Chapter: 25
The Hunters Bureau towered above the city like a fortress of steel and glass. At its heart, a massive training ground stretched wide beneath a dome of reinforced walls. The air carried the sharp tang of sweat and mana, while the sound of steel clashing echoed through the hall.
Inside the arena, two S–rank hunters were locked in combat.
One was a tall man with dark hair tied back and scars across his arms. His name was Kaien, an S -rank hunter of the Shallow Guild. His greatsword swung with crushing force, splitting the air in arcs of light.
Facing him was a woman. Slender, yet radiating overwhelming pressure, her eyes sharp as blades. Her name was Arisa Takamori, also from the Shallow Guild, but unlike Kaien, her strength was on a completely different level. She moved like water, her spear cutting through the air with impossible speed.
Kaien's blade slammed down, but Arisa turned her wrist, deflecting it with the shaft of her spear. Sparks flew.
"Hah!" Kaien laughed breathlessly, retreating a step. "I thought you were going easy on me, Arisa!"
Arisa's lips curved into a small smile, but her eyes never softened.
"This is me going easy on you."
And with that, her spear thrust forward. In a single blink, the tip stopped just a hair's width from Kaien's throat. The sheer force of wind from the strike sent his hair flying back.
Kaien froze, his eyes wide. Sweat dripped down his jaw. Then he chuckled nervously, raising his free hand in surrender.
"...Yeah. Remind me never to piss you off."
The other hunters watching from the stands laughed, but deep down, they knew Arisa's strength was monstrous even though she was an s rank she could be keep up with an ss rank hunter although for just a short time but still among the S ranks, she was feared. and mostly described to many as the strongest S ranked hunter
The clash of weapons faded into the distance.
....
Far from the training grounds, in a quiet apartment filled with the hum of the city outside, Takeda's voice carried heavy words.
Renji sat still on the couch, his fists clenched, eyes shaking as Takeda's story sank in. Lily sat close beside him, holding onto his sleeve, while Choji watched silently.
Takeda's gaze was steady.
"You carry two souls, Renji. Yours… and Januza's. The god slayer who erased himself a thousand years ago. He has returned in you."
The words pressed down on Renji's chest like a crushing weight. His mind spun. His breath grew unsteady.
Finally, he let out a broken laugh.
"Two souls… a god slayer… reincarnated…?" He shook his head, voice rising. "That's a joke. It has to be a joke."
Takeda didn't flinch. "It is no joke. The memories you've seen… the flames, the voice, the gaze that wasn't you renji and u know it it was him it was-Januza."
Renji's fists trembled harder. His voice cracked.
"Then where was he?"
Takeda blinked. "…What?"
Renji's eyes burned. He stood suddenly, glaring at the older man, his chest heaving.
Where was he ??
"Where was he when my parents died?Huh?"
His voice echoed through the room, raw and broken. "If he's the all powerful god slayer, saviour of makind, then where was he when my father was trapped in that fire?!"
TELL ME!!
Lily flinched, her hand slipping from his sleeve.
Renji's voice grew harsher, angrier, shaking the walls with every word.
"Where was he when my mother… drowned herself in a bottle every night? Where was he when Lily and I starved? When we suffered?! He didn't show up then! He didn't save us then!"
Tears stung his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. His hands were clenched so tight his nails dug into his palms.
Takeda opened his mouth, but Renji's voice cut sharper.
"You call him a savior? A protector of humanity? Then why didn't he protect us?! Where was he when I needed him?"
The room fell silent. Lily's quiet sobs filled the space, her small hands covering her face. Choji looked down, unable to meet Renji's eyes.
Takeda sat still, his expression unreadable.
Renji's breath came heavy, almost choking. He pressed a hand against his chest, trembling. "Don't tell me he's inside me. Don't tell me I'm supposed to be him. Because I'm not. I'm just me. I'm just… Renji."
I have struggled and fought my I was ridiculed nooo u didn't show up then neither did your so called God slayer! I fought my way up here with me being Renji ..
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, Takeda's voice broke it, quiet but unyielding.
"Renji… pain does not erase what you are. Nor does it erase what sleeps inside you. You ask where he was… Perhaps the better question is why he chose now to awaken."
Renji stared at him, eyes wide, heart racing.
What are you talking about Renji answered?
Takeda's gaze darkened.
"A thousand years he was gone. And yet, now… in you… he returns. Why? Why after so long? That is the question even I cannot answer."
The words lingered like shadows in the air.
You are right... I don't know why he didn't show up when your parents died ..
Or when you suffered
Or perhaps he didn't want to..... ever since the SSS dungeon I've wondered how did u come out alive no injuries, no scars for a mere Human it was absurd
BUT!
On two occasions he has shown up I don't know what happened but I'm sure he faced that dungeon boss and now with tang shii.. is he just showing up when you are in danger? or is there some other thing
For a being capable to killing the gods of creation and erasing his own existence, choosing when and how he can reincarnate
Why does he let you be renji?.. why do you still have your body ??
Why is he showing you fragments of a war that happened a thousand years ago?..