The night had grown heavier.
The forest no longer felt unfamiliar.
It felt alive.
Watching.
Waiting.
Raizen walked in silence.
His steps steadier than before.
His grip on the sword… firmer.
Behind him, the swordsman spoke.
"You killed your first demon."
A pause.
"But that doesn't make you strong."
Raizen didn't respond.
"Strength," the swordsman continued, "is tested when you face something stronger than yourself."
Raizen stopped.
"…Then give me something stronger."
For the first time—
The swordsman smiled.
"Careful what you ask for."
A New Threat
Moments later—
They arrived.
A ruined shrine stood in the middle of the forest.
Broken pillars.
Cracked stone.
A place long forgotten.
But something was wrong.
The air felt… heavy.
Raizen's breathing slowed.
His instincts screamed.
"…This place…"
The swordsman's voice was low.
"Stay alert."
A sound echoed.
Not a cry.
Not a whisper.
A growl.
Deep.
Distorted.
Then—
From the darkness—
It emerged.
A demon.
But not like the one before.
Its body was larger.
Muscles twisted unnaturally.
Veins glowing faintly beneath its skin.
Its eyes locked onto Raizen.
"…Another human."
Its voice was unstable.
Almost broken.
Raizen felt it instantly.
This one was different.
Stronger.
Faster.
Deadlier.
The Fight Begins
Without warning—
The demon vanished.
Raizen's eyes widened.
"Too fast—"
BOOM.
He was sent crashing into a pillar.
Stone shattered on impact.
Pain exploded through his body.
"Get up," the swordsman said.
But he didn't move.
He didn't help.
Raizen coughed.
Blood filled his mouth.
"…I can't even see it…"
The demon appeared again.
Closer.
"You're weak."
It raised its arm—
And struck.
Raizen barely rolled away.
The ground split open.
His heart pounded.
His breathing broke.
"I'm going to die…"
The thought echoed.
Loud.
Clear.
Breaking Point
The demon grabbed him.
Lifting him into the air.
"Pathetic."
Raizen struggled.
His strength meant nothing.
His vision blurred.
And then—
Memories flashed.
His family.
Their faces.
Their blood.
"No…"
Something inside him snapped.
"I won't…"
Darkness surged.
His left eye glowed brighter than ever.
A mark began to spread across his skin.
Black.
Vein-like.
Burning.
The air trembled.
The demon paused.
"…What is this?"
Raizen's voice changed.
Deeper.
Colder.
"I won't die here."
The Awakening
Shadow energy exploded around him.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
The demon was pushed back.
Raizen landed on his feet.
His body moved—
On its own.
Faster.
Sharper.
The world slowed again.
But this time—
Even more.
"Shadow Breathing—"
His voice was steady.
"Second Form—"
The ground beneath him cracked.
"Night Step."
He disappeared.
And reappeared—
Behind the demon.
Before it could react—
"Third Form—"
A blur of motion.
"Black Crescent."
SLASH.
A deep cut tore across the demon's body.
It roared.
In pain.
In rage.
"You… human…!"
But Raizen didn't stop.
He moved again.
Relentless.
Strike after strike.
The demon couldn't keep up.
For the first time—
It felt fear.
The End
Raizen stood in front of it.
Breathing steady.
Eyes glowing.
"Fourth Form—"
Darkness gathered around his blade.
"Shadow Execution."
One final strike.
Silence.
The demon's body split.
Then—
Turned to ash.
The forest became still once more.
Aftermath
Raizen stood there.
Unmoving.
Then—
The darkness faded.
His body collapsed.
The mark disappeared.
The swordsman caught him.
"…Interesting."
He looked at Raizen carefully.
"That power…"
A pause.
"Is not normal."
Ending Line
That night—
A hunter awakened.
But something else awakened with him.