Months passed, and Renjiro, now known as The White Snow Swordsman, roamed the world with his reputation preceding him. His white hair, glowing red eyes, and his unmatched skill with the sword made him both a figure of hope and a source of fear. To the innocent, he was a hero, a man who stood tall against the most vicious villains. His name was spoken with reverence, a reminder that no matter how dark the world became, there was always someone who could bring light.
But to the wicked, he was a nightmare. When the White Snow Swordsman appeared on the battlefield, the bravest of warriors quaked in their boots, knowing their time was running out. His skill with the blade was unrivaled, his speed terrifying, and his heart cold with determination. Where others saw light, villains saw the harbinger of their end.
Renjiro's journey was one of continuous struggle. He could not run from the darkness in the world, nor did he want to. But as his reputation grew, so did the number of enemies eager to challenge him, eager to test themselves against the so-called "monster" who seemed to cut through everything with ease.
Despite the fame, Renjiro still felt something deep within him-a longing for something he couldn't quite define. He knew the world was not truly as black and white as others made it out to be. And still, his eyes sought out the truth, even if it meant facing terrifying figures from the past.
One such figure, Lucy, had once been the most dangerous and powerful villainess the world had ever known. Her ambition, her cruelty, and her nearly unstoppable power had brought the world to the brink of destruction. But Lucy had disappeared without a trace months ago, and despite Renjiro's many attempts, her whereabouts remained a mystery.
It was said that she was dead, or so the rumors went. But Renjiro knew better. He had felt her presence once, months ago-an all-consuming power that had burned his very soul. But that was all. Since then, nothing.
Now, Renjiro found himself in Italy, walking the bustling streets in search of answers-answers he knew might lie in the hands of a strange group he had sensed earlier that day. They had strong, unmistakable auras. Curious, Renjiro moved through the streets, following the faint trail of their power.
---
The Encounter
Renjiro moved swiftly through the streets of Italy, his senses finely attuned to the powerful auras ahead. The presences grew stronger, and as he reached a wide-open area, he finally saw them-five figures, each distinct in their own way, exuding power and confidence.
At the front was a red-haired girl, her fiery temper clearly evident as she argued with a black-haired boy. Alongside them, a small gray-haired woman walked with a calm, composed demeanor. The other two figures were a blond-haired boy and a person carrying a sleeping black-haired girl in his arms.
Renjiro stood quietly at a distance, watching them carefully. The black-haired boy turned his head suddenly, as if sensing Renjiro's presence.
"Are you done following us?" the boy called out, his voice cutting through the air with a sharpness that made Renjiro pause.
Surprised, Renjiro hadn't expected anyone to detect his movements so quickly, especially not with the level of strength these individuals carried. The black-haired boy smirked as he continued, "If you don't want to talk, then-"
Before Renjiro could respond, the entire group disappeared from sight in an instant, reappearing right beside him. The red-haired girl and gray-haired woman took defensive stances while the black-haired boy was already charging forward.
With blinding speed, the black-haired boy launched himself at Renjiro, fists aimed at his head. Renjiro's movements were a blur as he effortlessly dodged the strikes, his body gliding through the air. He could sense the intensity of the boy's blows but felt no true threat; it was all just a test.
The red-haired girl followed quickly, her body engulfed in fire as she tried to scorch Renjiro, but with a swift motion, he kicked the flames into the air, scattering them harmlessly. The gray-haired woman took advantage of the opening, sending sharp wind blades slicing through the air, but Renjiro vanished into thin air, reappearing behind her in a flash.
"Can we talk now?" Renjiro asked calmly.
But the group was relentless. The black-haired boy sent a powerful kick toward Renjiro, launching him backward and slamming him into a pillar with a force that shook the ground. The boy was already preparing to launch a dark energy beam, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
Renjiro, however, recovered almost instantly. He tapped his shoulder as he stood, unfazed by the impact. "Can we talk now?" he asked again, this time with a nervous chuckle.
The group froze for a moment, unsure of how to react. The blond-haired boy, who had been standing in the back, was clearly surprised. He stepped forward, clearly preparing to intervene, but he was stopped by the black-haired girl, who had just woken up from the commotion.
She blinked at the scene, clearly startled by Renjiro's resilience, but after a moment, she steadied herself. Grabbing her sword, she vanished in an instant, reappearing in front of Renjiro, swinging her blade with remarkable speed.
Her movements were fluid and graceful, but Renjiro reacted with a swift parry. The clash of their blades rang out, but with a single motion, he knocked her sword from her grip and sent her tumbling to the ground.
The group was stunned. They hadn't expected such a swift counterattack, especially from someone who hadn't even drawn his sword yet.
Renjiro raised his hand in peace, smiling awkwardly. "Can we talk now, please?"
To his surprise, the black-haired girl suddenly rushed forward and threw her arms around him in an excited embrace.
"You're-the White Snow Swordsman!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Oh my gosh, I'm your biggest fan!"
The rest of the group stood frozen, shocked by her reaction. This was the man they had been fighting, the one they had heard so much about-the pillar of hope.
Renjiro, still unsure of how to handle the situation, smiled sheepishly. "I didn't know I was so famous..."
After a brief pause, the girl pulled away, still smiling brightly. "I'm Yor," she said, introducing herself with a beaming grin.
The others followed suit, introducing themselves in turn. The red-haired girl was Lira, the gray-haired woman was Mira, the blond-haired boy was Seth, and the black-haired boy was Dante.
"We're the top 5 strongest heroes in the world," Mira explained confidently.
"I'm 5th," she said with a wink.
"I'm 4th," Dante added, crossing his arms.
"I'm 3rd," Lira chimed in, her eyes sharp.
"I'm 2nd," Yor said with a smile.
"And I'm number 1," Seth declared, placing a hand proudly on his chest.
Renjiro nodded, impressed by their power. He could sense that these were no ordinary heroes; they were truly formidable.
"So," Lira asked, her tone now much softer, "what brings you here, White Snow Swordsman?"
Renjiro, unsure of how to explain himself, simply smiled. "I don't want trouble. I'm just curious, and I wanted to see who you were."
Before he could say more, a loud crash echoed in the distance, and the air shifted with an unmistakable sense of danger.
"Stay alert," Dante warned, his eyes narrowing.
Renjiro's expression hardened. It seemed like their encounter wasn't over yet. Something dark was on the horizon, and he was now closer to it than ever before.
---
The Plan
Renjiro stood there, his eyes scanning the horizon, trying to pinpoint the faint yet persistent pressure in the air. Something was off, and the presence he sensed was unlike any other. It was hidden, as if it were deliberately trying to remain unseen. His instincts screamed at him to investigate, but just as he was about to walk off, Dante's voice broke through his concentration.
"We should move to another place," Dante suggested, his tone low and measured.
Renjiro paused, unsure, but his instincts told him to stay close for now. He couldn't afford to miss whatever was coming next.
"Alright," Renjiro agreed, following the group as they began walking down the street.
They reached a nearby restaurant, where the group entered and sat down. The waitress, clearly surprised, froze for a moment as she saw the renowned heroes at the table: Phoenix, the number 5 hero; Ninjer, the shadowed figure of mystery; Black Wolf, a powerful, imposing presence; Angel, serene yet deadly; and the invisible force who was felt but unseen. And then, of course, Zeus-the number 1 hero, the strongest of them all. She was startled beyond belief, her eyes wide, her mouth trembling as she stammered, trying to find her words.
"Y-you're the heroes..." she stammered, her voice filled with awe.
When her eyes shifted to Renjiro, confusion clouded her face. "Who... who are you?" she asked, unable to recognize him.
Renjiro smiled softly, trying to ease her confusion. "I can't see the menu... I'm blind," he said calmly.
Lira blinked in disbelief. "Wait... you're blind? But how?"
Renjiro smiled again. "I lost my sight when I was young. It's not a problem for me. I may not see the world, but I can sense it... I can sense you... your souls."
Yor, who had been sitting next to him, couldn't contain her excitement. "That's so cool!" she exclaimed.
Seth just stood there, looking at Renjiro in shock. "You can sense souls?"
Renjiro nodded. "Yeah. It's like a sixth sense. It helps me avoid danger... and I can still tell a lot about people just by sensing them."
Seth took a moment to process this, his mind turning. "Alright, alright... Let's just get some tea," he said, settling into his seat.
The waitress, still in awe but regaining her composure, took their orders. "Tea... yes, coming right up."
Once they had placed their orders, the mood shifted. Seth looked around the table, his expression turning serious.
"We need to get down to business," he said, his voice sharp.
Lira, still recovering from her fan-girling over Renjiro, immediately shifted gears. She nodded eagerly. "Yeah, business!"
Seth continued, his tone firm and direct. "We've been tracking one of the 12 Dark Moons. They're underlings of Lucy, the Queen of Hell. We may have located one of them, and we're here to take it down."
Renjiro's ears perked up. This was the moment he had been waiting for. His eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He didn't tell them that his goal wasn't just to take down the 12 Dark Moons. No, it was much more personal than that. He didn't mention the one he truly wanted to kill. He wasn't about to share that piece of information with them yet.
As the group continued to explain the details of their mission-how they had tracked one of the 12 Dark Moons and their plan to eliminate it-Renjiro's resolve only hardened. He didn't need to hear more. He knew the rest of the mission was just a step towards his ultimate goal.
While everyone was talking, the mere mention of Lucy's name stirred something inside Renjiro. He muttered under his breath, barely audible, but with a deep, chilling intensity:
"I'll kill her."
His words were drowned out by the ongoing conversation, and no one heard his vow. They were too focused on the mission to notice the dark fire in his voice.
Yor, still caught up in the excitement of being on a mission with the White Snow Swordsman, leaned closer to him. "I can't believe this! I'm really on a mission with you!" she said, practically glowing with happiness.
Renjiro didn't respond to her praise. His thoughts were elsewhere. The others around the table were still discussing tactics, but he didn't care. He wasn't focused on the 12 Dark Moons alone. No, it was Lucy, the Queen of Hell, who was the real monster. But for now, he kept that to himself.
As they continued, the others were watching him carefully. They had seen his strength firsthand, but they still wanted to know just how strong he truly was. They had held back during their brief encounter, but now, they wanted to see him in action. They wanted to know what made the White Snow Swordsman the legend he had become.
Renjiro didn't acknowledge them. His mind was set. His path was clear. And as the group prepared to go on their mission, Renjiro walked with them, determined to take down whoever-or whatever-was in his way.