Draven and the mysterious figure collided with a thunderous shockwave that rippled through the clearing. Trees bent. Dust spiraled. The world seemed to flinch from their impact.
Both fighters slid back, boots carving trenches into the ground.
Draven stepped forward, eyes sharp like a blade unsheathed.
Draven: "State your business."
The stranger just smirked.
No words.
No warning.
Only movement.
He blurred forward—FWISH!—a dark streak slicing through the air.
Draven barely raised his arm—
CRACK!
The punch slammed into his guard, rattling bone and muscle.
Draven: "What the—?!"
The thought flashed before—
BOOM!
Another strike caught him in the side and launched him into a stone wall. The impact cratered the surface, stone fragments exploding outward. Pain lanced through his chest.
Draven forced himself upright, vision swimming—
A shadow fell over him.
The stranger's foot dropped like a guillotine.
Draven rolled, instinct screaming.
SLAM!
The foot obliterated the wall where his skull had been, embedding deep into shattered stone.
The stranger twisted—disappeared—
Reappeared behind Draven.
Too fast.
WHIP!
A roundhouse kick smashed into Draven's ribs. The world spun as he crashed, rolled, and skidded across torn earth.
He tasted blood.
The stranger exhaled softly.
??? — "Hmph. That was too easy."
DEMON COUNCIL — BLACK PALACE CHAMBERThe council sat in a ring of thrones carved from obsidian and bone. Dark flame torches flickered, casting monstrous shadows.
Rah stood before them, aura simmering with hostility. Servius stood slightly behind, silent but tense.
A councilor's voice seeped through the chamber like poison.
??? — "We sent someone to test your precious human."
Rah's eyes narrowed, glowing subtly.
Rah: "And why is that?"
"Because performing a partnering contract is forbidden. You broke the law."
Rah's lip curled.
Rah: "I don't follow your laws."
A councilor slammed his fist down. The throne cracked.
??? — "You insolent little brat!"
Rah turned away.
Rah: "If you're done, I'll be leaving."
"Not yet."
Rah paused.
??? — "Here's the deal: if your human defeats our demon, he lives. If our subordinate wins—your human dies."
Silence.
Even the flames stopped dancing.
Servius's heart dropped.
Rah: "Master…?"
Rah smirked darkly.
Rah: "I'll take the gamble."
A councilor's eye glowed maliciously.
??? — "No interfering."
Rah looked back over his shoulder, eyes glowing with murderous confidence.
"Even if I interfered… none of you could stop me."
The council stiffened.
As Rah walked out, one snarled:
??? — "That bastard—"
Another whispered coldly:
"Let him enjoy his arrogance. The fall will be sweeter."
THE FIGHT — SECOND WINDDraven staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his chin.
Draven: "I'm not… done yet."
The stranger tilted his head, amused.
??? — "You've got guts. But guts alone won't save you."
Draven clutched his cracked ribs, breathing ragged.
Draven: "I'll win… even if it's the last thing I do!"
A quiet chuckle.
??? — "Then tell me your name before you die."
"Draven."
"And I," the stranger said, grinning wide,
"I am Brash, the Misfit."
Lightning cracked between their auras.
They charged.
Fists collided—
BOOOOM!
A shockwave blasted outward, uprooting trees.
Brash leapt high and dropped an axe kick.
Brash: "DRAGON-BREAKER AXE!"
Draven blocked—
But the ground beneath him shattered, plunging him to one knee.
Before he recovered—
"SPIN DEMON STRIKE!"
A spinning kick smashed into Draven's skull.
He slammed into the dirt, coughing blood.
Brash raised a glowing hand.
Brash: "Die."
He slammed down—
BOOM!
—destroying the earth.
But Draven was gone.
Brash froze.
A suffocating aura rose behind him—thick, violent, crimson like fresh blood.
He turned slowly.
Draven stood wreathed in a blazing red aura, eyes sharp and predatory.
Draven: "I told you…"
Earth cracked beneath his feet.
Draven: "I'm not losing."
Brash's grin widened into manic excitement.
Brash: "Hah! This is getting GOOD!"
COUNCIL REACTIONCouncil flames flickered violently as they watched through a scrying mirror.
??? — "Impossible. A human shouldn't channel that much aura."
??? — "Brash will still win. He must."
A third demon smiled.
??? — "…I'm not so sure."
FINAL STAGE — OVERDRIVEBoth vanished into motion.
CRASH!
CRACK!
BOOM!
Each blow shook the clearing. The ground fractured into spiderweb patterns. Trees toppled from sheer pressure.
Brash's hook tore through the air.
Draven blocked—
Countered—
Missed—
Brash ducked—
And drove his fist deep into Draven's stomach.
Draven spat blood violently.
Brash seized him and chokeslammed him into the earth with enough force to crater it.
He lifted an elbow, aura crackling black.
"MISFIT EXECUTION—"
Draven caught the strike.
Their auras clashed violently.
Draven roared:
"RED AURA OVERRIDE!!"
—then hurled Brash across the forest.
Brash crashed through three trees before skidding to a stop.
Draven rose, shaking, but burning with resolve.
Draven: "It's time to finish this."
Brash wiped blood from his mouth and smiled wildly.
Brash: "Before we do… tell me. Why make that contract?"
Draven's expression darkened.
A shadow fell over his eyes.
"Because I have someone to kill."
Brash's aura ignited like wildfire.
Brash: "Sorry to say, but your journey ends HERE!"
They charged.
The forest held its breath.
Draven: "CRIMSON END STRIKE!!!"
Brash: "MISFIT OBLITERATION!!!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A blinding explosion tore the world apart.
When the smoke cleared—
Draven stood.
Barely.
But standing.
AFTERMATHRah descended slowly, arms folded, smirking.
Rah: "Took you long enough."
Back in the council chamber, one demon leaned closer to the scrying flame, eyes gleaming.
??? — "...You officially have my attention."
AT THE GIFTED H.QChance was training with Aim while Maes sat nearby drinking tea.
Chance and Aim were trading blows, going all out, but then Maes received a call and answered it.
Maes: "Hello?"
??? — "Send the newbie in. It's time."
Maes: "Alright, sir."
Maes looked at Chance and Aim.
Maes: "Enough training. It's time."
Aim nodded. "Right."
Chance looked at both of them, confused.
Chance: "For what?"
Maes: "Well… it's going to be your first mission."
Maes set down a stone, and it transformed into a portal. Chance stared at it in fascination.
Chance: So cool!!
Maes: "Well, step in already."
They all stepped into the portal and were teleported to the main H.Q.
AT THE DIVINE ORDER H.QThey arrived and saw someone at the entrance. The woman introduced herself.
??? — "Welcome to the main H.Q. My name is Alvah, and I will be your guide and will be overseeing you while you are here."
Chance was still in awe from the teleportation while Maes and Aim nodded.
Alvah: "Well, follow me."
They followed Alvah to the office of the President of the Divine Order.
AT THE DIVINE ORDER PRESIDENT'S OFFICEAlvah knocked on the door.
??? — "Enter."
Alvah opened the door, and they all walked into the office. They saw a black-haired man sitting down, clearly the president. He looked at Chance, who immediately looked away in awkwardness.
??? — "Welcome to the H.Q."
He studied Chance with an intense gaze, and Chance, feeling his aura, grew nervous. The president laughed.
??? — "No need to be scared. I'm human just like you."
Chance tried to hide his fear and faced him.
??? — "So kid, what's your name?"
Chance nervously answered: "My n-name is Ch-Chance, sir."
The president laughed. "Lighten up, Chance."
Alvah: "Sir, don't you think you should also introduce yourself?"
??? — "Oh yes, my bad. I am Armati, the President of the Divine Order."
Alvah: "Sir, I swear you need to be more professional."
Alvah continued lecturing him while he sat in the corner crying. Chance looked confused while Aim smiled and Maes shook her head, as if this was normal.
A few seconds later…
Armati: "Alright, back to business. Since you're new, you'll have to go on a debut mission."
Chance: "Okay sir… so when am I going?"
Armati: "Now."
Chance stared at him in confusion. "Eh?"
Chance: "What?!"
FEW MOMENTS LATER…Alvah escorted Chance to the Mission Center. When they arrived, he saw three others about his age: a boy, a girl, and a woman. The woman spoke.
??? — "Now that the last person is here, we can begin the briefing."
She explained: "Since you are all the newest Gifted, you will go on a mission to defeat a curse."
She pointed to a large screen showing locations where the curse had been spotted. Their job was to find it and eliminate it.
The boy spoke.
??? — "Easy enough. But how are we going to get there?"
??? — "You will all go through the teleporter, and when you are finished, you will use this to get back."
She held up a teleportation stone and added:
??? — "You will also be accompanied by a higher-ranking Gifted."
They heard footsteps and turned to see a young man, not much older than them, walk in. The advisor introduced him.
??? — "This is Goryu, and he will be overseeing you."
The boy got angry.
??? — "He's not much older than us, and you expect him to oversee us?"
The woman looked at him.
??? — "Naturally, yes. He is higher ranked than you and more experienced."
Goryu laughed. "It's fine. He can lead."
The advisor looked confused.
??? — "Are you sure?"
Goryu: "Yes. He looks capable enough."
The advisor sighed. "Fine. It's your choice."
She handed Goryu the stone and gave them special suits, while Goryu's suit was clearly superior.
FEW MOMENTS LATER…They prepared to leave and entered the teleporter. They successfully transported into a forest.
Goryu: "So, what are your names?"
The boy stepped up confidently.
??? — "I am Megha."
Goryu looked at him. So he is Megha, formerly Shiba Kaien…
The girl spoke.
??? — "I am Galena."
Goryu thought: Galena… formerly Sakura Kaien, Shiba's younger sister.
Goryu: "And finally?"
Chance: "I'm Chance."
Goryu thought: Chance… formerly Chen. His past is unclear.
Goryu: "Alright. As you know, our mission is to defeat a cursed being. What you don't know is its danger level, and that's what we must determine. We need information on everything it has done."
They walked through the forest and saw claw markings. Galena looked terrified. Goryu checked coordinates on his phone, and eventually they made it out of the forest and saw a town.
AT THE TOWNThey entered and saw nothing unusual. Goryu noticed Chance had been unusually quiet.
They split up to gather information. While walking, Chance passed a hooded figure. He felt its presence—it was a Curse—and turned around, but it was gone.
He thought he might be imagining things.
They regrouped and learned strange occurrences were centered in one area: an abandoned section called Deadlands.
Night fell. They checked into a hotel booked in advance by the Divine Order.
NIGHTEveryone went to their rooms, except Chance. He couldn't sleep, so he went outside and watched the stars.
Chance: It's so surreal… yesterday I was at home with my family, and now I'm alone.
Goryu walked outside and saw him.
Goryu: "Can't sleep, huh?"
Chance: "No."
Goryu sat beside him, also looking at the stars.
Goryu: "The stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they?"
Silence.
After a while—
Goryu: "So, eggs… sunny side up or fried dry?"
Chance looked confused.
Goryu: "Come on, simple answer."
Chance: "Fried dry."
Goryu: "Favorite type of chocolate?"
Chance: "Dark chocolate."
Goryu: "Really? It's so bitter though."
Chance got irritated. "It really isn't! It's way better than the rest!!"
Goryu laughed.
Chance: "It's not funny."
Goryu: "See? It's better when you show emotion. Makes you look more human."
Chance looked away. "It's not that easy for me."
Goryu: "Huh? I can't hear you."
Chance got annoyed. "It's not easy for me, okay!!"
Goryu smirked. "You just expressed your emotions, didn't you?"
Chance: "Well, yeah, but—"
Goryu playfully punched his arm.
Goryu: "Emotions come naturally."
He walked off. "I'm going to bed. Don't stay out too late."
Chance smiled. He understands me.
THE NEXT DAYThey went to a buffet breakfast restaurant. Chance and Megha were fascinated by the food, while Galena remained quiet.
Goryu noticed and smiled.
Goryu: "Not hungry?" he smiled.
Galena was surprised she had been noticed.
Galena: "N-no…"
Her stomach growled, and she became embarrassed. The boys laughed.
Galena: "I-it's not funny!"
Megha: "As the leader, I say we eat now because I'm very hungry!"
Goryu laughed, and they began eating. Galena eventually smiled.
NIGHT INVESTIGATION
They went to investigate Deadlands. Chance remained silent, still thinking about the hooded figure he saw earlier. He considered telling Goryu but hesitated.
Suddenly, Megha stopped, terrified.
On top of an abandoned church stood a figure.
The sky turned red.
Everyone tensed.
The figure jumped down, landing heavily. The air grew suffocating.
Megha stood at the front, shaking.
The figure smiled darkly.
??? — "So I heard you've been looking for me."
He slowly walked forward.
??? — "Well… here I am."