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Chapter 7 - The Boy Without Reikon

šŸ“ Teachers' Room

The atmosphere is calm… but only on the surface.

Hayato:

— Looks like the battles have already begun… these kids are impatient.

Kentarou:

— Yeah… and there are some strong participants this year.

Hayato:

— True… they all seem powerful.

…But that boy…

Hayato:

— Tadashi… where did you find that boy again?

What was his name?

Tadashi:

— Ren.

He came from the Toyama temple…

And from what it seems… he has no Reikon.

Silence.

Hayato:

— …Wait.

That boy from the report… that's him?

Tadashi:

— Yes.

No father, no mother… not even any blood relatives.

The only thing he carries…

is a necklace with the hunters' symbol.

Kentarou:

— That's the dumbest reason to become a hunter…

And without Reikon on top of that?

The door opens.

Keiko:

— What are you all whispering about?

Hayato (excited):

— Keiko!

Keiko:

— Shut up.

I know what you did… I'll deal with you later.

(Pause)

— Kentarou… have you checked on the injured?

This is going to be a mess.

āš”ļø Meanwhile… at the testing grounds

The air is heavy.

Kenji:

— What's wrong? Mad because I beat that weakling?

Have some shame.

Ren:

— Shame…?

You interrupt a fight… and still insult others.

The one who should be ashamed… is you.

Silence.

Then—

Kenji:

— …HAHAHAHA

You're funny.

— I'll tell you what…

Leave your badge… and get out.

Ren:

— I'm not leaving…

until you apologize to Enzoku.

Kenji:

— Apologize… to that trash?

— What a joke.

Something snaps inside Ren.

He steps forward.

Fists clenched.

Kenji (grinning, shouting):

— That confidence… I love it!

He activates his technique—

But…

Something is off.

Kenji dodges by instinct.

Ren's punch passes—heavy.

Dangerous.

Kenji (laughing like a maniac):

— Wait… wait…

— You don't have Reikon?!

— HAHAHAHAHA!!

— Enzoku was already trash…

but you… you're even worse.

The smile disappears.

Turns into contempt.

Kenji:

— How did they even let a rat like you in here?

— But whatever…

— I'll show you something…

The pressure in the air changes.

Kenji:

— JÅ«yoku no Kōya.

šŸŒ‘ A domain forms.

The space grows heavier.

As if the world itself is pressing Ren into the ground.

Kenji reinforces his fists with Reikon.

He charges.

šŸ’„ RIGHT HOOK

Ren is sent flying… crashing through a shop.

He blocks… but—

His arm trembles.

Ren:

— …What is this…?

Kenji vanishes.

⚔ Appears right in front of him.

šŸ’„ STRAIGHT PUNCH

Ren is launched… breaking through the roof.

He tries to counter—

But Kenji dodges effortlessly.

Grabs Ren by the face.

šŸ’„ CRASH!!

Slams him into the wall.

Kenji (narcissistic smile):

— See?

— This is the difference between us.

— Useless people like you…

should have never existed.

— Only the strong… remain standing.

…Footsteps.

Ren, on the ground… turns his head.

A girl kneels beside him.

Hana:

— Are you… okay?

Ren spits blood.

Struggles to stand.

Hana watches.

Burns.

Open wounds.

Fresh blood.

She says nothing.

Just stands…

And walks toward Kenji.

šŸ’„ SLAP

The sound echoes.

Silence.

Kenji… freezes.

Then—

He gets irritated.

šŸ’„ PUNCH TO THE STOMACH

Hana is thrown away.

Kenji moves in to finish it.

But—

⚔ Ren disappears.

And appears in front of her.

Holding her.

Not even Kenji noticed.

Confusion.

Ren is standing.

Even broken.

Hana looks at him…

And sees something different.

It's not pain.

It's not fear.

It's… silence.

A cold expression.

Heavy.

šŸ”„ As if something inside him… has awakened.

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