The road was quiet.
No enemies.
No missions.
No words.
Raizen walked ahead in silence.
The encounter from the ruins stayed with him.
"The watcher…"
"…What did he mean?"
Behind him, the swordsman finally spoke.
"You're thinking too much."
Raizen didn't stop.
"…He knew about me."
"Yes."
A pause.
"And that's not a good thing."
A Name Revealed
They reached a clearing.
The swordsman stopped.
"…There's something you should know."
Raizen turned.
"For someone who wants to become a hunter…"
A brief pause.
"You should at least know the name of the one teaching you."
Silence.
"…Kagen."
Raizen repeated it quietly.
"…Kagen."
The name carried weight.
"I'm not your teacher," Kagen said.
"…I'm the one making sure you don't die before you're ready."
A Different Kind of Training
Kagen stepped forward.
"From now on…"
"No more basic training."
Raizen's eyes sharpened.
"…Then what?"
"Real combat."
The Next Step
Kagen drew his blade.
"This time…"
"I won't hold back."
The air shifted instantly.
Pressure.
Heavy.
Different from before.
Raizen felt it.
"…So this is your real strength."
Kagen didn't respond.
He moved.
Unmatched Speed
Raizen barely reacted.
A strike came—
Too fast.
He blocked—
But was pushed back instantly.
His feet dragged across the ground.
"…Faster than before."
Kagen didn't stop.
Another strike.
Then another.
No openings.
No hesitation.
Overwhelmed
Raizen tried to counter.
But every move—
Was read.
Every attack—
Stopped.
His breathing became unstable.
"…I can't keep up."
Kagen appeared in front of him.
"…Then fall behind."
A strike—
Raizen barely dodged.
But lost balance.
Fell.
Rising Again
He hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through his body.
"…Get up."
Raizen clenched his teeth.
His body resisted.
But he stood.
"…Again."
Breaking Limits
The fight continued.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Raizen adapted.
Small changes.
Better timing.
Sharper reactions.
But still—
Not enough.
The Shift
Kagen moved again.
A direct strike.
Raizen stepped forward—
Not back.
He redirected it.
For the first time—
Kagen's attack missed cleanly.
A brief opening.
Raizen moved.
"Shadow Breathing—"
The darkness formed.
"Second Form— Night Step."
He vanished.
Reappeared—
Striking.
Kagen blocked.
But this time—
It pushed him back slightly.
Silence.
Acknowledgment
Kagen looked at him.
"…Good."
One word.
But it meant everything.
Final Exchange
Both stood still.
The air grew tense.
Then—
They moved.
Fast.
Precise.
Blades crossed.
A sharp clash echoed.
Then—
Stillness.
Raizen's blade stopped—
Close.
Not enough to hit.
Kagen's blade—
At his neck.
Silence.
The difference was clear.
Aftermath
Raizen lowered his sword.
"…I lost."
Kagen stepped back.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"But not completely."
Final Scene
The sun began to set.
Raizen stood still.
Breathing steady.
Stronger than before.
But aware—
Of how far he still had to go.
Kagen turned away.
"…Next time, you won't be fighting me."
Raizen looked up.
"…Then who?"
A pause.
"…Someone who won't stop."
Ending Line
To become a true hunter—
You must survive those who are stronger than you.