The night wind was cool.
Renji walked through the empty plains, his cloak fluttering behind him.
It had been hours since that blinding flash — the spell that destroyed everything and sent him somewhere unknown.
He didn't know where he was now.
All he knew was that he survived. Somehow.
He stopped, looking up at the night sky.
The moon hung high, but its color wasn't normal.
It was faintly red — the same color as that terrifying light.
Renji's voice broke the silence.
"So… I got thrown into another nation, huh?"
He slimed and laughed a bit.
"Figures, well.. that's what I got punished for being weak."
He could still feel the echo of that pressure, the aura of that being — the Demon Lord.
It was something beyond comprehension, like a god of destruction watching from above the clouds.
Renji's hands clenched tightly. His body still remembered that fear.
"I couldn't even fight back," he whispered, looking down at his trembling hands.
"That's how weak I am?"
He lifted his eyes again, the reflection of the red moon glinting in them.
Then he began walking forward, step by step, through the quiet night.
Hours passed.
After walking about a few hours, Renji saw something glowing in the distance — light, walls, and people.
"A city?" he muttered, relief.
He picked up his pace, hoping he could finally rest and figure out where he had landed.
But as he approached, something strange happened.
The guards at the gate turned their heads toward him.
Renji got their attentions by somehow.
One shouted something to the others, and within seconds, spears were drawn.
Renji stopped.
"Eh? What's going on?"
The air suddenly turned tense.
Whispers filled the area as nearby people began backing away.
Some even ran.
Renji blinked, confused — until he noticed it.
The air around him shimmered with faint blue light.
His aura… was leaking again.
"Ah crap," he muttered. "Not again."
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly as waves of mana rippled out.
He tried to suppress it, but his control was still unstable after the last battle.
From the outside, he looked like a walking disaster.
One of the guards shouted, "He's a demon! His aura—look at it!"
Renji raised his hands nervously.
"Whoa, whoa, easy there! I'm not a demon!"
"Don't lie!" another guard yelled, trembling but brave. "We've seen that color before! Blue aura means corruption!"
Renji blinked in disbelief.
"What kind of fantasy logic is that?!"
The guards tightened their formation, pointing spears at him.
It looked like a full-blown battle was about to start.
Renji sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You guys seriously want to do this? I literally just walked here."
But the guards didn't move.
The air was thick with fear and tension.
Renji sighed again, this time louder.
"Alright, fine. I don't want any trouble anyway."
He turned around and started walking away, waving lazily behind him.
"See? I'm leaving. No need for the dramatic music, geez."
The guards blinked, confused by how casually he walked off.
One of them even whispered, "Was that… really a demon?"
"I guess so, his power is same as those demons."
Renji disappointed as he left the gate behind.
"Man, I can't even enter a city without being accused of world domination."
He walked along the outer wall, heading toward the opposite side of the city.
The night air was calm again. The moonlight painted everything silver.
After a while, he stopped at the plain inside the forest.
"Guess I have to camp here tonight."
But just as he sat down, he heard a scream.
It sounded like monsters, but unusual.
Renji looked worried.
Without hesitation, he rushed to where the sound came from.
He dashed through the trees, moving fast enough to leave shadow behind him.
The scream came again, closer this time.
Then he saw the monsters he had never seen before — a group of strange, black monsters with glowing red eyes holding swords, surrounding a lone girl.
She was fighting with a sword, but her movements were slow, her leg bleeding.
Her armor was scratched, her breath uneven.
Renji didn't waste a second.
"Let's clean this up."
He raised his hand, dark mana swirling around his arm.
"[Shadow Breaker]!"
The ground exploded beneath him as he launched forward, slicing through two monsters in a second.
His sword spun in his hand as he kicked another one away, sending it crashing into a tree.
The girl looked shock, holding her blade as she watched.
Within seconds, every monster vanished — turned into black mist.
The forest went silent again.
Renji stood still, exhaling softly.
Then he turned toward the girl.
"You good?"
She blinked, staring at him with wide eyes.
"I… I think so. Yeah."
Renji walked closer, noticing the wound on her leg.
"You're bleeding."
She tried to stand but stumbled, and slipped.
Renji caught her before she fell.
"Thanks," she said shily. "You really saved me there."
Renji gave a small smile.
"Don't mention it. You looked like you were in trouble."
The girl chuckled awkwardly.
"Yeah, I might've slipped a little."
Renji raised an eyebrow.
"Slipped? You were surrounded by at least eight monsters."
She crossed her arms defensively, pouting a little.
"Hey! Even the strongest can have bad footing, okay?"
Renji tried to hold back a laugh but failed.
"Pfft—alright, alright. I'll believe you, Miss Slipper."
She glared lightly.
"You're making fun of me, aren't you?"
"Maybe just a little."
Her cheeks puffed slightly, but then she sighed in defeat.
"Fine. You win this time."
Renji chuckled.
"So, what's your name anyway?"
She wiped the dirt off her armor, straightened her back, and placed a hand on her chest confidently.
"Rina Elvane — the Sword Saint of Asteria."
Renji froze.
"…The what now?"
"Sword Saint," she repeated proudly. "One of the strongest warriors of this kingdom!"
Renji blinked a few times, processing that.
Then he slowly pointed at the black mist where the monsters used to be.
"So… the 'Sword Saint' almost got taken down by those things?"
Her proud expression immediately crumbled.
"I told you! I slipped!"
Renji laughed out loud this time.
"Sure, sure. The legendary Sword Saint defeated by gravity itself. Got it."
She puffed her cheeks again.
"You're annoying!"
"And you need to learn more at lying."
The two stared at each other for a moment, then both laughed.
The tension finally faded.
A few minutes later, Renji helped heal her wound with a small crystal.
She stretched her leg, impressed.
"Wow, it doesn't hurt anymore. You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Renji shrugged.
"Picked it up while travelling."
"Then you must've been to some interesting places."
Renji smiled faintly but didn't answer.
His eyes drifted to the moon again, still tinted red.
Rina noticed his distant expression but didn't pry.
After a while, she asked,
"So, Renji… what are you doing all the way out here? You don't look like an adventure from here."
Renji chuckled softly.
"I was trying to enter the city earlier, but they mistook me for a demon."
Her eyes widened.
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yeah," he said dryly. "Apparently glowing blue means 'evil lord energy.'"
Rina covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Oh my gods… so they thought you were some kind of final boss?"
"Pretty much."
She laughed even harder, nearly falling over.
"That's priceless! The almighty Sword Saint gets saved by the 'Demon Lord' himself!"
Renji smirked.
"Yeah, you're welcome, by the way."
She chuckled and looked away, still smiling.
"Okay, okay, you win again."
After resting a bit, Rina finally stood up.
"I should head back to the city. My guild will start panicking if I don't return."
Renji nodded.
"You sure you're okay to walk?"
"I'm fine now. Thanks to you."
She took a few steps, then turned around.
"If you ever want to find me, just say my name — Rina Elvane. Everyone in Asteria City knows me."
Renji tilted his head.
"You really like announcing your fame, huh?"
"Hey, I earned it!" she said proudly. "Unlike someone who gets mistaken for a demon every five minutes."
Renji groaned.
"Alright, alright, you win this round."
Rina waving as she walked away.
"See you around, Demon Lord Renji!"
"It's just Renji!" he shouted back.
Renji stood there for a while, looking at the faint glow of the city in the distance.
Then his expression hardened slightly.
"Sword Saint, corrupted monsters, red moon…"
He whispered to himself.
"Something's definitely wrong with this world, or maybe it just me?"
He gripped his sword tightly and started walking again, deeper into the unknown.
The wind picked up, carrying the faint scent of ashes and magic.
And under the crimson moon, Renji's journey began once more—
toward strength, truth, and a battle far greater than he could imagine.