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Chapter 10: Between Shadows and Salvation
"I have seen the darkest depths of humanity and I have seen the brightest heights.
And, I have learned the only way to live is to walk the thin line between the two."
Rui exhaled sharply, blood dripping from his blade. He had just finished cutting down two low-rank Majins, their bodies dissolving into ash. He stood amidst the carnage, panting heavily, shoulders heaving under the weight of exhaustion. But fate had other plans.
Three S-rank Majins dropped from the sky like reapers cloaked in shadows.
His heart sank.
Where were they coming from? He hadn't sensed them until now.
And more importantly—where was the kid? He had come all this way, fought through a legion of beasts, and now… he was lost in the dark. Literally and figuratively.
Gritting his teeth in disgust, Rui unleashed his fury. His blade glinted in the gloom as he slashed one S-rank in two. Another followed, then the third. But fatigue crept in like poison in his veins.
It was only then, as his breathing steadied, that he looked around properly.
The landscape was grim—a twisted mockery of life. No sun warmed the skies above. No trees offered shelter. No flowers bloomed. The sky was nothing but a veil of endless dark, and the ground was littered with Majin corpses and monsters, crawling and snarling like echoes from a forgotten nightmare.
He barely had time to react when a dragon-form Majin swooped down, talons clamping into his arms and yanking him into the air.
"You have to be kidding me!" Rui shouted, wind whipping past his ears as he soared helplessly into the void.
The Majin's claws dug deep into his flesh. Blood ran like ink. He was losing energy fast.
He grunted in pain. He had made a mistake. A deadly mistake.
He should have brought someone—anyone—to back him up.
Now he was going to die.
But fate had one more surprise.
An arrow of ice shot through the dark, shimmering in pale blue light, striking the dragon's claw. The limb shattered like glass, and Rui plummeted from the sky, screaming into the wind.
But death did not claim him.
Instead, he landed in someone's arms. His head rested against something warm and soft, cushioning the impact. For a moment, he felt the strangest comfort.
He opened his eyes.
His savior wore a veil.
That definitely wasn't a man.
It'd be… unusual for a man to have such large, soft… features.
He scrambled to his feet, flustered. "Thank you," he mumbled, eyes avoiding the silhouette.
The figure said nothing at first. Then, in a smooth motion, she removed the veil.
"Chinatsu!"
The name slipped from his lips before he could stop it.
Realization dawned like lightning—and his face burned crimson.
"There's no time," Chinatsu said quickly. "I came to rescue you. I came with the Majin Hunter crew. They're nearby, looking for you and the kid."
He stared at her in stunned silence.
She had come all this way… for him?
She brushed her long hair behind her ear, eyes resolute. "Rui, I'm in love with you. I only dressed the way I did back then because… I wanted you to notice me. You were staring at those girls that day—I thought maybe if I looked like them…"
She trailed off, voice soft with vulnerability.
He blinked. "Chii… I… I don't know what to say. We just met four days ago, and this…"
She looked away, blushing. "Well… I don't care. I had to tell you."
"Come on, guys! The catalyst is this way!" a hunter shouted nearby, stabbing a charging Majin beast.
Rui snapped back to the moment. He grabbed Chinatsu's hand, eyes burning with newfound resolve.
"Let's fight together," he said, a smile touching his lips.
She nodded, gripping his hand tightly. In this nightmare realm, nothing was certain—not life, not survival.
But if they were going to die… at least they'd do it together.
★ ★ ★
Muichiro struggled to keep pace with the crew. Every step felt like a mountain, every battle a storm. He wasn't built for this. Not yet.
Apparently, they were searching for a boy. A teenager. A prodigy.
And then he saw him.
A young boy with silver hair and golden eyes—fighting a towering figure that barely resembled a man.
The enemy had a long, scaly tail, and furry ears, twitching like a beast about to pounce.
"Is that the boy, Mr. Kyojuro?" he asked, pointing toward the battle.
Rui's face was grim. "Yes. But he's not just fighting anyone… that's Akuma."
Shock rippled through the hunters.
The Commander frowned. It should've been him facing Akuma. Not a child. Not some overpowered kid with no backup.
He turned to his squad. "I'll take him on. Go back to town—you've found the boy."
"No," Rui said firmly. "We're not leaving without you."
In the distance, Akuma kicked Yusa across the field like a doll. The boy slammed into the ground, crashing at the hunters' feet. Blood streamed from his mouth. He was dying.
"Yusa Itadori," Akuma's voice boomed, "Get up and face me. I thought you would be stronger than this."
Commander Nagi stepped forward, blade gleaming. "Pick on someone your own size, Akuma."
Akuma sneered. "Is this a joke? You—an old pile of bones—challenge me?"
The tyrant tore off his robe, revealing rippled six-pack abs, gleaming with menace.
"You made me take off my robe. Now you'll surely die."
He turned to his Majin army. "Kill the hunters. Bring Yusa's body to me. None must escape alive."
Like unleashed demons, the Majin foot soldiers charged.
Commander Nagi pulled off his own coat, revealing a powerfully built frame—seven-pack abs, sculpted muscles despite his years.
"You've terrorized us long enough," he said coldly. "Now you'll pay the price."
Akuma chuckled. "Even if you win—which you won't—the catalyst remains."
He pointed to a distant tower, glowing with green light. "It can't be destroyed by an old man."
"Watch me," Nagi growled, and slashed Akuma with a deadly strike.
Elsewhere, Chinatsu was cornered by a Majin.
"It'd be a shame to kill someone as pretty as you…" the monster hissed, slicing her face.
She tried to raise her sword—but failed. The Majin pinned her arms.
Just before it struck—Rui's blade flashed, turning the beast to ash.
"Thank you," she said, retrieving her sword. "But… you really didn't have to."
She walked away with pride, joining the fight.
Rui stared, dumbfounded.
"She really has anger issues…" he muttered, slashing a flying Majin out of the sky.
★ ★ ★
Yusa stirred.
Pain clawed at his ribs, but his regeneration had kicked in. Blood crusted over his wounds. He blinked up at the swirling battle around him.
Did he kill Akuma? His memory blurred. He had driven his blade into the tyrant's chest… but then Akuma had retaliated.
He was still in Majin City. Still surrounded.
Hunters died screaming. A snake crept toward his motionless body, hissing.
It lunged.
In one swift motion, Yusa caught it by the neck and ripped its head off.
He stood shakily, sword in hand. But he was weak. So weak. A sharp pain burned in his gut.
He had to retreat. If another Majin caught him like this, it was over.
And then… the shadows parted.
A Ghost Majin appeared.
Pale. Ethereal. Unkillable.
Yusa's eyes widened.
"No… not now…"
Not now. Not like this.
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