CLANG!
The sound of clashing steel echoed across the valley. Blades met with brutal force, scattering sparks into the air. Limbs dropped. Blood sprayed the soil.
"Cut, cut, cut…"
A lone warrior stood amidst the carnage, his naginata blade sweeping with perfect precision. He was swift, brutal, and unshaken.
"No one escapes my naginata," the man growled, "which has cut down a thousand men."
His robes were soaked in blood, yet his eyes held stillness—like a storm at rest. His name was Sohei, the warrior monk of the Kamakura period, though time seemed to ignore him.
"They just keep coming…" he muttered. "Who are these barbarians? Why are they attacking me?"
A follower stepped forward, panting. "Master, these men… they work under Saidy Pandrit. He sent them from India."
Sohei paused. "Saidy?"
"Yes, master. He's trying to contact you. These men were likely testing your strength… or trying to take you by force."
"Tch. Arrogant fools."
Another disciple bowed. "No one could defeat you, master. Not even a thousand warriors like them."
"Wakuzas. That's what I thought they were. But Saidy Pandrit? Now this is interesting." Sohei chuckled darkly. "Tell him I accept. Arrange a meeting."
Just as he turned away, his eye caught a man writhing on the ground—barely alive.
"Master, should we let this one go?" a disciple asked.
Sohei's voice dropped.
"No. I'm not the man I once was. These bastards insulted me. B+ rank Eternals or not… they'll face the consequences."
He raised his blade. It fell with silence.
Meanwhile, Kosei…
"Hey, Kaguya," Kosei whispered, sitting beside his comatose sister's hospital bed. "You know… the last few days have been insane. I met someone named John, and he told me things—things you wouldn't believe. About gods. Monsters. Eternals."
His voice cracked.
"I want to show you all of it. You'd love it. Just… get better, okay?"
He gently held her hand. "Get well soon."
Later that day, Kosei headed toward the lake to meet Hayashi. The air smelled of pine and distant rain.
"Strange… Hayashi's never late," he muttered, scanning the edge of the water. "Oh—there he is!"
Kosei jogged up. "Hey! Hayashi—!"
The boy turned. But it wasn't him.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," Kosei said, embarrassed. "I thought you were someone else. You look just like my friend from behind."
"Hah, no problem," the stranger replied. "I was waiting for someone named Hayashi, too."
"Huh? That's my friend's name as well!"
They laughed.
"Maybe we're waiting for the same guy," the boy said.
"No way. Hayashi never mentioned you."
"He never mentioned you either."
Just then, the missing piece arrived.
"Yo! Sorry I'm late!" Hayashi waved. "Kosei, meet Soske. Soske—Kosei."
Both boys stared at each other.
"Wait… you're that Kosei?"
"And you're his Soske?"
The trio burst into laughter.
"So you're both tenth graders too?" Soske asked.
"Yup."
Kosei smiled. "You seem chill. Though… you give off religious vibes."
Soske grinned. "Wanna hear about my faith?"
"Eh, I'm good," Kosei shrugged. "Not interested in cult stuff."
Soske's smile wavered but didn't break. "Alright. Fair enough."
The three spent the afternoon hanging out, skipping stones, and sharing dumb jokes. As the sun dipped behind the hills, Soske's tone shifted.
"Listen, Hayashi… I've decided something."
"What's up?"
"I'm leaving. Saidy Pandrit won't be in Japan for long… and I've decided to devote myself to him. He saved my life once. My life belongs to him now."
"Wait, what?! You're leaving the country? Just because he helped you once?"
Kosei stiffened. "You follow that guy?"
Soske's smile faded. "I've done my research. You shouldn't believe the media lies. Saidy is more than a man—he's a god."
Kosei frowned. "God? Please. He's a fraud. Murderer. Rapist. You can't be serious."
"I thought you were different," Soske snapped. "But you're just another blind sheep. When I was eight, my whole family died in an accident. I was on the verge of death. He saved me. Gave me blood. Paid for my surgeries. He raised me. You know nothing."
Hayashi tried to step in. "Don't go like this, man. Believe what you want—but don't waste your life. You matter."
Soske turned away. "I'll return one day… and you'll see the truth. As for you, Kosei… I hope your soul burns in hell."
He walked off into the night.
"…He's mad," Kosei muttered.
"Yeah," Hayashi sighed. "I feel bad for him."
The Next Day – John's Residence
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Hello? Mister John? It's me—Kosei."
The door creaked open.
John's voice echoed from upstairs. "Come in, brat."
Kosei climbed the steps. "Hey! How are you? It's… been a weird few days."
"Tell me," John said, sipping tea. "How's it feel? Seeing the monsters?"
"I'm trying not to see them," Kosei confessed. "They're creepy. But I wanna get stronger. I want to confront the monster that cursed my sister. I have to."
John raised an eyebrow. "I could kill it for you, you know."
"No," Kosei shook his head. "I want to do it with my own hands. I owe her that."
John smirked. "You've got guts, kid."
"So… when's my training?"
"Tomorrow. Maybe the day after. I've got business."
Kosei narrowed his eyes. "Business?"
"You've heard of Saidy Pandrit, haven't you?"
Kosei nodded.
John's expression darkened. "He's an Eternal like me. He's committed crimes beyond comprehension. Murdered millions. Raped thousands. Tortures his own followers—turns them into monsters. In the 16th century, another Eternal, Rama, tried to kill him. Saidy slaughtered him."
Kosei's eyes widened. "Why didn't you stop him before?"
"I tried. During World War I, he planned a ritual by massacring over a million Bulgarians. I intercepted his 5,000-man army. When they entered the valley, I erased them all."
"You killed five thousand?"
"I left a letter. A warning. Saidy got the message."
"But why not finish him?"
"Because he's backed by Diabolos—one of the Seven Angels. I had no interest in making enemies among the gods."
"But now?"
John's voice chilled the air. "Now I've been authorized. Saidy violated angelic law. I have the right to eliminate him."
"…Are you really strong enough to do it?"
John leaned back, eyes gleaming. "Rama was powerful—he could fight six A-rank Eternals at once. Me? I'm not just strong."
"I'm John I Tzimiske. The most feared Eternal. Even Basil the Traitor has been hiding from me for over a thousand years."
"…Maybe that's a little cocky," he added with a grin.
Kosei laughed nervously. "Actually, I came to ask a favor. My new friend, Soske… he's been brainwashed. He joined Saidy."
John's smile vanished.
"He's in danger."
"He'll be used," John said grimly. "Saidy experiments on his followers. But… he's after someone else right now. A monk named Sohei."
"As long as he's focused on Sohei, your friend should be safe… for now."
John stood.
"Tomorrow, we raid his compound."