Before cockcrow, a fair skinned stout, with a pair of big lips, can be seen dragging sacks toward a lonesome restaurant, near the edge of the torrid forest.
—We made sure to sprinkle herb powder that scares any profound beast with a bigger stage: but, why did that fucker get killed?!
Katsura complained in thought, stern ridges growing on his forehead.
—All beasts in this vicinity are stage 1; something those rubbish mortals can kill, yet he had to die to them!
Katsura clicks his tongue, kicking a small shrub.
—How are we going to direct a stage 2 profound beast to fight the mortals, when we are low in numbers?!
The Bushi grimaces. Ignoring the leaf that landed on his solar panel, he enters the restaurant, and his brows knit up more.
The air inside, thick with the stench of egesta, is overwhelming the rot on his unwashed body, making his fists clench.
—Couldn't they go outside? Didn't they notice the girl hidden among them?!
Grating his teeth, the corpulent man stares at the sleeping maiden, hidden in the crowd: she isn't suppose to be here!
In this era, called the New Age, women rule over men, socially, politically and financially. This is mostly, because they are more female Tama-Artists and the Tama they use carry more potential, than that of males.
Even if the female is a mortal, she has enough power to get Academy failures, like Katsura, killed, if she knows the right channel.
With this girl around, Katsura and his friends are restricted from acting brutal as they should —near this part of the forest, which is close to the village.
"Tsk, I'll force her to eat dirt, and put her in order, when we reach the camp."
The Bushi shrugged with a grumble. Not only the girl, but everyone in the restaurant needs to be taught a lesson on who the Tama-Artists really are.
Keeping his dark thoughts, he walks over to the only person awake. Arriving in a few seconds, he drops his sacks at him.
"Hand over the food."
Two seconds after his cold words.
"Okay."
Tree barks grow on Katsura's forehead. Telling himself to act mature, he releases a deep breath, before advising the indifferent youth.
"Arrogance won't help you, Silver Hammer. We, Tama-Artists, are in power here. When we reach the camp, I'll beat the arrogance out of you."
"You're right."
"Tch."
On the other hand, Lucien is in good spirits —doesn't show it. He has counted the heads of everyone in the restaurant —he can't read, but can count—; with the amount of food Katsura brought, everyone will get a lavish share.
However, as a person born in a corrupt village, he takes the biggest share. Afterward, he goes to prepare tea, after taking two kilograms of sugar for future use.
Everything is good for him, if you remove the fact that his mother isn't here; and her body is laying in an alley ready to be dog food!
Sunrise arrives, and the mortals wake up to the tantalizing aroma of tea entering their nostrils. Forthwith, their faces lit up with surprise and gratitude; to some, this is the first time having breakfast. With saliva dripping at the corner of their lips, they eat like hungry dogs.
As the mortals enjoy the artificial heaven, the Bushi bring bundles of weapons, throwing them at Ten's discharged chill spot. Once done, Katsura, whose head reflects the purple sunlight sipping from the holes in the ceiling, steps on top of a table, his lips curled upward.
"Play time is over, fuckers. Grab your weapons, and go out to kill the beasts, we've brought outside. Do not fear: none of them have any Tama, so it will be easy for you to end their lives."
While some mortals exchange nervous glances, some reluctantly walk to make the first picks, and Lucien is with them. With a little confidence in his amber eyes, he stares at the nodachi, that will work well for someone with his height.
Nonetheless, before he can reach it, a deep voice whispers in his ear, at heartbeat sound:
"Dernier, my good friend, why don't you take that giant silver hammer: its claws are perfect for stabbing, and the base is perfect for smashing. If you ask me, it's the best weapon for you, right now."
"..."
Lucien blinks, recognizing the proprietor. Turning his head, he finds the Main Character blended with the surrounding mortals. Indifferently, he performs a pantomime with his fingers, thanking his friend.
Grabbing the hammer, he walks outside.
'Why do the words 'Silver' and 'Hammer' keep following me?'
Meanwhile, Girashi frowns at how the mortals are slowly and reluctantly walking. Taking matters into his hands, he unsheathes his nodachi, inciting five heads to roll in seconds.
Instantly, the mortals rush to pick up weapons in a frantic stampede. However, when they emerge into the bright sunlight, their hearts almost abandon their bodies, at the sight before them: small, slender wild cats with long legs, lean bodies, short bodies, long necks, and sharp canine, gleaming with malevolence.
Seeing the profound beasts approach, the mortals' expressions become more lurid —and some collapse.
"Look at those daggers coming out of their mouths!"
"Just what kind of beasts are they?! Something like them should be at least stage 3!"
"They are just servals, bro: they are nothing to be afraid about."
After muttering that, Ten blends with the crowd, his mien placid as the African sunrise.
Servals are stage 1 profound beasts: in the reader's world, they are found in the savannas and grasslands of Africa, in countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.
In the past, Ten killed 4 of such beast by a stroke of luck, when his curiosity dragged him to the forest, and got lost. Putting the events of that day aside, the pink-haired youth isn't going to waste the meager energy of his twig-like-body. If anything, he should preserve his energy, for when something new comes.
Whistling among the scared mutters, Ten looks at the Tama-Artists staring from the windows of the restaurant. Seeing a tree they won't notice him, he rolls on the ground, heading there.
On the other hand, Lucien finishes exchanging glares with two of his friends in the crowd, and sighs at the nonsense he is hearing.
—Is this their first time meeting harmful stage 1 profound beast?
As someone who had a mother who could control stage 3 profound beasts, these little cats don't frighten him. Nonetheless, they are the perfect guys to train his fighting style with.
Coldly, he grabs the head of the punk who was talking about his mother last night. Mercilessly and swiftly, he throws him at the servals.
AHHH!! YOU MOTHERF-!!
The punk's screams ring in the air, but the moment he touches the ground, the profound beasts are already digging their teeth into his tender flesh.
Meanwhile, Lucy charges forward, leaving the mortals in ineffable states. Increasing the grip on his silver claw hammer, Lucien vertically swings the weapon to the ground, killing the punk and the two servals on top of him.
Following the crude motion of the giant hammer, Lucy kills other servals in the next second, with the weapon's claws.
Expressionless, Lucien smiles in his heart.
—The Main Character of the story was right, this weapon goes well with me.
With the help of his mystic eyes, Lucy can see the servals twisting their muscles, in preparation to jump. Holding the weapon straight, he rotates 360 degrees in one place, killing one, he scares the rest.
—My body is adjusting to the hammer. No, killing is making me stronger somehow.
Lucien shakes his head, stepping back. His gaze turns to the mortals who are watching from the distance. Looking back at the profound beasts growling at him, a dark glint emerges from his eyes.
—Do they think I'm some hero who is going to fight, while they watch?
'Although Mama said my birthmark is a mark of the Second Villain Rehabilitator, I'm not a hero.'