Chapter 15 — Evasion
Tanaka Ueno was not a man unfamiliar with death.
For years he had survived by walking the razor-thin line between hunter and prey. Courage—bordering on recklessness—was woven into his nature. In the countless battles he had fought, hesitation had always meant death. Over time, he had developed a brutal philosophy for survival.
If you can't avoid damage… then take it—and end the fight.
Against powerful opponents, Ueno had used this tactic again and again: trading wounds for victory.
And now he made that same choice.
Facing Raizen's relentless spear assaults, Ueno suddenly abandoned defense altogether. Instead of parrying or dodging, he thrust his long katana forward with ruthless determination, aiming directly for Raizen's head.
The move was completely reckless.
But also terrifyingly effective.
Despite its size, the two-meter katana possessed nearly the same reach as Raizen's spear. At such close range, the difference between their weapons was almost negligible.
Raizen didn't expect such a desperate counterattack.
His pupils shrank.
Instinctively, he twisted his head to the side.
Pshhh!
The sounds of tearing flesh echoed almost simultaneously.
Raizen's spear pierced straight through Tanaka Ueno's abdomen, the blade punching deep into his body.
At the same time, Ueno's katana sliced across Raizen's face. The blade tore through his cheek and even cut into the edge of his ear.
Both men groaned in pain.
Blood burst forth instantly. Dark red streams flowed down their bodies, quickly soaking their clothes and splattering the ground beneath their feet.
For a brief moment, the battlefield seemed to freeze.
Then—
Raizen's eyes suddenly widened.
Now!
This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
He released his spear immediately and staggered backward, clutching his wounded ear as if the pain had forced him to retreat. His movements looked frantic and disorganized. Like a man trying to flee.
"Trying to run?!"
Tanaka Ueno's eyes flared with savage fury.
"You think you can make me look this pathetic and escape?!"
His voice was hoarse with rage. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the spear still lodged in his abdomen and yanked it free with brutal force.
Blood sprayed outward. Yet he didn't even slow down.
Despite his injuries and exhaustion, he charged after Raizen with relentless determination.
He was already approaching his limits—but if he could just kill this brat quickly, everything would be worth it.
Raizen continued retreating, his steps quick but seemingly unsteady.
Inside his mind, however, calculations were racing.
Closer… just a little closer…
He measured the distance between himself and the trap he had prepared earlier.
Then—
His gaze flickered.
He saw it.
The faint spear mark he had deliberately left on the ground.
The signal.
Now!
Just as Tanaka Ueno closed the distance—
Raizen suddenly pushed off the ground with all his strength and leapt backward.
Ueno's instincts screamed in warning.
But it was already too late.
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted beneath his feet.
The buried detonation tag ignited instantly. Blazing flames and violent shockwaves exploded outward, swallowing Tanaka Ueno completely in a storm of fire and smoke.
Raizen didn't relax for even a second. With practiced speed, he threw the remaining kunai he carried straight into the center of the explosion.
The blades vanished into the blazing inferno.
Still unsatisfied, Raizen circled around carefully. When the flames finally began to fade, he retrieved his spear from the ground and thrust it forward without hesitation.
The spear plunged deep into the smoke-filled wreckage.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then—
He felt it.
Resistance.
The unmistakable sensation of piercing flesh.
Only then did Raizen allow himself to breathe out slowly.
The smoke gradually cleared. Tanaka Ueno's body lay twisted and mutilated on the ground.
Several kunai were embedded in his torso. Raizen's spear had pierced straight through his neck.
The once-arrogant bounty hunter was now nothing more than a lifeless corpse. At that moment, the familiar voice echoed inside Raizen's mind.
"Mission complete. Rewards have been granted."
"Enemy eliminated. 14 Magic Crystals acquired."
"Master's HP remaining: 30%. Vitality continuing to decline. Immediate treatment recommended."
Raizen didn't hesitate.
Without even checking the crystals individually, he used all of them for healing.
Warm energy spread through his body, slowing the deterioration of his condition. Only after stabilizing himself did he bend down and grab Tanaka Ueno's katana.
With one swift motion—
He severed the man's head.
The head rolled across the ground before Raizen picked it up calmly. Then he turned and left immediately.
He didn't dare exchange the bounty right away. If the exchange office staff knew about Ueno's death, then others would certainly know as well.
Entering the exchange now could easily become a trap. Someone might already be waiting.
Or worse—He might walk straight into an ambush.
He had no choice but to leave first.
Raizen began running at full speed through the forest.
While running, he allocated his upgrade points.
He chose Agility.
After all, there was a well-known saying in martial arts:
Speed conquers all.
Compared to raw strength, agility provided far more practical benefits in combat and survival.
His Agility quickly rose to D-rank, surpassing the limits of ordinary human ability. And here, Agility wasn't limited to simple running speed.
It also enhanced attack speed, reaction time, and overall body coordination.
After finishing the upgrade, Raizen opened the system's money exchange map.
His expression darkened. The nearest exchange location was three days away.
In his current condition, he couldn't survive that long.
He needed money and treatment immediately.
Raizen stopped deep within the forest and hid himself in a secluded location. There, he waited through the rest of the night.
---
The next morning, he set out early.
His spear rested across his back. Tanaka Ueno's katana was also strapped behind him, wrapped inside a torn sleeve.
In his right hand, he carried Ueno's severed head, carefully bundled inside his jacket. The system's healing had stopped the worsening of his injuries—but it hadn't restored his vitality.
His HP remained at 30%.
He was still critically wounded. Wandering aimlessly in such a condition would only invite disaster.
Eventually, he arrived once again at the exchange office. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and walked inside calmly.
Ignoring the glances from the people around him, he strode straight to the front desk.
Then, tossed the severed head onto the counter.
It landed with a dull thud.
Raizen kept his gaze forward. But his senses were sharp. .
He could feel it clearly. Several pairs of eyes had already locked onto him.
The staff quickly inspected the head. After confirming the identity, one of them spoke loudly.
"Target confirmed: Tanaka Ueno."
"Bounty: 10 million."
"Hunter: Kazane."
The announcement echoed throughout the hall. Sounding suspiciously deliberate.
Another staff member disappeared briefly before returning with a payment chest.
"Kazane," the staff member said calmly.
"According to exchange rules, a 10% service fee will be deducted. You will receive 9 million."
"Understood?"
Though phrased like a question, the tone left little room for negotiation.
Raizen simply nodded.
"Understood."
"Then we wish you success on your next mission."
The staff member pushed the chest forward.
The efficiency was impressive.
Raizen grabbed the money immediately.
Before leaving, he casually glanced toward the lounge area. Five people were staring at him.
Their eyes were filled with undisguised greed.
Raizen didn't linger. He picked up the money chest and walked out quickly.
Through the dim lighting behind him, he noticed something disturbing.
The five bounty hunters had begun to move.
His pace quickened instantly. If they surrounded him—
He would die.
The moment he exited the exchange, he sprinted straight toward the forest.
By the time the five hunters rushed outside, he had already vanished among the trees.
One of the men licked his lips slowly, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
"Forget the 20 million bounty on his head…"
"Just the 9 million he's carrying is already tempting enough."
Another nodded eagerly.
"Exactly."
"Let's kill him first."
"After that, we'll divide the spoils accordingly."
One of them spoke quietly. But none of them moved immediately. Nearly 30 million was at stake. If someone made the wrong move, they might not return alive.
Meanwhile—
Raizen ran deeper into the forest. While running, he used the system to convert his money into Magic Crystals.
The exchange rate was terrible.
100,000 currency for 1 Magic Crystal.
Ten times worse than converting crystals back into money.
But he had no choice. He exchanged 7 million, gaining 70 Magic Crystals.
Without hesitation, he used all seventy for healing. Warm energy surged through his body.
His HP slowly rose. As his vitality returned, the torn flesh around his ear began to regenerate. Even the piece that had been cut off gradually reattached.
The wounds on his face faded as new flesh formed. Yet despite his improving condition, Raizen didn't even consider turning back to fight.
Facing five bounty hunters alone would be suicide. His only option was evasion.
Without chakra-enhanced movement techniques, his raw speed would still fall behind experienced ninjas.
He understood this clearly. So instead of relying on speed—
He relied on strategy.
Raizen deliberately created false tracks along the forest floor before slipping into the dense bushes and remaining completely still. Then quietly circled around through the undergrowth.
Not long after—Five shadows leapt across the branches overhead.
The bounty hunters had arrived.
Raizen lay motionless beneath thick foliage, his breathing shallow and controlled.
The hunters landed nearby, scanning the area.
One of them frowned.
"That guy's injured."
"He shouldn't have gotten far."
Another crouched and examined the ground.
"The tracks disappear here."
"Could he be hiding nearby?"
A third hunter glanced up toward the trees.
"Or maybe he escaped through the branches."
Silence followed.
Then one of them spoke again.
"So… who stays behind?"
"And who keeps chasing?"
The group hesitated.
Almost 30 million was at stake. No one wanted to make the wrong decision.