Yua was asleep again.
Her breathing was steady now, but Renji could still see the bruises under her eyes — reminders of a world that punished kindness.
He sat alone under the half-collapsed roof of the depot, watching the moon through the cracked iron frame.
The fire burned low.
And so did his heart.
---
[8 Years Ago – Sector 7 Orphanage]
A younger Renji — small, wide-eyed, and always silent — sat alone while the other children played.
He wasn't like them.
Whenever he got hurt… others got hurt too.
A broken knee in a game? The boy who pushed him got a cracked rib.
A slap from a caretaker? That same night, her arm went numb for hours.
Soon, everyone feared him.
They whispered:
> "Cursed."
"Monster."
"He's not one of us."
Except for her.
Yua.
The only one who ever held his hand.
The only one who never flinched when he cried.
"You're not a monster, Renji. You're just… carrying something too heavy."
---
Present – Sector 13 Depot
Renji stared at his palm.
The skin still raw from last night's fight.
But the pain… it didn't scare him anymore.
It focused him.
Then the system clicked:
> [Alert: Host Detected - Class A Hunter Squad within City Limits]
Estimated Arrival: 36 Hours.
Squad Codename: "Black Halo"
Mission Objective: Eradicate "Cursebound Entity - Renji Kurobane"
He exhaled slowly.
"So… they're finally here."
> Would you like to initiate Pre-Hunter Trial?
"Yes."
> [Trial Activated: Phantom Mirror]
Face the one fear you've never spoken aloud.
---
Suddenly, the world went still.
Time cracked.
And standing before him… was another Renji.
But not injured.
Not kind.
Just cold, smiling — like a reflection from a darker timeline.
"You think you're strong?" the phantom sneered.
"You're just broken in the right places."
They fought.
Every move the phantom made, Renji had made before.
Every word he spoke — Renji had once whispered to himself in weakness.
But then the real Renji did something unexpected.
He stopped fighting.
He dropped his fists.
"You're not my enemy."
"You're my reminder."
The phantom paused.
Then faded.
---
> [Trial Completed: +2 Trial Points]
Curse Tree Node: "Blood Vow" Now Unlockable
> New Passive Skill Unlocked: "Grim Focus" – During high pain threshold, boost agility and clarity by 25%
Renji opened his eyes.
Yua stood near the fire, holding a cup of water.
She smiled sleepily.
"You okay?"
He nodded.
"Better than ever."
---
Meanwhile — Underground Command Room, Sector 2
A screen flickered.
Renji's image floated mid-air. Bloody. Tired. But alive.
A woman with silver hair and six glowing rings on her arms stared at it.
"So, the Cursebound survived again?"
A masked soldier beside her nodded.
"Yes. And he's evolving faster than projections."
The woman smiled coldly.
"Then increase the bounty. And send warning to all rogue units."
"Black Halo doesn't leave witnesses."
---
Back in the Depot – Late Night
Renji sat beside Yua, watching her sleep again.
He whispered to the stars:
"They're coming for me…"
"But this time… I won't run."
He looked at his hands again.
Not cursed.
Just… different.
Then wrote a single line into his old notebook:
> "If pain is my story — then let it echo through history."
I'm yuv , a 17-year-old writer turning pain into powerful stories.
If you felt connected to Renji's journey, drop a comment saying "Fight on, Renji!"
Your support gives me the strength to keep writing.