In a village located deep in the forests, all that managed to remain were destruction, burnt houses, bodies; all battered, bruised, and bloodied.

  Flames roared over the roofs, devouring anything in sight to a crisp.

  Everywhere was silent, save for the sounds of burning wood and splinters, the chewing of a nearby demon as it devoured humans, and finally sobbing.

  "Gnarl!" A massive hulk of flesh stood before him: Finn Harrow. Bodies sprawled across the floor all around it.

  Gore and bones rained to the floor as the demon ate the bodies in a ravage.

  "Ah... ah..." Finn sat in the corner of the room, gasping. Tears poured down his cheeks.

  He could only watch. His eyes fixed on the demon's back as it devoured his family.

  "Ugh!" The demon grunted as it picked up the remaining body lying on the ground.

  Its mouth opened wide.

  "M-mom." Finn covered his mouth in horror. His gaze locked on his mother's eyes.

  They were cold, distant, and lifeless. Yet the deep hatred within them was visible.

  "Hnn... hnn..." Another pool of tears burst from Finn's eyes, soaking his cheeks.

  "I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He kept muttering as the body fell into the demon's mouth.

  He could hear the munching and crushing sounds.

  The demon finally swallowed the carcass, then rose to its feet and turned to leave.

  It raised a foot but suddenly stopped mid-step.

  "Guh." It belched, slowly tilting its head before finally locking onto Finn.

  "Eeeh!" Finn screamed as his eyes went wide.

  The demon swiftly turned and began to take heavy steps toward Finn.

  'Run away, run away,' the words echoed in his head.

  However, as he tried to stand, he fell back to the ground.

  His legs had failed him.

  The demon reached him. Finn raised a terrified face to its wide maw.

  The demon's mouth slowly opened, revealing a set of knives for teeth and thick saliva.

  "I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die."

  The demon's maw covered his head down to the neck level.

  "Ah... I don't..."

  Suddenly, a spark ignited.

  "Uh?" Finn's eyes rolled to the spark, which had begun to multiply.

  "What's..." he started.

  But a shout cut in. "Crimson Burst!"

  From the air, a blazing human emerged, blistering downwards.

  The windows shattered as Ryūma broke into the house.

  "Ugh." The demon jerked up, but before it could react...

  "Explosive Fist!"

  He threw a blazing punch forward and it connected with the demon's belly.

  Its eyes bulged out as sparks flared around.

  Finn's eyes gradually closed and opened.

  Flames exploded as the blow sent the demon flying backwards. It crashed out of the house before hauling through several other buildings.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Phew, that was close." Ryūma sighed and blew the smoke off his fist.

  "Uh..." Finn turned to him. His expression showed a mix of shock and trepidation.

  A metallic sound rang as dark tendrils materialized in the air.

  Finn's eyes flung up. He sighted Hina above, her sword gleaming silver and cloaked in darkness.

  Hina landed before him with a soft thud but did not stop.

  "Hehe." She grinned at Ryūma, and in the next second, she was gone like a flash.

  "Oi! That's my kill!" Ryūma shouted and raced behind her.

  Finn watched Ryūma disappear, then blinked.

  "Wh-what just happened?" he whispered.

  "Was I saved?"

  "Good grief." Another voice came from behind him.

  Finn swiftly turned and stared at a trail of smoke.

  "Man, those kids are as hot-blooded as ever." Ken muttered lazily and staggered into view with a cigarette tucked in his mouth.

  Behind him followed Van, yawning lazily. His eyes darted about.

  "Nah, this place's done." He said grimly and rotated his head. He sighted Finn.

  "Aww? Someone did survive?" Van announced. His eyes widened slightly.

  "Where?" Ken replied and searched about before also sighting him.

  Finn's breath hitched. His chest heaved.

  'Who are these people?'

  "Ehh?" Ken said. His lips curled into a mischievous grin as he bent toward Finn. "Thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked Van.

  "What's my cut?" Van asked. His tone suddenly turned serious.

  "80-20." Ken replied.

  "Uh? The hell's with that!" Van exclaimed.

  "Alright, 70-30?" Ken said.

  "Nah, man, 60-40." Van replied.

  "Sheesh..." Ken groaned. "Well, it shouldn't make much difference." His eyes narrowed at Finn, who moved backwards slightly in alarm.

  "Yeah, his lungs would cost a hella lot." Van nodded and held his chin.

  "What?!" Finn exclaimed as he heard that.

  "Hehehe." Ken chuckled ominously.

  "Hahaha." Van laughed.

  'Who the hell are these people?' Finn muttered inwardly.

  Suddenly...

  "Humph!" Van blurted as Hina's hand struck his head.

  "Hey, what was that for?" Van groaned and held the affected region.

  "Stop spooking the kid." Hina said flatly.

  "Blegh, fun spoiler." Ken hissed and rolled his eyes away.

  "Tch." Hina clicked her tongue and turned to Finn.

  Her eyes softened as she stretched a hand to him.

  "Yo, you're safe now." She greeted with a smile.

  "Um... thanks." Finn muttered and grabbed her hand suspiciously.

  "The name's Hina." Hina said and rose back up.

  "This shithead is Van." She pointed to Van, who pouted.

  "And this asshole is Ken." She said and pointed to Ken, whose eyes gleamed from the thought of making money off Finn's body parts.

  Hina facepalmed.

  "M-my name's Finn." Finn stammered.

  A building far beside them crashed. Rubbles and debris erupted as Ryūma walked out.

  "Aww, man." He groaned. His entire body was covered with blood and parts. His face was barely recognizable.

  "Bruhh." Ken muttered and shook his head.

  "Hahaha." Hina burst into chaotic laughter and pointed at him.

  "What's so funny?!" Ryūma growled and stomped forward.

  He reached Van. "You got a handkerchief?" he asked and stretched forward.

  Van lunged into his pocket, produced a towel, and handed it to him. "You can keep it." He said disgustingly.

  "Hahahahaha!" Hina kept laughing uncontrollably.

  "Arrgh." Finn's lips twitched as he watched the banter between the team.

  "Haha." He chuckled lightly.

  ...

  Back To Present...

  The wind blew softly and flailed Hina's hair slightly. Her eyes were fixed on Finn's corpse.

  But strangely, she was not wearing a remorseful expression. Instead, what her face showed was detachment and indifference. Her gaze was darkened. Lines formed on her sockets.

  "Hina, I'm sorry." Code begged. "I couldn't protect..."

  "Shut up." Hina cut in, tone icy.

  "Eh?" Code paused.

  Hina clenched her sword. Her gaze slowly shifted to Terror. "You can still stand, right?" she asked Code.

  "Yeah." Code stammered and staggered to his feet.

  "Good." Hina's eyes narrowed. Her knees bent as she raised her sword, its tip pointing toward Terror.

  "We're killing this fucker."

  "That's quite the chills I'm getting." Terror said and stepped forward. His hand was already regenerated.

  He stretched both arms outwards. "Two preys instead of one? How generous."

  "Tch." Hina clicked her tongue, veins bulging. "Code!"

  She burst forward. Her sword swung, glinting silver, as it sliced the air.

  "Yeah." Code replied and dashed forward behind her as they ran in zigzags.

  "Bastard." Hina muttered. She reached Terror, shoving her sword towards his waist in a swift motion.

  A sharp sound screeched out as Hina's sword connected with Terror.

  Sparks flared.

  "Nnggh." Hina gritted and pressed her sword against Terror's waist, but it was not penetrating.

  'This fucker.' She hissed. 'Seems like there's a barrier blocking my sword.'

  "Have you finally realized that your efforts are pointless?" Terror said calmly and swung his left palm to her shoulder.

  "No." Hina gasped. Terror's anti-tenzen pressure struck her and rendered her unmovable.

  "Push!" Terror whispered, but just before the force reached her...

  "Terror!!" Code roared and descended with a crushing blow.

  "Good grief." Terror shifted slightly as Code hit the floor and shattered it.

  The shift caused the push effect to tilt and graze Hina's shoulder in a bloody spray.

  "Ugh!" Hina winced and jerked backwards.

  Terror raised his foot and attempted to smash Code beneath it.

  "Shit." Code could only watch as the foot hauled downwards.

  "Nah!" Hina said and righted forward again. She threw her sword from the right hand and grabbed it with her left.

  'Sword Art...' She exhaled. Darkness soared out of her arms and encircled her sword.

  'Hollow Mesh!'

  A net of dark tenzen unleashed, connecting with Terror's foot and severing it instantly as blood burst out.

  "Guh!" Terror grunted. The impact pushed him backwards.

  Before he could recover, Hina grabbed Code with a swift motion and jumped backwards.

  "Whew." She exhaled and skidded to a stop.

  But soon after, bones, flesh, and sinew burst out of Terror's stump. They twisted and bound before forming into a new leg.

  "I'll give it to you." Terror said to Hina. "You're strong."

  He slowly raised a finger and pointed at Code.

  "But that kid's holding you down."