Renjiro's journey continued, his steps echoing the path of a lone warrior. Wherever he walked, hope followed-he healed the sick, protected the weak, and confronted those who sought to harm the innocent.
Word of him spread far and wide, and he became known as The Pillar of Hope. People whispered his name with reverence, for his mere presence instilled courage in the hearts of those in need. He healed the ill, freed those held captive, and faced down countless villains.
But his path would soon lead him to a new challenge-something darker than he had ever encountered before.
---
The Encounter
Renjiro walked up a steep hill, his heightened senses aware of everything around him.
Then, he froze.
Two souls.
One was twisted, unnatural, and completely alien to him. The other felt human, but tainted by malevolence.
A voice echoed through the air.
"Heh... What a lucky day. My next meal just walked in."
Renjiro turned toward the voice.
A figure emerged from the shadows, its body shifting and morphing unnaturally, as though it was made of liquid or some monstrous form of flesh.
Before Renjiro could react, the creature's arm transformed into a mass of sharp tendrils that shot toward him like deadly spears.
In a flash, Renjiro dodged, his sword flashing through the air as he sliced through the writhing tendril, severing it cleanly.
The creature let out a piercing screech, its severed arm falling to the ground, twisting and writhing before dissolving into black mist.
But before Renjiro could even lower his guard, the creature regenerated-its body reconstructing at an astonishing rate.
Renjiro tightened his grip on his sword, his focus unwavering.
Through his Soul Sight, he saw it.
"Four hearts..."
The creature was no longer merely a being of flesh. It was something unnatural, with more than one life force sustaining it.
Without hesitation, Renjiro dashed toward the creature once more, his sword flashing with incredible speed as he struck at its core.
The first strike hit, severing one of the hearts. The second cleaved through another.
The creature let out an unearthly howl, but Renjiro didn't stop.
He slashed again, cutting through its central core, and then, with a final, decisive blow, he cleaved through its neck.
Its head tumbled to the ground, and for a moment, the creature seemed still-its body now incapable of regeneration.
Renjiro's eyes narrowed as he examined the remains.
"I can see the vile nature of your soul," he murmured.
A dark pressure filled the air, as if the very atmosphere around him grew heavier.
Renjiro glared at the creature's fallen body. "What is it to you, the lives you destroy? Why do you rob the innocent of their futures?"
Before he could finish, Renjiro sensed something-another presence, closing in.
In an instant, the creature's headless body vanished, disappearing with a flash of dark energy.
The other presence had moved quickly.
Renjiro scowled, anger rising in his chest.
"Next time, you won't escape."
---
A Hidden Lair
Somewhere far from Renjiro's reach, the aftermath of their confrontation lingered in a dark lair.
Lucy, the notorious villainess and ruler of an empire, sat in her throne, her body trembling as it regenerated.
For the first time in over 400 years, Lucy experienced something unfamiliar-fear.
Her thoughts raced. How could a human have done this?
She had faced countless powerful beings and survived every battle-until now.
The very notion that she, Lucy, was almost defeated by a single person was something her mind refused to comprehend.
Beside her, Torino, a member of the 12 dark moons and the strongest one paced restlessly, his fury palpable.
"How could he-"
His voice cracked with disbelief. "How could a lowly human do that to you?"
Lucy gripped the arms of her throne, her nails biting into the stone.
Her hands trembled. She had never been afraid of anyone before.
But now, she was.
"What was he?" she whispered, almost to herself. "He was too strong. Too... precise. Too fast. He isn't human."
Torino's eyes flashed with rage, his body radiating power.
"I swear to destroy him."
The promise hung in the air like a curse.
He, too, had been shocked by Renjiro's strength, but it was his queen's reaction that sent him into a blind rage.
"I will find him," Torino muttered, fists clenched. "And I will make him pay."