# Chapter One
The path to greatness is always a bloody one.
Muichiro stared at the cherry blossoms scattered across his mother's grave marker. He was six when it happened, fourteen years ago. The memory still burned fresh: clutching wildflowers for her fortieth birthday, unaware of the massive Majin materializing behind him. Its fangs had glinted in the sunlight before it struck, tearing away his right arm along with the bouquet. The Majin hunters arrived to subdue the creature, but the damage was done—scars etched into both flesh and psyche.
The doorbell's chime pulled him from his reverie. Instinctively, he checked his status:
*Lv.3*
*Condition: Dormant*
*Injury level: 0%*
*Life force: 100%*
His ranking hadn't improved since the incident—he'd barely left the house. His mother's voice drifted from downstairs: "Muichiro, Commander Nagi would like to see you."
Commander Nagi? Leader of the elite Majin hunters? Muichiro's heart raced as he descended the stairs. The commander's weathered face bore the lines of countless battles, his presence filling the modest living room.
"Muichiro, what a pleasure. You've grown into quite the young man."
The words rang hollow. What could the commander want with a one-armed low ranker?
"I want you to join the force."
The statement triggered another memory: standing in the rain at fourteen, desperately training for the tryouts. His mother calling him inside, his stubborn refusal. His vow to kill Lord Akuma, leader of the Majin.
But reality had crushed those dreams. "You can't participate," the registrar had told him bluntly. "Not in your... condition."
"But I worked so hard," he'd protested, until a shadow fell over him—Likin, the Colonel's son, sneering.
"Get out, weakling."
The confrontation ended with Likin sporting a bloody nose and Muichiro banned from the tryouts. Commander Nagi had healed Likin instantly, his status displaying:
*Lv.1,099*
*Condition: Active*
*Injury level: 0.0%*
*Life force: 100%*
*Fighting abilities: High*
*Healing process: Complete*
Now, years later, the same commander sat before him, requesting his service. "We need you."
"I'll join," Muichiro heard himself say, surprising even himself.
Before his mother could respond, the front door exploded inward, knocking the commander to the ground. Muichiro's blood ran cold as they poured in—Majin, dozens of them. Had they come to finish what they'd started fourteen years ago?
---
In his fortress of shadow, Lord Akuma contemplated his status:
*Lv.10,000*
*Condition: Immortal*
*Injury level: 2.2%*
*Life force: 99.9%*
*Current status: Healing ongoing*
"Lord, we've found the God ranker," his servant announced. "Yusa Itadori."
The name stirred ancient memories. Could it be the same Yusa who'd nearly destroyed him centuries ago? Impossible—unless reincarnation...
"We have his cloth," the servant continued, presenting a scrap of fabric.
Lord Akuma summoned five thousand Majin soldiers, throwing them the cloth. "Track this scent. Bring me his head."
They vanished into the darkness. He knew they would fail—a God ranker would annihilate them easily. But their deaths would confirm his suspicions. If this truly was Yusa reborn, he would need to proceed with utmost caution.
If not, the whole Majin race would be at stake, and the whole world's.