Roy and Mei were on the verge of losing consciousness when a black-haired man appeared from the shadows. His sharp, piercing gaze didn't waver as he moved swiftly, cutting down the guards with lethal precision. Blood stained the earth as the man carried the injured siblings in his arms, escaping into the dense forest surrounding the village.
Roy, barely conscious, saw flashes of his past.
A vivid memory came to life:
Roy, as a young boy, had been playing with friends when Mei, still a child, was attacked by a swarm of bees. Their mother, Stacie, rushed to her aid. She cradled the sobbing Mei and turned to Roy with a stern expression.
"Roy," she said, her voice firm yet sorrowful, "you should have protected your poor sister. She is weaker than you. Never forget—a man in the family is the one who protects the women. You are our man."
Roy, guilt-stricken, stammered, "Mom, I'm sorry! From now on, I'll be your man and protect you both."
Stacie smiled softly, brushing his hair. "I know you will."
The memory blurred, replaced by another—Stacie's last words to him:
"Roy, you should hold tightly to your sister and never let her go. Protect her, no matter what happens."
Meanwhile, Mei was lost in her own childhood memory.
Her mother sat behind her, gently brushing her hair.
"Mei, sweetheart," Stacie said, her voice tender, "you'll grow up to be a beautiful woman. You have such lovely hair. Promise me you'll never cut it to pretend to be something you're not. Embrace being a woman."
Young Mei tilted her head. "Mommy, why are you saying this? Should I become a man to live in this world? But I want to be like you—a pretty woman!"
Stacie's eyes welled with tears, though she quickly wiped them away. "You'll be better than me. Just keep this promise. You'll change this rotten world with your brother."
Mei, confused but sincere, wiped her mother's tears. "Mommy, don't cry. I promise I won't cut it."
Both siblings were drawn into their pasts, unconscious as the man carried them deeper into the forest. He eventually stopped at a stone cave nestled in its heart. Placing them gently on the ground, he sat on a rock nearby, running a hand through his disheveled black hair.
"I'm not going to treat your injuries this time," he muttered to himself. "Why did I get involved again? Trouble, trouble." He sighed, his gaze distant. "Maybe I'm going to die soon. That's why I'm doing these things... or maybe it's just curiosity. But this curiosity is dangerous."
Mei stirred, opening her eyes. "Roy?"
The man, startled and annoyed, muttered under his breath. "Again? She woke up."
Mei crawled over to Roy, her voice trembling with worry. "Roy, please wake up."
The man sighed. "He's alive. Maybe they injured him, but he'll wake up eventually. I have nothing to treat him with."
Mei stood up, determined. "It's okay. I'll take care of him. Can you lend me some water?"
The man, taken aback, tossed his water bottle to her without a word. Mei gently cleaned Roy's wounds and tore a piece of her clothing to bandage him. Once done, she approached the man again.
"What now?" he grumbled.
Mei took a deep breath, lowering her body in gratitude. "Thank you for saving Roy. I'm truly grateful. Without your help..." Her voice cracked with emotion. "I don't want to imagine what could've happened to him."
She reached for his hand, her sincerity shining through. "I really appreciate it, even though I don't trust you."
The man yanked his hand away. "What's wrong with you, lady? Are you crazy? You're scarier than the people I saved you from."
Mei straightened, a faint smile on her lips. "Maybe so, but I'm still grateful." She hesitated before adding, "By the way, I'll need some plants for Roy's recovery."
Annoyed, the man rolled his eyes. "You're demanding now?"
Before he could protest further, Roy stirred and opened his eyes. Mei quickly rushed to his side. "Roy! You're awake!"
Roy smiled weakly, pulling her into a hug. "I'm glad you're okay, Mei. But... you scared this poor black-haired guy. I told you he's a good guy."
The man groaned. "Stop calling me that. It's annoying."
Mei smirked mischievously. "So, should we call you Kuroi Zen?"
Roy and Mei spoke his name in unison, their voices teasing.
Zen froze in shock. "How did you—"
Mei grinned. "We heard it earlier. Luckily, we have a name to blame when we get into trouble."
Roy extended a hand to Zen. "I'm Roy, and this is my sister, Mei. Nice to meet you, Kuroi Zen."
Zen crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Well, it's not nice to meet you."
Roy chuckled. "So, why did you save us?"
Mei fixed her gaze on Zen, waiting for an answer.
Zen hesitated, memories of his own childhood flashing through his mind. His mother's voice echoed in his thoughts:
"Zen, the world is cruel. But if you ever see someone weaker than you in need of help, and you have the power to help them, do it. Even if the world teaches you to only care about yourself, don't forget your humanity. Even for just a moment."
He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "I helped you because you were in my way. That's all."
Roy grinned, while Mei narrowed her eyes skeptically. "Is that really the reason?"
Zen avoided their gaze, muttering under his breath. "Well who cares ?"
Mei: "How can I return the favor to you, Kuroi Zen?"
Zen (smirking): "Just stay out of my way and never appear before me again. I have nothing to gain from you, and you have nothing to offer me."
Mei: "Well, we can't. First, you took all the resources we had. Second, we're in the same trouble as you. They saw you with us, which means we're all in the same mess. It's clear they're already tracking you too."
Mei (crossing her arms): "So, what are you? A criminal?"
Roy (interrupting): "Why are you calling him a criminal? He saved us twice. I'm sure he has his reasons. That's why I think you should join us. We need someone like you for guidance."
Mei (glaring at Roy): "How can you trust him so easily? I don't want this arrogant, black-haired guy joining us. But… it's true he has information we need."
Zen: "About the information you need? I don't care. I won't tell you. Also, I despise weaklings like you. Now, it's time for me to leave."
Mei (annoyed): "Wait! They mentioned marks and tribes. What tribe are you from?"
Zen: "Why would I tell you? I have nothing to gain."
Roy: "You're right. But why did you call us weaklings? I can't accept that."
Mei: "Wait! I want to repay my debt. I can't stand being in someone's debt. I'm ready to do anything."
Zen: "I already told you—you're too weak. You'll die soon in this world. And you, girl, with your attitude? You'll disappear even faster. Women here have no voice, no opinion. They stay in their homes. It's forbidden for them to roam freely outside."
Roy (shocked): "That's awful! But wait a minute—why do you think we're weak?"
Mei: "We were caught off guard! They used hypnotic plant dust on us. That's why we couldn't fight properly. We weren't weak—they cheated!"
Zen (curious): "So you know about these kinds of plants? That's… unusual."
Roy: "Mei has studied her whole life. She knows a lot, but there's no information about this world where we're from."
Mei: "Exactly. Someone made the wrong choice by shielding us and leaving us ignorant about this world."
Roy (determined): "Let us prove our strength to you! If we succeed, you'll join us. We're already involved with you."
Zen: "What? Why would I? I don't care about your problems."
Roy: "You have goals too, don't you? Maybe you'll gain something from us in the future."
Mei (rolling her eyes): "Fine, I'll help repay the debt, but I still don't trust him. He took our resources! How can you trust him so blindly?"
Zen: "I don't care about your trust. Spare me the trouble."
Zen (suddenly smirking): "But… maybe you can repay the debt by doing something for me. In return, I might give you information."
Mei (suspicious): "What's with that evil smirk? I don't trust this at all."
Roy (excited): "He accepted! That's great news, Mei!"
Mei: "It's not right. He's definitely scheming something."
Zen: "There's a tribe called the Sharks. They've been a problem for me. Defeat them, and I'll consider helping you."
Roy (excited): "We accept!"
Mei: "Something feels wrong about this… but if it clears our debt, fine. But if this is a trick, I'll cut your neck even if I'm weaker than you!"
Roy: "Relax, Mei! That's why people avoid you."
Roy (heading off): "I'll go fetch some water from the lake. Don't send Zen away!"
Zen (thinking): Why is this guy so friendly and calling me Zen like we're friends?
Mei (noticing Zen's thoughtful expression): "I hate being in someone's debt. But you still owe us our riches. You'll return them after we deal with the Sharks."
Zen: "I sold everything. There's nothing left."
Mei: "Then give us the gold you earned. I don't care!"
Zen (thinking): How can she be so confident they'll defeat an entire tribe?
Mei: "I have a question, Kuroi Zen. Is being like me really dangerous? Should I cut my hair and pretend to be a man to avoid trouble?"
Zen: "Why are you asking me this all of a sudden? Well… there's a woman named Princess Lumina. She acts like you—holding a sword and fighting when necessary. She escaped her kingdom for that freedom. But pretending to be a man? You'll be found out eventually. Besides, your hair's already short."
Mei: "I know, but Roy—"
Roy (cutting her off): "Cutting your hair won't save me. Don't do it! I hate the idea of you looking ugly. You should be proud—there's a princess like you out there. At least you're not a barbarous, monstrous, ugly sister like you usually act!"
Roy (cutting in): Wait a minute! This princess must be wonderful.
Zen (careless): She's probably one of a kind.
Mei (lowering her head, fists tightening): "Barbarous? Monstrous? Ugly?"
Roy (realizing): "Huh? Wait! I'm sorry!"
Mei (throwing her sword and hitting him in the face): "Precious little sister? You're unbelievable!"
Zen (in shock, wide-eyed): What is going on with these two?
Roy (dodging arrows Mei throws): "I'm sorry! You're my precious sister! Please stop acting like a monster!"
Mei (grinning mischievously): "You're right, Roy. I was mean."
Roy (terrified): "Please stop that smile. You're scary!"
Mei: "Let's head to the Sharks' tribe. Can you lead us, black-haired?"
Zen: "We'll need capes to hide ourselves. We can't enter the village like this."
After donning their capes, Roy and Mei followed Zen through the dense forest until they arrived at the village entrance. From the shadows of their hoods, they noticed a large structure near the gate that resembled a massive tavern. It had worn wooden walls and a faint glow of lanterns flickering through the cracks.
Two men stood guard outside, their muscular frames casting imposing shadows. Zen approached them confidently while Roy and Mei stayed hidden under their cloaks.
Zen leaned in and whispered to one of the guards, "Tell your leader that I, Zen Kuroi, have come to pay my debts. And these two are the price he wanted."
The guards exchanged a look before disappearing inside. Roy and Mei glanced at each other, unease building in their hearts.
Mei (whispering to Roy): "He whispered something to the guards... I think we've fallen into a trap!"
Roy: "I don't think so."
Mei: "But we have no choice but to go along with this for now. I have a bad feeling about it!"
Minutes later, the guards returned, one pointing at Zen.
"Both of you, follow me. You stay outside," the guard barked, directing Zen to remain at the entrance.
Zen smirked and adjusted his hood. "I'll wait for a while. Maybe I'll get to see something exciting."
Roy and Mei cautiously stepped inside. The interior was dimly lit, reeking of alcohol and smoke. The place was packed with armed men, their eyes glinting with suspicion and malice. It looked like a cross between a tavern and a barracks, with its dark wooden floors and crude weapon racks lining the walls.
Roy whispered under his breath, "This place feels... unsettling. It reeks of beer and wine."
Mei continued his thought, her voice low and tense. "And everyone's staring at us like predators sizing up their prey. What a disgusting, terrifying place."
Above them, on a balcony overlooking the main hall, a man leaned casually against the railing. His sharp eyes and confident smirk marked him as the leader of this band.
The man's deep voice echoed through the hall. "Well, well... come closer. I told Zen Kuroi to repay his debts with a difficult task, but it seems he managed to find you two."
Mei's heart sank. She whispered harshly to Roy, "Did he just say 'repay his debts'? I knew it—this is a trap! I'm going to curse that man!"
Outside, Zen sneezed and chuckled to himself. "Someone must be cursing me..."
Back inside, Roy clenched his fists, frustration flickering in his eyes. "I feel betrayed, but what should we do now? I'm disappointed in him."
Mei sighed. "There's no time for that. We'll have to fight our way out if it comes to it. There's no escape from here!"
The leader interrupted their hushed conversation. "Stop your muttering and reveal yourselves! Since you'll be part of my tribe, I should at least see your faces. But..." His voice carried a note of irritation. "Didn't I ask for a woman like Princess Lumina? Why has he brought me two men?"
Mei whispered urgently to Roy, "I'll reveal myself, but be ready. Once I do, we'll be targeted immediately. And remember—right now, we're not Roy and Mei. We're Oyr and Eim."
Roy's eyes darted around the room and landed on two men near the corner. His chest tightened. "Mei," he whispered, "we're in trouble. Those two... I recognize them. They know who we are, and they'll come after us!"
Mei's panic flared, but she kept her voice low. "You have to help me. I'll reveal myself and throw this hypnotic dust I stole earlier. Be ready to act the moment I do, and make sure the leader doesn't notice anything suspicious."
She took a deep breath and pushed her hood back, revealing her face. "I'm a woman, sir. My name is Eim, and this is my companion, Oyr. We've been travelers for a long time, but we didn't know we'd be tricked into coming here. I doubt we'll be of much use to you."
Before the leader could respond, Mei subtly threw the hypnotic dust into the air, aiming it at the two men Roy had recognized. The dust shimmered briefly before settling on them, and both slumped to the floor, unconscious.
The leader's eyes narrowed, but he smirked. "Interesting. You speak like a woman from another world. But I don't care about your story. You are the price Zen owes me."
Roy stepped forward, defiant. "We've never heard of such a thing and refuse to be anyone's 'price.'"
Mei grabbed his arm and hissed, "Calm down, Oyr!"
The leader's smirk deepened as he leaned against the railing. "I am Rufus Sharkens, leader of the Shark Tribe. And yes, that's why we're called the Sharks."
Roy muttered under his breath, "So that's why..."
Rufus's smile twisted into a scowl. "Is something funny, boy?"
Roy quickly shook his head. "No, no! I just... thought Sharkens sounded like 'shark.' It's a fitting name."
Mei cut in, her voice steady and commanding. "Enough of this. I propose a deal—a challenge for your clan."
Rufus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why should I entertain such a notion? You're both my property now."
When Rufus said, "Why would I care?" Mei answered him boldly, "I think you care a lot about your status, your source of strength. You just don't want to be humiliated! If you refuse a challenge from a weak girl like me, doesn't that dishonor your pride? It would mean you're afraid of failure."
Rufus widened his eyes in anger. "You have such a long tongue for a lady. You're playing with fire. However… what is your challenge?"
Mei took a deep breath. "I propose a fight! If Oyr manages to defeat the strongest man in this clan, you will let us leave without conflict. If he loses, we will join your clan and follow your rules."
Roy was taken aback. "But Eim—"
Mei whispered in a low voice, "I'm betting everything on you, Oyr. It's the first time I'm ignoring my logic. I believe you are stronger than all of these men. I can't reveal that I can fight—this is too risky."
Roy's expression hardened. "Trust me, Eim. I'll do it. I got you."
Rufus smirked. "What about your marks? Can you show me what clan or tribe you belong to?"
Mei's eyes narrowed. "I think we're in the same situation as Kuroi Zen."
Rufus let out a mocking chuckle. "Then your fate is already sealed. You don't belong to any group, which means you have no protection."
Mei held his gaze fiercely. "You're right. But you already accepted our challenge. Are you really that afraid of losing? And you call yourself a leader?"
Roy stepped forward. "I'm ready to fight a fair battle against whoever you choose."
Rufus grinned darkly. "You will regret making this challenge for the rest of your life. If that's what you want, let's see how far your 'companion' is willing to go for you."
He gestured toward the guards, who suddenly stepped toward Mei.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, struggling as they grabbed her arms.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" Roy shouted, but Mei gave him a sharp look, silently telling him not to interfere.
The guards forced Mei to sit near Rufus, surrounding her with swords.
Rufus smirked. "Now, let's enjoy the show. I want to see how far that man is willing to go for you."
Mei glared at him with fierce disgust.
Rufus leaned in, his voice low. "I wanted Kuroi Zen to pay his debts so I could see such strong, beautiful eyes again. That same fearless look… Princess Lumina had it too, when I first met her."
Without hesitation, Mei spat in his face.
Rufus's expression darkened in rage. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face. "You dare act like that when I'm treating you properly?!" he shouted.
Mei, unfazed, wiped her mouth and smirked. "I wonder what face you'll make when my companion wins."
Rufus grabbed her chin tightly. "That's what you're going to see—not me. Just watch your disappointment."
He returned to his seat and signaled for the fight to begin. The guards enclosed the bar with reinforced glass, widening the space and transforming it into an arena.
Mei seethed with anger. If I could fight, I'd show this man his limits. But I can't. Her nails dug into her palms. I want to strangle this bastard. He dares to hit me. I want to crush him…
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to refocus. No, Mei, get a grip. You have to focus on Oyr right now.
Rufus smirked. "The first fight begins!"
Mei frowned. "The first what? I made a bet to fight the strongest. This man Oyr will just wipe the floor with them."
As expected, the fight ended quickly. Oyr was the winner.
Rufus chuckled. "I accept your challenge… but I want to evaluate his level."
Another opponent entered. The second fight ended just as quickly. Oyr was the winner again.
Mei, irritated, scoffed. "Did you see? Bring the strongest one! Stop wasting our time. If the strongest one is you, I bet he will defeat you too."
Rufus narrowed his eyes. "You're getting annoying." He smirked. "Still… that was unexpected. He took down the first three so easily."
Mei clenched her fists. "You're just trying to tire him out before he fights your strongest warrior! What a dirty trick! I thought you had pride."
The guards pressed their swords closer to Mei's neck.
Rufus glared. "I never agreed to follow your rules. Watch your mouth and remember who you're speaking to."
Meanwhile, Roy continued winning, taking down warrior after warrior. The number kept increasing—ten, twenty, fifty… one hundred warriors.
Rufus stared in shock. "All of them?"
Mei's worry grew as she noticed Roy's exhaustion.
She smirked weakly. "You're a coward, leader of the Shark Tribe. You were afraid he'd defeat you, so you pulled this trick."
Rufus, enraged, grabbed Mei by the throat and choked her. She gasped, struggling for air.
"You're getting on my nerves," he growled.
Roy's eyes widened in alarm, but Mei subtly shook her head, warning him to stay put.
Struggling to speak, Mei smirked defiantly. "The challenge… isn't over yet."
Rufus let go and grinned darkly. "You're right." He turned to his men. "Now, he will fight the one no one has ever defeated… the source of our power. Kaheel! Come here!"
The room fell silent. A hushed murmur spread through the tribe.
"He's serious…"
"He wants to kill him for sure…"
"Kaheel is a monster."
A powerful presence approached the arena. The moment Kaheel stepped forward, the air grew heavier.
Mei's breath hitched. He's strong. So strong… and dangerous.
She glanced at Roy, worried. In his current state… this is bad.
Kaheel entered the arena, his movements filled with an overwhelming aura of power.
Rufus smirked. "Kaheel, this man is your prey. Do whatever it takes to defeat him."
The battle began. Kaheel and Roy clashed swords—but Kaheel was different. He wasn't just a swordsman. He wielded powerful clan spells infused into his blade.
The real battle had begun.
Roy managed to dodge some of Kaheel's attacks, but not all of them. He was injured, yet he couldn't give up—Mei had bet everything on him. Kaheel shifted his stance, using different clan techniques that Roy didn't recognize. With each strike, the pain intensified as Kaheel tortured him with relentless attacks.
Mei, overwhelmed by Roy's condition, clenched her fists. Rufus, on the other hand, was enjoying the battle. Then, a realization struck her.
(In her thoughts: These attacks… they come from the mark of the Shark! Could these marks have power? But mine and Roy's are just birthmarks. Still… there must be a connection. But if Roy has no way to counter it, he has no chance. I need to do something… but what?)
Rufus smirked at her, his tone dripping with mockery.
"So, tell me, Lady Eim, do you still believe he will succeed? I doubt that. I bet my life that he will lose."
Mei met his gaze, keeping her demeanor calm.
"Betting your life so easily… You should be careful. You might regret it later."
Meanwhile, Roy struggled to keep up.
(In his thoughts: It's impossible to defeat him like this… but Mei bet her life on me. I can't leave her. What should I do? I don't even understand what he's using against me… but it's all coming from his mark. I never thought a tattooed shark could give power! No… I need to finish this, but I keep taking hits without realizing. Mom… what should I do?)
A memory flashed in his mind—his mother's last words.
"You must protect your sister, no matter what."
(Roy: I have to… I have to… I have to!)
The night deepened, and suddenly, a glow burst from Roy's shoulder—his birthmark. The light flared violently, forcing Kaheel to falter.
Mei's eyes widened.
(Roy… the birthmark… It's bad. We need to escape. But how? Think, Mei, think! He's overflowing with power, his eyes are burning brighter… I'm worried.)
Rufus stepped back, his face twisted in shock.
"That can't be… I thought you had no mark!"
Roy, surging with power, was moments away from defeating Kaheel when Rufus shouted in panic.
"Kill him! All of you!"
Mei's heart pounded.
"Wait! You can't interfere in a battle!"
Rufus sneered.
"That's the price for lying to me!"
At once, the Shark Clan warriors pointed their weapons at Roy.
Mei's mind raced. (I'm agile… I can fix this! We have to escape before it's too late! Roy…!)
She shouted, "Oyr! Prepare yourself—we're leaving!"
Roy barely had time to react as Mei acted in an instant.
She pressed against the guards' swords, blood dripping from her hands. Gritting her teeth, she spun around, throwing her cape over their faces. With precise agility, she kicked a small glass chandelier overhead.
"Leader of the Shark Clan, look this way," she called.
Rufus instinctively turned—just in time for shards of broken glass to scatter into his eyes. He let out a scream of agony.
Roy fought off two men before catching Mei as she fell. Carrying her in his arms, he rushed toward the exit—escaping into the night.