Kazuki opened his eyes.
He was standing. Not in his bed, not at home. A forest surrounded him—dark, silent, unfamiliar. Moonlight filtered through the trees, catching on the edges of his hair.
He turned in place, breath shaky.
"Wh… where am I?"
His hand opened and closed slowly, his fingers trembling.
"That light… it must've teleported me."
The woods stretched in every direction.
How far… is home?
A memory clawed into his mind. That grin. That hair. That monster—Elaruun.
"Those eyes… those teeth…"
He dropped to the ground, arms wrapping around his knees.
"He wasn't human… was he a Terra?"
His voice cracked, eyes starting to water.
He didn't scream. Didn't call for help. Just cried quietly, the wind whispering through the branches.
He was alone.
Footsteps crunched nearby. Two figures moved through the trees, whispering.
"Hey… isn't that a kid?"
"What the hell is a little boy doing out here?"
Kazuki stood, legs unsteady. He looked at them—two hunters.
"M-my name is Kazuki. I'm Raiken Hozuki's son. He teleported me here… using some kind of stone."
The hunters looked at each other, then laughed.
"Raiken's son? Pfft. Everyone knows he's only got one kid. Rensei."
Kazuki blinked. Staggered.
"What…? That's not true! I—"
One hunter stepped closer, smirking. "A Terra attack? Look at you—sweating, panicking… You're scared outta your mind."
Kazuki bit his lip.
"You don't know my father like I do!"
"Where are you from, kid?"
"…Bressel."
They stiffened.
"Raiken Hozuki? Living in a low-class village like that? Yeah right."
What are they saying…? Didn't Dad tell anyone about me?
"Please! I'm telling the truth! There's a Terra in my house—my father, he…"
"Huh?"
Kazuki met their eyes, intensity rising.
"I saw it… I've never seen that look on his face. He was afraid. He doubted himself."
"Please! You've got to help him!"
"Even if we wanted to, we can't. That place is way too far."
The forest thinned. A small outpost stood ahead, plain but guarded.
"We're near Hunter HQ. You'll be safe here."
Kazuki stared at it blankly.
Later, he sat inside, arms around his knees, silent.
Father's strong… He'll survive. He has to.
Morning came.
"Let's go, kid. You're gonna meet our captain."
"Brace yourself. Captain Ryoku Enraki. The legend himself."
Kazuki looked up slowly.
"C-Can you take me home?"
"Let's make sure you're telling the truth first."
Ryoku stood behind a desk, watching the world through the window.
The hunters stepped in with Kazuki.
"Captain. This kid says he's Raiken's son. Kazuki."
Ryoku turned slowly.
"Raiken has one son. Rensei."
Kazuki reeled. "What? No… That's not—"
"Rensei told us himself. He has no siblings."
Kazuki's heart cracked. His face went still, empty.
That can't be…
The door slammed open. A messenger burst in.
"Emergency report!" he shouted.
"Terra attack in Bressel! Special-class hunter Raiken Hozuki… murdered! Entire village… destroyed!"
Silence fell like stone.
Kazuki's knees gave out. He hit the floor, hands clenched against the wood, tears spilling without sound.
In a single night… Kazuki lost everything.
END OF CHAPTER.