The food court was a war zone.
Raijo dangled from Kaede's grip, blood dripping from his mouth, his body limp but not broken. Her dagger gleamed under the mall's artificial lights, and with each slow, deliberate stab, she twisted the blade — not to kill, but to punish.
"You filthy stray," Kaede hissed, her voice low and venomous. "You think you can ignore the Ryombi name and walk away? You're nothing. A worm."
Raijo's breath came in ragged gasps. Pain blurred his vision, but his mind clung to one thought:
Yumi… she invested too much in me. I can't die here. I owe her. I promised…
Kaede snarled at his silence. "Why aren't you screaming?"
She drove the blade in again — this time deeper — and twisted.
Raijo's scream tore through the air, raw and agonizing. His body convulsed, blood pouring from his wounds. The crowd had long since scattered, but phones were still recording. The livestream was viral now, spreading like wildfire.
He turned his head, barely able to move, and saw Aria's body lying still on the floor. His heart cracked.
If I hadn't brought her here… if I hadn't wanted to show off… she'd still be alive.
Tears mixed with blood as he whispered, "I'm sorry…"
Then — a sudden gust of wind.
A blur of white and frost.
Rumi Ryombi landed with a thunderous crash, the tiles beneath his feet freezing instantly. He moved without a word, wrapping his arms around Ayasia, pulling her close. A dome of thick, shimmering ice erupted around them, shielding them from what was coming.
Because it was already here.
A roar of flame exploded through the court.
Yumi Ichoshima descended like a meteor, her body wreathed in crimson fire. Her eyes burned with fury, her presence suffocating. The moment her feet touched the ground, the temperature spiked — glass cracked, metal warped, and the air itself shimmered.
Kaede turned, eyes wide — too late.
A pillar of fire engulfed her, vaporizing her in an instant. The two maids behind Ayasia didn't even have time to scream before they were reduced to ash.
Yumi caught Raijo's falling body mid-air, cradling him like something sacred. She pulled a vial from her coat — glowing gold — and poured it into his mouth. His wounds began to close, his breathing steadied. He was unconscious, but alive.
She stood slowly, eyes locked on Rumi.
"Explain," she said, her voice like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Ayasia stepped forward, fury in her eyes. "You dare demand answers from my father—"
SLAP!
The sound echoed like thunder.
Ayasia stumbled back, clutching her cheek, stunned. She looked up at her father — not in anger, but in disbelief.
What she saw wasn't rage.
It was fear.
The kind of fear only a few in the world had ever seen on Rumi Ryombi's face. The kind of fear that came when a calamity-class dungeon cracked open… or when Yumi Ichoshima was truly angry.
Rumi stepped forward, arms raised. "Yumi—"
She didn't wait.
She moved.
Faster than thought, she was on him. A fist to the gut. A knee to the ribs. A backhand that shattered his ice armor. Flames danced across her skin, each strike a punishment, each blow a reminder.
"You let your dog kill my disciple."
Crack.
"You let your daughter watch."
Boom.
"You thought I wouldn't come?"
Rumi hit the ground, bloodied, coughing, his pride shattered.
He looked up, eyes swimming. "I… I apologize."
Yumi stood over him, chest heaving, flames flickering around her like a crown. She stared for a long moment, then exhaled.
"Don't let it happen again."
She turned, lifting Raijo into her arms with impossible gentleness. With a single step, she vanished in a burst of flame, leaving behind scorched tile and silence.
Ayasia stood frozen, her cheek still stinging, her heart pounding.
She had just witnessed something terrifying.
And she knew — the game had changed.
The Balance of Power
---
Hospital Room 7C – Midnight
The room was dim, lit only by the soft blue glow of the mana monitors and the moonlight filtering through the blinds. Raijo lay unconscious, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. The healing potion had done its work, but his body was still recovering from the brutal assault.
And yet, he looked divine.
The lone nurse on duty, Natsuki, stood frozen at the foot of the bed, clipboard in hand, eyes wide and unblinking.
She wasn't checking vitals.
She was gawking.
Raijo's Appearance:
- Height: 190 cm (6'3") — towering, yet with a natural grace that made him seem carved from nobility itself.
- Weight: 110 kg (243 lbs) — not bulky, but honed. Every muscle was sculpted with purpose, like a warrior god in repose.
- Physique: A perfect V-taper — broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a 12-pack so defined it looked etched by divine hands. His body radiated dormant power, even in sleep.
- Skin: Smooth, luminous, and flawless. It shimmered faintly under the hospital lights, as if kissed by starlight.
- Hair: Bright white, cascading like moonlight down to his shoulders, styled in a way that was both regal and wild.
- Eyes: Closed now, but known to blaze crimson with pupils that glowed white when awakened — eyes that could pierce through lies and souls alike.
- Lips: Soft, full, and perfectly shaped — the kind that whispered danger and desire in equal measure.
- Voice: Though silent now, those who'd heard it knew — it was deep, resonant, and commanding. A voice that didn't ask for attention. It took it.
Natsuki swallowed hard, cheeks flushed. "What are you…?" she whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
---
Nerium Tower – Council Chamber
High above Tokyo, in the heart of the Nerium Tower, the ruling body of Japan's Hunter Association convened in a private chamber. At its center stood Yumi Ichoshima, arms folded, expression unreadable.
Across from her sat a man few dared to speak to without trembling.
Hiroshima Ichoshima — her father.
Appearance:
- Height: 202 cm (6'7") — a towering figure, draped in a long black haori embroidered with golden phoenixes.
- Build: Lean but terrifyingly dense. His presence alone bent the air. His body, though aged, was still a weapon honed by decades of war.
- Hair: Jet black streaked with silver, tied into a high warrior's knot.
- Eyes: Pale gold, glowing faintly — eyes that had seen the rise and fall of nations, and the death of monsters that shattered cities.
- Aura: Dormant most days, but when released, it felt like standing before a collapsing star — heavy, suffocating, absolute.
- Voice: Calm, deep, and deliberate. Every word carried the weight of command.
"You nearly killed an S-Rank," he said, sipping tea. "We don't have many left."
Yumi smirked. "In our day, I'd have wiped out his entire bloodline for less. I was merciful."
Hiroshima didn't argue. He knew she was right.
Still, he set his cup down and cleared his throat.
The air shifted.
His aura rolled out like a tidal wave — invisible, but undeniable. The walls groaned. The lights flickered. Even Yumi's flames dimmed slightly.
"Stand down," he said again — not as a request, but as a command.
Yumi's eyes narrowed. Her flames flared once, then receded. She exhaled slowly. "Fine. But only because it's you."
---
Ryombi Estate – Midnight
Rumi Ryombi paced the length of his private study, his steps uneven but steady. His ribs ached, his jaw throbbed, and his pride was in tatters. But he was alive — only because Yumi had chosen to let him live.
He wasn't worried about the media. The world knew who Yumi was. No one would question his silence.
He was worried about Ayasia.
If she crossed the line again… there might not be a second chance.
His secretary entered, bowing. "Sir. Word from Nerium Tower. It's been resolved. Lady Ichoshima has stood down."
Rumi exhaled, a deep, soul-weary sigh. "Thank the heavens…"
He called for his daughter.
Ayasia entered, arms crossed, still fuming. "You should've fought back."
Rumi turned to her, eyes sharp. "You don't understand. You think strength is about rank. About pride. But there are levels, Ayasia. And Yumi… she's not a hunter. She's a force of nature."
Ayasia scoffed. "So what? You're an S-Rank too—"
"Enough!" her mother snapped, stepping into the room.
Ayaka Ryombi, wife of Rumi and former A-Rank support mage, stood with quiet elegance.
Appearance:
- Height: 175 cm (5'9") — tall and graceful, with a dancer's poise.
- Build: Slender, with long limbs and delicate curves. Her presence was calming, yet firm.
- Hair: Midnight blue, cascading in soft waves down her back.
- Eyes: Pale lavender, always watching, always knowing.
- Aura: Gentle, but deceptively deep — like a still lake hiding a leviathan beneath.
"If your father had fought back," she said, "we wouldn't be having this conversation. We'd be dead. All of us."
Ayasia's defiance faltered.
Ayaka stepped closer, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You're strong, Ayasia. But strength without wisdom is suicide. Learn the difference."
Ayasia looked down, silent.
Rumi nodded. "Pray that boy doesn't hold a grudge. Because if he does… not even I can protect you."
—
End if chapter 8