The demon shrieked as I drove my sword through its heart. It has a humanoid body with the head of a snarling wolf-like creature. It is clad in golden armor on its arms, legs, and chest. A green cloth drapes around its lower half. Its body convulsed before dissolving into Magatsuhi. Another Kobold, a pitiful demon of the Jirae race. As it vanished, I muttered to myself in frustration, "No skills, nothing useful from this one either. These demons that manage to get to Earth are way too weak. I guess if they were all Onis, Tokyo wouldn't last long."
I sheathed my sword and surveyed the area. The alley was dark and narrow, the perfect hiding spot for these lesser demons. The city felt unusually quiet tonight, the only sound being the distant hum of traffic. As I stood there, I couldn't help but recall the conversation I had with Captain Aaron before leaving the City of Fortune.
"Minoru, you need to understand the significance of the Kuzunoha clan," Aaron had said, leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The clan is divided into four main branches: Kyouji Kuzunoha, Raidou Kuzunoha, Geirin Kuzunoha, and Abe Kuzunoha. Each branch has its own unique history and responsibilities, but they all follow the same ritual of succession."
I remembered nodding, absorbing every word. The idea of being part of such a legendary clan was still surreal to me. The Ritual of Succession, as Aaron explained, was a brutal process. It wasn't just about finding the next leader; it was about proving one's worth, often in the most dangerous and challenging ways possible.
"But why are they so insistent on such harsh methods?" I had asked, genuinely curious.
"The clan believes that only the strongest and most capable can lead," Aaron replied. "It's a way to ensure that the next head of the clan is someone who can handle the immense responsibilities that come with the title. It's not just about power; it's about wisdom, resilience, and the ability to make tough decisions."
As we had talked, I felt a mixture of excitement and dread. While I loved the idea of participating in the ritual, I really didn't want to become the next Raidou Kuzunoha. After all, it would completely ruin my dream of becoming an eminence in shadow and my reputation as a mob.
I walked through the dimly lit streets, lost in my thoughts, I almost didn't notice the commotion coming from a nearby hangar. Voices echoed off the metal walls, and curiosity got the better of me. I crept closer and peered inside through a broken window.
Inside, a group of thugs surrounded a young boy and a girl. The boy stood protectively in front of the girl, his fists clenched and his stance defiant. There was something about him-the way he stood, the determination in his eyes-that screamed protagonist. He had that aura, that undeniable presence of a hero standing against the odds.
"Leave her alone!" the boy shouted, his voice steady despite the fear I could see in his eyes.
One of the thugs laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "And what are you gonna do about it, kid?"
I felt a thrill of excitement. Finally, a chance to play the role of the shadowbroker. But then I remembered Aaron's words about keeping a low profile. I couldn't afford to draw too much attention to myself. So I'll hold back
Quickly, I pulled out a black outfit and a hood from my bag. As I donned the disguise, I muttered, "Burroughs, activate stealth mode."
The COMP on my wrist began to shimmer and fade, eventually disappearing entirely. It was a neat trick Aaron had shown me after he returned my COMP. The stealth mode rendered it invisible and undetectable, though I could still feel its presence. To deactivate it, I only needed to say, "Stealth mode off."
"Alright, it's showtime," I whispered to myself.
In an instant, I was on the roof of the hangar. Wait a minute, this is the same place where Nishio had been taken after being kidnapped. They even repaired the window since then. No time to lose-one of the thugs was about to punch the boy.
As the thug's fist drew dangerously close to the boy's face, I dropped down silently between them and caught the thug's fist in mid-air.
The thug's eyes widened in shock. "Who the hell are you?" he snarled, trying to wrench his hand free from my grip.
"I am S-"
"The Stylish Ruffian Slayer!" one of the thugs cried out.
Huh? How does he know me? I haven't beaten up enough thugs to have such a reputation. Then it hit me. I do, in fact, go out every night to take down gangsters. Still, why did I choose such a ridiculous name? I had finally come up with a cool one-Shadow-a name that perfectly fits a master puppeteer. These delinquents are really getting on my nerves. Let's finish this quickly.
With a swift twist, I sent the thug I was holding crashing to the ground. The others lunged at me, but I moved faster than they could react. My fists and feet flew in a blur, each strike precise and devastating. It wasn't even a fight; it was a one-sided beatdown. The hardest part was stifling a yawn. Compared to demons, normal humans are so weak-too weak, really.
One thug tried to grab me from behind, but I effortlessly flipped him over my shoulder. Another swung a bat at me, but I caught it mid-swing and snapped it in half. They fell one by one, groaning and clutching their injuries.
As the last thug hit the ground, I took a step back, surveying my handiwork. They were all incapacitated, groaning in pain and clearly out of commission for a while. The boy and girl were staring at me in awe, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and admiration.
In a grave voice, I said, "Make sure to get somewhere safe. And remember, the shadows are always watching."
With that, before they even had a chance to reply, I turned and disappeared into the night, my mind already racing with thoughts. I need to come up with a better plan to maintain my anonymity. Maybe change my disguise or my methods. This was supposed to be about staying under the radar, not becoming some kind of urban legend. But more importantly, I finally got to say one of the lines I've always wanted to say! Oh, how satisfying it was! I have so many more I hope to say before I die. Then again, Captain Aaron mentioned that Summoners have a lifespan far greater than that of an average human, so I should have plenty of time to use them all.
However, I couldn't shake the feeling of dissatisfaction. These fights were becoming too easy, too predictable. If I wanted to truly become an eminence in shadow, I'd have to find greater challenges-something or someone that could actually push me to my limits. Hmm? Maybe I can go to the City of Fortune tomorrow after school? Though I've been there, I realize I know very little about it. Yeah, that sounds like a great plan!
The next day, after school, I headed straight to the Bar of Fortune. I made my way to the VIP room, just like Akao had shown me. As before, my vision blurred, and I found myself in the room with the Amala Drum. Using it, the blinding light and the strange sensation washed over me again. Seriously, I can't get used to this feeling. But no time to waste; it's time to do some exploring!
During my visit, I quickly realized something important: they don't use the same currency here as in the real world! Seriously, how was I supposed to know they use something called Macca? Even some demons demand it for recruitment. The demon auctions had caught my eye, but without Macca, I was out of luck. For a few minutes, I pondered how to earn Macca. Then, a genius idea struck me. Wait, aren't there mercenary, hitman or Bounty Hunter jobs available? That's it! That's how I'll earn money. I just need to find Dark Summoners, either kill or capture them, and then claim their bounties while also looting them!
With my new plan in mind, I started my exploration with renewed vigor. The City of Fortune was a labyrinth of opportunities, and I was determined to make the most of it. As I walked through the bustling streets, I kept an eye out for any hints or clues that might lead me to my first target.
As I wandered, I caught sight of Akao entering a building. Intrigued, I decided to follow her. The building had a sign that read "CRETACEOUS" and featured a modern, sleek design with a black exterior. The entrance was well-lit with bright white lights, highlighting the doorway. Inside, illuminated wall panels added to the contemporary and stylish look of the establishment.
I wondered what kind of club this was and why Akao was going there. Curiosity piqued, I stepped inside.
The interior looked like a typical club, albeit with a slightly futuristic twist. People were milling about, chatting in small groups, and the air was filled with the low hum of conversation. The lighting was dim, with neon accents providing a vibrant yet subdued atmosphere. In one corner, a bar served a variety of colorful drinks, while in another, there was a dance floor with a DJ booth.
What caught my attention, though, was a row of terminal kiosks. Some were already in use, but it was odd because I couldn't see the screens of those in use. Akao was nowhere to be seen, so I decided to check out the terminals myself.
Approaching one, I saw the screen flash to life with the message: "Welcome to Club Cretaceous." I tapped on the screen, and four options appeared: "Submit a Mission", "Accept a Mission.", "Buy" and "Sell"
Perfect! This is exactly what I needed. What kind of missions are available?
I selected "Accept a Mission," and a list of available missions appeared on the screen. Each mission had a description, reward, and difficulty level. As I scrolled through the options, I noticed a variety of tasks ranging from simple delivery jobs to high-risk assassination contracts.
One mission in particular caught my eye: "Eliminate Dark Summoner Kurogane. Reward: 1,500 Macca." This was exactly the kind of challenge I was looking for. It was a high-risk mission with a substantial reward, and it would allow me to test my skills against a formidable opponent.
I accepted the mission, and the screen provided further details, including Kurogane's last known location and a brief dossier on his abilities, known associates, and demons. His profile showed a middle-aged man with black eyes and slightly long black hair framing an average-featured face with some stubs of facial hair. He really had the look of a classic mob character—unremarkable and easily overlooked. It was almost amusing how much he blended into the background, much like myself.
Then I take a look at the parameters listed for Kurogane from an analysis done a week ago were intriguing:
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Name: Kurogane
Race: Summoner
MP: 500/500
Resistances: [Fire]
Weakness: None
Strength: E
Endurance: E
Magic: E
Agility: E+
Luck: E+
Skills: [Bestial Bite][Lunge][Agi][Maragi][Zio][Life Drain][Dustoma][Sukunda]
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His agility had recently increased to E+, and both his endurance and strength were on the verge of evolving to E+. He was accompanied by two demons: a daemon of the Brute race and a Zhu Tun She of the Drake race.
I realized that Kurogane and I were eerily similar. Captain Aaron had mentioned that if I continued to absorb Magatsuhi, my own E parameters would reach E+ in two to three weeks. This was going to be a tough fight, but I felt ready for it.
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Name: Daemon
Race: Brute
MP: 200/200
Resistances: [Fire][Dark]
Weakness: [Electric][Light]
Strength: E
Endurance: E-
Magic: E-
Agility: E-
Luck: E-
Skills: [Hellish Slash][Agi][Mudo][Eiha][Tarukaja]
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Name: Zhu Tun She
Race: Drake
MP: 200/200
Resistances: [Ice]
Weakness: [Dark]
Strength: E
Endurance: E
Magic: E
Agility: E-
Luck: E-
Skills: [Lunge][Poisma][Bouncing Claw]
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