"Riko… Riko!" Ruther shouted, his voice growing louder.
Dammit, what do I do?! I can't just cancel the training. Think, think…! Riko panicked, sweat trickling down his face. Ugh, I don't have anything to say!
Before he could react, SMACK!
Ruther slapped him across the cheek, snapping him back to reality.
"RIKO! HOW DEAF ARE YA?!" Ruther yelled, concern mixed with frustration.
"OW! WHY'D YOU DO THAT FOR?!" Riko shouted back, holding his stinging cheek as tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
"Oh, uh… I kept calling your name and you weren't answering, so I slapped you to get your attention," Ruther replied awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Riko suddenly froze, a strange feeling gnawing at the back of his mind. Wait… something's off. His eyes widened in panic as the realization hit him like a thunderbolt.
S–Shizo… I FORGOT ABOUT SHIZO!
He quickly tugged on Ruther's robe, his voice trembling with urgency. "Dad, I forgot about Shizo! I have to find her!"
Before Ruther could react, Riko bolted off into the distance.
"Huh?! WAIT—RIKO, DON'T GO THAT WAY!" Ruther shouted, reaching out but unable to stop him.
Riko ran as fast as he could, desperate to find Shizo. His breathing grew heavy as the thick smell of smoke filled the air. "Dammit!" he coughed, pushing himself to keep going.
Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced through the chaos.
"SOMEBODY HELP!"
His eyes widened. That's Shizo's voice!
Riko turned toward the direction of the scream and sprinted. "SHIZO! I'M COMING!" he shouted, covering his mouth and nose from the smoke.
He dashed through the burning streets until he finally spotted her. Shizo was crouched on the ground, crying, her body trembling in fear.
"Shizo! I'm here—don't worry, I'll get you out of here—"
But before he could finish, his words froze. Shizo's terrified eyes were locked on something behind him.
Riko turned slowly. His pupils shrank. An ogre towered over him, its massive blade raised high.
"Guh!"
The ogre swung its blade down with terrifying speed—
"RIKO!" Ruther appeared in the nick of time, intercepting the strike with his sword. Sparks exploded from the clash.
"Dad!" Riko shouted.
"RIKO, GET BACK HOME NOW! IT'S NOT SAFE HERE!" Ruther's voice was firm and sincere, leaving no room for argument.
"BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU?!" Riko shouted, his voice cracking as he refused to leave.
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME! IT'S MY DUTY TO PROTECT, NOT RUN! NOW GO!" Ruther roared, his arms straining as he held back the ogre's crushing strength.
Riko bit his lip, torn, but finally nodded. "…Alright."
He rushed to Shizo's side and helped her back to her feet. "Shizo, let's get out of here!" he urged, gripping her hand tightly. Together, they ran through the smoke-filled streets, Riko leading the way.
Shizo, I'm sorry I didn't come sooner… Thank god I found you before that ogre did. Who knows what could've happened if I hadn't.
Meanwhile, Ruther…
He planted his feet firmly, a sharp grin spreading across his face as he locked eyes with the towering ogre. "You're a big one, aren't ya? So you're the real leader of these pigs. I thought the quick one was in charge… but you—" His grin widened. "—you actually gave me goosebumps."
"Sure. I guess you could say that," the ogre replied, its deep voice rumbling like thunder. The dark aura swirling around its massive frame made the ground itself feel heavier.
Ruther's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? We've got ourselves a talking pig that speaks our language. How cute…" he said, smirking as he raised his sword.
Ruther vanished in a blur, reappearing right in front of the ogre as he swung his sword down with full force. "HRAAAAH!" he roared.
The ogre raised its blade with chilling precision, blocking the strike effortlessly. The impact rang out like clashing steel bells, but the creature didn't even flinch.
Ruther's eyes widened. He blocked it… so easily?!
"SHIT—!" Before he could retreat, the ogre's massive fist slammed into his abdomen like a battering ram.
"GUHAAH!" Blood burst from Ruther's mouth as he was launched backward, crashing through the wall of a nearby house in an explosion of wood and dust.
BOOM—
The ogre's long, dark hair swayed in the night breeze as it stared him down with a cold, menacing gaze. "Not bad… yet you couldn't even land a cheap shot," it said, its deep voice echoing like distant thunder.
Ruther staggered to his feet, blood trickling down his forehead. Despite the pain, a grin stretched across his face. "Heh… that was only a fluke. Guess I really do have to take you seriously."
His eyes began to glow faintly as his aura swirled around him, thickening with intensity. He gripped his blade tighter, the air itself vibrating from the pressure.
The ogre leveled its sword at him, its expression unreadable. "Hmph. Perhaps you can entertain me with a duel."
"Perhaps I should," Ruther replied with a smirk, pointing his blade forward—a silent signal of acceptance.
Riko and Shizo ran as fast as they could, finally bursting through the front gate of their home.
Rimara, anxiously biting her nails, looked up the moment she saw them. "RIKO!" she cried out.
"MOM!" Riko shouted back, still panting heavily.
She rushed over to them, her face pale with worry. "Where's your father?!"
A bead of sweat slid down Riko's cheek. "He's… still at the village," he managed between breaths. "He's fighting a huge ogre."
"Huh?!" Rimara gasped, her eyes widening in shock.
Beside him, Shizo stood frozen, confusion written all over her face. She didn't seem to know what to say—or even how to react.
Rimara quickly turned her attention to her. "Are you okay?" she asked gently, scanning Shizo from head to toe for any injuries.
Riko glanced down and suddenly realized his hand was still holding Shizo's. Shizo looked down too, her face flushing bright red.
"Ah—!"
Both let go at the same time and turned away awkwardly, their faces burning.
Rimara glanced between the two of them, instantly noticing their flushed faces. A teasing smile crept onto her lips. "Oh? How about you two head inside?" she asked, her tone playful.
"E–Eh?! WHAT ABOUT DAD?" Riko stammered.
"Oh, don't worry. Your dad is strong enough to take on anything. Now, go on." She said, confidently.
Actually, she isn't wrong because that bastard took out A SWARM OF DAMN OGRES.
"Do you really want to go in, Shizo?" He asked, curious, hoping for an answer.
Riko whipped his head toward Shizo to see her reaction. Shizo fidgeted slightly, her cheeks still red, then gave a shy little nod. "Sure…"
Riko froze for a second—then, inside his head, fireworks went off. YEAAAHH!! SHE SAID YES! he screamed inwardly, barely able to contain his excitement.
Riko grabbed Shizo gently by the arm, a bright grin lighting up his face as if nothing destructive is happening at the village. "Come on, Shizo!" he said, pulling her toward the house.
A small gasp escaped her lips, but it quickly melted into a cheerful smile. "Okay!" she replied, her voice lively as she followed him inside.
Meanwhile, Ruther…
The sound of clashing steel echoed through the burning village as Ruther's blade met the ogre's massive sword, sparks flying like bursts of fireworks. Their strikes collided again and again, the sheer force shaking the air.
Ruther gritted his teeth, struggling to keep up with the ogre's brutal speed. Before he could react, the ogre suddenly dashed behind him—
"GUH!"
A powerful punch slammed into his ribs, sending him flying.
"PLUAH!" Blood burst from his mouth as his body crashed through one building… then another.
"GAHAA!!" he roared in pain, debris collapsing around him.
"Such a pity…" the ogre muttered, its deep voice dripping with menace.
Ruther's eyes snapped open. He refused to go down.
"GRAAAH!!" He seized his sword from the rubble and dashed forward with unwavering resolve, his aura blazing.
Their blades met again in a flurry of blows, exchanging strikes with ferocious precision. Ruther ducked under a heavy swing, swept his leg beneath the ogre, and kicked it upward with a burst of strength.
He raised his palm, mana swirling like a violent storm. "VENO HASHTENKAI!!"
A colossal beam exploded from his hand, the recoil tearing cracks through the ground beneath him.
But the ogre calmly snapped its fingers—
FWOOOM!
A barrier instantly surrounded its body, effortlessly blocking the beam. "Weak…" the ogre's whisper echoed through the smoke.
Ruther's eyes widened in disbelief. "Shit…!" he hissed. The ogre countered with lightning speed, gathering raw mana into its massive arm before dashing down toward Ruther. He spotted the incoming attack just in time and dodged, the punch smashing into the ground with a deafening explosion that sent debris flying everywhere.
Ruther was caught in the shockwave, slammed back into a cluster of trees. He struggled to regain balance, only to see the ogre's fist hurtling toward him. His pupils shrank, and a sharp gasp escaped his lips.
"Guh…!"
The strike landed, obliterating every tree in its path and tearing apart the ground beneath him. Ruther's body was hurled like a ragdoll toward the edge of a massive cliff. Dust and smoke filled the air as he landed, blood trickling down his face, bruises forming across his features.
The ogre loomed over him, its presence radiating dark aura.
"I must say… not bad for a mere human. It's a shame the battle must end in tragedy. It's over…" The ogre swung its blade toward Ruther's head.
Without hesitation, Ruther stopped the strike with his bare hands. His aura exploded outward in a shockwave that obliterated the cliff itself. The ogre staggered backward, eyes wide in shock.
"Who decided it's over…?" Ruther's voice deepened, echoing across the battlefield. "No one did."
Calm, he summoned his sword, letting it float toward his waiting hand. The aura around him shimmered violently, a storm of power ready to be unleashed.
Ruther punched the ogre in an instant. His fist drove deep into the creature's abdomen, sending it flying with a shockwave that shattered the ground around them.
He closed his eyes, letting his aura swirl around him like a cyclone, sparkling like fireflies. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled, the sound echoing through the battlefield.
The ogre coughed violently, blood spilling from beneath its mask. Gasping, it gripped its wound.
"W-what did you do?!" it growled, struggling to stay upright.
Ruther's aura intensified, twisting upward like a tornado, shimmering with calm yet immense power. His hair lifted, flowing with the energy surrounding him.
The ogre rose to its feet, fury radiating off its massive frame, aura exploding like a storm.
"DON'T YOU DARE IGNORE ME! YOU FILTHY HUMAN!!" it roared, channeling every ounce of its mana into its fist.
It dashed at Ruther, who stood perfectly still.
"GRAAAH!!" As the ogre neared, Ruther's eyes snapped open.
"Veno Digaru…" His voice rang calm as he swung his sword, a massive trail of glowing blue following the arc.
SHING!
The ogre was sliced clean in half, its body sparkling like fireflies as it exploded. Then—
FWISHBOOM!
The ogre's roar echoed one last time as its body explode into nothingness.
Ruther spun his sword before sliding it back into its sheath. "Hmph…" he scuffed.
The ogre's mask clattered to the ground. Ruther bent down, picking it up, his eyes widening in disbelief. Inside the mask, a symbol glimmered faintly, immediately catching his attention.
He gasped, heart skipping a beat.
That symbol… There's no doubt about it. It belongs to… the Primordial Anathema.
Ruther decided to keep the mask, uneasy about its presence. This mask… why is it here? He shook his head. Never mind that. I have to report this to the capital's guild.
The sound of horses and armored knights approached. Ruther immediately alerted them, raising his hand. "HEY! RIGHT HERE!"
The knights brought their horses to a halt.
"HALT! Someone's over there… OH, IT'S RUTHER! ALL OF YOU, FIND SURVIVORS AND AID THE INJURED!" shouted a knight with a long red cape.
One of the knights quickly dashed toward Ruther, who stood firm, holding the mask.
"Ruther, thank you for eliminating the ogres. If it weren't for you, more lives would have been lost," the knight said, his voice tinged with concern and gratitude.
Ruther rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, smiling. "Eh, it's nothing. I did take on the leader of their tribe… one hell of a strong one. If I were in my prime, I would've killed it instantly," he chuckled.
The knight nodded, then asked, "And how's your family?" as he hopped off his horse.
"Oh, nothing… great, actually. Guess what—MY SON WANTS TO TRAIN WITH ME, HAHA—"
Before Ruther could finish, a sharp crack ran down his back. "AHA!" he yelled in pain.
The knight's eyes widened. "ARE YOU OKAY?!"
Ruther grimaced, wincing. "Dammit… my back hurts." he muttered.
The knight facepalmed. "Ruther, you really need to stop being reckless. Look at you—you're getting old," he said, helping Ruther back to his feet.
Ruther rubbed his back, scuffing. "Yeah, I know. I just can't help but want to fight something strong, like before. I've missed those days," he said, smiling, finally accepting that he was, in fact, getting old.
Then he remembered something. He pulled out the mask and held it up for the guard to see. "Almost forgot. I have something you need to report to the capital, Kimura," he said.
The next morning…
Riko slowly opened his eyes, blinking away the blur. Ah crap… he thought groggily.
As he rubbed his eyes and turned to his left, he froze. Shizo was lying beside him, still asleep, her breathing calm and steady.
"Oh hey, Shizo…" he muttered without thinking.
A beat later, his brain finally processed the situation. His eyes shot open wide.
"E-EEK!!" he squeaked, stumbling out of bed like a startled squirrel, his face steaming bright red.
Shizo stirred from the noise, rubbing her eyes with a yawn. "Oh… hey, good morning, Riko," she said softly, still half-asleep.
"G-GOOD MORNING!!" he blurted, his voice cracking as he scrambled to act natural.
Ah, crap! I totally forgot I brought Shizo over last night!
Panic surged through him as he tried to think of a way to escape the embarrassment. "Hey, uh, I have to go downstairs for something! Hehe…" He forced a laugh, waving awkwardly as Shizo just stared with confusion.
What kind of pathetic excuse was that?! he mentally screamed at himself. Phew… what matters now is that I got—
BAM!
The door swung open like a thunderclap. "HYAA!!" Riko yelped, tripping backwards and crashing to the floor.
Ruther burst in with a grin, his booming voice shaking the room. "RIKO! GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS!!"
Riko's face turned pale in an instant. Oh no… I totally forgot about the training I promised!
"H-HUH?! WAIT, BUT IT'S TOO EARLY!!" Riko shouted, scrambling for an excuse.
Ruther leaned in, narrowing his eyes playfully. "Huh? Riko… don't tell me you've changed your mind," he said, his tone a mix of teasing and genuine concern.
Riko's gaze flicked over Ruther's body — he was covered in bandages from last night's battle. That's it!
"WAIT, DAD! YOU'RE INJURED! ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE LIKE THAT—" Before he could finish, Ruther cut him off with a confident smile.
"Oh, this? Nah, it's nothing. Being injured isn't an excuse, you know, Riko," he said casually, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Riko's hope shattered on the spot. "B-but—"
"No buts," Ruther interrupted firmly. "Listen, Riko. Even if you're injured… even if your limbs are cut off…" He smiled — a proud, warrior's smile.
Riko's jaw dropped. "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE?!" he yelled — only realizing too late that he'd said it out loud.
Ah crap… I didn't mean to say that outloud in front of him!
Ruther blinked, a little surprised by the outburst. But then he chuckled warmly. "It's simple," he said, placing a hand on Riko's shoulder. "A warrior should never back down from a battle because of their weakness. Because there's no such thing as weakness."
Riko let out a long sigh, finally accepting his fate. "Fine… let's do it then," he said, surprisingly at ease now with the whole training idea.
But then a sudden realization struck him. "Wait—what happened to the village?!" he asked, eyes widening.
Ruther crossed his arms and smirked confidently. "It's all fine now. All thanks to a little bit of magic," he said, a proud smile forming on his face. "Wanna see for yourself?"
Riko nodded, though a part of him wasn't sure he was ready to face the aftermath. "Oh, uh… sure."
He followed Ruther downstairs. As they opened the front door, Riko froze in awe.
The village was completely restored. Houses stood tall, streets were spotless, and the morning sun bathed everything in a golden glow.
Woah… it's like the invasion never even happened.
Riko stepped outside, eyes wide. Pft, well… I guess that's just fantasy worlds for you. It's kinda like those manga and novels I used to read back in my old life.
He smirked to himself. Yeah… and those always had those protagonists surrounded by huge harems too. Heheh… I can't lie, I kinda enjoyed those.
"Well, Riko… shall we get going?" Ruther asked, grinning confidently.
Riko nodded with renewed determination, switching moods as if he hadn't just been trying to escape moments earlier. "Yes!"
They set off into the woods, the morning air crisp and filled with birds singing. Eventually, they arrived at a small clearing surrounded by towering trees—Ruther's usual training grounds.
Without warning, Ruther tossed a wooden sword toward Riko. "Catch."
Riko fumbled but managed to grab it. "Huh? What's this for?"
Ruther stretched his shoulders, his smile widening. "Today's lesson is simple. You're going to learn how to read and predict your opponent's moves."
Riko's grip tightened on the sword. His expression turned serious—he was ready to soak in every word his father said.
"Okay," Ruther said, pointing his own wooden sword at Riko. "Bring it."
"Wait—what?!" Riko yelled, eyes bulging. "You can't just say that out of nowhere! That's not how training works!"
"Are you gonna do what I say, or not?" Ruther asked firmly, his tone suddenly serious. "If not, I'll have to force you to."
Riko's body stiffened at his father's intimidating aura. "O-OK!" he blurted. Determined, he locked eyes with Ruther and charged forward without hesitation, catching his father completely off guard.
"Whoa—!"
Riko swung his wooden sword straight toward Ruther's chest. CLACK! Ruther barely managed to block in time.
"GUH! RIKO—YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU KNEW HOW TO FIGHT!" he shouted, eyes wide in shock.
Riko was just as confused.
Hate to break to ya, Ruther… because neither DID I KNEW I COULD DO THAT!
Ruther shoved him back to create distance—but Riko didn't let up. He dashed forward again, surprising even himself.
"EEK!" Ruther stumbled backward, almost losing his balance. He quickly muttered, "Veno Windago!" and a gust of wind lifted him back onto his feet.
Riko unleashed a flurry of swings, each one faster than the last. Ruther blocked every strike, sparks flying from the clash of wood. "Swinging wildly won't cut it, Riko! Try a different—"
Before he could finish, Riko disappeared right in front of him.
"Wha—?!"
Riko reappeared behind him in an instant. Hehe, teleportation magic sure comes in handy during close combat. Oh, also I learned it during my study session with Shizo but turned out that Shizo couldn't get it. he thought.
He swung his sword with pinpoint precision, striking Ruther's side.
THWACK!
Ruther was sent flying into a nearby tree. "OOF!" he yelled as the impact shook the leaves loose.
Riko stared at his hands, stunned. Whoa! I didn't expect that swing to be that strong!
Ruther pushed himself off the tree, one hand pressed firmly against his side. "Tch…" he grunted through clenched teeth.
Riko's eyes widened in panic. He dropped his sword and rushed to his father's side. "Dad! Are you okay?!" he asked, worry written all over his face.
Ruther didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared at Riko with an unusually sharp expression—gone was the teasing dad from earlier.
"Riko…" he said slowly, his voice low and serious. "Did you just use… teleportation magic?"