On the way to work, Kenji walks through an alley between cracked houses and moss-covered walls. The smell of mold and wet trash fills the air. There, four people surround a young man, demanding money.
He stops for a second. His fists clench. But he soon looks away and keeps walking. Deep down, he believes he can't protect anyone— not even his sister.
The factory where he works stands on the village's edge. Built of rough stone, twisted iron, and makeshift sheds, it still bears the scars of war. The sky is overcast, and mist drapes the distant hills.
From afar, Kenji spots Mr. Tomoji, arms crossed, watching him with stern eyes. Before he can approach, the old man's hoarse voice echoes:
"KENJI!!! How can you be this late?!" Tomoji shouts.
Gasping, Kenji bows his head and replies, "I-I'm sorry, MR. TOMOJI! I ended up running late."
The road here is long, uneven, and riddled with puddles. There is almost no transport, so every trip is a struggle.
Tomoji watches silently, suspicion in his gaze. He guesses Kenji must have stopped by the hospital—but won't ask; if he knew, he'd offer help, and that would mean expenses he can't bear.
Tomoji is a remarkable man. After the war, he built a livelihood from nothing, devising a way to harvest magical ores from the bodies of gods and demons or from mana-soaked sites. These ores are rare: each fragment holds unique magic, used only for forging special weapons. Valuable, yet dangerous.
But Tomoji bears deep wounds. As he worked, his family once awaited a celebration—until a god, angered by their joy, destroyed them. Tomoji never speaks of it, and Kenji respects his silence.
All day, Kenji sorts ores. Large and small fragments land on a stone table; he smashes, inspects, and stacks them, alert to the magical sparks that fly free with each blow. A bluish glow dances in the air. The work is grueling, yet he perseveres—so his sister can stay in the hospital and he and Tomoji have a roof over their heads.
He believes his unusual strength comes from leftover energy of the ancient wars—his body fused with the aura of gods and demons. Yet he knows he isn't alone: many awoke supernatural gifts after the conflicts. Now it's almost commonplace.
By late afternoon, after sorting even fragments from giant demons, Kenji is exhausted and ready to head home.
He bids goodbye to Tomoji, but the old man interrupts:
"KENJI, YOU IDIOT!!" Tomoji bellows.
Startled, Kenji stammers, "I'M SORRRYYYY!!! Um… what exactly am I apologizing for?"
With a weary sigh, Tomoji answers, "It's fine to worry about your sister… just don't overdo it. This work is heavy, and times are hard. We live in a remote region, plagued by those damned— not to mention the rich and noble."
He looks at Kenji with both sternness and care. "I can't help you more than this. Please, be careful. Here—take this with you."
He hands Kenji a basket of fruit. "It's okay to feel weak. It's when someone dear to us is in danger that we discover how strong we can be."
Kenji feels awkward but grateful— for the first time in a long while, someone believes in him. He thanks Tomoji and departs toward home.
On his way, he passes four drunken men. One carries a staff in his left hand and wears dark, flowing robes. Another has torn sleeves, spiky hair, and sharp teeth in a frightening grin. The two at the back cower like dogs, ready to obey.
As Kenji walks by, he overhears:
"Hey Kaito, what was that about?"
"What do you mean, Haruki? And the beer's gone—wasn't worth robbing that guy earlier…"
"You complain too much, Kaito. You even killed him after robbing him."
Kenji freezes. He remembers the young man he saw cornered by four earlier. Could they be the same?
"He didn't cooperate," Kaito replies with a cruel smile. "If he had, he might be alive… Kept saying it was for his family. What do I care about that?"
They laugh like jackals. Kaito continues, "I want more money. Too bad there's nothing worthwhile in this dump."
A henchman says, "There's an old ore-recycling place nearby. Might do."
Kaito grins, "Perfect."
They pass Kenji as if he's invisible. A cold shiver runs up his spine; he thinks of Tomoji. Could it be true…? Mr. Tomoji…?
---
In a panic, Kenji pulls out a magical communication stone he crafted himself and calls Ryota. Surprised, Ryota answers:
"Hey Kenji! Everything okay? How was work?"
"Ryota, help me! Mr. Tomoji's in danger!"
"Whoa, calm down—what's happening?"
"No time! If we're late, Mr. Tomoji will—"
"Got it! Wait for me; I'm coming. Just… don't do anything stupid until I arrive!"
Ryota hangs up, worried, and dashes from his home. But Kenji, overcome by anxiety, follows the group approaching the warehouse.
As he nears, he fears the worst. The intruders smash through the door and storm the office, where documents and month-end money are kept. In the back room, Tomoji hears the crash. He bolts upright and shouts:
"Who's there?!"
Outside, Kenji thinks in horror, "Why is he awake? He usually sleeps early…" Helplessness grips him. "I'm too weak… Someone strong, please save him… Or he'll die."
Inside, Tomoji confronts the attackers: "What do you want?! What are you doing?!"
Kaito sneers, "So you're the old man living here? We were having fun—until our money ran out. Thought maybe you could spare us some, hehehe…"
They attack Tomoji. He pleads, "I'll cooperate—just don't hurt me!"
They beat him to the ground, kicking his face and stomach mercilessly. Outside, Kenji hears Tomoji's cries and remembers Tomoji's words: "When someone you love is in danger, that's when you find your strength." Fury and fear ignite in him. Before he knows it, he bursts in:
"STOP!!! Leave Mr. Tomoji alone!"
Silence. Kaito laughs. The others follow. Haruki and two category-D henchmen seize Kenji; Haruki punches him in the gut. Kenji collapses, but they keep kicking.
"What can a weakling like you do?" Haruki taunts, dragging Kenji's face across the floor.
Tomoji, in agony, screams, "STOP, YOU IDIOTS! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HIM! WASN'T IT MY MONEY YOU WANTED? I CAN GET MORE—JUST LEAVE HIM!"
Kaito responds with sadistic glee, "Sure, we'll take your money… but first, we'll kill you both. Hahahaha!" He drives a dark-metal blade-like hand through Tomoji's abdomen. The floor cracks.
"STOP! DON'T DO THAT!" Kenji screams.
Kaito grins, "Enjoying the show, kid? This is my aura's power… I'm a Category C transformed. I can mold my bones into iron, grow them at will, cut anything, even harden my whole body. Offense and defense all at once!"
Kenji watches Tomoji's blood spread. His body goes numb. Darkness closes in. He loses consciousness. And then…
Thump…
His heart pounds. In the void of his mind, a voice whispers. Darkness engulfs him. All he sees are glowing eyes and a mouth twisted into a chilling smile.