In the Last Episode...
Ekai, Akaio, and Ren defeated the giant sea creature blocking their journey before finally arriving at Yagami Village. After splitting up, Ekai saved a mysterious creature, while Ren was accused of being a thief by the village's War Commander. Without hesitation, Ren defeated the commander, claimed the cursed katana Hasikat as his new weapon, and escaped. Meanwhile, Akaio discovered a shocking wanted poster bearing Ren's face.
---
Present Time
Akaio stood frozen in front of the large wanted poster.
His eyes slowly moved across the paper.
The picture was unmistakable.
It was Ren.
Below the picture was a massive reward that attracted the attention of everyone in the village.
People whispered among themselves.
"So that's the man who killed the commander..."
"They say he's incredibly dangerous."
"No one has ever escaped after touching the cursed katana..."
Akaio swallowed nervously.
"Just... who exactly is Ren?"
---
Far away from the crowded streets...
Ren quietly sat beneath a massive stone near the edge of the village.
The cursed katana Hasikat rested beside him.
Its dark blade reflected the afternoon sunlight with an eerie glow.
Ren calmly roasted a fish over a small fire.
Without showing the slightest concern, he continued eating as if nothing had happened.
Crunch...
Crunch...
Suddenly...
Voices echoed through the forest.
"Search everywhere!"
"He can't be far!"
"Find the murderer!"
Ren's eyes slowly opened.
Village soldiers.
Without making a sound, he picked up Hasikat and slipped behind the enormous rock.
The soldiers rushed past only a few meters away.
"He disappeared..."
"Keep searching!"
Ren remained perfectly still until every soldier disappeared into the distance.
Only then did he quietly continue eating his fish.
---
Meanwhile...
Ekai wandered through another part of Yagami Village.
His stomach growled loudly.
"I'm starving..."
Just then...
A frightened little boy ran across the street.
Behind him, several rough-looking men surrounded him.
"Give us all your money!"
"Or we'll kill you!"
The little boy trembled with fear.
Before the men could touch him...
Boom!
Ekai appeared.
One powerful kick struck the leader.
The remaining men were thrown backward by the force.
Within seconds, all of them lay injured on the ground.
"Tch..."
They quickly stood up and ran away.
The little boy looked at Ekai with sparkling eyes.
"Thank you, big brother!"
Ekai smiled warmly.
"No problem."
Then he scratched the back of his head.
"Actually..."
"I'm really hungry."
"Do you have anything to eat?"
The little boy happily nodded.
"Come with me!"
---
After a short walk...
They arrived at a small wooden house.
"Please wait here."
The boy entered the house and soon returned carrying a simple bowl of rice.
"Here."
Ekai smiled brightly.
"Thank you!"
He quickly finished every grain of rice.
"It was delicious."
Suddenly...
The little boy's body became weak.
He collapsed onto the floor.
"Hey!"
Ekai rushed toward him.
"What happened?!"
The door burst open.
A worried man rushed inside.
"My son!"
He immediately glared at Ekai.
"Who are you?!"
"What did you do to my son?!"
Ekai raised both hands.
"Wait!"
"I protected him from some bad men."
"He gave me food."
The man's face suddenly changed.
"...The food?"
"You... ate it?"
Ekai nodded.
"I was hungry."
The man lowered his head sadly.
"My son hasn't eaten properly for many days..."
"He saved that rice for himself..."
Ekai stood speechless.
"...I'm sorry."
The man sighed.
"If you truly want to help..."
"Bring food from Hatake Village."
"It's the only hope we have."
Ekai nodded without hesitation.
"I'll bring it."
---
The two traveled toward Hatake Village.
However...
The moment they arrived...
Ekai froze.
The village had been destroyed.
Burned houses.
Broken carts.
Smoke still rose into the sky.
Only a group of armed hunters remained, protecting several wagons filled with food.
The man whispered,
"That's our food..."
"They stole everything..."
Ekai stepped forward.
"I'll get it back."
"You stay here."
---
As he approached...
He suddenly noticed a familiar figure.
Ren.
Several hunters had already surrounded him.
Ren slowly looked toward Ekai.
"Oh."
"So that's where you disappeared."
"Where's Akaio?"
Ekai shook his head.
"I don't know."
"But first..."
"We're taking back the food."
The hunters laughed.
"You think you can steal our supplies?"
Their leader stepped forward.
"This food belongs to us now."
Ekai rushed forward.
He threw a powerful punch.
The leader easily blocked it.
"You'll need more than that."
Before anyone could react...
Ren walked past Ekai.
His eyes remained completely calm.
Hasikat left its sheath.
A single silver flash crossed the battlefield.
Slash!
The hunter leader stopped moving.
A thin line appeared across his chest before he collapsed.
Silence.
Every remaining hunter stared at Ren in horror.
"...Run!"
Within seconds...
Every hunter fled.
Ekai smiled.
"That solved the problem."
Together they loaded half of the food onto a cart and returned it to the grateful father and the hungry little boy.
The father bowed deeply.
"Thank you..."
"You saved us."
Ekai smiled.
"I'm glad."
---
As evening approached...
Ren and Ekai searched the village.
"We still need to find Akaio."
After several minutes...
A familiar voice echoed nearby.
"One more bowl of noodles!"
They turned.
"There he is."
Akaio sat happily inside a small noodle shop.
Both Ren and Ekai immediately sat beside him.
"Shopkeeper!"
"Two bowls of noodles!"
The shopkeeper smiled.
"Coming right up."
Akaio looked confused.
"Where have you two been all this time?"
Neither of them answered.
Instead...
They began eating as fast as possible.
One bowl.
Two bowls.
Three bowls.
"Four more!"
The shopkeeper happily served them.
He had never seen customers eat so much.
Finally...
Ren stood up.
Ekai stood up too.
Both smiled at Akaio.
"You'll pay."
Before Akaio understood...
Both of them ran away.
"W-Wait!"
"What?!"
The shopkeeper looked at Akaio.
"Your friends left."
"Please pay."
Akaio panicked.
Then...
He noticed a cat walking nearby.
"Sir!"
"Look!"
"A cat is eating your noodles!"
"What?!"
The shopkeeper quickly turned around.
"There isn't any—"
Before he could finish...
Akaio sprinted away at full speed.
The shopkeeper turned back.
"...Wait!"
"Cats don't eat noodles!"
But it was already too late.
Akaio had disappeared.
---
A few minutes later...
Akaio jumped onto the ship.
"Hurry!"
"The shopkeeper is coming!"
Ekai immediately untied the ropes.
The ship slowly sailed away from Yagami Village.
The angry shopkeeper reached the shore just in time to see them disappearing across the ocean.
"You three!"
"Come back!"
His voice faded into the distance.
---
Night soon covered the endless sea.
The ocean sparkled beneath thousands of shining stars.
A cool breeze drifted across the ship.
Akaio lay on the deck with a peaceful smile.
"Look..."
"The stars are beautiful."
"The ocean is shining."
"The dark blue sky..."
"It's so relaxing."
"I think..."
"I'm going to sleep here tonight."
Ekai smiled as he looked toward the endless horizon.
Ren quietly sat at the front of the ship, his hand resting on the cursed katana Hasikat.
Without saying a single word...
The three companions continued sailing toward the unknown...
Toward the legendary Gate of Kasagito.
To Be Continued...