The lights of the skyscrapers were like a galaxy pouring down, illuminating Tokyo's veins.
From Roppongi's neon to Ginza's glow, each beam of light told of the city's energy and rhythm. Amidst the splendid brightness, people flowed through the streets and alleys like streams.
Yet behind the prosperity, darkness lurked in the alleys.
A man with a terrified expression was desperately fleeing as if a demon was chasing him.
Finally, his steps halted. His eyes were filled with despair—he'd reached a dead end.
In desperation, people sometimes show courage. He gritted his teeth, pulled a pistol with his left hand, and a dagger with his right, awkwardly crossing the weapons, eyes fixed on the man emerging from the shadows.
"Why are you after me!? I didn't do anything, I don't know anything!"
This explorer, known as Little Yaksha in the End Space, shouted, "Don't come closer! No matter how fast you are, you can't outrun bullets!"
The night wind blew away clouds, letting moonlight shine on the figure in the darkness.
It was a young man about 1.8 meters tall, with waterfall-like long hair and a face so handsome that even women would be jealous.
But the bulging muscles beneath his clothes showed his gender and his strength.
The young man seemed mentally unstable; his once-handsome face was twisted. "It's you… You people took my beloved god away… It's you! Ah… Without god, how can I face this tragic world?"
"Kiryu Setsuna, listen, I don't know where you got your info, but I'm just an ordinary fighter! Ohma's death has nothing to do with me!"
Little Yaksha was sweating bullets. He knew why he was being hunted.
The man before him was Kiryu Setsuna, the stalker and pervert obsessed with Tokita Ohma in the original story. But his strength was also monstrous. He had a twisted love for Ohma, and now that Ohma was dead, he'd gone mad.
Little Yaksha cursed the bastard who killed Tokita Ohma ten thousand times in his heart, but it couldn't save him now.
He was a level 7 explorer, with a superhuman physique compared to the fighters of this world, but in just a brief clash, the skin and ribs of his chest had been twisted into a vortex by the opponent's Rakshasa's Palm.
"Ohma… don't worry. I'll tear the one who killed you to pieces, then find ecstasy in avenging you."
Kiryu Setsuna crossed his arms, face flushed, and walked toward Little Yaksha.
"Shit, you pervert!"
Little Yaksha fired his gun and charged with his dagger.
Gunfire rang out. Kiryu Setsuna and Little Yaksha passed by each other. Little Yaksha's neck was twisted backward and he collapsed.
Kiryu Setsuna stood atop the corpse, gazing at the moon. "Ah~ Ohma…"
...
In the training ground filled with wooden stakes, two figures flashed by at high speed, the sound of fists and feet colliding echoing again and again.
After another clash, the two separated, each landing on a wooden stake.
The figure on the right had purplish skin, veins bulging like thunderous markings, and his face showed fierce fighting spirit. "Gusion! Come on, let's keep going!"
This man, whose facial expressions were as wild as abstract art, was none other than the Kure clan genius—Raian.
Opposite him was, of course, Gusion.
Gusion was shirtless, his skin visibly different from normal. With his output increased, his muscles were swollen, and bulging veins were a dark purple like lightning streaking across a pale sky.
He was also using the Kure clan's Removal, but the effect was different from Raian's—he didn't change color all over; only the veins where blood rushed looked different.
Erioh said he'd never seen anyone use Removal like Gusion. Gusion guessed it might be due to his physique, and also because he hadn't reached a high rate of Removal.
It was his fifth day at the Kure clan. The exchange had been pleasant—he gave the Armament Haki training method to Erioh, who in turn taught him Removal.
The Kure clan's secret technique was extraordinary—Gusion took two days to learn it, seeking help from both Raian and Kaluoer.
It was mainly Karura who taught him; Raian had no patience, while Karura, being a top student at school, was a good teacher.
The only downside was that Karura always tried to move the lessons to the bedroom, stripping at the slightest excuse. Gusion managed to resist every time.
"Let's call it a day. You've made good progress. Rest and recall the feeling from just now—focus on sensing the point of power, not just observing."
Gusion jumped down from the stake, ended Removal, and returned to normal.
Outside the training ground, Karura jogged over, handing him a towel and water. "Gusion-sama, let's have a baby!"
Gusion had a headache—he couldn't stay with the Kure clan any longer, or something would happen sooner or later.
"How many days has it been? What's your Removal rate?"
Raian didn't hold back, snatching a water bottle from Karura and gulping it down, earning her glare.
Gusion and Raian sat on the bench by the training ground, wiping sweat. "About 20%, I guess. I'm not a clan member, so this might be my limit."
"Cheh, that pisses me off. One day I'll kill you."
Raian was disgruntled.
Gusion's mastery of Removal had shocked the Kure clan. Even in the main family, they start learning as kids, and it takes years to use it.
The most talented, Raian, took four months, and Karura needed five.
Yet Gusion, an outsider, learned to use it in two days, making many in the clan question life.
"If you can, go ahead and try. But first, learn what I taught you."
Gusion smiled. He'd spent a lot of time sparring with Raian these days.
Though he'd beaten Raian up badly on their first meeting, Raian wasn't weak.
It's just that at this point in the story, Raian is still young, hot-headed, and a berserker. If it were four or five years later, Gusion wouldn't win so easily.
Gusion remembered that in the later story, Raian was one of the closest to being a sage in this world.
Raian's natural talent was top-tier—no weakness in stats or skills. What he lacked was… discipline.
Yes, Erioh was most satisfied with Gusion because he'd been educating Raian, showing him there's always someone better.
Since Erioh was old, no one in the clan could beat Raian. That had stalled his evolution.
"Hah? Who do you think I am? Give me a few more days and I'll master it, then kill you!"
Raian was still as brash as ever.
Despite always yelling about killing Gusion, Raian probably already acknowledged him.
"Raian, remember—power without conviction is just violence, not martial arts. When you can turn strength into martial arts, come challenge me."
Gusion said seriously—a word of advice to his sparring partner.
"You're not the one to lecture me! Shut up, I'm going to train more!"
Raian, looking furious, put down his water and ran back to the training ground.
Gusion watched Raian's back, his expression heavy.
He thought, if Tokita Ohma were still alive, he and Raian might have become friends someday.
But the protagonist was dead, and a storm was brewing.
He glanced at the info in the public chat—time to get going.