silently, unknowing the reason, though accepting the training. I have to become stronger...to know where my father is.
After training, the kids have passed out due to overconsumption of energy.
"Hey, Kaien..." Rauchi called out. "I know...his father is the devil of..." Kaien's eyes widened at the sleeping kid.
Immediately, Rauchi's eyes slum wide open. "What..." In a shocking moment, he stared at the kid who slept peacefully.
"I will bring my life to the line to save those kids...and make names for them all across the seas and worlds." Kaien faced Rauchi, put his hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry, you know when i say a word i mean it. Nothing could go wrong...years will pass peacefully, and they will grow up stronger each day."
"Kaien...i meant-" As Rauchi spoke, he was interrupted by Kaien. "Return to doing the mission you've wanted to investigate. We'll keep doing this even if the consequences are severe." He stepped forward, leaving the dojo.
Next Morning
Erak slightly opened his eyes, wiping them off as sunlight poured into the dojo. His vision was blurry, though he identified a figure who was in front. "Alright, enough sleeping. We should continue training!" Kaien said with a smile. "Can i just sleep...shut up..." Aki turned around, then continued snoring.
Days bled into weeks, weeks into years. Time flowed quietly in that hidden corner of the world.Under Kaien's watch, the children grew, not just in strength, but in heart. What once were trembling hands now held weapons with purpose.
Ten years passed beneath the laughter echoing through the old dojo.The same walls that once heard cries of fear now carried the sounds of joy, training, and the warmth of family.
Kaien, once a man haunted by loss, found something he thought he'd forgotten: peace.Each morning began with noise, pranks, and the chaos of youth. Aki and Katako's endless mischief turned into Kaien's favorite part of the day.Even Erak, the quiet one, finally learned how to smile. Bonds were forged stronger than steel.
But power was never equal.Erak still struggled with his corrupted Reikonryoku; its nature demanded something he had yet to give.Aki mastered the storm, bending lightning and rain to her will.Katako honed his blade, wielding the wind itself with precision, his spirit sharp as his sword.
Then one evening, the wind shifted."They've made their move…" Rauchi appeared before Kaien, his tone grim."I'm certain of it. Watch over them, I'll be closing this nearby threat."
Kaien rose, eyes narrowing. Without a word, the book slipped from his hand.He vanished into the fading light.
Outside, a breeze stirred the trees."Hey, Aki…" Erak's red eyes reflected the storm clouds above.She turned to him, her golden hair catching the wind.Katako stepped beside them, his hand resting on his blade.
"What do you think our fate will be?" Erak asked.
No one answered.Only the sound of the wind carried their silence. An all-out crisis awaits the group in front.