In a busy city where the glow of bars and the darkness of backstreets clashed, a rugged man watched as a teenage boy prostrated before him in a hidden corner of the street.

The man’s imposing figure was accentuated by his large, muscular build. His black hair, greying near the temples, was tied into four braids at the back of his head, each wrapped in white cloth. 

A star-shaped scar marred the space where his left eye should have been, leaving only a red and black-eyed gaze reminiscent of a demon’s. The man, even inebriated, radiated authority and danger in his black suit and Imperial Police chest armor. 

Meanwhile, the hooded teenager was draped in a dark coat, knelt before him, his demeanour showing a mix of fear and reverence in the presence of this formidable figure.

But unbeknownst to the guard and the youth, there was a hidden figure on the rooftop wearing a black demon mask, silently watching the events unfold. Moonlight cast a surreal glow on the scene as the aquamarine eyes behind the mask shimmered.

The masked person heard the muscular man’s stern reprimand, which echoed through the alley, causing the teenager to bristle. As the man turned to leave, dismissing the teenager’s pleas with defiant gestures, the youth’s hand stealthily moved to his concealed sword beneath the hooded robe.

However, as the youth was drawing it, the burly guard halted abruptly, instinctively reaching for the long sword at his waist.

The rooftop observer remained still, silently witnessing the tense confrontation, anticipating the outcome of the clash about to unfold between these two figures below him, while he had no intentions of joining the confrontation happening below him.

The silence which prevailed in the alley was shattered as both the figures swiftly drew their weapons. The burly man turned to confront his foe, but was too slow.

A deep slash across his chest spilled dark red blood onto the ground. He spat blood as he collapsed face-first onto the cold ground, his motionless form confirming his demise.

The sudden burst of action left the alley in an eerie silence, punctuated only by the dripping of dark red blood on the pavement. The burly man’s lifeless body lay still, his once formidable presence now extinguished.

The young man had accurately slashed the area just below the chest armour with his sword, showcasing his amazing accuracy with his sword.

The teenager, now the victor of the deadly confrontation, let out a heavy sigh of relief upon completing his task. Standing amidst the aftermath, he seemed lost in thought as he scratched his head as if contemplating the gravity of his actions.

Meanwhile, the short figure on the rooftop remained observant, his hooded form blending seamlessly with the night, while his gaze lingered on the young teenager below, assessing the aftermath of the conflict

‘The blonde was spot-on. This guy indeed has immense potential with exceptional sword skills. His strength is somewhere near a captain-class warrior when he is in direct combat……. However, he’s too predictable,’ Bane internally remarked, reflecting on Tatsumi’s strengths and limitations in the battle.

Bane, who had been part of the revolutionary army’s special unit for a while, came to realize that strength alone is not enough; strategic acumen is equally valuable. 

Bane’s thoughts turned introspective as he observed the fallen man on the ground, who inexplicably rose as if resurrected.

‘While brute force can overpower foes, true adversaries aren’t straightforward. They come in groups, exploit your weaknesses, and employ deceit,’ Bane mused silently, his gaze fixed on the unfolding scene.

He made a conscious decision not to alert Tatsumi to the imminent danger, believing that facing unexpected attacks was an essential part of survival in their line of work. Even he had learned these from bitter experiences himself.

‘Let’s see how he handles this,’ Bane thought, withholding any assistance. Given free rein by Najenda, he had made his decision to not help Tatsumi.

Bane knew that if Tatsumi couldn’t overcome the challenges by himself, he wasn’t meant for their profession, and Bane had no interest in taking care of him.

As Tatsumi considered reporting the completion of his mission to Najenda, a chill suddenly crept up his spine and without hesitation, he spun around, swiftly moving his hands to place his sword in front of him, ready to intercept an incoming attack.

CHINGG!!

The clash of swords echoed through the air as Tatsumi felt the tremendous pressure of the blocked strike.

The force behind the attack was so powerful that it caused the young man to slide backward. He managed to halt his movement by forcefully stabbing his sword into the ground, regaining his footing..

BADAMP!

Tatsumi’s hands trembled as he felt the thunderous pounding of his heart, while sweat trickled down his temples, his body tense with the realisation that a mere second’s delay in blocking the sword strike could have resulted in instant death, leaving him helpless to react.

Tatsumi faced Ogre, who miraculously survived the deadly attack. Despite the blood flowing from his wound, the guard captain stood firm like a mountain. 

“You little shit!! Do you think I could be killed by a snot-nosed brat like you? I am ‘Ogre the Demon,’ the arbiter of justice in this city. I decide who’s right and wrong. Do you think you have the authority to judge me?” The burly man’s voice thundered in the alley, his face contorting into a demonic visage, sharp teeth bared, fueled by intense hatred towards his assailant.

Tatsumi, having witnessed the true nature of this demon, clenched his teeth. In response to the corrupt guard captain’s tirade, he fired back, “Who gave you the right to judge anyone, you corrupt bastard? You claim to be the city’s judge while framing the innocent and accepting bribes from the corrupt.” Without waiting for a response, he leaped into the air, aiming to strike down this monstrous man.

Ogre, being a seasoned swordsman, deftly parried the incoming sword strike aimed at him and countered by swiftly slashing his longsword towards his opponent. This move not only forced the young man into a defensive position, but also restricted his mobility.

Leveraging his muscular build, Ogre applied pressure on the assailant, relishing in seeing him struggle. His lips curled into a sinister smile, revealing his sharp teeth as he taunted, “So, you’re one of those Night Raid dogs, huh? Tell me, who hired you? Was it that woman whose fiancé I executed recently?”

Tatsumi’s expression turned rigid as Ogre chuckled menacingly, asserting his power and superiority. “Haha! So, I’ve struck a nerve, have I? Let me clarify something for you,” Ogre taunted.

“You may label me as corrupt, but in the grand scheme, it’s irrelevant. I possess power, and with power comes the ability to bend the rules to my will. The weak are meant to submit; it’s the natural order of things.”

As Ogre applied more pressure, he continued his vile threats, “That woman should’ve just forgotten that man and stayed away from me, but now that she dared to cross me, I’ll hunt her down. She’ll witness her family’s execution before her very eyes, while she screams in agony.” His grin grew more sinister, unaware of the expression on the struggling young man’s face beneath him.

SWISHH

Suddenly, a sharp slash cut through the air, leaving Ogre bewildered as he noticed his arms no longer in their sockets, blood gushing from the cleanly severed joints. 

Before he could register the pain, he glimpsed the ice face of the young man closing in on him. His eyes didn’t contain a single bit of mercy towards the demon.

SHINGG! SHINGG!

The echoing sound faded as the large man collapsed to the ground, his hands landing some distance away from him. Deep cuts marred his body, and blood pooled around his fallen form, painting a grim picture of the confrontation’s violent end.

“Trash like you shouldn’t even exist in this society.” Tatsumi’s ice-cold voice cut through the alley. He spared no glance at the fallen body, deeming it unworthy of his attention. Hiding his sword back within his coat, he turned and left the alley behind.

.

In the dark confines of the alley, Ogre lay on the ground, coughing up blood as his breathing gradually returned. Sensing the assailant’s departure, he mustered the strength and crawled like a worm towards the wall, using it to prop himself up.

“Haah... I will... kill... that... bastard...” Ogre’s breathing was labored, and the taste of iron lingered in his mouth. He realized he had no choice but to resort to the pill, knowing it was his only chance at survival.

With composure regained, Ogre utilized his severed limbs to retrieve a blood-colored red pill with a silver sheen from his pocket.

The blood red pill was wet with his blood but he did not pay any heed to it and with great effort, he brought it to his mouth, chewing it down despite the pain.

A minute passed, and suddenly, Ogre roared in agony. The effects of the pill kicked in, halting the flow of blood from his wounds. His skin turned crimson, and bones, flesh, and veins began to regenerate from his severed limbs, the sound of bone and sinew growing back filling the alley with grotesque echoes.

“Hah,hah…” Ogre breathed heavily.

Ogre’s eyes closed as he muttered, “Ha, I owe the doctor for this pill. I just had to do him a few favours, and he rewarded me with this miraculous creation.” His hand instinctively moved to touch his newly regenerated left eye, a testament to the pill’s power.

The doctor had warned him about the side effects: temporary immobility and hallucinations lasting several minutes. However, these effects could be mitigated by an inhuman tolerance to pain and drugs. But Ogre didn’t come into this category. He was just good in physical aspect and had a good grasp of sword skills.

“Despite the drawbacks, this pill is a miracle. It even restored my lost eye,” Ogre remarked, his head throbbing as the world seemed to spin around him, signalling the onset of hallucinations.

“Indeed, but that bastard ran away.”

“Yeah, but I don’t have to worry, as I’ll hunt down that bastard and his team. I’ll slaughter every one of them at their base,” he declared, his thoughts darkening further. “And as for that black-haired girl on the poster, she’ll make a fine meal after I’ve broken her spirit.” Ogre’s grin widened, his voice tainted with malice as he spoke of his violent plans.

“What about the woman who commissioned them to kill you?”

When his internal voice prompted about the girl who ordered his assassination, Ogre’s tone turned even more vicious. “That bitch won’t escape, either. I’ll find her, rape her in front of her family, and beat her senseless, after that I will kill her and then hang her on the stake in order to give threat to those bitches who dare to go against me” he vowed to himself.

The calm and melodious voice again asked, “What if there’s someone else out there, someone who seeks to hunt you down for answers? What if you won’t live to see another day once they’re finished?” The voice posed the question in a detached manner, hinting at the looming threat Ogre might not have considered.

Ogre’s initial reaction was to shake his head, as if trying to dispel the unsettling voice in his mind who was asking him these stupid questions. However, he halted his movements, making him pause.

Ogre’s initial dismissal of the voice was replaced by a chilling realisation as he felt a cold shiver down his spine.’No, this isn’t my conscience which is talking to me due to hallucination.’ he thought, his senses sharpening as he slowly opened his eyes. 

As he turned his head sidewards, he saw a masked figure who was seated beside him. Despite being short, the figure emanated an aura of danger.

Ogre’s instincts screamed that the figure harboured ill intentions toward him. Despite his heightened senses, fear began to gnaw at him.

“Who are you-” Ogre attempted to demand the intruder’s identity but was abruptly silenced by a sharp claw piercing his neck.

“GAHHHH!!” A guttural cry escaped Ogre as blue veins started to protrude on his body, and he lost all sensation. He felt like a lifeless doll, able only to weakly vocalise and observe his surroundings.

“Hmm, let’s start the interrogation, shall we?” The masked person’s voice remained eerily sweet as they caressed Ogre’s rugged face with a cold, metallic gauntlet, maintaining a calm demeanour while seated beside him.