Igris's mother regained consciousness on the couch, with him sitting beside her. Still in shock, she asked:
« That wasn't a dream? How did you become like this in just one day? »
A thought crossed her mind, and she frowned in panic:
« I hope you're not taking steroids? »
Igris burst out laughing.
« No, I swear I didn't take anything. »
Christ, curious, touched his brother's muscles, impressed by how solid they were.
« Wow… These abs are real. But seriously, how'd you pull this off? »
Igris thought for a moment, then explained:
« Well, I'm not exactly sure... Last night around 8 p.m., after you left me training, I kept working on my chest. After two hours, I noticed the weights didn't feel heavy anymore. So I grabbed the heaviest ones... but they felt the same. »
He paused before continuing:
« So I kept going. Did a set of 100... then 1,000. And that's when I saw my muscle mass increasing right before my eyes. I trained every part of my body until I reached this shape. But after a while, my body stopped growing, no matter how much I pushed. I stopped around 8 in the morning. »
His mother looked at him, thoughtful.
« So… after killing the demon and awakening your mark, your metabolism changed? »
Igris shrugged.
« Yeah, something like that. »
But in his mind, he thought:
" I'm not sure it's just the mark… Feels more like a demon ability. A power that lets the body adapt to any situation… "
Suddenly, another thought hit him:
«Oh crap, the NCDS ! I almost forgot! I need to go register today. »
He looked at his mother and said:
« Uh, Mom, I need to get ready to register at the Demon Slayers Academy. Is that okay? »
She smiled gently.
« Honestly, at first I would've said no. But after everything you've done... it'd be pointless. You're just following your father's path. »
A big smile lit up Igris's face. He bowed slightly and replied:
« Thanks, Mom! »
Then he added:
« Uh… Mom, I swear this is the last time I'll ask… but could you give me some money to get a haircut, please? »
She laughed softly:
« You're my son, Igris. Whatever you ask me, I'll give. »
She handed him some extra money. Igris grabbed a black pair of pants and a white T-shirt, went up to his room, and changed. As he slipped the shirt on, he noticed it clung tightly to his body.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
« Wow… If someone had told me my clothes would ever be this tight, I'd have never believed it. »
He went downstairs. When his brother saw him, a tear rolled down his cheek, and with admiration, he said while closing his eyes:
« Wow… If someone told me one day I'd find this bastard good-looking, I'd have punched them on the spot. »
Igris smiled, then his expression darkened a bit. In a low, moody tone, he asked:
« So… You used to be ashamed of me? »
« Yeah. Super ashamed »,Christ replied without hesitation.
Igris smirked bitterly.
« Well… First step complete. I've avenged Senpai's death. »
He moved toward the door and continued:
« Now it's time for phase two: prove those demon hunters are worthless. Then steps three and four… Stop the Demon War… and become the greatest Démon Slayer of all time. If not for me, then at least for him. To fulfill his dream. To avenge him. »
Then he left. Determined.
The Council of Former Warriors (CFW)
An older man was sitting in his office. The room was dimly lit, the windows tinted black. He puffed on a cigar and muttered:
« Ah… Being a former warrior is so boring. Why did I take this job? I'm dying of boredom... It's been ages since I last fought a demon. »
He looked up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
« It's already been fourteen years since the Second Demon War... I'd love some excitement. Is that too much to ask? »
A few moments later, a man in his thirties wearing a black jacket entered the room, closing the door behind him. He walked up to the desk with a folder in hand and said seriously:
« Good morning, Mr. Todoroki. Third in command of... »
Todoroki cut him off, visibly annoyed.
« Whoa, whoa, Michel! You don't need to list all my titles every damn time. It's exhausting. »
« S... sorry, Mr. Todoroki… Michel bowed slightly. »
Todoroki sighed loudly.
« Pff… What do you want? Spit it out. »
Michel opened his folder and announced:
« We received a strange report… About a young boy. »
Todoroki rolled his eyes.
« What, he sold his soul to Heizer? »
« No. »
« Then what? »
Michel replied gravely:
« He killed a class D demon. »
Todoroki raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
« So what? It's not rare for a Marked one to kill a demon. »
Michel added firmly:
« That's the problem. He's not Marked. »
Todoroki's expression suddenly lit up with interest.
« Oh? An unmarked kid killed a demon? »
He leaned back in his chair, intrigued.
« What's his name »
Michel placed a photo on the desk.
« His name is Igris Luzolo »
Todoroki looked at the image and murmured:
« Igris Luzolo… Now this is getting interesting. »
Igris Arrives at the NCDS
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Igris had just arrived in front of the D.H.A. building. People were constantly entering and leaving. The complex was massive, rising over several floors.
Igris observed the structure, took a deep breath, and put on a determined look before stepping through the entrance.
Inside, the atmosphere was lively. Many Demon Hunters of all ranks were present,E, D, C, B, and even A. Some were coming in, others leaving, while new recruits were chatting with veterans.
Seeing all these Demon Hunters gathered in one place, a deep, simmering rage began to rise in him. He lowered his head, put his hands in his pockets, and thought:
« It's strange… I know I feel hatred toward the Demon Hunters for their hypocrisy and cowardice that cost Yann his life… but this hatred has grown so much stronger. I need to stay calm… Right now, I don't stand a chance against any of them. »
He raised his head and approached the front desk. The employee behind the counter was absorbed in her screen.
Igris smiled and said:
« Hello, miss. »
The girl looked up and stared at him for a moment. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his face. His hairstyle made his charisma even more intense. Embarrassed, she stammered:
« Uh… Y... Yes… What can I do for you? »
« I came to register to become a Demon Hunter," he replied. »
The employee searched through her documents.
« One moment, let me get the form… »
While she looked, Igris glanced around the room. He noticed that all the hunters proudly displayed their marks,on their shoulders, thighs… some even showing them off on purpose.
Finally, the woman found the form and asked:
« Sir, I'll need your last name, middle name, first name, and date of birth. »
Igris filled in the information:
Last Name: Luzolo
Middle Name: Lema
First Name: Igris
Date of Birth: 05/31/2009
The employee nodded, looked at the sheet, and then asked:
« Mr. Luzolo, what's your mark type? »
Igris raised an eyebrow, then understood what she meant and replied:
« Huh? Oh, I have a black 'X'... That means I'm an assassin, right? »
She confirmed:
« That's right. But to register this information, I need to verify your mark to confirm its authenticity.»
« Alright.»
Igris noticed that those with marks on their backs removed their shirts, so he took his off too.
The employee, surprised, blushed slightly and exclaimed:
« W... What are you doing, sir ?! »
He raised an eyebrow and said:
« Uh, showing you my mark. It's on my back. »
Embarrassed, she looked away and murmured:
« Ah… Got it. »
A silence fell. Around them, hunters had stopped to watch the scene. Some whispered:
« Wow, that body at his age... »
« He's gotta be at least rank B or C…»
« But his mark is black? He's only rank E? That's crazy... »
« That kind of physique takes years of training.»
Igris turned and showed his back to reveal his mark. The employee ticked the "Assassin" box, then handed Igris a pen.
« There you go, sir. You're almost a Demon Hunter. But first, you have to take a test in the training room. It's through the big door on the left. »
« The test is the same day as the registration? Isn't that a bit sudden?" asked Igris, surprised.»
The girl explained the concept:
« It's simple. Everyone who joins the Demon Hunters must take the test on the same day. According to the NCDS leaders, 'A Demon Hunter or demon Slayer must always be ready to fight at any moment.' That's why the test is always sudden. »
Igris was about to leave, but the employee nervously stopped him:
« Uh… Mr. Luzolo… This isn't very professional, but… could I have your number ? »
Igris raised an eyebrow, then smiled.
« Sure, no problem.. »
He wrote his number and headed toward the door on his left. The employee let out a little squeal of joy, excited like a child.
Upon entering, Igris found himself in a long white hallway. On the walls were engraved symbols representing different Hunter categories:
— Three claw marks (for tanks)
— A star (for mages)
— A fang-shaped mark (for fighters)
— A spiral (for healers)
— And finally, an X (for assassins).
He walked through the hallway and opened a door. Inside was a large crowd: humans and elves gathered in a massive hall. As he looked around, he noticed a huge open training field stretching out over several meters.
Igris paused for a moment and thought:
« Hmm... There are really a lot of people here... elves and humans, girls and boys... I wonder what kind of test they're preparing. »
In the room, a large man stood tall and imposing. As an elf girl walked by, she accidentally bumped into him.
She was a young woman with black hair and silver eyes, dressed in a black dress and gray stockings.
The man, visibly annoyed, barked in frustration:
« Hey, you! Demon girl! Don't you know how to walk ?! »
The elf looked at him calmly and replied with a faint smile:
« Sorry, sir. But I'm not a demon. I'm an elf... you can tell by my ears. »
The man glared at her darkly and retorted:
« You're from the Chaos Continent, aren't you? »
The elf, slightly intimidated, lowered her head and responded:
« Uh… yes, my family is originally from there... »
The man exploded with rage and shouted:
« THEN YOU'RE JUST A DEMON LIKE ALL THE OTHERS!! »