Haruto's lungs filled completely with water. He sank deeper and deeper, drowning silently beneath the surface.
His eyes had shut tight, his mouth was open to the lake, and his entire body had gone limp. At last, his body drifted downward until it touched the bottom of the lake.
Scene 1: Descent and Awakening
From the shadows between the trees, Renzaki stepped out, brushing leaves aside as he emerged. His eyes narrowed as he approached the lake, its surface rippling faintly beneath the moonlight.
"Is he… dead?" Renzaki thought, crouching down. "Looks like I made a mistake using that sleeping poison. He'll end up drowning."
He pressed his palm against the stone floor beneath him. Instantly, the ground rumbled as if answering his touch. The rocky surface peeled back, shifting and sinking. A hollow spread outward, and the stone floor drew itself away. Within moments, the vast lake appeared in full, as though the earth itself had retreated to reveal it.
Renzaki rose slowly, his expression calm but calculating as his gaze swept across the dark waters. "This lake is deep… finding him won't be easy."
Unhooking his katana from his belt, he set it gently to the ground beside him. His voice murmured in the quiet night, "But I can't just let him die here like this—"
Suddenly, the water rippled violently. From the lake's surface, a long, fluid appendage burst forth—a tendril of water, sleek and translucent, its tip tapering into a sharp point like a spear made of liquid. It lashed at Renzaki with startling speed.
Slash!
A line of blood streaked across his cheek. He had tried to dodge, shifting aside, but the watery strike had already grazed him. The liquid tendril recoiled, slithering back into the surface, swaying like an otherworldly seagrass stalk floating upright on the water.
Renzaki touched the cut on his cheek and let out a small, almost playful smile. "Ohh… Flow Element? So, you're from Flow Land. What are you doing here, kid? That place is far from Stone Land. How will you ever get back home?"
The water stirred again. Haruto emerged from beneath the surface, coughing violently as he dragged air into his lungs. He collapsed onto the surface of the lake itself as though it had hardened beneath him, his chest heaving.
"Khhhk! Hhhrrk—ghhh! Uuurghhhhhh! Khhffhhk!Khhkkhh!"
Water gushed from his mouth, the flood that had invaded his body now pouring out.
Haruto steadied himself, lifting one hand from the watery platform. At once, another liquid appendage rose beside him—this one sharp and defensive, hovering protectively to his right while the first swayed menacingly to his left, ready to strike at Renzaki.
Renzaki's sharp eyes caught the marks on Haruto's neck. On his left side glowed the jagged Stone Mark—armor-like in design, resembling a medieval chestplate fractured with sharp stone shards jutting outward like crystals. On his right side, however, shimmered a new mark—fluid and colorful, like water in constant motion. It resembled a spread of flowing currents, with five branching streams stretching outward like spectral limbs, faintly shaped like liquid arms.
Renzaki's calm composure shifted into mild surprise. "On your neck… earlier you only had the Stone Mark. But now… Flow as well? It just appeared, didn't it? How?"
Haruto rose unsteadily, his eyes blazing with resolve. "This is my true power, inherited from my mother. With it, I will defeat the Devil King."
Renzaki let out a soft chuckle—not mocking, but contemplative. "Defeat the Devil King, you say?" He shook his head, still wearing that faint smile. "Yamara was defeated two thousand years ago. What remains is only his body, sealed in the Demon Kingdom. That body is the source of these Demons. If you want to end it, you'd have to infiltrate their kingdom and destroy it yourself."
Haruto's fists clenched. "Where is that kingdom?"
"Demon Land," Renzaki answered smoothly. "But even for hunters as powerful as Einzuro-sensei, entering there is impossible. How could you hope to go?"
"Why? Aren't these just weak demons? Can't Sensei handle them?"
Renzaki's expression hardened slightly. "Not demons… but something far worse guards Yamara's body."
Haruto narrowed his eyes. "Then who?"
"Devils," Renzaki replied calmly. "That's why you should stay far from this, Haruto. Become a protector. Save lives. Don't chase the path of a Demon Hunter." He tilted his head slightly, his smile faint but teasing. "Shall I tell you the truth?"
"Truth? Say it!" Haruto demanded.
Renzaki's eyes glinted playfully. "For you, defeating Yamara's body—or even these common demons—will always be impossible."
Haruto's jaw clenched, but his voice rang clear. "Impossible? Then what about Kagezuru?"
The name struck Renzaki silent. His calm eyes sharpened as he reached for his katana once more, gripping it tightly. Veins bulged in his forearm as he held the weapon ready. He stepped onto the lake's surface—stone rising beneath his feet with each step, forming a steady path as if the earth itself obeyed him. With deliberate calm, he advanced toward Haruto, katana and saya (scabbard) in hand.
Haruto's watery appendages whipped into motion, one lashing out in attack. Renzaki darted aside, dodging the strikes as they stabbed and sliced toward him with sharp precision, each movement guided by Haruto's body like extensions of his own limbs. The liquid tendril struck down again and again, while Renzaki leapt, sidestepped, and slid narrowly out of reach, his movements smooth and effortless.
At last, he drew his katana with a clean metallic vrrrnnk! and slashed three sharp trails through the appendage.
Shhhnkk! Shhhhnkk! Shhhnkk!
The watery stalk split into three, breaking apart into liquid that splashed back into the lake—only to surge upward again, reforming instantly into its sharp, spear-like form.
Renzaki ignored the watery arm guarding Haruto and strode forward without hesitation.
Just as Haruto's right watery appendage shifted protectively to shield him, the moonlight behind him twisted. His shadow wavered unnaturally, then from its depth a dark, clawed hand shot upward, seizing his ankle.
"—Ahh!"
With a sudden yank, the shadow dragged Haruto's right leg sideways. His balance shattered. The watery arms, bound to his movements, wavered and spun out of rhythm, slicing awkwardly through the air as Haruto stumbled forward, collapsing at an angle.
The shadow-hand dissolved instantly, melting back into his stretched silhouette, vanishing as though it had never existed.
Renzaki emerged from the darkness with cold, deliberate steps, his voice cutting like ice.
"Dark Magic: Umbral Grasp."
Haruto gasped, throwing his palms against the ground to stop himself from falling face-first. His watery appendages thrashed wildly, responding to his broken posture. One even slashed past his own back, barely missing him, hissing through the air before fading away.
He pushed himself upright, both hands raised to steady his stance. The watery arms straightened with him, sharp and steady once more. With a fierce cry, he thrust his left hand toward Renzaki. A sharpened tendril surged forward, just a breath away from striking Renzaki's chest—
—but Renzaki calmly extended two fingers.
A glimmer flickered in the air, and with a faint, silken shhhhk, spider threads materialized around the watery appendages. They coiled in an instant, binding the two liquid blades together, twisting them into one knot.
Haruto's eyes widened as his weapons bent helplessly against each other. And before he could free them, Renzaki stepped directly before him.
Haruto roared, ripping his sword from its scabbard. Yet, just as the blade cleared halfway, it snagged. He glanced down—the edge of the steel had caught on a nearly invisible spider silk. For a second, his weapon refused to move.
"—kh…"
The thread snapped with a sharp tchhh! as Haruto tore free, but in that stolen heartbeat, Renzaki's katana blurred.
Shhhhnkk! Shhhht! Shhhhk!
Three clean strikes cut across Haruto's chest. Blood sprayed as he stumbled back.